There are several reasons to fish a small bait and this can play a big part of the decision process that anglers must make during their time on the water. Many factors such as water clarity, angling pressure, available forage, inactive fish, weather conditions, and the size of bass you are targeting are variables that we face and small baits can play a vital role making a successful day on the water. I would like to go through some of these factors and give some insight on how I handle these situations with some of my favorite small baits. Water Clarity Lure size is definitely something to take into consideration when fishing clear water. In really clear water, the more bait you show the easier it is for the bass to identify it and change its mind about hitting it.
Small baits are almost mandatory when fishing clear-water conditions.
Many anglers will match the line size and bait color when fishing clear water, but do not give bait size proper consideration. Most of us face clear-water situations when bed fishing during the spring. At some lakes we fish, we have clear water most of the year. A bass will ignore a big worm or lizard at times, but a small bait with a subtle action can trigger a bite. One small bait that is a mainstay for my clear water fishing is a Hibdon's series tube by Gambler.