Do we Make Fishing Too Complicated? 2024
fishfordollars reply :
Saw this elsewhere and decided to throw it out here and see what kind of response I got.
I have plastics, jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits in every size and color combination. Yet when I go to the lake I find myself tying on the same lures.
When you go do you take it all with you? I have the fear of being at the lake and the combination that is hot happens to be at home in the garage.
I probably could get additional bow lift if I would just clean house.
Jack
little_stephen reply :
im worse. i fish from shore. so carry it all. i had this big tackle bag with tons of stuff. and a back ache each time i went fishing.
i found myself using certian lures non-stop. infact. theyre the ones i tie on before i leave. so i limited myself to a backpack with 2 large planos in it. and about 6 small ones for hooks, hardware, tackle, ect.
now i never take it all with me. i just decide how i want to fish that day. and set my mind to the idea that im going to find a productive pattern with what i have.
its helped me grow as a fishermen! instead of second guessing a bait after 6-7 casts, i work it in diff ways and take my time. In most peoples case, that means less time looking at the boats floor while u re-tie and more time learning by casting and trying....... maybe u should all take a lesson from us shore anglers. lol ;D
fourbizz reply :
I typically take very little with me to the lake.
Pitchinkid reply :
Thats why god made boats. Tackle boxes that float.
Mr Jenkins reply :
did ya ever find ya one pitchinkid?
mjhutch1116 reply :
I generally take everything with me when I go out. Except when I fish with my partner in his boat. His boat is smaller than mine and I just can not fit all of my stuff into his boat and still have room to move around. So when I fish out of his boat I have to limit myself to 1 bag with 5 or 6 boxes of tackle in it, and my soft plastic bag. 1 of those boxes has my terminal tackle in it. Every time we go out I am scared to death that what I need will be sitting in my boat at home. So to get to the point, I think maybe some of us do make things to complicated. I have decided that this year I am going to try not to carry everything all the time. If I can limit myself to what I am carrying in the boat I can learn to be a much better fisherman.
Matt
Wesley reply :
Quotedid ya ever find ya one pitchinkid?
Nice profile picture there, play a little WoW??
slonezp reply :
Yes yes yes yes
Paul Roberts reply :
Probably a lot of us do. I really enjoy trying new techniques though, so I like a certain degree of complexity -more than most likely lol. There are certain water types, and times, that call for different things. I like to be able to cover many bases. The more waters I fish, the larger my box could be. There is definitely a difference between versatility and obsession though. Where that line is drawn depends both on the angler and the diversity of waters they fish.
That's my shot at this very good question.
zach t reply :
If you mean, in the hunter-gatherer sense of the word? Yes.
If you mean in the context of sportsmanship? Of course not.
Of course, I am not talking about the same context that you are. I believe I make it alot more complicated. I typically spend a good bit of time figuring out what I am going to throw and where the day before. If I don't catch something quickly, I begine swapping lures.
You have to find what works, of course, but if you fan cast 12 different lures, you very rarely will get lucky enough to get a pattern.
D4u2s0t reply :
I keep a very limited tackle box, but better believe that everything in it is killer. I don't fall to the baitmonkey, and if I'm using baits that just work, why buy something other than more of that bait? That's always been my philosophy. Not unusual for me to go out, get laughed at by the guys with 100million baits, and then outfish them, only for them to ask for what i'm using lol.
I don't base my color selection, bait choice, fishing location, etc. on anything other than what the fish are telling me, and my past experiences. Keep it reel simple, and have fun. If something works, i keep it. If i don't catch fish with a particular bait, it doesn't go in the box.
WoolleyBass reply :
Yea i always bring way to much stuff. I got spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, crankbaits, soft plastics, hooks and much more that i allways bring. I guess this way im just allways ready for anything.
Roby
JigMe reply :
Each time I go out, and I will pack one type of lures. Spinner baits, top waters, worms, whatever...and I will just use the same type of lure all day. Next week, I will bring something else to the lake. So my lures are not just sitting in the tackle box, I am sure that's probably not a good way to fish but hey I just like to go out and fish. ;D
jake reply :
Yes we do make it complicated. I have a 60lb tackle bag to prove it ;D
Hammer 4 reply :
I try Not to make it compicated, sometimes I just Fail..lol
I also shore fish alot, my backpack while a fullsized one limits the number of stuff I can carry. So I take the basics..4 types of plastics, cranks, lipless & lipped. Usually 4 spinnerbaits, 4 chatterbaits, 4 jerkbaits.
3 or 4 jigs, trailers..and 4 to 6 swimbaits, plus my hooks, weights ect. Even though I mainly fish city park type lakes/ponds that are at most 10' deep, I still work parts of the water colume, starting from top to bottom.
