Some thoughts on Bass Fishing

[Biglittle8]

On 5/27/2007 at 11:13 AM, Catt said:

The human tendency is to respond to failure and frustration by the over-complication rather than simplification of technique and theory

☝️ Yes

[PressuredFishing]

On 5/25/2007 at 11:30 AM, Catt said:

I understand that bass fishing is not an exact science

I establish what I believe to be truths & the bass prove its all lies

About the time I think I have the bass figured out the bass prove I don't

All this talk about color, rods, reels, boats, moon phases, can a bass see my line ect is just interesting information

 

 

 

I have no idea why bass go against mainline  theory Best as I can say is, fishing can never be replicated by using science or technology perfectly,  or else it wouldn't be fishing

[David 7]

I like learning about new techniques and reading/ watching/ hearing about bass behavior. When all is said and done though, I just enjoy being on or near the water and bass fishing. Part of the wonder is the mystery of it all. 

[Nitrofreak]

Since I had first come to this place, this was one of the first threads that I remember reading.

 

During that span of time since then, what I took away from the post and believe it to mean to this day is that the time on the water is your time, make the most of it.

 

 

[Benjamin Bunting]

This post describes why so many of us become obsessed trying to figure them out.

[Josh Ross]

There are so many reasons why I love, and currently am obsessed with Bass fishing (fishing in general but right now for me I'm focused on Largemouth Bass). From the meditation aspect of it- I tend to not have my mind wander too much towards other things in my life but to just "be in the moment" and focus on the mechanical aspects of fishing, whether it be to hold my rod at a certain angle, retrieve at a certain speed, casting to specific spots, selection of various lures, tying the knots, etc. The intellectual pursuit of trying to learn, understand, and anticipate the biology, the psychology and the mathematical probabilities of where and why the bass are where they are at any given time. There are physiological reasons, from the rush of catching something, and the absolute frustration and sometimes boredom of not catching anything for some time, the chemicals in the brain are hitting all the right places (I equate fishing to gambling - the amount of times one places a bet is another cast, the lost lure, the hang ups, the lost fish, is the lost money, the landing of a fish is the payout). There are also the physical benefits of getting sunshine , fresh air, and a good workout in from hiking into a spot (and standing, casting for hours) or kayak paddling as I have been doing lately. I am sure there are other reasons, but these seem to be the major ones for me. I just love fishing, bass or whatever, there is nothing else like it. 

[Zcoker]

I think a lot of these pros do their research, and if that involves having a few beers with a few locals to get the skinny on some new lake, then so be it. Heck, I’d do the same thing and I aint even a pro lol. They use their heads to figure things out. And that’s a very important point to make because it really wasn’t until I started thinking BIG bass that I actually started catching BIG bass. I mean, I had tried everything, everywhere, for years and never really got into big fish nor get into big fish constantly. It wasn’t until I changed my mindset that things did a huge turnaround. And it wasn’t’ rods, reels, jigs or spinner baits but simply thinking and using my head to figure it all out and, you know what, it worked! It worked and it has been working ever since. Which tells me that there is so much more involved to this "process of fishing" other than just letting the chips fall where they may. Pros use their heads to figure things out and get the job done, whatever it takes.

[cyclops2]

I can catch a LOT of bass if a hungry school is slowly passing in range.

 

I have NEVER caught any, if the school leaves or never stops by.

 

 

[Clumsy fisherman]

On 5/25/2007 at 2:30 PM, Catt said:

I understand that bass fishing is not an exact science

I establish what I believe to be truths & the bass prove its all lies

About the time I think I have the bass figured out the bass prove I don't

All this talk about color, rods, reels, boats, moon phases, can a bass see my line ect is just interesting information

So I simply go fishing any time I can, using the techniques I have confidence in, & I let the chips fall where they may.

Most fishing tackle, lures, and line are meant to catch fishermen rather than fish. 

[LrgmouthShad]

42 minutes ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

Most fishing tackle, lures, and line are meant to catch fishermen rather than fish. 

