Bass fishing is getting harder?

[Smokinal]

11 hours ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

Would you extend that offer to me? My inlaws got a cabin up there on a lake where I there's no fish... and then I see 6 pound largies absolutely ignore everything I've thrown and barely even take the time to check out something I've thrown. Bumped into some decent smallies recently there, but only because I wasn't relegated to the dock or kayak, family pontoon saved the day haha.

 

 

 

Absolutely!  I love taking people out and meeting new people.

PM me and we'll set something up

[Mbirdsley]

Luckily I think in Michigan you’re starting to see uptick in fishing leveling off.  Bass  is pretty low on the list of things to fish for in this state as we touch 4 of the 5 Great Lakes have 1000’s of public lakes 400,000 miles of river bank.

 

however, I have noticed this year that I have had to down size line and tackle a little bit to get bit consistently. 
 

Eventually bag limits for all species are going to be reduced due to the advances in fishing technology, techniques, and the internet.  We have allready seen it with bear hunting here in Michigan.  We have record number of bears but, the MI DNR reduced the bear tags.  Their reasoning is that hunters are becoming too efficient at harvesting bear.  It will eventually trickle into the fishing side.

 

the Michigan DNR is finally starting to focuse in the land lakes and rivers.  The salmon crash on Lake Huron and Michigan kinda forced thier hand.  Some of our inland lakes have not been surveyed since the 1930’, 40’s, and 50’s.  They do not have the funding or the staff to do it.  All the money is allocated to Great Lakes salmon, trout, and walleye.  I mean rightfully so as that is where the majority of the Money is spent and license's sold. 
 

Ive soften my stance on FFs but, this fish tips things crazy. Just having FFS dosent mean you’re going to catch fish.   Just because, you have spent the money on the boat and gear don’t mean you are automatically entitled to fish just jumping in your boat. Need to put the work in with the blood, sweat, and tears.  Eventually you will be rewarded. There’s been times especially starting out target specificly for bass that I struggled mightly,  heck sometimes I still do. 

[TnRiver46]

If fishing is hard, you ain’t doin it right 

[JediAmoeba]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

If fishing is hard, you ain’t doin it right 

I used to think that but last year changed my view... 

[LrgmouthShad]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

If fishing is hard, you ain’t doin it right 

Bro you skunk with the rest of us

 

Whatchu talking about? ?

[gim]

Invasive species has played a fairly significant role in how I fish here. Zebra mussels have cleared up the water in a number of lakes I fish, which has in turn driven the fish deeper, and perhaps made them tougher to catch. Night time fishing is a potential solution.

 

Walleye populations here have definitely declined because of this too. They don’t do well in clear water because sunlight penetrates deeper. They are a predator of murky and dark waters when they can use those big glowing eyes as an advantage. They are also less tolerant of the heat than bass are.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Bro you skunk with the rest of us

 

Whatchu talking about? ?

Ain’t hard to skunk. In fact it’s easier than slayin em 

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

I used to think that but last year changed my view... 

if you think sitting in a boat and not catching fish is hard, I’d like to work wherever you do 

[BigAngus752]

On 5/29/2023 at 6:25 PM, JediAmoeba said:

fishing pressure is relentless

I had a pet rock and my sister wore a mood ring.  Everyone we knew had pet rocks and mood rings and went roller skating every weekend and drank Tang.  Everyone. 

 

"This too shall pass".

 

Hone your skills.  Enjoy the fish you catch when it's tough to catch.  Fish when other people aren't any time you can. 

 

[king fisher]

     I have been fortunate enough to fish a variety of places, for many species of sport fish. Most of the places I have fished, have gotten tougher, but fortunately a few have improved.

      In Alaska, King salmon have steadily gone down hill for many years now and no where near the spectacular fishing I had 35 years ago, when I went there to experience the wilderness. I was lucky enough to fish the best rivers, during a time of record high runs for Kings, and I don't think those runs  will be like that again in my life time.  Silver salmon have improved in some places, and declined in others, but in general the populations and a persons ability to catch them has stayed the same.  Sockeye salmon have had a significant increase in the past few years, which in turn has improved fishing for trout, and other freshwater species, as well as provided a living for many people in a thriving commercial fishing industry.  Halibut are in decline, both in general population, as well as the ability for sport fisherman to catch them.   The decline and improvement of many species in Alaska is complex, and many factors, including increased sportfishing are responsible.

      Big Game fishing off the west coast of Mexico, while still incredible is drastically worse than when I first started fishing there 18 years ago.  Again many contributing factors, and unfortunately no foreseeable answers to the problem.

