Post
by Anglinarcher » Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:52 pm
I thought I would chime in late on the topic of patterns. I will agree, and disagree, with dougw and muskyhunter.
I contend that first and foremost is the action. In this regard, I agree with both in as much that this is the most important.
I then believe that profile is next important. To a fish with a small mouth, a short fat bait is not as tempting as a long narrow bait. To a fish with a large mouth, fat profiles often out fish long narrow profiles.
Third is size. So, in this respect, we can agree, again, in as much as any fish will prefer the largest size bait it can eat, simply because it takes as much energy to catch a large meal as a small meal. Of course, fishing larger baits will thin out the smaller fish while small baits will not necessarily eliminate the larger fish.
Forth, now we get color. I am old school, with a lot of lures that are not "photo print" in my boxes. They all catch fish, and most of the time I agree that general color is critical, not specific color. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of days when a specific pattern is the only one that will work. In this respect, we will need to agree to disagree. Color is only forth on my list, but it is still important.
Fifth is scent. With slow presentation, in cold water, scent has proven to be important. With faster presentations, reaction strikes, warmer water, scent seems to offer no advantage.
FNF, I like your perch color, and I also am lobbying River2Sea for a better perch. I will post up my perch soon. Perch offers a lot of advantages to the northern fisherman that you and I find so important. Nevertheless, the color is only 4th on the list of important factors.
If you have the action right (S-Waver has a great Circle-Escape action),
and if you have the profile right (S-Waver is narrow enough for small mouth fish but robust enough for big fish,
and you have the size correct (the 168 is good, not great, but good for pike and muskie),
then finding the right color verses the "that will do color" will make a huge difference.
Too much water, so many fish, too little time.