Do you have a routine game plan or do you just "Wing It"

[Hez]

Thanks for all of the input guys.  After reading through some of your posts - I feel good about my thought process before and during my fishing trips.  I have some of the same thoughts that you guys seem to have, and even make some of the same decisions.  

On 5/13/2016 at 6:42 PM, A-Jay said:

Do you have a routine game plan or do you just "Wing It"  ?

A routine game plan ?  No.  If there is any hope of continued success, the vast number of bass fishing variables completely preclude anything routine.  Now establishing a Pattern is different and often fleeting.

As for winging it ~ if your definition of winging it is to invent a way to deal with a situation you are not prepared for, to improvise; then my answer would be Yes, I definitely do that.  Hopefully not every trip but it's something that I'm proud of being able to do and has resulted in many of my most satisfying & memorable days on the water.

A-Jay

Perfectly stated 

On 5/13/2016 at 7:05 PM, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:

 I'm glad you brought this topic up, ,. please bere with me for a few

No matter where im going to fish my rods are always ready, a gameplan is in order, but its subject to change. And it usually does. None the less Im like spongebob, "im ready, im ready, Im ready",..lol....I know the smaller lakes and ponds around here because i made a tuteledge many years ago to scan them completely as i came to the same crossroads your at now,.. and when i plan to fish one now? i usually have the areas picked out and it mostly works.

The larger bodies of water? I have yet to completely fish every area, but Im working on it. My favorite is Quabbin Res and i had fished all of the available areas there a long time ago (geez, almost 20 yrs ago, im gettin old), but up north theres a few i have yet to complete. I will complete them as well, as that tuteledge continues.

 I planned on doing this when i first bought my 7' 11" basshunter  boat back in the early 80's, idea was to fish all the bass lakes and ponds in New England, (and beyond once im done), I started on the cape, and worked my way north and west. Massachusetts is almost done (Just a few out west) as well as New Hampshire (a little more on Winnepesaukee), Vermont has a few that i fished in the 90's  (short of Champlain) Im skipping Rhode Island cuz its only got a few, and I have fished alot in CT already.

Maine is going to be a task, i've probably spent more time fishing Maine than any other, and I have to say its nothing short of AWESOME. If you ever get the chance to fish there. DO IT!  Theres great salmon, trout, and any species up there for that matter.,,, But the bass fishing?  simply incredable. As Ive creeped my way up the state from south to north fishing any and all in my path I have been amazed, in awe, at the beauty and diversity of the bass waters available there  Ive gotten as far as the cobbosecontee area so far with the "all" thing. And i must say it just keeps on getting better as I go further north. And from what Ive heard I got a long way to go

Gameplan? you bet!    Knowing where to fish?,...lol     Same spots?   ahhhh  not really

You just described the basic fundamentals of the long-term fishing goals I have set.  I want to become knowledgeable and experienced on the vast bodies of water around me.  Eventually being able to identify the best spots on different lakes, and then progressing from there - while making memories in the process.   

 

[blckshirt98]

I have a gameplan of sorts that is always open to change once I get to the water.  If it's a familiar body of water and I'm going to fish spots where I know I'll catch fish, I'll approach them in the ways I had in the past to catch fish.  If I haven't been there in a while and the conditions have changed (i.e. water is really up or down, dirty, etc) I might change my presentation (or if it's super windy I might just leave lol).

Some days I want to try something different and I'll call them "exploration days" where I'll go to a completely new lake or location and try to do as much walking to cover as much water as possible.  I'll use a finesse technique to get a feel for the depth/bottom composition and try to map out what's going on underwater.  Through this whole process I'm trying to get a bite hoping I can find another reliable "spot" to catch fish.  Sometimes I'll find a nice spot with good clear shore access without a snaggy bottom, or a cluster of boulders, or a small runoff,  and I'll chalk it up as another spot I can fish in the future.  If I come across featureless stretches of water that are unproductive that's okay too, because for these "exploration days" I don't mind if I get skunked because I'm using it as time to learn more about the lake.

If it's a completely new body of water I'll usually bring an extra rod and an extra Plano box of tackle because I have no idea what to expect and don't want to be caught by surprise if techniques that usually work for me turn out to completely unproductive.  Then for future trips to that new body of water I'll be more familiar and know what to expect, and can leave the extra rod and tackle at home.

TL;DR - always have a game plan of sorts but be ready to change.  Take a day every so often to explore new lakes/areas even if you end up getting skunked, and bring a little extra tackle with you.

[Hez]

2 minutes ago, blckshirt98 said:

I have a gameplan of sorts that always open to change once I get to the water.  If it's a familiar body of where and I'm going to fish spots where I know I'll catch fish, I'll approach them in the ways I had in the past to catch fish.  If I haven't been there in a while and the water is really up or down, I might change my presentation (or if it's super windy I might just leave lol).

