Being a kayak tourney fisherman I need to force myself to make a move when the bite slows down and I'm struggling.  I really struggle with taking the time to move to a new location that will take time to get to and I end up wasting time in an area that isn't producing fish.  It's so hard to decide on giving up time fishing to paddle far or even load up and move to a new spot but I think it has to be done sometimes.  It's all about time management when fishing a kayak tourney.

I need to finally learn to fish jigs this year.

 

My early season success depends on it!

1 hour ago, BigSkyBasser said:

I need to finally learn to fish jigs this year.

 

My early season success depends on it!

If you can catch bass using a weighted T-ring soft plastic worm  or creature use the same technique and presentation with jigs. The only difference with jigs is strike detection is less noticeable sometimes.

Tom

1. Get an aftermarket rack installed on my car so that I can leave my yak on top all spring/summer/fall.
2. Get up earlier and stay out later.  Fear of rush hour traffic keeps me from a lot of my best spots. 
3. Spend less time fishing the presentations I want to fish and more time trying to change it up and actually catch fish.

Take days off work in spring-summer-fall to get more time in the water.

I'm not sure "force" would be the correct word but somebody definitely needs to Gibbs slap me occasionally!

 

The last couple of years I have ignored the Punch Rig even though I know it's essential in my area.

Throw more deep diving crankbaits.  I don't love the process but I do love the results.

Fish with hard jerk baits more often.  I probably only use them 1 or 2 trips a year and then forget about them.

Stop Feeding The "Bait Monkey"  

On 1/3/2020 at 6:33 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

Fish offshore.  It's fairly difficult to do from a kayak.

And even harder for shorebound folk like me, lol.  I’ve been tempted to buy a surf rod to really get it out and offshore from a shorebound POV. 

 

I need to force myself to actually force myself to bass fish in the winter. Prospects are nearly zero chance from the shore this time of year for me. I don’t think I’ve fished for bass more than 5 times this past decade in the winter. Sad but true. 
 

 

1 hour ago, ike8120 said:

Stop Feeding The "Bait Monkey"  

 

1. Fish all BFL’s this year (5)

2. Fish the trail I did last year when not fishing BFL and do better

3. Get a new boat and micro poles on my current one

4. Did 131 days fishing last year. Little over 100 in the boat. Get more out of each session. 
 

Awesome topic

Exercise and eat right... Oh we're talking about fishing? Haha. Well, the first part will help with that also but in all seriousness, the same as every year... Just GO more! I really need to fish more often! I probably had less than 40 days on the water including both fresh and salt water last year. Pretty pathetic for me under my circumstances (I know every ones circumstances are different and some would kill for that many).  Also to fish brand new lures siting in my tackle trays, primarily "lipped" Crank Baits (I throw lip-less quite a bit). I need to force myself into turn them onto fish catchers instead of dust collectors. 

On 1/3/2020 at 10:02 PM, Grim_Reaver said:

I have to force myself to not reinvent the wheel. I've come to realize that most of these trendy new baits and techniques are no more effective than "old school" standbys. 

What do you think are the most effective "old school" baits/techniques?

6 minutes ago, LargeMarge said:

What do you think are the most effective "old school" baits/techniques?

 

I know I'm not the OP of that post, but I totally agree. For me they are 1. Worm 2. Jig 3. Spinner Bait 4. Crank Bait 5. Top Water (Popper, Spook). That's my all-time top 5 and all very "old school" IMHO.

6 hours ago, ike8120 said:

Stop Feeding The "Bait Monkey"  

Me also!  But I know it is a losing battle!?

1 hour ago, RB 77 said:

 

I know I'm not the OP of that post, but I totally agree. For me they are 1. Worm 2. Jig 3. Spinner Bait 4. Crank Bait 5. Top Water (Popper, Spook). That's my all-time top 5 and all very "old school" IMHO.

What do you think ‘they’ are catching them on?? Wonder bread and a bobber?

