How To Catch More Bass: Control

[Senko lover]

Winding new line on a reel tonight, I was reminded of this topic. It's pretty simple, yet it will help you tremendously upping your landing rate. There's two parts.

 

Note: This mostly comes into play after the fish bites; that aspect has it's own intricacies. 

 

Factor #1: Variables in fishing. 

 

These are things we can't control. Wind, cold fronts, storms, bass with lockjaw, boat problems, fish behavior, etc. The list could go on and on and on.There is nothing-to-very-little we can do about these (if you can control weather, please send me a PM!). Accept these as part of the sport. Move on to #2. 

 

Factor #2: "Controllables."

 

This is what we can do. We can use good quality line that won't snap under the stress of a big bass. We can tie good knots that will stay in place even under the greatest of pressure. We can use that line to tie on sharp, top-of-the-line (no pun intended) hooks that won't bend or break. We can use sensitive rods that help us feel a bite. We can take pains to ensure that bass jump as little as possible. We can learn how to fight fish properly to ensure that the hook doens't pop out. We can take a little longer to land a lunker by turning down the drag and playing it safe. We can even combat the variables in fishing (factor no. 1) by learning about them as much as we can. 
    Look at the pros. They don't mess around with cheap equipment because a mechanical failure could cost them thousands of dollars. They go into great pains with every detail to make sure that once the bass bites their bait, they'll get it in the boat. We probably don't fish for 100 G, but it applies to us as well. 

 

Bottom line: There's SO much we can't control in fishing. There's a little we can control. So make sure you do .

 

Disclaimers: Obviously the term "control" is not necessarily 100% accurate, as sometimes the bass have a mind of their own. 

I don't claim to know everything, but I've sure learned the hard way on this. I used to use the cheapest hooks I could find. Now, quality hooks are replacing my crappy ones. I used to buy the cheapest line to save money. I wish now I would have spent more when I broke off a nice fish! I don't pretend to say you can't have fun and enjoy fishing with lower-end equipment, I was living proof of the fact that you can. But if you want to do your best to land fish and not lose lunkers, try looking at the things you can control and control them to the best of your ability. 

[scaleface]

Tie a good knot and retie often .  The two knots I use are the trilene and palomar with the trilene getting most use .

 

 

  Quality equipment doesnt have to mean expensive equipment . I only have so much to spend on fishing so I tend to  purchase quality inexpensive gear but not cheap gear.  

[DTack]

You can also look at the pros who have terrible mechanics and then watch them either constantly lose fish, or talk about losing fish. Work on your mechanics. It is free.

[WRB]

Bass anglers like to think bass are tough fish, junk yard dogs of fishing. Bass are fish that react to a wide variety of article lures and can be a challenge to locate and catch consistantly, they are not hardest fastest fighting fish pound for pound. Bass can jump, turn on a dime and pull hard for about a minute, not a long hard endurance fighting fish like most salt water fish.

If you want to learn how to control a hard fighting fish, take your bass tackle to catch pelagic off shore ocean fish in the tuna, jack, mackerel family or some inshore fish like channel bass (red fish), stripe bass and calico bass, snook and bone fish. Fresh water bass are easy to fight compared to these fish.

Control in fighting a strong fish is keeping the line tight and the fish in front of you...follow the fish.

Tackle that isn't in good condition fails under pressure, you are responsible to maintain your tackle, select rods and reels suitable for the technique, tie good knots, use good line and stronge sharp hooks.

Tom