Does profile matter ?

Everyone argues and or debates about the color thing and if it matters , as we all well know.
But in many cases it appears to me profile might be more important more often than not . Case in point , pitched a while at 2 spots on the might river yesterday. Tried larger profiles and smaller ones as well and just generally played with the fish .
Both size baits got bit well, BUT the smaller profile baits wore out the crappie and the larger profiles mostly just ketched bass :banghead
And to be sure the bite was prime for crappie . but when I upsized only one crappie and lots of bass .
So do larger baits ketch larger fish , yep , but not necessarily the right species of fish is the answer :Rofl
Just saying ....:highfive

For the last couple of years I've downsized and seem to be doing better. Sure I catch some smalls but I'm catching and I like the thump, dink or slab.

Match the hatch

Agreed Ketchn. I know for me I seem to do better once I switch to a smaller profile as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Ketching is Ketching . :)

Thanks for sharing this

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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

For the last couple of years I've downsized and seem to be doing better. Sure I catch some smalls but I'm catching and I like the thump, dink or slab.

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for me . it rings true that I have seen way more crappie both large and small take after downsized baits , might be tough to use as they are tiny baits , but it most cases they seem to be the ticket to hurt big numbers of crappie.
vulnerability is on the menu when it comes to crappie and for sure a small item looks most likely to be more vulnerable and coupled with the typically slow movements a small bait possesses , it reigns supreme for the typical crappie ketchn scenarios .

Good info and post, Ketchn. Some good looking fish.
Bob

Wednesday night i fished the crappie fluke , the jacobs 2" crappie dancer, the do-it flapjack & the fatguys ba 2" stinger tail shad which is like a garland baby shad. They all got bit but the flapjack & ba shad have a smaller profile which got bit more & caught more fish.

Profile absolutely matters. If I'm photographed from the neck up a normal lens is perfectly fine even with slight zoom. If from the neck down a wide angle lens is required with no zoom, anything less will not work. Just sayin'.

AND btw, yesterday was the big bait day if you are that person , just saying .....:Rofl

It is always best to call ahead and ask them. I mean sometimes it’s pizza, other times they want chicken wings. I tend to show up with tacos, and if they don’t want them, well they can starve.


I have several shad specie in my lakes. Hard to match those.

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Originally Posted by Micanopy

It is always best to call ahead and ask them. I mean sometimes it’s pizza, other times they want chicken wings. I tend to show up with tacos, and if they don’t want them, well they can starve.


I have several shad specie in my lakes. Hard to match those.

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sometimes it be that way , nope don't want Italian today , need me sum Texmex con salsa :Rofl

Ketch, I'm sure you don't want to hear what I gotta say. You'll be reading the reply until tomorrow! LOL

(not really, though size, shape and action in combination is my forte...)

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

Ketch, I'm sure you don't want to hear what I gotta say. You'll be reading the reply until tomorrow! LOL

(not really, though size, shape and action in combination is my forte...)

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I love to see how others try to ketch fish and banter is my second specialty, bring it on dear sir .....:Rofl:crazy:

Ok K you asked for it!

First off, the following is based on years of making, modifying and testing lures in many different waters in different seasons - including under the ice. Consistent preformance is based on a lure's combination-of-elements - whichis everything! They are:
size
shape (body and tail)
...both of which determine a lure's action when the right presentation(s) is used. That's pretty much it.

Goodbye

And you thought I was done! :Rofl

I understand most of this is basic Ketch, but bear with me and especially for those lacking your vast experience. : )

Fish are fickle - #1. A lure or lure set that worked great in spring may not post-spawn. I've caught many a small fish on lures half or more of their size - especially bass. Predicting fish aggression levels is almost impossible until a lure or lures start catching fish. The higher the level, the larger the range of lure sizes; less aggression means smaller & slower.

When it comes to lure action, just because a lure is almost 3" long doesn't mean it won't catch fish of any species BTW.
This one is almost 3" long but catches fish 4" and larger:
Attachment 437572

I caught this size crappie any time I cast it on the day used:
Attachment 437573

...as well as many sunfish no longer than 5" or 6":
Attachment 437574 Attachment 437583

The quivers of the tails made the lure appear smaller, but the their subtle tail vibrations shouted attack me! which lures are supposed to do last time I looked. (BTW, match the hatch with those shapes if you can.)

