Conflicting info in the fishing world 2024
12poundbass reply :
I try to soak up as much information as I can regarding bass fishing like most of us do. Looking back at the numerous articles I've read and shows I've watched, I've noticed there tends to be info that contradicts other info. Two examples that quickly comes to mind are match the hatch. We hear it all the time "match the hatch" I've also heard/seen some say they don't pay a whole lot of attention to it as far as color goes. Another is barometric pressure. We've all heard that after a front comes through the bite shuts down for a day or two depending on the front. I specifically remember reading an Infisherman article last year saying that research shows that a large swing in pressure one way or another doesn't effect fish the way most people think that it does. What gives? What your opinion? What are other contradictions you've seen over the years?
Darren. reply :
I learned that sometimes it matters, other times it doesn't.
How's that for a non-committal answer?
I've been out on days the barometric pressure readings
said you won't catch a single bass -- but I slayed them.
And other days when it said I should absolutely haul them
in, I didn't.
Color? I've settled on "natural" colors like blacks, watermelons,
green pumpkins and variants. They've all been great colors
at most times.
As far as "match the hatch" ... well, I guess I don't always
do that extremely well.
Ratherbfishing reply :
My opinion (for what it is worth) is that "match the hatch" is more critical (sometimes) as the water becomes really clear and/or when the bass become particularly selective about what they are feeding on. This seems to be most true when there is a preponderance of a certain food source.
I have not conducted any scientific research but, after a cold front has swept through and there are "bluebird skies", I can almost bank on having a tough day. I've seen it too often to believe otherwise.
riverbasser reply :
Most of the stuff that contradicts are "theories". Much like any other area of life or science. It either can't be or hasn't yet been "proved"
Team9nine reply :
This entire sport (and industry) is one big contradiction ? Anything someone says, someone else somewhere will have an example that they say proves them wrong. As such, I pretty much view fishing as a stack of probabilities. d**n near anything can happen once as there are few absolutes in this game, but certain things happen enough (are more probable) that you can actually base a game plan and decisions around. That's mostly where I like to play the game.
Edit: "Match the hatch" is just a form of Optimal Feeding Theory. There are specific times when it really matters, but a whole lot of times when it doesn't.
-T9
scaleface reply :
I've often heard post spawn is tough fishing . I think its the most predictable time of the year .
Choporoz reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 4:12 AM, 12poundbass said:. I specifically remember reading an Infisherman article last year saying that research shows that a large swing in pressure one way or another doesn't effect fish the way most people think that it does.
What was the rest of the story? I"m not familiar with infisherman. However, explanations I've heard oft repeated support your statement, but don't necessarily imply contradiction. One of the more common explanations is that:
-'bass don't shut down because there's a cold front; they feed less because many of them gorge themselves ahead of the front, and they aren't hungry so much after'
I have no idea how true it is, but it could support both statements: "bass fishing is hard after a cold front" and "bass aren't affected by barometric pressure behind a front"
J Francho reply :
"Match the hatch" is a phrase I truly dislike when referring to bass fishing. I associate the phrase to trout fishing during a major bug hatch. Trout can get crazy selective, and if you can't emulate that hatch, you aren't getting bit. Even then, it rarely occurs, since I generally fish for trout in the winter, and there aren't too many hatches going on. There are times when bass are keyed in on a specific forage, and it isn't wrong to try to emulate that forage. But that forage has rarely just "hatched." A specific situation is when big schools of alewife congregate in spring, and smallies are after them. drop shot Gulp! minnows and smaller, "finesse" sized umbrella rigs are good baits to try. Then again, sometimes you have to play the "opposite game," as mentioned above.
That's just one piece of info where you'll always get conflicting info. It boils down to fishing being part science and part art. The science aspect will only take you so far. Then you'll have to be creative - artistic, if you will. Try things, until you can put together a pattern for success.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 5:42 AM, J Francho said:you'll always get conflicting info. It boils down to fishing being part science and part art. The science aspect will only take you so far. Then you'll have to be creative - artistic, if you will. Try things, until you can put together a pattern for success.
