Absolute #1 - Have hook/lure in water

I absolutely will not catch any fish while sitting on the couch at home.

11 hours ago, Mike L said:

Respectfully and completely disagree with your first sentence. The purpose of my thread wasn't intended to imply that anyone who hasn't developed any over the years is any less a student of the sport than those who have. "Learning experiences" never end, nor should they

Good Luck 

 

Mike 

And mine wasn't implying that either. I have a feeling both you and Catt misunderstood what I was going for. Perhaps it was in my wording. Eitherway, my point was as a newer angler, I have not developed any absolutes (in regards to gear/equipment) as I 'personally' feel I've got much to learn before doing so. To me, absolutes derive from tried and true experiences. For example, Catt states he will have a TRig and J&C tied on 24x7. I believe that comes from Catt's tried and true experiences. I, being a newer angler, lack the experience to be remotely certain about anything. Therefore, I have no absolutes. I am learning daily. Now, and again, that is MY opinion and holds true only to me. I do not speak for or on behalf of anyone else and certainly meant no implications to such.

One absolute: Enjoy every minute fishing. Or at least strive too!

The ultimate goal Is to catch fish but the older I get the time spent on the water Is a real source of joy. I take It all In and never take for granted how lucky I am to be able to do something I love.

Relative absolutes: TX rig and jig tied on always.

I absolutely will learn a little more  every time I go fishing .  

I will absolutely enjoy every time I go fishing, whether I catch anything or not.

I will absolutely sacrifice my fish catching time if it means helping my nephews or my sons catch more fish.

I will absolutely always try multiple baits while fishing until I get completely comfortable with what my absolute baits for that particular body of water and conditions will be.  

I will absolutely fish every chance I get (which isn't as much as I'd like).  

I will absolutely keep an open mind and learn as much as I can about fishing my whole life.  

 

I will absolutely (in no particular order):

Make sure there is oil in the boat and the trolling motor is charged

Have a jig and crank bait tied on

Try new spots/techniques 

Handle fish with respect!

Absolutely will not;

Hook up the boat and trailer without checking tires, lights, batteries, gasoline/oil, drain plug, PFD's and drinking water.

Use my rods and reels without checking drags, line and tie fresh knots on any lure/hooks for sharpness before using them.

Checking sonar units and trolling motor before launching.

Fish during day light without sun screen, hat and sun glasses.

Launch the boat if it's severe stormy weather with high winds, lightning and heavy rain.

Tom

 

On 7/8/2016 at 0:26 AM, A-Jay said:

I will Absolutely Hate to put the boat up this & every Winter. 

And will Absolutely Love getting it out in the Spring.  

A-Jay 

(January, 2016)

Absolutely refuse to put it up at all!

5 hours ago, Neil McCauley said:

(January, 2016)

Absolutely refuse to put it up at all!

Good Luck with that ~

A-Jay

If I can't find fish, a stick bait, or a worm texas rigged under a dock will always get me at least one fish. 

No reel on this planet is nearly as good as a Shimano Core

The NRX is over rated

If my wife is okay with me going for a long period of time I will most likely end up getting skunked

Don't stop fishing even when it's cold.

I always keep a poorly balanced combo to justify buying either another reel or rod.

My phone doesn't work when I'm fishing unless I catch one worthy of a pic. Then I notice I have calls and texts.

When I think they won't bite, they will...and vice versa

I'll be home "after dark".

The less they bite, the harder I fish. I'm stupid like that.

The fewer gadgets and motors you use, the more time you get to fish (I kayak fish private waters and even rivers/creeks and K.I.S.S.) Last two times I used my big boat, I fought the trolling motor all evening.

Though I plan a trip days, even weeks in advance, and tell my wife, she will still look for something for me to do when the time comes.

I suppose my only absolute is to never give up. If the bite is really slow, it's only because I haven't figured them out yet. No reason to go home. Keep changing baits, keep trying different presentations, and find the pattern of the day. 

HMMM,..? absolutely, everytime, ALWAYS!: have a jig and pig tied on a flippin stick, a spinnerbait, topwater, jighead and grub, and jerkbait, tied on, hooks sharp, line checked. ,.....(knocking on wood) I always check the plug before launching. I have extra rods in the rodlocker, for certain presentations just in case. Have the batteries charged, Bring food for full days, a hat, sunglasses, apply sunscreen and bugspray away from the boat before launching. Be careful, and have all safety gear checked and on board. Check the livewell plug

Got nothing to do with fishing but I absolutely must have cornbread with my beans. 

Hootie

I will absolutely fight the urge to scream like a little girl when a snake slithers out from between my feet. I will absolutely drink to much coffee making it hard to do a finesse presentation. 

Absolute- Take butt wipes when fishing. 

Check to make sure I have butt wipes at least 3 times. (I hate IBS and the moments it raises its ugly head)

senko 6" stick bait and rage craws packed and ready. Speaking of butt wipes make sure I have some TRD for the Ned rig who has grown a place in my fishing arsenal.  

Send pics of fish to friends and family while they are still at work. 

59 minutes ago, GetBent said:

Absolute- 

Send pics of fish to friends and family while they are still at work. 

Your an evil man. Evil and mean!

My only absolute with fishing, is that I am going fishing!

A new absolute, which has only become so since I became a moderator, and have to read every thread: never, ever, ever reply to a thread who's title contains the words "what's the best....."

On 7/8/2016 at 1:47 PM, WRB said:

Absolutely will not;

Hook up the boat and trailer without checking tires, lights, batteries, gasoline/oil, drain plug, PFD's and drinking water.

Use my rods and reels without checking drags, line and tie fresh knots on any lure/hooks for sharpness before using them.

Checking sonar units and trolling motor before launching.

Fish during day light without sun screen, hat and sun glasses.

Launch the boat if it's severe stormy weather with high winds, lightning and heavy rain.

Tom

 

I'll bet your garage is clean as well.  You're a sick man, I tell ya, a very sick man!

6 hours ago, GetBent said:

Absolute- Take butt wipes when fishing. 

Check to make sure I have butt wipes at least 3 times. (I hate IBS and the moments it raises its ugly head)

 

Glad I'm not the only one, TP and wipes are always in my truck tool box.

Absolutely have coffee

Absolutely have a cigar or a Black & mild if I forget my cigar

Absolutely have a chatter bait w/crawdad as a trailer

Absolutely have a swim jig w/crawdad

Absolutely have MegaStrike original scent on my lures

Absolutely rather be fishing then at work 100% of the time

Just thought of another one that I'm guessing is pretty universal....I will always have "just one more cast" that turns into about 10.

A nice bathroom break is a MUST.
Atleast 2 rods.
Most my gear.
Good Vibes(for the most part)

Went fishing today. Will "ABSOLUTELY" go again tomorrow....lol.

Hootie