What Trumps All?

[slonezp]

So many factors in catching fish. In your opinion, what one thing trumps all the rest. Color? Size? Time of day? Action? and so on

 

For me it's a well placed bait. This relates to my shallow water experience and anticipating underwater structure and/or cover based on what I see on shore or, for the sake of conversation, boat docks, which are essentially an extension of the shore . Knowing where to put the bait has probably caught me more fish than anything else. Also cost me more fish because I wasn't prepared for the bait to get engulfed the second it hit the water. Some targets just look good. I don't know what it is, they look "fishy". On my home water I like to play the law of averages. If I catch a fish on a particular spot, I will definitely hit it the next time I'm in the area.  

 

Tell us your trump card

[Paul Roberts]

Hmmmmm... that's a big question. I'm going to go with bass activity level or aggressiveness in feeding. It's really helpful when the fish meet me halfway. Cures a lot of ills.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Location location location. ;-) <3 you Catt.

Honestly, yea, location. If fish ain't there, they can't bite.

[SirSnookalot]

 Are there fish in the area, but that doesn't mean they are always receptive.  I've had days where I've seen lots of activity off the shoreline and can't buy a bite.  Other days the water looked dead and I've had fish jumping on my hook, I just take it as it comes.  #1 trump card for me is time, eventually I'm going to score.

 

Yesterday I fished 3 ponds without a strike.  The last pond I made a terrible cast and put my top water on the bank, pulled the lure back into some dead looking water and instantly got struck and pulled in a 20" bass on my ul.  Dumb luck and time saved the day.

[Bankbeater]

Experience and time fished.  The more time you spend on the water the better your chances at catching a hawg.

[BrianinMD]

Location, you can best the absolute best at everything else but if you can't find the right spots for the conditions nothing good comes out.

[Fishing Rhino]

If you have a "gut feeling" about a place, bait, color, or whatever, do not be afraid to try it.

 

Your brain is a computer.   It processes much information subconsciously.  Do not ignore it.

[Catch and Grease]

Well you have to find the fish to catch em', But action is a lot more important then stuff like color IMO.

[mjseverson24]

To me the most important thing is the fisherman... The ability to make good decisions when the pressure is on, to be able to get that bite when you need that bite... All of these factors listed above are very important (location, color, action, depth, lure) but to me the biggest factor is the angler itself. 

 

Mitch

[Lund Explorer]

Location location location. ;-) <3 you Catt.

Honestly, yea, location. If fish ain't there, they can't bite.

Ditto!

[A-Jay]

The aspect of my angling that falls into the trump card category and provides me a fair chance is the utilization of stealth.  The majority of the waters here sport very clear water and though not heavily pressured, when I do not alert the fish to my presence they are much more cooperative.

 

 This almost always includes a planned, slow approach and as accurate & quiet a presentation as possible; using the wind to my advantage has proven effective.  I rarely maneuver over or even close to the fish I plan on fishing.  Even a deep drop-shot bite seems better with a long distant approach.  In such clear water and on a sunny day, I’ve seen the boat’s shadow travel down quite a ways which can move fish off a spot, turn them off or at the very least, tell them something isn’t right.  

 

 Line size is routinely a consideration and there is just no sense bouncing gear around in the boat on the approach to or once you get to a spot. Using an anchor rather than bumping the trolling motor on & off and on & off is usually the way to go.  During the warmer months, night fishing helps level the playing field and I do quite a bit.  But even then it pays to maintain a stealthly posture in all aspects except the line size.

 

A-Jay

[Senko lover]

The aspect of my angling that falls into the trump card category and provides me a fair chance is the utilization of stealth.  The majority of the waters here sport very clear water and though not heavily pressured, when I do not alert the fish to my presence they are much more cooperative.

 

 This almost always includes a planned, slow approach and as accurate & quiet a presentation as possible; using the wind to my advantage has proven effective.  I rarely maneuver over or even close to the fish I plan on fishing.  Even a deep drop-shot bite seems better with a long distant approach.  In such clear water and on a sunny day, I’ve seen the boat’s shadow travel down quite a ways which can move fish off a spot, turn them off or at the very least, tell them something isn’t right.  

 

 Line size is routinely a consideration and there is just no sense bouncing gear around in the boat on the approach to or once you get to a spot.  During the warmer months, night fishing helps level the playing field and I do quite a bit.  But even them it pays to maintain a stealth posture in all aspects except the line size.

 

A-Jay

You said it for me.

[ColdSVT]

TNT trumps all when fishing...dont forget your net and ear plugs

[Mike L]

Can't catch em fish they're not there...

Can't catch em if they're there and don't want to eat...

Can't catch em if they're there, want to eat but just don't like what they see...

Can't catch em if they're there, want to eat, like what they see, and then get turned off by what you did or didn't do, the weather etc.

Tell me why we do this again...

Mike

[Megastink]

None trump all. All are important.

[Catt]

can't catch what aint there 

[J Francho]

Location and activity level.  Sometimes you can catch what's not really biting, but like Catt said, you can't catch what's not there.

[SHaugh]

I'd say local knowledge and experience on that body of water.  We all know you can be 10 feet away from where the fish are biting and not get a bite.  It's knowing where the fish will likely be.   On my local pond that area amounts to several room size patches of water.... if you fish anywhere outside of that you are probably wasting your time.....

[Sam]

Interesting question.

 

I agree with Megastink in that there are more than one trump card to play so I will say.....

 

The Pattern of the Day.

 

All the conditions and bait placement add up to the Pattern of the Day.

 

Yes, bait placement is always important as is its entry into the water, but I would think it is imperative that you find that "Pattern of the Day" or "Pattern of the Hour" to nail our little green friends.

 

Just my two cents.

[Ratherbfishing]

As in business and real estate, it is:  LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

1. Location

2. Depth

3. Presentation 

   a. Action

   b. Profile

   c. Size

   d. Color

[*Hootie]

Fishing the same lake, day after day and year after year. My catches are pretty consistent. I've been fishing my lake since I was 14 yrs. old and now I'm...well, I'm not 14 anymore.

Hootie

[Chris S]

Electronics and how to use them on any given day along with your favorite search baits unless you are fishing a honey hole then who cares

catchem up! 

[Catt]

Interesting question.

I agree with Megastink in that there are more than one trump card to play so I will say.....

The Pattern of the Day.

All the conditions and bait placement add up to the Pattern of the Day.

Yes, bait placement is always important as is its entry into the water, but I would think it is imperative that you find that "Pattern of the Day" or "Pattern of the Hour" to nail our little green friends.

Just my two cents.

Step one of a pattern is location

[Montanaro]

Location is a given....I'm not shooting an elephant in my back yard.

Action trumps all

Switching trailers from lots of action to little and boom. Soft plastic fluttering down won't get bit but a crank smashing into same tree will.