10% of anglers catch 90% of fish- still true?

[deep]

especially with the information (knowledge?) at our fingertips, the electronics available... and the midwest finesse rig?

[Catt]

Who counted?

[WRB]

90% of the bass are located in 10% of the water may still be true.

What us the % of skilled bass anglers verses all anglers who fish? 10% is still a good rule of thumb!

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

I'd say that's a good number when the fishing is good. Once it's tough like now during the heat of the summer it's probably more like 5% catch 95% of the fish. 

[Turkey sandwich]

This is probably pretty accurate.  The separation between good anglers and everyone else is huge during the tough days.  I think trout fishing is maybe the best example.  Everyone can catch fish at the opening of the season when there are tons of easy to catch, freshly stocked fish.  This is when everyone and their sister has a full stringer.  Who's catching trout late in the spring?  Into the fall? During the winter? Where safe for the fish, mid summer?

 

[Catt]

Still wanna know who counted all the fish caught in just a single day?

[david in va]

The other 90% buy 99% 0f the tackle

[A-Jay]

Is the old adage that 10% of anglers catch 90% of fish- still true? 

Perhaps, and with the advent of the information high way the number of successful bassheads might be somewhat higher.

I'll say in my particular case, on any given day, I'm routinely fishing for only 5% of the population as it is. 

I think that may decreases my probability of success but not my enthusiasm. 

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

Right now, I think it's more like 90% of the bass are feeding at night.

 

No, I think most casual anglers aren't going to spend the money and time it takes to be in the 10%. But do not despair! For the 90% there are kayaks and cheap combos and smaller public waters that will swing the odds for you.

[NHBull]

Who can really say.

I believe the the 90/10 as it pertains to areas holding fish.  I don't believe that number is accurate in regards to fishermen, for the simple fact that I don't believe the numerous of experienced anglers is that high on any given lake, compared to the weekend warriors, kids on the bank and those trolling.

I do believe the number may be relevant to big fish.

 

One observation........I tend to out fished my partner on a regular basis 3/1, but I attribute it to education and experience 

[OkobojiEagle]

10% of anglers spend 90% of the total angling hours...

 

 

oe

[Catt]

If I have to make a guesstimation it's more like 15-18%!

 

A couple contributing factors are the growing popularity of kayaks & quality tackle at affordable prices.

 

I'm seeing kayaks in places where you would never see anyone fishing.

 

For years all entry level fishermen had was Zebco 202s & the likes which appealed to kids but not so much to adults. Now most major reel companies offer decent combos, I've recently seen a BOOYAH Padcrasher combo at Academy.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

I'm guessing 90% of anglers exaggerate how many fish they caught and most of the remaining 10% exaggerate the size. So what? For me it does not matter which percentage I'm in - if I catch a few bass I'm good with my ranking!

[frogflogger]

I see more knowledgeable fishermen that there use to be - I believe the percentage has changed but would not venture any numbers.

[deep]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Still wanna know who counted all the fish caught in just a single day?

 

Don't know, but @Team9nine did some research on this..

http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/mythbusting-10-of-anglers-catch-90-of-fish.html

 

 

[ClackerBuzz]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Is the old adage that 10% of anglers catch 90% of fish- still true? 

Perhaps, and with the advent of the information high way the number of successful bassheads might be somewhat higher.

I'll say in my particular case, on any given day, I'm routinely fishing for only 5% of the population as it is. 

I think that may decreases my probability of success but not my enthusiasm. 

A-Jay

90% of anglers catch 90% of the dinks- and are happy campers (and I used to be one of them.  I miss being happy).

[slonezp]

90% of the time im wondering why people are concerned with the success and failures of others.  The other 10% of time im enjoying a cocktail 

[Choporoz]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

If I have to make a guesstimation it's more like 15-18%!

 

What data was used to make that WAG? 

  jk, Catt.

 

2 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

10% of anglers spend 90% of the total angling hours...

 

 

oe

This is going to be tough to validate, but wouldn't surprise me at all.  If true, it would prop up the OP's assertion, but perhaps deflate it a little, as well. 

 

I've mentioned before that I am heavily involved with statistics, but hate them with a passion.  Your comment is a great example of why. 

[OkobojiEagle]

15 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

This is going to be tough to validate, but wouldn't surprise me at all.  If true, it would prop up the OP's assertion, but perhaps deflate it a little, as well. 

 

I've mentioned before that I am heavily involved with statistics, but hate them with a passion.  Your comment is a great example of why. 

 

Translate my response as "more time on the water equals more success".

 

Please forgive my vagueness as it is a direct correlation with my 40 years of marriage to the same woman...

 

oe

[Troy85]

Based on what I see fishing local tournaments.  I'd say 10% consistently catch more and/or bigger fish.  Its the 10% that catch 5 when everyone else can only catch 3, or if everyone has a limit they have more weight.  Everyone gets lucky , but there is the 10% that seem to consistently outperform everyone else.

[Montanaro]

Im competitive.  I love going to pressured small lakes and literally catching bass behind others and beside bank anglers (where they cant reach).

Then i hear the excuses "oh these bass are so spooky cuzz of the musky."

[slonezp]

10 hours ago, frogflogger said:

I see more knowledgeable fishermen that there use to be - I believe the percentage has changed but would not venture any numbers.

I don't... Nor do I consider myself to be a knowledgeable fisherman. I know enough to know I don't know enough.

 

The adage states that 90% of the fish live in 10% of the water. The equation is now reduced as to what percentage of the targeted fish population are bass (leaving invasives, bait fish, and rough fish out of the equation) I'm no marine biologist but on most any given body of water, in sheer numbers, panfish will probably account for upwards of 70% or more of the total adult fish population. So, lets say the lake is 100 acres and the total fish population is 1000 fish. 10 acres will hold 1000 fish. 700 of those fish are panfish 300 are predators (bass, pike etc). It seems to me that 90% of the predators are going to be present in 10% of the 10 acres, so we are now reduced to locating 270 predator fish on a total of 1 acre of water on a 100 acre lake.  Good luck with that. While technology may have increased our ability to locate fish. We still need to trick Mr. Bass into biting the hook.

 

Graphs and electronics technology has been around many many many years. As a kid, I remember watching paper graphs in the early 70's, while trolling for salmon on the Great Lakes. Today the salmon are located on the same structure they were 50 years ago. They follow the same seasonal patterns they did 50 years ago. The fish have been impacted by interference from man, and from invasives and yet they still play on the same stomping grounds...or find new. I believe this to be the same with bass. All the technology in the world will not and cannot substitute for time on the water.

[pondbassin101]

18 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I'd say that's a good number when the fishing is good. Once it's tough like now during the heat of the summer it's probably more like 5% catch 95% of the fish. 

 

For me it's more like 2% and 98%.

[DogBone_384]

Dunno about the whole fishing population, but when I fish with Fishing Rhino, he catches 90% and I catch 10% of the day's yield... ?

[slonezp]

19 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

Dunno about the whole fishing population, but when I fish with Fishing Rhino, he catches 90% and I catch 10% of the day's yield... ?

Which proves my point. The 2 of you are fishing the same space. Fishing Rhino's bait choice, bait placement, bait cadence, or experience is the key factor, not the technology