Tackle vs. Knowledge 2024
OkobojiEagle reply :
You arrive at your next bass tournament and the director hands everyone two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms and announces you can use any hook or unskirted jighead, but you're limited to only the two packages of worms he gave you. How confident are you that you'll finish in the money? Bait or bass knowledge... what do you depend upon to catch your bass?
oe
scaleface reply :
Only two packages . I'll be out of baits by 10 . Those seven inch worms will turn into six inches , then five. Just kidding , they should last me til noon .
I always wanted to fish a tourney like that . Everyone has to fish the same lure . Of course knowledge ,confidence , and experience is more important than lure . I think every body except maybe beginners depend on experience and knowledge .
Team9nine reply :
I'm in good shape and already figuring out what I'm going to spend the money on, because as Buck Perry stated, "Knowledge is the key to success" - not tackle. 
-T9
2tall79 reply :
Knowledge....every time.
Mike L reply :
To me it doesn't matter what you throw...Its all in where, when and how you throw it..In that order
Mike
Catt reply :
On 5/28/2017 at 12:06 AM, Team9nine said:I'm in good shape and already figuring out what I'm going to spend the money on, because as Buck Perry stated, "Knowledge is the key to success" - not tackle.
-T9
The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet!
BassWhole! reply :
Knowledge, not even a question.
Smokinal reply :
On 5/28/2017 at 2:04 AM, reason said:Knowledge, not even a question.
Yup. I love finishing ahead of the guys in the most expensive boats with the most expensive equipment. Just me, my 16ft Nitro and $50 rods....
Megastink reply :
Knowledge trumps bait selection, but ONLY if used effectively in tandem with MECHANICS. Those baits won't get bit if you can't put it where the fish live. I'm a pretty accurate caster and can skip well with spinning and casting gear, so I'm confident I'm getting a check that day.
Bankbeater reply :
Knowledge. You can buy new baits every day, but you have to know how to use them.
scaleface reply :
Wait , I thought Senkos made everybody equal .
Catt reply :
Jeff H reply :
Confidence soars, love the worm, am a longtime spoonplugger without the spoonplugs(knowledge and experience)...I got this!
Raul reply :
TWO packs ?!? ..... hell, that's one pack too many.....
On 5/28/2017 at 4:47 AM, Smokinal said:Yup. I love finishing ahead of the guys in the most expensive boats with the most expensive equipment. Just me, my 16ft Nitro and $50 rods....
wanna bet ? 12 ft can.
LxVE Bassin reply :
Knowledge over everything. Are there actually tourneys where everyone has to use the same bait?
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 5/28/2017 at 2:48 PM, LxVE Bassin said:Knowledge over everything. Are there actually tourneys where everyone has to use the same bait?
Yes, there's a tournament in Texas that anglers can only use Bill Lewis Rattle Traps (and now the Echo squarebills). There's some tournaments that are frog only tournaments in California I believe?
Mike L reply :
On 5/28/2017 at 3:06 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Yes, there's a tournament in Texas that anglers can only use Bill Lewis Rattle Traps (and now the Echo squarebills). There's some tournaments that are frog only tournaments in California I believe?
I would love to fish in one of those!
Unfortunately I've never heard of anything like that down here.
Hey, if any of you Florida guy's hear of one pm me, I'm in!!
Mike
Catt reply :
Back at the beginning of the B.A.S.S. Classic all contestants were put on a plane & were not told what lake they fishing until the plane was airborne. Before that they were given a small tackle box that they could load with a limited amount of tackle for a lake unknown.
Today they have a 21' bass boat with all the tackle, gear, electrons, they can stuff in it & twice that much in their tow vehicle.
Yea they've gotten better 
BassWhole! reply :
On 5/28/2017 at 5:31 PM, Catt said:Back at the beginning of the B.A.S.S. Classic all contestants were put on a plane & were not told what lake they fishing until the plane was airborne. Before that they were given a small tackle box that they could load with a limited amount of tackle for a lake unknown.
Today they have a 21' bass boat with all the tackle, gear, electrons, they can stuff in it & twice that much in their tow vehicle.
