Sturgeon General Warning:"Senkonlylimitativism"

[telecaster]

I tried to stay away from THEM, Used some gateway plastics from time to time(HotRods,Ballbreakers,etc).Then on a recent trip to the Bass shop,I was drawn to a display with Senko seconds 5.19 per bag. Immediatly I made the purchase and drove to the nearest pond. Well,I guess I dont have to go into what happened after that... I feel ashamed :-[ Tried to go cold turkey yesterday,used all my old favorites,with limited success,then there they were,there in the side pocket of my bag.I tied one on and bang my biggest bass so far this year. Is there any hope for me? :-?

[jb_adams]

I tried to stay away from THEM, Used some gateway plastics from time to time(HotRods,Ballbreakers,etc).Then on a recent trip to the Bass shop,I was drawn to a display with Senko seconds 5.19 per bag. Immediatly I made the purchase and drove to the nearest pond. Well,I guess I dont have to go into what happened after that... I feel ashamed :-[ Tried to go cold turkey yesterday,used all my old favorites,with limited success,then there they were,there in the side pocket of my bag.I tied one on and bang my biggest bass so far this year. Is there any hope for me? :-?

Yep, you're a senko addict!

[Captain Cali]

What's a miracle bait? Maybe something that works everywhere, all the time and can be fished by anybody with any level of skill and still catch fish?

Oh! That's a Fat Ika.

Or...live bait. You did say BAIT this time and not LURE.  

[RoLo]

I'm sure that most of the statements made in this thread are accurate and true,

but I think the application of knowledge can vary a lot depending on the "intent of the angler".

In keeping with the spirit of this topic, I'd like to describe one of my favorite fishing habits,

and one of the main reasons I go fishing.

When my wife & I begin fishing in the morning, I'll always ask her what lure she intends to fish,

and then I'll intentionally choose something different. This has been a ritual now for several decades.

If I'm dead set on the same lure that Lois wants to fish, I will at least choose a different color.

If we spent our fishing time casting the same lures and same colors,

the big button marked "Learning Experience" would be in the OFF position.

We all catch bass more often than we learn something new, for this reason, experimenting and learning

is just as much fun to me as catching bass.  

I take it a step further

If a given lure or color is the clear winner on my boat, I will deliberately switch away

from that lure or color to confirm that it's indeed responsible for the difference in action,

and not mere chance. In my opinion, an angler should never tout a given lure or color

if that's the only lure being used. The success of a lure or color can only be confirmed

by the failure of another lure during the same time frame.

Roger

[K_Mac]

I would say that most of the statements made in this thread are accurate and true,

but I think the application of knowledge can vary a lot depending on the "intent of the angler".

In keeping with the spirit of this topic, I'd like to describe one of my favorite fishing habits,

and one of the main reasons I go fishing.

When my wife & I begin fishing in the morning, I'll always ask her what lure she intends to fish,

and then I'll intentionally choose something different. This has been a ritual now for several decades.

If I'm dead set on the same lure that Lois wants to fish, I will at least choose a different color.

If we spent our fishing time casting the same lures and same colors,

the big button marked "Learning Experience" would be in the OFF position.

I catch bass more often than I learn something new, for this reason, learning to me

is just as much fun as catching bass.

I take it a step further

If a given lure or color is the clear winner on my boat, I will deliberately switch away

from that lure or color to confirm that it's indeed responsible for the difference in action,

and not mere chance. In my opinion, an angler should never tout a given lure or color

based only on its success. The success of a lure or color can only be confirmed

by the failure of another lure or color.

Roger

Nice post Roger. It clearly makes the case for not becoming too comfortable with one lure or technique. I like the point you make about the fun of learning something new. I like catching bass as much as the next guy, but it is only part of the fishing experience.

[roadwarrior]

Well, I hadn't used a soft plastic in five days, but this morning I only caught three little bass on topwater. After running some errands I went back to the pond around 11:30 and fished a 6" Senko. Yep, the chronic disease has flared up again.

I try to understand why people complain about the durability of GYCB soft plastics, I went through three on six fish in an hour and a half. Two of the three baits were lost on single fish. However, the first bass was a monster and the next two were 6-7 lbs., total estimated weight ~25 lbs.

I am going to keep fighting Senkonlylimitativsm. I'm going to focus on diversity and fish Fat Ika and Gitzits more often.

[George Welcome]

1101 bass during May - we caught them on two baits - Chug Bugs and Senkos

It was a mistake - lack of versatility

6700 acre lake - caught all the fish out of a five acre area - probably should have run and gunned the lake and used some spinner baits - jigs - drop shot - hard jerk baits so that we wouldn't have gotten so bored.

I'm sorry, but the name of this game is fishing(supposedly converting to catching), not casting. If the bait you are using is producing and producing well than you have the right pattern and bait. Of course, if in the same area they will hit a trap or spinner bait as well, then it would be foolish to waste the Senkos.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

But not neccessarily the "ONLY" bait. Let's say that at $7 a bag,you run out of senkos? You don't honestly go home do you?

Man,I'm such a punk with this "last word" stuff,lol.

I see your point GW, don't doubt that. It's just not the "ONLY" point being made. There's more than 1 way to skin a cat. If you're into cat-skinning, why not learn as many of the ways to do it that you can?

RW- The fat ika was my good friend today non-stop action with a spawning 5 in the mix

[George Welcome]

Knew that would grab you outta the woodwork - I gave up cat skinning cause they bite.

Learning the mechanics, both with equipment, (tackle) and bait usage is integral to this whole catching game. Obviously, there is a right tool for any job.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Always a right tool for the job.  Sometimes 2 or 3 even.

Exactly but you can get a nut off with a ratchet or a wrench. If you have both, shouldn't you know how to use both of them? If not, hope you never lose your wrenches!lol

Your turn Captain.

[George Welcome]

You can remove a nut with a ratchet if there is the room to do so, but you can always get the nut off with a wrench. Off course if nothing else will do you can always remove the nut with a straightjacket.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

LMAO!!

 I concede.