Nicely Put J.
A-Jay
RoLo reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 5:42 AM, J Francho said:"Match the hatch" is a phrase I truly dislike when referring to bass fishing. I associate the phrase to trout fishing during a major bug hatch. Trout can get crazy selective, and if you can't emulate that hatch, you aren't getting bit. Even then, it rarely occurs, since I generally fish for trout in the winter, and there aren't too many hatches going on. There are times when bass are keyed in on a specific forage, and it isn't wrong to try to emulate that forage. But that forage has rarely just "hatched." A specific situation is when big schools of alewife congregate in spring, and smallies are after them. drop shot Gulp! minnows and smaller, "finesse" sized umbrella rigs are good baits to try. Then again, sometimes you have to play the "opposite game," as mentioned above.
That's just one piece of info where you'll always get conflicting info. It boils down to fishing being part science and part art. The science aspect will only take you so far. Then you'll have to be creative - artistic, if you will. Try things, until you can put together a pattern for success.
You took the words right out of my mouth 
Trout have the eyesight of a tuna, and a nymphing trout is looking for nymphs not spent flies.
Every time I hear a basser talking about 'Matching-the-hatch',
I'm secretly thinking Light Cahill & Royal Coachman.
Roger
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 4:12 AM, 12poundbass said:Whats your opinion? What are other contradictions you've seen over the years?
If someone says something about fishing, I can garruntee you that someone, somewhere disagrees with it. There are just so many variables in fishing that make it impossible to measure and account for each one, so many people falsely jump to conclusions on subjects based in their experiences.
TnRiver46 reply :
I agree with everything @J Francho said
12poundbass reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 7:12 AM, IndianaFinesse said:If someone says something about fishing, I can garruntee you that someone, somewhere disagrees with it. There are just so many variables in fishing that make it impossible to measure and account for each one, so many people falsely jump to conclusions on subjects based in their experiences.
Don't get me wrong I don't take what I see or watch as gospel. I merely look at it as try this and see what happens. I just find the contradictions interesting.
slonezp reply :
Every color works as long as it's black or white
flyfisher reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 5:56 AM, RoLo said:
You took the words right out of my mouth
Trout have the eyesight of a tuna, and a nymphing trout is looking for nymphs not spent flies.
Every time I hear a basser talking about 'Matching-the-hatch',
I'm secretly thinking Light Cahill & Royal Coachman.
Roger
What does a Royal coachman match?
WRB reply :
It's called fishing not catching for a reason.
Sometimes match the hatch can mean a lure that resembles the predominate prey the bass are currently eating. Resembles could be size and profile, color, motion or any combination of those. Trout fly fisherman take match the hatch to another level!
To understand barometric pressure influence on fish that live in water that weighs a lot more per bar ( 6' of water) than the changing atmosphic pressure in millibars, study the terrestrial aminals the bass prey on. Low astmosphic pressure or falling barometer activates tresetrial critters, the bass near the surface take advantage of the feeding opportunity. Raising barometer or high pressure tends to increase light, increase wind and decrease terrestrial critter activity, the bass that have feed during the low pressure event are inactive. Deeper bass are less affectived by barometric pressure changes.
The other side of the coin, visiting the Monterey aquarium several years ago I noticed the calico bass were "sleeping" in the kelp that grew from the bottom to the surface, about 40'. Inquiring with the aquarium personnel asked why are all the calico bass inactive while other species are swimming around looking more active? The answer was calico bass are affected by the high pressure system overhead now. Aquarium fish get feed on a regular cycle, so they were not inactive from feeding and the bass were located near the surface all the to near the bottom. Who knows!
Tom
soflabasser reply :
Nothing compares to putting in your time on the water, plain and simple. Reading information about bass fishing, seeing bass fishing videos, etc may help but these sources are a supplemental form of bass fishing knowledge at best. People who make a living in the bass fishing industry will always hype the products of whatever company sponsers them,its their best interest to do this. With that said, its best to put in your time in the water and with time anyone who is truely dedicated in bass fishing will be very successful in bass fishing.
