Fishing Pressure: Mental Confidence Killer.

[MassBass]

I have come to realize that the thought of fishing pressure is zapping my confidence, and maybe thats why im not catching as many fish in the big lakes that get hit hard by bass boats as i am in small ponds with cartop access. All my big bass this year have come from ponds, and 0 big bass in lakes with bass boat access. Is fishing pressure a real threat to my fishing? Or is it mental, im constantly thinking, "oh a fish won't hit this because they are pressured". Wut 2 do?

[BassinLou]

I have come to realize that the thought of fishing pressure is zapping my confidence, and maybe thats why im not catching as many fish in the big lakes that get hit hard by bass boats as i am in small ponds with cartop access. All my big bass this year have come from ponds, and 0 big bass in lakes with bass boat access. Is fishing pressure a real threat to my fishing? Or is it mental, im constantly thinking, "oh a fish won't hit this because they are pressured". Wut 2 do?

 

It's mental. Constantly thinking that your spot is heavily pressured is throwing you off your game. There are plenty of articles that cover what to do if you feel your fishing spot is heavily pressured. You may have to change tactics and adopt techniques that you may not be used to, but I bet you will be successful if you double up on your efforts. Change the record your playing in your head;  "oh a fish won't hit this because they are pressured".  You keep saying this and you will make your wish come true. You will catch 0 fish. 

[Raul]

My everyday lake gets whupped every single day and I continue to catch fish in it, been doing so for over 30 years. Where´s "pressure" ?   

[basscatcher8]

Its all in your head. If you worry about the other guys you wont worry about what your doing and you might as well be at home watching fishing on tv.

[papajoe222]

My first question is; Have you had success catching big fish on the big water before?  If not, your success on the ponds and not on the 'high pressured waters' could be explained by the fact that you can cover more productive water with your presentations than you do on the bigger body of water.

Fishing pressure does affect catchability, but that does not mean the fish aren't catchable.  Your presentations or bait selections may need to be more precise, the fish may have a smaller strike zone or be more line shy than on one of the ponds you frequent.  Don't give up. Keep a positive outlook and eliminate possible negative influences on your fishing starting with a negative attitude.

[Tony L.]

If you find what they are biting on, you can catch fish all day no matter who else is fishing that spot. I was on a recent camping trip where a few buddies and I did some recreational fishing. Nothing serious, because we were shorebound and the real purpose of the trip was to enjoy each others company and have a few beers around the campfire. We were restricted to the public access spots where a lot of people were showing up to family reunions and clumsily plunking in a partial nightcrawler under a round plastic bobber. Not exactly ideal.... it was a heavily fished lake to begin with and to make matters worse, they were holding a junior bass tournament there that weekend.

Being limited in the places that I could stand and wishfully watch boat after boat pound my little fishing spot relentlessly without success, I still managed to land two very nice bass right out from under everybody crowding the area. I think mindset is everything, and fishing a heavily pressured lake is not something to shy away from. Rather, it is an opportunity to show everyone else what they are doing wrong.

You are a member of this forum, which means that you probably know quite a bit more about bass fishing than most of the people on the pressured lakes that you fish (whether or not you would actually admit it). Chances are that most of your "competition" are weekend warriors that religiously fish the same spots with the same lucky bait day in and day out regardless of conditions. They are just out there to have fun, which is what it is all about. Go in with the confidence to catch the fish that others arent getting, because it is pretty satisfying to have an audience when you land them. The actual experts like you are so few and far between that they really cant catch enough to pressure the lake as much as you'd think.

Besides, bass gotta eat regardless of where they are. Meals are few and far between, so they can't be too picky, or they'd starve to death. Sure they learn to be a little selective over time, but I think that we in this sport give way too much credit to a creature with the intellect of a flip-flop.

[BG RTR]

We all have to be careful how we talk to ourselves. If u complain u remain and the words from yours itch are your prison bars. I struggle with this all the time.

[BG RTR]

That should be the words from your mouth are your prison bars!

[ClackerBuzz]

My first question is; Have you had success catching big fish on the big water before?  If not, your success on the ponds and not on the 'high pressured waters' could be explained by the fact that you can cover more productive water with your presentations than you do on the bigger body of water.

Fishing pressure does affect catchability, but that does not mean the fish aren't catchable.  Your presentations or bait selections may need to be more precise, the fish may have a smaller strike zone or be more line shy than on one of the ponds you frequent.  Don't give up. Keep a positive outlook and eliminate possible negative influences on your fishing starting with a negative attitude.

this. in small ponds 90% of the fish are in 90% of the water. it's like fishing in a barrel. in bigger water 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water. now you have to learn how to find them.

