crankbait2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 hey all when deciding to go fishing, do you check local fishing reports to see how the fishing is forecasted for the day or do you just pack up and go fishing? Quote
smdono Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 For my freshwater fishing I don't find a need for a fishing report but will take a look once in a while to see what other people are doing/catching and where. But for Saltwater, I will always check the reports and tides Quote
Super User senile1 Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 I'll look at fishing reports periodically but the information in them is usually a few days to a week old so it may not apply. This information receives minimal emphasis in planning my day. Quote
crankbait2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Posted June 22, 2009 i usually go to weather.com and there is a spot on there where you can typ ein your zip code and it will give you a rough estimate of fishing conditions. i have been basing my fishing trips off that. not sure how accurate it is though : Quote
ring fry Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I put 'yes' but 'sometimes' would be a lot better answer for me. If I go to a familiar lake I rarely check them, but if I go to a new lake I'll find all the information I can. I look at local reports, previous years reports, tournament results, seasonal articles and any thing else I can find out about the lake. Quote
DINK WHISPERER Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Never, i will check the weather and that is all! I will find out what they are biting on when i get there. ;D Quote
aarogb Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Every chance I get I will look at the fishing reports. They help me out a lot. Quote
Busy Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I never check when I'm just fishing local areas. I'll go out in the worst conditions and the best conditions. Sometimes the 'worst' conditions are surprisingly more productive than you'd think. If I'm planning on taking a weekend trip or trying a new lake a few hours away I'll get all the information I can. Found a decent bass lake this year not too far away from looking over catfish indexes. Went there for catfish and found a lot of bass too. Quote
cabullwinkle Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I never check the fishing reports. You gotta put your time in, even if the bite is weaker than normal. It makes those fish much more appreciated. Also, by going out there more often and actually study the fish you are going to be a better angler. Knowing why a fish doesn't bite is just as important as knowing why they bite, if that makes sense. Quote
Super User Sam Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 after checking the weather, I pack up and go. Quote
Super User Big Bait Fishing Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 i put ''no'' , but i did when i went to this weekend to a lake i never fished before . i really only check if im going catfishing . i read the report this weekend and they said they were catching good sized cats there , hah , they were all between 1-2 # !!! it was ridiculus :-? needless to say i won't trust the ''reports'' anymore , i think it's better to talk to someone , wish i had Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 Only check tide ,that determines what species I am going to target. Checking the wind determines what gear I'm going to take. 20 mph and under I' take 7'6 rods, over 20 I prefer 7'. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 I stopped reading fishing reports decades ago. It's important to understand that most fishing reports are NOT provided by disinterested third-parties, and we all need to eat. Years back, I happened to be in a sports shop when an angler weighed in a largemouth bass (very common back then). The bass tipped the scales over 4 pounds and every local publication raved about the excellent fishing on lake-X, where bass to 5 lbs were reportedly common (that same angler was named). More recently, I was buying live minnows one January from a local bait dealer, and asked the proprietor how the fishing has been on Lake Toho. He told me excitedly that fishermen were hammering big bass yesterday on Toho. Well, he failed the test because I happened to be on Lake Toho "yesterday". Not only was the fishing Dead Slow, but except for the same old crappie fleets and a couple of airboats, the lake was practically void of bass anglers. Roger Quote
Super User senile1 Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 I stopped reading fishing reports decades ago. It's important to understand that most fishing reports are NOT provided by disinterested third-parties, and we all need to eat. Years back, I happened to be in a sports shop when an angler weighed in a largemouth bass (very common back then). The bass tipped the scales over 4 pounds and every local publication raved about the excellent fishing on lake-X, where bass to 5 lbs were reportedly common (that same angler was named). More recently, I was buying live minnows one January from a local bait dealer, and asked the proprietor how the fishing has been on Lake Toho. He told me excitedly that fishermen were hammering big bass yesterday on Toho. Well, he failed the test because I happened to be on Lake Toho "yesterday". Not only was the fishing Dead Slow, but except for the same old crappie fleets and a couple of airboats, the lake was practically void of bass anglers. Roger This has been my experience as well. I'll look at the reports as I mentioned in a previous post, but I don't put much trust in them. Quote
tritz18 Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 after checking the weather, I pack up and go. x2 Quote
DixieAngler Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I'd say when I'm fishing freshwater I look at reports about 50% of the time. Depends on the season because certain seasons have more variations than others, at least in these parts; if I'm going out three days in a row I only look at the report once because it's not bound to change. Usually a glance at the weather is all I require. Quote
Super User Maxximus Redneckus Posted June 22, 2009 Super User Posted June 22, 2009 I do but only for saltwater fishing no sense in fishing the wrong tide and wrong time of day for them,Saltwater fish are very picky up here if people say they are catching them at night thats it .No way your gonna go out mid day or mornin and catch anything.And its a definite plus to know what bait to use Quote
Bernie Mac Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 Nope just go and fish...unless it's going to rain like morton salt or not feeling to good... Quote
avid Posted June 22, 2009 Posted June 22, 2009 I'm going fishing no matter what the report says, but they are always fun to read and sometimes downright informative. Quote
Super User CWB Posted June 23, 2009 Super User Posted June 23, 2009 I didn't vote because there was no option for sometimes, which is what I do. Quote
swilly78 Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 Not a big fan personally, i find them to be inacurate. Quote
NasTMcfingas Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 No, I just check weather report and go. They've never seem to help me any. Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 23, 2009 Super User Posted June 23, 2009 One must keep in mind that fishing reports are history lessons and along with fishing logs neither should be ignored completely. It has been said history repeats its self Quote
Super User bilgerat Posted June 23, 2009 Super User Posted June 23, 2009 Fishing reports are like the financial guys on tv with their 'hot tips' ; by the time it's broadcast, it's old news. Fishing conditions can change within 30 minutes. Quote
Super User cart7t Posted June 23, 2009 Super User Posted June 23, 2009 Absolutely. As long as they're no more than a couple days old. I'm much more interested in water levels, surface temps and water clarity than I am in what supposedly the fish are biting on. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.