Versatility

[Paul Roberts]

Decided to pull it.

[WRB]

Great topic, lets open this can of worms!

Is being a versitle bass angler better than being a specialist?

When I think of current top Elite pros that are versitle, good with lots of lures and presentations, Iconelli comes to mind. Versitle bass anglers are called junk fishing anglers today. When you think of the top Elite angler KVD name comes to mind, however I don't consider KVD as being as versitle bass angler as Ike.

I tend to be a specialist and prefer to catch bass with jigs, swimbaits and plastic worms. Like most bass anglers I can use a wide variety of lures like top water spooks, poppers, chuggers, frogs and enjoy fishing with jerk baits, spinner baits, crankbaits, spoons, Senkos, finesse worms etc. I only go to being versitle when my first choices don't work out.

The question then becomes which is more productive, being versitle or being a specialist?

Tom

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Great topic, lets open this can of worms!

Is being a versitle bass angler better than being a specialist?

When I think of current top Elite pros that are versitle, good with lots of lures and presentations, Iconelli comes to mind. Versitle bass anglers are called junk fishing anglers today. When you think of the top Elite angler KVD name comes to mind, however I don't consider KVD as being as versitle bass angler as Ike.

I tend to be a specialist and prefer to catch bass with jigs, swimbaits and plastic worms. Like most bass anglers I can use a wide variety of lures like top water spooks, poppers, chuggers, frogs and enjoy fishing with jerk baits, spinner baits, crankbaits, spoons, Senkos, finesse worms etc. I only go to being versitle when my first choices don't work out.

The question then becomes which is more productive, being versitle or being a specialist?

Tom

You mean junk fishing?

 

I tend to think of myself as versatile, but more so in an experimental way. I'll try any lure/technique, and I'll try work it until my hands are sore... but if it doesn't produce I shelf it. I'll eventually try it again, but usually not until I'm facing a skunk day on the water or if I'm fishing with a person who excels at the technique who can school me (wild card: there are also textbook examples of times when certain baits excel above others. I never caught a fish on a wakebait until I learned to fish one in late spring, for instance.) There is a time and place for everything, and I've seen good fish caught on some unlikely rigs.

 

With that said, I think versatility is crucial to being a well rounded angler. There are some times that fish will only go for certain presentations, and if an angler doesn't have it in their bag of tricks then they are not catching fish. On the other side of the same token, I think it's crucial to have a solid crankbait game (or jigs, or dropshot, etc., etc.) These techniques require a good deal of practice and dedication that is somewhat specialized.

 

Balance is the key.

[Hooligan]

I disagree with your Internet stance and assert my own. So there.

Really though, it's something that is very subjective. Versatility on the water is one of those things that you grow in to. You have to make the choice to fish the conditions and swing for the fences.

Versatility will always pay, however it may not always pay the highest. In those situations that you're forced to be versatile, fish your strengths.

In terms of versatility at the top levels, Ike doesn't even make my top ten. Evers, Klein, Horton, Snowden, Chapman, Faircloth- all I would consider to me more versatile than Iaconelli.

But then, what do I know...

[bassh8er]

I disagree with your Internet stance and assert my own. So there.

Really though, it's something that is very subjective. Versatility on the water is one of those things that you grow in to. You have to make the choice to fish the conditions and swing for the fences.

Versatility will always pay, however it may not always pay the highest. In those situations that you're forced to be versatile, fish your strengths.

In terms of versatility at the top levels, Ike doesn't even make my top ten. Evers, Klein, Horton, Snowden, Chapman, Faircloth- all I would consider to me more versatile than Iaconelli.

But then, what do I know...

I'll admit that I don't follow tourneys, but has Timmy Horton had a decent finish in an Elite Series event in recent years?

[Hooligan]

He's had quite a few top ten and top twenty in the past two years in the elites, as well as finishing well in the PAA. That's what I'm talking about in terms of versatility not always paying the best, but it will always pay.

