I did struggle with bass fishing. I'm fishing from shore. My son's helped me figure out the bottom structure and layout by drilling holes when the ice was on. Then my whole world of bass fishing opened up with the hummingbird portable cast out fish finder. I use it to learn the bottom structure this tells me what depth, where the flats, deep holes, droppoffs, transition points are. I don't need to find fish. I'm fishing small bodies of water with ancient man made dams that were used for water power many centuries ago. No shore fisherman should be without this portable fish finder. Now it's up to me to fish it I have the knowledge. It's skill in fishing not luck.

Tip, we can use any reel and rod but your weakest link is your line. We need to use a quality line. I landed a pb#10 on Excalibur silver thread 8lb test copolymer line. Make sure your drag is set correctly at all times.

Change your knot often. After landing a larger bass remember to retie.

No action, with any lure slow your speed down. Make it look like an easy meal. It works with spinnerbaits, inline spinners, crankbaits depending on the water conditions. In stained water slow down.

My biggest problem is not having a boat, so I can't spend as much time on the water as I would like.

Having enough free time to fish.

I seem to be enjoying the thrill of buying nicer equipment (on a deal of course) perhaps even more than fishing with it.

I actually now have rods and reels I HAVENT FISHED WITH YET!

Maybe I'm just getting old?

Slowing down. My mind runs a million miles an hour. I have to constantly remind myself to slow down.

I struggle with fishing deep.  Especially deep cranking. 

Trying new techniques or baits that I have no confidence in. Been trying to force myself to only taking a few things to the water to learn. If I take everything I struggle to keep trying those new low confidence lures or techniques.

Being patient with crankbaits.. If I'm not getting bit, I want to switch to something else too soon rather than keep casting cranks..

Not hating the human that invented the Jet Ski ~

 

 

 

A-Jay

I hear that. And I'm the type, give it gas and make it go- I'm there. But those things and fishing just don't play well with each other. 

I hear that. And I'm the type, give it gas and make it go- I'm there. But those things and fishing just don't play well with each other. 

 

Perhaps if they were "Silent", maybe battery operated, then might feel less hatred.

 

But honestly, that's a pretty weak "might"

 

A-Jay

Concentration on a slow fishing day.

fishing pressure

fishing pressure

fishing pressure

fishing. pressure.

Fishing deep!

Getting a decent  sleep in before any morning fishing trip.I wake up every 30/40 minutes all nite  long. Ya think after

70 yrs I could get over that.

Under my normal conditions, I get about midnight do my homework and try to get to my spot about an hour before daybreak.  Being 70 myself,the older I get the earlier I rise.

Fishing VERY slowwww. Fishing when the water temps hit the upper 80s. Getting the most out of my electronics.

Making myself fish a jig. The technique is not so different than other bottom contact baits but I never seem to be able to fish one. I guess I'll have to go out with nothing else and throw my keys in the water so I can't leave.

My biggest problem is not having a boat, so I can't spend as much time on the water as I would like.

U don't need a boat for success. Read my posts on being stealthy, get out there at 4am. The bass are close to shore. I do it then u can do it too. Once you poke a big one were the one who is hooked.

Making myself fish a jig. The technique is not so different than other bottom contact baits but I never seem to be able to fish one. I guess I'll have to go out with nothing else and throw my keys in the water so I can't leave.

Look for Rocky points, sand bars, transition areas. Fish on the back side of the current. The bass are lined up waiting for the current to push some bait by.

When fan casting don't make the casts close together. Skip fan cast. Make your casts far from each other.

My first jig bass I was hopping a green pumpkin football jig with a uncle Josh pork trailer straight up a point. I used a inline spinner and fan casted across the point. There were bass from shallow to deep.

It's about finding the structure that's were the hot spots are.

fishing slow, i'm good at it but hate it. I love reaction strikes and like to cover a lot of water fast. if I go through an area and catch a few I will turn around and go back through it and fish it really slow. i just don't like waiting for a bite. lol  BH

Fishing deep water.Fishing with crankbaits is another problem for me.I do pretty good with the lipless cranks but never had much luck with other crankbaits.I just need to fish them more!

Keeping my mouth shut when other anglers knowingly cut me off. Walleye guys are usually the worse. They pull up within 20 yards and act like it's no big deal. I usually fire up the big motor and let them know how I feel about it. Jet skiers are a close second, followed by my struggles to fish deep and finesse baits.  

When it comes to fishing, I have no problems.  I will always catch fish, if not today then tomorrow.  Big or small fish just being out there is euphoria(the name of my Tripp 30 sailboat).  Have fun, without pressuring yourself is the key to eliminate problems, I personally don't give a hoot about the next great lure, technique or rods and  reels, I just go fishing, like golf you play the ball where it lies.