Intensive search 2024
George Welcome reply :
The intensive search to make this bass fishing thingy complicated simply amazes me. With the electronics of today, the tackle of today, and the baits of the day, it boils down to find the fish = catch the fish.
KISS
Catt reply :
Consistently catching bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive.
Yea it's that dang simple 
RoLo reply :
"KISS"
That closing is a little too chummy for me ;D
Roger
George Welcome reply :
Quote"KISS"
That closing is a little too chummy for me ;D
Roger
Don't be so egotistical or fresh. ;D
tutle reply :
I bet the finding and catching are not very difficult down at the stick marsh.
Big Mike in Fl reply :
QuoteI bet the finding and catching are not very difficult down at the stick marsh.
there are certainly days, you'd be real surprised... then again, I think George has them all under a spell or something by now, they are like his pets, when they hear his motor fire, they come running.
George Welcome reply :
QuoteI bet the finding and catching are not very difficult down at the stick marsh.
You should come here and I will let you guide me.
Sam reply :
No, no no!
We need expensive rods, reels, line and the newest tackle and techniques to fool the fish.
Or fool ourselves. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteThe intensive search to make this bass fishing thingy complicated simply amazes me. With the electronics of today, the tackle of today, and the baits of the day, it boils down to find the fish = catch the fish.KISS
That's the beauty of fishing. We can do it at our pace, and in a way that suits us.
I take my fishing very seriously. But I don't take myself seriously at all.
I don't think we make it complicated. It is complicated already. If you've got a small pond, and hand feed the fish, then it's always an easy matter to find them, and hook them.
To me, fishing is a combination of puzzles, but most like the logic problem variety.
Depending on the individual, it can be as simple as a can of worms, a cane pole, a few feet of kite string, a hook or safety pin, and a cork, sliced halfway through lengthwise to receive and grip the string, which also allows you to adjust the distance between the bobber and the baited hook.
Even that is too complicated for some, and they eliminate the bobber. Others even eliminate the bamboo or calcutta pole and handline it.
Some boil it down to a pointed stick, while yet others attempt to catch them with their bare hands.
Others prefer to fish with tens of thousands of dollars of equipment and technology to help them "find the fish".
Here's my personal preference. A boat is nothing more than a platform to move you around on the surface of the water, to get you to areas that are otherwise unreachable from the shore.
In most if not all, a canoe, kayak, jon boat, row boat, or other relatively inexpensive craft is sufficient to the task.
Yes, they will limit your options, but they are sufficient nonetheless.
Knowlege is paramount. Knowing the waters you fish, the structure and where there is cover that is not visible above the surface is critical to success. What constitutes success is unique to each fisherman, and is purely subjective.
I want to learn as much as I can. Whether that learning involves the habits of my quarry, or the tools I use to pursue them, I am never "satisfied". But, I always enjoy myself because every trip is an exerience, stored in the computer between my ears, and something is learned.
A simple maxim will suffice regarding success. If you are enjoying yourself while fishing, you are successful. If you are not, then you are not successful regardless of how many fish you catch, and how large they are.
It ain't a job paying the bills and putting food on the table for most of us. If you're not enjoying it, find another hobby.
As for me, I like solving puzzles, and what to use, when and where to use it, and understanding how various things affect the fish, is a wonderful puzzle to solve.
Catt reply :
There are three major human element pitfalls you must overcome.
1. Lack of knowledge about bass & their prey
2. Basic misconceptions about bass and fishing techniques for bass
3. The human tendency to respond to failure and frustration by over-complication rather than simplification of technique and theory.
Take these simple elements of knowledge, and nurture them with your own blend of hard work and fishing experience.
RoLo reply :
QuoteThat's the beauty of fishing. We can do it at our pace, and in a way that suits us.
I take my fishing very seriously. But I don't take myself seriously at all.
I don't think we make it complicated. It is complicated already. If you've got a small pond, and hand feed the fish, then it's always an easy matter to find them, and hook them.
To me, fishing is a combination of puzzles, but most like the logic problem variety.