[Paul Roberts]

Is being a versitle bass angler better than being a specialist?

 

Certainly not in terms of enjoyment. I don't think a camparison, competition, or qualifier necessarily needs to be applied to it. Unless you are a tourney angler I suppose who travels the breadth and depth of the country.

 

And there is a point where one can go too far, own too much "junk". "Junk" in my mind meaning "amassed stuff that'll never put to good use".

 

But the point of my OP was to show that one can expand horizons, discover the breadth and depth of what bass will respond to or ignore, learn to become a versatile angler in few water bodies and over a small geographic range if you explore enough. We all have places on our favorite waters, and conditions, we never catch a fish in, and that is not always the fault of the bass, the conditions, or that particular spot.

 

I said "show" bc as I was looking through my digital photo's to illustrate something and saw how many images I had that showed bass caught with so many different lures and techniques, and during a relatively short span of time on only a handful of small waters. After reading the "How do I wean myself off of Senko's" thread I thought I'd share those photo's along with some explanatory text. But, alas, I surpassed the site’s image limit. I kept deleting them until ... lacking the images I thought the text was dull in comparison sans the impact eye candy offers best. So I pulled it.

 

I see a "specialist" as someone who narrows focus for a certain end. That is one way to get something done, or find enjoyment. But the bass world is bigger than any specialist will ever learn to appreciate. And that is AOK. Pick any one narrow slice of nature, go in deep, and it can get complicated very fast.

 

The question then becomes which is more productive, being versitle or being a specialist?

...

I only go to being versitle when my first choices don't work out.

 

Tom, I think you answered your own question.

 

More seriously, specializing allows one to get really good at something, which has great carry-over if/when they branch out. Imagine being really good at a variety of techniques.

[WRB]

You will never know what works best under specific circumstances unless you are exposed to a technique and give it a try.

Fishing by myself most of the time robs me of learning from others on one hand, but allows me to perfect a skill on the ther hand. I learned a long time ago not to force feed bass anything, they have a mind of their own.

I have however also learned location trumps presentations; the right lure in the wrong place doesn't work nearly as well as the wrong lure in the right location, the right lure in the right location at the right time is the answer to being a successful bass angler. You will never know without trying.

When I fished tournaments and caught a good bag of bass, I would think I have this won, however someone or several others figures out a totally different presentations and locations and also catches a good bag of bass and your catch is just average. Sometimes you only catch a few and win the tournament because knowone else figured out anything and that is bass fishing.

My late fishing partner would say " fish where they are and if you don't catch anything, then fish where they are not"! Sounds nuts but sometimes works, fishing nothing water instead of bass looking water.

Some of my best kept secret spots are nothing looking water passed up by nearly everyone, sanctuaries for big bass waiting for me to find them.

Being versitle is a mind set.

Tom

[Paul Roberts]

It's true that there certainly are limitations to what we'd like to do and what the fish are willing to go for. Then again, lures sure are fun to collect, but where does practicality end and obsession begin?

[bassh8er]

He's had quite a few top ten and top twenty in the past two years in the elites, as well as finishing well in the PAA. That's what I'm talking about in terms of versatility not always paying the best, but it will always pay.

I check in and out. I like KVD and he obviously does ok.

I relish seeing Reese, Martens and Ish sitting below the cut, and I seem to always find Horton there too.

I do know he is currently in 91st place at Bull Shoals.

[TNBassin']

Some are questioning on whether or not the A rig has destroyed the need for versatility, especially after the 2 tourneys we had here on Douglas Lake a few weeks ago. And regarding Horton, I agree that he has really been struggling. The first day of the PAA tourney here, he had a nice bag to put him in first, and then the second day I'm not even sure he broke 10lbs and didn't make the cut for the 3rd day. I'd put Brent Ehrler and KVD at the top of my list for versatility, and Horton wouldn't even be on it.

[jhoffman]

I dont know that Ehrler is versatile he just knows where to go and he has massive amounts of patience. He will deadstick a senko for five mins if he has too. Recently in one of his interviews he pretty much stated that without the electronics no way he couldve won.

