K.I.S.S. 2024

spotaholic reply :

I am sure everone knows what this stands for but just in case it stands for keep it simple stupid. I had a conversation with Glenn yesterday and made me wonder how many people subscribe to that method of fishing. I am one that feels like most fisherman over complicate fishing and it's really not that hard. I can catch fish on the same baits pretty much 12 months out of the year and though they may be fished differently I can catch fish most of the times just fishing simple.(Fluke,Jig,Shakyhead)I know that other baits work well at different times of the year like topwaters in spring and crankbaits in the fall which I fish. How do you fish....

5bass reply :

I agree 100%. There are several baits that will catch bass most anytime, most anywhere and are easy to fish.

The jig is the most common and if I broke it down fish by fish, more than 50% of every bass I've ever caught was caught with a jig. I really don't think there is such a thing as a bad time to throw a jig.

A plastic worm is another that gets the job done most of the time whether you fish it on a Shaky Head or a Tx rig or weightless. It's a very versatile bait.

The super fluke is another like you said. Something about them just get the fish going when they are fairly shallow, hanging around docks and laydowns or in really clear water.

Cant forget the crankbait. This is the best search bait in my opinion and will get you that tough reaction strike when other things won't.

There is so much made about new techniques, new baits, technique specific gear and everything that it boggles the mind sometimes. It really is best to keep it simple.

BossierBassHunter reply :

I've decided to keep it a lot more simple.

I've got a jon boat that im fixing up to use, and I plan on carrying no more than 3 combos.

I'm going to stick with jigs, big worms, and small swimbaits. I saw somewhere that LBH said he was trying to cut back on his tackle, and I think it's a nice idea

Gatorbassman reply :

I agree with spotaholic 100%. We have fished together nearly every Monday and many Fridays for the past 3 years and he is consistent all year with a Super Fluke. He cleaned my clock Monday with a Fluke and a jig. :

Once you find those three or four lures/techniques that you have the most confidence in you have a solid foundation that will reduce the number of days you get skunked. Keep them close and use them in every situation.

I'm not saying to focus entirely on those few lures/techniques. You should have a good working knowledge of many other lures so you can fine tune a pattern if needs be.

My three lures/techniques are.

1. Jighead Worm (Spot Remover with any worm)

2. Dropshot

3. Jig

4. Fluke

I totally believe that I can catch a fish any time of the year with these four lures. But I also have confidence in crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater, jerkbaits and swimbaits and I'm not afraid to pull them out.

Grey Wolf reply :

Don't forget the BIG ONE guys , the ability to find productive water.

Tin reply :

You can always keep it simple with what lures you choose. But some of the time the pattern and presentation will be anything but simple and you might have to go in depth with it.

Sometimes those fish will only hit the jig if it is presented a certain way (fall rates, and how it is worked) and will mouth the fluke/hard jerkbait if you are fishing it one way but inhale it if you are fishing it another.

Is keeping it simple good, yes. But can it also hurt you, yes.

Catt reply :

I dare to say there is no one on the web site that takes a more simplistic approach to bass fishing than this Ole Catt. You will seldom find more than 5 rods in my boat at any given time & below is my tackle bag which contains worms, craw worms, & jigs; in addition I carry a spinner bait box containing a dozen spinner baits & a dozen traps.

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.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Quote
I dare to say there is no one on the web site that takes a more simplistic approach to bass fishing than this Ole Catt. You will seldom find more than 5 rods in my boat at any given time & below is my tackle bag which contains worms, craw worms, & jigs; in addition I carry a spinner bait box containing a dozen spinner baits & a dozen traps.
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.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got

I believe I would be a good canidate. I fish very very simple. You and I probably fish alot alike. I dont fish fancy. I'm a very simple fisherman. I dont put $ into tons of baits and tackle. I go for the best.

The only time I take a bunch of stuff with me is for vacation trips or the every once inawhile tourney. Dont know why. Still fish the same 3-5 lures. ;D

spotaholic reply :

I found a old copy of BASS and was amazed at what I read. They have a million articles on a million ways to fish the latest and thegreatest baits but the largest major of winners in the Classic and there other tournies fished the same baits. Over 85% were won on a jig or a soft palstic bait either T Rigged or C Rigged. That should tell you something.

5bass reply :

This is a list of the 2008 Elite tournaments and what baits played the biggest role in putting fish in the boat for the winner.