RoLo reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 7:33 AM, flyfisher said:What does a Royal coachman match?
Supposedly a bicolor drake (type of mayfly)
flyfisher reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 8:23 AM, RoLo said:
Supposedly a bicolor drake (type of mayfly)
i always thought of those as attractor patterns myself that didn't match anything. I was always more of a Royal Wulff guy anyways .
RoLo reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 8:26 AM, flyfisher said:i always thought of those as attractor patterns myself that didn't match anything. I was always more of a Royal Wulff guy anyways .
I agree, Lee Wulff's version is more realistic.
The Royal Coachman's greatest claim to fame was being first.
fissure_man reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 5:42 AM, J Francho said:"Match the hatch" is a phrase I truly dislike when referring to bass fishing.
I like “match the hatch,” but maybe these alternatives could work:
“simulate the bait?”
“plagiarize the alewives?”
“trace the dace?”
“portray the cray?”
As far as strange idioms go, at least “match the hatch” comes from the realm of fishing. I’d say we should just “bite the bullet” and accept it, since I don’t think the phrase is going anywhere and “there’s no use crying over spilled milk.” 
To the OP, the topic of lure color is “a hot potato” around here, and debates can spiral out of control “at the drop of a hat.” Perhaps it’s best to “let sleeping dogs lie.”
Contradictory angler theories about bass behavior are “a dime a dozen,” and should always be “taken with a pinch of salt.” The problem is that it’s so easy to “bark up the wrong tree” when we know so little about what we’re theorizing around. Until we get some answers “straight from the horse’s mouth,” I don’t know if the “cat” will ever fully “come out of the bag.”
Luckily, bass aren’t “the sharpest tools in the shed”, and on most days it seems like there are plenty of different ways to “put the puzzle together.”
.ghoti. reply :
Bravo, fissure_man, Bravo.
Fishin' Pilot reply :
I'm in the middle of reading KVD's book right now, and throughout the whole thing he says to not fall into the trap of taking too much stock in the tribal knowledge (for lack of a better term). He says that although some conditions can influence the fish, they can still be caught, and it deals more with angler attitude/mind set vs the conditions. He mentioned that as a pro angler, their schedule is set, and they can't choose what the weather will be when they have to fish, yet they still go out and find 'em. If anyone knows, he would.
Bucky205 reply :
I believe in paying attention to the pressure. I'm not really sure when Brush Hogs hatch.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Turns out, bass can't read the rules we're writing for them.
I think of the rules more as guidelines or starting points. It's up to me to figure out the rest of the puzzle.
What I believe when I started fishing, as I progressed, and even what I believed last year contradicts with some of what I believe now. Part of the contradiction in fishing has to do with the fact that so much of what we "know", is really just opinion.
Catt reply :
Hatch: to emerge from an egg, chrysalis, or pupa
Your lure would be less than an inch in length.
Barometric pressure is just one part of an complex equation!
How long does it take for a barometric change to effect bass at 5' deep, 10' deep, 15' deep, or 20' deep?
I'm quite sure it's not Instantaneously 
the reel ess reply :
There are many, many variables that come into play. Barometric pressure might suck, but there might be bait in an area that causes fish to turn on no matter what their mood might be.
As Bill Dance says, the best time to go fishing is when you can. You learn more when you have to figure something out than you do when they're just jumping into the boat.
Raul reply :
I'm super careful about matching baits, my spinnerbait has to realistically match in every single detail a spinnerbait, my cranks mimic cranks and so on.
Barometric pressure ? If it's very low it might rain so I carry my raingear, if it's very high the it's most probably going to be very sunny, I worry about carrying enough sun protection, catch fish not skin cancer.
"hamma" reply :
I believe both situations the op is asking about is relative in terms.
Match the hatch?in bass fishing? what is the previlant forage and what size are they now, as well as whats the water clarity/color.
Barometer changes? consider whats been going on with the barometer for the past few weeks, and that will give you a better understanding as to what its effects are today.