Yea they've gotten better
I think that as long as the playing field is level, the rules won't have much effect on the outcome, with the possible exception of potential coincidental advantage that lines up the conditions, bait and angler strength to an individual. We are fairly successful salt water tournament anglers, and while most are biggest fish wins, sometimes its biggest 3, slot, keep alive, or some other criteria. That is where knowledge, experience, confidence, and execution all come into play. Showing up in a fully wrapped 33 foot Center Console with triple outboards and matching gold reels does not contribute to catching fish (it will get you there in a hurry though)
Quarry Man reply :
I am relatively new to fishing, so with a limited amount of baits (my choice) i could likely catch fish.
I like to do every thing possible in order to maximize my fishing outputs. I am now spending less money on new stuff, only the tried and true. I also spend as much time preparing to fish as i actually fish.
davecon reply :
Since when is choosing the right tackle not considered knowledge ? Go ahead and make it harder on yourself if you want to but experience should tell you what to use when and where ! If you don't believe that, good luck with your fishing cause you are going to need a lot of it !
Catt reply :
On 5/29/2017 at 8:54 AM, davecon said:Since when is choosing the right tackle not considered knowledge ? Go ahead and make it harder on yourself if you want to but experience should tell you what to use when and where ! If you don't believe that, good luck with your fishing cause you are going to need a lot of it !
Please re-read the original post
davecon reply :
On 5/29/2017 at 9:49 AM, Catt said:
Please re-read the original post
At the end of the original post was a question "Bait or bass knowledge, what do you depend upon to catch your bass ? " My point was and is that tackle/bait selection is part of the knowledge, not just how to use it. If that weren't the case why would an experienced fisherman have more than one bait/rod/reel ?
K_Mac reply :
I think the point of the question is if you had to choose one, knowledge of bass and their habits is better than a new boat filled with tackle. You certainly don't need high-end gear to catch fish. Yes, with knowledge and experience we learn different techniques and the best gear for those techniques.. No one is saying having the right gear is not an advantage. It certainly adds to the pleasure for most of us.
I can (and have) catch fish with Walmart gear from my old tin boat or with high-end gear from a shiny new 20' bass boat with 250 hp. Why? My knowledge of bass and my experience catching them. You can't buy that.
davecon reply :
For years fished tournaments, 3 or so per month. Full sized boat, 80 + miles per hour, all the bells and whistles. Did quite well at it too.Downsized to a Gheenoe, switched to small waters, carry 1/10th the tackle I used to (still use the best rod and reel combos I can afford). Am catching more bass and larger bass than ever. Won't post results because I would be called a braggart or liar or both. Over the decades I have learned what lures to use when, where, and how. So I truly believe knowledge of lures is as important as knowledge of how to catch fish. It all goes hand in hand.
Have also become addicted to snook. Same thing applies - what lures to use on what tides complicates it even further.
It all comes down to your overall knowledge, including boat handling, something not previously mentioned. The list goes on. Takes a lifetime to learn this stuff and all of a sudden you are an old man and health prevents you from going as much as you used to. Life can be a bi**** but you learn to make the best of it.
Catt reply :
@davecon I understand & agree with what you are saying!
The first question is "after being handed two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms, how confident are you that you'll finish in the money?"
That question eliminates any farther discussion of lures does it not?
slonezp reply :
On 5/28/2017 at 3:06 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Yes, there's a tournament in Texas that anglers can only use Bill Lewis Rattle Traps (and now the Echo squarebills). There's some tournaments that are frog only tournaments in California I believe?
There is a Spro Frog tourney in IL on the Mississippi River
K_Mac reply :
On 5/29/2017 at 12:12 PM, davecon said:...It all comes down to your overall knowledge, including boat handling, something not previously mentioned. The list goes on. Takes a lifetime to learn this stuff and all of a sudden you are an old man and health prevents you from going as much as you used to. Life can be a bi**** but you learn to make the best of it.
You certainly won't get any argument there!
As others have said, the OP wants to know how you will do with the limited choice given. A trickworm/shakyhead combo is one of my favorite techniques, so my confidence is high! Of course, that may not be the best technique for the conditions, but you're not limited in the choice of rod, reel, line, or jigs used. Even with high-end gear in this scenario there is no guarantee you won't be beaten by someone with greater knowledge of the body of water (or just luckier) being fished, whether he has high quality gear or not.
Yes, high-end gear and the proper terminal tackle can make a good fisherman better. Now, how are you gonna do with a handful of trickworms?