In the end, the fish usually hit the same things, i.e.plastic worms. craws, ect, spinnerbaits and swimbaits, IF they are biteing..lol
Things are Much different nowdays compared to 25 yrs ago..the funny thing is..we still caught fish back then. Sometimes I think we need to avoid alot of the lures out there that are meant to catch us, rather than fish.
I try to keep fishing Fun, and not try to over think it. 
salmicropterus reply :
QuoteProbably a lot of us do. I really enjoy trying new techniques though, so I like a certain degree of complexity -more than most likely lol. There are certain water types, and times, that call for different things. I like to be able to cover many bases. The more waters I fish, the larger my box could be. There is definitely a difference between versatility and obsession though. Where that line is drawn depends both on the angler and the diversity of waters they fish.That's my shot at this very good question.
And that is a very good answer to a very good question. You said what I would have wanted to say but better. I love this sport because I like its complexity but sometimes (a lot) I over-think things. I do better when I just fish!
bilgerat reply :
When I'm on the jon boat (no electronics) I have my soft sided bag that holds four 3600 series plano boxes. That's it. My baits cover top, mid and bottom. I carry three rigs max.
When I'm on the bank I have a vest and a little pocket plano box. Occasionally I carry a backpack. I never bank fish with more than one rig.
I've been through that phase of trying everything that comes along. I stick with what works for me. There really isn't anything new anyhow, it just gets repackaged every few years and touted as new.
Buckeye1955 reply :
I came to that same conclusion over last winter. I really paired things down this last season. I pack a couple of my best cranks, spinners, some senkos, a frog or two and I'm good. I leave everything else at home. I found I enjoy my time on the water alot more when I'm not constantly 2nd guessing myself and swapping baits every 15 minutes. And I'm also catching more fish!
Mr Jenkins reply :
QuoteQuotedid ya ever find ya one pitchinkid?Nice profile picture there, play a little WoW??
Yea I do gotta have something to do till season turns lol.
Catt reply :
I'm more concerned with where-n- when than I am with what so I carry only 5 rod-n-reels and this simple "Attack Bag".
Matt Kremers reply :
It is a very good question. When I started fishing, it was more about being outside and enjoying the lake (and often a frosty beverage). I had one combo, and would always fish the same two lures (firetiger popper and black jitterbug). If I caught a nice smallie, awesome! If not, I got to see a beautiful sunset and relax on the water. Then my friend got me into tournament fishing, and the engineer in me has coming out. I analyze every little aspect of fishing to the point where it can become stressful when I can't catch em!
Fishing has become extremely complicated. But I do not believe this is a bad thing. If there were only 2 lures to pick from with one type of line, what fun would that be? It seems like a lot of what keeps us coming back for more is a new technique or modification that just might catch more big fish. It makes us continuously try harder to find one small change that can make us better than the other guy. It really engages the mind too, which keeps it from turning into mush as soon as you retire. When it does work, it makes you feel like your knowledge is the reason for success rather than just luck.
RoLo reply :
QuoteDo we Make Fishing Too Complicated?
Of course we do, then we spend the last half of our lives trying to simplify the game
Roger
bassfisherjk reply :
Yes I think we do, but that makes it more interesting.
J Francho reply :
When fishing gets tough, I get complicated, LOL.
flippin and pitchin reply :
That was the one thing I mentioned to my fishin buddies this past week. I have allowed myself to become cluttered, both in the boat and in my thoughts. I want to be versatile and proficient in as many techniques as reasonable but the lure selection issue has become out of control. I could rid myself of at least 1/2 of my crankbaits, jigs and plastics and be fine. I will admit the reason I have every color Bandit 100 series is that I want to see if it works better than the four colors that have caught em' already. I am committed to approaching this year different and fish what I have BETTER. Awesome thoughts everyone !
Catt reply :
People often respond to failure and frustration by over-complicating theory and technique. As much as it helps our egos to regard a difficult task as complex, this type of thinking is often the biggest obstacle between you and your fishing success.
The more one tries the more one over analyzes a situation the more complex it becomes the more mistakes will be made.
It takes a rare breed of fisherman using simple techniques to perfection to consistently catch bass
roadwarrior reply :
The "right" lure and the "right" color may produce
more or better bass, but if you are able to find
them, almost anything will trick a few if you can
put it in their face!
I would bet most guys could fish a dozen lures
or less and do just as well as they do with a
thousand. When I buy a lure I usually test it
in my pool. Otherwise, the vast majority will
never be used. Still, I picked up a couple more
last weekend and will probably continue to add
to the collection. Crazy, huh?
8-)
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteWhen fishing gets tough, I get complicated, LOL.
Or vice versa.
It seems we are relating the amount or variation of gear we bring as making it complicated.
Think about this. How many ways are there to present any given bait? Fast, slow, pause and jerk, dredging the bottom, mid-water, top water.
