Don't Believe The Hype

[DelcoSol]

Hey guys, I have a question to pose for everyone: Are there any "rules" I guess you would call them of bass fishing that you just do not believe in? Wether it is a pattern, lure type etc. For example you hear many things about different colors or sounds, also it may be something like the weather is X so the fish are supposed to do Y. 

 

This year for example, the summer is supposed to be some of the toughest time to fish, while spring and fall and the best. I have had much better luck during the summer than spring and so far fall. I am not saying its not true, but as anglers hearing all of these "experts" spout off all of these different things that kind of stick into everyone's head, may cause us to do things that we are "supposed" to do. I know I myself am addicted to fishing and come here to try to learn everything I can, but the thing I wonder is that am I overcomplicating things? I think now to Mike Iaconelli's book where he talks about fishing in the moment. I really don't do this enough. I spend too much worrying about what the fish are supposed to be doing rather than fishing to what they are doing. Anyway, I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this. I am sorry if this rambling is too hard to follow.

[Sam]

As a Flyers' fan you could never ramble. Now if you are a Jersey or New York fan you would be too dumb to ramble.

 

To answer your question, no real "rules" just taking each situation as it presents itself and having to decide on baits and presentations.

 

The main problem with fishing "rules" is that the bass can't read so they don't know them. This means the bass act as they wish under different conditions, even when you expect them to do "A" and the do "B."

 

Some guys have rules, like dark colors in stained or muddy water (caught nice one on a lemon Senko in dirty water); or using a quiet skinny lipless crankbait in cold water; or throwing only a buzzbait for a topwater; and the list can go on.

 

Your goal is to figure out the pattern. You first use your experience and knowledge and then after that fails throw whatever you want with whatever presentation you want until the bass tell you what they want.

 

The only rule I follow is no bananas on the boat. That's it. Open season on everything else.

 

Now go watch some preseason Flyers games and go fishing before the waters freeze over on the Main Line, where the Men Are Successful, the Women Attractive and the Children are Smart.

[roadwarrior]

Well, as a specific example: I like a big splash to attract curious bass.

On the Tennessee River our brown and green fish like Country Music

played LOUD!

 

 

 

[Tartan34]

I don't believe that topwater fishing is  only for mornings/evenings.....and can't be fished all day long on bright, sunny, hot days.

[DelcoSol]

LOL Sam you never cease to crack me up. Flyers are on tomorrow BTW 

 

The past three weekends have been tough for me. The weather is really cold at night then warm in the day. I assume this is the issue? I just keep reading all of these things about how the cooler fall weather turns the fishing on and it seems like it's the opposite for me. I have been throwing all kinds of things starting with the things the fish are supposed to want this time of the year with no luck. Bottom line is that I just need to find what the fish want at that given moment and not focus on fall type patterns.

 

I was actually talking to a buddy of mine about how funny it would be if fish couldn't hear. Talk about one of the biggest scams ever. All of these lures used to make sounds, along with all of the tactics we use to be quiet, would be quite ironic. 

[Catt]

The presumable seasonal pattern for winter is to fish slow.

The first question I ask is can someone explain why a Rat-L-Trap is so deadly in cold water?

Never did get an answer

Many anglers try to apply "science" to bass fishing but outside of environmental & biological needs one can not apply science to bass fishing.

In the scientific community any studies called "scientific" when said studies are done on bass in an aquarium (tank) are not accepted as scientific.

Scientific laws are statements that describe, predict, & perhaps explain why, a range of phenomena behave as they appear in NATURE!

[flyfisher]

My biggest one is that fly rods are only for trout and there is no way you can catch a large fish on one of those "noodle rods"

[pbizzle]

The presumable seasonal pattern for winter is to fish slow.

The first question I ask is can someone explain why a Rat-L-Trap is so deadly in cold water?

Never did get an answer

Many anglers try to apply "science" to bass fishing but outside of environmental & biological needs one can not apply science to bass fishing.

In the scientific community any studies called "scientific" when said studies are done on bass in an aquarium (tank) are not accepted as scientific.

