Do you have it?

[hawgenvy]

I can dead stick a worm or jig -- but only for 5 seconds. Sad.

[ww2farmer]

At one time I didn't have "it"................then I got "it"................ But I don't know what "it" is...........I hope "it" isn't what I think "it" is.

 

I am probably getting to the age where I will lose "it" sooner rather than later, and the younger kids will then get "it" and then "it" will seem weird and stupid to me, and to compensate I will just yell at "it".

[The Bassman]

3 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I am thought to be patient by many,but I know better.Overall,its probably the one trait I struggle with the most.I worked with kids at church for around 30 years.So I thought I was patient.

Then my mom came to live with me.I took care of her the last 5 years of her life.As close as we were,and as sweet as she was,she got on my nerves.A lot.

And driving is the worst.At least I don't confront people like I used to.But I would love driving if it wasn't for all the other drivers.

I have had good success with fishing,but when I don't I can get impatient with myself because maybe IVE OVERRATED MYSELF.So I will fish faster when I'm not having success,and that usually leads to more lack of success.Sometimes if I have been very successful in a particular body of water,and then have a few bad days there,I get real grumpy and impatient.Its like I get spoiled by success. I was the same way with baseball because IT MATTERED to me.I golfed ONCE, and laughed at myself the whole time.Why? because it DIDNT MATTER to me.So I get impatient with things that matter to me ( like fishing and people I wish would change),but not so much with things that dont.

but the Lord isn't done with me yet!?

 

A  lot of people need to read this (especially me). 

[MassYak85]

Honestly I'd have to say no. Although I can go hours without so much as a nibble and still have confidence, that'y only with certain techniques. I can chuck and wind a spinnerbait all day and actually enjoy just the act of casting, or cast to targets with a jig. But that kind of fishing keeps me active. Ask me to drop shot fish or stitch a worm and if I don't get bit in 20 minutes I'm done, onto the next area or technique. I know I'm probably selling myself short some days by doing that but it drives me crazy fishing that way. I guess it all comes down to I feel the need to be doing something....anything. Fishing so slow I might as well be dead sticking the bait I don't feel like I am actively fishing and don't feel productive, even if that is what the fish most likely want. So I guess I can be patient for a bite, but not patient in how I fish. 

 

The same can be said outside of fishing for me as well. I can burn away hours doing the stupidest of tasks or screwing around on the internet. But ask me to sit still and "relax" for so much as 10 minutes and I get this overwhelming urge to DO something. 

[WRB]

Casting accurately shouldn't be your goal, catching bass should be.

Tom

[Bait Runner]

I think there is a difference between "patience" and "determination". I am much more determined to do something than I am patient, and that is not always a good thing.

[whitwolf]

This Is an Interesting topic. I think for me patience is relative to the situation. If I'm strictly talking about fishing, It's truly dependent on If I'm fishing by myself. If I'm by myself and know there are fish in a particular place I can spend hours in one cove or on a stretch of bank on the main lake. I generally have no problem grinding out fish over the course of a day and am quite content to do so. The times that require moving quickly and picking off a fish here and there are fine but honestly not In my nature.

 

If I have others with me  I'm more concerned with their day than mine. For this reason I fish by myself the majority of the time. That being said I get as much or more joy seeing my wife be successful on the water when we fish together. She's a multi-species angler and simply put just wants to catch fish. This Is not my cup of tea but her enthusiasm over catching a bream brings back great memories of a simpler time. The little mannerisms, the smile, and her enjoyment makes it  easy to be patient. I will apply this same attitude when I take the grandson out.

 

It was difficult to not fish at first but in the end It's about them. I get aplenty of days to myself; selflessness breeds patience and I follow these simple rules when taking others out. 1. It's about them, not me. 2. ALWAYS be aware that what you see as a given they may not. 3. I can go all day and be content whether I catch a fish or not. That might and probably Isn't the case for others. Do what you can to put them on fish and take joy in their joy. 4. This last one has only come about the last few years but It has brought great clarity to my outlook. The days others are with me I look around and feel blessed that I'm where I am and doing something that I love to do. So while patience might just be a matter of perspective or dependent on the situation I now strongly feel you owe It to yourself and others to be patient, selfless, and positive because the ability to be on the water and doing something you love Is not promised.

[Jaderose]

I am NOT a patient man.  I force myself to be patient when dealing with children or the elderly.  Unless I'm bass fishing.  I do not run and gun.  I will fish a very small area for hours and work cover/structure until I KNOW it's fished out.  I'm NOT in a hurry.  Why?  Because that is the time for me to slow down.  To not be thinking about work or problems of life.  It generally takes me about an hour of fishing time to get in that zone.  When I get to the lake, I generally start off fishing "angry".  Throwing a lure at every tree or stump.  Reeling waaaay too fast...moving from place to place.  THINKING about the next lure I'm going to throw.  After a while of this (when I rarely catch anything) I slow down.....I STOP thinking...and just start reacting to the conditions I'm given.  THAT is when the fish start coming and I'm enjoying life...and being very very patient.

