Are you doing it right?

[Susky River Rat]

So this is more just to spark conversation. I also don’t want it to get on the extreme side of things like throwing a 6oz lure on a 1/2 max rod. If you are catching fish consistently but, maybe are using 20lb line instead of 10lb is it wrong? If you  work a certain bait differently then is most commonly done is that wrong? 
 

What do you do that may be against the conventional way of thinking?

[Mobasser]

If your catching fish consistently, then it's working for you, and it's not wrong. Fishing is an individual sport. Do it the way that works best for you.

[Spankey]

I fish a jerkbait more like a crankbait at most times. 
 

If you’re in a feeding frenzy I’d think a lot of norms can go out the window. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Darnold335 said:

What do you do that may be against the conventional way of thinking?

 

Speed up during winter by either using heavier weights or faster retrieval rates.

 

[LrgmouthShad]

58 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Speed up during winter by either using heavier weights or faster retrieval rates.

 

I did not expect to hear that. Is this what you do most of the time or only some of the time? 
 

Dependent on fish mood of the day?

[softwateronly]

I'm certainly not unique or alone, but I think a heavy swim jig, 3/4oz, is underutilized.  Working 8-15' through cover with chops, pauses, and rips has been a consistent producer of larger than average fish for me.  It's also my go to night technique, the newer moon, the better.

 

scott

[Mike L]

How can you be doing something wrong and consider changing anything if you’re catching fish?

 

 

As far as conventional thinking goes, 

I really don’t agree with the usual conventional thinking of the slower you fish the more you catch. 
That was talked about on another thread this week that I didn’t join in on because I didn’t want to muddy the waters ?

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[scaleface]

  I fish spinnerbaits a lot . The past few years its been my most productive  lure   .Conventional wisdom says to use a Colorado in stained to muddy water . I use a willow main blade almost 100 per cent of the time ,  even with one inch of visibility . The bass have no problem locating it .

[LrgmouthShad]

4 minutes ago, scaleface said:

  I fish spinnerbaits a lot . The past few years its been my most productive  lure   .Conventional wisdom says to us a Colorado in stained to muddy water . I use a willow main blade almost 100 per cent of the time ,  even with one inch of visibility . The bass have no problem locating it .

And I contrast as well from conventional thinking with spinnerbaits, but in a different way. In very very clear water, say 6+ ft visibility, the only spinnerbait many would consider to pick up if all you listen to is YouTube videos would be a willow main blade. 
 

A compact single colorado with a silvery color to it is one of my favorites in this water clarity, but I like there to be cloud cover. 
 

I’ve also fished double Indiana’s in the same water clarity with bluebird skies and caught fish. 
 

 

You lean more toward willows. I lean more heavily towards Colorado’s and Indiana’s. Personal preference

[scaleface]

5 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

You lean more toward willows. I lean more heavily towards Colorado’s and Indiana’s. Personal preference

Youre absolutely correct .  

[Susky River Rat]

41 minutes ago, Mike L said:

How can you be doing something wrong and consider changing anything if you’re catching fish?

 

 

As far as conventional thinking goes, 

I really don’t agree with the usual conventional thinking of the slower you fish the more you catch. 
That was talked about on another thread this week that I didn’t join in on because I didn’t want to muddy the waters ?

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

This is exactly why I started this. I don’t think it is wrong if you are catching fish. Unless it’s an unethical way of doing it. It isn’t a debate it’s just to see what others do that go completely against the “normal wisdom”

[Bluebasser86]

I use a jigging spoon to cover big flats for fish schooling on small baitfish. Cast and reel it as fast as I can. It doesn't do much, except catch fish ?‍♂️ 

[volzfan59]

I don't know if this counts or not. Other than one rod and reel set up, I use straight mono for everything. Once the braid on that rod wears out, it will be straight mono too.

[king fisher]

I have a friend that does everything wrong.  He fishes with the cheapest rods, reels, line and lures he can find.  He attaches every lure he fishes, including the smallest size Floating Rapala, with his off brand Walmart $3 for 2,000 yard mono, complete with a giant, brass swivel.  If there were a ten commandments of bass fishing, he would break every one of them.

       I have fished with him since we were in 6th grade.  I have learned the hard way to never criticize the way he fishes.  He will out fish me on most days, but if I mention his inferior methods, he will beat me so bad I will consider giving up on fishing all together.

       He is very observant and has a natural ability to determine the speed, cadence, and depth the fish want that particular day.  He will probably be fishing some old beat up rusted lure he found, his rod will be missing a guide or two, the reel will sound like a cement mixer, but at the end of the day he will be eating fresh bass fillets.

