New Walk-The-Dog Baby Shad Bait Ball Lure

[Champ188]

People naturally look for an easy solution, but in fishing as in life, there isn't a magic bullet. If they'd invest as much time in learning about their quarry as they do searching for the easy button, they'd catch a lot more fish. Truth is, bass really aren't that hard to catch once you manage to get around them. It's the getting around them -- and the right ones -- that can be tough. So, the more time and effort you put into learning all you can about the fish, the more you're gonna catch.

[gramps50]

People naturally look for an easy solution, but in fishing as in life, there isn't a magic bullet. If they'd invest as much time in learning about their quarry as they do searching for the easy button, they'd catch a lot more fish. Truth is, bass really aren't that hard to catch once you manage to get around them. It's the getting around them -- and the right ones -- that can be tough. So, the more time and effort you put into learning all you can about the fish, the more you're gonna catch.

Interesting point, the more you know about the species of fish your trying to catch the easy it is to get into their heads, per say, and figure out what they will do when presented with something that is suppose to memic forage.

I like to watch my lures in clear water to see how they react to different movements of the pole and reel. Then I try and decide if that looks natural or not, has helped me.

Will the bait ball catch fish, sure if it's fished right, I'm guessing it will catch more fisherman.

[rps]

If you can walk it, it will catch fish. Whether it will out fish a spook, a sammie, or any of the other WTD lures is a matter for the fish to decide. Remember, my "go to" top water is a $5 Bill Norman lure, slightly modified because I wanted to make it special.

[ness]

I'm with Champ -- learn how to fish; take a pass on the latest-greatest thing.

BTW -- I've got some Banjo Minnows listed on craig-bay if'n anyone's interested.

[abkeenan]

Let me preface by saying that I am the guy that will at least give the latest and greatest a look or two and sometimes will buy when it comes to baits. (Don't get me started on Hydrowave). There is something to be said for a bait that the fish have never seen before. I bought one of the Kopper Baitball Jerk Baits last year when they came out and they look good and all and like 5 bites said it is the only one in the series that had my interest as you are stopping it for extended periods of time for the fish to get a good look. Does it matter what the bait looks like in most circumstances? Probably not in all honesty as long as it looks somewhat real and is put in front of a active fish. I REALLY don't think a fish tunes in to each individual fish on the Baitball series and see it as just a singular target. It REALLY comes down to confidence. I tied on that Glass Minnow baitball jerk bait and made about 5-10 casts with it and put on a McStick because I just have so much confidence in it. I didn't give the Koppers a fair shake at all but I intend to again if we ever have a jerk bait season again

[Fish24/7]

bet this lure would work great right now. Matches the hatch perfectly.

won't be long before I get my hands on some

[Ham]

If you can walk it, it will catch fish. Wheter it will outfish a spook, a sammie, or any of the other WTD lures is a matter for the fish to decide. Remember, my "go to" top water is a $5 Bill Norman lure, slightly modified because I wanted to make it special.

How much per lure were your slight modifications ? Lol.

[Bird Watcher]

One place that I fish has crystal clear water (10' vis) and is loaded with shad this time of year. Mats of them that it looks like you could walk across. The predator fish (LM, hybrids, whites, catfish) live right among them. It usually looks just like something off the Discovery channel as the predator fish swim through the schools of shad. The shad school parts at the predator swims through and for the most part the predator fish seem to ignore the shad, until one breaks rank and acts erratic. Then it's instantly game over for the shad. I'm always amazed that I can present a single, live, free lined shad among millions that look just like it, but my shad gets bit over and over. The difference between the one on my hook the other million right in front the predator fish? All I can figure is that the one on my hook is constantly struggling against the hook and line and therefore appears erratic compared to the slow, fluid, pace of the undulating pace of the shad school.

I guess what I'm saying is, at least in my mind and based on observation, is that one bait presented with an erratic motion would tend to outdraw 2-3 motionless baits. Regardless of how realistic they appear.

[Champ188]

I think Bird Watcher is all over it. His free-lined shad is wounded and therefore easier prey for the predator. Same with a lure presented differently than the hordes of shad that the bass are swimming among. Otherwise, how else would our lures ever be singled out over the millions of other baitfish in the lake?

[rps]

How much per lure were your slight modifications ? Lol.

Low blow dude. That one will leave a mark.

I paid Tim Hughes about $12 per bait to repaint. I bought Daiichi Death Trap trebles, and I tied good feathers and tinsel to the trail hook. All in, I have about $20 per lure invested.

On the other hand, if we ever have a top water bite again, I will match my baits against Sammies and other high end WTD and spit lures. Only as a salve to my ego, I invite you to search my posts for the last several years to see the results.