What happens before a fish bites a lure? This involves knowing why fish bite lures.

[Spoonminnow]

I've making many of my own lures for over 15 years and experimented using them on different species. From different colored spinnerbait and jig skirts to many designs of soft plastic. Using them in different waters and catching seven species of freshwater fish has revealed to me that fish simply react/ they don't think beforehand what they are reacting to. Put a lure in proximity of the strike zone and fish will attack it if the lure(s) are those they won't reject. On some days many lure designs and presentations work (spring), but on those hot summer days with the sun blazing overhead, the selection is narrowed.

That said, anglers can take away useful information from both sides of the discussion, weighing both by experience. We've all caught fish on lures we had no idea fish would strike, especially small fish. Why they struck IMO was because of a hyperactive state and one we all hope to encounter. The rest of the time certain lure elements that need be considered (lure size, amount of flash, tail action, even brands, etc.) to increase the potential they will get struck. One rule that can't be refuted is: using too large a lure of a certain design or using a lure the wrong way and all you'll get is casting practice. If your lure selection works and you believe it had something to do with the forage you guessed they were selectively feeding on, that's fine, though after the fact. If they they didn't work, it's back to square one, fine tuning lure elements and presentation.

For example, as many of you have experienced, sometimes curly tail grubs work, sometimes straight tails work much better. Also, exactly how does color correlate to a forage species when the color used that caught fish was bubblegum ? Is 1/8 oz always the best size or other jig weights at times. (Maybe it correlates with the speed prey fish are swimming?! LOL )

[INTIMIDATOR]

I agree with what you are saying....but there are different proven bites...reactive, feeding, protection, inquisitive, etc.
You, like myself, have found baits that target many of their key receptors, or the main one during a specific pattern.
Some days I think Electric Chicken just pisses them off!

[Spoonminnow]

like myself, have found baits that target many of their key receptors, or the main one during a specific pattern.

That's what I'm getting at when I started the topic! I completely agree with you that the research is valid regarding fish senses, especially those used for survival and that those senses are in use when fish track live prey or our lures. The only thing we disagree on is whether or not they have the ability to think, compare notes or correlate prey species according to some innate mental ability and at times target only those species. To suggest a Mepps spinner was hit because a fish thinks it is a minnow and because it was feeding on minnows that minute, is a bit of a reach for me. I'd rather just accept the simple fact that the pulsating flash was what it reacted to regardless of what it may have been thinking just before it struck; it was the subtle flash of metal flakes and tail action of the minnow grub posted above; it was the subtle pulsation of hair attached to a jig; etc. etc. etc. Fish senses enable fish to detect all those lure details and react, if they will, the same way a bull charges the matador behind a cape that's taunting it, not caring a sword is hidden behind it ready to end its life. I believe lures taunt a fish into striking.

This video is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU_sXnfgMTU

[INTIMIDATOR]

When Mayflies hatch at our lake you better have the same color combo or make your lure look like a nymph...I don't care what you throw, if it doesn't resemble a Mayfly, you are going home empty. Same when the craws come out for the first time, or the newly hatched shad fry hit 2 inches. Any other time when they aren't keyed in on a specific prey, I agree, you are getting reaction bites to a specific key!

Now I'm on to Sharknado 3!

[Spoonminnow]

A relative that fishes salt water in Fl. said pretty much the same thing as regards using live bait. You must use what the fish are feeding on or forget it. I asked him if he had used any artificial lures that didn't match for the same fish while a bite was on and he said no and wouldn't discount that they might have worked regardless. I guess the waters I fish must be the exception to the rule or the only lures they always seem to bite resemble minnows.

[Spoonminnow]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egoiPrvny5M
Another good video of perch turning on and another example of how dumb fish are.
1. spoon and hook obvious and ignored
2. dead minnow
3. excited by lure motion, otherwise most likely will not strike an inanimate object

[scrat]

Question do fish almost always bite at the head of the bait(minnow,etc.) as the above video was showing them? I have noticed the eyes sucked out of a lot of minnows while fishing even when not feeling the fish bite.

[INTIMIDATOR]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egoiPrvny5M
Another good video of perch turning on and another example of how dumb fish are.
1. spoon and hook obvious and ignored
2. dead minnow
3. excited by lure motion, otherwise most likely will not strike an inanimate object

I have pics on the CJ thread where Crappie (at spawn) were hitting a piece of plastic and paper from a hook package, on a bare jighead...just to prove to people at times they will hit anything....at other times they are keyed in on certain prey.

[INTIMIDATOR]

Question do fish almost always bite at the head of the bait(minnow,etc.) as the above video was showing them? I have noticed the eyes sucked out of a lot of minnows while fishing even when not feeling the fish bite.

There are videos showing fish feeding...minnows and other soft rayed prey are swallowed easily if small. Large prey or rayed fish go down head first, like a bird swallows.
Since they are stupid, I don't know how they know the difference??lol

[INTIMIDATOR]

Wikipedia has a section on "fish intelligence" that is easy to read and has all the studies that were done....then if interested you can dig into the good stuff with all the specific species research on behavior, intelligence, etc.