Lessons Learned

[papajoe222]

Every year around this time, I reflect on previous seasons. What did I learn and more importantly, what did I forget. Prior to last season, I kept a fishing log. It was a good reference, not only for this yearly review, but also for checking prior to an outing. Last season I stopped doing that, both keeping a log and checking previous years logs. Big mistake.

Although I did change my focus and goals, I am without reference to my success and more importantly my failures. The one big lesson I had driven home last year was; If you plan on targeting big fish, you need to fish waters that consistently produce them. My home lake is just over sixty acres and although there are plenty of quality sized fish (18in.+), there are very few lunkers.

That was one thing I 'learned' or should I say finnaly accepted. The one thing I forgot and one that has always been the backbone of reaching my goals was; slow down and listen to what the fish are telling you. Oh yea.......and keep a log, STUPID!

So what did you learn or forget last year?

[HoosierHawgs]

I had that fact that confidence is a huge part of fishing driven home for me this year. There were many times where a sheer lack of confidence (and focus) let a bad day get even worse. Another theme that goes along with this is my hardheaded stubborn nature is going to have to change for this coming season. There were times where Dad was just wacking em, and I wasn't getting a bite, and yet I refused to change what I was doing due to fishing history, what I'd been told by others, ect. I just need to learn to focus on what I'm doing and be versatile. It will help my be a much more productive angler in the future.

[gardnerjigman]

Fishing history can destroy you more times than not. That was a tough one to break for me on lakes I only get to fish 1-2 times a year

[lectricbassman]

I learned that no matter how easy it looks on youtube, catching bass can be frustratingly challenging.

[Catch and Grease]

Don't get frustrated, just chillax and enjoy the day...

[ColdSVT]

2 things

1 always wet your knot before cinching down...always

2 do what you do...fish your strengths

[CDMeyer]

The biggest thing that I learned this passed season was, that you have to let the fish tell you what they want.  I feel like I am very good with a swim jig.  Going into my final tournament of the year ( a high school end of the year classic ) I had pre-fished a spot and had a SOLIED pattern on a swim jig.  The day of the tournament the would not  hit a swim jig to save my life.  Until my partner whacked a giant fishing slow.  It was like something changed in me and I said if you want to win you must listen to the fish.  SO I switched to a shaky head and that was it a win by 5 pounds.

I learned that I need to let the fish tell me what they want.  I usually just try to make the fish bight my swim jigs but know I have learned a valuable lesson in lettin' the fish tell you what they want.

[Catt]

Fishing history can destroy you more times than not. That was a tough one to break for me on lakes I only get to fish 1-2 times a year

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Without history we have no experience

[Jd_Phillips_Fishin]

When fishing from the back of the boat, Always take down the light pole (when the the sun is up of course). Screwed up a real in a tournament once because I didn't take it down.

[Scott F]

I learned, again, that I don't like musky fishing. I had some time off and hooked up with a friend who likes musky fishing. He said we'd do both, bass and musky fishing but fishing out of his boat instead of mine, we spent a lot more time chasing muskies than I wanted. I thought I'd be OK with it and if I'd caught a fish or two I might have been. But I won't fish with him again in any place that has muskies unless we're in my boat.

[ward131]

It's OK to change lures...often

[gardnerjigman]

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Without history we have no experience

Totally agree, just doesn't mean history will repeat itself to your advantage. It's all about the where, when and why and establishing that rather than "last year they were eating this at this depth"

Jason Christie from Grand Lake Oklahoma said fishing history almost destroyed him on his home waters.

[Catt]

The key to that quote is not repeat...it's learn!

Structure on the bottom of a lake does not change without a catastrophic event. If it was prime structure 20 years ago it is prime structure today.

Some of the cover like grass beds will change it's shape & density. Even wood given time will change proportional.

The food source on that structure may even change from one predominate species to another.

I'm fishing the same structure I fished 40+ years ago, not the exact GPS location but still on the same structure.

I will agree that if I caught em last year on a purple worm I may have to change to a blue worm.

Eliminate your history you've eliminated your experience!

