Why I include smaller fish in the count
Granted, fish over a certain size are usually worth counting by many whereas dinks not so much. But in my case, I am constantly testing new lure designs or modified lures and need to see which p.o. fish most from the smallest to the largest. Numbers tell me the lure wasn't a fluke and can be counted on regardless where I fish. This small sunfish and many like it banged this soft plastic that had a tail shape I wasn't confident in.
https://i.imgur.com/WCynV2a.jpg?1https://i.imgur.com/TqJoSOs.jpg?1
Soon after a monster sunfish (10" long) and a foot long yellow perch were caught on it. Numbers caught on one design/size combo tell me that fish in general, regardless of species, are more apt to be aggressive once the lure enters its space, such as this 1 3/4 lb catfish that hit the same lure on the same day:
https://i.imgur.com/OroE98n.jpg?1
...and this 2 lb bass on the same outing:
https://i.imgur.com/7TnQInp.jpg
Of the 60 fish that included dinks in the count that were caught a couple of days ago, example-photos of lures in the fish's' mouths are valued for future reference and because the memory isn't what it once was. To me lure design is everything and a fascinating challenge to not only dispel misinformation as well as personal misconceptions when it comes to what fish strike.
