Are You In The "fish Your Strengths School" Or "become Versatile" School?

[BiteFiend]

Thought I would start a thread about something I have been pondering lately. I consider myself a power fisherman and my strengths as an angler are crankbaits, flippin and pitching. They produce consistantly for me from early spring to mid-fall. They are two techniques that I have spent a lot of time using, so I feel I have got to know them fairly well and some of their nuances.

A couple years ago, I decided to make a more concerted effort on becoming a more versatile angler. I began to really try to get to learn some finesse techniques; mainly dropshot and shakey head. At different times through out that first year, I would only fish a dropshot and/or shaky head (several times pre and post spawn, several times in the summer, and several times during fall).

Even though I caught a lot of fish on them, and I feel like I got to know the techniques fairly ok, it still felt like I was trying to put a square peg in a round hole. It just doesn't feel natural to me and I feel like I just couldn't consistantly catch as big of bass as I could with power techniques.

Through out this year I have been going back and forth on whether I should be spending time trying to learn finesse techniques that all I will probably ever be is "ok" at, but make me more versatile or spending that time further exploring and developing power techniques that I can go from pretty good to hopefully great at. At the end of the day, I wonder what percent of his time a guy like Aaron Martens puts into say, deep cranking when he produces so consistantly with a DS in just about any condition. Not trying to be a pro, just trying to catch more and bigger bass consistantly as I'm sure we all are.

It seems like one school of thought is "fish your strengths" but the other is "be versatile" (basically become ok at your weaknesses). So what are you guys' thoughts? Do you think time is better served exploring and developing your "strengths" as an angler or work on your weaknesses as an angler and becoming versatile. Why?

PS I apologize if this became a bit long winded. This has been something I have thought a lot about the last couple weeks and wanted to see what you all thought.

[S_Miketa6]

I've been thinking the same way lately. Sometimes I don't know if Im trying to be versatile or just junk fishing. And with that I've just stuck with my strengths basically grind ing it out. It may not be the most suitable tactic but if I'm just fun fishing I will try new techniques and baits so I can learn but if I'm fishing a tournament I just can't convince myself to try something new. But at the same time I've been getting better at the things I love to do like frog fishing, flippin. So for me Im just trying to fish my strengths and improving on them. Lots of people have told me fish what you know now because the better you get you will recognize when to use it or not and will be easier to try something else. I've found it difficult going to some lakes and fishing what the locals say or what everyone else does so I try to fish what I feel would be best and at times it has paid off. So I guess for now or this year I have just been improving on my strengths, because I didn't feel they were good enough in the first place. 

[A-Jay]

As a multi-species angler, when utilizing many of the different techniques, fishing assorted habitats and angling locations, ones "strength" spectrum can't help but widen; there's a ton of cross over. 

 

There are techniques I enjoy more than others , but I'll pretty much do what ever I need to, to put fish in the net.

 

 Also fishing from a smaller vessel limits what one can bring each trip so I have to narrow down which presentations I believe (hope) will be productive. 

 

 I've been wrong almost as many times as I've been right on what to bring; especially if I haven't been out in a week or so.   The "just in case rods, reels & tackle box" seems to get bigger every season. Don't know if it's because I'm comfortably fishing several different techniques or if I'm just clueless . . . . .maybe both.

 

A-Jay

 

[J Francho]

I'm in the use what gets in front of the fish's face school.

[gulfcaptain]

Being mainly a shore fisherman although seriously looking at getting a boat I find that I fish an assorted arsenal of baits and presentations.  New techniques require you to put in the time to become confident.  Last year I picked up larger swimbaits and the umbrella rig as well as strengthing my flipping/punching game.  All 3 accounted for most of my big fish and the more I fished them the better my confidence in them increased to where I didn't want to put them down.  Yes there were days I went back to my finesse dropshot and up'd my game there with different baits II hadn't fished before but became big producers especailly when days were really slow and tough.  I new I could get bites, even if they are the 1-2lb fish, but they are fish and if I was fishing tournaments fish in the boat count more then the ones you don't have.  Bottom line fish your strenghts first but always have a back up options when things get tough so you aren't trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

[geo g]

If you really want to master a new technique, go out with that bait and nothing else.  If you take your comfort baits, you will soon be using those comfort baits defeating you purpose for being out there.   If you want to learn to jig fish, take only jigs.  If you want to be a better crankbait fisherman, take only crankbaits.  You can get a variety of the baits your trying to master, but only take those baits.  I am as guilty as anyone of not following this suggestion.  I always wanted to be a better jig flipper, but would go out with 8 rods with 7 full of comfort baits.  After an hour of flipping and no fish, I'm back to comfort baits.  By only taking one type of bait, it forces you to experiment with that new bait.  You will eventually figure it out, and master a new technique.   Someday I will master that jig technique!    

[gulfcaptain]

Agree, had to do that with the big swimbaits and not bring anything else.  Caused me to fish only that lure and not be able to switch....after catching a few nice fish realized how good those baits could be, just have to have the confidence in them and know you're swinging for the fences basiclly.  But there are times I do keep a few other rods in the car just incase I see something when I get there and adapt to the conditions that are presented to me.