[tomustang]

Always store a spare motor key onboard when on a trolling lake. You never know when you'll leave you keys in the car

[gardnerjigman]

The key to that quote is not repeat...it's learn

Touché my friend! Lol

[Angry John]

1. never keep fishing the same bait that worked yesterday or last week.  Determine a good time period and shift tactics or baits if what your doing is not working.

2. Never leave your tackle in the back of the yak with your 3 year old daughter and expect a few things not to be float tested while your fishing.  She will entertain herself one way or another.

3. Verify the type of fish your chasing is actualy in the lake your at.  This happend twice.

[Senko lover]

Try new techniques. Big one for me this year.

[ClackerBuzz]

75% of the things you read online and watch on youtube won't apply to your fishery.

 

if you want to learn about bass, study baitfish (I think others put it "in order to learn about the owl you must study the mouse").

 

don't be afraid of 4lb line. set ur drag properly and let the rod/reel/line system do it's job. even if a bass goes into cover it's fairly easy to guide them out

 

skip buying ur next 3 combos and/or tackle for ur next 4 techniques and buy a sonar unit. never fish blind again.

 

don't get cold feet and get all cheap when buying a sonar unit.  don't spend 75% of ur money on a down imaging unit for a microscope view of the bottom when you should ante up and spend the extra 25% for 180 degree panoramic view of the lake bottom for hundreds of feet each direction

 

when getting skunked while learning how to structure fishing or if ur getting skunked in general:  head for the weeds.  that's how good weeds are

[Paul Roberts]

Well... I can't answer that question bc I didn't fish this year, being overseas. But I'll ditto the value in keeping records. I can't be everywhere and my memory is not what it used to be. Or, it never was all that great and I just didn't know it, until l started keeping records. Reviewing my logs of previous trips saves me time and stupid mistakes.

 

Also ditto to not fooling yourself as to whether your water has big fish to offer or not. If enough anglers visit a water body, they'll find some of those big fish. They are rarely a big secret. More likely, they are rare, or non-existent. Start ahead of the game and target waters that grow big fish.

[Bankbeater]

Just because a bait is old doesn't mean that it won't catch fish.

[strvmmer]

That I need to be a better deep water fisherman. 

[Felix77]

That I need to be a better deep water fisherman. 

x2 on this one ... I plain suck at it!

[scaleface]

I learned that if a fish looks unhealthy dont fillet it. Bass can be full of  pus like fluids , yukk.

 I fish a few  lakes with   slot limit's and keeping fish is encouraged.

 

Also take stealth to as high a level as possible. Sure we all catch fish after dropping pliers... but I rarely catch a big fish after I make a loud noise.  It appears to me that even waves slapping on the side of an aluminum boat has negative effects on quiet waters. Noisy waters are a different story but still stealth is preferred.

[Preytorien]

On 1/4/2015 at 8:57 PM, ClackerBuzz said:

75% of the things you read online and watch on youtube won't apply to your fishery.

 

 

 

^^ THIS

 

Seems like every video of technique fishing on YouTube doesn't apply as much where I'm at. Maybe it's my region (central Indiana). I'm not naive, I know southern states produce fishing all year long, but I'd like to see more fishing videos that address northern waters, and not just smallmouth bass. Some techniques and tips for fishing up here would be nice. Either way, it's fun to watch Glenn whack em'.

 

Last year I had no confidence in cranks until late fall, I had good success with shallow squarebills, this year I'm hoping to get more familiar and confident with cranks.

[Angry John]

On 1/5/2015 at 7:52 AM, Preytorien said:

^^ THIS

Seems like every video of technique fishing on YouTube doesn't apply as much where I'm at. Maybe it's my region (central Indiana). I'm not naive, I know southern states produce fishing all year long, but I'd like to see more fishing videos that address northern waters, and not just smallmouth bass. Some techniques and tips for fishing up here would be nice. Either way, it's fun to watch Glenn whack em'.

Last year I had no confidence in cranks until late fall, I had good success with shallow squarebills, this year I'm hoping to get more familiar and confident with cranks.

Amen. How about some advice that does not include shad!