[SFL BassHunter]

IMO patience is indeed important in most aspects of life, including fishing and particularly in bass fishing. I for one have very little patience. I do have more of it when I am fishing though when I can get in the zone. I've learned to have more and more of it. All depends on the day. Some days I am very impatient and end up throwing a ton of baits to find the magic ticket, some days I can stick to one or two and just try and figure them out that way. Those days are generally my best ones.

[slonezp]

Patience comes to those who wait....

[MassYak85]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

Casting accurately shouldn't be your goal, catching bass should be.

Tom

It's certainly not my goal but if I had to choose between going down the bank and casting something like a spinnerbait or squarebill or stitching a worm for hours...I'll take the former. Again I know this probably puts me at a disadvantage on days the fish are less active but I'm fishing for fun 100% of the time. If I'm not having fun, I leave. 

[WRB]

35 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

It's certainly not my goal but if I had to choose between going down the bank and casting something like a spinnerbait or squarebill or stitching a worm for hours...I'll take the former. Again I know this probably puts me at a disadvantage on days the fish are less active but I'm fishing for fun 100% of the time. If I'm not having fun, I leave. 

The topic was about patience and I appologize for getting off topic. When I luanch my boat the 1st thing I do is determine where to start fishing and what lures to use by patiently checking out the marina area for signs that indicate where the bait and bass should be located. My goal is to catch bass 100% of my time on the water.

Peace.

Tom

[J Francho]

It's a weird idea, patience.  I'm patient enough to move around a lot, and search for any sign of smallies in the vast desert that is Lake Ontario.  You wouldn't think I was patient by how many times I fire the big engine, and cruise around some gigantic super structure, locating the spot on the spot on the spot.  The first spot might be the size of Disney World and all it's parking.  The second, a football field.  The third, ten square feet.

[soflabasser]

A person with a large amount of patience is often a successful person in most aspects of their life.Having patience has allowed me to excel in every form of fishing I have given my best effort in,my professional life,my personal life,and other aspects of my life.Patience is something that cannot be given to someone, it is something that has to be earned,the old fashioned way.I am grateful for my family raising me the way they did,since they taught me that life rarely gives you freebies and you will have to work very hard to reach your goals.

[Paul Roberts]

Yes. (The short answer.)

 

More of the iceberg... and a hunting story...

 

But there does have to be a pay-off, although it can be distant in time and space. I can delay gratification with the best of them but I can also move very fast when I see a window of opportunity open. Fishing and hunting are generally low probability occupations, especially after you've begun to narrow your goals and definitions of success. Productive patience has, for me, come with experience, a tempering or metering of energy. Dare I say... wisdom?

 

On my last elk hunt I chose a particularly challenging hunt: A late season permit in an area that does not support wintering herds -only mature bulls, often alone, and often very large. These are top-tier contenders in the rutting game that find secluded locations to winter, away from the wives, the kids, and upstart teens. It took me 3 years to get the 5 day permit. 

 

A hunt, in practice, is a calculation of ever-changing odds, the consideration and weighing of the complexities before me. As “luck” (the things I cannot control, good or bad) would have it, my hunt fell during a drought. My pre-scouted spots literally dried up -no forage, no silage, nothing but weeks-old elk droppings. Still, hoofing hard, I identified 3 bulls in three separate locations, miles apart. The rest of my hunt was spent truly hunting, trying to close the final gap without busting anyone out. Bust an elk and your hard-earned preliminary work evaporates into rugged terrain and thin air. And, you, back to square one. 

 

I false-started numerous times, trying to close that incrementally critical gap on animals I had not seen but knew were there; I could smell them in their vacated beds, or more acutely, when the wind was right. And I could visualize them. I could conjure an image of each bull in its ridge-top bed, meter the wind (both prevailing and local), and estimate the odds of closure. But each time I attempted an approach I was thwarted by wind: direction, turbulence or, with the droughted ground cover, from the complete lack of it. 

 

On one such attempt I moved only when the drone or distant roar of an airplane passed overhead yet, after 2 hours and 200 yards, I finally aborted 120 yards out from my visualized bull (a 70% chance he was there). I knew he’d have detected me -the time and space getting too critical in terms of the conditions: errant breezes, the click and rustle of ground cover, or his simply standing up to stretch with only his head and all that sensory equipment, exposed. Once again, I took a deep breath, and backed away. I would rather finish a hunt with all three bulls having never knew that there was a wolf at their door, than to bust one -disturb one- due to impetuousness or desperation. I know how well their faculties provide for them and thus generally know what to expect of them. They expect to meet a wolf at any moment. And an impatient wolf is a dead wolf.