Depending on the individual, it can be as simple as a can of worms, a cane pole, a few feet of kite string, a hook or safety pin, and a cork, sliced halfway through lengthwise to receive and grip the string, which also allows you to adjust the distance between the bobber and the baited hook.
Even that is too complicated for some, and they eliminate the bobber. Others even eliminate the bamboo or calcutta pole and handline it.
Some boil it down to a pointed stick, while yet others attempt to catch them with their bare hands.
Others prefer to fish with tens of thousands of dollars of equipment and technology to help them "find the fish".
Here's my personal preference. A boat is nothing more than a platform to move you around on the surface of the water, to get you to areas that are otherwise unreachable from the shore.
In most if not all, a canoe, kayak, jon boat, row boat, or other relatively inexpensive craft is sufficient to the task.
Yes, they will limit your options, but they are sufficient nonetheless.
Knowlege is paramount. Knowing the waters you fish, the structure and where there is cover that is not visible above the surface is critical to success. What constitutes success is unique to each fisherman, and is purely subjective.
I want to learn as much as I can. Whether that learning involves the habits of my quarry, or the tools I use to pursue them, I am never "satisfied". But, I always enjoy myself because every trip is an exerience, stored in the computer between my ears, and something is learned.
A simple maxim will suffice regarding success. If you are enjoying yourself while fishing, you are successful. If you are not, then you are not successful regardless of how many fish you catch, and how large they are.
It ain't a job paying the bills and putting food on the table for most of us. If you're not enjoying it, find another hobby.
As for me, I like solving puzzles, and what to use, when and where to use it, and understanding how various things affect the fish, is a wonderful puzzle to solve.
Excellent read Tom!
The more knowledge I pile on, the more "simplified" angling becomes.
If I were forbidden to study my sport, I'd drop it like a hot potato.
Research & experimentation is my favorite part of fishing...catching is an anticlimax.
Roger
Paul Roberts reply :
Yes, very nice Tom.
I know what you are meaning George. Getting over head in complications can ruin one's fishing time. You can afford to say that there 'ol man! 
You've put in your 10000 hours already!
As to how much "complication" we can handle... Nature is complex. We can choose to ignore that, and still enjoy ourselves. But I, for one, revel in that intensive search. I'm always looking to understand nature more deeply.
When I discover something that works, I'm apt to shy away from it. I want to expand my horizons and practicing the same old, as if each day is the same, doesn't work -especially if I'm jumping between water bodies, seasons, weeks, sometimes hours.
I don't always go to the waters I know I can catch fish from. I often choose waters I haven't figured out. Or pick days when things should be tough -like right after a cold front, just to better understand what's going on there. And yes, I fish alone a lot lol.
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteYes, very nice Tom.I know what you are meaning George. Getting over head in complications can ruin one's fishing time. You can afford to say that there 'ol man!
You've put in your 10000 hours already!
As to how much "complication" we can handle... Nature is complex. We can choose to ignore that, and still enjoy ourselves. But I, for one, revel in that intensive search. I'm always looking to understand nature more deeply.
When I discover something that works, I'm apt to shy away from it. I want to expand my horizons and practicing the same old, as if each day is the same, doesn't work -especially if I'm jumping between water bodies, seasons, weeks, sometimes hours.
I don't always go to the waters I know I can catch fish from. I often choose waters I haven't figured out. Or pick days when things should be tough -like right after a cold front, just to better understand what's going on there. And yes, I fish alone a lot lol.
So do I. But, I have to admit, there are days when I question that logic. If it's tough sledding, I end up asking, "What am I doing here? I could be pulling them in at my regular pond."
That has happened on several occasions.
The one thing I do, and recommend to all is this. When trying to learn a particular technique, or how to fish a particular lure, do it on a pond where you can depend on catching fish.
Then if it fails, you know it's either your technique, or the lure. On unfamiliar waters, you have to include the possibility there are no fish in the area in the list of possibilities as to why you aren't getting hits.
In auto racing, the accepted axiom is to make only one change at a time when testing and setting up the car, so you know exactly how that affected the handling. The more changes you "throw" at it at once, the more confusing it becomes.
