Fish the Mitt Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 It's been a little over two years since this was last brought up, and with the influx of new members, figured I'd start a new thread - and touch on the old one. To add an interesting twist, if you were a poster on the attached thread, did you find the time to improve on the area you listed? If so, post what your weakness was and how and what you did to improve. For example, @scaleface started the topic and mentioned roll cast proficiency, backhand casting, and low trajectory casting as an area of improvement. Was there improvement? For me, it's offshore fishing, and the backhand cast. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted February 10, 2018 Global Moderator Share Posted February 10, 2018 I have many weaknesses. Last year I was going to try new things which I did, but would quickly resort back to throwing that 5" worm or top water frog. This year I want to focus on throwing a big this year, and work on structure fishing this year and stop beating the bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User scaleface Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 Nope , didnt improve the backhand cast at all . I just avoid it . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Deleted account Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 32 minutes ago, SemperBass said: Weak areas - and did you improve? Jet black hair, green eyes, alabaster skin, and Audrey Hepburn clavicles, and no, no improvement. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MassYak85 Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 Offshore fishing is definitely my biggest weakness, and the one I plan on focussing on the most this year. I am uncomfortable fishing beyond 12 or 15ft of depth, but I realize how important deeper structure is. I am going to try and force myself to anchor more and fish slower. This should help me commit to an area of prime structure. One thing that helps me mentally is just everyday looking at above ground things like trees or houses, and realizing 20 or 30 or even 40 or 50 feet isn't actually that much distance. I think at the time of that thread I would have said I need to improve my jig fishing, which I definitely have, I now have complete confidence in jigs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishDewd Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 For me, crankbaits, spoons, jigs, chatterbaits. I have little experience with jigs. I recently bought a couple- one finesse jig in black/blue and one football head jig in green pumpkin that I added trailers to, which are my first ever actual jigs. I hope this week to be able to use them, whether I catch something or not will just depend. Same thing with chatterbaits. I have one that I have tried to use a few times but never had anything interested in it. I recently found a nice trailer to match it, so hopefully it improves my odds a little. Crankbaits and spoons on the other hand... I've tried them many times but I have never managed to hook up or catch anything on one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Way north bass guy Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Probably one of the areas I’d like to work on is going back to an area that produces earlier in the day and hit it again. When I used to fish tournaments if I found a spot that was holding good numbers I’d hit it several times a day if the timing worked out, and often there were more biters later in the day. For some reason lately I find myself hitting a spot and wanting to see if “the grass is greener on the other side”, and I know I should buckle down more in that spot and milk it better, especially when I’m not in a tournament and don’t have to worry about saving fish for tomorrow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 Getting the boat out the driveway ? Still Crank Baits! i don't know why I just don't throw em! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User NHBull Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 I sucked at skipping last year and still suck today. And......still can't catch suspended fish at 20 feet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User scaleface Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 I did improve on depth finder comprehension . Caught some 20 foot plus deep bass on crankbaits . Thats the deepest I ever caught bass on diving plugs . I doubt if I get much better . I turned 60 this year and dont get to spend as much time fishing that I need to . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 Yes ~ I most certainly did. A-Jay 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User senile1 Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 In that thread I mentioned spending some time on Ned rigs, drop shot, blade baits, and drop-shotting a craw. I feel pretty good about the Ned rig, the drop shot, and drop-shotting a craw. I still haven't had the opportunity to use blade baits much. Every year is an opportunity to improve a few items. I just have to pick a few from the myriad number of deficiencies I have. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Ratherbfishing Posted February 10, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 10, 2018 I don't often fish with a large variety of other fishermen so it's difficult to know where my weaknesses lay-although I'm sure I have plenty. I tend to get a little sloppy with my casts whereas my one buddy tends to cast right on target-and often catches more fish than me as a result. Or it's one reason why, anyway. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Angry John Posted February 11, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 11, 2018 I listed myself as weak on the Carolina rig, I never used it and now I am trying to learn it. Still not catching on it but trying at least. This is part of my trying to learn deep which I am also still trying to figure out. I did pick up the blade bait and caught some on that so my third area of focus has seen improvement. So I think I will continue to to work on these areas. