What have you learned this fishing season?

[crypt]

I learned that Headwaters lake is way better than I thought it would be. I was there when the Stick Marsh opened and we all thought that it could ever be any better than this. Oh how we were so wrong.

[Boomstick]

First and foremost I learned how un-fun daily thunderstorms are.

 

I learned that sometimes I'm better off taking a smaller number of rods and focusing more on one area (as long as my intuition is correct on where the fish are).

[JHTR20]

I learned the neko rig this year.  I found it caught better quality fish than other finesse tactics, maybe due to using 5 inch Yum dingers.   I also learned I will not be buying any more azuma baits, tried their version of the rattle trap, finish started peeling and a hook fell off within 10 casts, looked nice really bummed me out.

[throttleplate]

i learned there are more species of fish i want to concentrate on besides the largemouth such as smallmouth and walleye.

 

I also learned i dont need expensive rods to catch big fish. My $9.99, $19.99 and $79.00 rods proved it.

 

Learned i dont need a boat or a kayak, just a honda civic that gets 39 mpg, a pair of waders and my gps. These 3 items keep me mobile and able to pick up and leave quick and on to the next spot.

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, throttleplate said:

i learned there are more species of fish i want to concentrate on besides the largemouth such as smallmouth and walleye.

 

I also learned i dont need expensive rods to catch big fish. My $9.99, $19.99 and $79.00 rods proved it.

 

Learned i dont need a boat or a kayak, just a honda civic that gets 39 mpg, a pair of waders and my gps. These 3 items keep me mobile and able to pick up and leave quick and on to the next spot.

Yes this is true, plus I hate paying more than 150$ on a rod because they are fragile 

[Hammer 4]

Welp, I learned during the last couple of months that chuckin and winding 3 oz. plus baits isn't nearly as easy as it use to be some years ago. At 73 with a bad back, I've had to cut my time doing so, way down..☹️ 

[Trox]

I learned that when I "just go fishing", I catch more, and better quality. When I start getting all technical, I get in my own way a lot by over thinking things. 

[HaydenS]

I learned, and had fun cranking.  The DT series of crank baits are the best!

Learned a small bit about livescope.  

Learned how to effectively fish a jerkbait, accounted for 95% of my fish this year.

 

Next year I’m hoping to learn more about the fair wand tactics, other than a ned and tube.  I’ve got a long way to go, and I hope I never stop learning!

 

[LrgmouthShad]

An awful lot. Maybe I’ll pick a few things.

- fish don’t care what my theories are

- the less I retie the better I do

- trust my instincts but don’t burn down in one spot

- pay attention to the bottom, things on the shore, position on the lake/pond (North end is warmest!!), look for baitfish

- deer hunting is hard

- I love turkeys

- spinnerbaits are awesome

- I need to fish worms more

[Choporoz]

I learned a new presentation just this morning.   I cast out a Trig worm and then spent some time getting the ice off my guides and level wind, when suddenly my line took off.  

[LrgmouthShad]

50 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I learned a new presentation just this morning.   I cast out a Trig worm and then spent some time getting the ice off my guides and level wind, when suddenly my line took off.  

Hmmm. Very interesting! To perfect this technique, how much ice should be on the guides and level wind before I start removing it? 

[Choporoz]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Hmmm. Very interesting! To perfect this technique, how much ice should be on the guides and level wind before I start removing it? 

After the guides freeze, but before the entire spool freezes solid.

[LrgmouthShad]

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

After the guides freeze, but before the entire spool freezes solid.

Perfect. This is the kind of advice we need on BR

[flyfisher]

Going back to almost 100% fly fishing I learned that fly fishing when not catching is more fun than conventional and way more fun than conventional when catching.  

[slonezp]

This guy loves to fish

[PressuredFishing]

14 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Going back to almost 100% fly fishing I learned that fly fishing when not catching is more fun than conventional and way more fun than conventional when catching.  

Fly fishing for bass is very fun, and I have noticed in my heavily pressured lakes under the right conditions fly fishing can outperform conventional fishing, especially in clear water. The light Weightless natural looking flies skittered below the surface with long pauses is lethal in the warmer months, the materials breathe underwater and react to light current. It is an amazing technique. It's not for everybody, and you may not catch as many fish, but when the water you are fishing is heavily pressured and the conditions are right, it's lethal

[flyfisher]

8 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Fly fishing for bass is very fun, and I have noticed in my heavily pressured lakes under the right conditions fly fishing can outperform conventional fishing, especially in clear water. The light Weightless natural looking flies skittered below the surface with long pauses is lethal in the warmer months, the materials breathe underwater and react to light current. It is an amazing technique. It's not for everybody, and you may not catch as many fish, but when the water you are fishing is heavily pressured and the conditions are right, it's lethal

I agree.  On moving water I think it is as productive and probably more so in a fish per cast scenario but you are limited to the number of casts you can make.  I do like that I can pull my fly out of a non productive area and put it right back in the strike zone without having to retrieve it al lets way back.  One back cast and I can shoot the line to where it needs to be.  One thing I do miss is a solid jig hit.  You don't get that same thump on a fly rod that you do on conventional.

