Overcomplicating things

[Scarborough817]

well i just bought another gantarel and another lucky craft real gill for use in low light situations, i think that means i may fit in this category 

[Master Bait'r]

Nah, I keep it really simple- I buy what I want and I throw what I enjoy the action of.  No need to even elaborate beyond that IMO  

[hawgenvy]

The "industry" loves "that guy."  Unfortunately, to some degree, it's me. But  I'm still enjoying trying out new stuff. And I am on a mission to become familiar with how to utilize every major category of bass catching bait. And that's a lot of categories. I've been into bass fishing for only two years, and I'm trying to learn whatever I can about the sport. And there sure is a lot to learn. I believe that after a while the choices will narrow down.

[Master Bait'r]

22 hours ago, yugrac said:

Its been said time and time again, fishing supply companies are out to catch fisherman , not fish. Do I have too many rods, lures I never fish with and electronics I never use to there full use? 100% yes.

 

Hey if they don't catch the fishermen they will NEVER catch a fish though!!

[roadwarrior]

27 minutes ago, hawgenvy said:

I believe that after a while the choices will narrow down.

Wrong.

The only things that narrow down are some techniques you might not like. For me, that's giant swimbaits.

 

[hawgenvy]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Wrong.

The only things that narrow down are some techniques you might not like. For me, that's giant swimbaits.

 

Crap! I'll have to build a larger garage.

[burrows]

I enjoyed this thread and the original post was epic! I think it spoke to all of us who bass fish obsessively. I still am that guy to some extent and probably will always be that guy and when I'm not I think I'll call it quits!

[whitwolf]

15 hours ago, 0119 said:

Rebel Ring Worms?  Do they still make those? I'd kill to find them.......

Unfortunately they don't. I have a stash but will keep them packaged for posterity.

[roadwarrior]

That is quite a collection!

 

[FrogFreak]

I make my own lures all winter so when it comes to making cranks, I'm still that guy. What if they're biting on the white crank with a gray back and I only have 2 of them???? Better make 3. 

On the other hand, some of the best days on the water consist of a pretty clean deck with only 2-3 rods out.

Last thought here, I despise fishing shows that are simply a thinly veiled commercial for the latest and greatest lure! The industry really irritates me sometimes. So and so won such and such tourney with a super underspin high tech lure that makes electronic pulses that talk to the bass so now you should get 2 or 3 of them for $18 each! Remember when Randy Howell won the Classic with the Livingston crank? Does anyone remember that he caught a bunch of those fish on a good ole Rapala DT crank as well?

Well, I have to go, the bait monkey calls my name!

[Ratherbfishing]

On 2/29/2016 at 11:03 PM, Catt said:

I still wear Wrangler boot cut jeans, Cowboys boots, & a ball cap with the bill facing forward!

How EVER do you keep the sun off your neck?

[Heron]

I am not that guy.   Never have been that guy.   Never will be that guy.  Ive been fishing now for a few years, and from day one, my fishing was only meant to be a recreation, not an obsession.  Though I enjoy Bass fishing, I find the Bass as a species in general, to be highly overrated.   So Ive kept the amount of gear that I use for it, down to a reasonable yet respectful level.  Ive since figured out what I need and what I don't need, and have no further need to spend anymore money on it, except for replacements(and even that is debatable).

But that's just me.

 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Ratherbfishing said:

How EVER do you keep the sun off your neck?

Rednecks don't worry about that;)

[Steveo-1969]

I rediscovered fishing in 2010 and started over with rods/reels/tackle, and I was definitely THAT guy.  But I think it was important for me to figure out what gear and techniques I enjoyed the most.  Over the past 6 years I've accumulated stuff that I saw on TV, read about, saw in a store that I had to have... then never used it or used it once, didn't catch a fish and haven't touched since.  But I'm gradually narrowing it down to what I need for the way I like to fish in my particular river.  And it's becoming pretty simple.  I still like to pick one new bait or technique to try for an upcoming season (while always trying to get better with what I already use), but it's usually some variation of a technique I already enjoy.

With that being said, the Bait Monkey never sleeps and I always have to be looking over my shoulder!

[.ghoti.]

I hate to admit, as much as I've tried otherwise, I'm pretty much "that guy". I've accumulated more rods and reels than I actually  use, and more tackle than will fit in the back of my Jeep Commander. There are rods and reels that haven't been out of the house in three or four years; maybe longer for some. And baits that have never been  wet.

I seem to have a problem.

I've been trying to cut back, but except for the last 18 moths or so, the collection has been growing. In the last year and a half, since I made the decision to stop growing the collection, I've spent almost no money on tackle. No new rods, no new reels, and only restocking baits  and terminal tackle.

I am determined to stop being "that guy".

Wish me luck. It's gonna be a struggle.

[senile1]

In terms of overthinking things, I have done that but never have I worried about the detailed minutiae mentioned by Slone in his first post. 