Classic - jig, spoon (Jones)

Harris Chain - Trick Worm (McClelland)

Toho - SK Red Eye shad, SK King Shad (KVD)

Falcon - deep crank, huge plastic worm (Elias)

Amistad - senko, swimbait (Faircloth)

Clark Hill - c-rig, swimbait, topwater (Hill)

Murray - frog, wakebait (Roumbanis)

Wheeler - worm, jig (Starks)

Kentucky - crank, jig, spoon (KVD)

Old Hickory - creature bait, buzzbait (Wirth)

Erie - dropshot worm, dropshot shad (Kiriyama)

Oneida - frog, sweet beaver (Rojas)

FishinDaddy reply :

Quote

My three lures/techniques are.

1. Jighead Worm (Spot Remover with any worm)

2. Dropshot

3. Jig

4. Fluke

I know I'm slow sometimes but that looks like four.

slonezp reply :

Bluegill or watermelon colored flukes and wacky worms shallow

Cranks, color depends on clarity and temp

Jigs dark colored

Lake Michigan smallies get craw, gobie patterns or white

Every year buy new or different baits to try and end up falling back on the tried and true baits. I just can't help spending money when I go lure shopping. Funny how I look at a lure and think to mysel "If I were a fish I'd eat that" yet I have a few tackel boxes full of lures I've used once or twice and retired

flechero reply :

As much as I love having all the tackle and like to have options on any given day. I basically keep 3 rods out 365 (t-rig, c-rig, fluke) and a forth rod that alternates. All my plastics that actually get used are sitting in the windshield... usually 3-4 bags. The rest of the X00 lbs of tackle in the boat only provide ballast and noise deadening qualities. ;D

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote
This is a list of the 2008 Elite tournaments and what baits played the biggest role in putting fish in the boat for the winner.
Classic - jig, spoon (Jones)

Harris Chain - Trick Worm (McClelland)

Toho - SK Red Eye shad, SK King Shad (KVD)

Falcon - deep crank, huge plastic worm (Elias)

Amistad - senko, swimbait (Faircloth)

Clark Hill - c-rig, swimbait, topwater (Hill)

Murray - frog, wakebait (Roumbanis)

Wheeler - worm, jig (Starks)

Kentucky - crank, jig, spoon (KVD)

Old Hickory - creature bait, buzzbait (Wirth)

Erie - dropshot worm, dropshot shad (Kiriyama)

Oneida - frog, sweet beaver (Rojas)

Suddenly doesn't look so simple anymore! Simple would be if every one of those T's were won with the same lure, even the same 4 lures. Instead, each one represents a diff scenario: depth, clarity, cover, activity level, water body, pressure, ...

Could each of those T's been won with the same lure? Doubtful.

Maybe a better question would be: What if each angler was allowed only 4 lure configurations. Would the outcome be the same (weight to place, not angler)?

Quote
Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive.

What if you are fishing a small water body, and there is only one flat or point in the whole place? What water do you eliminate? Instead, you fish what you have, and the conditions presented you. What if your goto bait isn't working? Go home?

If you really want a limit of bass, how many lure configurations would you want with you, say, in early spring, in late spring, in early summer, in mid November, under brilliant blue skies, under deep overcast, muddy water, clear water, weeds, wood, open gravel, bluegills, perch, shad, YOY bass, darters, crayfish... ?

KISS, if you wish, but it won't always keep you on the fish.

Bass Dude reply :

I agree with the K.I.S.S. philosophy as well. This past year I sold all my plastics except for all of my YUM stuff. I know everyone has their own opinions on which plastics are the best, but I like the YUM baits. They have a lure for each category (creature, worms, tubes, sticks (senko types), grubs, hulas, etc. My thinking was if they're hitting a crawworm, they'll hit a Papi just as well as a Chigger (side bar---I hate Berkley products). But, I thought it was dumb to have four different brands of the same type of lure. I did the same with crankbaits, I have a few brands that I like and I buy all the models to cover the different depths. I think people get way too caught up in what KVD or someone else is using and the real trick to fishing is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION !!! That's just my two pennies!

MARSH MASTER reply :

I believe the K.I.S.S. philosophy works on consistantly catching fish but when tournament fishing it doesn't. When tourny fishing your targeting a certain fish not numbers but weight. F B L's post proves it.

spotaholic reply :

Keep in mind that they fish different lakes. Most of us fish the same lake or lakes in the same region. KISS may depend on the specific lake.

