Should post in general fishing, but interested in the opinion of some of the regulars in here-

[Rob Jr]

Depending on what I see on my electronics,I usually throw about 10 cranks, and if nothing switch to a Ned, then a spinner, then a different color crank. If nothing, I move on to a different location or type of structure.  It tends to work for me.  I should say that I have grown less patient in my senior years.

[mixermarkb]

I think if I'm honest, most of the time when I'm spending waaaay too long on a spot, I'm fishing a memory instead of actually putting together a picture of what's currently happening.

Still though, I'm in awe of those guys who always seem to figure them out fast enough to do damage in a day. Get me some clouds and wind and I can usually put it on them, flat calm and high skies and I'm scratching my head as often as not. 

[Old plug]

I have always felt there are 3 sides to the success of fishing I have posted that before. It all comes down to being in the right place at the right time doing it the right way. Those things may things seem so easy or so impossible are even a smart aleck reply.  I will be the first to say they are not simple at all. It takes paying action to what is happening around you and clearing  your mind with  with perceived notions, about lure and color.and what folks saying you should be doing.  You just learn the patterns and keep a open mind about even assuming those conditions are set in concrete to determine where to find fish. That Is another good way to a skunky day. Currenly here on LOZ  crappie are being caught in good numbers right off the bank fishing a jig under a bobber about 2 ft deep at the most. The water temperature in my areas by the is only 43 -45 degrees. Now that would seem to many a fluke. But in fact it is a traditional early season pattern.  As far as lures and colors go I would not worry to much about it just and fish what you understand. Over the years I have seen numerous times everyone is saying their biting on something in certain places and many people get  in the rut over that. Then sure enough the next day you it comes out people were  getting them in different spots and ways.. It is not easy and it takes a lot of practice to develope that third sense. That force is pretty strong with Wrench. We have rarely fished together  (We just do not like to fish the same way) One of those outings he starts tell me" wait up  there is good one right there" I thought he was wrong because the sport was no different than the rest of the bank that I could see.  About 4 cast  later he reels in a real nice keeper

[m&m]

Mixermarkb, first of all this is a great question because it gets everyone thinking. All the answers contain great information too. Thanks for posting. I think most of us approach it differently if we are fishing a derby or just fishing for fun. I use my knowledge of seasonal patterns of what stage the fish should be in, then I factor in the water temp, air temp and current weather conditions. Lastly I use that knowledge and go to spots where I have caught fish under those conditions in the past. That is where time on the water helps. Most of us see many fishermen pull up to a spot, make 10 casts, start the big engine and go on a milk run. The one thing that we have no control over is what the fish want to do. If I see fish suspended off an area where I have caught fish before, I will spend extra time there because at some time they will move shallower to eat.  My plan this year is to fish different areas in an effort to learn more about TRL. 

Again, thanks for the question and everyone’s answers. 

Mike

[Royal Blue]

This is a great question.  It really hits home today too.  Fished a derby over the weekend and chased an a-rig bite that we'd been on in an  area where it just wasn't happening yesterday.  We did catch a couple, but we also spent hundreds of casts and 3-4 hours in what ended up being a really unproductive area.  The water was gin clear and bites were very few and far between.  Both of us were convinced that we were doing the right thing and frankly it may have paid off by waiting for it to warm up.  It was a big gamble and it didn't pay off.  We ran to dirty water and caught a ton of 14 1/2 inch fish.  Those things were pretty fat and heavy, but just short.  In hindsight, we should've chased the colored water from the very beginning and stuck to our guts and not the "plan."  I'm one that will stay too long in an area if I'm convinced that they're there.  I like to make repeated casts to the same spot, especially shore cover like a bush or a laydown.  

[Dewayne French]

IMHO which is very humble.... We have to many preconceived ideas when we go fishing.  There are basically 2 types of guys/gals on here who fish (tournament or fun fishing) and they have a different answer.  Now with that said we also have to have a starting point or at least an idea of where, what, and which lure to start with.  The small pea brain of the bass, crappie, walleye, or what ever fish we are after beat us every time.  We use to much of our brain and we OVER think them if that makes sense.  They live by instinct, but we live by reasoning and those 2 don't jive very often.  Weekend or week day fishing on the same lake every weekend is very different than traveling around fishing a different tournament on a different body of water, a few times a month.  In tournament fishing your looking for active (biting) fishing you don't have time "to make them bite" also I and most of us can't make them bite.  Those guys who can make them bite are those guys you see at the top of the leader board every time at your local tournaments or on the big trails. 

 

That is a very good question you asked and the one we ask ourselves every time we are on the water.  My dad is passed on to a better fishing area several years ago and he always said they never bite the same way 2 days in a row.  I'm finding there is some truth to that.  One of the best pieces of info I have taken away from fishing is we all know how to catch them we OVER think it.  So just keep it simple....Just think of the times you have caught them really good or your weighed in a big bag at a tournament.  If I was a betting man (which I'm not... I spend to much on tackle) I would say it wasn't a earth shattering technique or some thing totally secret.  

[mixermarkb]

How long on a spot is too long? I know there isn't any one answer, it's all a feel thing for the conditions, but I have left fish that I should have stayed and caught, and I've stayed on a spot and tried to force a bite when it was never gonna happen.

If, and this is a big IF,  because mental discipline is HARD, my head is in the game, I've done my best with hitting a spot where I catch fish again with the same bait one or two more times, and a follow up bait for a couple casts, and then moving on to find something similar. Sometimes I will get excited about "the pattern" I think I've found and leave a spot too soon, without thoroughly fishing it, and sometimes I will stay on a spot and beat it to death with everything in the box. 

 

[Quillback]

ne how long on one spot always is something I think about too.  If I find multiple fish on a spot I'll fish it until I can't get anymore bites, then I'll leave.  I might come back later and fish that spot again.  But watching the pros, they'll stay on a spot all 4 days in a tournament.  Tak Omori won that tourney this spring fishing the same spot.  Seem some others do it also.  And they have dry spells for hours where they don't catch anything, but they'll stay there.  I can't so that myself, but I'm a fun fisherman with way different objectives than the big time tourney guys.

[Dewayne French]

Time on the water is my best answer.  It is never the same answer stay 5 mins or stay 1 hour or all day.  Its all relative to the situation,  time of the year, weather, even day length can be a major player and recreational traffic can make a spot go dead.  The fish are still there just in a negative mood. Most lakes have fish in all parts most generally =you just need to find your comfort  zone.  I'm not qualified to answer the stay or go question it is to situational and to many factors can influence that. 

Here's my take on that question and it will be accepted or rejected based on fishing style. I fish mainly multi day tournaments  not very many single day events except charity tournaments so I fish for active fish.  If I know/think there are fish on a particular "spot" as you call it.  I will return and fish it at a different time of day, wind direction, or when the boat traffic lays down.  As I said earlier I can't make them bite and I realize that, so I move to hopefully find a active school or fill out my limit. I know that wasn't an answer  

[mixermarkb]

I guess if I had two or three days to prefish, I'd be more likely to commit to one location or better yet one pattern. I've seen it work too, but I've also seen the very best fishermen in the world lose by not changing up when the fish change. Keep the replies coming guys, I am learning from all of you!