Then yet, nothing in fishing is written in stone other than,..."try your luck"
funfishing you can choose your times and places, so fish when you can
tournies? your not afforded those things,.. so your fishing that day, those hours,.. whether you like it or not, so if you plan on cashing a check? you best find the best fish, and actually fish them into your livewell
Mosster47 reply :
Oh boy, the color and weather rabbit hole.
If the fish have been taking advantage of a specific bait for a period of time then matching the hatch will catch you a ton of fish very easily. Examples would be crawfish coming out of their burrows as winter is ending, the pan fish spawn, bass fry hatch, minnow schooling in the summer, trout planting, etc. That's an easy guaranteed meal for a bass and if you match what they are keying on during that period and make it look even easier you're going to catch a lot of fish. Knowing when those events are happening and what the bait looks like is experienced mixed with time on the water.
On the flip side I think color means very little in situations like summer when you're grinding a 10XD through a school of fish, flipping or punching, top water, drop shotting through grass, topping grass with a lipless, etc. Reaction is reaction. If someone throws something at you then you will try to catch or repel it regardless of what color it is.
Weather has a definite effect on the masses, meaning the normal 2lb and under fish get less active. True predator fish 4lb and above fit into the "Where does a 500lb gorilla sleep?" category.
J Francho reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 9:26 AM, fissure_man said:I like “match the hatch,” but maybe these alternatives could work:
“simulate the bait?”
“plagiarize the alewives?”
“trace the dace?”
“portray the cray?”
Those are great! 
lo n slo reply :
"gnarffle the garthax" is a favorite of mine
Mosster47 reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 10:29 PM, lo n slo said:"gnarffle the garthax" is a favorite of mine
What's a Garthax?
I don't know. We used to have really bad seats. These, are great seats!
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 9:26 AM, fissure_man said:
I like “match the hatch,” but maybe these alternatives could work:
“simulate the bait?”
“plagiarize the alewives?”
“trace the dace?”
“portray the cray?”
As far as strange idioms go, at least “match the hatch” comes from the realm of fishing. I’d say we should just “bite the bullet” and accept it, since I don’t think the phrase is going anywhere and “there’s no use crying over spilled milk.”
To the OP, the topic of lure color is “a hot potato” around here, and debates can spiral out of control “at the drop of a hat.” Perhaps it’s best to “let sleeping dogs lie.”
Contradictory angler theories about bass behavior are “a dime a dozen,” and should always be “taken with a pinch of salt.” The problem is that it’s so easy to “bark up the wrong tree” when we know so little about what we’re theorizing around. Until we get some answers “straight from the horse’s mouth,” I don’t know if the “cat” will ever fully “come out of the bag.”
Luckily, bass aren’t “the sharpest tools in the shed”, and on most days it seems like there are plenty of different ways to “put the puzzle together.”
That's hilarious.
jimf reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 5:42 AM, J Francho said:"Match the hatch" is a phrase I truly dislike when referring to bass fishing. I associate the phrase to trout fishing during a major bug hatch. Trout can get crazy selective, and if you can't emulate that hatch, you aren't getting bit.
Agree with the phrase as it is used to bass fishing. I've spent *alot* of time poking around small spring creeks trout fishing, and "Match the hatch" is a phrase that makes total sense when you see clouds of mayflies being gobbled up on the surface by trout. The phrase doesn't connect with me bass fishing.
I do agree that trout can get crazy selective, but I observed that color has very little if anything to do with the bite. 1)Presentation, 2)size, and 3) shape in that order were what I considered important. I think the same thing is true with bass fishing, and I follow these simple guidelines when trying to figure out the bite. I focus heavily on presentation - location in the water column, quiet entry, right action etc... Color is very simple for me, and I don't fret over it much.
J Francho reply :
On 2/9/2017 at 5:49 AM, jimf said:1)Presentation, 2)size, and 3) shape in that order were what I considered important.
Yep. Another word we use in bass fishing for #3 is "profile," which I think gets over looked.
jboutfishn reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 7:33 AM, flyfisher said:What does a Royal coachman match?
