Why I am a better ________ angler than you are!

[scaleface]

3 hours ago, Choporoz said:

TTT.....just because there's so much goodness about so many different things in this one thread. 

 

I may be a better wood fisherman than some of you.  I love fishing wood....doesn't matter if it is a two week old lay down, or a tree that has been standing in 50 FOW since they flooded the reservoir 70 years ago.  It isn't unusual for me to spend a couple hours on a single tree or brush pile.  Even if it isn't real productive today, I learn more about branches and trunks and angles so next time I hit that spot, I'm that much farther ahead.  I rpobe with a variety of lures, weights and jig heads.  I generally feel that the actual  bait is the least important of variables.   Angles, ROF, horizontal speed....are all more important than bait shape or color.....usually.   I approach a laydown, log or brushpile with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbaits, dropshot, shakeyhead, jig, t-rigs (multiple weights)....oftentimes all of the above in one visit.  Sometimes the 'best' angles need to be skipped because of wind or current.   I prefer 3 bites that I can confidently set the hook on to 5 bites that don't hook up.   I really try to visualize every branch and exactly what my bait is doing in relation to branch and trunk.   I fully expect there to be bass on every brushpile or laydown that I encounter.   Any one day, the difference between 1/16 oz T-rig and 1/4 oz T-rig moving through the brush can be huge.   I feel the need to try a range of ROF every time out.  

  However, I do have a weakness when it comes to lipless in wood.  Lack of experience and trying too hard not to hang up prevents me from being effective.  I knew a guy years ago that effectively worked his traps through brush and I was always in awe.  Even cranks, to some extent,  are a weak spot for me, since I feel I hang too often and can kill a spit for a short time.

I needed you Monday . All the brushpiles failed me . I know about ten brushpiles on this lake and not a one produced . First time that has happened . I was lost . found fish in weeds and on a point but for some reason not brush .

[LrgmouthShad]

On 1/8/2016 at 9:21 PM, everythingthatswims said:

I'm a better buzzbait fisherman than you because I fish from a kayak. The difference between having a buzzbait paralleled within a foot of the bank or a piece of structure *cover*  versus throwing straight at it and bringing it back out is huge. I can cover hundreds of yards of bank while staying within a rods length of the bank the whole time, this has produced lots and lots of fish for me. I fish my buzzbait exactly how I do with my big swimbaits, giving the bass something to pin it against. It works!

Well, I certainly can’t claim that I am a better _____ angler than most on here, but I would like to emphasize and add to what @everythingthatswims said here. Fishing spinnerbaits and buzzbaits (I fish them pretty much the same) from a kayak can be miles better than from a boat, IMO. Watch Jimmy Houston fish a lily pad field with a spinnerbait. He never makes a long cast. He makes short, accurate roll casts into pockets, paralleling the cover, and otherwise. This is close quarters fishing. In a kayak, you have the ability to get extremely close to a wary old bass without spooking her if you are quiet. You can sneak up on her so effectively and present your lure very naturally. 
 

I believe the above is the reason why I fish spinnerbaits as much as I do. They simply work great from a kayak. I do not often make long casts with a spinnerbait or buzzbait when fishing for largemouth if fishing shallow water with the lure up in sight. It is my preferred way to fish them in shallow water. Quiet, dead accurate, slow next to (hopefully) big momma. I’m working on the locating big momma part

Edited October 20, 2021 by LrgmouthShad
Several points of clarification

[papajoe222]

Five years after the question was asked, I can say without a doubt that I am a better catfish angler than you. At least when using artificial baits. I’ve caught more cats when bass fishing over the last five years than for the 50yrs. that proceeded them. 

[A-Jay]

On 1/2/2016 at 4:09 PM, A-Jay said:

I fish alone a good majority of the time so comparison opportunities are scarce.

But since we're pumping ourselves up ~ I go with it.

Fishing from a small craft limits my mobility so this has forced me to learn something I call Fishing Small.  It means since I'm not going to be running & gunning all over the lake, to get the most out each trip I have to choose when & where I fish wisely.  Sometimes that's as simple as when to fish & at what section of a lake.  Other times it refers to what time of day or night, to be on certain spots.   