There are times when wholesale changes are made, but that's usually a last minute, desperation move in the hope of "fixing" an evil handling race car.
I usually make sure the fish are biting, even on my favorite pond, before I try new things.
tutle reply :
George ; as to guiding you , I am only in that area on a quarterly basis.My next trip will be Thanksgiving week .If you want me to guide you then on say 11-22-09 just send me $220 as non -refundable deposit.The balance of another $220 will be due at the beginning of the trip.Will baloney be O.K. for lunch? :
Raul reply :
I just use The Force they come callin '.
George Welcome reply :
QuoteGeorge ; as to guiding you , I am only in that area on a quarterly basis.My next trip will be Thanksgiving week .If you want me to guide you then on say 11-22-09 just send me $220 as non -refundable deposit.The balance of another $220 will be due at the beginning of the trip.Will baloney be O.K. for lunch? :
Absolutely: the checks in the mail
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteThe more knowledge I pile on, the more "simplified" angling becomes.
Amen. I'm down to 1 rod, 1 bait,lol, you choose the color, I could care less. Maybe I'm too simple but like Tom said, that's what fishing is for ME, doesn't have to be what it is for you.
WRB reply :
It's simple to catch bass, especially when you spend a lot on time on the same water. Bass fishing can also be extremely frustrating when you know nothing about the water you are trying to learn to fish.
Applying what you have learned to unfamiliar water may work or may not.
If George or Tom came out to SoCal and tried to apply their knowledge from Texas, Wisconsin or Florida they may do OK or get skunked for several outings until they adapted and gained knowledge specific to the new water. The same applies me or anyone else.
It's really simple when you know what you are doing and dialed into the water you fish.
WRB
Bassn Blvd reply :
Actually, It doesn't matter where I'm at. I look for the same things in every lake, depth, drop offs, structure. Find one of those and I'll catch fish, regardless if I have never fished there before. It's not so much about a specific lure or technique. My T-rig worm technique will work anywhere. As will my jig and topwater technique.
It's not about getting the bass bite, it's about locating them.
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteIt's simple to catch bass, especially when you spend a lot on time on the same water. Bass fishing can also be extremely frustrating when you know nothing about the water you are trying to learn to fish.Applying what you have learned to unfamiliar water may work or may not.
If George or Tom came out to SoCal and tried to apply their knowledge from Texas, Wisconsin or Florida they may do OK or get skunked for several outings until they adapted and gained knowledge specific to the new water. The same applies me or anyone else.
It's really simple when you know what you are doing and dialed into the water you fish.
WRB
I agree. It's quite possible. On the other hand it's possible, remotely to be sure, but possible for the newbie to kick everyone else's butt.
I told this story when I first joined, but I'll tell it again, because it fits the topic, and your comments.
The year was 1968. My wife and I travelled with my parents to visit my uncle (dad's brother) and his family in Huntsville, Alabama.
My uncle was an engineer, and an avid fisherman. I'm not sure if it was Wheeler, or Gunthersville, but it was one of those two that my uncle took us fishing on.
My uncle had a nice fishing boat with trolling motor. If memory serves, that was the time when crank baits had exploded on the fishing scene down South.
Early in the a.m. long before dawn, we headed to the ramp of the area we would be fishing.
Man, I'd never seen anything like it, let alone fished anything like it. In place sheer stone ledge with shelfs here and there plunged into thirty or forty feet of water.
In other places there were narrow inlets and coves that looked like they held wall to wall fish.
I had my trusty Shakespeare WonderRod which had all the stiffness of cooked spaghettii.
My tackle box held a small assortment of Berk's or Burke's worms, some Mepps spinners, a couple of Daredevles, Hula Poppers, Jitterbugs, Creek Chub Plunkers, and some Rebel lures, one of which was a small solid gold lure. No black back.
We fished for a few hours without so much as a hit. I had about exhausted my options and was down to the Rebels.
I tied on the small gold Rebel, and started catching Kentucky or Spotted Bass, one after the other. Deep water, shallow water, it mattered not.
