MitchIsFishin Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 Dumb question, but do any of you check out lakes without your gear and with no thoughts of fishing it immediately? I have started to do this to get a look at the shoreline, structure, etc. I fish from bank, no boat, but sometimes this gives me ideas where to go. When I do it, I take nothing but a notebook. Am I nuts? (don't answer.......) ;D Quote
Super User Muddy Posted February 21, 2009 Super User Posted February 21, 2009 Wait it gets worse! Last 2 seasons I have sat on a rock high up from a steep shore in a very productive pond we fish. I watch Bass pound schools of minnows and I try to figure out why they hit the ones they do and ignore the others, talk about nuts Quote
Reelady Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 Well... lets just say that many times I have that exact intention... to "look" but not "touch... Lol... and I can also honestly say that no matter what my initial intentions were, I just could not fight off the urge to get my line in the water. I have complete and total admiration and respect for people that can keep their lines out of the water and just "look" Cuz I pretty much look and feel like this guy if that "ljust looking" stuff lasts too long FYI... Many if not most of the Elite guys will just "scout" a lake before fishing a tournament. Or, if they just want to check the size of the fish in an area, they will fish with either no hooks, or a bent hook to get them close enough to the boat so that they can verify the size. Quote
Captain Obvious Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 No we are not nuts we just don't have fish finders. Just the other day I drove by some places to scout them out, and to find if this one house on the lake was a summer home, or did people live there all year round? This is important because their dock is the only place within casting distance from shore that you can reach the fishiest stump field that a shore bound fisherman ever did see . Not only is the house a summer house but there is a public dock right there so I can fish the stump field without even trespassing. No we are not NUTS ;D Quote
Super User Marty Posted February 22, 2009 Super User Posted February 22, 2009 On a couple of occasions I've scouted some places without gear, but that's the exception. If I'm out I want to fish. But I don't think you're nuts; whatever you feel will gain you the best results is fine with me. Quote
christopherjake Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 When I see a good size body of water I think of fishing! Nuts? No. Addict? Yes. Quote
Super User skunked_again Posted February 22, 2009 Super User Posted February 22, 2009 i have a rod and a hand full of plastics in my service truck year round. never know when youll be taking lunch next to the water. Quote
Super User cart7t Posted February 22, 2009 Super User Posted February 22, 2009 I once sat idle at the entrance of a housekeeping pocket on Lake of the Ozarks and watched as 3 big female bass, all from 5-7lbs, moved slowly from under one dock to 2 seperate brushpiles off to the sides of the dock while smaller males swam around them. The 3 big girls made their way from one spot to the next and then back again. It was obviously the whole courtship process going on in full swing. I was mezmorized. I never cast a lure. It was obvious eating wasn't on their mind. Quote
Super User Catt Posted February 22, 2009 Super User Posted February 22, 2009 Dumb question, but do any of you check out lakes without your gear and with no thoughts of fishing it immediately? I have started to do this to get a look at the shoreline, structure, etc. I fish from bank, no boat, but sometimes this gives me ideas where to go. When I do it, I take nothing but a notebook. Am I nuts? (don't answer.......) ;D Not only have done it I still do it & have no intention of stopping Heck even after 37 years on the Bend I still stare at the shoreline, surface, satellite images & my depth finder. I think GPSs hurt more anglers than they help, now days you punch in a way point and then it's' WOT while never paying attention to what's between you and the way point. What happens if the GPS breaks? Quote
Calcutta Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 I have spent hours and hours on the water with nothing but a camera and a depthfinder and I must say its as much fun as fishing to me. Quote
Sin_City702 Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 i remember going to the lake with father a couple of days before a tournament...we would just motor around and see where the fish were holding and whats the first spot going to be. Quote
Boogey Man Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 Heck, if I see water on a TV show or movie I'll think "I'd cast there, and there, and there..". The warped mind of a fisherman. Quote
Super User CWB Posted February 23, 2009 Super User Posted February 23, 2009 Call me nuts but on my home lake I actually snorkel around certain spots looking to see which docks and boats are holding fish and how they are positioned. Come back later and fish the good spots. Maybe that's cheating. Come face to face with a couple huge muskies doing this and they didn't seem to be too scared!!! Quote
Super User Sam Posted February 23, 2009 Super User Posted February 23, 2009 Mitch, it is called "recon" in the military and I do it all the time. Just tool around, looking at the landscape and bottom to get a handle of the water clarity and bait fish locations. As for getting in the water and snorkeling around, nope. I learned at a very young age in Louisiana that you don't swim in waters where the critters in the water can see you but you can't see them. ;D ;D ;D Quote
Super User senile1 Posted February 23, 2009 Super User Posted February 23, 2009 Well... lets just say that many times I have that exact intention... to "look" but not "touch... Lol... and I can also honestly say that no matter what my initial intentions were, I just could not fight off the urge to get my line in the water. I understand the feeling, Marcia. I will scout an area but if I have a rod handy it is just too tempting and I'll eventually make a few casts while I'm there. I will often go for a time without casting while I learn the structure and layout of an area but if it looks good, I will usually make some casts. If I'm going to do nothing but reconnaissance, I have to leave the tools at home. Quote
Super User Catt Posted February 23, 2009 Super User Posted February 23, 2009 Y'all never find me near water without a rod cause as much as I like to look, I love to throw Quote
Pitchinkid Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 X2 Catt. I cant go the water without a rod, it would drive me bananas. I probably the worst driver known to man if im going by the water. My neck is always breakin to look at something. Thank god for good brakes. Quote
Scorcher214 Posted March 1, 2009 Posted March 1, 2009 Heck, if I see water on a TV show or movie I'll think "I'd cast there, and there, and there..". The warped mind of a fisherman. yeah i have a weird reflex that whenever anything related to fishing is on tv, i gotta watch it till the fishing subject is gone. I think it was a commercial for 5hr energy shots, they are talking to some race car driver, and he says "fishin with my buddies" and all i could do was turn back to that channel and watch till it was over. Quote
jack1 Posted March 1, 2009 Posted March 1, 2009 Rick Clunn stated that he takes a video camera and record good looking areas, in that way you'll get the most info in an scouting trip. Once I get my SI unit, I'll do just that and plan a few scouting trips. I think even if I did have rods in my boat...I don't think I'll even touch them once the SI unit is on. Quote
Super User fishfordollars Posted March 1, 2009 Super User Posted March 1, 2009 Heck yes. If I'm on the road I am always on the lookout for new water. Quote
nickb Posted March 1, 2009 Posted March 1, 2009 Call me nuts but on my home lake I actually snorkel around certain spots looking to see which docks and boats are holding fish and how they are positioned. Come back later and fish the good spots. Maybe that's cheating. Come face to face with a couple huge muskies doing this and they didn't seem to be too scared!!! Lucky guy! I've always wanted to do that just to get a better idea of where the fish like to hang out. I've read all kinds of stuff about where they chill, but i think seeing it would be so much more beneficial. Quote
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