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 over analyzes a situation the more complex it becomes the more mistakes will be made. Bass and yes even big bass live such a simple live that it goes straight over most anglers' heads.

Bass are controlled by certain environmental factors that they have to follow or die; the faster you realize this the faster you catch rate will go up.

Bass have to feed efficiently (maximize food intake and minimize energy output)

Bass have to prosper during extreme seasonal changes

Bass have to reproduce effectively

Paul even in ponds 10% of the water holds fish 90% of the fish; the key is eliminating that 90% of nonproductive water.

Any way you slice or dice it there are only 3 types of lures: top water, mid-depth, & bottom; the bass don't care what name brand or in most cases what color you use.

Does K.I.S.S. guarantee you never get skunked? Absolutely not but it does make your fishing experience more productive and enjoyable.

roadwarrior reply :

Well, I'm reluctant to disagree with the master, but I think ponds are a little different. My observation is that all bass, including the biggest bass in the pond, have to patrol the water. Although the majority of your catch may be associated with structure and/or cover, every inch of the pond has potential.

8-)

grimlin reply :

I'm following this advice next year.

My only problem is trying to control a lure in hard current.Basically fighting that current all year.It seemed like they just had those dams open all year.

That was frustrating.

DADto4 reply :

I also am simple minded

Generally taking 3 rods,and one bag with a few "proven lures" in "proven colors". Although I am willing to try diff. things too much brought,,, leads to too much changing,,, and not enough fishing.

My typicals are t-rig or c-rig worms, cranks, spinnerbaits, and a couple diff topwater

farmpond1 reply :

I'd say it all depends on when and where you fish. Early last June I went to Devils Kitchen Lake in Southern Illinois. I tried every lure and technique under the sun. The only lure I could buy a strike with was a BLUE Rapala glass rap (I tried other colors and struck out). And only on the windward side of points and weedy areas did I find any eager bass. I had fun but it was anything but simple.

But yes, in general there are some standard methods that usually work.

Paul Roberts reply :

RW Wrote:

Quote
Well, I'm reluctant to disagree with the master, but I think ponds are a little different. My observation is that all bass, including the biggest bass in the pond, have to patrol the water. Although the majority of your catch may be associated with structure and/or cover, every inch of the pond has potential.

I've seen ponds that would fit both extremes: Some are limited in habitat, others have good fish well distributed. I've also discovered some areas in ponds I never caught fish from, until I changed how I approached em. Sometimes our GoTo methods are only appropriate in certain areas. In fact, I still may sometimes just tie on a GoTo and look for water and conditions that will support it. In fact, that was how I used to start a day. I knew certain lures fished well in a certain water and hit the water pre-tied -only to find I had to change, often throughout the day. I am now more apt to pre-tie to conditions.

Catt Wrote:

Quote
Bass are controlled by certain environmental factors that they have to follow or die; the faster you realize this the faster you catch rate will go up. ... the bass don't care what name brand or in most cases what color you use.

Agreed, location and conditions make up the largest chunk of the dilemma. Brand and color are rarely part of the formula.

Here I'll quote Brian Waldman (T9) paraphrasing Al Lindner (LOL):

My favorite analogy that I've read on this subject was a quote from Al Lindner that paraphrased went something like, "Lure selection, and subsequently fish catching success, is like a giant tree. Most people put too much attention to dangling out on the branches when they should be focused on climbing the trunk."

Location is the trunk, you can't catch them unless you find them. Depth and Speed are the two main branches of the tree. Putting the red hook on the front of your crankbait and having green flecks in your red shad worm is hanging way off the ends of the branches. Yes, it can be important when you finally reach a point of that much fine tuning, but for most people most of the time, they should stick with worrying about the critical basics. If you can master those variables, you'll be way ahead of most of the people, most of the time.

That said, versatility matters. It's often touted as one of KVDs greatest assets. For most anglers a few GoTos are all there are to choose from. It takes time to develop versatility. Dabbling in it can cost you GoTo fish, but the future payoff can be big.

Versatility doesn't have to be confusing, but can be. You decide where to draw the line. What's KISS to KVD would be a nightmare to others.

Catt reply :

First and foremost I in no way feel like a master, it's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer. There are dozens of anglers on this site that are just as proficient at locating and catching numbers of bass as well as numbers of large bass but they for what ever reason choose not to participate openly in discussions the way I do. They instead send me PMs or emails cheering me on and feeding me information while staying in the shadows; I on the other hand relish confrontational discussions.

