How Do You Adjust To Fishing Alone Vs Fishing With A Buddy? 2025

Brian6428 reply :

Hey guys, I need some help. Normally my brother and I fish together. This works great. We net each others fish, choose our lures strategically to find a pattern quick, etc. The issue is that I never seem to do as well when he isn't there. I feel like, with only one lure in the water, it is more difficult to find a pattern. Sometimes it is just overwhelming that I don't know where the fish are and I can only be throwing one lure to find them and what they want to eat.

Any advice?

Also, I can't use his rods and reels because he reels with the wrong hand. Who would want to change hands after every cast?!

I only have three combos (2 BC one spinning) to use, as a result.

Thanks!

Weld's Largemouth reply :

On 9/28/2014 at 9:01 AM, Brian6428 said:

Hey guys, I need some help. Normally my brother and I fish together. This works great. We net each others fish, choose our lures strategically to find a pattern quick, etc. The issue is that I never seem to do as well when he isn't there. I feel like, with only one lure in the water, it is more difficult to find a pattern. Sometimes it is just overwhelming that I don't know where the fish are and I can only be throwing one lure to find them and what they want to eat.

Any advice?

Also, I can't use his rods and reels because he reels with the wrong hand. Who would want to change hands after every cast?!

I only have three combos (2 BC one spinning) to use, as a result.

Thanks!

u really only need one setup if u fish from shore..... fish more by yourself and youll become better by yourself

Brian6428 reply :

On 9/28/2014 at 9:21 AM, Weld said:
u really only need one setup if u fish from shore..... fish more by yourself and youll become better by yourself

Sorry, I should have mentioned I fish from a boat, not that that detracts from your response. I guess it will just be a matter of practice, like most things.

flyfisher reply :

Keep going out by yourself and you will get better at it. I fish from a kayak so even when i am with someone else i am still by myself lol

geo g reply :

When I fish alone it is quite different then when I'm fishing with a partner. I move in a lot closer to a weed line, or rock ledge. Then I will fish parallel to the structure, trying to keep the lure as close to the edge as I can. I will not do that with someone else in the boat. It does not allow them a fair shot at fishing clean water. I will often try new lures and techniques while fishing alone.

EvanT123 reply :

I would approach it as if I was fishing from the bank. Find a fishy spot. Make multiple casts from different angles with the same lure. You have 3

Combos tie on 3 lures on that can cover various depths. After a few casts change combos. Still nothing? Change a lure or two repeat. Still nothing? Go to another fishy spot. That's how I fish 99% of the time 3 combos on the bank 4 in the boat. I fish alone almost once a day. Works for me.

Chief 2 reply :

Although I like the company at times depending on who I am fishing with I prefer to fish alone. Seems like I am spending to much time helping the other person get their lines unstuck from weeds, trees, etc. Then they usually bring a huge tackle box with them that gets in the way.

Heron reply :

Talk less.

Justin Mott reply :

I'm very similary to Geo G's post. I would get a little closer and and work more parallel. I also have to slow down just a tad bit more than I do with a partner to hit places that I would normally leave for my partner. If I were you and I'm guessing that you are fairly new to bass fishing or learning a new area or technique, try tying on the baits that you like and what your partner throws and run with that.

I like to have a bait to fish on top, middle, and bottom...but I rarely use the bottom bait for anything more than flipping into cover. I feel like with a rotation of a spook, crankbait, and a beaver bait you can't go wrong. The next thing I'd suggest is to cover plenty of water. I'm not saying that you should have the trolling motor on high but more like a comfortable pace where you are casting to something new atleast very 3 casts. I hold the train of thought that bass are easy to catch once you find them. They are just hard to find. So we need to fish more areas to have more success.

Justin Mott

Fishes in trees reply :

I have more issues fishing with someone else in the boat than I do fishing by myself. I have an 18' aluminum boat, but it balances different with another person on the rear deck. When I'm fishing with a passenger, I try to make an effort to see that they have lanes to cast to, etc. I try not to be a jerk and not back boat them. Sometimes I get tunnel vision and forget about that. A passenger means that you have to carry extra beer, water and snacks.

On a positive note, a passenger means that you have someone else to hand you beer, water and snacks.