Nothing, it is a stimulator.
everythingthatswims reply :
Most people say March and April are the best big bass months. I catch my biggest fish between May and August.
The High School National Championship on Kentucky Lake was won by two kids from Colorado throwing floating jerkbaits on spinning rods with braid to 20lb mono leaders, they were catching huge smallmouth in less than 5 feet of 85-90 degree water.
I came within 12 ounces of them throwing a spinnerbait in the same areas catching largemouth. Most of my fish were in 3' and I never caught one deeper than 7'.
"Ledge fishing capitol of the country!"
Yeajray231 reply :
Lol right. Mine come in June... Mid day... When "it's too hot to fish"
kadas reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 4:19 AM, Darren. said:I learned that sometimes it matters, other times it doesn't.
How's that for a non-committal answer?
I've been out on days the barometric pressure readings
said you won't catch a single bass -- but I slayed them.
And other days when it said I should absolutely haul them
in, I didn't.
Color? I've settled on "natural" colors like blacks, watermelons,
green pumpkins and variants. They've all been great colors
at most times.
As far as "match the hatch" ... well, I guess I don't always
do that extremely well.
I am in total agreement with Darren. I think it is good to pay some attention to these things but I generally just go fishing whenever I can no matter the barometric pressure and I generally use darker hues because of my water clarity. Sometimes all the info can be fine but sometimes you need to just go fishing and make adjustments according to what the bass tell you
clh121787 reply :
Match the hatch with a Chartrues black and yellow h&h spinner bait. Gets email everyou time
Dinky reply :
I can certainly identify with Dink's complaint because I used to get very frustrated reading all those experts' tips and advice.
After a while I was very confused.
Then when the Elite's first announced the use of Marshals instead of co-anglers I signed up and have Marshaled at probably 25 Elite Tournaments, including three Classics. I also have fished as a co- angler in Southern, Central and Northern Opens. Since a win in one of those by an Elite gets him an automatic berth into the Classic, many of them sign up for the Opens. As a result I have actually fished with about half a dozen if them.
The pont is that I am no longer confused by these so called "contradictions", because they actually aren't contradictions at all.
They are more like "adjustments" or tweaks sometimes that may - or may not prove successful at a specific point in time and place.
Example. Elite Tournament on Lake Oneida. Marshal for Randy Howell.
During practice Randy has discovered smallies staged on the edges of a deep submerged stream/river with a current. Seems no one else had found it during practice because we were alone the entire day.
After several hits on a swim bait and a few misses, Randy had two in the live well. The third fish spit up a good sized baitfish on the deck and Randy noted it varied in size and color a little from his lure.
He changed lures to match the hatch and culled the rest of the day.
Example. I've read and heard 'experts' say that you should chose a particular lure or technique and stick with it all day. Be patient. As long as you have correctly read where the fish are in their cycle you will succeed.
But I cannot tell you how many times I've Marshaled for an Elite who had 12 rigs on deck and pulled out four more during the day.
Sometimes these guys did poorly. But more often than not they ended up with a good weight, not only for the day, but for the tournament.
Ive also actually fished with an Elite, Chris Lane, in a Southern Open, who fished with one single bait the entire day. Don't even ask if he was successful.
None of the successful pros can afford to be one dimensional. They all have to be able to do whatever it takes to catch fish.
Everthing you read or hear can be helpful at some point.
The trick is to know when to use it.
That takes practice. And that is work. Hard work.
Dinky
roadwarrior reply :
GREAT post!
Yeajray231 reply :
I'm the only one who wonders how Chris lane did
jimf reply :
I think you hit the nail on the head Dinky - adjust. I was watching a tourney show a couple of weeks ago, cold front, bright blue skies, early season ... one guy just refused to change his pattern of fishing deep on the main lake points. He kept with his convictions that this was the right pattern, and I'm guessing usually it probably is. His convictions didn't put fish in the boat, and a guy that went back into the coves and fished 2-3' of water all day just tore it up. I think you have to let all of these variables guide you, but be willing to adjust through the day - including throwing the entire chunk of advice out the window at times.