[geo g]

Fishing pressure is more a fisherman thing, not a fish thing! Successful fishing requires considerable concentration on what your doing. If your distracted by those around you and what their doing, then it will effect your fishing. If your always fishing alone, or always searching isolated spots, then having someone in close proximity will probably effect your concentration. I suggest fishing with others and fishing water frequented by the masses. This will help improve your concentration, believe me the fish really don't care that much! They are certainly not the brightest creature on this planet.

[Bluebasser86]

Lakes like Guntersville, Fork, Falcon, Table Rock, all get fished literally every day of the year and continue to produce big fish. As long as they're there they have to eat, it's all up to you to figure out what they want to eat. Confidence is one of the best things to take to the lake with you every day. 

[hookset on 3]

MassBass, I want to point out something about how each of us is wired.

I'm an Introvert and always need my alone time, to deal with life. I fish alone at quiet little ponds and small lakes. Either on foot or my canoe.

We are in an Extroverted society, that promotes being part of and joining the crowd.

I used to be in a big B.A.S.S. club in Wellesley, Mass. I tried and tried to enjoy it, but eventually went back to what I really like, which of course is being by myself.

If you find happiness and serenity in fishing out of the way ponds....Do It.

Life's too short.

[tholmes]

Stop worrying and have fun fishing! 

 

Tom

[Nice_Bass]

Fishing pressure is real. 

 

Part of it is on the water, and part of it is in your head.

 

the part on the water everyone deals with differently, the part in your head everyone deals with differently.

figure out one of the two and you can have a good day- figure out both and you can have a great day. 

[BassinLou]

Here is a quick story that might boost your confidence. It ended up with a lost fish but, you can learn from it. I went this morning to a park i frequent that has several lakes/ you guys will call them ponds. I went to a part of the lake that has a bridge where everyone either stops to look or fish from alot!! This time there was no one there so I walked down below the bridge of sorts and cast my bait parallel to a grass line. Three turns of the handle and a 6.5+lb bass came from under the grass and took my bait. As I was fighting the fish and it was less than 10 ft from me, when the fish decided to jump and do a massive head shake. Unfortunately, my bait became unbuttoned and the fish got away. Was I upset.. Heck yeah!! Big fish like that don't hit often especially in that area of the park. The point is however, although the area gets pounded on a daily basis, I presented my bait in a way that the bass could not resist. Too bad  I missed her, but you got to keep casting and trying different things to convince the fish to take your offering. 

[Hattrick7]

There's this guy who told a story about how him and his buddy normally catch about 6 per outing. He got wind that fish and game was going to blue stone the lake on friday. So on Saturday, the day after, they only caught one.

Then the following week they started to catch their normal amount. He ran into the fish and game guy and asked about the blue stoning. Fish and game guy told him that they ended up not doing it at the last minute because something came up.

So much of this is mental.

[Big Fish Rice]

Fishing pressure is real - without a doubt. Some of our small natural lakes here in Washington State get hammered with tournaments. It can literally destroy it for a week or more. Whereas Lake Coeur d'Alene is ginormous and while you see other anglers, there's so much water you just don't have to worry about it. It produces MONSTER smallmouth and largemouth every single day. Just ask Brandon Palaniuk

I will say this: mental strength and the ability to overcome "thoughts" is important too. Have you ever said to yourself, "I should be doing this"....but you continue to fish the same lure or technique?

I bet so. Because I have too.

When your gut is telling you something, listen to it. That's your instinct telling you that you're not quite on the right pattern or area. I think it will help.

[Catch and Grease]

I usually just stay home the day after a big tournament in the lake I fish.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

To the OP. While I do agree that fishing pressure is real, we have to look at it realistically.

 

It's not the boat/equipment that find the fish, it's the angler who does. Just because a lake/river is getting pounded 24/7 by $50k bass boats does not mean that these anglers are having success out there. Even if they are, you just need to think outside of the box. For instance I fish the tidal Potomac river about half of my outings every year, and this river gets a lot of pressure (especially around Mattawoman Creek.) Despite the weekly tournaments and constant drove of bass boats, there are still a great deal of under fished areas along this river that hold good numbers and size of fish. I'm sure other people might know about them, but most do not.

 

Search areas where the boats aren't and you may find some hidden gems.

 

edit: Also think about the stories you hear of people catching the same fish several times in the same week. Just because fish are getting caught, doesn't mean they won't be caught again. Try some slower moving baits and fish areas thoroughly before moving on if you think that fish live there.