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Post insightFish feeding windows are driven by barometric pressure, not time of day
The conventional wisdom of dawn and dusk being peak fishing times is incomplete. Fish feed most actively during falling barometric pressure (pre-front) and become lethargic during high, stable pressure (post-front). A barometric pressure drop of 0.05+ inHg over 3 hours triggers aggressive feeding. Use a fishing barometer app — it predicts bite windows better than any solunar table.
Match the hatch means matching SIZE before color
When fish are feeding selectively on a specific baitfish or insect, the size of your lure matters 3-5x more than color. A 2-inch shad imitation when fish are eating 4-inch shad will get ignored regardless of how perfect the color match is. Start by matching length, then profile (slim vs wide), then action, then color. Color is the last variable, not the first.
Braided line is superior for sensitivity but fluorocarbon leader is essential in clear water
Braided line has near-zero stretch, transmitting every bump and bite directly to your rod tip. But its visibility in clear water spooks educated fish. Use 15-20lb braid as your mainline with a 6-8 foot fluorocarbon leader connected by a double uni knot or FG knot. This gives you the best of both: sensitivity from braid, invisibility from fluoro. This setup dominates tournament bass fishing for a reason.