Again, fish aggression level determines the lure size, shape and action cast. This small sunnie bit off more than it could chew (that is if fish could chew):
Attachment 437575 Attachment 437576 Attachment 437577
and not just sunfish or crappie:
Attachment 437578 Attachment 437581
Quite a mouthful if you ask me - even if you didn't. ; )

But on those days, size wasn't crucial beyond a certain length, but the flapping in-your-face tail was more that the fish could ignore. (If someone waved a big flag in my face they'd have h*** to pay! Eating it wouldn't even have crossed my mind.)

There will always be available those universal-conditions lures that get the highest number of strikes from small and large fish alike. The Crappie Magnet is one. Something about the size and straight thin, double-tails when used with a slow retrieve really brings out the JAWS in fish! I even attach the tails to one of my molded bodies preferring a larger body for that silhouette/action most fish can't allow to pass by.
Attachment 437579 Attachment 437580 Attachment 437582
(Note the clear non-color which does as well as any other.)

Of course my choice of jig weights for most small plastics is 1/32 - 1/16 oz.

Jiggers should always include jig weight in the combination-of-lure-factors. The heavier the jig the faster the retrieve. You can't go slow enough IMO (unless you know the exact time of your passing. Morbid, but I couldn't resist.)

When it comes to beetle-spin type lures, you don't have much of a choice - steady as she goes. Which strongly suggests that lure speed is crucial and must be matched to lure action and size.

(BTW Your line must be supple enough and light enough to allow good lure action no match the lures chosen. No 50 lb test mono for these lures!)

So in conclusion lure size is only one important element of angler choice / fish choice - this one the ultimate determinant.

Guess I'll go fishing and spend less time choosing lures (and writing) and more time fishing.

Ketch, I would like to see the lure on the jig used to catch those bass - if you don't mind.

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

Ketch, I would like to see the lure on the jig used to catch those bass - if you don't mind.

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the river bass liked this bait was that day , 2 inch fat body chart and green/ lemon lime ,1/16 number 4 sickle hook.....

Ahhh yes - spike tail. One my all time favorites.
Thanks

1/16 oz jig, sickle hook and mono?

I feel bigger/heavier jigs work better in muddy or real deep water . Only use tubes and handties in nothing smaller than 2'' with 1/8 oz . Biggest thing is holding the bait in their face IMO . :fish

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Match the hatch

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Here that is mostly Gizzard Shad so our fish love bigger baits .:twocents

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

1/16 oz jig, sickle hook and mono?

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Yes sir , jighead shape/size and hook sizes can be used to reduce and or inflate and create profiles that the fish want to see as I am sure you already know and ,,,,
Mono is my game , my hooksets are just not what the doc ordered up for a braid user.:Rofl

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

I feel bigger/heavier jigs work better in muddy or real deep water . Only use tubes and handties in nothing smaller than 2'' with 1/8 oz . Biggest thing is holding the bait in their face IMO . :fish

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Wish it was that easy here , the crappie here have multiple size food items in lots of places and it is often hard to decide what size is best to send swimming, yesterday there were 1 inch shad in numbers at a spot I hit , a cast netter there told me when i got there , so big baits were not on the menu .

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Yes sir , jighead shape/size and hook sizes can be used to reduce and or inflate and create profiles that the fish want to see

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Profile is mostly a function of the lure material used whether feather, hair or plastic (hard or soft). IMO Lead heads are ignored and fish focus on the lure's shape, size and action but always in combination. Painted heads may get some attention, but overall, the focus is on body/ tail profile and lure action in general. (note: tails aren't absolutely necessary to get strikes as long as the body profile / lure action is good.)


Attachment 437996 Attachment 437997

The above lures each display different profiles and action tails - neither better than the other and both finesse in action that are different from one another. They are only two from a list numbering in the hundreds of lures that are capable of catching different species and size fish any day sensitive-prone fish are found. Totally insensitive fish won't bite anything,

Granted, large lures exclude smaller fish whereas small to medium size lures can catch a large size range of fish.