OkobojiEagle reply :
I'm impressed... this thread went pretty long before someone said he was going to take his two packages of worms and go home without playing this silly game. I'm not terribly surprised that pretty much all of us recognize the mental importance to catching bass, but this board has some pretty confident sticks?
One of the directions I thought the thread might turn was how versatile the worm really is and that fishing only a worm isn't actually hand-tying anyone. Wacky, shakey, weightless as a topwater, drop-shot, bite off the tail & Ned rig it, I've been swimming shortened worms on jigheads probably longer than Keitech's been selling swimbaits. There's not many seasons or situations where a 7" worm can't be adapted and catch any sub-species of bass.
I had nothing I was trying to prove, just wondered how each of us might handle such an unlikely situation in this age of endless tackle. Thanks for the responses, I've enjoyed reading them. Carry on...
oe
Raul reply :
On 5/30/2017 at 12:53 AM, K_Mac said:
You certainly won't get any argument there!
As others have said, the OP wants to know how you will do with the limited choice given. A trickworm/shakyhead combo is one of my favorite techniques, so my confidence is high! Of course, that may not be the best technique for the conditions, but you're not limited in the choice of rod, reel, line, or jigs used. Even with high-end gear in this scenario there is no guarantee you won't be beaten by someone with greater knowledge of the body of water (or just luckier) being fished, whether he has high quality gear or not.
Yes, high-end gear and the proper terminal tackle can make a good fisherman better. Now, how are you gonna do with a handful of trickworms?
Trickworm & shakeyhead can do some realllllyyy baaaad butt whupping. 
On 5/29/2017 at 7:47 PM, Catt said:@davecon I understand & agree with what you are saying!
The first question is "after being handed two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms, how confident are you that you'll finish in the money?"
That question eliminates any farther discussion of lures does it not?
Exactly, the cards were dealt, you are given two packs of trickworms and you better try to do some damage with them, on the other side, I only need one, yup, I'm THAT good. 
Bucky205 reply :
On 5/27/2017 at 11:09 PM, OkobojiEagle said:You arrive at your next bass tournament and the director hands everyone two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms and announces you can use any hook or unskirted jighead, but you're limited to only the two packages of worms he gave you. How confident are you that you'll finish in the money? Bait or bass knowledge... what do you depend upon to catch your bass?
oe
In that situation, the angler that has the knowledge to get on the best fish will usually win.
WRB reply :
On 5/27/2017 at 11:09 PM, OkobojiEagle said:You arrive at your next bass tournament and the director hands everyone two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms and announces you can use any hook or unskirted jighead, but you're limited to only the two packages of worms he gave you. How confident are you that you'll finish in the money? Bait or bass knowledge... what do you depend upon to catch your bass?
oe
Very confident because I would stash the TD's 2 packets of trick worms and use all my normal tackle if fishing any tournament.
Tom
BassWhole! reply :
On 5/30/2017 at 2:39 PM, WRB said:Very confident because I would stash the TD's 2 packets of trick worms and use all my normal tackle if fishing any tournament.
Tom
If you're not cheating, you're not trying.
TOXIC reply :
I once worked a show with Gary Klein and asked him about fishing a pressured lake like the one I guide on. He told me he loves those kind of lakes because as long as he can find the fish there are no less than 5 lures at any given time that he could catch them on.
My point......you have to fish where the fish are (knowledge), then bait becomes secondary.
WRB reply :
On 5/30/2017 at 5:51 PM, reason said:
If you're not cheating, you're not trying.
I took as here are some worms, you can only use them on plain jigs or hooks and I will not give you any more than 2 packets. The TD didn't say this is a 1 lure event. So I would thank the TD for the gift of worms and use whatever works for me. Don't see that as cheating, see it as using my knowledge.
Tom
Choporoz reply :
Bait Monkey is sitting quietly on the sidelines taking names...some of you are in a heap of trouble....you can run....you can hide....but BM is GOING to find you
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
On 5/27/2017 at 11:09 PM, OkobojiEagle said:You arrive at your next bass tournament and the director hands everyone two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms and announces you can use any hook or unskirted jighead, but you're limited to only the two packages of worms he gave you. How confident are you that you'll finish in the money? Bait or bass knowledge... what do you depend upon to catch your bass?
oe
I can still bring a cooler, right? As far as bass knowledge goes, I've got a lot to learn. While I'm confident that I would catch fish, I question the relevance of money, as memories and time spent with your fishin' buddy/partner are far more valuable than cash. When fishing, whether I get skunked or catch 100 lunkers, I always know that a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work, so I call it a win every time I wet a line.
