Confidence

[joeyfishes]

How did you guys gain confidence in fishing? I have been fishing for about 7 months and caught around 20 fish. I do monthly tournaments and have a blast. I always catch fish in them. But I bank fish a lot by myself and do not really have confidence in my abilities. I go to a pond and do not really now what to throw and I usually start out with weightless plastics or weighted t rigs. I don't really know what it is but I never think "If I do this or cast here, I'm gonna catch one". I just cast it out there and go through the motions. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what but I never really catch fish bank fishing and completely forget what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching. I know people who go out to the same ponds I do and throw the same thing on the same setup and catch fish all the time. I do the exact same thing they do and don't catch a thing. 

[Eli-R]

For us confidence is all about trying new baits and new colors. You're bound to land some fish on something and the more you try, the more chance you have to build your confidence. Once you find some confidence baits, don't be afraid to keep trying new baits. I think the ultimate confidence is being able to use almost any bait and feel like you can catch fish on it if you know the right conditions to use it in and the right presentation.

[Darren.]

How did you guys gain confidence in fishing? I have been fishing for about 7 months and caught around 20 fish. I do monthly tournaments and have a blast. I always catch fish in them. But I bank fish a lot by myself and do not really have confidence in my abilities. I go to a pond and do not really now what to throw and I usually start out with weightless plastics or weighted t rigs. I don't really know what it is but I never think "If I do this or cast here, I'm gonna catch one". I just cast it out there and go through the motions. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what but I never really catch fish bank fishing and completely forget what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching. I know people who go out to the same ponds I do and throw the same thing on the same setup and catch fish all the time. I do the exact same thing they do and don't catch a thing. 

 

Joey, gaining confidence can be tough, but here's a tip I read (I think here, and I posted on my experiment, too).

 

Take one bait with you. Just one. And fish it. For me, I experimented with a 4" BPS stick-o in color "Pepper Frog Hot Orange" - it's a laminate. I only took a bag with me and fished it wacky style. Boy did I find confidence in that bait. It is a major staple in what I throw today.

 

Now I've tried other colors which did not turn out as successful. Confidence can be a mystical thing (at least how it's described by many). I'm not so sure your personal confidence is transmitted through your rod to the line down to the lure and ultimately weakening the fish to bite. Don't think it really works that way.

 

Start with standard colors like watermelon (and variants), green pumpkin, black, etc. Start there and move on. Slow your TX rig down. Let your wacky rig marinate in the water for a while, or if you do that all the time, then change your retrieve. Write down what works (or make mental notes like I do) and what doesn't. 

 

A friend of mine swears by pink at one of the reservoirs we fish. Pink does absolutely nothing for me (although I've not taken *only* pink out and tried to gain confidence in it). But for him, pink catches bass. Confidence one person has in a bait won't necessarily translate to another person for the same bait.

[senile1]

The OP mentioned forgetting "what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching."  There is a lot of stuff to read and watch out there and it can be difficult to sort through it all.  I would concentrate on articles and videos that teach you the basics of how bass respond in the different seasons of the year.  Then, pick a few baits that match up with that behavior for the season in question.  I like the "take the one bait with you" idea but I would alter it somewhat.  If you only take one bait with you and it is the wrong bait for the conditions, you aren't going to build much confidence getting skunked.  Take a few baits that match the conditions and try one for a couple of hours.  Then switch if necessary.  You will eventually find a few baits that work for you.

[Under the Radar]

Tho I live in Fla, my confidence is some where on a fault line probably out in CA. I'll get on a pattern for a couple months and then an earthquake comes along and shakes it to the core and I have to start over. That's part of the fun of it.

[Raul]

My man, I´ve been fishing for more tan 3 decades and I don´t ever think with absolute certainty quoting your own words  " If I do this or cast here I will catch one", it don´t work that way, I assume that the bait I chose, the location I chose, the spot I chose, the presentation I chose for that bait are the "right" ones; I have reached the point based on my experience which is based on multiple past experiences in different conditions that allow me to eliminate much of the guesswork needed, however with absolute certainty I will catch one ----> nope.

 

Confidence is a thing you cultivate, but confidence and certainty are two very different things, you may be completely confident but that doesn´t mean you´ll be completely certain. That is why it´s called fishing and not called catching.

[Topwaterspook]

I agree with taking a single bait and fishing just that. It can be a bust or just the thing to build confidence. Nothing is a certainty. Good luck.

