Learning new lures and techniques

[WRB]

It is better to try new lures and techniques during an active period when you know the bass are feeding in that zone of the water column. Fishing a new lure all day long can be both unproductive and boring, you are more than likely to put it away.

The best method is to fish with someone who has already perfected the new lure or at least talk to them and learn how and where they fish it.

WRB

[WRB]

It is better to try new lures and techniques during an active period when you know the bass are feeding in that zone of the water column. Fishing a new lure all day long can be both unproductive and boring, you are more than likely to put it away.

The best method is to fish with someone who has already perfected the new lure or at least talk to them and learn how and where they fish it.

WRB

[fishfordollars]

That's how i learned the jig years ago, but i can see how trying that with a lot of other lures would be counterproductive.

[fishfordollars]

That's how i learned the jig years ago, but i can see how trying that with a lot of other lures would be counterproductive.

[fishfordollars]

That's how i learned the jig years ago, but i can see how trying that with a lot of other lures would be counterproductive.

[Lund Explorer]

While it's good to learn new lures and techniques some times I feel we hurt our confidence to the point of putting us off on certain lures. I was one who taught that the only way to learn new lures and techniques was to bring nothing else in the boat. But how is it helping our confidence if we spend all day not getting bite?

Some lure will produce under certain conditions while it's of waste time to even throw other lures.

Case in point buzz baits; I can tell you in less than an hour if the bass are on a buzz bait bite on not, at least on Toledo Bend any way. So am I really helping a student by telling him not to have any thing on the deck but buzz baits?

I think you answered your own question Catt.

As any of us are trying to pass along our knowledge of the sport, I think that there are a number of more important factors to consider before what bait to throw.

I would start with recognition of the seasonal patterns of the fish, and weather and other outsdie factors that could have an effect on those patterns.  The next most important thing would be to recognize the potential of the body of water being fished, its structure and the cover found on that structure.

A solid knowledge of these things should result in the fisherman being able to locate the fish.  And in my opinion, location is the most important key.  If you can find the fish, then that is the time to use the many various types of baits to see which work the best when taking into consideration all of the other factors you should have already taken into account.

In your example, throwing a buzzbait could be the best bait for a certain situtation at some point in time.  But even if it the best, there is usually several other baits that will pick up additional fish from a location after the easy bites have been taken care of.

As the teacher, it should be our goal to have a pupil that is well rounded and takes into consideration all aspects of the sport to maximize time on the water.  Forcing the student to work with only a single tool doesn't accomplish that.

[Lund Explorer]

While it's good to learn new lures and techniques some times I feel we hurt our confidence to the point of putting us off on certain lures. I was one who taught that the only way to learn new lures and techniques was to bring nothing else in the boat. But how is it helping our confidence if we spend all day not getting bite?

Some lure will produce under certain conditions while it's of waste time to even throw other lures.

Case in point buzz baits; I can tell you in less than an hour if the bass are on a buzz bait bite on not, at least on Toledo Bend any way. So am I really helping a student by telling him not to have any thing on the deck but buzz baits?

I think you answered your own question Catt.

As any of us are trying to pass along our knowledge of the sport, I think that there are a number of more important factors to consider before what bait to throw.

I would start with recognition of the seasonal patterns of the fish, and weather and other outsdie factors that could have an effect on those patterns.  The next most important thing would be to recognize the potential of the body of water being fished, its structure and the cover found on that structure.

A solid knowledge of these things should result in the fisherman being able to locate the fish.  And in my opinion, location is the most important key.  If you can find the fish, then that is the time to use the many various types of baits to see which work the best when taking into consideration all of the other factors you should have already taken into account.

In your example, throwing a buzzbait could be the best bait for a certain situtation at some point in time.  But even if it the best, there is usually several other baits that will pick up additional fish from a location after the easy bites have been taken care of.

As the teacher, it should be our goal to have a pupil that is well rounded and takes into consideration all aspects of the sport to maximize time on the water.  Forcing the student to work with only a single tool doesn't accomplish that.

[Lund Explorer]

While it's good to learn new lures and techniques some times I feel we hurt our confidence to the point of putting us off on certain lures. I was one who taught that the only way to learn new lures and techniques was to bring nothing else in the boat. But how is it helping our confidence if we spend all day not getting bite?

Some lure will produce under certain conditions while it's of waste time to even throw other lures.

Case in point buzz baits; I can tell you in less than an hour if the bass are on a buzz bait bite on not, at least on Toledo Bend any way. So am I really helping a student by telling him not to have any thing on the deck but buzz baits?