Really?! Then they suck! I can’t remember being “caught” at any time. Maybe with treble hook lures a time or two.

 

I know what ya mean ?

[BassBoss74]

On 5/25/2007 at 2:30 PM, Catt said:

I understand that bass fishing is not an exact science

I establish what I believe to be truths & the bass prove its all lies

About the time I think I have the bass figured out the bass prove I don't

All this talk about color, rods, reels, boats, moon phases, can a bass see my line ect is just interesting information

So I simply go fishing any time I can, using the techniques I have confidence in, & I let the chips fall where they may.

Well put!

This is my outlook on bass fishing... with some days better than other.

[PaulVE64]

yep

[Cranks4fun]

  Well, I keep thinking I have them (bass) figured out and they keep changing to stay one step (or ten) ahead of me. I'll have a great day catching bass on a certain bait under certain conditions and then fishing the same bait on the same body of water under similar conditions two weeks later I cannot beg a bite! I am not just talking about the three spawn transitions either. It seems that the last two years it has been harder than normal for me to consistently catch them with certain methods. I guess I am educating them to avoid me. I guess I need to find a lake that has bass that are genetically inclined to be stupid!   

[LrgmouthShad]

On 5/25/2007 at 10:23 PM, -badhabit- said:

I'm just a Florida Cracker that's been set my own ways pretty well for a long time.

All of this dropshot that, finesse this, & swimbait culture crap may work fine for some people. But just give me a bag of worms with a few hooks and I'll bring back big fish.

Like my bumper sticker says = "We don't care how you do it up north!"

;D

Lest we forget this gem of a post. 
 

wonder where - badhabit- is nowadays

[Bird]

27 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Lest we forget this gem of a post. 
 

wonder where - badhabit- is nowadays

He'll be 62 June 30th and hasn't been seen or heard of in 9 years but a tell it like it is post.

[Jeffrey Walker]

On 5/26/2007 at 3:32 PM, -badhabit- said:

The majority of the "stars" you mentioned are what I would call "schooler" fishermen which is way different from big bass fishermen. They depend on catching mass numbers of fish first and size second (or a bonus).

Most of the people I grew up respecting were local FL fishermen who's name you prob never heard. But most of them prob caught and thew back more double digit fish in 1 year than most of those named will catch in their lifetimes.

A tournament fisherman and a big bass fisherman is a different breed. Although a few have crossed that line.

I would rather catch 1 double digit fish than 20 - 5 lb'ers. Of course you would have to adjust the weights to your location. There are some very good big bass fishermen up north where in some places a 7 lb'er = a 12 lb'er here in FL. I respect & salute those big bass fishermen for their abilities in fishing wherever they may be and for being one of the odds beaters.

i like this. I’m just interested in catching big ones, and bigger ones.  To me that’s the game. 

[Big Hands]

On 6/27/2021 at 4:23 AM, Catt said:

I think it was Jordan Lee who stated on Bass Fishing University what amazed him the most about Pro level fisherman was that they all had 3-4 techniques (topwater, mid-depth, & bottom) that they're really good at & that they "try" to find water that match their strengths.

I was listening to a podcast with Dave Mercer (Elite series emcee) and Jake Latendresse (Elite series cameraman) from June 8th and they were talking about this very subject. The point they were trying to make was that the sport may be going through a transformation in that respect. They have been observing that many of the newer anglers from the ranks of the college bass fishing scene have considerably more techniques that they are VERY good at.

 

They opined that having been on these 'teams', they have spent considerable time on the water with various anglers from all over the country, and that the culture of the teams is that they truly share amongst each other, and that gives many of them a lot of confidence with a lot of different baits and techniques, and that the old maxim that held true for those in the top echelon of the sport for so long may be changing.

 

As for the rest of us mere mortals, well, I think it will take a while longer.

[Jim Levite]

If there was an exact science to it we would all be getting paid to fish I guess. A horrible day fishing is still better than going to work ?