 

The culmination -the payoff- in that hunt came in the last hours of the last day -an amazing (low probability) story of luck (a window opened), perception (I recognized the window when it opened), patience (I knew when to back off and when and how to move), and perseverance (be there -wide awake- or be square). 

 

That elk, a large heavily-antlered bull (scored 330+), was the only elk I actually saw with my eyes during those 5 days (or the previous 2 weeks), and I saw it for only a moment before I pulled the trigger. The entire game had been pretty much played out in my head.

 

When I finally stood over that immense horse-sized animal in that dusky gulch bottom that final hour, I considered a final probability calculation, weighed what I’d accomplished, and was -and still am- amazed at what a human being can do. This is not bragging, but humble awe, and a deep satisfaction, well worth all that patience.

 

My fishing is much the same, although catch rate replaces that singular culminating event, me trying to beat “random” (clueless/chuck-in-wind) and to understand what’s happening. It makes me a control freak, but I argue that I come by that honestly. Patience is most definitely a part of that.

[IndianaFinesse]

There should be an award for the longest post, kind of like the leaderboard that Glenn just made.  And if there was, your novel would be at the top of that list.

Oh, and considering I only read the first paragraph of your post, I guess I'm not very patient.

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

Yes. (The short answer.)

 

More of the iceberg... and a hunting story...

 

But there does have to be a pay-off, although it can be distant in time and space. I can delay gratification with the best of them but I can also move very fast when I see a window of opportunity open. Fishing and hunting are generally low probability occupations, especially after you've begun to narrow your goals and definitions of success. Productive patience has, for me, come with experience, a tempering or metering of energy. Dare I say... wisdom?

 

On my last elk hunt I chose a particularly challenging hunt: A late season permit in an area that does not support wintering herds -only mature bulls, often alone, and often very large. These are top-tier contenders in the rutting game that find secluded locations to winter, away from the wife, the kids, and upstart teens. It took me 3 years to get the 5 day permit. 

 

A hunt, in practice, is a calculation of ever-changing odds, the consideration and weighing of the complexities before me. As “luck” (the things I cannot control, good or bad) would have it, my hunt fell during a drought. My pre-scouted spots literally dried up -no forage, no silage, nothing but weeks-old elk droppings. Still, hoofing hard, I identified 3 bulls in three separate locations, miles apart. The rest of my hunt was spent truly hunting, trying to close the final gap without busting anyone out. Bust an elk and your hard-earned preliminary work evaporates into rugged terrain and thin air. And, you, back to square one. 

 

I false-started numerous times, trying to close that incrementally critical gap on animals I had not seen but knew were there; I could smell them in their vacated beds, or more acutely, when the wind was right. And I could visualize them. I could conjure an image of each bull in its ridge-top bed, meter the wind (both prevailing and local), and estimate the odds of closure. But each time I attempted an approach I was thwarted by wind: direction, turbulence or, with the droughted ground cover, from the complete lack of it. 

 

On one such attempt I moved only when the drone or distant roar of an airplane passed overhead yet, after 2 hours and 200 yards, I finally aborted 120 yards out from my visualized bull (a 70% chance he was there). I knew he’d have detected me -the time and space getting too critical in terms of the conditions: errant breezes, the click and rustle of ground cover, or his simply standing up to stretch with only his head and all that sensory equipment, exposed. Once again, I took a deep breath, and backed away. I would rather finish a hunt with all three bulls having never knew that there was a wolf at their door, than to bust one -disturb one- due to impetuousness or desperation. I know how well their faculties provide for them and thus generally know what to expect of them. They expect to meet a wolf at any moment. And an impatient wolf is a dead wolf.

 

The culmination -the payoff- in that hunt came in the last hours of the last day -an amazing (low probability) story of knowledge and experience, luck (a window opened), perception (I recognized the window when it opened), patience (I knew when to back off and when and how to move), and perseverance (be there -wide awake- or be square). 

 

That elk, a large heavily-antlered bull (scored 330+), was the only elk I actually saw with my eyes during those 5 days (or the previous 2 weeks), and I saw it for only a moment before I pulled the trigger. The entire game had been pretty much played out in my head.

 

When I finally stood over that immense horse-sized animal in that dusky gulch bottom that final hour, I considered a final probability calculation, weighed what I’d accomplished, and was -and still am- amazed at what a human being can do. This is not bragging, but humble awe, and a deep satisfaction, well worth all that patience.

