I've talked to fellas that said that they would do very good with a certain lure in an area, but then the next season in that same area they didn't do at all well with that lure, but changing to another lure caused their catches to pick back up again... Has anyone else experienced this?

I've experienced that when Bass fishing on the river, and I cant explain why, I guess thats the reason why we take tackle boxes and a assortment of lures along when we go fishing, to give the fish a choice.

That's true Hemlock.................. And, I suppose that is the reason I have not personally experienced this "problem" when trapping... I had my "favorites" in lures...but still, I used a good variety, and in various combinations... It often seemed that in one area, or time/weather condition, a certain lure would produce better than others...while in another area, another did better.

I wonder if it's something to do with water levels, or maybe they get smart on a persistantly used lure and then when you back off and not use it for a while they forget, but if thats the case why will they usually always go after shiny stuff???

I really don't know...but...talking about fishing lures... I was watching a fishing program once with Jimmy Huston, and a guy that was fishing with him asked him if he thought fish became "lure shy", like after they were caught with a certain lure, then released, would they not hit that lure again, or how long it took for them to forget... Jimmy Huston said something to the effect of.... No, fish didn't have the intelligence to remember, and were not capable of that much reasoning. He said that on more than one occasion he has caught a fish, released it, and while fishing along that same area an hour or so later, caught the same fish, on the same lure again. (He didn't mention how he could tell it was the same fish.) ... And that he had seen where tests were done under controlled conditions, where the same fish, after only a short period, would hit the same lure time after time... He said fish basically react purely out of instinct.

If only I could get paid to devote all my time to subjects like this... I dont know if I buy Jimmey's theory though.. I still think fish have some kinda memory..Thats not to say I agree with those PETA people on when they say fish suffer when there caught by a hook.. Thats stupid!!

I have noticed that I have to use a certain lure if I switch I catch nothing. One of my favorites and most productive is Hawbakers 100 red fox gland lure. It catches everything. From skunks, coon, possums, gray fox to red fox. Most times I I only use a dab of the lure placed on a blade of grass and dropped down the dirt hole set. I will give it a shot of fox urine too. However I do not use any food lure what so ever.

I have tried the red and gray Hawbakers lure and the Widow Maker lure and it's just does not seem to work like the 100 red fox lure.

Kinda the same way here UB... I have found that all the HAWBAKER'S lures that I have tried worked pretty good actually, to one degree or another... And I will also say that one of his lures in particular is possibly my all time favorite commercial lure for "all around" dry-dirt predator trapping... HAWBAKER'S 600... It was one of the few commercial lures that I always made sure I kept a goodly supply of on hand.

I think sometimes it's just basic "what they feed on". For instance, I've been to lakes where there is plenty of shad in the lakes and knowing bass, you know they feed on them....so, every time, you will catch a bass using a shad type or shiny lure. But, our lake, there is none and no matter how you try (except during certain times of year or lake conditions depending on their aggression cause bass are ornery buggers) you won't get a hit on a shad type lure. I tell you one thing that they would eat up on that lake, but I'd never try it ($$$$$)...is a bluegill punkinseed. They mostly feed on bream there. (I'm tempted to buy a "beater" to try it though)
Bass are fairly easy though cause they're so anal and mean most of the time. A buzz or spinner bait, they can't seem to ignore if they're in a meanie mood.

River fishing though....I always had to try a few things til I figured out what they like. I'm not what you call a fisherman, my friends & dad always seem to know right off what to use on any given day but I can't do it unless it's a lake I know well. Rivers, forget about it.

Hitting it again though, I've caught the same fish over and over. Jimmy Houston, I saw him fish what I refer to as a pond once...so, if that's his norm, I'd guess he can tell by it's markings and size. Unless it's the spring, then you can see them on bed..but I don't know if he does that or not. I have at times, mostly for "checkups" of sorts though.