Has anyone ever just went out with all their tackle and just relied solely on instincts, what felt right, and your gut feelings? Did it work? I'm considering trying it. Typically, when I go to the lakes or the acre ponds by my house, I carry a little zip-loc bag full of the lures I want to use, but I think its hurting me, but, I'm not sure how... Anyone have any idea?

Sure! Why not try it?

When I was first learning to shoot skeet I had to hit one by accident every once in a while to figure out what I was supposed to be doing. I look at fishing the same way. When what you're wanting to do isn't working you've got to switch it up. Leading the target by a mile might not 'feel' right but when you start hitting them on accident it feels better. If what you think will work isn't working then you've got to do what you don't think will work Something that you don't think will work will have to.

When fishing small like that, I usually carry about 8 different baits with me, keep working them and changing action until you find one that works, next time you go, leave a few of those unsuccessful ones at home, bring what you know worked and a few new ones. It is best to catch a few with what you know and work with some others to see if you can get them to hit.

As for gut feelings, well, not my home lake, I know what works throughout each season, it's just a matter of finding the fish I need to target if I have been away from the lake for a while.

Do I rely solely on instinct ? there are times when I will let that come into play, a new body of water will play a large roll in that, but thats only after I have done all the homework I can and I pull up on a spot and it's totally different than what my homework yeilded.

I will always go with the confidence stuff, but that does not always mean I will fish the confidence stuff first.

You need to build a data base in your head or in a notebook or on your iphone.....something for your instincts to use as intel...then after you've fished for 30-40 years.....you can rely on instinct.

And tell me again why you'd leave tackle that you worried all winter to buy.....home.

Grampa

I used to bring "everything" I had until I realized that only a small percentage of the arsenal worked with fairly more often than not. So I focused in on those lure colors, sizes and types. Yes, I still try different things here and there but lugging all the gear on foot is so impractical and cumbersome. Can you tell I am a shorebound angler, lol?

I like to rely on my gut from what I have gained and more times than not, I have had positive results.

Gramps, you definitely have a point. I got around that by no longer buying things that catch fishermen.

Learn to keep a log, you can use a notebook like I do or use the software for keeping logs that you can find online. I know thins is going to sound like forever but 5 years goes by in a flash. Anyway keep track of the places you fish the times, temps and anything you consider relevant like sun or cloud cover, after 5 years you will develop a good understanding of what you will need when you hit the water. I don't take a ton of tackle on the boat, I have a bag with 3 utility boxes and 1 box is terminal tackle. I have 67 individual boxes and 5 tackle bags that I use to store my stuff, I make boxes up for specific bodies of water and specific seasons, like if I'm fishing the Susquehanna river in early spring I will take a box labled "E.Spring" with me that contains hair jigs, jerkbaits and 3" senko style worms, by April I will bring my mid or late spring box depending how the weather has been and it will contain suspending jerkbaits as well as flat sided cranks and finesse jigs, and a few spinnerbaits. As for now, take the tackle that makes the most sense, topwaters, cranks, jigs and plastics, along with jig heads and shaky heads.

I kind of do that know. I will see a spot that looks fishy and my gut will tell me to fish it good. Sometimes the spot holds fish and sometimes it doesn't.