(Editor's note: The following is the latest installment in a series of fishing tips presented by The Bass University. Check back each Friday for a new tip.)
Louisiana pro Cliff Crochet may have competed in three Bassmaster Classics, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely avoided the horrible feeling of having a bass explode on his bait, only to get away unscathed. In fact, as a committed frog fisherman, he’s probably experienced it more than most anglers. But out of that misfortune he’s developed a system for catching fish that show themselves, but don’t get hooked.
Obviously, the best way to avoid needing a comeback bait is to catch the fish at the first opportunity. That’s not always possible, and the Cajun Baby believes that if you hook a fish – except typically for one aggressively guarding a bed – you’re probably better off coming back another day.
If the fish doesn’t get hooked, though, he’s still fair game. Crochet said that his No. 1 rule in this situation is to “avoid chaos.” In other words, don’t make stupid mistakes and “avoid the avoidable stuff.” Also, take this as a positive sign. Even though the fish missed, you’re getting bites, which means “we’re getting information on how to solve the puzzle.” Figure out where the fish bit, how aggressive it was, and the speed of your retrieve, and you’re closer to a solution.
When you experience a miss, staying calm allows you to “take a mental picture of where the fish came from.”
If the fish hammered his frog, he may go back with the same one again. If it just rolled on the bait, though, in a noncommittal fashion, he’ll go back with something less aggressive like a Senko or a Texas Rig. “Have a comeback rod ready,” he said. If it’s in a rod locker, or tangled with another stick, you’re going to lose your line of sight.
Sometimes there’s a solution in between using the exact same lure and going to a different category altogether. For example, if he’s throwing a Rat-L-Trap and a fish knocks it, he’ll switch the size, the color or the sound profile before going to a totally new style of bait. Nevertheless, he said that the “best two comeback baits ever are the jig and the Senko.” With the former, you can swim it to the target and drop it on him, and with the latter, even if the fish are not aggressive you can torture them and make them think about it until they bite.
One of his primary theories about trying to “bird dog” a fish that showed itself is the concept of “same but different.” If he made a bass strike once, but didn’t complete the job, there may be some subtle variation that allows him to get it done on a subsequent cast. For example, if he’s throwing a square-bill to a stump, perhaps he’ll throw the same lure but change the angle or retrieve speed. Or perhaps he’ll throw another lure that accomplishes the same basic goal – a swim jig, a ChatterBait or a spinnerbait. He’s not reinventing the wheel so much as figuring out the precise tool that works the best. If he’s getting short strikes on a buzzbait or a toad, that “same but different” theory might force him to pick up a hollow-bodied frog. It won’t cover as much water, but it has a better hook-up percentage.
On deep summertime structure, “same but different” might lead him to put down a Fat Free Shad and pick up a Luck E Strike Freak, or a 6XD or a DT20. It’s all about dialing in the mood and making the most of second chances.
If you want to learn some of Crochet’s other favorite “same but different” lures, check out his full video, available only by subscribing to The Bass University TV.