My uncle, and my dad were shut out. I filled the cooler with the limit for three on that little gold Rebel lure.
My uncle had laughed at my gear. He was using heavy, fast action rods, which meant nothing to me. It was the first I'd heard of that nomenclature.
On the way home, we stopped at my uncle's favorite tackle shop where he had loaded up a few days earlier with all the latest and greatest, guaranteed, cannot miss lures.
The owner came out to see the catch, and said something about how well the lures he sold had worked.
My uncle showed him the little gold rebel and told the guy to order him a half dozen. When the owner asked why, my uncle told him that lure had caught all the fish. Then he showed him my buggy whip with its Pfleuger Freespeed spinning reel.
The guy just shook his head.
It's what makes fishing so great. Some days you're a hero. Other days, you're a zero.
WRB reply :
Like every regional area, we get seminars from the current top ranked pros around the country. When a pro comes to CA they want to catch giant bass and seek help from local big bass experts. The visiting pro doesn't have the time, specialized tackle and local knowledge.
The big advantage the top pro has is the ability to fish "closed areas" that are off limits to normal folks and private lakes that have a big bass population. Fishing with top local pro helps tremendously to learn presentations and locations it would take years to learn otherwise.
The average fisherman expecting to catch bass on their first outing on a completely different lake classification, regardless of their skills, is naive.
If I was going to fish TB for example, Catt would be on the list of contacts to determine several factors before going out. It's not the lack of fishing skills, it's the time involved to sort out what and where is working. If you have a week and fish everyday, you should be able to put patterns together.
For example where I fish the bite is either on drop shot finesse worms with 4 to 6 lb FC or deep 8" trout swimbaits. If you are not fishing one of those, it's a long day, the lakes open at 6A, close at 7P, no night fishing.
WRB
tnbassfisher reply :
Quote[quote author=7577676071777C140Others even eliminate the bamboo or calcutta pole and handline it.
For some reason this made me laugh.
Catt reply :
So prior to the drop shot finesse worms with 4 to 6 lb FC or deep 8" trout swimbaits being invented no one caught bass?
WRB reply :
QuoteSo prior to the drop shot finesse worms with 4 to 6 lb FC or deep 8" trout swimbaits being invented no one caught bass?
The bass died of old age before FC line, finesse fishing and swimbaits were invented.
WRB
George Welcome reply :
Gotta wonder how the native Americans did it. ;D
LCpointerKILLA reply :
Shiners. Thats how to simplify it.
Uncle Leo reply :
QuoteActually, It doesn't matter where I'm at. I look for the same things in every lake, depth, drop offs, structure. Find one of those and I'll catch fish, regardless if I have never fished there before. It's not so much about a specific lure or technique. My T-rig worm technique will work anywhere. As will my jig and topwater technique.
It's not about getting the bass bite, it's about locating them.
I could not agree more. It is all about finding the fish. You can always get one to bite something. Know the water you are fishing, look for something they will relate to and take advantage of their aggressive behavior.
flechero reply :
QuoteGotta wonder how the native Americans did it. ;D
Shallow fish can't outrun an arrow. ;D In all seriousness, I don't think they were c-rigging in 30' off main lake points... and I know for a fact they weren't burning traps over grass beds in spring.
What I do and what I would do if I was fishing for my only meal are not only very different but are also a different species of fish.
WRB reply :
I don't fish tournaments very often anymore and like to fish weekdays if possible. This last Saturday fished with my son on a special moonlight event; you can stay on the lake until midnight. The bite has been extremely tough during the day for every one, even the guides who fish with live shad. We know where the bass are located: 18 foot breakline, that is not the problem.
As soon as the sun went down we started hearing the bass splasing that had move up into the brush. The deeper bass out on the ledges still would not bite, so we moved to the bank. It was a scratch bite, meaning you had to keep moving. All our fish were on black/blue neon big unit* worms in the brush. We had 5 bass for 23 lbs, only a few limits were weighed in.
You can locate bass, but they don't always cooperate. If my son wasn't fishing with me, I may have stayed on the outside bass and had a long night. A few keepers on the bank turned into a good night on the water.
WRB
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