Any new techniques, milestones or experiences for fishing in 2019?

 

For me: 

First fish on ned rigs, and wacky rigs.  I know I hooked some fish on chatterbaits for the first time, but I can't recall if I landed one.

First time fishing on a number of bodies of water.

First time owning, operating, and fishing out of a bass boat.

First time fishing with fluorocarbon line. 

Catching some fish on a Ned rig was a first for me this year.

 

Fishing about half as much as other years was another thing. ?

Fished four small new-to-me bodies of water, one three-hour visit to each. Here's how I did:

#1: 16 largemouth

#2: 3 largemouth

#3: 5 largemouth and a rock bass

#4: skunked, but got bitten off by something large (pike most likely)

 

 

Hmm, this is a fun little idea. 

 

• First time getting into a total jig bite and finally gaining confidence in dragging a jig
• First time catching a fish on a lure I built myself

First fish on chatter bait and underspin.

Also, first fish on a wacky senko. Had always fished them weightless on Trig.

46 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

Hmm, this is a fun little idea. 

 

• First time getting into a total jig bite and finally gaining confidence in dragging a jig
• First time catching a fish on a lure I built myself

Same!  First time ever dragging a jig heavier than 1/8 oz along the bottom and getting an actual hit (I used a 3/8).

I also caught my first fish on a plastic by Zoom (first time using them)

I caught my first perch and rock bass
First time boat/kayak fishing freshwater
 

Oh yeah, first fish on drop shot too.

This soft water season has had a couple of milestones for me.

First time I have only been skunked once.  Keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of the season.

First year I've been able to fish almost every weekend during the season.

 

Lets see, I have lots of first since its my first year really being into fishing:

 

First Baitcaster

First time using Flourocarbon

First fish on Chatterbait (6.89PB LMB)

First fish on a Ned Rig (LMB Caught)

First Fish with a Spoon (Cerival Jack?!?!)

First on a lot of fishing locations

First time fishing a T-Rig Finess/Senko worm (LMB Caught)

First time using topwater, WP (2 fish Brim & LMB), Frog (No fish yet ?), Hula Popper (2 LMB)

 

Probably have more but this is what I could think of off top of head.

2019 was my third season (wish I started 50 years ago). After the 2018 season ended, made some goals for 2019.

 

Some goals were met:

catch a bass on a skirted jig for first time

catch a bass on a spinner lure for first time

catch a bass on a top water lure for first time

catch a second salt water species (mackerel) - also got a third (sea robin)

explore & fish the local salt water (river, bay, ocean) - first season with salt boat

 

Some were not:

catch personal best striped bass

 

Some happened that hadn't made my list:

go fishing with Bass Resource forum members

stop talking about buying a scale and actually buy a scale

 

Some others are pushed to 2020:

learn fly fishing & tying

log a personal best smallmouth, largemouth & striper (now that I have a scale) 

first time catch & cook

 

Winterized and stored the last of the fleet today, with one exception: the cheap and lowly Sundolphin Journey SS 10 yak, just in case there's a chance for one... more..... cast..........

 

 

First time catching fish on a Toad .

Broke 8 lbs on a LMB. That was a milestone for me. Next goal - double digit bass. I got a feeling.......

Missed the first half of the prespawn this year but made some exciting catches. Caught a few personal bests which unforunately were all incidentally caught invasives.

 

Personal best snakehead (8lbs) 

Personal best flathead catfish (27lbs)

First time/season fishing large swimbaits

First time getting to fish Mattawoman by boat (thanks @Junger)

 

Still looking for a pb largemouth and maybe a muskie before the year ends.

 

First lake trout.

first bass on a jerkbait this year

and... first time i fell in the lake because rocks beneath my feet gave out... twice(1 early spring? and 1 a week ago.)lol.

 

also a pb smallmouth.  21.5" almost 6lbs on a lipless in late spring

Catch my first topwater bass. Also trying out braid for the first time and catching a load of bass on chatterbaits. Also this year I managed to master baitcasters and jig fishing. and now have an rod/reel arsenal for my needs. 

 

My goals for the rest of the year is to catch a crankbait bast and get one on a willow blade spinner, also work on my topwater bite. 

I feel like I've really turned the corner and figured out this dropshotting thing. My best guide trip of the year even ending with me sitting my client on one spot and showing him how to do it and watching him stick fish after fish on a dropshot even though it was his first time ever using one.

 

I got my oldest son out in the boat quite a few times and my youngest out for the first time and got him to catch his first fish, those are the most important goals for me right now.

I got down to Truman last week for the Fishing for Freedom event.  Got there a couple of days early to fish and re-acquaint myself to running around of that lake.  Finally got a rod that I like for fishing Biffle Bugs and had some success.    Caught several keepers and several shorts with one in the 5 lb range.  I missed 10 or 12 fish, so I'm finding out that there is a learning curve to fishing Biffle Bugs, but the early results seem promising.  It is a crank bait that always stays on the bottom if you let it.

The trouble is, this was my first year fishing after a long hiatus, so my memory is a little fuzzy.  I caught a LMB on a rattlebait and I think that was my first on that type of lure.

In order of importance to me for this year's firsts:

 

• Took my granddaughter fishing and together we caught a crappie and a bluegill.  (She held the pole and I helped her reel, she couldn't quiet turn the reel on her own, she's 2.)
• Took my daughter fishing, she came a couple times last year, which was my first year fishing ever, but she never managed to hook anything, but this year she caught bass, crappie, and bluegill with me. 
• Went fishing with my wife multiple times. 
• Caught my first ever King (Chinook) Salmon wading in Lake Michigan.
• Took up fly fishing.
• Caught my first rainbow trout, which was my first catch ever on a fly rod.
• Fished my first trout opener, caught my limit of delicious rainbow trout.
• Explored many new bodies of water and caught fish at all of them.  
• Took up wading.

All in all, even though it was my only second year fishing, I can confidently say it will be hard to beat.  I learned how to wade and fly fish.  Caught hundreds and hundreds of fish.  Last year, my first year fishing I literally caught bass only.  This year I caught bluegills, perch, crappie, bass, catfish, trout, and salmon.  

 

Wading with the fly rod is my preferred method.  Bluegill are my favorite to relax and fish for.  Salmon are my favorite sport fish, and perch are my favorite to catch to eat.  

 

What a year.

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I feel like I've really turned the corner and figured out this dropshotting thing. My best guide trip of the year even ending with me sitting my client on one spot and showing him how to do it and watching him stick fish after fish on a dropshot even though it was his first time ever using one.

 

I got my oldest son out in the boat quite a few times and my youngest out for the first time and got him to catch his first fish, those are the most important goals for me right now.

I get plenty of bites with drop shot but rarely hook one. What am i doing wrong? 

First for me this 2019

 

Numbers. I have never caught the amount of fish that I have this year. I have doubled last years numbers.

 

Weight. It was a quantity over quality year. I had only one Smallmouth Bass over two pounds.

On 10/15/2019 at 7:34 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I get plenty of bites with drop shot but rarely hook one. What am i doing wrong? 

Biggest game changer for me was switching to Owner Cover Shot hooks. I use to nose hook my bait and seemed I snagged a lot and missed a lot of fish. Now I don't snag a hook hardly ever and miss very few fish.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Cover_Shot_Worm_Hooks_5pk/descpage-OCSG.html

A first for me.

 

Using electronics to intentionally target bass in deep water structure successfully.

  

Broke the 30 pound barrier for Blue Catfish.

 

Used a box knife to cut two hooks out of my calf!

 

Mapped my entire home lake on Cmap Genesis!