Am I alone?

[Drew03cmc]

The article, from In Fisherman, by Ned Kehde on the Dark Sleeper, is an example of people taking things too far. The way it is written, it is a 3 page dissertation on the design of this bait, including SAE measurements of the fins, body, etc. Do I care that the front fin on the small bait is 11/16" tall? No. I care that it works. The writing is awful. It made me unsubscribe from the mailing list and the relentless analyses of weather, pressure, water temp, etc. Sorry, I am all for monitoring these things as they can all pertain to fishing, but dang. These guys take it much too far. Sorry for the rant, but it just annoyed me enough that I had to ask if I was alond.

[JediAmoeba]

When I was 19-22 I kept a journal of every fish I caught.  Date, Water temp, air temp, amount of cloud cover, lure color and barometric pressure.  I always thought these things were worthwhile...  

 

If you are trying to pattern catches it is worthwhile.

[Brew City Bass]

You're with company, friend. 

Personally, I think there's only so much we can touch on fishing. I've watched just about every educational youtube video on bass, their habitat, forage, seasonal patterns, how to catch em, what to use to catch them, how to use what you're using to catch them. And I'd say 80% of the time it's always the same information. So I find now that all these youtube, blog guys are just throwing in filler and re-making videos / articles on how-to's and such.

I hate to do it, but I'm gonna call out tactical bassin. They've done just about every video under the sun, and then they went and did them again. There's only so much we can talk about on T-rigs, or Jigs, or Jerkbaits. There doesn't need to be a new t-rig video every spring titled "HOW TO CATCH THE BIGGEST BASS IN THE GALAXY" and then they go and literally make the same video they did last spring, but this time with different filler like talking about the moon-phase, or the way the grass is growing, or how grandma broke her hip so it's a good time to catch a record. Not to mention the end-less shilling that happens in these videos.

I see the same with bait / tackle reviews. They'll open the box, rattle off all the information everyone already knows, then go into some crazy left field specs and stuff we'll never need to know, all without truly showing performance or how to really operate the lure. Reading or watching one of these articles / videos to me is like listening to someone who likes to hear themselves talk. 80% the information is the same as the last article or video, 20% is filler crap no-one gives a crap about. 

I could be totally anal and off base, but I feel this has been a pattern. 

[Drew03cmc]

30 minutes ago, Brew City Bass said:

You're with company, friend. 

Personally, I think there's only so much we can touch on fishing. I've watched just about every educational youtube video on bass, their habitat, forage, seasonal patterns, how to catch em, what to use to catch them, how to use what you're using to catch them. And I'd say 80% of the time it's always the same information. So I find now that all these youtube, blog guys are just throwing in filler and re-making videos / articles on how-to's and such.

I hate to do it, but I'm gonna call out tactical bassin. They've done just about every video under the sun, and then they went and did them again. There's only so much we can talk about on T-rigs, or Jigs, or Jerkbaits. There doesn't need to be a new t-rig video every spring titled "HOW TO CATCH THE BIGGEST BASS IN THE GALAXY" and then they go and literally make the same video they did last spring, but this time with different filler like talking about the moon-phase, or the way the grass is growing, or how grandma broke her hip so it's a good time to catch a record. Not to mention the end-less shilling that happens in these videos.

I see the same with bait / tackle reviews. They'll open the box, rattle off all the information everyone already knows, then go into some crazy left field specs and stuff we'll never need to know, all without truly showing performance or how to really operate the lure. Reading or watching one of these articles / videos to me is like listening to someone who likes to hear themselves talk. 80% the information is the same as the last article or video, 20% is filler crap no-one gives a crap about. 

I could be totally anal and off base, but I feel this has been a pattern. 

I'm good with fishing videos, catching fish with some educational info in them like Tim and Matt do, but the measurements, the inane things like that are what drive me bonkers. 

[Paul Roberts]

I just read it. Yeah... hmmmmm. Two thoughts came to mind:

-Ned was asked to write this lure up for IF, and... was at a loss, having not fished it. (I would not be surprised if he never does fish it). IF tends to offer heavy doses of advertising within their articles. Nature of the business I guess.

-Ned might be a bit on the spectrum? (As in ASD/OCD). I feel I can suggest this, as it runs in my family too. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but for some it can go a bit too far on detail.

 

My guess is, as far as the fish are concerned, the realistic features so accurately described, will not be noticed. How does it swim? (Better than any other paddle-tail out there?) Is it any more weedless than other paddle-tail riggings out there. My issue in looking at them (a buddy bought a couple) was how heavy they are. When Ned said the 1/4oz was about the same weight as a salt-laden Ned grub with a 1/16 oz head, I could picture him up late grasping for something to say. Might be true for casting, but... not in the water. Ned would know this.

