One Of Those Days!

[missouribigbass]

My buddy Joe and I have fished really hard this year and had succes every trip out. I've been fishing regularly for 25yrs but the last two I've really decided to become a fisherman and not just fish a lot. To me there's a difference a guy who fishes a lot has his spinnerbait and a couple exciting top water lures and a fisherman wants to learn how and why to fish every lure and syle there is. Since I decided to take the challenge of being a fisherman my overall experience has been awesome. I've caught fish in places I never would have before and I've caught them in conditions I never would have before. Heck I even took second in the first fishing tournament I ever entered. Well I said all that to say this.

Sunday Joe and I took the boat to one of my favorite lakes. After a daylight to dark outing and the worst overall sucess I've had in years and I began questioning everything I've learned the last couple years as a serious "FISHERMAN". We caught a total of 12 bass the entire day and not one over 13 inches. I threw every lure and technique I know at them. I threw at the bank in the deep on structure in pads in grass and just couldn't produce a good fish. Ill also throw out there this lake is loaded with good fish. Our last outing there produce 10 bass over 3lbs with the largest a 7lb 10ozer and it was a 4hr event not an all dayer. This lake is awesome water.

We've been hammered with rain this lake is up as high as I've ever seen it. Just curious on what everyone's thoughts are on high waters after a lot of rain. Do you believe the high water was a factor? Since becoming a better fisherman I'm of the belief you can find a way to catch them. Is there days where they just won't bite?

[Tony L.]

High water is definitely a factor. Lets start with the fact that the high water probably doubled the fishable area of your lake. Even though you have really invested in becoming a fisherman now, you are still at a disadvantage in locating them because they are scattered to the ends of the earth. Also think about the available food supply. The rising water had to have flooded out all sorts of terrestrial insects and earthworms burrowed into previously dried ground. Unless you jumped on board at the start of the feeding frenzy, chances are you were fishing for bass that had already gorged themselves.

Was the water still rising, or was it starting to recede back to normal levels? I have heard that the initial stages of rising water (the start of the aforementioned feeding frenzy) can be good for fishing, but falling water, even just dropping a few inches per day, puts the fish on lockdown.

Finally, and perhaps the least satisfying, even the best fishermen will have the occasional off day. Its not personal, it just happens (for me, more often than not). You'll get them next time.

[ATX]

I know what you are saying.. Sometimes it's just not your day. I fished my home lakes and have had my but whooped and I remember thinking the fish were just not feeding only to see guys at the boat ramp high fiveing because they had the day of their lives! But I have also been on the other side when everything just seems to click for me and everybody else got skunked! I like those days better.