Moon phases ... there is another one.
edit to say that even though I say this, I'm stubborn as a mule. Which might be why the pros are pros and I'm not.
scaleface reply :
Bill Dance always says to use the lightest weight you con getaway with on a Texas rig .Larry Nixon states a heavy weight with a faster drop triggers more strikes most days . Both are legendary worm fishermen .
RoLo reply :
On 2/8/2017 at 11:41 AM, Bucky205 said:I'm not really sure when Brush Hogs hatch.
The Brush Hog hatch follows on the heels of the Structure Bug hatch.
Bucky205 reply :
On 2/12/2017 at 2:00 AM, scaleface said:Bill Dance always says to use the lightest weight you con getaway with on a Texas rig .Larry Nixon states a heavy weight with a faster drop triggers more strikes most days . Both are legendary worm fishermen .
A lot of times I will throw a Senko, or Zoom trick wacky rigged with no weight and just let it fall. It can be useful determining how deep the fish are holding. People say they they fall at about 1' second. IMO.. it is closer to 2' second.
RoLo reply :
On 2/11/2017 at 11:01 PM, Yeajray231 said:I'm the only one who wonders how Chris lane did
Nope
TOXIC reply :
Let me give you my attitude as a guide. I looked at every day I put my boat in the water as a 500 piece puzzle. I was paid to put clients on fish.......every time I launched the boat. The more pieces of that puzzle I could put together, the better chances I had for a successful outing. I'll admit some days the fish win. I took in to account everything that has been said plus a lot more.
Dinky reply :
Chris Lane weighed in 5 fish, including one very nice spotted bass. All using the same lure.
On 2/8/2017 at 4:43 AM, scaleface said:I've often heard post spawn is tough fishing . I think its the most predictable time of the year .
Actually I view post spawn as one of the most predictable also. But not necessarily the easiest time to catch a lot if quality fish easily.
Dinky reply :
On 2/12/2017 at 6:27 AM, TOXIC said:Let me give you my attitude as a guide. I looked at every day I put my boat in the water as a 500 piece puzzle. I was paid to put clients on fish.......every time I launched the boat. The more pieces of that puzzle I could put together, the better chances I had for a successful outing. I'll admit some days the fish win. I took in to account everything that has been said plus a lot more.
As a guide you have the most difficult task of all actually. You don't have the luxury of gathering information and then going out to fish a tournament with only your self to satisfy. You have clients every day who are expecting you to put them on fish, no matter what the situation.
That is a combination of multitasking, constant adjustments and pressure all at one time.
Hard work for sure.
TOXIC reply :
Add to that the majority of my clients were tournament fishermen getting a leg up on an upcoming tournament. For other clients factor in the fact that even if I took them to the fish, they still have to catch them. Many times I picked up a rod and caught a fish just to prove they were there. Or how about the client that wants a trophy fish? They don't hang with the schoolies and your odds go down dramatically. I had to instantly evaluate the skill level of my clients and what they wanted to accomplish........more pieces to the puzzle. I took my job seriously and was usually both mentally and physically exhausted after a trip. But the joy of watching someone catch their first bass, or biggest bass, or most bass, was well worth the effort.
UPSmallie reply :
In fishing, yes, falling barometric pressure and 'matching the hatch' are good things. If fishing for bass specifically, I don't think either of those variables has much significance on catching them compared to other gamefish species. I'm sure you can break it down into specific details, but if you're fishing for bass I don't think you have to worry about those things as much as you would normally.
hoosierbass07 reply :
I've noticed a lot of contradictory information since I started fishing five or six years ago. I'm at the point now to simply ignore most of it and base things on my own fishing experience but still keep ideas from others in the back of my head.
scaleface reply :
On 2/12/2017 at 6:38 AM, Dinky said:Chris Lane weighed in 5 fish, including one very nice spotted bass. All using the same lure.
Actually I view post spawn as one of the most predictable also. But not necessarily the easiest time to catch a lot if quality fish easily.
Its been the best time for me to catch a big stringer .
