Super User everythingthatswims Posted October 20, 2015 Super User Posted October 20, 2015 Another mistake I see my students make is when they catch one they never make follow up cast to the exact same spot! Two weeks ago I caught 11 in a row casting to an area about 12' in diameter. Sunday I caught 9 in less than 5 minutes on one bush in 3FOW. That doesn't count the fish that swiped/boiled on the bait or spit the hook. Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted October 20, 2015 Super User Posted October 20, 2015 Wow, thanks all for the great info on differences between "structure" and "cover", I had no idea, plus the hints to flippin/pitchiin. Drinks are on me at my house It all makes sense and I can't wait to put it to work. I'll take some time to walk the banks and really try to find the structure you all talk about before getting out fishing. To stkbassn: I do have good luck with spinners, crank, jerks etc. I want to learn new techniques and try different things. My rule is once I catch 3 fish on specific lure I change and try something else. This helps me learn if catches are because of specific bait, location, etc. It's always good to learn new presentations. With certain bait presetations in a pond you can burn through those fish quickly. I've had 2-3 days of good flipping/punching in certain ponds I fish where they bit great, then go the next time....Zero!!! Conditions didn't change, but ran out of fish in those areas. Time to grab another rod and another presentation. Knowing mulitple techniques will only make you a better more consistant fisherman. Many get hung up on a certain way of fishing and end up being lost when it doesn't work since they have become one dimensional. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted October 21, 2015 Global Moderator Posted October 21, 2015 I start as far back on the matt as I can and work my way out trying to make each pitch about 3 ft apart all the way out. Then make 2 or 3 on the outside edge. Then move 4-5ft over and repeat until the entire matt is covered. How many that is, is what it is. I'm answering this way because the pitch count don't mean a thing, it's covering the whole matt. Mike Quote
JDH85 Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 Instead of looking at a body of water from the surface down angler who consistently catch look at it from the bottom up! I think Denny Brauer, Shaw Grigsby, Greg Hackney and countless other pros would disagree with you there. Fish the conditions, right? I understand that you are much more likely to get a limit out near the channel, but sometimes the big girls go up to hide in the thick junk in 8 inches of water. So, being proficient in both is the better option - no? Quote
Super User Catt Posted October 21, 2015 Super User Posted October 21, 2015 I think Denny Brauer, Shaw Grigsby, Greg Hackney and countless other pros would disagree with you there. Fish the conditions, right? I understand that you are much more likely to get a limit out near the channel, but sometimes the big girls go up to hide in the thick junk in 8 inches of water. So, being proficient in both is the better option - no? Have you ever listened to Denny, Shaw, or any other Pro? I promise you they will all tell you depth of water has nothing to do with structure! Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted October 21, 2015 Super User Posted October 21, 2015 JDH85 I have caught very nice fish in 8" of water in heavy cover in the dead of summer in a spot where the nearest "channel" was only a couple of feet deeper. Without that path up into the heavy, shallow stuff I doubt they would have been there. I still have trouble understanding why they were there in water warm to the touch. There is much I don't understand about shallow dwelling bass... Quote
JDH85 Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 Have you ever listened to Denny, Shaw, or any other Pro? I promise you they will all tell you depth of water has nothing to do with structure! Well, maybe I am misunderstanding what you're trying to get across. Earlier you said "quit fishing the vegetation and fish what's under it". I interpreted that as you saying don't fish shallow fish deep -- but what you're saying is the vegetation continues under the water (and might also be where most of it is) and it's more oxygenated so most of the fish are there as opposed to shallow? Please correct me if I'm wrong. Quote
JDH85 Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 JDH85 I have caught very nice fish in 8" of water in heavy cover in the dead of summer in a spot where the nearest "channel" was only a couple of feet deeper. Without that path up into the heavy, shallow stuff I doubt they would have been there. I still have trouble understanding why they were there in water warm to the touch. There is much I don't understand about shallow dwelling bass... All of my best fish have come from 6' of water or less. But I grew up fishing that way -- getting my lure into the tightest spots in the cover as I possibly could and wiggle the lure in and through the cover. Swimming a spinnerbait over a branch in 10" of water and watching a 5 lber come seemingly out of nowhere to smash it in a flash. I'm making an effort to be a better structure fisherman. It must be nice to go out and whack 80 fish in one spot. But the bank will never lose its allure to me. Something about horsing an angry bucketmouth out of the junk seems just right to me. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted October 21, 2015 Super User Posted October 21, 2015 All of my best fish have come from 6' of water or less. But I grew up fishing that way -- getting my lure into the tightest spots in the cover as I possibly could and wiggle the lure in and through the cover. Swimming a spinnerbait over a branch in 10" of water and watching a 5 lber come seemingly out of nowhere to smash it in a flash. I'm making an effort to be a better structure fisherman. It must be nice to go out and whack 80 fish in one spot. But the bank will never lose its allure to me. Something about horsing an angry bucketmouth out of the junk seems just right to me. Fish even against the bank will relate to some sort of structure. That's how you get high percentage areas and "spot on the spot" situations. They're is deeper water nearby, and a pathway to that deeper water in the form of a ditch, a channel, or all sorts of other contours. Quote
