Went out on the 10am on the Sea Horse today. Started off w/ a bang. First cast I got a Calico that was maybe 3lb. Got it on a 3.5" brown/purple/clear w/silver flake Hammer. Then for the whole rest of the day nothing. Tried everything in the box, but they just didn't want to go. There was maybe 10 bass for 9 people. I even tried two sardines for But's, and got bit once. Oh well, It is winter right?

Amish Ed

what kind of retrieve was that bass on? Straight grind? On the drop? I have found that in winter, a slow retrieve of 5-6 cranks off the bottom followed by a freespool drop til it hits again gets bit well. most bites come on the redrop. I also fish smaller baits like a 4 inch like you were in browns, reds, oranges---crustacean-like colors. Good luck.

Yeah that's about it. Though I actually like the bigger baits, only certain smaller styles do I like. The one I used the day is one of my favorites. My work is out them though and I don't remember the patterns name to reorder for me and the shop.

The retrieve pattern was rather erratic. For what ever reason I almost never fish patterns w/ much repetion. For instance, this one was down about five minutes before I got hit. I casted out a good distance (I use an 8' jigstick or 8' Allstar inshore for most swim baits) and let it go all the way down. Then I varied the speed, depth, and slight rises in rod tip constantly. Maybe a quick fast crank to bring it up 10-15', then let it sink slowly. Then bounce it along w/ like a three slow cranks, then rest. Maybe a couple quick cranks followed by a quick drop. Then maybe crank it up 5' and let it go, but stop the fall here and there on the way, letting the current carry it away. This kind of mix seems to work for me. But, w/ grubs, zippers and gobys I speed up the whole process. Why? I have no concrete reason. I guess w/ the bigger baits I want the fish to have more time w/ it. You know, to get cozy and freindly like. Maybe.

What about you?

Amish Ed

It's good to vary your retrieve but to vary it so much on one cast seems like it would be hard to duplicate or remember exactly what you were doing when you got bit. I like to maintain roughly the same action on the one retrieve so that if I'm bit I can duplicate it again and repeat my success.

I see your point. I think I look for the widest range of motions to get bit with. Mainly because I get bored too quick. I'll even change to a new bait when another is working. I'm probably thinking in terms not boring them too, or at least giving new options. I'm weird, I admit it.

Amish Ed

Ed,
I think all that plastic's gone to your head. Maybe you've inhaled too much swimbait plastic from melting slash marks back together... :-) Hey, whatever works. Fongster's got a good point of not being able to duplicate your retrieve, but you've got a good point that you're appealing to a wide range of fish activeness/positioning. Either way, whether it's Ed's random retrieve, or everybody elses :-) "constant" retrieve, the both catch fish. The constant retrieve probably keys in on a certain "mode" of fish, like if you get bit dragging along the bottom, you'll continue doing that, and you'll catch a lot of fish that want to eat stuff off the bottom. If you've inhaled a little too much melted plastic fumes, and you want to do a random retrieve on every cast, you'll appeal to a wider variety of "fish moods" and pick up one fish that's eating at mid water, one that's eating off the bottom... etc. I think the constant retrieve focuses on one "fish mode" and hammers that mode, while the varied retrieve appeals to more than one fish mode, and picks up one here and one there, from each mode. Either way, if your rod's bent, you're doin somethin right.
-Brian

I think it's mostly a winter thing for me. And it has it's days. I'm not against repetion. I fish Spotties pretty much the same way you guys do. But, for some reason w/ Calicoes I don't when they are slow to eat. When they are eating I probably do fish them more your way, but I'm not sure. I'll tell you in 3 months, when they wake up.

Amish Ed