Scientific laws are statements that describe, predict, & perhaps explain why, a range of phenomena behave as they appear in NATURE!

A scientific law in my mind is best put into fishing terms like this "if the conditions are X than the fish must be Y." Well in bass fishing we can't do this because of the amount of variables. While there are instincts that may make this true for a percentage of fish, not all fish have the same reactions when put into any given situation. Therefore, because a scientific law must be true 100% of the time, you can't have a scientific law that works with bass fishing.

 

DISCLAIMER : That's coming from a 14 year old so correct me if I'm wrong.

[Catt]

Dang a 14 year gets what most adults can't

[SudburyBasser]

I don't believe that topwater fishing is  only for mornings/evenings.....and can't be fished all day long on bright, sunny, hot days.

 

I practically won a tournament fishing top waters all day. I am in total agreement.

 

To add to the thread: I don't think colour is as important as people argue.

 

[bigbill]

At the start I throw a variety of different colors and style of lures till something works. It's topwater, shallow cranks, senkos, deeper cranks, spinnerbaits, inline spinners and minnowbaits. Most of the time my system works. If I still didn't catch anything I go though my lures again by changing the presentations. I do get action on the second run thru my tackle box. If not I practice my presentations. Then a bass will interrupt me. I hate being interrupted. Its what it is, its called fishing.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Well idk I agree with catt I throw swim baits in the winter up here and I do just fine... one day comes to mind ... mid 20's windy cloudy, half the lake had ice on it... caught a few pigs swiming swim bait..the 2 days prior I was dragging jigs with junks on the back.not one bass...

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I've caught them with R-traps and baits moving super slow... I just fish and don't "believe the hype"

[Bluebasser86]

One of the biggest one I argue with is the "match the hatch" rule. Sometimes it is 100% true, but times when there's millions of shad in the lake I do much better to offer them something in a different color or size to stand out from the crowd. 

[TBendBassin]

There are absolutely no rules in bass fishing, just guidelines. Don't ever forget that!! When you limit yourself to those so called "rules" you will never progress into a better angler. There is one rule though that is absolutely 100% true... And that is time on the water is the only way to become a better angler.. I know I sound like a broken record when saying that but it's the truth. forums like this one are absolutely great for people to get ideas and get started on learning different techniques and such but there is a HUGE difference in reading about it and actually doing it and figuring out all the details involved. One of the biggest mistakes I see alot of novice anglers make is reading all they can about techniques and seasonal patterns and then try and force that information when they are on the water. That's just not how it works! The more time you spend on the water the more you will start to understand bass behavior and the little signs and details that will get you dialed in on the fish. Ok I guess I got a little of topic there lol but

[Loop_Dad]

When I hear "rules" I want to know why of it. Then I make my own theory and try it out. If it works, great. If not, try something else. And I enjoy this process.

 

One rule I do not really believe is darker lure for low light condition. I don't think that's that simple. If the lure is above the fish and then the fish see silhouette. The color should not matter as long as it is not a transparent lure. If the lure is below the fish the fish is seeing reflection of the what ever low light there is, so brighter color should be more visible. However more visible does not necessary mean more fish. I also learned that red and yellow goes through the most in the water. So my thing now is a bit of yellow/chart on my lure in darker condition to help fish notice my lure passing by.

[SirSnookalot]

My biggest one is that fly rods are only for trout and there is no way you can catch a large fish on one of those "noodle rods"

I've seen more this year than I can remember, fishermen using fly rods to fish the inlet.  Most of the time the current is running 7-10 knots, that's pretty fast water with the primary species being snook, tarpon, barracuda and jack crevalles, these are not small fish.

 

Back to bass, I don't over analyze and seldom read articles, I don't think anything has helped me more than time fishing and knowing my home waters.  I keep things simple using only a few different types of lures.  I didn't always fish ponds and canals in Florida I grew up fishing Lake St Clair and lake Erie (Rondeau Bay) in a rowboat with 6.5 hp Elgin with no electronics, in hindsight it wasn't a bad way to learn how to fish.  That said being on the right water is a big equalizer.