 

Overall, I respect Ned for his contributions. As my mom once put it: "There's nothing like a good fanatic when you want to get something figured out." I'm happy to give him a pass on this one.

[Team9nine]

Ned being Ned - it's the way he's pretty much always written. His former life (job) was as an archivist for a state college, to collect or document things of value or historical significance. He's donated all his old fishing logs and writings to the state historical society. He puts all the details down to document everything as accurately as possible, then lets others decide what level of importance, if any, they may play.

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, Brew City Bass said:

And I'd say 80% of the time it's always the same information. So I find now that all these youtube, blog guys are just throwing in filler and re-making videos / articles on how-to's and such.

Same applies to the information on Internet forums.

2 hours ago, Brew City Bass said:

Not to mention the end-less shilling 

The excuse they give is they have to pay the bills. Anyone with decent bass fishing skill knows most of the tackle being hyped up is because companies pay the promoters to do so.

2 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

When I was 19-22 I kept a journal of every fish I caught.  Date, Water temp, air temp, amount of cloud cover, lure color and barometric pressure.  .

Time on the water is worth much more than what you read or what you watch online.

[813basstard]

What these guys do not put in any article is that they fish. A lot. 

While we’re at work, they’re fishing. 

While we’re pressure washing the drive way, they’re fishing.

while we’re acting as if we enjoy dinner with the in-laws, they’re fishing. 

And have been for years. So while details always matter, to the average guy looking to catch fish on his day off, we just want to tug on a couple. 

The ultimate goal is to sell stuff. Period. 

Take what you need out of it, discard what you don’t and set the alarm to meet at the ramp at 5:15.

[Shimano_1]

I agree some of the information out there is overkill but having read some of this ned guy I wouldn't expect anything less. He may not be the most exciting but has probably forgotten more than most of us will know about bass fishing.  I used to watch a lot and read a lot but the whole market is so flooded and diluted with marketing crap I've pretty much quit doing either. I do listen to a guy like him but I also have a hard time paying attention to details I dont need to know. Guess sometimes you just get what ya get lol

[WRB]

We are all wired differently and that is a good thing. Details are important to those of us you see the world in detail doesn't mean we don't appreciate different perspective or a boarder view in lieu of being narrowly focused. 

Tom 

[flyfisher]

I'll take details over not any day of the week and that applies to most of my life as well.  More information, that is accurate, isn't a bad thing.  In fishing, details don't always matter but the best fisherman I have had the pleasure of fishing with definitely are very detail oriented.  Limiting variables and even knowing what the variables are can make ones angling skills increase a lot.  

[fishwizzard]

12 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Ned being Ned - it's the way he's pretty much always written. His former life (job) was as an archivist for a state college, to collect or document things of value or historical significance. He's donated all his old fishing logs and writings to the state historical society. He puts all the details down to document everything as accurately as possible, then lets others decide what level of importance, if any, they may play.

Him being an archivist makes a lot of sense.  I love his style of writing and very much love very detailed reviews.  Most fishing videos these days are just product announcements or such broad stroke overviews that I don't really learn anything from them.  I used to really like Tactical but they seem to be slipping into that trap as well.  I blame the need to push out a 3-4 videos a week for the dilution of content.  Bass fishing is a vast topic for sure but for me the only way to keep it interesting to read about is to dive into the details. 

[Choporoz]

18 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

.  I blame the need to push out a 3-4 videos a week for the dilution of content. 

Yep.  Not entirely their fault.  Current models they operate in pretty much demand that right now.

[fishwizzard]

Just now, Choporoz said:

Yep.  Not entirely their fault.  Current models they operate in pretty much demand that right now.

Sure, I can't fault them for riding the wave of fishing-video money while then can, but I cannot wait for the "bubble" to burst and to see if people go back to more in-depth and nuanced stuff.  All I really watch now are Japanese fishing videos, can't understand anything they are saying but on average the music they use is more interesting.  

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

  All I really watch now are Japanese fishing videos, can't understand anything they are saying but on average the music they use is more interesting.  

Glad I'm not the only one - 

A-Jay

[BassNJake]

In my not so elegant way of saying things > some people nerd out over things more than others.

 

This happens in all walks of life-  ever talk to the "car guy" or how about the "I.T. person".

Try talking to an audiophile about what type of headphones to get ....

They can get into the most minute details about stuff I have no knowledge about.

 

Years ago, I had the pleasure of going on a blind date with a woman who knew everything there was about every type of wine and when was the best time for the grapes to be smashed and how this one had such lovely floral notes with a hint of sage. I'm thinking I just met the fanciest alcoholic in town.

