Wilderness Training And Bass Fishing

[Felix77]

As I get more and more into bass fishing I wonder if there is an advantage to having wilderness skills of any kind.  Even as simple as knowing the types of trees, the soil they grow in etc.  I'm not talking about Bear Grylls like skills but something.

 

Is there value here?  If so then what is important?

 

As a city boy (born in the Bronx, NY) I didn't grow up in nature per-se.  Most of the trees I saw were surrounded by concrete and fenced up.  Check out my Bronx nature pic.  

[J Francho]

I just find that stuff interesting anyway.  I'd think fish biology would apply more to your fishing than forestry topics.

[Felix77]

I just find that stuff interesting anyway.  I'd think fish biology would apply more to your fishing than forestry topics.

 

I will tell you a little more about what prompted my question ...

 

I was watching an episode of the Bass Pros.  Tim Horton was talking about soil composition as it relates to fishing.  He went on describing in detail some of various trees, the soil they grow on and how that relates to the soil going into the water.  He then described it as a good gauge of the type of soil to look for when chasing bass throughout the year.

 

I also think other wilderness stuff would apply more to the hiking fisherman (those chasing bass from shore).  

 

Made me wonder what others on the forum think about it.

[tomustang]

Well when your on the bank you know what plants to stay away from that have poison

 

 

But a good example would beto know what types of plants/trees that shed berries into the water. I have some plants that drop berries into a canal here where the carp feed on them

[jhoffman]

My whole life has revolved around some form of outdoor activity. Growing up hunting and fishing was a start. I then learned about all the aquatic life to become the best trout fisherman I could on pressured streams. Ive studdied the habitat to find better places to hunt. Did a summer job with the USDA to learn about native plants to control flooding. Studied switchgrass as an alternative fuel. Graduated with a degree in IT and went on to write one of the first pieces of precision ag software which taught me about ag as well as mapping. While I was boatless I spent an ungodley amount of time studying the whitetail, my other passion, where they bed, how they travel, what they eat, how they breed...

 

Funny looking back how it all connects. If it interests you, its worth while. I cant see how soil composition is going to have much of an effect on your fishing. One thing to note is that there is a corrilation between soil, rivers and big bucks. There might be something similar with fish but it doesnt quite add up based on what I know. If you look at where the good soil was deposited via the glacial ice if the pattern held true in fish we would the biggest bass in the midwest along the major rivers instead of in the swamps of florida and in the lakes of Cali. One thing soil will never change is genetics so you could only have half the puzzle, high quality forage be it grasses and soil or better shad but not have the ability to grow large fish.

[Paul Roberts]

Absolutely. There are real reasons why some areas produce better fishing than others.

 

As to knowing your trees, here's an example...

 

Take a forest. Trees are not randomly distributed. Different trees have diff site requirements that offer a certain range of soil type, drainage, nutrients, amount of sunlight, etc... Willows like wet areas with richer soils like creek bottoms and springs, some maples and oaks are wet rich soiled swamp dwellers, others occupy higher drier less rich flats or ridges, some like S facing slopes, others N. The ironwoods like dry well drained gravelly ridgetops. Juniper and Cedar need tons of light and not much moisture so they grow on disturbed or sites with little competition for light. Etc., etc., ....

 

Now flood that forest. If you can recognize the tree types sticking up you can read the topography and substrate beneath in a direct visual way.

 

Soil qualities are a hot topic amongst pond managers as soil can determine what grows where, and how much.

 

As jhoffman said, it all connects. And the more you know the more you have to draw from.

 

Some favorite quotes (paraphrased):

 

"There is only as much beauty available to us in nature as we are prepared to appreciate. And not a grain more." -HD Thoreau

 

"Opinion is easy. Knowledge takes work." -Carl Sagan

 

"My grandmother told me the secrets of life are scrawled on little scraps of paper strewn on your life's path. Your job is to collect and read them. Eventually, if you collect enough of them, they'll begin to make sense.... If we never pick up those scraps of paper and never read them we'll keep wondering about life and never learn. Guess I must've missed a few." -Frank Davis, Pawnee elder

 

I like his sense of humor too.

[Bankbeater]

Being able to ID a snake might come in handy.

[Felix77]

"Opinion is easy. Knowledge takes work." -Carl Sagan

 

Like that quote a lot!

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Sounds like a good idea to me.  Definitely useful to be able to identify poisonous plants and snakes and a good point was made about the different types of trees growing in different settings.  Also might not be a bad idea to have some basic first aid knowledge.  Not sure if you'd consider that 'wilderness training' but still good to know.

[SirSnookalot]

I've done several backpacking/canoe trips into the Algoma region of Ontario, at that time there were no smart phones or handheld gps and I don't know if you could get reception these days.  Know how to read a map and compass and mark your trail for the return trip.  Build a campsite on high ground, build a proper fire and have several back up disposable lighters all packed waterproof and in different storage locations.  Know how to clean fish, have some freeze dried food in case the fishing isn't good, boil your water, first aid kit an absolute must.  Get the weather forecast just prior to going (if it's unfavorable cancel the trip), some light weight raingear like a poncho and a change of clothes, have to travel light the equipment starts to add up and too much just will burden you down.  As said knowing plant life is important and there can always be dangerous animals around, if going to another country you may not be allowed a firearm, something to check out first.  And NEVER go during black fly season, this one I know first hand.  Oh yeh, bury your biodegradable garbage and don't take anything with you that you aren't prepared to return home with, leave the environment as you found it.

 

Make sure you have a fishing license.........and a great time !

[Bass-minded]

Learn to ID trash v. lures that previous fishermen have dropped. Most of my tackle is other people's leftovers and I do fine.

[SirSnookalot]

Scariest incident I had was moose walking thru my campsite at dawn on the shores of Little Dozier lake in Ontario, I didn't have to worry about going to the latrine that morning.  Pretty scary for a city boy hearing all the rumbling in the bushes and wondering what might be charging out.  No roads, just bushes trees and water, made that trip 4 times, it was great.