Ponds are a different type of aquatic system just like rivers or tidal systems are but the bass are still controlled by the same environmental factors. With ponds one must consider the size of the pond and if your access is strictly bank fishing or if boat fishing is part of the equation. The disadvantage of bank fishing is you do not have access to the entire pond limiting the amount of tangibles thus weakening your overall picture.

K.I.S.S. when applied to fishing in my minds eye is more than keeping lure selections simple, it is my over all approach to fishing. I completely understand that to be consistent I must put the odds heavily in my favor by the realization that bass are controlled by certain environmental factors and using these factors to my advantage.

Versatility too inexperienced anglers means having the capable of doing many things competently (lures/techniques) but to the seasoned angler it means having the capability of moving freely in all directions. But Catt isn't that the same thing? No it is not the inexperienced angler's mind set is to learn every lure/technique ever invented while the seasoned angler's mind set is to learn how fish points, humps, shore lines, grass, timber or rock excreta with a simple selection of lure/techniques.

Gatorbassman reply :

Quote

Quote

My three lures/techniques are.

1. Jighead Worm (Spot Remover with any worm)

2. Dropshot

3. Jig

4. Fluke

I know I'm slow sometimes but that looks like four.

It was 1am. I needed a break.

zbass reply :

Quote
I believe the K.I.S.S. philosophy works on consistantly catching fish but when tournament fishing it doesn't. When tourny fishing your targeting a certain fish not numbers but weight. F B L's post proves it.

MM hit it on the head.

Let me state that I'm refering to tournaments.

I tried the K.I.S.S. method this past year. Reduced my selections by half or more. It didn't turn out to well. My year sucked. I can't totally blame it on the K.I.S.S. system, but it contributed. I may have done better with other selections or more to chose from.

Next year won't be that way. I'm not even gonna have room for my partners stuff. :-? He will ask what do i need to bring and the answer will be terminal tackle and poles. Period

I can see where this applies to fishing a certain lake all the time. There is a lake my wife and I went to a lot in the begining and we thru about the same stuff and caught every fish that wims there.

Paul Roberts reply :

Quote
No it is not the inexperienced angler's mind set is to learn every lure/technique ever invented while the seasoned angler's mind set is to learn how fish points, humps, shore lines, grass, timber or rock excreta with a simple selection of lure/techniques.

That's key right there, or half of it. The other half is conditions: sky, water, and sometimes other things like angling pressure.

Quote
There are dozens of anglers on this site that are just as proficient at locating and catching numbers of bass as well as numbers of large bass but they for what ever reason choose not to participate openly in discussions the way I do. They instead send me PMs or emails cheering me on and feeding me information while staying in the shadows; I on the other hand relish confrontational discussions.

Not sure what's confrontational here. Am I being / appearing confrontational?? Enough that anyone feels they have to choose sides and cheer someone on?

Catt reply :

No Paul it's just some older anglers are tired of confrontations with anglers whose only experience is what they read by someone promoting a product not from actual on the water experience; I on the other hand do not shy away from confrontational discussions.

BARON49_Northern NY reply :

Maybe the KISS method works and if I actually thought about it more it probably does. However, it is people who like to tinker, try, and mess with new ideas that keep fishing from getting too boring. I mean if you went out each time with the same jig or worm to the same holes and caught the same fish all the time what fun would that be?

After many years fishing on several Bass tournament circuits I finally retired and now find checking out new lures, lines, tackle, etc a lot of fun. I fish waters from NY to Florida every year and find that fishing the same old thing does not always work. Personally I find it challenging to find and catch fish when others are not. Especially going behind other fishermen and catching the ones they missed.

Call me warped.....

Branuss04 reply :

Quote
Maybe the KISS method works and if I actually thought about it more it probably does. However, it is people who like to tinker, try, and mess with new ideas that keep fishing from getting too boring. I mean if you went out each time with the same jig or worm to the same holes and caught the same fish all the time what fun would that be?

I totally agree with you. I enjoy the challenge of fishing.... thats why I do it. I'm sure if I were to throw the same lures all the time, I would get bored quick. But I do think there is fine line of simplicity and overthinking.

Catt reply :

What new is there?

You can throw top water, spinner baits, crank baits, or plastics & jigs; there are new variations to old lures & techniques but in reality it's all the same ole game.

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