TOXIC reply :
Let's not forget, a bass has a brain the size of a pea. They are a 99% instinctual creature. We tend to give them more credit than they deserve. I tend to put more weight on the things that trigger instinctive behavior. Bass slurp a lure for 3 reasons 1. They are hungry. 2. They are annoyed (protecting a bed or fry, etc.). 3. They have a reaction strike. I try to define what bite they are on and match my presentation to that.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/13/2017 at 10:30 PM, TOXIC said:Let's not forget, a bass has a brain the size of a pea. They are a 99% instinctual creature. We tend to give them more credit than they deserve. I tend to put more weight on the things that trigger instinctive behavior. Bass slurp a lure for 3 reasons 1. They are hungry. 2. They are annoyed (protecting a bed or fry, etc.). 3. They have a reaction strike. I try to define what bite they are on and match my presentation to that.
I can relate to most all of this and although my own personal grey matter may have greater mass, I might not be using as much of it as I would like.
Sort of evens the playing field if you know what I mean.
A-Jay
Oklahoma Mike reply :
On 2/13/2017 at 1:59 PM, hoosierbass07 said:I've noticed a lot of contradictory information since I started fishing five or six years ago. I'm at the point now to simply ignore most of it and base things on my own fishing experience but still keep ideas from others in the back of my head.
Very good line of thinking there. Things that may work for one angler, in one body of water, under a variety of conditions, may not work for another angler, in another body of water, under a different variety of conditions. The same can be said by changing any single component in that list.
While it can certainly be helpful to study and learn from the successes and experiences of others, you really have to apply those lessons and learn from them yourself through personal experience to really begin to understand why certain things work, and when and under what circumstances, and with what types of adjustments, etc.
It really is a sport of trial and error and learning the little nuances through countless hours on the water, and there is is never an end to that - there is always more to learn through experience. If it were simply a matter of taking and applying the things that made another angler successful, we would all be tied for first place in the Bassmaster Elite every year.
Dinky reply :
I'm not sure why BR turned these pics sideways.
But here are two of Chris' five.
sully420 reply :
All I can add is don't worry about things you can't control like weather as long as it's safe, if you have the time to fish go fish and start working on the puzzle that is bass fishing. We give bass too much credit sometimes, it's just a fish with a big mouth and big appetite that works on instinct.
stratosjoe reply :
I have learned that if you don't go you won't catchem....
BassWhole! reply :
On 2/13/2017 at 10:30 PM, TOXIC said:Let's not forget, a bass has a brain the size of a pea. They are a 99% instinctual creature. We tend to give them more credit than they deserve. I tend to put more weight on the things that trigger instinctive behavior. Bass slurp a lure for 3 reasons 1. They are hungry. 2. They are annoyed (protecting a bed or fry, etc.). 3. They have a reaction strike. I try to define what bite they are on and match my presentation to that.
Toxic in 2020!
david in va reply :
Well, it is like this. When I go fishing I always take a can of worms, just in case they aint biting, I always get bites on worms
paul. reply :
let the rest of the fishing world debate. I'll just re-bait.
seriously though. that's really what it's all about for me, feedback gleaned from the experience at hand. and when all else fails, i just try to put the rod down and be still and quiet for several minutes. once i'm no longer distracted, i try pay attention to what is (or isn't) going on around me and soak up any clues.
every trip is a completely new experience. sometimes you can't formulate a solid gameplan based on what you did yesterday fishing the same lake, let alone what someone else did a month ago on a completely different type of lake.
to me, the only ones that have any say in where, when, and how i fish are the fish themselves.
RoLo reply :
I get a kick out of that empty old saw: "Let the fish tell you what they want".
Quite naturally, if you're getting feedback from the fish you don't need anyone's help.
On the other hand, when you cannot buy a bite, the fish are telling you NOTHING!
Roger
WTnPuddleJumper reply :
I understand the match the hatch to a degree. But I could see where some fish would see that the hatch would be the perfect size meal. Where some of the other fish would rather dine on the hatches momma!!!! A old man I know said it best " Shut up and Fish"
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