Thread: I can't seem to catch anything!

Good luck CT!
Always remember when it comes to finesse fishing, slow & unsteady retrieves get strikes, which is why Beetle Spins don't work as well some of the time because of the steady retrieve needed to keep the blade spinning.

Every lure design shown has a different action using the same unsteady retrieve yet fish respond to them equally. Any one of them would be more than enough to find fish by catching them because isn't that what moving lures do - find fish over a large area? That's the difference using lures versus live bait: lures explore the water by you going to the fish whereas live bait can't and requires fish coming to it. It's one of the reasons I don't care for ice fishing (unless going crazy with cabin fever). It's a lot of work just to plunk down a lure through a hole and hope fish are beneath it.

Lastly, consider all the lure actions available to provoke fish to strike using the rod tip twitch & pause method. The top lure with no tail waddles.
The prong tail or Crappie Magnet tail quivers as does the thin flat tail.
The claw tail quivers & flaps up and down.
Curl tails flap like a flag in the wind but also vibrate when used with the overhead spinner.
Finesse worms that have a particular body and tail design slithers & darts with the least rod tip action, driving fish nuts!

Variety is the spice of fishing IMO. Why use one lure design when more catch just as many fish? The challenge of fishing requires anglers to first discover what fish will strike and lures make that a lot easier simply because of the huge variety available on any given day that work equally.

Don't forget earthworms and a cork and hook. That's the great equalizer when it comes to bream. (Crickets work well also)

u said it but the other post forgot too although they were all correct patient's .fishing is a state of mind catching fish is a bonus.

I got it hand it to ya spoon minnow. Those were excellent posts. Level headed and not looking down your nose like I have read from you. Thanks for the time to post.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

Good luck CT!
Always remember when it comes to finesse fishing, slow & unsteady retrieves get strikes, which is why Beetle Spins don't work as well some of the time because of the steady retrieve needed to keep the blade spinning.

Every lure design shown has a different action using the same unsteady retrieve yet fish respond to them equally. Any one of them would be more than enough to find fish by catching them because isn't that what moving lures do - find fish over a large area? That's the difference using lures versus live bait: lures explore the water by you going to the fish whereas live bait can't and requires fish coming to it. It's one of the reasons I don't care for ice fishing (unless going crazy with cabin fever). It's a lot of work just to plunk down a lure through a hole and hope fish are beneath it.

Lastly, consider all the lure actions available to provoke fish to strike using the rod tip twitch & pause method. The top lure with no tail waddles.
The prong tail or Crappie Magnet tail quivers as does the thin flat tail.
The claw tail quivers & flaps up and down.
Curl tails flap like a flag in the wind but also vibrate when used with the overhead spinner.
Finesse worms that have a particular body and tail design slithers & darts with the least rod tip action, driving fish nuts!

Variety is the spice of fishing IMO. Why use one lure design when more catch just as many fish? The challenge of fishing requires anglers to first discover what fish will strike and lures make that a lot easier simply because of the huge variety available on any given day that work equally.

I learned more from this post then I knew in my prior 30 years of fishing. This is making me want to toss the live bait in the trash and grab some lures tonight!


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Originally Posted by Greenlawnracing

I learned more from this post then I knew in my prior 30 years of fishing. This is making me want to toss the live bait in the trash and grab some lures tonight!

If you like to read, check this out. It's the best book ever written on jig fishing, IMO.

Charlie Brewer Sr. on Slider Fishn'

It's about fishing jigs for bass, but the method works for any jig and any species.

Excellent info. !

Level headed and not looking down your nose like I have read from you.

Very sorry if I ever gave that impression. I do get carried away with trying to explain a different point of view based on past experience in hopes that someone may benefit or connect (hopefully to fish !)

Thanks Greenlawn. I caught one of the largest crappie in my life today - over 12" - as well as 3 - 2 lb bass using finesse lures shallow and deep. What was significant today was not catching the trophy crappie but finding a pattern totally new to me on this lake. One particular lure used a certain way made the discovery possible that also included over a dozen 11" crappie caught in similar unique spots. This lure is now added to my collection of get-it-done lures that can be counted on regardless the type of fishing or lake fished.

I just hope everyone adds to their knowledge base that takes into account the super senses predator fish possess as concerns lure action, size, profile and type retrieve - in combination - that overload their always-on hypersensitivity, forcing them to strike objects unknown. (Proof? : Any fish that attacks a lure on three separate casts to the same spot is pretty po'd ya gotta admit !)