I have a theory in regards to bait selection for Pitching/Flipping

[RumRiverRat]

With the myriad choices in Plastics we have to choose from, I would bet money that I could catch Green Bass with virtually any of the styles by simply putting the bait right in the fishes wheelhouse.

We all have "GO TO" baits that we use when fishing docks/Stumps/Laydowns/Slop etc......

I spent a great deal of time fishing docks and slop on a metro lake last summer.

I used Ring Fry weightless Texas Rigged and with weighted EWG hooks, Yum Dingers, Strike King Shim E Stiks and Coffee Tubes and Senkos.

I would throw multiple baits at the same dock, I would put different baits next to the same post 4 or 5 times or under the same section multiple times.

Eventually the fish would be annoyed enough to bite, if I did not get bit the first time.

Many times I would catch 3 to 5 fish sometimes all on different lures off the same dock.

So my Theory is........If you put on bait right in the wheelhouse of a fish enough times they will eat it. Regardless if it is a Sweet Beaver, Craw Tube, Ring Fry, Senko, Wooly Bullee, Mighty Bug...you get the idea.

Discuss...........or mock and ridicule me.

[Superduty]

I'd rather be "in the wheelhouse" with the wrong bait, than have the right bait that isn't in the wheelhouse. I would agree with your statement 90% of the time. Every once in a while, it just seems that one particular bait will outfish everything else. Who knows if it's shape, action, color, speed etc. It's hard to prove or document and the bass aren't talking...

[bemidjibasser]

I also agree that a bait put in the strike zone, regardless of shape/color/size is a better bait than the "perfect" bait poorly placed or presented.

[Gardiner14]

I agree with you all to, but i think sometimes certain baits will catch fish easyer if not directly in the strike zone (if that made sense)

[TonkaBass]

Its a good point. I agree with it, but if you go and throw the same bait at a dock 30 times and another guy throws a different bait at the dock all 30 times, pretty sure the dude who tosses different lures is gonna get bit more. The fish might get annoyed by the same bait over and over and over time decide to mouth it, but its a fact that they hate a lot of different shapes, sizes, colors.

[Cecil]

I agree, but I always throw a different bait if I'm passing through an area for the second or third time. Just gives me some confidence and I think it helps...

[RumRiverRat]

Have tested my theory numerous times this season.

I threw 3 different baits, each at least 20 times over the span of 15 minutes, at a Male guarding a bed at the end of a dock on Tuesday .

Eventually irritated him enough to eat.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I agree 100%. I have said many times. There is no magic lure.. A "given" bass will probably eat 1000 different lures. Our job is to find the most affective lure for the conditions to cover the location of the bass.