Nothing beats time on the water.

[1024cwalker]

Acquiring Knowledge surrounding fishing is a beautiful thing but fishing videos dont let you implement that knowledge. Get on the water, you'll start noticing a confidence change and making choices wont be as difficult. People talk about getting overwhelmed and I think it can be attributed to listening to 5 different peoples take on a given topic, formulate your own thinking/patterns and it'll feel right.

[Susky River Rat]

I agree with this. There will always be tough days but, listening to this or that guy promote a bait isn’t making you better. Learning the bodies of water you fish are the most effective way to catch more fish.

[1024cwalker]

1 minute ago, Darnold335 said:

I agree with this. There will always be tough days but, listening to this or that guy promote a bait isn’t making you better. Learning the bodies of water you fish are the most effective way to catch more fish.

Amen brother ?

[GRiver]

This forum is a vast wealth of information, you have to take it out on (or to) the water and make it work for you. 
       Then you can bring back what you learned and share that advice with everyone here. 
       Nothing beats “time on the water” in my book. I like to think I learn something every time I go out, even the tough days.
If nothing else, I’ve learned “what not to do”

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, GRiver said:

Nothing beats “time on the water” in my book. I like to think I learn something every time I go out, even the tough days.  If nothing else, I’ve learned “what not to do”

 

True.  I will say I have benefited greatly by learning from other anglers.   The problem is you have to sort through and find information that will work for you.  Just because someone else does something, it doesn't mean you can do the same thing with the same results.  That's where "time on the water" comes in. 

[Catt]

Some of us don't ever ever get it!

[gim]

51 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

The problem is you have to sort through and find information that will work for you.  Just because someone else does something, it doesn't mean you can do the same thing with the same results.

Something to keep in mind here specifically is that we have posters from literally all over the country and in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South America that provide information.  Obviously what's working in Texas right now may not be remotely close to what's working in Michigan.  Some of this just has to be taken with a grain of salt solely based on geographic location.

[Bankc]

Each region, and even each lake, is different.  What works in one area may not work in your area.  Videos, blogs, forums, etc. are all good places to find new ideas.  But that's about all they're good for.  

 

That being said, time on the water has been hurting my confidence lately.  It's been a tough summer and it's starting to wear on me.  I have a job and family so I don't get to pick and choose my fishing days, and it seems like every time I can get out, the fish just won't bite.  Once or twice is no big deal.  But three months of bad fishing and you start to look inward.  Have I lost it?  Was I just lucky before?  Am I doing something different?  

Then again, this summer I seem to always go the day after a cold front has passed.  So I'm not entirely surprised at how tough the fishing has been for me.  

[gim]

12 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I have a job and family so I don't get to pick and choose my fishing days, and it seems like every time I can get out, the fish just won't bite.  Once or twice is no big deal.  But three months of bad fishing and you start to look inward. 

That's the unfortunate circumstance that some of us find ourselves in, me included.  A full time job and a family and a dog and a house eats up a lot of my free time too.  I'd fish more if I was able to, but there is required responsibility that comes with those other items.

 

Luckily the bite for me has been good this season, and very good since late June.  Its sweltering hot/humid here this week so I'll be taking a break though.

 

I'm sure things will pick up for you when a cooler, fall-type pattern presents itself.  Hang in there.

[Mobasser]

51 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Something to keep in mind here specifically is that we have posters from literally all over the country and in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South America that provide information.  Obviously what's working in Texas right now may not be remotely close to what's working in Michigan.  Some of this just has to be taken with a grain of salt solely based on geographic location.

This is true. We've got guys from all over fishing here. A guy who's fishing deep clear lakes will fish a lot different than someone who's fishing shallow murky waters.                   Different regions produce different fishing styles.

[gim]

Just now, Mobasser said:

Different regions produce different fishing styles.

This is where the local regional threads are often helpful.  The Toledo Bend one has been around for a very long time and has regular contributors, just as an example.

[RHuff]

I think being on the water helps most with recognizing changing conditions and developing that intuitive instinct to make changes.... Recognizing what to do and when to do it 

[king fisher]

You can't catch a fish if your worm is not in the water.  A friend told me

this 50 years ago.  Best fishing advice I ever got.

[Kirtley Howe]

Bill Dance summed it up years ago......"Wet lines catch more fish".

