I would agree with slonzep that placement is critical. You can have the right looking bait, with the right presentation, and at the right speed of retrieval and if there is no fish in the area, you come back empty handed despite your efforts. Other than placement, I think stealth would be my second choice. I fish a lot of waters where you are fishing in 1-5 foot ranger, clear to stained water, and heavy fishing pressure. I always try my best to slow down the trolling motor and make long, accurate casts so the fish do not see/hear me before I get them hooked up. 

One thing that trumps the rest?...Availability of prey!!!!

Whether its baitfish or crayfish...there has to be something available for the bass to eat...then it's match the hatch

Can't catch em fish they're not there...

Can't catch em if they're there and don't want to eat...

Can't catch em if they're there, want to eat but just don't like what they see...

Can't catch em if they're there, want to eat, like what they see, and then get turned off by what you did or didn't do, the weather etc.

Tell me why we do this again...

Mike

 

 

 

+1 - I wonder this myself some days! Then can't help but think how "next time"....

+1 - I wonder this myself some days! Then can't help but think how "next time"....

Just means you're still kickin'.

Equipment and location.

For me, it's the weather.    

So many factors in catching fish. In your opinion, what one thing trumps all the rest. Color? Size? Time of day? Action? and so on

For me it's a well placed bait. This relates to my shallow water experience and anticipating underwater structure and/or cover based on what I see on shore or, for the sake of conversation, boat docks, which are essentially an extension of the shore . Knowing where to put the bait has probably caught me more fish than anything else. Also cost me more fish because I wasn't prepared for the bait to get engulfed the second it hit the water. Some targets just look good. I don't know what it is, they look "fishy". On my home water I like to play the law of averages. If I catch a fish on a particular spot, I will definitely hit it the next time I'm in the area.

Tell us your trump card

Very very broad question, so long i have to admit i stopped reading.. I think i get your question..

All i have to add, trumps all type scenario?, cool water/ early winter/ late winter... If the water is cold i want a Norman Deep Little N crank-bait.

I used to dread pre& post season, no more.. Give me my bait-caster and a box of Normans.

Not only that, but cold water, i'm actually craking kinda hard and fast, not quite burning it, but not far from it.

Bait Placement

Fishing from shore I'm limited to where my location is at. I can't spin around the body of water to fish the private part of it. So I throw a variety of baits and colors and sizes till I get action. Most of the time a red, green, Brown, chartreuse bomber crank will work. If not it's topwater like spooks and poppers. The blue max is what I call my rapala f7 original floater minnow in blue. The mepps #3 anglia silver blade gray tail, strike king inline silver/black, the Joe's fly bass 1/4oz bass size. Panther Martin #6 silver yellow/orange tail.

Read the water condition. But it can change as the water gets deeper.

Don't stand there casting for nothing. Salvage you trip don't get skunked firetiger is the key color when it's a tough day. I've read the water conditions wrong a few times. Trust me.

Try to vary your presentations. Then go to plastics with a Carolina rig with a senkos or brushogs. Don't be afraid to drop a split shot rigged worm.

A shot of scent can turn them on too.

Failure is not an option. Never give up, stay motivated and focused you can do it. Think, rethink, change baits, change colors, change presentations, attack!!!!!

Don't forget my secret weapon my Hank Parker Special the Mann's baby 1 in brown craw. Just reel it slow.

There Ya go all my tactics secrets........

Your state of mind,

If you say I'm not going to catch any thing before you go.

STAY HOME and be negative.

Think positive, stay upbeat, stay motivated, keep going.

Practice all the different patterns and presentations. Read and learn everything here and watch the videos too. I also refresh everything over and over during the winter. If you want to get better the more we learn then go on the water we will find out all this stuff does work.

Listen to the pros but watch what they do too. Watch how the hold and work the rod with certain baits.