 Learning to break a spot down.  Looking at every possible environmental variable - it's challenging.  There's the obvious ones of past, current and forecasted atmospheric conditions like air temperature, wind speed & direction, cloud cover, precipitation,and barometric pressure.  Then there's the possible effects of any lunar activity, if you believe that there's any bearing there.  Clearly the water itself, Depth, the turbidity, any current, temperature of course, is it rising or falling, what about the what level itself what's the story there? How about the presence of bait or what about food for the bait or other predators that even eat the bass ?  Is all of this the same all over the lake ?  Usually not.  The presence of Cover, wood, weed, man made deals like docks & rafts.  How about boating traffic & fishing pressure ?

I want to take as much of this into account as I can IN ADVANCE of my arrival, because if something is "out of tune" - With 3.5 mph as a top speed (if you can call it that) there's no Moving to another area of the lake. At least not very far or very fast ~ timing is everything.  

Then there's the "what bait, technique or presentation" I do not use a "Search" lure - ever.  By not beating the water to a froth with something simply to cover water looking for "a Bite", I've learned that by getting to the area, looking for the spot, finding the spot on the spot, and making a high percentage presentation to it, one can often fool the fish you're actually looking for before she realizes you're there.  Big advantage.  A little harder to do at night - darkness helps but so does practice.

A Ton of trial and error comes into play and there have been more misses than hits, but sometimes it comes together and I get a few decent ones.  Even still, the environment routinely lets me know that I still have a lot to learn. And that my friends is what keeps me going back.

A-Jay

 

5 years later and having purchased the Pro-V Bass boat, the above experience was INCREDIBLY VALUABLE; especially fishing new & bigger water which can seem fairly intimidating.  Having a higher level of mobility can be both a blessing and a curse. 

#fishsmall

A-Jay 

[WRB]

5 years a lot of things have changed for me. Sold 95% of my tackle and my boat. Now a occasional bass angler back seating when I get a invite.

My routine as a back seater is to sit back and enjoy the outing, try to keep my tackle bag and few rods out if the way. What I miss most is the front of the boat watching sonar and the freedom that comes along with planning the outing where and what to fish.

Being a old man can be frustrating, we take what life gives us and enjoy the moment.

Tom

[PressuredFishing]

On 1/2/2016 at 11:09 AM, WRB said:

Thought this topic could generate some interesting replies. The "I" is anyone posting a reply, the blank is any specific lure/presentation you feel is something you are good at.

Why I am a better casting jig angler than you are!

Casting jig is a skill set that I feel very confident in using because of the time spent doing this started in 1955 over 60 years now. 

My first jig was a Doll fly 3/8 oz black hair jig without a trailer and didn't have a clue how to fish it other than what was offered on the card it came with. Cast it out and hop it along the bottom. I soon learned a jig caught bass and snagged easily, Doll flies didn't have a weed gaurd.  Soft plastics were unknown to me at this time, the Cream worm hadn't made it's way out west until 1957. 

My source of bass fishing knowledge came from Jason Lucas outdoor fishing editor of Spirts Afield, Jay suggested using a pork rind bass strip for a trailer and a small denture rubber band hooked between the jig eye and hook barb, this worked great and would influence my casting jig fishing forever. 

Back in those days my reel was a Langley Lure Cast bait caster with Dacron braid, the a rod a 5 1/2' tubular fiber glass Conolin bait casting rod.

This outfit could cast a 3/8 oz oz jig 50 yards, all the line the reel held. Being a bank angler back then a long cast allowed more distance to retrieve the lure, not necessarily a good idea because you missed most strikes. With the old knuckle buster reel you had to keep your hand on the reel handle all the time when retrieving or hopping the jig along the bottom,this also required holding the rod by the fore grip, line running over the index finger and under the thumb to feel strikes and help prevent the handle from spinning backwards during a hook set. This out fit also had a lasting impact on how I would develop casting jig fishing skills, strike detection, hook setting and controlling bass during the fight, you had to play the bass or lose it!

Today I still hold the rod the same way, make long casts, feel the line to detect strikes and use both the reel and rod to get a good "reel" set with rod sweep technique developed over decades of jig fishing. I also rarely use a fiber or wire weed guard preferring a piece of soft plastic worm attached via a spring between the hook eye and hook point that replaced my original small rubber band. I also still prefer hair jigs with pork trailers.