[bonzai22]

Iaconelli is definitely in my top 10 for versatility he says his main style is power fishing but he can finesse really well and do everything in between.

[slonezp]

I can flip a jig, pitch a jig, swim a jig, and tie on a different color if necessary.

[Fishing Rhino]

I can flip a jig, pitch a jig, swim a jig, and tie on a different color if necessary.

 

I hear you can also dance a mean Irish jig.

 

 

Here's what I will have my rods set up with for starters, at Pickwick, in no particular order.

 

A wacky worm rigged on the Gamakatsu wacky jig head.

 

A shaky head Strike King finesse worm on the above Gamakatsu and/or a Jackall wacky jig head.

 

A lizard rigged on an Owner Sled Head

 

A jig with a Rage Tail mini craw.

 

A Rage Tail Curly Tail grub and/or a Rage Tail Menace rigged on the Gamakatsu Wacky Jig Head.

 

Wiggle Wart, or Red Eye Shad crank bait.

 

Spinner bait

 

A drop shot setup.

[flippin and pitchin]

Being a versatile angler starts with an attitude, a willingness or desire to make an effort to fish differnt situations. If you fish the same pond and no other locations it is a moot point. If you enjoy fishing and have the means to fish differnt locations you must be willing to expand your skill sets and that generally requires more harware.

My first 15 years of fishing bass, I rarely fished deeper than 9 feet and rarely for smallmouth. When I made the move to fishing the waters where there was depth to 70 feet and clarity to 35 feet, I had to learn and at least become proficient at techniques and lure deliveries for those situations. It's not easy but it was and is fun. I can fish in a rut on my home lake and need three rods and catch some fish or expand. I blew it and missed out on some stellar smallmouith fishing for years. My mistake. Being willing to try new things and new places is the first step.

[SENKOSAM]

the right lure in the right location at the right time is the answer to being a successful bass angler.

 

Easier said than done, especially if you've never fished the water before.

 

IMO to be versatile requires one to strive to fish different waters and at the same time use lures and presentations, new or basic, that allow one to confirm their usefulness and versatility. Fishing with someone who knows a new water and uses lures you are not familiar with or in ways you thought would never work, saves a lot of time and frustration by expanding one's choices through experienc. That 's not to say I should once again become a lure junkie, buying every new model that hits the market, but that to know the versatility and limitations of a small group of basic lures (jigs, soft plastics, plugs, spinnerbaits, topwater),  makes one a specialist that is versatile using each arbitrarily in high potential situations.

 

For example, take the lowly plastic worm. C-rig, drop shot, split shot, surface jerk, shaky head jig, as a trailer and of course, the Texas rig make this lure one of the most versatile at different depths, in different cover, on different structures types, used at different speeds,  successful in three seasons and in rivers or lakes. How many of you can say you really know when and how to use the plastic worm the ways mentioned? If so, you are a lure specialist, versatile in its use but only if you've had proven successes more than a few times. Flukes don't count.

 

This goes for every basic lure category ----knowing when each has the greatest potential for catching bass, but only if you know the water and structure you can use them on and when to interchange lures and presentations as the need arises thereby fine tuning your approach. (For that to happen, sonar is essential !!!)  Sure, a plastic worm works many places a jig will work, but a jig will work better at times because of a jig's unique characteristics - bulk, skirt flair, trailer. By realizing and capitalizing on those differences, you are more versatile but also more selective because depth and cover types are less daunting and you appeal to a bass's senses in a different way.

 

Besides knowing the bottom or structure like the back of your hand, timing is everything.

You can have the best set of lures in the boat, but knowing even the time of day they might produce better adds to one's versatility. A specialist won't catch bass using lures fish won't bite (maybe because of sun angle, hourly water temp change, sky brightness, etc) or aren't even around to bite because they went deeper or deeper into thick cover. Active fish aren't active every hour of the day and respond to all lure types.

