Liking 'Tough' Conditions

[papajoe222]

I think I've finally lost it. The past few weeks I've been bombarded with tough conditions on my home water.  Rising. muddy water, high barometer, bluebird skies and little or no breeze. It's become an effort in determination to put fish in the boat, to say the least.  The funny thing is, I've been catching the biggest fish of the season. It's like, I know I'm only going to get a few bites, so I focus on high percentage areas, boat position, perfect quiet placement of my jig, watching my line, etc. 

I find myself looking forward to getting on the water under these conditions, because I not only enjoy the challenge, it forces me to bring my A game or go home. Do I call the guys in the white coats, or accept the fact that I'm hopeless and roll with it?

[Mike L]

Just roll with it...You know as well as I do they'll turn on sooner or later. The challenge is be at that place at the right time when they do. And seems like you already got that figured out. 

Belive it or not, when fishing a tournament I'd rather have tough conditions. It makes me bear down and double think everything to get that one hit knowing that its tough all over.

 

Mike 

[riverbasser]

Hopeless I don't think so. Seems to me you had the bass on your home water figured out and now with tough conditions your having to really try and in doing so get in the zone like a hunter tracking it's prey, the challenge just makes you want it more.

This is a problem I hope to have one day

["hamma"]

Go with it.,.. You've done your "homework" and so far seem to be right on course for the metaphorical golden "star" on your forehead.,.lol

 When things change, and you know they will, react in a manner condusive to the "new" conditions. Stay on them. It's very easy to get into a groove while on the bite, and when that bite drops. loose contact of what the fish are now reacting to, and! to what extent. You've been there before, We all have. Im sure you (papajoe) and many others understand where Im going with this, but fir those who dont???,.......

 Like,... they are shallow now and "somewhat' agreeable  for you during tough conditions, when the change comes? did they back off the shoreline, or have they just stayed local and shut off? did they drop MUCH deeper and now are keying in on one specific forage? or have they moved out and suspended over deep water? and so on. You know the scenerio.

 Keeping consistency is the never ending quest of the truly diehard bass angler.  And to do so is a exceptional accomplishment and should be recognized.  BUT,..When you come to that crossroad, a elated feeling comes to mind, and even the slightest hesitation or "moment of celebration" is all it takes to loose track of your consistent performance. You've got things pinned down, change comes, and many are on such a natural "high" from their previous success, they didnt even think of what can come next. And this occurs so often for many of us,..  So,...if your riding a successful bite during tough times, go with it, but be ready for the next bite, or lack there of. Envision what they "may" do next, play out the possibilities in your mind. Have a gameplan ready, and I hope you find continued success. 

As I know how it feels to be successful when its tough, then loose track of them, when they become more agreeable, or not. Which is quite aggravating. You know that change came, and being as times were tough and you "had" your way during that time,  now you see others lipping fish around you, but you cant seem to buy a bite.

 I found that when ,..or if,.. you loose track? clear your mind, forget what they "were" doing, completely, no matter how hard you "had their number" ..letting that previous success go, and erasing any thoughts on what they were hitting, or doing,.. and starting from scratch will eventually bring you to whats going on now. If the change comes, and you react correctly, and are still on them? You sir,.. get the golden star.

 Congrats, on the bigger fish Papajoe!

I hope it continues for you

 

[Turtle135]

[soflabasser]

If you can fish hard conditions well you can easily fish most conditions. 

36 minutes ago, Turtle135 said:

So true.There is more satisfaction in catching a big hard to catch fish that catching a big easy to catch fish.

[Catt]

The only easy day was yesterday!

[Mike L]

So True!!

 

Mike

[Paul Roberts]

17 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

 The funny thing is, I've been catching the biggest fish of the season. ... I focus on high percentage areas, boat position, perfect quiet placement of my jig, watching my line, etc. 

Hmmmmmmm.....   

I go after tough conditions too, at times -purposely. I'm not a tournament guy and I've fished, and caught, a long time now. I'm more interested in how stuff works, so I will purposely pick tough scenarios just to see what I can learn. Just this week I shot a video on bluebird skies and "swimming pool" water bodies -a true double whammy. There were other guys on the water and they all blanked. I didn't . But, it was tough -my errors glaring- and potentially frustrating if your expectations are otherwise. It was also fun.

Agree with Turtle135: Greater challenges make the results more satisfying.

Are you nuts? Yes.  But, more seriously, obsession and diligence/focus are two different things. 

[WRB]

17 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

I think I've finally lost it. The past few weeks I've been bombarded with tough conditions on my home water.  Rising. muddy water, high barometer, bluebird skies and little or no breeze. It's become an effort in determination to put fish in the boat, to say the least.  The funny thing is, I've been catching the biggest fish of the season. It's like, I know I'm only going to get a few bites, so I focus on high percentage areas, boat position, perfect quiet placement of my jig, watching my line, etc. 

I find myself looking forward to getting on the water under these conditions, because I not only enjoy the challenge, it forces me to bring my A game or go home. Do I call the guys in the white coats, or accept the fact that I'm hopeless and roll with it?

Sounds like every day on the water for me, it's always takes total consentration to detect subtitle big bass jig strikes, the hard aggressive strike from smaller bass are easy.

Keep your game dialed in year around, it doesn't getting any easier.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

I like nasty weather. Sooo many of my big fish come on days when I'm one of the only ones dumb/crazy enough to be out there. 

[Jaderose]

That progression is perfect...lol.  If I just wanted to catch fish, I'd put a nightcrawler under a bobber and catch fish all day long.  If I wanted to catch easy fish (and sometimes I do) I'd Texas rig a Senko weightless and just troll along the shoreline.  I find myself not doing that as much anymore.  I want to work at it.  I want to be fully engaged.  I want a challenge. and the payoff is usually sweet.  I don't deliberately make it hard but I fish areas that are a challenge.  I'll throw a frog where most people won't.  I'll work a stump field that will almost certainly get me hung up OR I'll catch a hawg.  I'll fight the wind.  Like Blu, I'll fish crap weather...not dangerous but not pleasant either.  I WANT to be really really good at Bass Fishing.

 

All this plus we are all a little nuts.  Who else changes lures when you KNOW something is working?  I KNOW I'm not the only one.  Who else finds a sweet honey hole only to get bored with it after the 3rd or 4th bass and casts somewhere else.  I KNOW I'm not the only one.  Obsession can be a beautiful thing

[soflabasser]

19 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like nasty weather. Sooo many of my big fish come on days when I'm one of the only ones dumb/crazy enough to be out there. 

Same here.Those who are the most persistent in fishing are usually the ones who catch the most big fish.

[GTHenson]

I must be crazy but tough days are my best days, when everyone else is slaying them I will have an average/mediocre bag. But when the days get tough I cash checks. I have no idea why and it bothers me but I will take what I can get.