I think you answered your own question Catt.

As any of us are trying to pass along our knowledge of the sport, I think that there are a number of more important factors to consider before what bait to throw.

I would start with recognition of the seasonal patterns of the fish, and weather and other outsdie factors that could have an effect on those patterns.  The next most important thing would be to recognize the potential of the body of water being fished, its structure and the cover found on that structure.

A solid knowledge of these things should result in the fisherman being able to locate the fish.  And in my opinion, location is the most important key.  If you can find the fish, then that is the time to use the many various types of baits to see which work the best when taking into consideration all of the other factors you should have already taken into account.

In your example, throwing a buzzbait could be the best bait for a certain situtation at some point in time.  But even if it the best, there is usually several other baits that will pick up additional fish from a location after the easy bites have been taken care of.

As the teacher, it should be our goal to have a pupil that is well rounded and takes into consideration all aspects of the sport to maximize time on the water.  Forcing the student to work with only a single tool doesn't accomplish that.

[Nice_Bass]

I would say with some baits, you could keep on the deck all day.    A versatile bait as a jig yes- but i already have confidence with that.  The worst thing I see people do, and have done it myself is have too many different baits and switch too often thinking it is the bait...and not where they are fishing.  I tend to think find the fish, catch the fish.- less on style, selection, color and so forth.

[Nice_Bass]

I would say with some baits, you could keep on the deck all day.    A versatile bait as a jig yes- but i already have confidence with that.  The worst thing I see people do, and have done it myself is have too many different baits and switch too often thinking it is the bait...and not where they are fishing.  I tend to think find the fish, catch the fish.- less on style, selection, color and so forth.

[Nice_Bass]

I would say with some baits, you could keep on the deck all day.    A versatile bait as a jig yes- but i already have confidence with that.  The worst thing I see people do, and have done it myself is have too many different baits and switch too often thinking it is the bait...and not where they are fishing.  I tend to think find the fish, catch the fish.- less on style, selection, color and so forth.

[SDoolittle]

Anglers with my years of experience understand there are no new techniques and there are some newly shaped baits of what has already excised. We also understand the wide variety options lay in our ability to find bass under adverse conditions no in new lures or techniques. That's why we have become so laid back in our approach and that is why younger anglers become so hyper chasing after every new lure or techniques.

Learning techniques are the easy part, it so easy my 7 year old grandson has learned them all but flipping/pitching.

I think too many times anglers get hung up on trying to learn ever technique available when it is completely not necessary. On any given day on any given body of water there will be multiple patterns available that produce bass & there will be multiple techniques that will produce bass from those patterns.

[SDoolittle]

Anglers with my years of experience understand there are no new techniques and there are some newly shaped baits of what has already excised. We also understand the wide variety options lay in our ability to find bass under adverse conditions no in new lures or techniques. That's why we have become so laid back in our approach and that is why younger anglers become so hyper chasing after every new lure or techniques.

Learning techniques are the easy part, it so easy my 7 year old grandson has learned them all but flipping/pitching.

I think too many times anglers get hung up on trying to learn ever technique available when it is completely not necessary. On any given day on any given body of water there will be multiple patterns available that produce bass & there will be multiple techniques that will produce bass from those patterns.

[SDoolittle]

Anglers with my years of experience understand there are no new techniques and there are some newly shaped baits of what has already excised. We also understand the wide variety options lay in our ability to find bass under adverse conditions no in new lures or techniques. That's why we have become so laid back in our approach and that is why younger anglers become so hyper chasing after every new lure or techniques.

Learning techniques are the easy part, it so easy my 7 year old grandson has learned them all but flipping/pitching.

I think too many times anglers get hung up on trying to learn ever technique available when it is completely not necessary. On any given day on any given body of water there will be multiple patterns available that produce bass & there will be multiple techniques that will produce bass from those patterns.