 

I don't have the experience of many of you, but I have caught fish on all lure types and presentations at one time or other. That doesn't make me specialized or versatile, just experienced and at times just plain lucky.

[TNBassin']

I dont know that Ehrler is versatile he just knows where to go and he has massive amounts of patience. He will deadstick a senko for five mins if he has too. Recently in one of his interviews he pretty much stated that without the electronics no way he couldve won.

I'm betting that would be the case with most pros nowadays. I'd love to see a tourney with old time fish finders only, or gasp....no electronics at all.

[jhoffman]

I think being versatile can hurt you at times as well. There comes a point where you know so much about different things that you second guess yourself. You might be able to catch them on x but youre convinced if you change to y that you will do better. The guy who only throws cranks and texas rig worms doesnt have that problem. His confidence in two baits is enough that he will bring in a bag. His bag might not be as big as the guy who can overcome the overload but he will be the dude who always has five.

[Felix77]

It's one thing to learn new techniques ... it's a whole other thing to instinctively be on the water, recognize a situation and then have the confidence to execute on said technique.

 

True versatility comes with staying open-minded and with time.

[Hooligan]

You're missing the point. It isn't about how many tournaments he's won, it's about how often he takes home a check. He's one of the highest rates, by percentage to make the 50 cut and get paid. Yes, there are guys that crank better, or flip better, or finesse better- and those guys win tournaments when the conditions favor their strengths. But for a guy to consistently get paid regardless of conditions? That's the mark of versatility.

I find it absolutely hilarious that TH is the angler picked out of those I listed that people have issue with- although I did expect that from some.

[WRB]

The jack of all trades and the master of none applies to bass fishing. Knowing how to cast a lure doesn't mean you know how to catch bass with the lure. You can be very versitle like that Jack and not know how to catch a single fish.

For example you are skilled at skipping jigs under docks, casting frogs under tress, walking the dog through a jungle of Lilly pads, flipping a punch rigs into a tea cup at 30' and not catch any bass because the fish are in 35' of water on main lake humps. Being versitle also means knowing where to fish and when to fish there with lures that work at that location.

When I first started posting on bass fishing Forums, some anglers would mail me topo maps of the lakes they tournament fished and asked where would I fish on this lake and what would could they use to catch bigger bass at these lakes. Studing the lake map isn't rocket science, bass are bass and relate to specific structure elements seasonally and with that in mind it was fairly easy to mark up the map using color coded highlites to indicates areas that should work seasonally and suggest a few proven presentations that work under those circumstances. Most of the anglers that received these maps back committed they never fished those areas or specific presentations before and some would remarks the areas were well known, but the presentations were new to them. Some anglers did very well and others never responded back. The point being you can fish a lake you have never fished before and do OK, if you know where to start and when.

Today more bass anglers know how to read water and fish more outside locations then they did just a few years ago. We all need to be more versitle with both presentations and electronics when fishing deep structured bass lakes.

Tom

[Felix77]

Timely article which I think compliments this thread

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/tournament-adapt.html

[Paul Roberts]

Excellent article. Lots there. Not just presenation versatility, but something equally or actually more important, reading the conditions right in front of you. But if you are not versatile in presentation, you are going to find yourself suddenly ... lost.

 

I've some (not uncommon) stories to relate along this line, but I gotta run. Maybe later.

[SissySticks]

I personally think "lure" versatility is overrated. I have WAY too many lures. I think its easy to get paralysis by analysis with regard to lure selection. I think "creativity" is underrated. Take the senko (or whatever knock-off you prefer, I like Wack-o's personally). I am confident that a guy with a lot of confidence in a senko can find a way to use it to catch bass in any condition possible. Deep, shallow, dirty, clear, windy, grass, wood, etc. Plus there are a lot of size/color considerations. The key is his creativity with that one bait in terms of where and how to fish it. That kind of versatility is priceless. The best fishermen I know fish with 10-15 baits year round, they're just creative in how they use them.