What Are You Going To Work On Next Year?

[pbrussell]

I would like to not suck. But I'm going to work on being confident and having fun.

Seriously though, I'd like to not suck.

[DRH2O]

Photo Ops and Photo Composition

[kylek]

I would like to not suck. But I'm going to work on being confident and having fun.

Seriously though, I'd like to not suck.

 

I feel the same way. I need to find someone to take me out and teach me how to fish. I fish with my father in law and we are both bank beaters.  There are days where we may only catch one or two fish. Very rarely do we have days where we catch more than ten between the 2 of us. And most of those are under 15"  It is really hard to stay positive going through the same motions every time we go.

[pbrussell]

I feel the same way. I need to find someone to take me out and teach me how to fish. I fish with my father in law and we are both bank beaters.  There are days where we may only catch one or two fish. Very rarely do we have days where we catch more than ten between the 2 of us. And most of those are under 15"  It is really hard to stay positive going through the same motions every time we go.

The key (and I don't claim to have the key) appears to be remain open to experimentation. It is my temptation to go through the beat the bank motions on Kansas lakes- mostly because it works a lot of the time. I've found that when you are forced to experiment, is when you really grow. Take a trip to tablerock in the summer. You'll find yourself almost having to fish in 20-30 fow if you want to catch fish. What you learn there might not necessarily translate to our lakes up here- but then again, it might.

 

Points are a fine place to start honestly. It allows you to easily visually relate to a piece of structure, since us bank fisherman are so comfortable with what we can see. (After all, open water is scary because all you have to rely on is your electronics and the feel of the bait). Fish all sides of the point. If they're not shallow, move out. Fish seem to like points. Except at perry. I've fished the snot out of em there and never had any luck 

[mnbassman23]

Swimbaits and slowing down in general. Each year I've gradually fished slower and the amount of big fish caught has increased. Seems pretty simple. Also fishing more deep water structure and honing my skills on fishing those spots successfully. 

[BuffaloBass716]

I want to get some Siebert jigs and learn with those and also catch my first fish with a top water frog.

[Catt]

Catching bass

[Waterlogged]

I just purchased my first boat in oct so there's not a single technique that I won't need to work on. It should be a interesting year! I'm thankful for the generous folk here at BR. The main reason I became a member and not just a passing viewer!

[Naplock]

Learn as much as I can about my local lake (Norman, Mountain Island, and to a lesser extent Wiley).

I moved here about 18 months ago, so need to get to know my local waters. I will probably start looking for a boat next year (2015), so I want to be well prepared by then.

Russ

[BassinLou]

I thought I answered this question already, but there is something else I would like to work on next year. I would like to work on slowing down my fishing. Be more patient and not over work a lure, or situation. Lastly, when I do have a chance to get on the water, I fail to reflect and enjoy the moment.  I get so lazer focus on trying to figure out what the fish want or focused on just catching fish that the day just passes me by. 

[olegs]

Jig, Jika rig, Shaky head, Drop shot

[MarkH024]

Getting on the water more. I can't practice anything without doing that.

If I get a SI unit I'll probably focus my season on utilizing that tool. Drop shot is still my biggest weakness solely based off the "slow" factor.

[roadwarrior]

Pitching and flipping

 

Most of my fishing buddies are river rats. When we fish the lakes is mostly deep structure.

This year I going to spend a little more time chasing green fish in the grass and timber.

 

 

 

 

[SirSnookalot]

If I haven't learned how to catch fish over the last 60 years there isn't much that's going to help me now.  The hardest part of fishing is locating them, knowing the nuances of species one fishes for IMO is the paramount factor in catching them, not that they always cooperate.  Rods, reels, lures, techniques and the actual landing of fish are secondary concerns for me, that's the easy part of fishing.

[Teal]

Getting on the water.

Once I get on the water more, I'm gonna concentrate on my big bait equals big fish theory. Big Jigs, big spinner baits, swimbaits, punching.

[DogBone_384]

For me it's accuracy! And a quieter entry.  This winter I'm going to practice cast out on the lawn in the snow. After I make a 3-D hunt range for fish out there the neighbors will probably call the cops but at least I'll be accurater    

I might agree with your comment about your neighbors calling the cops if you lived in MA (we ARE called "Mass**les for a reason), like I do, but since you're in ME, I'd throw a bet that you'd be left alone or given positive reinforcement/congratulations.  All the years I've travelled in ME I've never had a bad experience, which is why, I suppose, so many of us 'city folk' end up with 2nd/retirement homes in ME.