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User scaleface Posted February 11, 2018 Super User Share Posted February 11, 2018 I remember a thread about what we were good at and some guy got upset and left the forum . I guess he didnt see that thread that showed our weaknesses . LOL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish the Mitt Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 Hey listen, as much as we talk and discuss what we are good at, or what we know, it's just as important to discuss our goals and means for improvement. As a 30yr old angler, I have a ton to learn. The first step is truly understanding what I can offer, and what others can offer me - which is why I'm here. For example, @Catt doesn't fish a crankbait, by his own accord, and I fish a crankbait A LOT. But what I may be able to help him with that, he could help me 10 fold with a dozen other items. Understanding that is imperative in being successful. My point, no one is perfect. We all have items to work on and they're just as important to talk about as the things we are good at. So kudos to you all. Glad to see some improvement here!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smalls Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 My goal this year is to slooooooooow down when the fishing calls for it. I always wanna powerfish, burn cranks or spinners and not really understand what I’m fishing. Even when pitching, I barely let the bait hit the bottom before I’m reeling it in and swinging it again. Ive caught tons of fish burning and jerking a squarebill. But man, sometimes those fish are just lazy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 11, 2018 Global Moderator Share Posted February 11, 2018 I actually did improve with a drop shot quite a bit. The biggest game changer for me was putting a wacky rig on a drop shot. I have a ton of confidence in a wacky rig, so that helped me stick with the DS longer. I still hate crankbaits, but I have no real desire to change that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish the Mitt Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 5 hours ago, Smalls said: My goal this year is to slooooooooow down when the fishing calls for it. I always wanna powerfish, burn cranks or spinners and not really understand what I’m fishing. Even when pitching, I barely let the bait hit the bottom before I’m reeling it in and swinging it again. Ive caught tons of fish burning and jerking a squarebill. But man, sometimes those fish are just lazy. When I'm tournament fishing, I have to remind myself of this often. I sometimes let the timeframe dictate my fishing and moving, instead of having faith in my ability and knowledge. But recreationally, I'm a pretty even keel angler as far as speed. I take a lot in, mentally and visually, and spend the time calculating and enjoying. Tournament time, those proverbial chains come off and I feel like a madman. Another area to improve I suppose. 4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said: I still hate crankbaits, but I have no real desire to change that. Now is that because of how you grew up fishing? Or perhaps where you fish? Or are you just more of a finesse guy all around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 11, 2018 Global Moderator Share Posted February 11, 2018 7 minutes ago, SemperBass said: Now is that because of how you grew up fishing? Or perhaps where you fish? Or are you just more of a finesse guy all around? Partially because of where I fish, zebra mussels make crankbaits about impossible anymore. Mainly, I just don't enjoy fishing them and they're rarely the most effective bait for me on a given day. Despite all that, 2 of my top 5 biggest bass I've caught in Kansas were on cranks. Kind of like the quote from Quigley Down Under "I said I didn't have any use for them, didn't say I didn't know how to use them". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish the Mitt Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 13 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said: like the quote from Quigley Down Under "I said I didn't have any use for them, didn't say I didn't know how to use them". Haha very true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishDewd Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I'm the opposite- I like crankbaits. I think they're neat and pretty crafty, action on them is pretty cool too. But I've never actually caught anything on them. Not yet anyway, I'm stubborn, I"ll still throw them until I do catch something one of these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ E Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I would say deep diving crankbaits are my weak point. I do well with squarebills, but dredging the deeps is not all that successful for me. I do well in deeper water with other baits. Part of my problem is , as @Bluebasser86 mentioned, dealing with the zebra mussels. after awhile cranking the depths, becomes more work than fun in my opinion. that may be why I am not all that successful with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage33 Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Want to improve my deep water fishing. I’ve fished shallow all my life and am pretty confident with it. Have only had a boat for a couple years and just last summer finally got an Elite ti. Now I wanna learn to find bass in the ledges and then catch them. Would also like to try several new places. Im guilty of going to the same few places every time because I know I can usually catch them there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye21 Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 7 hours ago, Savage33 said: Want to improve my deep water fishing. I’ve fished shallow all my life and am pretty confident with it. Have only had a boat for a couple years and just last summer finally got an Elite ti. Now I wanna learn to find bass in the ledges and then catch them. Would also like to try several new places. Im guilty of going to the same few places every time because I know I can usually catch them there. This is also something I need to work on. Grew up fishing small ponds with the deepest water only being around 10 feet. When I get on a big lake I stick to the shore because I have no idea how to fish deep. I need to use my electronics better for locating them would be the first step. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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