J Francho reply :
It's kind of interesting, because that's about what most of us are throwing, or something close. I will say, I'd rather be deep cranking for them during a summer tournament, but I can do a worm, too. The hook/rigging would definitely be based on what specific water I was on. It's very diverse up here.
BassWhole! reply :
On 5/30/2017 at 11:25 PM, WRB said:I took as here are some worms, you can only use them on plain jigs or hooks and I will not give you any more than 2 packets. The TD didn't say this is a 1 lure event. So I would thank the TD for the gift of worms and use whatever works for me. Don't see that as cheating, see it as using my knowledge.
Tom
In addition to rigging, baiting, setting lines, and gaffing (I let the fighting of 200-400 lb fish to younger guys) My job is to read the tournament rules and extract any advantage in the text. "limited to" says to me that's all that is allowed, but it is vague. We also got a guy who can say "I was born in Mars 300 years ago and came to this planet via time travel machine" and the polygraph needles barely move. It's about putting the right team together.
Catt reply :
On 5/30/2017 at 11:25 PM, WRB said:I took as here are some worms, you can only use them on plain jigs or hooks and I will not give you any more than 2 packets. The TD didn't say this is a 1 lure event. So I would thank the TD for the gift of worms and use whatever works for me. Don't see that as cheating, see it as using my knowledge.
Tom
"but you're limited to only the two packages of worms he gave you."
What does that statement mean?
J Francho reply :
Doesn't seem like it's open to interpretation to me. Then again, my brain hurts after a long weekend.
WRB reply :
On 5/27/2017 at 11:09 PM, OkobojiEagle said:You arrive at your next bass tournament and the director hands everyone two packages of 7" green pumpkin straight-tail worms and announces you can use any hook or unskirted jighead, but you're limited to only the two packages of worms he gave you. How confident are you that you'll finish in the money? Bait or bass knowledge... what do you depend upon to catch your bass?
oe
I interpret this as you are limit to the 2 packages of worms he gives you, you can't use any more 7" green pumpkin straight tail worms other than those given. The TD doesn't limit you to 1 lure type, you all are reading that into the statement.
Tom
Raul reply :
On 5/30/2017 at 11:53 PM, Choporoz said:Bait Monkey is sitting quietly on the sidelines taking names...some of you are in a heap of trouble....you can run....you can hide....but BM is GOING to find you
Danged primate don't have to worry, there's still gazillion colors plus all that terminal tackle you gonna rig that dumb worm, as "simple" as a worm is we can make it complicated.
Turkey sandwich reply :
Some basic knowledge and skill goes really far, and plastic worms of any variety are ridiculously versatile. I like my odds if I have at least a little bit of knowledge about the lake, and under most conditions on a river. I'm a pretty confident guy with worms and jigs, and for years they were responsible for 90% of what I caught, but confidence/arrogance is besides the point. (though, I think most of us take a simple joy on those days we fish behind another boat or series of boats and pick up fish regardless of what they were throwing at them, I know I do.)
I think the underlying problem in all of this is that, as fishermen, we all (to some degree) get caught up in looking at tackle as toys as opposed to tools. And for the same reason that hardware stores sell a ton of adjustable wrenches, many of us can find a ton of ways to catch fish on a 7" plastic worm in a practical color under most conditions. The posts about being able to find fish are likely the first determining factor as to who ends up making money. After that, it's presentation. And in the event that I don't have all of my tools, I feel like that plastic worm can be rigged or modified to mimic more than anything else on it's own. In addition to all of the rigging options, with a pair of scissors it could be a grub, ned rigged, split tail, cut down to a more finesse presentation, and probably a dozen other things I'm too tired to think about, but ultimately if I can stick it in front of fish, I'm confident I'll be able to put at least a few in the boat.
Catt reply :
On 5/31/2017 at 10:28 AM, WRB said:I interpret this as you are limit to the 2 packages of worms he gives you, you can't use any more 7" green pumpkin straight tail worms other than those given. The TD doesn't limit you to 1 lure type, you all are reading that into the statement.
Tom
You kidding me?