[TnRiver46]

On 11/27/2021 at 9:35 PM, flyfisher said:

Going back to almost 100% fly fishing I learned that fly fishing when not catching is more fun than conventional and way more fun than conventional when catching.  

I’d say I’m the polar opposite haha. I like casting rooster tails at rising trout ? 

 

after fly guiding for over a decade , I’ve had enough 

[MIbassyaker]

I learned a lot this season about interpreting side-scan imaging from a new sonar unit I got in the spring -- the first SS-capable one I've used.

 

Aside from that, I don't think I learned any Deep Truths, but (as always) I learned a lot of little things about some of the waters I fish.  Got to explore some new areas, and checked in on some familiar places at different times of the season than I had visited in the past.

[flyfisher]

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’d say I’m the polar opposite haha. I like casting rooster tails at rising trout ? 

 

after fly guiding for over a decade , I’ve had enough 

Yeah I did some fly guiding for about 6-7 years and it definitely soured me on the sport for a while and I really didn't fly fish except on smaller water for 10 years or so.  Just got back into it about 5 years ago again and all in a few years ago.  Its a different type of challenge though and one that I am sure will rotate back to conventional at some point again.

[Jgthomas]

 I learned to wet my mono leaders when I slide down the knot-lost a 10 ft shark, btw-would love to have had my picture taken with him

[PaulVE64]

 

This year as with most years i spent 12 to 24 hrs a week river fishing for smallies. The difference this year was that I focused solely on finding a river monster and following him/her for as many days as possible. 

my catches were down and so was my average weight but the experience was at times fascinating. 

[Functional]

-If i even think about maybe having to retie, I should retie

-learned to move on to a new technique or area quicker instead of trying to force a bite

-got really good at the bow technique to un-snag myself

-leave everything behind if I want to learn a new technique

 

simple things but I feel I've been progressing quicker with these few things.

[geo g]

Never doubt your ability just because the fishing has been  super tough for a while.  It's just fishing, and it will pass, enjoy the moment!

 

Also learned location and presentation is much more important then what your throwing.  Doesn’t matter if it’s a jig, a worm, a stickbait, or creature bait.  Throw it in the strike zone and she will come to investigate!  They eat all kinds of stuff daily!  

[JoeDeal55]

I have learned how to fish for bass without using live bait. Went fishing early spring and forgot to get me some nightcrawlers. Luckily I had a small tackle bag and just started tossing lures and reeling them back in.

 

Fished all day on an UglyStik GX2 combo and fowl hooked 1 bass on some kind of squarebill crankbait (didnt know what a crankbait was). It annoyed me. I usually catch 10+ bluegills and a few bass when I head out to the family farm pond. (A few times a year) 

 

So the next day at work I started researching the best lures for bass fishing and watching youtube videos. Then the discovery of BR! I quickly realized I knew absolutely nothing about fishing. (Didnt even know what a baitcaster was lol) And down the rabbit hole I went. Im still stuck down here.

 

Spent all spring, summer, and fall fishing and learning. Now I own 2 baitcaster combos and my 1 spinning combo. And a knew fishing kayak! (All in the budget realm but I had to learn somehow) Discovered a few different ponds near me that im allowed to fish.

 

I learned how to fish from a kayak. I learned how to walk-the-dog. I learned how to feel the difference between underwater structure and a fish bite. I learned how to cast a baitcaster. Fewer and fewer backlashes everytime. 

 

I have also learned that I need to work on other techniques more. I feel really confident with bottom jigs, senkos, and the ned rig. Still havent had any luck with chatterbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, and swimming jigs. But all in all I only got skunked on 1 outing this year. 

 

Im still learning and excited to continue. Caught my PB 4lb11oz on a spinnerbait with year. Told my wife and my family that I only want fishing gear for christmas so looking forward to that lol. 

 

I learned that fishing has sparked a joy in me that I didnt know I was missing in my life. I dont do social media so I am thankful for BR and this community for giving me a warm welcome this year and a home to share my experiences and learn. Thanks guys!