 

[Catt]

11 hours ago, RHuff said:

I think being on the water helps most with recognizing changing conditions and developing that intuitive instinct to make changes.... Recognizing what to do and when to do it 

 

^^^this^^^

 

Time on the water doing what?

[1024cwalker]

15 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

True.  I will say I have benefited greatly by learning from other anglers.   The problem is you have to sort through and find information that will work for you.  Just because someone else does something, it doesn't mean you can do the same thing with the same results.  That's where "time on the water" comes in. 

Not so much saying dont absorb information but when people do it at such a capacity that their getting overwelmed Itll always be a better option to just get on the water. Fishing is alot more than just catching feesh

completelyyyy understand what youre saying. Tbh I have to tell myself "cant catch whats not there" cause when I say "They arent biting" I make it personal and wanna "make em bite". nastyyy rabbit hole. And more than ever were dealing with overly pressured water, mix that with the sun boiling the water. yikes. 

9 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Bill Dance summed it up years ago......"Wet lines catch more fish".

 

Beautiful.

[1024cwalker]

14 hours ago, gimruis said:

Something to keep in mind here specifically is that we have posters from literally all over the country and in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South America that provide information.  Obviously what's working in Texas right now may not be remotely close to what's working in Michigan.  Some of this just has to be taken with a grain of salt solely based on geographic location.

Yes and no. bass are obviously fickle at times but at the end of the day if you understand how the forage fish behaves bass are bass, time on the water just lets you tweak your presentation to match their mood. still about getting on the water so ya know when to do what without second guessing it.

[Swamp Girl]

On 7/25/2023 at 8:48 AM, gimruis said:

Something to keep in mind here specifically is that we have posters from literally all over the country and in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South America that provide information.  Obviously what's working in Texas right now may not be remotely close to what's working in Michigan.  Some of this just has to be taken with a grain of salt solely based on geographic location.

 

^Succinct and persuasive.^

 

I have hundreds of lures in my basement that other fishers have suggested. I just couldn't catch bass with them. I totally believe that they caught lots of bass with them...in their lakes...in their states. 

 

I keep trying to add new lures to my repertoire, but mostly fail. And it's hard to keep failing when I know my tried and true lures and tactics will likely catch bass. Right now. 

 

However, if you were sharing a canoe with me and you were catching bass on X lure, which I never use, I would pepper you with questions and proceed to do everything you suggested. 









 

On 7/25/2023 at 9:38 AM, gimruis said:

Luckily the bite for me has been good this season, and very good since late June.

 

You have caught big gals this year. Beautiful bass too, i.e. thick and dark and healthy.

[Skunkmaster-k]

All I know is that a purple worm is the best. 

[gim]

Just now, Skunkmaster-k said:

All I know is that a purple worm is the best. 

I bet @TnRiver46 would heavily agree with this.  I swear that's all he uses.

19 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

You have caught big gals this year. Beautiful bass too, i.e. thick and dark and healthy.

 

It has been a very good season, and not only just for bass fishing either.

[Swamp Girl]

21 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

It has been a very good season, and not only just for bass fishing either.

 

[Team9nine]

I’m going to take a slightly different tack and say that while time on the water IS still important, in the overall picture of fishing/catching these days, it has never been LESS important than it is right now, IMO. I could go down the rabbit hole of reasoning, and I still might, but I’m currently just pecking away at my cell phone while writing this and don’t feel like trying to write a small booklet with just one finger  ?

[A-Jay]

Just now, Team9nine said:

I’m going to take a slightly different tack and say that while time on the water IS still important, in the overall picture of fishing/caching these days, it has never been LESS important than it is right now, IMO. I could go down the rabbit hole of reasoning, and I still might, but I’m currently just pecking away at my cell phone while writing this and don’t feel like trying to write a small booklet with just one finger  ?

I hope you can cut the bass a break and expand on this.  I happen to agree with your premise but also believe that some of it has to do with fishing  experience. At least it does for me. 

Btw, I'm sausage fingering the heck out of this phone my dern self.

A-Jay 

[galyonj]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

All I know is that a purple worm is the best. 

 

Junebug is my registered emotional support color.

[TnRiver46]

Purple worm is what I got my nice 3 lber with in Michigan yesterday 

 

@Skunkmaster-k

@gimruis