[doyle8218]

Since I don't fish for a living or in tournaments, I fish what is fun for me.

[K_Mac]

Are you really good at flipping, pitching and cranking, AND at locating fish that can be caught using those techniques? If so you are a very versatile fisherman IMO.

Is there value in being competent using finesse techniques? Sure, but most of us have techniques that we only go to when the fish insist that we do. Go with your strengths!

[WRB]

Why limit yourself?

If you have never fished an organized bass tournament, you should. Nothing teaches you faster than being humbled by not being competitive with presentations that are catching bass when you are not.

I consider myself a decent bass jig angler and rarely flip or pitch a jig because where I fish in deep structured clear water lakes with little cover, flipping or pitching isn't productive. Making long casts with jigs, worms, crankbaits, swimbaits to deep isolated structure areas is productive. If the bass don't respond to the lures I prefer to use, then finesse presentations often save the day. My goal is catching the biggest bass in the lake, if that isn't working then I use whatever presentation will work to catch a few bass; drop shot, slip shot, structure spoons, top water, whatever it takes.

Tom

[papajoe222]

I think every experienced angler has strengths and weaknesses and prefers to fish his or her strengths. It's more fun and in the long run will be the best producers of fish.  There are times, however, when they just don't produce.  If you're okay with going fishless on occasion, you can stay in this school. I prefer to exhaust all possibilities on every outing and will go to finess presentation if it means putting fish in the boat and believe me when I tell you I suck at drop shotting and dead sticking.

[BiteFiend]

Thanks everyone for your insights so far. Tom and Papajoe I feel made some very good points. Really at the end of the day I hate getting blanked more than I hate finesse so maybe I should just try to get over my hatred of finesse techniques. I don't get to fish deep, clear lakes very often so I hadn't really thought of the situation Tom presented. Again thanks everyone for what has been said so far.

[Balshy Fishing]

Strengths but I am going to continue trying some new things when I ain't getting bites. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I can do both,but i need water 10 ft or less no matter .not to say i cant fish deep water.just id adapt

[Bluebasser86]

I enjoy learning new things, part of what keeps it exciting for me.

[Jrob78]

I try to fish whatever will catch fish.  I do find myself neglecting certain techniques more than others so I try to make an effort to be open minded about what I should throw.

[aavery2]

If a person does not have a least a basic understanding of most techniques then it would be hard to actually say where your strengths lie.  I don't prefer finesse fishing, but I have several setups dedicated to it because at times it is what catches fish.

[hubshooter]

Originally I always fished my strengths, mainly because I caught fish doing it. However, since I got stationed in Georgia I had to throw that approach out the window, due to the major difference in type of lakes I fished. Becoming versatile feels about the same as college classes,  always getting something new crammed into my head    On the flip side, it gives me an awesome excuse for donating to the local tackle shop! I really enjoy learning anything and everything I can, which in the long run makes me a more proficient angler. 

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in the camp of having fun is the only thing that counts.

I do believe I am versatile fisherman, I can't even think of all the different species I specifically target.  I fish boats, jetties, beaches, wade,  fish canals and ponds too.  I cast, troll, drift fish,  use fly rod, catch my bait occasion, I'd say that's pretty versatile.  

I do have a weakness, I stay with the lures and methods that catch fish for me, don't try new things too often.  That said if I'm catching fish everyday maybe it's really on strength, I know my waters.

[Bankbeater]

I like to learn new things.  I may not always be able to use them in the waters I fish, but I will know them just in case.

[Loop_Dad]

I feel this depends somewhat on the water you fish.

 

For me, I'm just fishing for fun, so as long as what I am doing works, I'm good. Sometimes I just keep fishing the same thing all day. However I am also curious and enjoy switching up and trying different things. Sometimes I catch myself switching up too much, and tell myself to keep it simple. If this makes sense...

[WRB]

The best time to learn a new presentation is when the bite is good.

Tom

[roadwarrior]

The best time to learn a new presentation is when the bite is good.

Tom

 

This should be written in stone!

[Felix77]

to me this depends on the situation.  On tournament day I definitely rig up what I feel most confident in and try to leverage those to catch my fish.  The trick is to build a base set of confidence presentations which you can use most often and cover the water columns.  For me my top 3 are a mojo rig for the bottom/through grass, a finesse swimbait for the middle and on top it's a Zara Spook.  Add a t-rig/weightless senko and you have 4 presentations which you can use anywhere and anytime to catch fish.

 

ANY and I mean any other time I generally try to learn something new and dedicate time to learning it.  Last year was the Mojo Rig for me and it became a top producer for me and quickly became a go-to as you can see above.

 

FWIW - This year it's been the finesse tube (Gitzit) and drop shot.  Both have been producing for me after learning how to "feel"/ present them.

 

Good luck!

[Felix77]

The best time to learn a new presentation is when the bite is good.

Tom

Amen brother!  Nothing kills confidence faster than not getting bit when working a new technique.