The power of observation

[jrhennecke]

Excellent post.  A very interesting approach.

[Popeye]

SUPERB!!! Another testiment as to why I personally consider BR to be THE BEST bass fishing forum on the Internet, bar none!!! Great members, great advice, great founder and great moderators. IMO:o)

[GobbleDog]

Thanks Popeye.  It's true, I am great.

[islandbass]

Raul,

Excellent advice and post. I wonder if there might be a connection with the closeness of Easter and the resurrection of old posts for the benefit of all.

I tend to be aware of my surroundings and take in everything too. It seems we have learning on our own in common as well. I think I just need to catch up in the acquisition of Japaese Domestic items.  ;D

-ib

[Raul]

I wonder if there might be a connection with the closeness of Easter and the resurrection of old posts

;D ;D ;D

[HesterIsGod]

Nitro, I don't mean this in a bad way but piranha hasn't been on the forum in nearly two years. I don't think he will read your good advise.

Why do people keep doing this.

[Willzx225]

I absolutely love this post, Raul!  Thanks for pointing out that it was started so long ago.  I think everyone can take something away from post from the newbies to the veterans as well.  I feel that I am pretty good at taking in my surroundings but I may have been getting lazy in the last year or two.  This is just the ticket to make me analyze everything in more depth.  Thanks again Raul and BR!

[A-Jay]

Perfect & Timely.

A-Jay

[Catt]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Perfect & Timely.

A-Jay

 

I miss that Dude!

[Crow Horse]

This is a terrific post by Raul. Most things in our environment go unnoticed to most people. Part of it is the conditioning we receive and another part of it is our hectic lifestyles. I find that the item that has the biggest impact on our ability to observe is to slow down. We're terribly our of synch with the environment and to reconnect, we have to "pump the brakes" mentally. Reconnect with the environment and operate at the same speed nature moves. It's stilling the mind, suspending all the nonsensical/logical thoughts we all have and shift from a beta consciousness to an alpha. This is where our awareness really improves. We can improve our powers of observation visually by making a shift from how we normally use our vision. Typically, we use tunnel vision to see our world and in doing so we miss so much. If we shift how we use our eyes and focus on expanding our field of view to it's maximum periphery, objects become slightly out of focus but our sensitivity to movement improves dramatically. When movement is detected then we can "zoom" in to that movement. To be a good observer, we need to expand all our senses.

 

Another element in improving our observation is to listen to our "inner vision". It's that voice inside us that for the most part doesn't communicate with words. I'm sure we've all felt this but didn't know where it came from. Metaphorically, our internal "radar" is always sweeping. Things we need to be aware of will "fluoresce" in a matter of speaking as long as we've resynched with the environment.  There's more to this and this is an oversimplification but when done correctly, a new world emerges.

 

Just slowing down our movement will improve what we see. Instead of walking plantigrade (heel toe), try walking toe heel. It forces one to slow down and in doing so, we move quietly and will see more than you thought possible. Walking heel toe forces you to commit your weight before you know what you're stepping on and we plow through the landscape bobbing up and down. Walking toe heel is fluid and you can feel what you are about to step on before you commit your weight.

 

My apologies for my lengthy post and I recognize that this might not be some folks cup of tea. That's fine. Whatever works for you is good.

[WRB]

Reached back into the past and touched my soul.

Tom

[scaleface]

This is out dated thinking. In 2024 its the power of 7 transducer's.

[A-Jay]

28 minutes ago, scaleface said:

This is out dated thinking. In 2024 its the power of 7 transducer's.

Exactly why I brought it back . . .

A-Jay

[Catt]

I not only believe in time on the water, I also believe in time outdoors. 

 

Gotta get the city out your mind!

[TnRiver46]

He had me til the last couple sentences. As a fly fishing guide for 17 yrs I firmly disagree 😂 

[A-Jay]

22 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

He had me til the last couple sentences. As a fly fishing guide for 17 yrs I firmly disagree 😂 

Perhaps it was your clientele. 

#nicknewguy

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Clientele, coworkers, retailers, the entire industry 😂 . Theres a reason it’s referred to as elitist 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Gotta get the city out your mind!

What's a 'city' ?

A-Jay

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

This is out dated thinking. In 2024 its the power of 7 transducer's.

 

When I fish, my head is on a swivel. If I'm watching my lure or line, it's peripherally.* I don't need to see a hit to set the hook. I can feel one and often hear it if I'm fishing on the surface. I'm looking to decide where to cast next*, but I'm also witnessing the beauty of a pond or bog. I'm seeing the kingfishers, ospreys, eagles, beavers, geese, swans, cranes, and deer.

 

I've watched the scopers on YouTube and they stare at a screen. I will not join their numbers. 

 

*I've spent years and years on water and I spent a few years studying cognition. I learned from the latter than my time on the water watching isn't just reveling. Much of our thinking is beneath the surface. I might have a hunch about where to cast or a feeling that I should paddle over there, but my hunches and feelings arise from decades on the water, with my unconscious brain tapping deep memories that my conscious brain can't surface.

 

I don't cast willy-nilly. I have hunches. They're good ones. They're rooted in decades of reality. I trust them. 

[Team9nine]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

This is out dated thinking. In 2024 its the power of 7 transducer's.

AMEN 🙏 No sense standing around at the ramp for half an hour waiting for clues and smelling the air. Just drop the boat in the water, fire up the transducers, and see what’s REALLY going on down there 😉

[TnRiver46]

@Team9nine, here’s my transducer , what ya think ? 

[Swamp Girl]

Quote

I not only believe in time on the water, I also believe in time outdoors. 

 

Me too. I'm just grateful that there are many places jet skis and transducer-bristling boats can't reach, i.e. water without ramps or even a road to reach it. 

[Team9nine]

7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

@Team9nine, here’s my transducer , what ya think ? 

Doesn’t run off batteries or get knocked off in stump fields - you might have something there 😆

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

@Team9nine, here’s my transducer , what ya think ? 

Nice - Do they go over or under the Blue Blockers ?

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

It’s got some depth limitations , it’s really cold and dark past 5-6 feet and my skull feels like it’s going to cave in 

 

@A-Jay, totally interchangeable just like switching the button from 83 kHz to 200 kHz. This is a total game changer , DNR may need to consider a ban. Probably won’t be any bass left. Save the children!!!!