Which stage is most important?

[wiperhunter2]

There isn't one correct answer for your 1-5 stages because it depends on so many factors. At any of those stages you might catch fish and it might work one day but not the next. So the best advice I can give you is to try different things, until you find something that works. You can leave your bait is one spot for as long as you want, sometime you can get a bite in a few minutes, sometimes it takes hours. My advise is to use two poles, one that you leave in one spot and move it every hour or so. With your second pole you can cast around trying different things, like your 1-5 stages. Did you try fishing the bait on the bottom or just using a bobber? Another thing you should try is live minnows, if it is legal in your area. If that isn't possible, dead minnows are also worth trying. There are so many things you could try, like lures or plastics. Have you tried crickets or grass hoppers?
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