Reading the comments in the post about most effective techniques, got me to thinking. What do you consider the most difficult technique to learn. For me it would be top water plugs (Spooks, Sammy's, etc.). I have trouble knowing when to use them and how best to work them in the conditions. I plan to keep on trying and reading all I can of the forum.
JIGS AND CAROLINA RIGS
LOL! This is going to be so different for everybody. For me it's the spinnerbait
c-rig
Its not something I have to learn, its a technique that hasn't been needed as much on the timber lakes with lots of grass. Fished a lake that had 1000's of boat docks. I havent been skipping Tubes as much as I used to, boy was I off a little to start, 50% was pretty, 50% was ugly. And I'm critical since I think your best shot at the big girl is the first cast, or the money cast as not to spook her with a bait that isn't on target the first time. That day was critical since fish were holding in the middle to the back of the dock supports and these docks are only 6-10inches above water.
Jig
im with senko, jigs and c-rigs
Not as much technique problems with me as it is finding the right rod action for particular baits. I'm still looking for the best spinnerbait rod for my fishing style, which is usually sitting down in a jon boat.
Vertical techniques: dropshot, jigging spoon, float n fly. I have caught lots of fish on the drop shot, but maybe 1 keeper so I guess bigger baits and be patient. With the jigging spoon I think I am fishing it right from all the articles I read, I think the problem is I need to find more fish, without a boat I just do it off docks. Float N Fly, lets not go there lol.
I still don't have alot of confidence with a jigging spoon.
Hey Shad Master Absolutley top water for me I even took the suggesion to get a softer rod and i still wind up wearing my baits from over anxious hook setting Also i just started playin around with jigs and you really have to pay attention to the fall b/c any time your line is doing something it shoulodnt be doin it could be a fish and could be dosent count :
Jigs.
I have dedicated quite a bit of time trying to ramp up on this lure/ technique. My problem has not been feeling the bite, but either setting the hook too fast or probably too slowly. The jig bite is so much different than the worm bite, which surprised me, too. All was not lost, I finally tricked a big girl and that has really inspired me. So, for 2006 my focus lure is the same as 2005, the jig.
I'm with most of you. . . jigs and C-rigs. I've never really felt confident using either one of them, so I just shy away from them. I guess I've never gotten a bite on either of them and changed to something else. I'd really like to experiment with them this winter. That's prime time to catch a lunker here in TX.
Another jigs and C-rigs here.
THATS A FARGIN' TRICK QUESTION!!!
Everytime I learn something new, the first thing I realize is that I have even more to learn.
I'm still trying to master the flippin' of a jig.
Jigging spoons and Drop shot.
I think learning to pitch with a baitcaster and not backlash it every other cast was difficult.I've mastered it and because it was so difficult and I practiced so much to get better it has become my favorite technique.
it appears myself and half the forum need some serious practice on the c-rig and jig. im settin a goal to have enough confidence in both to throw them in a tourny and cach a fish. i know i can do that with a t-rigged trick worm
Tubes and crankbaits
QuoteI think learning to pitch with a baitcaster and not backlash it every other cast was difficult.I've mastered it and because it was so difficult and I practiced so much to get better it has become my favorite technique.
So Rogue...
How do you tune your reel for pitching and flipping?
I think mine is still set up too tight.
Sorry 'bout the threadjack....actually, I think I'll start a thread about that.
I recognize that I am not as adept at speed fishing as I'd like to be but I really don't have the need for it in my home lake. Would certainly round out my versatility however.
QuoteQuoteI think learning to pitch with a baitcaster and not backlash it every other cast was difficult.I've mastered it and because it was so difficult and I practiced so much to get better it has become my favorite technique.So Rogue...
How do you tune your reel for pitching and flipping?
I think mine is still set up too tight.
Sorry 'bout the threadjack....actually, I think I'll start a thread about that.
I have the spool pretty loose.The tube or jig really flies when I'm pitchin' it.I REALLY have to keep my thumb on the spool or...disaster!
Jigs! I have yet to get it down right and get the feel for the "bite on the drop". :-[
As far a c-rigs go. I have tremendously improved my c-rig fishing by buying the most sensitive rod I could afford. I went out and bought a G-Loomis. Rigged correctly with weight, length of leader, I can feel every little bump, etc, that the c-rig travels. I believe the most important part of the c-Rig is a very sensitive rod! It has helped me alot.
QuoteAs far a c-rigs go. I have tremendously improved my c-rig fishing by buying the most sensitive rod I could afford. I went out and bought a G-Loomis. Rigged correctly with weight, length of leader, I can feel every little bump, etc, that the c-rig travels. I believe the most important part of the c-Rig is a very sensitive rod! It has helped me alot.
I think that even more so than the rod, the line is important. I've switched over to power pro and it is a world of difference from mono. So much more sensitive. I also used PP steelhead fishing during one outing this year and could definitely feel the bottom as I was tumbling spawn downstream better with the PP than with mono.
QuoteJigging spoons and Drop shot.
Same here.
QuoteQuoteAs far a c-rigs go. I have tremendously improved my c-rig fishing by buying the most sensitive rod I could afford. I went out and bought a G-Loomis. Rigged correctly with weight, length of leader, I can feel every little bump, etc, that the c-rig travels. I believe the most important part of the c-Rig is a very sensitive rod! It has helped me alot.
I think that even more so than the rod, the line is important. I've switched over to power pro and it is a world of difference from mono. So much more sensitive. I also used PP steelhead fishing during one outing this year and could definitely feel the bottom as I was tumbling spawn downstream better with the PP than with mono.
Yeah, good point. I use Yo-Zuri Hybrid (Thanks to Roadwarrior). The water I fish is very clear and reluctant to use the braids. YoZuri has worked well for me for the most part. Obvioulsy with braids there is no stretch, hence the more sensitivity. But again, I fish very clear waters. (That's the good news and the Bad news) :-/
I'm glad to see that "walking the dog" was not really featured as a difficult technique to learn, because with modern topwaters it's actually pretty easy. The c-rig can be tough but I don't enjoy fishing it so I'm not going to bother to improve. The jig is a fabulous bait that can catch bass in a variety of condtions so it gets my vote. I really love jig fishing, but i need to improve alot to get the most out of it. I have the vertical presentation down pretty well, but I rarely catch anything swimming or hopping it, so thats the toughest for me.
The thing I need to really work on isn't necessarily fishing a particular bait, but backhand casting. I spent the entire past year learning the drop-shot and now have a lot of confidence in it. But I just started throwing the spinnerbait again with regularity and know and have known for a long time that to truly get all you can out of this bait you have to be able to cast backhand to get it to a lot of places. So I'm off to the backyard to start learn'n.
For those of you wanting to work on the C-rig..... If you think you're fishing it too slow, tie a piece of string around the rod handle and your wrist, then lay back and take a little nap. Most of the time people tend to work the C-rig bait too fast. Then again in the late spring time you might want to work it in quick darting movements to imitate a fleeing crawfish.
Aloha, Bill