Pro Logcatcher reply :
On 5/31/2017 at 12:26 PM, Turkey sandwich said:I think the underlying problem in all of this is that, as fishermen, we all (to some degree) get caught up in looking at tackle as toys as opposed to tools.
Tackle stores make lures to catch fishermen, not fish!
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
On 5/31/2017 at 10:28 AM, WRB said:I interpret this as you are limit to the 2 packages of worms he gives you, you can't use any more 7" green pumpkin straight tail worms other than those given. The TD doesn't limit you to 1 lure type, you all are reading that into the statement.
Tom
This seems to be a good time to speak on the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. According to the letter of the law, WRB is absolutely correct and if he won it, was DQ'd, and wished to challenge the tournament loss in court, he would probably win and the tournament host could go bankrupt. His interpretation, however, goes against the spirit of the law, or violates it's intention. This is the sort of thing that makes it a good idea to have a lawyer look over the tournament rules, and in turn drive up the cost of the tournament by making the organizers have to pay a solicitor's fee to have a good time.
J Francho reply :
Good grief, it's a hypothetical question. Let's move on from the legal debate that's muddying the water of very interesting thread. Can you catch bass with a simple, ubiquitous tool, relying mostly on your knowledge of fish location and behavior?
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
On 5/31/2017 at 10:14 PM, J Francho said:Good grief, it's a hypothetical question. Let's move on from the legal debate that's muddying the water of very interesting thread. Can you catch bass with a simple, ubiquitous tool, relying mostly on your knowledge of fish location and behavior?
Amen to that, my friend. I'm a political activist who likes to fish, so debating rules and laws is also my thing, but really, I mean I fish to get away from that sort of thing. If bending the spirit of the rules is what tournament fishing is really all about, I'll keep my entry fee and fish elsewhere.
Team9nine reply :
On 5/31/2017 at 7:14 PM, Pro Logcatcher said:Tackle stores make lures to catch fishermen, not fish!
Yep - the faster you accept the fact that this entire industry is based on selling you something, amidst the smoke and mirrors, the quicker you can ground yourself by focusing on what really matters, and start catching more fish.
On 5/31/2017 at 10:25 PM, Lures'n'Liberty said:If bending the spirit of the rules is what tournament fishing is really all about, I'll keep my entry fee and fish elsewhere.
Sadly, the game has devolved to one of rule bending, discourteous behavior, and getting your competition disqualified.
WRB reply :
Hypothetical tournament where you are handed a specific quantity of the only lure you can fish with and can only use it on a hook or plain jig, no skirt would be the rule. Can you only fish from shore, no boats? Everyone would understand and agree to prior to the event, no confusion. You know the rules and decide if you want to participate.
Snag Proof has a bass tournament held on the Delta every year, the rules are well established and anyone entering understands them.
So if I am not following the unwritten rules and must assume all other bass tournament rules apply, that are unknown to me, I am not being a good sport by violating the spirt of those rules.
Tom
WTnPuddleJumper reply :
Knowledge trumps all. Green Punkin is my go to color. Let's get it on!!!!!!
scaleface reply :
On 6/1/2017 at 1:55 AM, WTnPuddleJumper said:Knowledge trumps all. Green Punkin is my go to color. Let's get it on!!!!!!
Yep . A green pumpkin plastic worm tournament would be right up my alley . The next tourney could be a Beetle Spin tourney , then a Zorro Aggravator tourney... As long as they dont have a chatterbait tourney . I've yet to catch a fish on one of those things .
FCPhil reply :
I'd say knowledge is paramount but depending on the circumstances you may need the right lure to be successful. Certain lures are more flexible than others. With the wrong lure in the wrong situation no matter how much you know you may not be able to catch bass. But, knowing the right lure, and having it, may unlock some good catches. Just my opinion.
blckshirt98 reply :
Knowledge. A local pro uses mainly Zoom trick works because they're cheap, and he finishes in the money more often than not.
NHBull reply :
The answer is clear, but let's face.....we all have seen guys with zero knowledge and the right bait, knock it out of the park........hell, I was that kid a few decades ago
soflabasser reply :
Knowledge
Raul reply :
On 6/1/2017 at 5:18 AM, blckshirt98 said:Knowledge. A local pro uses mainly Zoom trick works because they're cheap, and he finishes in the money more often than not.
Hell, I fish Trickworms not because they're cheap, but because they just plain work.
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