There is a path we may take in our development as anglers that gives many of us the appearance of "that guy."  In our early years we try to develop enough techniques to become versatile in numerous situations on the water.  This leads to purchasing more lures and rods, not because one wants the latest fad, but because one wants to be able to adapt to all situations.  Once we have an acceptable skill level to handle most situations, we buy less equipment and may even decide that we can slim down our offerings and still cover all situations on the water.  At some point later in our development, we may see a technique that has been proven to work in a specific situation, or we may discover a new situation that needs to be addressed.  At that point we may be tempted to add more lures and rods as a result.  I see this as a logical development path for a bass angler and not the same as being "that guy."

[Phil_NH]

For me it was a hot day in August, I was taking off a torn up senko and went to replace it and my over filled tackle bag spilled all over the ground. I picked up all my stuff, but while I was doing it I saw an old weird colored senko covered in dirt  that someones must have left there and let sit there for months. I don't know why but I threw it on wacky and it got crushed on the way down. It kind of struck me that there is a randomness to fishing that you can't always anticipate.

[0119]

1 hour ago, Phil_NH said:

 It kind of struck me that there is a randomness to fishing that you can't always anticipate.

My best fishing buddy uses strictly spinning gear. It squeaks and grinds with lack of care. The mono coils off and he spends time dealing with loops because he doesn't change line often enough.  When his super spook jr. lands, often it is with a loud crashing splash. But more often than not it draws a strike and he gets the bigger than normal bass to the boat on those squeaky jerky dragged phelugers.  I'm drawing a different conclusion and don't believe its random at all.  I think some guys can just flat out catch fish no matter the situation. 

[ward131]

On 3/2/2016 at 9:33 AM, Steveo-1969 said:

 the Bait Monkey never sleeps and I always have to be looking over my shoulder!

I love that!

[RCCA]

I've tried not to be that guy and I have been dat dude too. Whatever it takes. Right now, I'm trying to learn a huge place and trying to learn to fish deep at the same time so I've become more of that guy than ever before until I learn what works for me there.  I'm still ole school and usually do the best there with the same old things I've fished shallow my whole life lol 

[JOBU1967]

I have a couple of friends that are " that guy". They always bring all their rod & reels and tackle on every fishing trip but never use them all. They are always buying new tackle that they will never use. When we go fishing I always catch the most bass even though I only bring a few bags of soft plastics & hard baits. Then he wants to borrow my lures when I'm catching fish. The craziest thing was when he bought 2 10 foot anchors for $4500 then said he didn't have money to buy his own lunch.

[WRB]

Bass anglers are somewhat like golfers that start out using 1 club and evolve into needing everything ever made to improve our ability to be better. At some point in time we figure out it isn't the equipment that made us a better and put away or sell the things we don't need.

Some of us figure it out sooner, others later and some are still trying to figure it out.

Tom

[S. Sass]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Bass anglers are somewhat like golfers that start out using 1 club and evolve into needing everything ever made to improve our ability to be better. At some point in time we figure out it isn't the equipment that made us a better and put away or sell the things we don't need.

Some of us figure it out sooner, others later and some are still trying to figure it out.

Tom

Amen to that. 

[Gundog]

On 3/1/2016 at 9:19 PM, whitwolf said:

Unfortunately they don't. I have a stash but will keep them packaged for posterity.

Awesome collection. Looks exactly like my first tackle box and lure collection from the late 70's and early 80's. 

[Paul Roberts]

I see two perspectives here: one from the angler's, the other from the fish's. 

When I can't get out and fish for very long I wind up feeling cooped up and end up thinking, planning ... and shopping. Nice to try new stuff, but it all takes time and work to get that new stuff rigged and running right. When I can get out and fish, the fish help me reign in all my wild ideas, and show me just what's wrong with that rigging I "dreamed up". When reality strikes -like I can get out and fish- the fish do have a say.

In terms of the fish's perspective, what "complicates" things for me is the variety of waters I encounter in my fishing. I have to meet the requirements of those waters, and over the course of the seasons. The stuff I own just isn't all interchangeable. I start the year with an UL, L, and M spinning tackle (little or no cover, clear water, often bright skies). I'm just now culling the UL and L and moving to M and MH. By summer I'll have dropped the M (mostly) and gone MH and H. I haven't even mentioned techniques and lures, but you get the drift. Complicated? I've spent a good chunk of today bringing my tackle bag up to season, and to the waters I'll be concentrating on. Not done yet... "Now... I thought I had more 1/8oz. Owner Ultraheads -the Bullet type. ..."

Then there's my fascination with just what the heck goes on down there -really, my motivation for fishing in the first place. That leads me to complications that appear to have little directly to do with "fishing" as most people practice it. Which is why I fish alone much of the time. As my brother once put it, "You don't want to follow Paul around in the woods, because you'll probably come home after dark all scratched up and have no idea why."