Granted, not all baits can be fished as listed above, but some can. For example, I can fish a Rage Tail Craw or Space Monkey as any of the above.
The beauty of fishing is that it is a complex sport with an infinite number of permutations as to how it can be pursued.
Sir Snookalot, sometimes goes to the beach with one lure, and a backup in case it parts off.
I'd feel naked. But I have skinnied down what I bring, though most of you would go into hysterics at what I call "skinnied down".
Most days, I could make do with a half dozen different baits. But I'm not at ease unless I have the "just in case" other baits along.
They are like a security blanket. I'm not so insecure that I cannot admit it.
-HAWK- reply :
I definitely think we make fishing to complicated.Many people put more time into finding the right BAIT, as opposed to finding the BASS.
Grey Wolf reply :
I keep it simple , not smart enough to do anything else.
angler1 reply :
I think we, or I make things harder than they have to be. I use to bring all my gear with me, and I fish most often from the shore unless fishing a tourney. It was a pain in the neck, back, and everything else. I had sooooo much stuff I never used but lugged around "just in case". Over the winter I solved that problem and the insecurity became a stregnth. I sold nearly all my tackle and started over. I accumulated so much stuff from when I first learned fish. It was overwhelming to make discissions. I now have a much smaller more manageable bag with my "go to lures" and the specific techniques I fish. I think it is actually going to make fishing more enjoyable for me this year. My new philosiphy is keep it simple.
WRB reply :
KISS; keeping it simple takes a lot of skill and time on the water to be consistently successful.
Knowing exactly what lures you know will catch the bass you are targeting requires knowledge of what the bass are feeding on and where they are located.
A good friend* of mine fishes with a small tackle bag and the minimum of outfits, he owns a garage full of tackle and dozens of rods and reels. *Don Iovino, hall fame pro bass fisherman.
Don almost always is fishing something new he has developed, a specialized presentation for a specific lake and seasonal period. The fact he only needs a small bag of what he knows is working is a tribute to his dedication to tinker with new techniques until he discovers what the bass want at a certain lake. Don fishes dozens of lakes and sets up a minimum of tackle for each lake and focuses on specific presentations.
I only fish a few lakes and tend to start with the lures and locations I have the most confidence with and try a few new lures and presentations during the outing to keep up to date.
I may only use a small bag of lures and a few outfits, but my boat is fully stocked with more tackle then I could ever use. I'm comfortable taking most of what I own on the water when fishing in my boat and taking a small bag and about 4 outfits when fishing with someone else, especially if it's Don and he knows what the bass are doing.
WRB
Paul Roberts reply :
Quote
QuoteDo we Make Fishing Too Complicated?Of course we do, then we spend the last half of our lives trying to simplify the game
Roger
;D ;D
QuoteI'm more concerned with where-n- when than I am with what so I carry only 5 rod-n-reels and this simple "Attack Bag".
There's LOTS in that statement. 
We do have to concerned with what, BUT after the where and when. Chasing the bait monkey (he doesn't chase us), and switching lures every few minutes, is not the answer.
Think where, when, (this is also called "timing") and then for the what, think method (terminal rigging) first, then choose a bait. Fine tune if the fish give you the chance.
Purpleworm82 reply :
Ha, seeing as this thread already has 3 pages of responses, I would have to say the answer to this question is "Yes."
SirSnookalot reply :
QuoteDo we Make Fishing Too Complicated?
Not me.........
Freshwater 1 rod and lure, 2-3 lures in my pocket
Saltwater 1 rod, xrap, spoon, top lure, jig in my pocket.
I never go blank.
Back up rod in car in case of mechanical failure.
.ghoti. reply :
I've been on a mission for three years to cut down and simplify. Been trying to trim down the number of roods and reels I carry. And, the amount of tackle I carry. And, to simplify bait types and color selection.
At this point in time, the mission is an abject and utter failure.
But, it's part of the fun.
grimlin reply :
Yup,I know i do.....
However learning from Catt,I'm doing the same thing...I got an Ax deodorant bag for Christmas that is getting used as my tackle bag....very small and handy.Going to find a decent pair of pliers/scissor combo this weekend and I'm set.
I'm keeping my big bag in the car though "just in case". ;D
Raul reply :
Do we Make Fishing Too Complicated?
Yup, most people make fishing too complicated.
J Francho reply :
Why is the quantity of gear always linked to complicated fishing?
Just because you have ten rods and reels, and 30 lbs. of tackle for a simple bass trip doesn't necessarily mean you are complicating. Bass fishing...spinnerbaits, worms, jigs, cranks, and topwater.
Yeah, there are various terminal rigs, and sizes and styles, but its all basically the same thing.
