Debunked Fishing Myths

[Raul]

Match the hatch -----> what a bunch of nonsense.

[Paul Roberts]

Match the hatch -----> what a bunch of nonsense.

Ah! I've busted that myth -in the other direction. Years with large hatches of bass in ponds the fishing crashes, until we go to little jigs or in one case streamer flies, and bang bang bang! Bass CAN become selective, or... focused. Granted I've only had this happen twice over the years -that I've been hip to anyway. But they were memorable for the sheer numbers of bass fry and fingerlings and the difficulty in getting the larger bass to bite standard sized lures. We solved the problem to our satisfaction by "matching the hatch" and the lesson left an impression.

 

Here's another myth-buster: "Never say never".

[greentrout]

Match the hatch -----> what a bunch of nonsense.

Don't be a mean little man. Elucidate your thoughts. Tell us what you think. Maybe we can bring you back from the Dark Side.

[F14A-B]

Match the hatch -----> what a bunch of nonsense.

Long live match the hatch! Hehe.....

[Darren.]

Big baits = big bass (ALL the time!)

 

LOL, <ducks head and runs for cover>

[everythingthatswims]

I swear every lake I go to I hear about divers that saw catfish with heads the size of VW Bugs. Just makes me laugh at this point

Well they must be seeing something! I talked to a dive crew working on a dam once time and that was a really neat experience, they see a lot of cool stuff while working.

[Driftb]

Match the hatch is not a myth at all.  If you are fishing dry flies for trout, you match the bugs that are hatching.  It's also a good starting point for bass fishing. IIf you are not getting bit figure out what they are eating. 

 

Here is a good myth:  Don't talk when fishing. If you are not quiet, you'll scare the fish-   I believe my Dad invented this myth to shut me up for a minute!   If you exchange the word "quiet" for "Still"  I think it is a good rule

 

Smallmouth like rocks, Largemouth like wood.  I like this one.

How about correcting the myth:  Smalllies like to be near current.  Rocks stay put in current, providing a current break.  Wood is more likely to drift away in strong current, eventually settling in a spot where the current dies.  These spots are coincidentally where the largemouth like to hang out, totally out of the current.  I get lots of smallies near wood.  especially wood that's stuck in current.  Also plenty of largemouth near boulders, especially boulders with an undercut.  I think this myth was invented by an out door writer who needed something to talk about.

[Driftb]

I just thought of one more myth to explode:

Fishermen are all liars.

Discuss...

[reelnmn]

Greatest myth ever is the current "bite" or what the fish "want".  Every time I read you have to keep fishing until you find what the fish "want" that day or that there is an awesome crankbait "bite" right now, I laugh a little.

[SirSnookalot]

One thing is for sure, if you don't go fishing you won't catch anything.

I have caught species that don't habitat a particular area.  Caught fish when every bit of weather and water conditions were totally against me.

One myth or really a superstition is a fish on the first cast is the kiss of death for the rest of the day, absolute nonsense.  Have disproved that one many times.

[ColdSVT]

I swear every lake I go to I hear about divers that saw catfish with heads the size of VW Bugs. Just makes me laugh at this point

A friend of mine used to dive the dams in my local lake for work. He talked of big cats but nothing crazy he did however claim seeing a potential state record muskie and seeing as how i have caught over 50 inches and seen several caught and on the surface that were north of 50inches i believe thier could be a state fish in there

[Catch and Grease]

I swear every lake I go to I hear about divers that saw catfish with heads the size of VW Bugs. Just makes me laugh at this point

 

They aren't the size of VW's but man the Cats on the show river monsters are incredible!!

[basscatcher8]

I know one that I read on here awhile ago and I thought it was true until I tried to debunk it and did.

 

All bass in a river are going to be on the bank. I read that word for word in this message board one time and bought into it for some reason. Finally I learned about current breaks in the middle of the river and found the fish lol.

[J Francho]

Beware of absolutes.  Not just in fishing....

[Scott F]

Flouro lines don't stretch, and they are invisible under water. Even though the "low stretch" myth was debunked long ago, I still read well known pros (KVD) saying they use it because it doesn't stretch as much as mono.

[ColdSVT]

Flouro lines don't stretch, and they are invisible under water. Even though the "low stretch" myth was debunked long ago, I still read well known pros (KVD) saying they use it because it doesn't stretch as much as mono.

Some strech more than others lol

[Mattlures]

Fluoro does stretch but not quite as much as mono. It sinks much quicker and it is definitely less visable. Ask anybody who fishes saltwater. When the fish get line shy, Fluoro can save the day.

[buzzed bait]

how about when the cows are laying down the fish aren't biting?  anyone else ever hear of this one?

[Catch and Grease]

how about when the cows are laying down the fish aren't biting? anyone else ever hear of this one?

Lol I've heard this one... But I've also heard if the cows are laying down then its about to rain and that not always true

[corn-on-the-rob]

High wind and rain  = bad day

 

my best day this year came with 25-30 mph sustained winds with 55 mph gusts. I had to sit down on the back deck because when I was standing with my rain gear on the wind almost blew me into the water (I lost balance and had to lean into the wind to keep my feet). We weren't moving but the rain was stinging like we were going 60. The fish were incredibly active and we caught a ton including big ones.

[Catch and Grease]

^ A little dangerous don't ya think? 55mph winds.... Yeesh

[J Francho]

Depends on the water.  If it's a river, probably not a problem.  If it's Erie, uh.....

 

[buzzed bait]

^ yikes

[South FLA]

Cathing bass in Florida after a cold front is near impossible (MYTH)

[ww2farmer]

Ones that I have debunked..........at least to myself, some people might disagree, oh well, such is life:

 

#1 Color matters

 

#2 Bass are smart

 

#3 Bass fisherman are smart..................and before anyone gets their jock strap in a knot about this, I am example #1..........I say color doesn't matter, yet have the rainbow of colors at my disposal. I'm pretty much an idiot.

 

#4 I lost my train of thought.............