 

My fishing is much the same, although catch rate replaces that singular culminating event, me trying to beat “random” (clueless/chuck-in-wind) and to understand what’s happening. It makes me a control freak, but I argue that I come by that honestly. Patience is most definitely a part of that.

Nicely Done Paul.

I really enjoyed that one -

"When I finally stood over that immense horse-sized animal in that dusky gulch bottom that final hour"  I'd love to see that photo if you were able to get one.

Congrats

A-Jay

[RoLo]

I believe the value of patience hinges on its application.

If uneventful time is used to contemplate changes in delivery or location,

then patience may be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

On the other hand, if patience is defined as your ability to wait for something to happen,

then patience may not be a virtue.

 

I am not a patient man.   Driven maniac?    Yes 

Roger

[Paul Roberts]

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Nicely Done Paul.

I really enjoyed that one -

"When I finally stood over that immense horse-sized animal in that dusky gulch bottom that final hour"  I'd love to see that photo if you were able to get one.

Congrats

A-Jay

PM sent, so I don't clutter Hamma's thread.

 

And... Howdy, Roger!

[J Francho]

Based on @Paul Roberts prose, he's been writing recently....

["hamma"]

On 12/27/2016 at 9:00 AM, whitwolf said:

This Is an Interesting topic. I think for me patience is relative to the situation. If I'm strictly talking about fishing, It's truly dependent on If I'm fishing by myself. If I'm by myself and know there are fish in a particular place I can spend hours in one cove or on a stretch of bank on the main lake. I generally have no problem grinding out fish over the course of a day and am quite content to do so. The times that require moving quickly and picking off a fish here and there are fine but honestly not In my nature.

 

If I have others with me  I'm more concerned with their day than mine. For this reason I fish by myself the majority of the time. That being said I get as much or more joy seeing my wife be successful on the water when we fish together. She's a multi-species angler and simply put just wants to catch fish. This Is not my cup of tea but her enthusiasm over catching a bream brings back great memories of a simpler time. The little mannerisms, the smile, and her enjoyment makes it  easy to be patient. I will apply this same attitude when I take the grandson out.

 

It was difficult to not fish at first but in the end It's about them. I get aplenty of days to myself; selflessness breeds patience and I follow these simple rules when taking others out. 1. It's about them, not me. 2. ALWAYS be aware that what you see as a given they may not. 3. I can go all day and be content whether I catch a fish or not. That might and probably Isn't the case for others. Do what you can to put them on fish and take joy in their joy. 4. This last one has only come about the last few years but It has brought great clarity to my outlook. The days others are with me I look around and feel blessed that I'm where I am and doing something that I love to do. So while patience might just be a matter of perspective or dependent on the situation I now strongly feel you owe It to yourself and others to be patient, selfless, and positive because the ability to be on the water and doing something you love Is not promised.

 

Excellent reply Whitwolf!

  This is one aspect of this whole thread that,...yet again ,..I didnt expect. Reading your post I was thinking, "I hope some gain this input, for themselves to use when taking others out"

 Thanks Whitwolf,.... astute observation!

 

  Paul Roberts, post was along the lines of my original posting.  Our quarry can be as cagey as any other on the planet. And I have found that applying some patience when its needed can be the ever so rewarding key to success

 Much the same as Pauls bull elk story

 

Some great replies, and thank you for "your patience" You've come this far, and have exhibited alot by now.  

   Patience "may" seem to be just a small piece of the bass fishing puzzle, but without any at all? proper concentration lacks, then confidence fades. Before you know it, your thought's turn to the old looney tunes, PePe Le'Phew!

 

  

[scaleface]

On 12/26/2016 at 10:14 PM, hawgenvy said:

I can dead stick a worm or jig -- but only for 5 seconds. Sad.

Or however long it takes to pick out a backlash .

[Paul Roberts]

25 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Or however long it takes to pick out a backlash .

The largest bass I ever got a thumb-lock on -for a friend- was a 7+lber that took a jig that had been lying dead waiting for the resolution of a backlash. I can't say we were particularly patient back then. But that was one of those signs that can lead us down that road.

[BillP]

Yes when fishing, with my family and at my job

No when I'm with my wife's siblings

[RoLo]

On 12/26/2016 at 11:14 PM, hawgenvy said:

I can dead stick a worm or jig -- but only for 5 seconds. Sad.

 

Sadly, I can fully relate to that statement.

 

My usual 'pause goal' is 3 seconds, which I often scale back to 2-seconds.

When I shoot for 5-sec pauses, I run the risk of running low on oxygen and losing my sense of belonging