Boiled peanuts and miller lites? 
They all catch’em on those five you listed. They just do it a lot more and a lot better than we do currently..

On 1/4/2020 at 1:08 PM, WRB said:

If you can catch bass using a weighted T-ring soft plastic worm  or creature use the same technique and presentation with jigs. The only difference with jigs is strike detection is less noticeable sometimes.

Tom

Tom, I would love to hear more about the technique you use to enhance strike detection while fishing jigs? Didn't you suggest with your non-reel hand holding the line in-between your index finger right before it enters the reel or something similar?

11 hours ago, 813basstard said:

What do you think ‘they’ are catching them on?? Wonder bread and a bobber?

Boiled peanuts and miller lites? 
They all catch’em on those five you listed. They just do it a lot more and a lot better than we do currently..

 

I'm not sure if "you're" being a smart ass/ grammar nazi because I used "they are" instead of "they're" or "the baits are", but thanks for quoting me and your insightful contribution. I have no idea who you're referring to with 'they'.

20 hours ago, islandbass said:

And even harder for shorebound folk like me, lol.  I’ve been tempted to buy a surf rod to really get it out and offshore from a shorebound POV. 

 

I need to force myself to actually force myself to bass fish in the winter. Prospects are nearly zero chance from the shore this time of year for me. I don’t think I’ve fished for bass more than 5 times this past decade in the winter. Sad but true. 
 

 

I feel like most surf fishing is done with treble hooked artificials or chunk bait on circles, either hook being an easy set. The idea of setting a 4 or 5/0 jig or worm hook at the distance a good surf rod can launch one worries me, but I bet, just maybe, it might be a decent possibility. 

On 1/4/2020 at 9:34 AM, Hawkeye21 said:

Being a kayak tourney fisherman I need to force myself to make a move when the bite slows down and I'm struggling.  I really struggle with taking the time to move to a new location that will take time to get to and I end up wasting time in an area that isn't producing fish.  It's so hard to decide on giving up time fishing to paddle far or even load up and move to a new spot but I think it has to be done sometimes.  It's all about time management when fishing a kayak tourney.

Getting into it this year.  I have this problem already and I'm not even tourney fishing!  I'll be on Lake Lanier in April though, trying to ****** big spots off beds and trying to win that KBF Open.

On 1/3/2020 at 9:41 AM, BillP said:

I have to learn to use the tackle I have instead of buying more.

I have to learn to use my baitcaster better so I get less backlashes.

And lastly...

I have to learn to accept that there are some poor lost souls that do not like fishing.

I fished with a Florida guide Dec 27-28. On the second day he said "I noticed you haven't backlashed yet." I suppose he sees a lot of inexperienced anglers in his profession. I said "I don't usually use Shimano Curados to chunk 3/4 oz. walking baits." ? 

 

I need to force myself to go in Jan-Feb. I don't want to miss some of the biggest accessible bass of the year because it's a bit uncomfy out there. I did go Sat. I zeroed and watched my buddy catch a 5 pounder. ?

This year I'd say I'd have to crank more, fish river current, throw larger swimbaits, and get more comfortable fishing shallow. 

Force myself to fish Flouro. Yuck

On 1/3/2020 at 10:02 AM, FishinBuck07 said:

I have to gain the confidence and force myself to take the boat out and fish on my own more often, my fishing partners suck. (Can't pull their heads out of their you know whats long enough to go fishing).  Last year was the first year I have owned a boat and was a little iffy going out by myself.  Also need to force myself to fish finesse more than I have been.

I have a buddy that likes to fish and does it more than I do. But I still prefer to go by myself most of the time. I'm my own best buddy.

On 1/3/2020 at 2:55 PM, RickB said:

Fish with a Zoom Fluke until I catch something, use a spinner bait less.

Go to a pond. You won't be able to keep them off it.

On 1/5/2020 at 9:40 AM, Catt said:

The last couple of years I have ignored the Punch Rig even though I know it's essential in my area.

 

Keep one tied on year round ?