Why do I use this old school jig presentation of making long casts and use out dated hair jigs with pork trailers?

The answer is in the number of bass caught over 10 lbs, hundreds. My 5 top jig bass caught between 1982-1994 are: 17.4, 17.4, 17.6, 18.6 and 19.3 lbs. 

Tom

 

 

If you like langleys, just two weeks ago I found a real nice older couple in their seventies at a garage sale that had two langley spinning reels (one a spin Flo, and a spinator+boxes and schematics)  looked up the history of them and its a very cool company located out of Sandiego, they are hanging up on my wall

[DaubsNU1]

I read the original post, and a few more...and have already learned some new techniques.

 

I like this...and am going to read more.

 

If there were a thread titled "Why I am a better ________ hunter than you are!" I'd have some things to say about waterfowl, or deer hunting...but for bass...let's just say I'm in learning mode!

[Catt]

1 hour ago, DaubsNU1 said:

If there were a thread titled "Why I am a better ________ hunter than you are!" I'd have some things to say about waterfowl, or deer hunting...

 

 

Sounds like ya ought to start one?

 

[T-Billy]

On 10/21/2021 at 10:33 AM, papajoe222 said:

Five years after the question was asked, I can say without a doubt that I am a better catfish angler than you. At least when using artificial baits. I’ve caught more cats when bass fishing over the last five years than for the 50yrs. that proceeded them. 

LOL. Channel cats spawn in June in my neck of the woods. Flatheads move up right after them. They get tight to wood and rock and they love T-Rigs.

[Basswhippa]

I'm not sure, and more of an attribute than skill, but I think I exceed lot of folks in terms of time on the water, while working full timme.  It might be Guntersville,  or a pond, or below Wheeler dam like tomorrow.   I've fished 101 days so far this year.  Many times it's 3 or 4 hours in a pond bank or Guntersville in a kayak.   Other times it's all day in a 20 foot Ranger.  Guntersville is the home of many world Champions and the best fishermen nobody has ever heard of .  I don't tournament fish against them much, but when I do I hang with them.  I sometimes have days I know I did better than anyone on the lake...... 

[QED]

I am not a better angler than you.  But I enjoy fishing at least as well as and possibly better than you.  I work in tech and did some deals that changed your life in ways you won’t recognize and ended up in B-school case studies.  But the simple act of fishing trumps that.

[Junk Fisherman]

I don't really care about comparing my skills to others.  I put my emphasis on enjoying my day of fishing NOT finishing high in a tournament,  outfishing my coangler, or being able to post a bunch of pictures on social media.  I know that my skills have improved tremendously over the last few years and I would be competitive fishing club tournaments or other local circuits but I value the serenity and the freedom that a day of fishing gives me over the hectic, crowded-water scenarios that is involved in just about every local tournament. 

 

But to answer the question, I am probably a better light-line finesse fisherman than you are.  Finesse swimbaits, dropshots, and Ned rigs account for probably 75% of all the fish I catch.    

[Choporoz]

1 hour ago, Junk Fisherman said:

But to answer the question, I am probably a better light-line finesse fisherman than you are.  Finesse swimbaits, dropshots, and Ned rigs account for probably 75% of all the fish I catch.    

I suspect you are a much better light-line finesse fisherman than I.  

  I haven't thrown a Ned rig in at least 18 months....dropshot is a last resort.   My idea of finesse is a 7 inch SKRT Thumper on a light T-rig.   How about some insider tips on what makes you successful?  Rod?  Line? Nuances in presentations?