[B@ssCrzy]

How did you guys gain confidence in fishing? I have been fishing for about 7 months and caught around 20 fish. I do monthly tournaments and have a blast. I always catch fish in them. But I bank fish a lot by myself and do not really have confidence in my abilities. I go to a pond and do not really now what to throw and I usually start out with weightless plastics or weighted t rigs. I don't really know what it is but I never think "If I do this or cast here, I'm gonna catch one". I just cast it out there and go through the motions. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what but I never really catch fish bank fishing and completely forget what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching. I know people who go out to the same ponds I do and throw the same thing on the same setup and catch fish all the time. I do the exact same thing they do and don't catch a thing. 

 

This is you building confidence in plastics and t-rigs.  Confidence is built as you go fish and catch fish.  The more that you catch and see that lure working under various conditions the more you gain confidence that it will work.  I started fishing artificials using curly tail worms.  Over the years I have experimented with other different lures, but found myself going back to the worms this year because they just flat out catch fish for me.  Confidence will come as you spend time on the water.  Try different presentations because you will find something that suits the way you like to fish.  I can't catch a cold on a senko, but some guys on here love them.  You will gain confidence as you experiment and see what works for you. 

[aquaholic]

Fishing for me is all about enjoyment. Taking a single bait out sounds like a great way to ruin a day, simply because fish dont always want what you're throwing. I build confidence in ponds that are easy to catch fish in. If I know there is fish, I can get confident throwing new lures.

[AK-Jax86]

I'm one of those stubborn fishermen. I find my bait and then keep at it til I ind something else. Last year it was spinners and senkos, begining if this season was soft plastics, and for the past 6 months or so it has been FROGS everytime I go out.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

How did you guys gain confidence in fishing? I have been fishing for about 7 months and caught around 20 fish. I do monthly tournaments and have a blast. I always catch fish in them. But I bank fish a lot by myself and do not really have confidence in my abilities. I go to a pond and do not really now what to throw and I usually start out with weightless plastics or weighted t rigs. I don't really know what it is but I never think "If I do this or cast here, I'm gonna catch one". I just cast it out there and go through the motions. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what but I never really catch fish bank fishing and completely forget what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching. I know people who go out to the same ponds I do and throw the same thing on the same setup and catch fish all the time. I do the exact same thing they do and don't catch a thing. 

The one and only thing I can recommend that hasn't already been mentioned is to try to think outside of the box. Don't allow yourself to be caught up in a routine. The fish may be in an area that you aren't casting to, but you'll never know if you don't try casting to it. Don't be afraid to experiment, and definitely don't shy away from areas just because they don't look like they would hold fish (there's really only one way to find out if they do or not.)  

[Bankbeater]

How did you guys gain confidence in fishing? I have been fishing for about 7 months and caught around 20 fish. I do monthly tournaments and have a blast. I always catch fish in them. But I bank fish a lot by myself and do not really have confidence in my abilities. I go to a pond and do not really now what to throw and I usually start out with weightless plastics or weighted t rigs. I don't really know what it is but I never think "If I do this or cast here, I'm gonna catch one". I just cast it out there and go through the motions. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what but I never really catch fish bank fishing and completely forget what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching. I know people who go out to the same ponds I do and throw the same thing on the same setup and catch fish all the time. I do the exact same thing they do and don't catch a thing. 

I use to be the same way.  I would get back from a trip and get on BR, and think why didn't I try that I bet that would have worked!  First thing that helped me was writing down notes and taking them with me out fishing.  Second thing was that I learned to calm down and not get excited if I couldn't get a bite.  Third thing that l did was to spend more time on the water.

[Catt]

Experence = Confidence

[Hattrick7]

I fish a man made lake right where I live almost every day. I guess it's considered moderate to high pressured but there's one rig (drop shot) that 9 out of 10 times catches bass or at least gets bit. I've also had success in throwing crankbaits and wacky rigged senkos but not as much as the DS.

I'm now trying spinners, jigs, swim baits, t rigged worms, etc. Other regulars say jigs and spinners work well. I finally got bit on my spinner but I didn't adjust my drag right and the hook set was a no go.

So my point being is that there's got to be at least one bait that the bass normally go after. That's where the fun and challenge comes in. It's now up to you it find what else produces bass and hopefully lunkers.

I also would start with faster moving baits that cover more water. If that doesn't produce then slow it down a bit. Still nothing then keep slowing it down until the bass tell you what they want. Gotta remember that its fishing and not catching. Good luck!

[Deleted account]

success breeds confidence, confidence breeds success, which in turn breeds more confidence, which...