     I have not bass fished in Mexico long enough to provide an accurate assessment of weather or not the fishing is better or worse.  My old favorite lake is not anywhere near as good as it was three years ago for DD. bass.  The reason for the decline is partially my fault for not being good at keeping a secret.  The bass may still be there, but if they are they have advanced from a first grade education level to a college degree in a few short years, and again like Alaska King fishing, I feel very fortunate to have been in right place at the right time.  My new favorite lake is on fire, and once again I am having a hard time keeping my mouth shut.  I guess I have always been a slow learner.

      The bright spot in my life as a fisherman has been the great improvement of the fisheries in Eastern WA where I grew up.  The few lakes and rivers around my home town have improved 100 percent from when I was a kid.  Because of heavy agricultural run off two of the rivers near my child hood home, didn't have anything but suckers, and carp when I was young.  Now they both have great small mouth bass fishing, as well as rainbow and brown trout.  A couple of the lakes that had some bass, are now incredible bass fisheries, as well as good trout fisheries.  Fishing pressure is about the same as it was 45 years ago, so needless to say someday I want to move back.  The reason for the increased number of fish is better farming practices partially credited to the federal CRP program.  This combined with a decrease in population translating to less fisherman, has made right now the good old days of fishing and hunting in this small part of WA.

       After reading the comments here, I have to come to the conclusion, that in general fishing is still good, but on the decline in most parts of the US, with more angling pressure being one of the biggest contributing factors.  I am grateful to have experienced fantastic fishing, at peak times in numerous fisheries.  I also am grateful that I am able to fish in a place now where I can explore virtually untouched bass fishing.  Most of all I appreciate the fact that there a few places that are actually have much better fishing than they did 50 years ago.  The fact that some places are much better than they once were gives me hope that many more fisheries will not only thrive but actually become better in time.

      Even if fishing does get tougher, I have and will still fish.  The challenge is what makes me pick up a rod every chance I get.  If one year catching 20 bass is an incredible day, and a few years later catching five bass gives me bragging rights, I will still be out there working as hard as ever to catch the most and biggest bass in the lake, and I will still be looking for that magic lure, that will make it look easy. 

[gim]

You’ve been around the block a few times in the fishing realm haven’t you @king fisher. Alaska, Mexico, Washington..

[LrgmouthShad]

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

You’ve been around the block a few times in the fishing realm haven’t you @king fisher. Alaska, Mexico, Washington..

Yes sir he has

 

Seeing different regions and lakes is very educational. Also expensive because bait monkey tells you you need to entirely reoutfit 

[greentrout]

 

[T-Billy]

Pressure is at an all time high on the lakes I fish,  so is my catch rate. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Just to throw out some numbers, a high catch rate for me on Stillhouse is 1 fish per hour based on this season. I’ve only fished the lake for 4 months. That’s what I consider “On Em.” Poor days can be less. There are many people who catch more than me and plenty people worse too. 
 

Surveying catch rates and of course electrofishing are two methods that departments can use to assess the health of a fishery. If I remember right, when those East Texas guys studied Toledo Bend, they found 1 fish per hour was common and that is considered okay/good. Please take with grain of salt.

 

I don’t know if bass fishing is getting harder though. I’m just bluntly saying what the reality is for me. The goal is not catch rate, it’s quality bass. Hopefully I can find some good ones

[Swamp Girl]

On 6/2/2023 at 9:48 PM, king fisher said:

  My new favorite lake is on fire, and once again I am having a hard time keeping my mouth shut.  I guess I have always been a slow learner.

 

Don't be too hard on yourself. I'm guessing you have a generous heart.

On 6/2/2023 at 9:48 PM, king fisher said:

The challenge is what makes me pick up a rod every chance I get.  If one year catching 20 bass is an incredible day, and a few years later catching five bass gives me bragging rights, I will still be out there working as hard as ever to catch the most and biggest bass in the lake, and I will still be looking for that magic lure, that will make it look easy. 

 

May I be the president of your fan club?

[JediAmoeba]

My year hasn't gotten much better since posting this- overall getting 1 keeper fish per 8 hours or none at all has been pretty standard for me this year with the exception being Cayuga where I had culled fish both days of our 2-day tourney and averaged over 3 lbs per fish. Cayuga is stupid easy though.

 

So in a calendar year, excluding the 2 days at Cayuga, I have landed 4 fish I could weigh in, in 56 hours of fishing. The Boaters I am with haven't really done much better- caught 8. 

I have caught shorts, Perch, catfish, Pickerel though...

[TnRiver46]

They bite like sharks when you’re not in a tournament

[JediAmoeba]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

They bite like sharks when you’re not in a tournament

All I know is after this year I won't fish tournaments as a coangler - so it looks like for the foreseeable future I am done tournament fishing in the club. 

[Fishingmickey]

Sounds like it is time for a Kayak, Jedi.

FM

[JediAmoeba]

6 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Sounds like it is time for a Kayak, Jedi.

FM

 

[TnRiver46]

People make better tourney winnings in the little plastic boats!