Lessons Learned

[Chris]

What are some new things that you learned while fishing in a club or learned while fishing with others?

[Chris]

For me i learned that a jig is a powerful tool and alot of people still don't know how to pitch or flip or don't have confidence in it.(mainly the people i fish against) I also learned that spinnerbaits can be deadly. I learned that dropshot has its place. I learned that a crankbait isn't always the answer but can be.

[John Cullum]

I always try to pick up a thing or two from my non-boater. This year was no differant. Everyone fishs a bait in differant situations or conditions so I always pay attention to thier go to baits and find out way it's thier go to bait. A few years ago I had a guy show me how he fished wood with big balsa baits like BB2-3. I fished Bagley prior to that but never really "crawled" them thru cover like he did.  This year I had a guy in the back of my boat that couldn't get a single bite for 6 hours of an 8 hour tourney. I had 5 fish right away cranking but only had around 6 pounds. We were on the Calumet river which is a 12 inch limit. I thought it would take around 8 and some change to win. My non-boater tied on a 10 inch worm (black) and smoked em' the last 2 hours. He had to of caught 10 or so keepers none bigger than 14 inches. He was catching 6 inch large mouth on a 10 inch worm. He would stitch the worm with a 3/0 hook and it was very effective. If there was one lesson I learned from this year it was that. When the bass are aggresive like they were it's hard to find a bait that is to big.

[bquittem]

i also learned the jig during one of the first tournaments this summer. i started fishin as a non-boater because i didnt get my stratos until later in the year. the boater i was fishin with was using a black/blue jig on a large mainlake point and he was just hammering the bass. i was using my favorite deep bait a texas rig'd zoom brush hog. its not that he was catching many more fish than me, but it was the fact that hes limit was over 15lbs and mine was only a little bit above 7. this really made me want to start using jigs. i started watchin him and learned the basics. the next weekend i had off so i bought some jigs and started using them. they are now my favorite bait.

[njvbass]

I learned how to read cover alittle better. By reading cover I mean seeing where a tree actually lays in the water at it's furtherest point, reading points and how the wind effects areas of lakes. I learned alot of this stuff fishing out my tube. At first it was a little akward because you can't cover water soon as you get their like in a boat,you just kinda go with what is front of you. I guess I learned patience if anything this year.

[Chris]

I learned when to move and when to stay. I learned when to fish for beef and when to just catch fish. I learned that when its tough it isn't tough for everyone and i need to change. I learned sometimes you can outsmart yourself and put to much thought into it. I learned to stick with what brought me here and don't waste time on other things.

[duncast48TN]

I have llearned that there is nothing like being out there and doing it. I can read up on stuff but hands on experience is the best teacher.

[Pond-Pro]

         I agree, There is no subsitute for experience.

[Fatdaddy150]

8)Exactlly no substitute for experince!!! I always try to stay focused and aware of my surroundings. I learned this year that something very subtle can be a big difference in catching and not catching. I was fishing a buddy tournament in early July of this year, my partner was killin em on a carolina rig in 8' of water. I changed my approch and went to the C rig. We were both using the same bait same color same leader length. Everything was the same except he had a glass rattle in his 10" worm and I didn't. After he caught about 3 keepers to my one I put a rattle in my worm and that was the difference we really put it on everyone. We won that pot tournament by 6 lbs. A few other guys were fishing the Carolina rig also but I think we were the only ones with the rattle. We had a five fish limit of 16lbs 9oz. No one else had a limit and we culled fish almost all day. It amazed me how something so small could make such a big difference!!

Tight Lines,

Fatdaddy151

[Stickling]

ive read alot about clubs on this forum anyone in north carolina know of a fishing club?

[JHall]

I learned that when I hand my little 2 year old girl a barbie fishing pole (bishing boe as she calls it) I had better hit the dirt, 'cause she will hit the line release, watch the plug fall to the ground, and after she has watched daddy cast and cast and cast, she thinks she knows what she is doing.  Then starts the flailing!  Sounds like whip through the air.  I learned that she can move a fishing pole really fast!

[Glenn]

Stickling: lot's of bass clubs listed here: http://bassresource.com/bassfish/bass_fishing_clubs.html

[Will]

I learned that if you are having lots of trouble catching fish that sometimes putting your pole down, drinking some water, and just observing for 3 minutes can get you back on track. I was also taught a little about spawning fish.