Some days I want to try something different and I'll call them "exploration days" where I'll go to a completely new lake or location and try to do as much walking to cover as much water as possible.  I'll use a finesse technique to get a feel for the depth/bottom composition and try to map out what's going on underwater.  Through this whole process I'm trying to get a bite hoping I can find another reliable "spot" to catch fish.  Sometimes I'll find a nice spot with good clear shore access without a snaggy bottom, or a cluster of boulders, or a small runoff,  and I'll chalk it up as another spot I can fish in the future.  If I come across featureless stretches of water that are unproductive that's okay too, because for these "exploration days" I don't mind if I get skunked because I'm using it as time to learn more about the lake.

If it's a completely new body of water I'll usually bring an extra rod and an extra Plano box of tackle because I have no idea what to expect and don't want to be caught by surprise if techniques that usually work for me turn out to completely unproductive.  Then for future trips to that new body of water I'll be more familiar and know what to expect, and can leave the extra rod and tackle at home.

TL;DR - always have a game plan of sorts but be ready to change.  Take a day every so often to explore new lakes/areas even if you end up getting skunked, and bring a little extra tackle with you.

Good stuff man...totally understand your logic here.  Once again, all of this info is much appreciated.  

["hamma"]

The memories and experiences from them, are what I believe has given me a well rounded outlook on fishing. Many a day i went fishless after spending a 16- 20 hour day away from home, but then yet there was just as many or more that i learned something new about the quarry i chase. It actually forced me to learn new techniques and create some new casting options that are not mainstream.,... Like my "own" pitch/skip under docks and shoreline overhanging trees. Its a sideways pitching action with a baitcaster that ends up skipping under cover. I stumbled on it one day while pitching about 15 years ago, and it works wonders. Something I never would have come across if I didnt have the dedication to fish the amount of waters I have. Or, my frog type jig and pig fishing over the slop. I cast a light jig and pig where others would be fishing a frog.  I start reeling in before the lure hits the surface so it doesnt sink at first,.. and just keep reeling slowly,..when the fish hits , if he misses it , I let it drop in the hole and jig it a few times waiting for the hit, and it usually works like i was flipping the edges of lilies. That one came to me one day I was up in Maine skip/pitchin docks and the shoreline opened up to a huge cove covered with lilies and I just tried that same jig and pig on the lilies,...These and a few others I credit to the diligence of "having a gameplan"  BUT at the same time being versitile enough to "wing it" and learn new stuff. 

 Another aspect of this is the incredible scenery and colorful people I have met fishing all these different places is unmeasurable.. I never would have known the things I do now if I just hung out fishing my general area's few dozen ponds. Not that i discourage that, cuz I dont, Its just like the old adage,.. variety is the spice of life. Typing this out,.Im kinda thinking that I cant wait to be done in New England and branch out to other regions in the states. The possible experiences must be endless Consider the TVA impoundments, California's giant bass reseviors,, the swamps down south, Wiscosin and Michigans natural lakes,.. The Mississippi and so on,...

[Ratherbfishing]

It's all in the semantics, I think but "just winging it" and having too rigid a game plan are more alike than they are different and are what most beginners do.  HOWEVER, if the game plan is based on knowledge of the species, time of year, conditions, structure, cover, etc. than yes, I like to believe I have some kind of a game plan.  It isn't always right, of course, and sometimes I stay with my game plan too long (or not long enough).  I don't think there is anything wrong with fishing from memory so long as you don't stay with it long after it's evident that SOMETHING has changed.

[d-camarena]

Learned a lot from this thread. Thanks a lot to the guys posting their knowledge

[Hez]

4 hours ago, d-camarena said:

Learned a lot from this thread. Thanks a lot to the guys posting their knowledge

Yeah, a lot of good information offered up here - thanks for the participation guys. 

[FishHard247]

I most times have a game plan but if it does not go as planned, sometimes I abandon it because I feel that I am wasting time and not on the fish. One thing that I hate is steep banks. the lure hits the bank and the next tug, the line is practically back at the boat. Last week, I ran up on a 100 yard stretch of steep bank as I was on my way to the Rip Rap at the dam. Well, I skipped the whole banked area only to find out on the topo that it had a creek channel with huge bends in it with a nice drop off. Ill remember that next trip. 

[2tall79]

I usually spend hours working up a game plan before I even hook up my boat.    Course, it all goes right out the window if I don't get any thing after 10 minutes or so. 

[Scarborough817]

i normally come up with a bit of a game plan but i can be quick to adapt if it doesn't work the main problem is i fish too much history instead of stopping and thinking about where they could potentially be 

[jdw174]

I never know where I'm going to go until I'm headed out of the marina.  Am I going to turn right or left?  Often I'll be running to one spot and see a place I've not fished and stop there.  It's always a coin toss....