 

Best of luck with your project...

 

Now to answer this post:

 

My main goal in 2014 is to match up the many reels & rods I bought in '13 (yep, Bassresource made me do it!) by trying each combination to see what works best. 

 

After I finish my MBA, I'm going to buy a 'Yak and get to all the spots at my regular spots that I've not been able to reach being shore bound.

 

Lastly, try to go a season without buying another setup... yep, Bassresource made me do it....

 

Happy new year!

[DogBone_384]

My wedding & honeymoon!!

Are you planning on fishing on your honeymoon?

[gr8outdoorz]

Are you planning on fishing on your honeymoon?

Yes we are! My fiancee loves to fly fish. Since she is working on her Doctorate she doesn't get the chance to go much. When discussing where to have the honeymoon, she said "lets go to the mountains & go fishing!" And of course I say yes!

Sometimes you just know u have met the right one!

[GaterB]

Jigs and Drop Shotting! 

[DogBone_384]

Yes we are! My fiancee loves to fly fish. Since she is working on her Doctorate she doesn't get the chance to go much. When discussing where to have the honeymoon, she said "lets go to the mountains & go fishing!" And of course I say yes!

Sometimes you just know u have met the right one!

A++

My boss, err - wife, isn't into fishing as much I am. She'll go a couple times per year if I take my nephews and hook the worm for her. Great that your fiancée is into it, gongrats, and enjoy your honeymoon.

Add: I give your wife A+++ for finishing her Doctorate. I'm about done with my MBA while working two jobs... That'll be enough for me.

[BryanBrown]

Swimbaits and topwater

[Chris186]

Im going to throw more jigs. Alot more jigs. Also gonna get back into fishing tournaments.

[SirSnookalot]

Moving to Florida nearly 10 years ago mysteriously my fly rod disappeared, along with several cds loaded with fishing and vacation pics (which I more upset about).  There are quite a few fly fishermen down here I'm friendly with, borrowing an outfit hasn't been a problem, but I should buy my own and my wife has been urging me to do so. I've got some really good guidance as these guys have been it 40 years or more in saltwater.  I'll be looking into it once the winds start to calm down.

[KyakR]

I might agree with your comment about your neighbors calling the cops if you lived in MA (we ARE called "Mass**les for a reason), like I do, but since you're in ME, I'd throw a bet that you'd be left alone or given positive reinforcement/congratulations.  All the years I've travelled in ME I've never had a bad experience, which is why, I suppose, so many of us 'city folk' end up with 2nd/retirement homes in ME.

 

Best of luck with your project...

 

Now to answer this post:

 

My main goal in 2014 is to match up the many reels & rods I bought in '13 (yep, Bassresource made me do it!) by trying each combination to see what works best. 

 

After I finish my MBA, I'm going to buy a 'Yak and get to all the spots at my regular spots that I've not been able to reach being shore bound.

 

Lastly, try to go a season without buying another setup... yep, Bassresource made me do it....

 

Happy new year!

Congrats on the almost-finished MBA! And getting a 'yak! And you're right......my neighbors wouldn't call the cops because I live in the woods with no neighbors for a mile or so. The nearest one has lots of junked cars and boats on his lawn, a half-demolished barn and chickens in the yard. Seriously, good people though! Gr8outdoorz, great to hear about another fishing woman!

[.ghoti.]

I have two projects for 2014, both of which will have a negative impact on my fishing time. And on the funding for fishing trips.

We recently aquired a small cabin on our local lake. It needs a lot of work. I have a contractor working on the floor right now. They are tearing the floor out, down to the joists, and replacing all of it. That is the biggest piece of the puzzle, and I'm glad the wife agreed to farm it out.

I tore out the kitchen completely, leaving nothing but the stove. It's new, everything else went into a dumpster. Once the new floor is in place my work will begin. building a new kitchen, replacing a stool and shower, drywall, trim work and painting, deck repairs, dock repairs or replacement, adding AC, etc, etc, etc.

The outside is in good shape. New roof, new siding, new windows and doors. Inside, it has a new stove, new washer/dryer stacked combo, new frig, and a fairly new gas-fired heater.

Thw second project is getting rid of the last of my debts. I've paid off all credit cards this year, and I'm keeping only an amex green card. The only remaining debt I have is a home equity loan. I will pay this off sometime near the end of 2014.

Then I can retire. And that is my primary goal for 2015. I will be 62 shortly, and I've been working two jobs since 1988. I had my second heart attack three months ago. It's time to stop and smell the coffee.