[DelcoSol]

There are absolutely no rules in bass fishing, just guidelines. Don't ever forget that!! When you limit yourself to those so called "rules" you will never progress into a better angler. There is one rule though that is absolutely 100% true... And that is time on the water is the only way to become a better angler.. I know I sound like a broken record when saying that but it's the truth. forums like this one are absolutely great for people to get ideas and get started on learning different techniques and such but there is a HUGE difference in reading about it and actually doing it and figuring out all the details involved. One of the biggest mistakes I see alot of novice anglers make is reading all they can about techniques and seasonal patterns and then try and force that information when they are on the water. That's just not how it works! The more time you spend on the water the more you will start to understand bass behavior and the little signs and details that will get you dialed in on the fish. Ok I guess I got a little of topic there lol but

This is exactly my point. Sometimes we will tend to get tunnel vision. The bottom line is that you can't catch them from your living room. The more you're out there the beter your odds are. Find what they want at that given moment and stick with it. Sometimes forums can be a bad thing. As an automotive technician I see a lot of people bring their cars in to get fixed after reading various forums insisting that I need to do X or Y, when me being the professional knows what's wrong and their forum info is incorrect. I guess if it's on the internet it has to be true lol.

[Fishing Rhino]

There are absolutely no rules in bass fishing, just guidelines. Don't ever forget that!! When you limit yourself to those so called "rules" you will never progress into a better angler. There is one rule though that is absolutely 100% true... And that is time on the water is the only way to become a better angler.. I know I sound like a broken record when saying that but it's the truth. forums like this one are absolutely great for people to get ideas and get started on learning different techniques and such but there is a HUGE difference in reading about it and actually doing it and figuring out all the details involved. One of the biggest mistakes I see alot of novice anglers make is reading all they can about techniques and seasonal patterns and then try and force that information when they are on the water. That's just not how it works! The more time you spend on the water the more you will start to understand bass behavior and the little signs and details that will get you dialed in on the fish. Ok I guess I got a little of topic there lol but

 

I disagree with your only rule.   You can become a better angler by learning from the experiences of others, be it through any form of communication, printed, spoken, or video. 

 

If all one did was to fish, everything they learned would be through trial and error.  Why not learn from the experience of those who share their knowledge, and eliminate a lot of trial and error?

[flyfisher]

I disagree with your only rule.   You can become a better angler by learning from the experiences of others, be it through any form of communication, printed, spoken, or video. 

 

If all one did was to fish, everything they learned would be through trial and error.  Why not learn from the experience of those who share their knowledge, and eliminate a lot of trial and error?

I think it is more learn what you can from others and practice those techniques.  Someone can tell you what a hit on a texas rigged plastic feels like but even with that knowledge you will still miss fish until you experience it yourself.

[Dwight Hottle]

I think it is more learn what you can from others and practice those techniques.  Someone can telly ou waht a hit on a texas rigged plastic feels like but even wwiht that knowledge you will still miss fish until you experience it yourself.

 

It's too early to be drinking, hangover maybe?  LOL

[flyfisher]

It's too early to be drinking, hangover maybe?  LOL

I didn't know it was ever to early....

[*Hootie]

One popular bass magazine, with every issue, has a, "throw this, don't throw this" list. Many times, I am having my best luck from a bait on the don't throw this list. Go figure.

Hootie

[Hyrule Bass]

search baits, dont believe in the concept of them. you can call it that if you want because its the first thing you tie on or throw, but it doesnt mean its going to find you fish or work better than any other bait you couldve thrown first.

[roadwarrior]

I disagree with your only rule.   You can become a better angler by learning from the experiences of others, be it through any form of communication, printed, spoken, or video. 

 

If all one did was to fish, everything they learned would be through trial and error.  Why not learn from the experience of those who share their knowledge, and eliminate a lot of trial and error?

 

I agree and would add that hiring the right guide can be the best thing you will ever do to rachet up your game quickly.