[avidone1]

When Catt speaks wise bassers listen 

[Susky River Rat]

I truly believe it’s 95% timing with fishing. Are you at the right spot throwing the right thing when they want it. Sure you can snag up a bass here or bass there. Just like you can accidentally catch other species.  Is establishing a true pattern more timing than anything? Your worst day can be someone’s best. I have fished with people after I have believe to “figure” out the days puzzle. They still struggle trying to replicate what I am doing while I am catching. I also think a great day is relative to what you want out of fishing. Is it numbers? Lots of fish? A mix bag? Or are you happy just being out and fish are a bonus? Professionals find a way to make it work because their lively good depends on it. They are d**n good sticks but, there is that extra motivation behind it. I do also think social media at times has made people thing this or that person go out and kill it all the time. Which you have no clue how long it took  I promise it took them a lot longer then that 10 minute video to do what they did. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

-badhabit- reply was dead on the money imho.   

 

You got the very, very rare angler who can catch big fish consistently, then you have everybody else from weekend warriors to Classic winners.    

 

The big Bass hunter is a special breed, a very special angler to be sure.  

 

[Swamp Girl]

A pal in Wyoming once took me rainbow fishing. The reservoir felt alien to me, with opaque, brown water and rocky shorelines. When I wrote "rocky shorelines," don't imagine shorelines in northern Minnesota or Ontario, with cathedral trees and Scotch moss growing on the rocks. There was nothing on those rocks and beyond them, more rocks and more rocks. Brown beyond brown. We caught a lot of trout, but even that fishing was alien with lead lines and planers. It was mechanical and complex and took considerable time to even begin fishing.

 

Then, with all those lines out, you didn't stop the motor to reel a hooked fish. Yeah, we caught a lot of fish, but if he invited me again, I'd pass. 

 

My point is that bass fishing, where I fish, is cozy. The water doesn't sprawl. It's clean and clear. So is the air, which is scented with white pine. And bass aren't the only wildlife. There are loons singing and beavers slapping and owls hooting. 

 

My cozy canoe is part of it too. I love fishing from my light, responsive boat. No electronics. No vast array of tackle. Just an old fisher, a paddle, a hull, and some rods and reels. Yes, and my net and old camera too. My point is that my boat is light. It's an extension of me, replying to my merest shifts and not a behemoth that I stride. I feel the water beneath my feet. I am moved by the wind. The bass pull me and my canoe. I am connected.

 

And I love how I don't know where the bass are. I've cast to some spots, that in my mind, flashed "BASS HERE," in neon, but nada, like reeds and pads abutting deep water. Then I catch bass in the middle of a pond, on the surface, and sans structure, and up against a beaver dam, practically lodging with the beavers, and in a foot of water, where there's more weeds than water and I wonder how they even manage to swim. 

 

So, for me, my top three loves of bass are:

 

1. The mystery

 

2. My connection to a canoe

 

3. The jaw-dropping beauty of bass homes

[roadwarrior]

 

 

                                                      

[Big Hands]

As some famous Greek dude allegedly once said "surety is ruin". Bass prove this to be true quite often. Even if we knew what all of the factors are that affect their decision process, to quote a once famous candy bar commercial, "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't."

==========================

I would add that there is a relationship between our thoughts & feelings that affects our behaviors. If given the choice, why would we do anything that we felt was unproductive?

 

I like to tell my students that if I could make sure they learned anything from me, it would not really be about the subject matter of the course. It would be: 

 

You can do it.

The struggle is worth it.

You are worth it.

 

If they believe those things, they stand a much better chance of achieving success because that will shape their behavior. The same thing applies to bass fishing success.

==========================

Confidence is key to bass fishing success. If I don't believe that there is a catchable bass there, why would I cast there. Don't believe me? Watch an angler use FFS.

[biggin]

An X coworker got me back into fishing and I'm full of questions due to his ability or just catching fish verses me not as much. If they're there and want to eat fine if not try another spot. I need to be on the water. Walmart has a nice kayak for about 250. You can only fan an area so much and the banks of the creek are difficult to cast.