WRB reply :
QuoteWhy is the quantity of gear always linked to complicated fishing?Just because you have ten rods and reels, and 30 lbs. of tackle for a simple bass trip doesn't necessarily mean you are complicating. Bass fishing...spinnerbaits, worms, jigs, cranks, and topwater.
Yeah, there are various terminal rigs, and sizes and styles, but its all basically the same thing.
What happened to...spoons, creatures, jerk baits, tial spinners, in-line spinners, swimbaits and (livebait).....just pulling your chain!
WRB
senile1 reply :
QuoteWhy is the quantity of gear always linked to complicated fishing?
I definitely make it more complicated at times but I have a group of lures, among many, that I know work and cover all the situations I will experience. Rather than making the lure decision more complex, I try to concentrate on the complexities of choosing the right time to fish a particular location. Sometimes that can seem complex while at other times it can seem simple. If you have found a location containing bass and you aren't getting bit no matter what you try, it could be as simple as the fish aren't biting at this particular time.
RoLo reply :
QuoteJust because you have ten rods and reels, and 30 lbs. of tackle for a simple bass trip doesn't necessarily mean you are complicating.
Well...it does in my case, because I like casting all ten rods at once
J Francho reply :
QuoteWhat happened to...spoons, creatures, jerk baits, tial spinners, in-line spinners, swimbaits and (livebait).....just pulling your chain!
WRB
LOL, but pulling my chain makes me go blah-blah-blah...
"Someone's poisoned the water hole!" -Woody
There are eception baits, for sure. I'd lump inlines, tailspinners, spoons, and even soft paddletails in with spinnerbaits. Buddies, Hopkin's, and other vertical spoons are unique, as are truly big swimbaits. Creatures and grubs are worms. Live bait....eh, I don't do this enough to say.
I will say that I don't think in terms of trying "Texas rigged creatures" or worms, or a crankbait or whatever, just to see if that's what the fish are biting today. I look at it from a cover standpoint. T-rigs work well in certain cover, pegged T-rigs in others, C-rig in yet others, and drop shot in others. Each brings its characteristic action to the table, but more often seems to solve an actual fishing problem.
Presentation. Contact. Depth. Location. Timing.
These are the complicated parts, not the tackle.
You come up to a situation where there are fish under docks. I bet this situation alone eliminates 3/4 of your tackle. Find fish in deep, rocky structure, and another chunk of your tackle box isn't necessary. Bass are feeding shallow, in heavy weeds, and a good portion of your gear need not apply.
And then there the days where its 11 AM in a tournament, and you are stuck with just a few dinks in the well, and just start rotating between moving baits. Tough to junk fish with just two rigs.
fishfordollars reply :
I promised my wife just yesterday I was going to lean down. What did I do? Bought the two 7:1.1 reels cart7t posted up this morning.
Just could not pass it up. LOL.
Jack
WRB reply :
It was said earlier that fishing is simple when they are biting and complicated when they are not and I agree with that statement.
My problem is trying to forget what I know the bass should be doing and just go fishing.
Should I try a spider jig, a football head, living rubber skirt, buck tail hair, pork trailer, soft plastic craw, swim the jig, hop the jig, flip the jig, cast the jig, use purple, brown, black, green, blue, red, chartreuse, white, 1/8 oz, 3/40z, deep structure, shallow heavy cover...darn, just can't make up my mind what type of jig, then there is the 20 worm boxes and all those crank baits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, frogs, buzzers, spoons...
oh what rod and reel and line type???? and haven't even got out of bed yet!
Didn't someone say MMIII dropshot in 20' on the steep side of the secondary points???
WRB
J Francho reply :
QuoteMy problem is trying to forget what I know the bass should be doing and just go fishing.
Good point. I think many of us share this problem. By making one minor change to this statement, I significantly improved my tournament results last year.
Forget what I know think I know the bass should be doing and just go fishing.
Team9nine reply :
QuoteDo we Make Fishing Too Complicated?Yup, most people make fishing too complicated.
X2, but like most things in life, to each his own.
-T9
firefightn15 reply :
I don't let it get complicated, and for myself, that's what keeps it fun. I go fishing to relax and occasionally lose a few lures. For someone who fishes tournament or has a real interest on what goes on in a fish's head, more power to them.
A-Rob reply :
haha ya we do for sure. But I think it is for us, to keep us experimenting, trying new things on the water. It keeps things innovative, unlike most sports.
A-Rob reply :
Ya like Ike says; Fish the Moment. Quit thinking about 80 different locations/techniques and just fish. Good mentality I think!
K_Mac reply :
The answer for me is yes. As I get older and hopefully a little wiser I find myself concentrating more on what I know works and what I enjoy. I like finding off-shore spots that others often overlook, and carefully picking them apart. It may not always be the most productive technique, but it works for me.
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