Sounds simple, but how do you start the circle? Its about been there, done that, get on the water and fish, soon you'll catch on some lures, and not others, at some times of the year and not others, at some locations and not others, under certain conditions and not others, etc etc. Now match that up (consciously or not) to your particular makeup, and make it work for you. I know equally successful (and confident) anglers, some of which have everything on a spreadsheet and have to refer and cross reference everything, and others, who fly by the seat of their pants. The one lure approach works great for some, but may require too much "faith" to work for others. Try it, what do you have to loose? Much like happiness, confidence is a state of mind, it comes easier to some, you can't just wish it so. Who wants to fish for money?

[Felix77]

For me its simple. Experiment and persistence. When I want to learn a bait I study it (starting with this site), ask questions and just downright fish it everywhere.

I am stuck on the bank more often so I just make sure to cover as much water as possible with that bait. Vary your retrieve often too. Stay alert and when you catch one make sure you realize what you did and repeat it.

[motodmast]

this year, i continuously fished 2 rigs until i felt very confident in them. its was 90% of what ive used so far this year, and ive learned a ton about them. i used both the drop shot, and carolina rig. 

 

so i say just stick with one rig for a while till you feel confident with it, then move to the next, thats the best way to build an arsenol of techniques and truly become better

[DogBone_384]

Pretty simple: keep fishing, keep trying different lures/techniques and read this forum until your wife makes you sleep on the couch.

 

If it helps, write down what the weather was like, which lures you caught fish on, how deep, etc., that way you'll remember it better.

 

Most of all, enjoy it.

 

[WRB]

Trying to build up confidence by not catching bass on lures you do not know how to use is futile.

Learn new lures when the bass are active.

Using high % lures you have had success with is a good place to start, fishing where the bass are located is essential...can't catch them if they are not there!

You are catching bass during a club tournament apparently from a boat operated by another angler who puts you onto bass. You know how to catch bass when someone else helps you locate them, so location is your problem. Locating bass is a problem for most anglers, no short cuts, only experience solves that issue.

Fishing from the bank limits where and how you can fish. At this time of year it's fall transitioning to winter in most regions, not a easy time to locate active bass. From a bank I would start looking for long points that drop into deeper water and fish there, good location. You can use your T-rigged soft plastics and by adding a glass bead, the pegging the bead about 14" above the hook, you can keep the soft plastic off the bottom a few inches. By using this type of rig you can use a heavier weight to make longer cast to cover more water...works good from the bank.

Tom

[Loop_Dad]

How did you guys gain confidence in fishing? I have been fishing for about 7 months and caught around 20 fish. I do monthly tournaments and have a blast. I always catch fish in them. But I bank fish a lot by myself and do not really have confidence in my abilities. I go to a pond and do not really now what to throw and I usually start out with weightless plastics or weighted t rigs. I don't really know what it is but I never think "If I do this or cast here, I'm gonna catch one". I just cast it out there and go through the motions. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what but I never really catch fish bank fishing and completely forget what I learn from all the hours of reading and video watching. I know people who go out to the same ponds I do and throw the same thing on the same setup and catch fish all the time. I do the exact same thing they do and don't catch a thing. 

 

Where you do tournaments and where you do bank fishing, they are different places correct? Can you go back to the place where you had tournaments (and successes) and bank fish?

 

Or people who go out to the same pond, do you know them or is there anyway you can fish with them?

If you only know them from some online forum, there's a chance you only here when they catch something, but they might be 'putting time' there that you don't hear about. What am I getting at is, the place might be tough place to fish. It's better to find places with lots of fish, even you only get dinks, when you are starting out.

[BuckMaxx]

 A lot of good tips have been shared. I would say the most important for me is to just  learn "Bass". I ask myself every fish why that fish was there? Was it cover? Was it actively feeding? What made that fish attack my bait? Then to expand that I learn seasonal positioning to where that fish may be. Will he be next to a dock during high sun or out in the middle of the cove. The answer may be different in April  then it will be in August. Then with this will morph into learning specific baits that will produce bites at certain times of the year. For me for instance a hollow body frog is not a good choice in February but is a go too bait in July. I learn on every fishing trip. But have came a long ways. I can often target specific spots to present my bait and will get a bite just by my intuitions that I have learned. There is not bait or rod and reel combo that will make you a better fisherman, it is all things learned about it that will make the difference. GOOD LUCK!!

[KyakR]

You're already doing one of the most effective things you can do at tournaments: learning from other anglers!  Your frustration can be a good thing.......look, it's already gotten you on here asking important questions  Your confidence with boat fishing seems to be fine. I think you're learning fast.

Any chance you can bank fish with someone more experienced?