 

Nerd out at your own pace!!

 

 

[WRB]

One of the most detailed bass angler I ever met was Aaron Martens in his late teens and early 20's. Aaron would drop by the local tackle shop and study bags of soft plastic worms by holding them up to sunlight. I asked him one day what he was looking for thinking it was colors in sunlight. He said I am counting the larger size flakes and he wasn't kidding! He sat aside certain bags and I'll never know if he preferred more or less larger size flakes!

Tom

[Glenn]

53 minutes ago, WRB said:

I'll never know if he preferred more or less larger size flakes!

Want me to ask him?

2 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

I cannot wait for the "bubble" to burst and to see if people go back to more in-depth and nuanced stuff.

This is why I've always opted for more details in my videos. I'm not a trend follower (or setter!). I just do what I think people will like; which means adding in a lot of details that make for long videos *gasp!* when everyone is saying shorter videos are better.

[Catt]

7 minutes ago, Glenn said:

This is why I've always opted for more details in my videos. I'm not a trend follower (or setter!). I just do what I think people will like; which means adding in a lot of details that make for long videos *gasp!* when everyone is saying shorter videos are better

 

One thing I hate is short video! ?

 

How ya gonna explain summer fishing in a 3 min or less video?

 

My favorite right now YourLakeForkGuide  Billy Lawson, on

Thursday nights he live streams the top 5 baits & has a Q&A. He also does a live stream seminar on different topics, last week was fishing flooded water.

His Fish Lyfe app is designed to give you the angler more detailed and up to date info than has ever been offered before. All the info is provided by guides and successful tournament anglers who are always on the water and on top of their game. Info in this app includes waypoints used by guides & is constantly updated.

[WRB]

Glenn if your in touch with Aaron ask him, ref Action Tackle.

Tom

[Paul Roberts]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

One of the most detailed bass angler I ever met was Aaron Martens in his late teens and early 20's. Aaron would drop by the local tackle shop and study bags of soft plastic worms by holding them up to sunlight. I asked him one day what he was looking for thinking it was colors in sunlight. He said I am counting the larger size flakes and he wasn't kidding! He sat aside certain bags and I'll never know if he preferred more or less larger size flakes!

Tom

I'm going to guess less he was avoiding the large flakes. I did, bc too many flakes stiffened those baits. Then I discovered boiling.

 

6 hours ago, Catt said:

One thing I hate is short video! ?

 

How ya gonna explain summer fishing in a 3 min or less video?

^^ Like others say above, there's plenty of devil in the details. It's great when the fish do much of the work; Meet us half way, or better. AOK if you are happy with random catches. There's just too much real estate out there, in terms of time, space, and mood. There's just a lot to know. Aquatic systems are complicated. The trick is recognizing what's important, when. That's a lot of the game. Otherwise, it's chuck-n-wind, and rummaging through the tackle box (and tackle shops) looking for "what the fish want". Those that tout K.I.S.S. have already done a lot of work to get there.

 

As to the videos and articles out there... When an author starts to explain something, then trails off with... "depending on conditions", it got so I'd shout out loud, "What conditions!!" Yeah, it is complicated -a lot of variables. But, that's the good stuff. The stuff that underlies the "what the fish want".

[jbsoonerfan]

A quick pep talk. Whoever is forcing you guys to read these articles and watch these videos is toxic for your health. As painful as it may be it is time to move on from them and walk away. It will hurt for a while, but at least you won't have to read terrible articles and watch the same videos over and over. In the end, you will be in a much better place.

[CrankFate]

The best bet is get out there and fish. The internet is full of people regurgitating the same things they read other people say over and over and over and over, who know next to nothing. Trust me, half the time I sound like I know what I’m doing, but a lot of times I’m out there and it’s just amateur hour all day.

[frogflogger]

Ned is doing his job - he covers pros he fishes with the same way.

The devil is always in the details - the best anglers I've known over the years have all been detail oriented.

Ned himself fishes with very simple tackle using simple techniques.

While in-fish does hype baits it also (in my opinion) gives detailed insight into techniques, some of them out of the mainstream - and not aimed at the tournament bass fisherman.

 

 

[Fried Lemons]

It depends on your goals. This topic is relevant to almost any discipline out there. Most of the information out there is the same basic stuff that has been repeated thousands of times. It gets you to a point of basic competence. From that point on you need to dive deeper into the details if you want to separate yourself from the pack. The more advanced you get, the more minutiae matter.

 

The fact that you're seeking out information says that you are not satisfied with your current level of success and want to improve. If you want to become more consistent then dry topics like weather, pressure, water temp, lure modifications etc. become important.