       Is he fishing wrong?  Heck yes, but I am not going to tell him, and for sure the bass don't think so.  

       

[Mike L]

23 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

This is exactly why I started this. I don’t think it is wrong if you are catching fish. Unless it’s an unethical way of doing it. It isn’t a debate it’s just to see what others do that go completely against the “normal wisdom”

Darnold

In my opinion, A lot of times folks here speak in generalities a lot which can cause confusion when someone is looking for advice or just being curious of what others do in like situations. 

With thousands of members from all over the country fishing in vastly different waters with different levels of experience and expertise, its almost impossible to come to a consensus about what is “normal wisdom”

 

Good thread

 

 

 

 

Mike

[BassinCNY]

I get more bites on thick wire spinnerbaits than on the thin wire spinnerbaits that are supposed to give more vibration.

[Bankc]

3 hours ago, Spankey said:

I fish a jerkbait more like a crankbait at most times. 
 

If you’re in a feeding frenzy I’d think a lot of norms can go out the window. 

And I do the opposite sometimes and catch fish.  I'll fish a crankbait like a jerkbait.  Tie on something that dives, say 6-8 feet, and just pop it so it just kisses the bottom, floats back up to about halfway to the top, and jerk it again.  I don't know why it works when jerkbaits and regular crankbaits won't, but sometimes it does.  

[scaleface]

12 minutes ago, BassinCNY said:

I get more bites on thick wire spinnerbaits than on the thin wire spinnerbaits that are supposed to give more vibration.

I'm reminded of the time I stopped by this muddy lake and dug out my travel rod with a 1/16th oz Beetle Spin tied on . Maybe two inches of visibility . As I was retrieving,  the tiny bait   emitting   weak vibrations , a   wake was observed from about ten foot away homing in on the bait . That bass knew exactly where that little Beetle Spin was  . I caught that bass , not huge but a good lesson was learned . How much vibration does a spinner need to put out ? 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I've started trolling some.   It's been a revelation.   There are fish that live smack dab in the middle of the lake in 35ft of water relating to nothing more than ever moving Shad balls.   Trolling seems to be taboo in general simply because of tourney rules.  If you aren't fishing for money, why not incorporate another new way of catching them I say.  

 

I used to believe the 90% of fish live in the 10% of the lake deal, certainly not anymore.   

3 hours ago, Spankey said:

I fish a jerkbait more like a crankbait at most times. 
 

If you’re in a feeding frenzy I’d think a lot of norms can go out the window. 

There is no doubt in my mind that fish will eat anything you can get close enough to them when they are in those rare "frenzy" mode.   

[813basstard]

Well I don’t know about the ‘rules’ but I do know painted white blades have out fished Colorado in muddy water for me. 
I don’t question the formula and don’t want to know why either.

[Mobasser]

If you look back at the history of this sport, there's been some really successful fisherman who used methods that are considered wrong or unconventional. If something works for you, so be it.Develop your own style.

[FishTank]

I will throw some topwater in winter like a popper or a spook but I do it slow. 

 

I also fish a crankbait quickly in winter as well.

 

[KSanford33]

I'm with @AlabamaSpothunter. If I'm pre-fishing or just fishing for fun, I troll the majority of the time. I'll stop at exceptionally 'fishy' looking spots, but like he said, I'm consistently amazed at the fish I find in the middle of the lake not relating to anything, just hanging out.

 

Oh, and if I'm fishing off-shore, the rougher the water the better. I find I catch the most fish when I'm vaguely concerned for my safety.

[Jar11591]

I don’t fish wacky rigs all the way back to the boat. For me they’re strictly used for trying to get a bite on the fall. If it doesn’t get hit a second or 2 after it hits bottom, I reel up and throw it at another target spot. There are plenty of soft baits I’ll fish all the way back to boat, but a wacky rig aint one. Some may think it’s wrong. ??‍♂️

[Susky River Rat]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I've started trolling some.   It's been a revelation.   There are fish that live smack dab in the middle of the lake in 35ft of water relating to nothing more than ever moving Shad balls.   Trolling seems to be taboo in general simply because of tourney rules.  If you aren't fishing for money, why not incorporate another new way of catching them I say.  

 

I used to believe the 90% of fish live in the 10% of the lake deal, certainly not anymore.   

There is no doubt in my mind that fish will eat anything you can get close enough to them when they are in those rare "frenzy" mode.   

I used to troll for musky a lot. You never know what you’ll find in the abyss