The Most Important Thing I've Learned In The Last Two Years On Bass Fishing

[jimmykm21]

 The most important thing I learned is how to read my electronics.

It wasn't learning a new technique or trying new baits.

 

Over the years I always watched  the pros talking about learning to read your electronics but never paid much attention to it

because I seemed to concentrate more on gear and presentation .

 

But after fishing with a seasoned friend on my boat , he spent a lot of time showing and teaching me how important

it is  to interpret what you see correctly on your screens.

 

I'm wondering how many other members feel like this.

 

[FD.]

Yep - I bought a Side Image Hummingbird last year.  I thought I know something about electronics, until then.  Understanding what is under you is more important than any rod, reel, or bait.

[Fish Chris]

No. I almost never use electronics... besides scales and cameras.

 

I quietly slip around in likely waters, with polarized glasses, and look for big fish with my eyes, and even if the water is too murky, I can almost always get one to follow a swim bait, or big top water to the boat, giving away their location.

 

I don't know exactly why, but almost NEVER do I get on a trophy bass lake, and "not" have a monster bass cruise up to the side of my boat, close enough I could reach them with my rod tip, and just kind of look at me, like, "Hey dude ! What's up" ? I always talk to them LOL .....like, "What's up big girl ? You know you want to come into the boat with me, and get your picture taken" LOL

 

Peace,

Fish

[dfris]

This is a very interesting topic. I have been on a major quest this last month learning about how to locate bass, and understanding how to use my fish finder. Glenn has helped me out as well. I have found 2 books or videos on this subject.

 

One is called Sonar and how to use it - dvd

 

And another is The Professor Sonar & GPS DVD Series 

 

 

Just wondering if anyone has watched these videos?

[Bankbeater]

I tend to use a fish finder on a new lake to learn the layout of it.  I usually won't use a fish finder on a lake once I have the bottom structure down and I know where the cover is located.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

No. I almost never use electronics... besides scales and cameras.

 

 

 

I'm with old school ^^^  :-)

[shimmy]

There is no doubt that a depth finder can be a game changer. But, i would say the most important thing i have learned the past few years is refishing big bass spots over and over again while on the lake. Just letting a spot breath for an hour or two after we hammer it and then come back has worked miracles for me. 

[ww2farmer]

Fancy electronics are nice, but I know far too many people who have them because every one else has them, and wouldn't know how to read them any better than I know how to read Japanese. I suppose if your a touring pro, or a tournament fisherman who fishes a ton of unfamiliar water every year they are a must. I have simple, color, 2d sonar, and GPS on my boat, and I have yet to have any one come here and beat me because of there electronics, if they beat me, it's because they are better than me on that day. Yeah they may know exactly what that "thing" is in 22 feet of water 10 yards out side the weed-line , but all I need to know is it's there, and I'll catch fish off it just the same, if not better than a guy with $4000 worth of electronics on his boat. To me the most important things to learn on a graph are, bottom composition changes, subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) changes in depth, and being able to read the "mood" of fish by how they position themselves in the water.