I have a good fishing buddy, but we have distinctly different fishing styles that don't really complement each other very well. When I'm locked in on a square bill bite, I'm not big on dawdling, throwing worms at objects. When I'm trying to find fish on a deep weed line ledge, the guy in the back trying to throw spinnerbaits can be distracting. Just a couple of examples. Many times, we've went fishing with each taking our own boat. We have walkie talkies and we can carry on a conversation with each other no matter where we are, relative to each other on the lake. It is a good compromise. Sometimes when discussion serious life issues, it is best to have that conversation over walkie talkies rather than face to face.

roadwarrior reply :

Buy more beer?

Alonerankin2 reply :

Do not depend on a partner... Learn to have more confidence in your own ability's would be my advice.

Oh, and, buy more Beer...

K_Mac reply :

Fishing alone is a great time to learn new things and not have to worry about anyone else. You want to practice burning a trap or methodically pitching to isolated cover? Ripping a chatterbait through grass or working a sqarebill through wood? Spend an hour working a beaver pile or buzz down a bank with the trolling motor turned up? It's all good! Some of my best days of fishing have been alone. How many or how big are secondary to enjoying the solitude and the moment IMO.

Ranger363 reply :

On 9/28/2014 at 7:50 PM, Chief 2 said:
Although I like the company at times depending on who I am fishing with I prefer to fish alone. Seems like I am spending to much time helping the other person get their lines unstuck from weeds, trees, etc. Then they usually bring a huge tackle box with them that gets in the way.

I agree with you 100%

I.rar reply :

I've always fished by myself from the bank. I've been out with a friend or two on occasion but usually it's just me with one rod and a small bag of tackle.

SirSnookalot reply :

Really depends on what I'm fishing for and where I'm doing it. Offshore, never alone, just may need help with netting or gaffing a fish. My inshore and bass fishing is done alone, doing it from shore I can land most of them by myself.

Master Bait'r reply :

There is no difference, save for me being twice as baked since there's nobody to share with haha

J Francho reply :

With a buddy, I don't have to respond when I'm talking to myself.

WRB reply :

Good fishing partners are hard to find, your brother as a partner is special...go as often as you can. You will have plenty of time to develop your own skills.

Tom

Bluebasser86 reply :

I take the time I fish alone to try to learn new things or fish techniques I normally can't with someone else. When someone else is in the boat I have to worry about if they're catching fish or not. If I'm alone and don't catch fish then I don't have to worry about someone else being disappointed.

Bankbeater reply :

I prefer to fish alone unless I am taking my daughter fishing. If your fishing style and your partner's fishing style do not mesh together, it makes for a long day.

Trek reply :

I have a partner that him and I mostly fish by ourselves. I'm more of a flipper and he's more of an open water finesse type fisherman. We both own boats and both fish tournaments by ourselves. The only time I ever see him or talk to him is when we have a tournament together. But when we do it just works. We both respect each others skills and we listen to each other. We have fished hundreds of tournaments together and everyone of them we have fished as a team. If we're fishing a point he's on the trolling motor if we're fishing in tight then I am. We always position the boat so the guy in the front gets the best and sometimes the only cast.

So my advice would be when fishing by yourself to focus on your skills and become better at them. Then when fishing with a partner use his skills with yours to become a good team.

Master Bait'r reply :

On 9/30/2014 at 10:37 PM, J Francho said:
With a buddy, I don't have to respond when I'm talking to myself.

Some of my longest and most fruitful conversations are had when nobody is around to stop me

J Francho reply :

You know it, and they're much more likely to agree, LOL.

basscatcher8 reply :

Fishing alone means the boat control equation gets a whole lot easier. Mainly get myself into the best position to cast and to hell with the back of the boat unless its hitting something lol. As said before I start casting a whole lot more parrallel to cover.

Felix77 reply :

Focus on your strengths, experiment from time to time and just make it a game. Think of it as a challenge to uncover fish, patterns etc without someone. It will only make you a better fisherman.

I fish alone 80+% of the time. It just takes practice. You will learn with time.

K_Mac reply :

On 10/3/2014 at 12:08 AM, Fantasy Angler said:
I am seeing some really great advice here. I have been fishing alone a lot but I feel like I learn so much more when going out with someone else. Two heads are better than one.

That is the other side of the coin: Fishing with someone who has good skills will make you better. Fishing with someone who doesn't may be a good time, but it won't necessarily improve your fishing.

OkobojiEagle reply :

Use more brain, less tackle...

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