Leonidas Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Another mistake I see my students make is when they catch one they never make follow up cast to the exact same spot! Two weeks ago I caught 11 in a row casting to an area about 12' in diameter. Good advice all around. Catt also nailed something spot on. There are often multiple bass in an attractive location. Quote
Silas Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 You're right on! Like stated above, I pitch it and let it fall till the bottom. Yo yo it quick twice then burn it back and pitch a little bit over and repeat. As I'm beginning to understand that this is more boring and more "work" than fun, I'm not really interested in a one bite one big fish day. The technique sacrifices much of the pleasure I get from fishing. So I won't be pitching or flipping. A flick of the wrist and a precise "roll cast" will suffice for me, thank you. I'll be content to cast away at a leisurely relaxing pace and let you fellas catch all those big ones! LOL! Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted October 22, 2015 Super User Posted October 22, 2015 All of my best fish have come from 6' of water or less. But I grew up fishing that way -- getting my lure into the tightest spots in the cover as I possibly could and wiggle the lure in and through the cover. Swimming a spinnerbait over a branch in 10" of water and watching a 5 lber come seemingly out of nowhere to smash it in a flash. I'm making an effort to be a better structure fisherman. It must be nice to go out and whack 80 fish in one spot. But the bank will never lose its allure to me. Something about horsing an angry bucketmouth out of the junk seems just right to me. My experience is just the opposite of yours. I really learned bass fishing in deeper, clear water lakes. Fishing long points, bluffs, and old river channels was where I learned that there was more to catching bass than beating the bank. A few years ago I started fishing with a guy who isn't happy if he isn't stirring mud or banging something with his trolling motor. He grew up fishing a river system, and is a true master pitching into spots that most of us can't hit, and finding shallow bass when I can't find the deeper ones. We make a good team most of the time. Of course there are days when the fish win. That is what keeps things interesting! Quote
MidwestF1sh Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 As I'm beginning to understand that this is more boring and more "work" than fun, I'm not really interested in a one bite one big fish day. The technique sacrifices much of the pleasure I get from fishing. So I won't be pitching or flipping. A flick of the wrist and a precise "roll cast" will suffice for me, thank you. I'll be content to cast away at a leisurely relaxing pace and let you fellas catch all those big ones! LOL! One bite one big fish day?? Oh nooo you can catch tons of fish this way. Like others said pitch to high percentage spots. I've pulled up and pitched one dock/boat lift and pulled 5 fish out of it during a tournament. One of the fish even won me big fish for the day. You can go along a stretch and really light em up and once you get the pitch down and how to do it accuratly and quick it can be a very fun and relaxing method. Before you got good at a roll cast I'm sure it seemed like work! Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted October 22, 2015 BassResource.com Administrator Posted October 22, 2015 Umm...that was sarcasm there MidwestF1sh. Quote
Super User Catt Posted October 22, 2015 Super User Posted October 22, 2015 Here is a perfect illustration of "Quit fishing the vegetation & fish what's under it" 2011 Bassmaster Classic 5 of the Super Six anglers were fishing the same area on Lake Cataouatche; according to Derek Remity, "We all knew we were in the right area, it was a small slallow grassy area but it was big enough for 3 or 4 of us. We just kept meanding through it." One of the anglers was Kevin VanDam; "I found one spot were there was thick vegetation around a barrier, I made a loop ariund the barrier & found a spot with a hard bottom (structure)." While the other anglers "kept meanding through it", VanDam sat on the spot winning his fourth Classic by 10 lbs 11 ozs over second place! Quote
MidwestF1sh Posted October 23, 2015 Posted October 23, 2015 .... Wow normally I'm on top of that stuff Quote
WPCfishing Posted October 24, 2015 Posted October 24, 2015 I never kept count but I can tell you it's a lot... I'm in the junk all the time. I've become more of a trophy hunter. A three pounder is of no interest to me... Quote
Kevinator1 Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 A lot......I love pitching...I pitch to cover or structure, hop it a couple of times and reel back in quickly and pitch again.....I use a high speed Lew's 8.3:1 Tournament Pro so i don't waste time bringing my lure back. My tournament partner can't believe how many pitches i can get in a day. Also its good to learn to pitch right and left handed. During tournaments it helps relieve the pressure on your wrists, shoulders and elbows. If you get a chance to watch Tommy Biffle pitch a lure, you will see how easy it can be done without much effort. Quote
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