I got a new finesse rod a couple weeks ago and promptly broke off a giant from my dock when I couldn't control her and she got well underneath me....went right back to 15# line and beefier rod...lol

[T-Billy]

I've gotten to be a really solid heavy cover fisherman for my neck of the woods. I forced myself to spend a BUNCH of time fishing grass this summer. What I found is punching grass mats just doesn't seem to be the way to go on my local lakes. For whatever reason, I could never find many fishing just grass beds. Wood that's choked out with grass.... Now we're talkin!!! For sure my best year for both numbers and average size. 100% because I've gone to doing all my flipping and pitching with braid, and I've put the jig down in favor of a T-Rigged creature on a flippin hook. I can put that thing into places I'd never even think about putting a jig, or even a T-Rig on an EWG for that matter, and if I stick one back in that nasty mess, it's coming out. Never had a bass wrap me up this year, and I hauled some catfish up to 13# out of big wood tangles. I did get my butt kicked by a couple big flatheads though. I'm fishing the nastiest cover on my lakes with confidence, and catching bass most guys won't even put a bait in front of.

I'm not going to say I'm better than anyone, but I feel like I'm a really solid stick in in the jungle.

 

My advice to anyone wanting to get better in this area, get some flippin hooks, learn to tie a snell, get some tungsten sinkers, some 40# or higher braid, a proper flippin stick, and go fish the stuff your scared to pitch into. My favorite way to fish. No place to monkey around. They go ballistic when you crack 'em with that big rig, and you gotta stick 'em, turn 'em, and get 'em coming your way in one motion. Then ya gotta just winch on 'em and not give an inch until they're in open water. It's a fight in a phone booth as they say, and it's SOOO.... addicting!!!

 

[QED]

18 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I suspect you are a much better light-line finesse fisherman than I.  

  I haven't thrown a Ned rig in at least 18 months....dropshot is a last resort.   My idea of finesse is a 7 inch SKRT Thumper on a light T-rig.   How about some insider tips on what makes you successful?  Rod?  Line? Nuances in presentations?

Having the right gear in and of itself doesn't make one a better fisherman, but it is a prerequisite along the journey to becoming proficient at light/UL presentations.

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

 How about some insider tips on what makes you successful?  Rod?  Line? Nuances in presentations?

 

 

In terms of a retrieve, less is more for both a dropshot and a Ned rig.  Slowly pulling a dropshot gives the bait enough action.  There are times when I shake it or give it more action but slow and subtle works most often in my experiences.  Same thing with the Ned.  The sinking motion, soft gliding, and standing up on the bottom is all that is usually required.  The buoyancy of the TRDs is a must.  I don't even use other brands.  And I think a lot of people use too heavy of a jig.  1/16th is what you want.  The only time when I go to a 1/10th is when the wind is up a little or I am fishing 18'+ feet of water.

 

In terms of tackle, a high modulus graphite rod greatly assists in bite detection.  When I went from a Dobyns 741 Champ HP to a Steez 761, I immediately noticed the difference.   Sure, many bites are no-brainers and it wouldn't matter what rod you were using but you often have those times where the wind is up a little and your boat is moving- those are the times the ultra-sensitive rod helps with detecting a hit.  I am not a high-end tackle junkie but I am convinced that the Steez has helped me put more fish in the boat.  Most of my other tackle is good not great but I'll spend the $500+ for the uber-sensitive Steez or comparable rod for finesse fishing.  And from reading what others recommend, I also think people use too heavy of a rod for Ned rigs.  I always prefer the light action over the medium light.  I am more concerned with maximizing sensitivity.  I'll fight the big fish longer once I get them hooked.  Most of the time I am fishing Great Lakes so I can just let the fish tire itself out.  I've caught numerous carp and salmon on light action rod.  Just play the fish and don't get in a hurray.  Give the fish line and chase it.  YGK Sinking G-Sol is the line you want to use.    The best leader line I have found, and I have used a bunch, is Gamma Edge in 6 lb.   Hope it helps.  

 

[Swamp Girl]

Why I am a better sneaky angler than you are.

 

I have shared several times how I bump a bass or two many trips with the bow of my canoe. I do so because I'm deliberate in my canoe. Before I reach for a rod, I'll plan exactly how I'll move it without bumping it into anything. I'll set my paddle ever so carefully on my gunnels that I've covered with rubber. I'm not walking around my boat or standing so that bass can see me. And I cast as far as I possibly can.

 

And when I bump my canoe and make noise, I admonish myself, saying, "C'mon. You can do better."

[GRiver]

@Swamp Girl you’ve got me thinking sounds and site. With our other conversation about your new boat and painting it.

