What Have You Learned ?

[rgasr63]

I learned that BR is the best fishing site around. 

Edited December 4, 2023 by rgasr63
Grammar was wrong

[king fisher]

I have learned that fishing bass out of a canoe in Maine on many days is better than bass fishing in Mexico and that Menderchuck is not the name of a lake on Google Earth. 

[Zcoker]

It's comforting to know that others do the same thing, feel the same way, and work together to solve the same problems, all revolving around the same fish. And to catch that one fish as efficiently and as effectively as possible is what this site is all about. In that regard, it's the greatest catch of all! 

 

 

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

15 hours ago, king fisher said:

I have learned that fishing bass out of a canoe in Maine on many days is better than bass fishing in Mexico and that Menderchuck is not the name of a lake on Google Earth. 

 

Your best days surpass my best days by a lot. I've seen the photos of your best days and they're the stuff of my dreams.

 

For consistency, Maine is hard to beat.* I think @Bluebasser86 equals it, which is strange, for who thinks of Kansas as a bass paradise, but given @Bluebasser86's tournament wins, he's no ordinary angler. Likewise, Maine can be great, but I work hard at fishing. 

 

I rise at three in the morning and it's typically foggy. I sometimes launch at three in the morning in the rain. I paddle through swamps in the dark and haul all my gear through the woods and across meadows in the dark. My two biggest bass were both caught in total darkness. With the biggest one, I didn't even want to turn on my light to reveal my presence, so I cast into weeds, hoping I'd hit an opening with my Whopper Plopper. The first two casts were nothing but weeds. The third cast was open water, so my fourth cast was to the same area and that's when she hit. Of course, hooking such a bass in total darkness in a swamp when you're alone in a tippy canoe is a far distance from landing such a bass. 

 

I also suspect that some anglers would be a little lost without their electronics and I'm pretty sure some would tip my particular canoe within seconds of launching. It's as rider friendly as an unbroken horse. 

 

Even if you do everything I do, that's no guarantee you'll catch them. I've gone fishing with a few other anglers and none caught close to my catch. 

 

So, a body of water can help, but in the end, it comes down to the angler, much like a bass boat with state of the art electronics can help, but only if the angler is skilled. 

 

*Northwestern Ontario can surpass Maine and Kansas. I once had a 20 lb. smallmouth bag in an hour (five bass between 19.5" and 21") and another time, I caught five muskies in an hour and lost a sixth. Hundred-bass days by myself were pretty common. Even if a cold front slammed us and the wind howled, I could still catch 30 smallies that averaged 17.5" in a canoe, where half the day is spent fighting the wind. However, I worked even harder in Ontario to reach such fishing than I do in Maine. 

[thediscochef]

how to fish

[GRiver]

I’ve learned that I like to fish just has much as I do catching fish, which is a good thing, since I fish why more than I do catching. There is a lot more out there just like me.
All so it’s ok to buy extras, baits, reels, etc…( at least that’s what I’ve learned here)

But really, there’s a lot of good people here that share their experiences and knowledge. Now because of it I do more catching, not equal ratio, but more.

Thanks everyone 

 

 

[Big Hands]

Among other things:

 

I learned that swimbait rods are a whole category unto themselves.

 

I learned that the perfect Senko rod is different for different anglers.

 

I learned a new phrase: "repertoire of confusion", and I like it. I have interpreted it to possibly be synonymous with 'system', only describing some systems more accurately.

 

I learned that the thought of portaging a canoe through a forest at 3:00 am to fish bodies of water that might not even have a proper name intrigues me. A lot.

[WaskaCrank12]

I only started fishing this past summer (I transitioned out of a long career of 50 plus hour work weeks - and a family member said "d**n it, you need to find a hobby !") - so I bought a used boat and some yard sale rods/reels/lures and hit the water. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing -- and I still am only a few stumbling steps into this fishing journey. One of the very helpful people at the boat ramp -- instead of laughing at me and my yard sale gear -- suggested that I check out Bass Resource because "It's full of good people and an endless supply of shared knowledge."

 

I have experienced the good people -- @NorthernBasser shared information with me about rod/reel questions I had -- and he went out of his way to meet with me and work with me to purchase a rod/reel at a very reasonable price -- as well as many others making the time to answer my "newbie to fishing questions" in a civil and thoughtful manner. As with most successful/positive communities/teams in life it's the people that make the difference. Thank you for being those people.

[Boomstick]

I learned a ton from you guys, from identifying quality cover and structure, bass patterns etc.

 

I also learned what rods to use for what lures and how to fine tune it to my needs. Keep in mind I was a complete beginner when I joined but you guys helped me get up to speed and never let me astray.

 

I’ve also learned there are some good people here and a good sense of community. I don’t even know what else, there’s too much to list.

[RipzLipz]

@WaskaCrank12 I’d buy you a beer for that post. Well said.👍

[thinkingredneck]

Braid, Floro and mono have different uses..and somebody hates each one.

Jig fishing borders on cult status

Bass can't learn to avoid plastic worms.

Depth, speed, profile, action.

Color doesn't matter until it does

All strikes are reaction strikes

Reel down, set the hook hard

Senkos are cheating

[Swamp Girl]

^I like this one.^ You not only answered the question, but you did so specifically and at length. Your list are good reminders for me, so thanks!

[txchaser]

Everyone's guessing about bass, but some people are better guessers than others. Pay attention.

Good questions are worth a lot. 

Bass fishing isn't as hard as we all make it out to be; good bass fishing is way harder than anyone realizes. People that know I fish think I sit around all day waiting for something to happen. 

Structure and cover, but structure first. 

If you are casting at the shore, try turning around and going the other direction.

Every year we learn more about bass (livescope open water fish, texas fish study)

The more I learn the more I realize I don't know much at all. But I know more than I new last year, and that makes it fun. 

 

And my favorite, this community is absolutely awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

[scaleface]

I learned that I do not fish correctly and use the wrong equipment. 😀

[Swamp Girl]

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

Everyone's guessing about bass, but some people are better guessers than others.

 

So true.

 

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

Pay attention.

 

Even truer. I'm guessing your 13 lb.+ beshemoth came from paying attention.

 

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

Good questions are worth a lot.

 

Yes, they are. I ask a lot of them and I'm guessing one or two of you think I'm the village idiot for asking a basic question more than once, but I ask questions for a living. I've found it effective in my profession to double back and triple back, asking the same question more than once. You can glean a nugget that way.

 

 

[Cdn Angler]

This site is my go to for trying to find any info on what line to use for what. I can figure out baits in the water (usually), but line is something I don't want to get wrong. The wrong line is a pain in the butt and waste of money. Can render an entire setup inoperable on the water and I don't need that. 

[rboat]

1. I learned, there is no such thing as too many lures, rods, reels, etc.

2. People on here are share good fishing tips, compared to the guy at the ramp, that will not share.

3. BR shows me that there is still good people in the world.

4. Fishing line and reel companies are very passionate for some.

5. Bass fishing is supposed to be fun, so relax and make another cast, you never know how many casts you have left.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

I’ve learned enough from BR to understand that I do not suck at bass fishing; the bass just suck at biting.

[herder]

I learned that I had a lot to learn getting back into freshwater after many years of just saltwater fishing.

 

[king fisher]

I have learned that when the Bait Monkey is banned from my house, he wont have to sleep outside.

[RipzLipz]

@king fisher I wasn’t aware he’d left the tree in my front yard.