[herbu]

I usually have a game plan, and it's often based on something I read or saw on TV.  Some advice, bait or technique I've never tried.  I'll prepare w/ new equipment if necessary.  (Boy, that's fun... and it's one way I accumulate a lot of stuff!)  Then I'll hit my regular lake and give it a try.

My current plan is from another thread here.  Look for spots where the creek channels meet the main river channel.  (I fish a reservoir lake.)  I've fished the river channel, and fished the creek channels, but never focused on where they meet.  That'll be tomorrow.  Big worm, heavy swimbait, maybe a Rage Craw.  Some fish are still on the beds, but I think a lot have already finished.

Also I'm gonna clear all my old waypoints on that lake.  I can remember the spots.  And I'm going to start marking where I see schools of baitfish.  See if I can begin to establish their highways.

If the river/creek intersections don't pan out, I'll likely hit a couple old faithful spots and techniques before I leave.

 

[Hez]

43 minutes ago, herbu said:

I usually have a game plan, and it's often based on something I read or saw on TV.  Some advice, bait or technique I've never tried.  I'll prepare w/ new equipment if necessary.  (Boy, that's fun... and it's one way I accumulate a lot of stuff!)  Then I'll hit my regular lake and give it a try.

My current plan is from another thread here.  Look for spots where the creek channels meet the main river channel.  (I fish a reservoir lake.)  I've fished the river channel, and fished the creek channels, but never focused on where they meet.  That'll be tomorrow.  Big worm, heavy swimbait, maybe a Rage Craw.  Some fish are still on the beds, but I think a lot have already finished.

Also I'm gonna clear all my old waypoints on that lake.  I can remember the spots.  And I'm going to start marking where I see schools of baitfish.  See if I can begin to establish their highways.

If the river/creek intersections don't pan out, I'll likely hit a couple old faithful spots and techniques before I leave.

 

I like your train of thought here...thanks for sharing your thought process.

[Silas]

Did a lot of fishing in the Louisiana Atchfalaya Basin Swamp. One can get lost in the myriad canals and bayous easily. 

When I was young my wizened uncle said every time I go out to explore and find one new spot I never tried before. Perhaps as my last stop. 

 That way I would learn the spot. 

  That helped me learn the area and kept things fresh and exciting. 

So my game plan always included one new spot. Didn't have waypoints then; had to commit to memory. I must have 500 "waypoints" in my head. 

[Hez]

53 minutes ago, Silas said:

Did a lot of fishing in the Louisiana Atchfalaya Basin Swamp. One can get lost in the myriad canals and bayous easily. 

When I was young my wizened uncle said every time I go out to explore and find one new spot I never tried before. Perhaps as my last stop. 

 That way I would learn the spot. 

  That helped me learn the area and kept things fresh and exciting. 

So my game plan always included one new spot. Didn't have waypoints then; had to commit to memory. I must have 500 "waypoints" in my head. 

I'm in Florida now, originally from Texas - so I make the drive across the atchafalaya quite often.  Always wondered what it was like to navigate and fish a seamlessly endless maze of water. 

[S. Sass]

On 5/13/2016 at 11:46 AM, scaleface said:

I usually have a plan before I start . I even have my rods and reels set up before I leave . Then I get to the lake and do something else . 

 

On 5/13/2016 at 11:50 AM, Chomped said:

I usually have a plan for each lake that I fish before I get there but the plan is subject to change, if needed. Most times I have a good idea as to where the fish will be and what they will hit.

If fishing a new lake, I will make plans based on what I see on the Topo.

 

On 5/13/2016 at 4:17 PM, soflabasser said:

I always have a plan every time I go fishing,and make changes when needed.

Same as above guys have said. I have a plan starting with getting the correct tackle and rods and reels setup. Then the plan is do not forget anything. Like snacks, key to boat, gas in boat, etc.. Ya know the basics that any normal person would remember without a plan. Then the list carries on as I plan to remember to put the drain plug in the boat before unloading, and make sure I have all the necessary items in the boat before heading across the lake. As far as the fishing plan goes I do what I planned but the plan is subject to change if any variable dictates its necessary. 

[Hez]

9 hours ago, S. Sass said:

 

 

Same as above guys have said. I have a plan starting with getting the correct tackle and rods and reels setup. Then the plan is do not forget anything. Like snacks, key to boat, gas in boat, etc.. Ya know the basics that any normal person would remember without a plan. Then the list carries on as I plan to remember to put the drain plug in the boat before unloading, and make sure I have all the necessary items in the boat before heading across the lake. As far as the fishing plan goes I do what I planned but the plan is subject to change if any variable dictates its necessary. 

? I know exactly what you mean from snacks to the plug!

[gardnerjigman]

Blue and I usually have a decent (we think) game plan going into a tournament. Sometimes it works and we dance with the one that brought us and other times we do a complete 180 and have to let the fish talk to us.