[Big_Bass_Rich]

I learned to be versatile and use baits that I might never think of using on any normal day. I learned to make these baits a major part of my arsenal. For instance I had never used a crankbait or thought I needed to use them til about 4 years ago when my friend and I went out and he beat me like a drum with crankbaits. I finally gave it, tied one on and caught bass - and learned that crankbaits have a major place in any lure arsenal!

I also learned how to develop patterns, how to read sonar and get the most out of my sonar, how to properly fish certain topwater baits (Zara Spooks in particular). And a lot more. 80% of what I learned is just from fishing with others and in tournaments. You have to keep a keen eye out when fishing with others because sometimes even novices can teach you a thing or two!

[Chris]

This is a good topic ;D

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I learned to duck!  My partner has a hookset that has the bait coming at you as fast as it went out!

I WILL be caught soon enough!

[bowjunkie35]

I learned sometimes you can outsmart yourself and put to much thought into it.

What a great point Chris. I still find myself doing that alot after 15 years of bass fishing.

Sometimes back to basics and keeping things simple are all you need.

[bowjunkie35]

I have also learned the importance of developing a sound gameplan during practice and sticking to it as much as the conditions allow during a tournament.

[bowjunkie35]

If you want to talk true lessons though. I learned , and I have known for years but have not always done it when I should, the importance of cutting and retying often when fishing heavy cover. Believe me, a BIG fish, probably 5 pounds, which would have won big bass in my last tourney, breaking your line will teach you real quick.

Actually, it wasn't teaching that I needed. It was reinforcement of that teaching, a spanking if you will! ;D That particular bass sho' nuff did that! :'(

[roadwarrior]

Most of my life I thought having a good trip catching fish was luck. Sometimes it worked, most of the time it didn't. I used to think catching a couple of fish, any size, made a good day. I always thought I should use about every lure I own until I hit on the one that worked.

What I have learned is the key to success. I don't necessarily own the key, but I know exactly what it is and I am totally focused on exploiting this knowledge.

I've discovered that catching fish is fairly easy. It's not luck, although I still think size is to some extent. It's not lures, but exactly the right one is still important sometimes. It's not all the time you spend on the water, but that certainly helps. It's not all about better equipment, but that is part of being confident and consistant. Nope, all these things and much more are parts of the complete package. But the key, the Key to Success...

Finding the fish.

[kbj3579]

I have learned more this year than ever!  This is due to two things...

1.  Fishing at least 3 times a week since March.  Theres no subsitute  for time on the water.

And

2.  This website!  This is not a suck up or anything of the sorts.  Not only does this website contain huge amounts of information, but it also keeps you thinking about bass fishing by coming to this board and posting and reading posts. I think Rick Clunn can be a little strange sometimes, but I do agree with his philosophy, you need to think like a bass.

The biggest thing I have learned and it came from both places I mentioned above, is Bass behavior and seasonal patterns.  I too agree with what was mentioned above, sometimes you can overthink a situation and you just need to relax and fish.

[kbj3579]

I have to agree with RW on that one.  Finding fish is the key, that's why I mentioned you have to think like a bass.  You def. can't catch them if you don't find them.  I think Raul said one time something to the effect that you have to know your prey, or your competitor, something like that... well that's exactly why I concentrated, and am still doing so, on learning the bass behavior.  

I can tell you something I do need to learn though, I need to be more versatile in what I use bait wise.  Because too many times this year I have found fish and been in situations where I know they are there either by electronics or by observation, and haven't made the right decisions on what to use.  

[LONGEARS]

I learned everyone thinks it's funny except the guy who fell out of the boat

[Guest hydrillagorilla]

I'm with RW - you can't catch what aint there!  I have learned on this site much about:

C-rig

Drop shot

and the BAIT MONKEY

Happy Releasing

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I learned a lot about finding them from Raul's post and I agree the rest of the fellas like Marty and Rattlinrougeand low buget hookers and Mr Rebbasser have given me a great idea of the moods and what lurers to use,but it all comes together when Im on the water trying to remeber all of what these guys teach. So for me keeping a log book has been the single most important thing I have learned. When one of our more knowlegable members share some info I write it down and then when I try it out I log the results. Im over 50 and have left a lot of brain cells behind so this logging thing has really helped me out