The fact you’re so stealthy going into a fishing area, has made re-think my fishing tactics when Hawg Hunting. 
I try to be quiet as humanly possible, turning off electronics, trolling motor up, pole in, etc

10 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

I'm not walking around my boat or standing so that bass can see me.

Now you got me thinking about being seen, I do sit in the area to let my presence get accepted to the area. My boat is medium grey and I fish in stained water, so I think my boat is kinda camouflaged, but me walking around on deck and standing up push poling in.

I probably look like Godzilla coming in, I just need to go ahead and make screeching sound he makes and I’d be all set. 

[Swamp Girl]

@GRiver, if you're not occasionally bumping into bass with your boat because they didn't know you were there, then being quieter and not looming over them is a good plan. For me, the worst mistake I can make is the sharp sound of a rod striking my canoe. I might make that mistake once a morning and I wince when I do. It shakes the canoe, which shakes the water, which shakes their lateral lines and inner ears, meaning they hear us twice. 

 

There have been times when I made the rod striking the canoe mistake and there'd be four swirls around me and four bass streaking away, which were four bass I'd lost the chance to catch.

 

51 minutes ago, GRiver said:

I probably look like Godzilla coming in, I just need to go ahead and make screeching sound he makes and I’d be all set. 

 

^This^ made me laugh!

[GRiver]

Oh nooooo

there they alllll gooo

go go Godzilla 

oh oh ooooohhhhh

no go back and re-read while humming Blue Oyster Cult tune.

haha

[Zcoker]

When it comes down to it, I’m all about top water fishing. The visual feedback is what keeps me going back for more. Sometimes, even, I think bass are specifically designed for top water feeding because their eyes are basically on top of their head. I’ve gotten some of my biggest bass on top water lures, and most often on every trip catch a giant.

 

And it all started with sharks. I’m one of the few in the world who has devised techniques along with the lightest gear to catch big sharks from the beach on topwater surface lures. I teamed up with NOAA (national oceanic and atmospheric administration) and for years have used my methods to not only tag the sharks that I catch but also to make it a very exciting sport. 

 

Same approach goes for my bass fishing, which I’ve only been doing for about three years now with great success. I apply the same sort of thinking as I do when in pursuit of sharks, an unflinching desire to succeed! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

@Zcoker: We have many things in common:

 

We're both pretty new to lmb fishing. I caught them as a kid, but didn't focus on them again until about three years ago.

 

We both paddle and fish from a small boat.

 

We both love surface lures.

 

We both catch big fish for our latitudes. My four-pounders at the top of the country are equivalent to your six-pounders at the bottom of the country. My six+-pounders are equivalent to your DDs.

 

We both fish in the dark, but you fish deeper into the dark than I do.

 

We both fish heavy cover.

 

I fished muskies, aka freshwater sharks, and you fished sharks, aka saltwater muskies. 

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

On 1/2/2016 at 12:59 PM, kickerfish1 said:

Hmmm.... While I generally agree with and appreciate most of your posts and respect the heck out of your fishing accomplishments (DD bass caught), I don't think this type of thread is going to fly. It will probably get to the point where people are taking shots at each other.

I am not going to claim I am better than anyone but my strengths are jigs, plastics, and drops shots. Weaknesses are crankbaits and deep cranking.

someone is always better that another..always.  applies to fighting as well.  hahah..    I quit worrying about what others do, when I entered the second half of my life.  the opposite applies as well.  

[Dan N]

I’m a better crank bait fisherman than all my buddies, because I’m not afraid of losing a bait. Many will not throw into cover because they don’t wanna lose a bait. Huge mistake. I’ve learned the feel of how to work a crankbait thru cover. Not trying to brag at all. It’s just a fact that guys don’t fish some of the best stuff, cuz they don’t wanna lose a bait.

[geo g]

With all do respect to your vast accomplishments over the years on unique fishing waters, with unusual state assets.  I don't fish for any reasons other than the fun of the sport, on my local waters.  I usually take others out with me and never actively compete. I always try to share and put them on fish.  It's all about relaxation, fun and sharing!  Everyone fishes for a reason, that's why we have so many doing it, so many ways, in all kinds of weather, all over this country.