I've Lost All My Patience For Fishing Slow - Help

[Hattrick7]

Fishing sounds more like your most hated job or chore when you're on your boat. Is there a reason why you feel the need to cover as much water as possible? Is there monetary pressure? Are the lakes going to disappear within a week?

Relax, take a deep breath and remember that fishing is supposed to be Fun. The lakes will be there tomorrow.

I just ordered some more tackle today. My point because learning to fish new baits is what keeps things fresh and interesting for me. Get that shakey head out there and enjoy yourself.

[martintheduck]

Fishing sounds more like your most hated job or chore when you're on your boat. Is there a reason why you feel the need to cover as much water as possible? Is there monetary pressure? Are the lakes going to disappear within a week?

Relax, take a deep breath and remember that fishing is supposed to be Fun. The lakes will be there tomorrow.

I just ordered some more tackle today. My point because learning to fish new baits is what keeps things fresh and interesting for me. Get that shakey head out there and enjoy yourself.

 

 

I've been trying to become effective and confident in fast fishing because I'm gunning for Collegiate Bass. It seems that in my recent progress I've just lost my patience. Moral of the story - I'm now confident in some fast fishing and slow fishing, but I just get really squeamish when fishing slow.... going to be working on feeling okay with slowing it down and after that, I'll be working on hitting "virgin" (to me) bodies of water.

[Catt]

After reading you last post your problem aint with your confidence in fishing fast or slow. The thought of that "Tournament Clock" ticking away in your head has shaken your overall confidence.

This completely normal!

All tournament anglers have that little voice that says "you gonna catch a fish...now!", "you need to move they aint here", "that's the wrong color bait".

Dealing with doubt is extremely hard on the tournament angler & probably harder then locating & catching fish.

It's even harder for us to tell you how to deal with it, follow your instincts, fish to your strengths.

[martintheduck]

After reading you last post your problem aint with your confidence in fishing fast or slow. The thought of that "Tournament Clock" ticking away in your head has shaken your overall confidence.

This completely normal!

All tournament anglers have that little voice that says "you gonna catch a fish...now!", "you need to move they aint here", "that's the wrong color bait".

Dealing with doubt is extremely hard on the tournament angler & probably harder then locating & catching fish.

It's even harder for us to tell you how to deal with it, follow your instincts, fish to your strengths.

 

 

Well, this is accurate. My previous experiences have been covering water really fast, get a bite, and slow it down for maybe 5 minutes? Then jump right back to the fast baits. Going to be doing some work on it this weekend if the rain lets up.

[J Francho]

Why are you equating fishing fast with fast moving baits?  To me, "fishing fast" has nothing to do with the bait itself.  Last tournament, I plied a spot that I know holds fish with jigs and craws.  Nothing.  Rip a crankbait through there, and ignited those fish.  Three in three casts, a limit in about 20 minutes - all casting to the same spot.  The wind was blowing so hard, I had to circle back a few times to make the right cast.  That ate up a lot of time, but was worth it. That's fishing slow, even though I was ripping that Flat Mini DR.

[martintheduck]

Why are you equating fishing fast with fast moving baits?  To me, "fishing fast" has nothing to do with the bait itself.  Last tournament, I plied a spot that I know holds fish with jigs and craws.  Nothing.  Rip a crankbait through there, and ignited those fish.  Three in three casts, a limit in about 20 minutes - all casting to the same spot.  The wind was blowing so hard, I had to circle back a few times to make the right cast.  That ate up a lot of time, but was worth it. That's fishing slow, even though I was ripping that Flat Mini DR.

 

I'm in this mindset that I can cover water more quickly with cranks, spinners, and some swimbait setups. 

[Hattrick7]

I've been trying to become effective and confident in fast fishing because I'm gunning for Collegiate Bass. It seems that in my recent progress I've just lost my patience. Moral of the story - I'm now confident in some fast fishing and slow fishing, but I just get really squeamish when fishing slow.... going to be working on feeling okay with slowing it down and after that, I'll be working on hitting "virgin" (to me) bodies of water.

Ok fishing in a tourney makes sense. I remember Iaconelli saying once that competing in those higher tiered tourneys that so much of it is mental.

At least you know where your weaknesses are. Good luck to you.

[J Francho]

I'm in this mindset that I can cover water more quickly with cranks, spinners, and some swimbait setups. 

 

I fished a tournament on Oneida yesterday.  I fished two bridge pilings in the river all day, using two umbrella rigs, spinnerbait, and rattletrap.  Came in 2nd.  Now that's fishing slow.

[Catt]

To consistantly catch bass is a process of elimination & duplication!

Eliminate patterns & waters that are non-productive!

Duplicate patterns & waters that are productive!

Fishing fast or slow does not necessarily the speed @ which your boat is moving. It means using techniques (fast or slow) to effectively fish productive patterns & waters.

[derekxec]

are you catching fish? if not then worry if you are then keep doing it...when i fish bass i fish baits that move fast and i also move fast..i cast 2 times then walk 10 ft cast 2 times walk 10 ft and i do it because for some reason for bass only i cannot fish slow but i catch plenty of fish so i dont care slow fast medium turtle who cares really

[martintheduck]

I fished a tournament on Oneida yesterday.  I fished two bridge pilings in the river all day, using two umbrella rigs, spinnerbait, and rattletrap.  Came in 2nd.  Now that's fishing slow.

 

 

Wow. That's dedication. Question - How were you so confident in those 2 spots? Were you seeing good stuff on the electronics? Have you had good success there before? What was the "confidence factors" tat kept you stuck on those pilings? 

[J Francho]

 

What was the "confidence factors" tat kept you stuck on those pilings?

 

They were actually my second spot, as another gentleman was fishing my primary spot.  He was a in a state level event, and in the lead after day 1, so I backed off that spot.  Both spots had produced limits for a Monday night, Friday night, and Saturday tournaments.  The recent rains had the river running a bit high, with pushes baitfish downstream.  Bass are already congregating in the channel in the lake in front of the river.  The rains and bait just gets the big ones to use the structure as an ambush point to take advantage of the bait getting pushed downstream.  As you take fish off the spot, more move in.  The size varies throughout the day.  You can catch a ton of dinks, they disappear, and then a few large fish. The larger fish are territorial, and don't com in a flurry.  You have to wait them out.  I didn't catch my first keeper until after noon.  That's 6 hours without a fish in the well.  I could see the other gentleman waiting it out, and seeing as he was in the lead after day 1, that helped make my decision.

[zwhiten12]

Only take slow baits with you, it worked for me