[slonezp]

If your intent for the day is to learn a new lure/technique and not to catch 100 fish on senkos, then who cares. Write those off as practice days. If your intent is to catch 100 fish or you're fishing for money, then it's time to break out the tried and true baits. If one has the luxury ;D to own a bass boat you can have a bunch of rods set up with different presentations and if tried and true isn't producing one can change with little effort.(I have an aluminum fishnski and lack that luxury :'() I always try something different on most every outing but I'll fish 1/2 hour here, 1/2 hour there. Many of us, including me, are OBLIVIOUS to the fact that BASS and FLW and all the smaller clubs gain their fan base thru marketing. The "highlights" that are televised are mere moments in KVD's, Skeet's, or Ike's day. Each pro has their own baits/techniques that they use. They are all not using the same lures, rods, reels, etc., but they all catch fish(well most of them). Whose to say one is better than another. It comes down to "What works for me on any particular day at a particular time, under particular conditions.""What do the fish want"

[slonezp]

If your intent for the day is to learn a new lure/technique and not to catch 100 fish on senkos, then who cares. Write those off as practice days. If your intent is to catch 100 fish or you're fishing for money, then it's time to break out the tried and true baits. If one has the luxury ;D to own a bass boat you can have a bunch of rods set up with different presentations and if tried and true isn't producing one can change with little effort.(I have an aluminum fishnski and lack that luxury :'() I always try something different on most every outing but I'll fish 1/2 hour here, 1/2 hour there. Many of us, including me, are OBLIVIOUS to the fact that BASS and FLW and all the smaller clubs gain their fan base thru marketing. The "highlights" that are televised are mere moments in KVD's, Skeet's, or Ike's day. Each pro has their own baits/techniques that they use. They are all not using the same lures, rods, reels, etc., but they all catch fish(well most of them). Whose to say one is better than another. It comes down to "What works for me on any particular day at a particular time, under particular conditions.""What do the fish want"

[slonezp]

If your intent for the day is to learn a new lure/technique and not to catch 100 fish on senkos, then who cares. Write those off as practice days. If your intent is to catch 100 fish or you're fishing for money, then it's time to break out the tried and true baits. If one has the luxury ;D to own a bass boat you can have a bunch of rods set up with different presentations and if tried and true isn't producing one can change with little effort.(I have an aluminum fishnski and lack that luxury :'() I always try something different on most every outing but I'll fish 1/2 hour here, 1/2 hour there. Many of us, including me, are OBLIVIOUS to the fact that BASS and FLW and all the smaller clubs gain their fan base thru marketing. The "highlights" that are televised are mere moments in KVD's, Skeet's, or Ike's day. Each pro has their own baits/techniques that they use. They are all not using the same lures, rods, reels, etc., but they all catch fish(well most of them). Whose to say one is better than another. It comes down to "What works for me on any particular day at a particular time, under particular conditions.""What do the fish want"

[Siebert Outdoors]

How I typically do this is by fishing my proven baits to knock the dust off and develop a pattern. Then from there I will venture out to different colors or techniques. Same thing I do when I test baits or colors.

Why waste your time if the fish are on jigs and your throwing a buzzbait.  Not all lures are going to produce year round.  You need to do the book work on a technique before even trying it IMO.

[Siebert Outdoors]

How I typically do this is by fishing my proven baits to knock the dust off and develop a pattern. Then from there I will venture out to different colors or techniques. Same thing I do when I test baits or colors.

Why waste your time if the fish are on jigs and your throwing a buzzbait.  Not all lures are going to produce year round.  You need to do the book work on a technique before even trying it IMO.

[Siebert Outdoors]

How I typically do this is by fishing my proven baits to knock the dust off and develop a pattern. Then from there I will venture out to different colors or techniques. Same thing I do when I test baits or colors.

Why waste your time if the fish are on jigs and your throwing a buzzbait.  Not all lures are going to produce year round.  You need to do the book work on a technique before even trying it IMO.

[Carrington]

it seems like on the waters i fish that the fish never want a buzzbait when i throw it.

[Carrington]

it seems like on the waters i fish that the fish never want a buzzbait when i throw it.

[Carrington]

it seems like on the waters i fish that the fish never want a buzzbait when i throw it.

[farmpond1]

I think the most effective/efficient way to learn a new technique is to shadow someone who has "mastered" it.  One of my buddies is a terrific soft plastic fisherman (especially creature baits and stick baits) and I've learned a ton from him just in the past season.  The secret, IMHO, is to figure out and use the appropriate technique at it's called for.  One should generally fish to one's strengths but the more strengths we possess, the more successful we will be.

[farmpond1]

I think the most effective/efficient way to learn a new technique is to shadow someone who has "mastered" it.  One of my buddies is a terrific soft plastic fisherman (especially creature baits and stick baits) and I've learned a ton from him just in the past season.  The secret, IMHO, is to figure out and use the appropriate technique at it's called for.  One should generally fish to one's strengths but the more strengths we possess, the more successful we will be.