Hey MbBass... that is a good question. I'm sure there would be a lot of different answers to it too.
Basically when I'm fishing with no specific target, like I'm just trying to get bit and not caring to much about big or small, I'll put it in my mind to fish a rig for about half an hour and if I get no bites the way I'm set up I will switch off to something else.
Another color, worm style, lure etc.
When I'm going after big fish, which is most of the time, I fish in a way that follows the bite.
For example I always start off with my heavier stuff. My thinking is that I may just cash in some first cast luck.
Lets say I start off with an 8" trout swimbait. I'll stick with that for about half an hour.
Then I'll fish lets say a 6" Senko and if I don't get bit in 30 minutes on that, I'll ratchet it down to a 5", and then a four inch etc. till I get bit.
It's like I'm walking down the stairs lightening up my rig each move. As soon as I get bit I switch off to a bigger setup figuring the bite is on now and some larger fish will be moving in behind the smaller ones.
This stepping down from the top and then up again as soon as you get a bite has helped me land some prett good lunkers.
I probably would get a lot more bites sticking with the size that gets bit but I'm always looking to up my personal best not catch more smaller fish necessarily.
Well that's what I do. There are many aproaches and ways of thinking about it.
Besides keeping your lure selection relatively simple for starters I would also advise to have at least four rods spooled with different weight lines. I usually have rods with 12 lb., 10 lb., 8 lb. and 6 lb. line ready to rock. Besides stepping up and down with the lure sizes, I also step up and down with the line weights to go along with the larger or smaller lures.
Most of the time I finish off my day with a half an hour with my big stuff. Just to make sure I give that whopper another nice meal to look at before I go.
Good fishing to ya, later.......... geobass
Edited by geobass (01-20-2008 01:37 AM)
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George Cawthorn : Bassin' USA Field Writer - CA