Fishermans block

[Roger, The Smiling BassHole]

7 hours ago, Master Bait'r said:

I believe you identified the problem early on- you're forced to bank fish pressured spots!  I would recommend getting the cheapest kayak or light  canoe you can fit your gear in.  Until you can get out on the water and get yourself into some more hidden backwoods ponds and lakes, you're pretty much stuck fishing everyone else's leftovers, looking at their litter and wondering what you're doing wrong.  It's not you, man!  

I also agree with getting out on the water. It's nice if you can get something that will take a motor, even just a trolling motor.

I fish from a Hobie Float Cat, which is a hard side pontoon float craft. Like a float tube but a bit higher.

Since I haven't been able to afford a "real" boat, I started out with float tubes, and then got the Hobie Float Cat. Depending on your budget, there are some very nice small boats you can get for not too much money. And a kayak or canoe are great ways to start!

KEEP A LOG.

I got injured last year, so missed most of the fishing season.

So while recuperating, I did a lot of study to increase my repertoire this year. I am also keeping track of each fishing trip, so I can later analyze what I did, where, when, and the results.

By the way, I've been out fishing 12 times so far, and caught just 1 bass! Did catch some other fish (a peck of pickerel!), and saw little ducklings, goslings, and other interesting natural views.

Just remember, fishing is fun! Catching is a gas, but first you have to go fishing!

Tight lines!

Roger, The Smiling BassHole

[RMcDuffee726]

On 6/3/2016 at 4:09 PM, Tyson Holman said:

For the past few years I have found myself struggling more than normal. Getting skunked is a norm and good days are few. I feel like everything goes great when planning a fishing trip. But when I get there take my first cast, second and third with no luck. I feel my confidence begin to ebb away. I try to evaluate the situation. I try to use the knowledge I have received from books and even these forums. But I don't get results. I then lose all confidence and end up junk fishing. Which always ends with me resorting to a senko and catching dinks. I don't have a boat and I end up fishing pretty pressured areas. Has anyone ever been here before? And if so, how did you get out of it? I could be overthinking this. But its been two years sense I have had any confidence in my ability to fish.

 

Thanks

I honestly didn't read any of the responses so there could be a lot of repeated information in here, but here are few words of advice for you.  The first thing, it all pays off.  There is no substitute for being on the water.  I have been fishing seriously for 5 years now (rookie compared to everyone in this forum) and my first few seasons were ROUGH, I mean real bad.  I was catching small dinks on a single bait for the whole season or I was getting skunked.  There were no other alternatives lol.  I didn't even wanna go on the water anymore.  I eventually realized that fishing is incredibly mental and for your fishing to change, you mentally need to change.

What I mean by that is, you said "But when I get there take my first cast, second and third with no luck. I feel my confidence begin to ebb away." That use to happen with me all the time.  You need to just fight through it, and not allow doubt to creep in.  Remember, you know how to fish, it's not like you have never fished before.  So stick with your idea, and if it doesn't work try something else.  You can't force feed bass a bait that they don't want (some will disagree, but that's not the point).  The difficult part is to recognize when you need to switch to a new technique.  You mentioned that you switch to Senkos, that is because those are you confidence bait.  You clearly fish them often and have gained confidence in them.  But, I bet when you first fished a Senko you didn't think it would work, and now it is your go-to technique.   What you need to to do is go on the water with one rod and bait, and fish the specific technique until you can't fish it anymore.  That will build your mental confidence up, which will open plenty of doors for you on the water.

Everyones been in your situation before man, keep grinding out those days! 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, RMcDuffee726 said:

I honestly didn't read any of the responses

Too bad - you missed out on some great info.

A-Jay

[RMcDuffee726]

Just now, A-Jay said:

Too bad - you missed out on some great info.

A-Jay

I always read after I post! Haha

[Jaderose]

3 casts?  You lose confidence after THREE casts?  Find a new hobby, Son.  Lol.........Seriously, SLOW DOWN and lose the memory.  For some of us, this is a lifelong hobby.  This time of year I fish 5-6 time a week.  Sometimes from my boat for hours and sometimes from the bank for 1 hour.  Those little 1 hour trips are where I take 1 rod and one lure....just like someone else mentioned.  I shutdown the ol' brainpan and just fish.  Even on those long all day trips I take what the conditions give me and just fish.  Like you, I've done my research but I am not sitting there thinking "what would this or that person' do.  I just fish.  I look at the trees and geese.  I watch cranes doing their own fishing.  I watch the beavers being busy.  I'll look at a stump sticking out of the water and think.."If I was bass, I'd like that stump"...and usually....usually....yep.....there's one there just waiting on my jig or Senko to come fluttering down.  Slow down, relax, and think, but don't overthink.  It's called being in the zone.  I can't imagine that everyone on here hasn't been where you are right now.  It'll make you a better fisherman.