1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

. I do not care much what some sponsored fisherman tells me is the best technique, I follow my own path

 

   This is the beginning of learning.     jj

#1 Location

#2 Presentation and Speed which leads to;

#3 Bait Type/Profile

#4 Timing

#5 Color

What is the #1 factor needed to determine where the bass are located?

Location appears to be odds on consensus to catching bass.
The 3 R’s;  right location, right lure at the right time.  
Answer “seasonal period”.

How to determine what seasonal period it is the bass are in so you can find them and determine location, Water temperature controls bass behavior.
Now in most regions it’s fall transitioning to winter.  Surface temps dropping from low 60’s to mid 50’s. 
Where are the bass?
The answer is where the bait is. What depth is the bait? The answer is on your sonar screen. 
when  I launch my boat the 1st thing I do is turn on the sonar to determine water temp and bait/bass depth. 
when I know the seasonal period, the depth and bait source the location is easy to determine, lure selection and presentation is limited to location color is usually trail and error to dial in,

Tom

 

 

 

Tier 1- Easily the most important.

1)  Location, location, location!  You can't catch fish if there are none around.  I'd much rather be in the right spot with the wrong bait than the wrong spot with the right bait.  

 

Tier 2-  As long as you are in the right spot.

2)  Timing (not seasonality)- When fish turn on you can catch them in a lot of different ways.

 

Tier 3- all of these are similar in importance.  The bait type usually dictates the presentation style and to some degree color.  

3)  Bait presentation

4)  Bait type

5)  Bait color

 

has anyone said location yet?

 

that’s my pick

Once a location is selected my main consideration is "moving" lure or

bottom bait. Next is depth.

Seems like we need some definition of terms here, as this discussion has become pretty convoluted. For example, ‘Location’ can be worthless and low ranking depending upon the definition given to it.

34 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Seems like we need some definition of terms here, as this discussion has become pretty convoluted. For example, ‘Location’ can be worthless and low ranking depending upon the definition given to it.

This should help:

https://www.bassresource.com/beginner/finding-fish-guide.html

4 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

This should help:

https://www.bassresource.com/beginner/finding-fish-guide.html

 

Thanks, but I’m thinking more in terms of the OP’s initial question. If ‘location’ is defined as the lake you show up at and spots are limited by access due to being on the bank, location becomes rather meaningless because ‘it is what it is.’ That’s a lot different than some of the answers which assume boat access and are shooting for ‘the best location on the lake’ to increase your odds of a bite. 

When I think of location it’s where the bass I want to catch are located. 
Bass are located all around any lake, river or pond . Not interested in juvenile size bass only adults. Since bass can be everywhere my goal to to find a location where active feeders can be caught. Location becomes locations if a pattern develops. 
Tom

8 hours ago, Team9nine said:

 

Thanks, but I’m thinking more in terms of the OP’s initial question. If ‘location’ is defined as the lake you show up at and spots are limited by access due to being on the bank, location becomes rather meaningless because ‘it is what it is.’ That’s a lot different than some of the answers which assume boat access and are shooting for ‘the best location on the lake’ to increase your odds of a bite. 

 

My game, my rules ?

 

By location I mean finding where the fish are in that body of water. Depth is not a consideration in my question because it rolls up into finding the fish. Again, I'm keeping things general here. There are plenty more options that could be added but chose not to do so.

 

As for my mentioning the bank, I stated that because in many cases fishing the banks there are many times where I can't fish locations because I'd have to walk in someone's private property whereas in a boat you probably have access to that location.

 

Some boaters also have the advantage of electronics in finding fish. That can help them better target location and depth whereas from the bank anglers like me have to thoroughly work a location at different depths before moving on or we could easily miss out on catching anything.

 

And again, part of this question is to see if there's a difference between boat anglers and bank anglers in ranking these options.

Location (for me this includes timing) and presentation - forget the rest.

Location 

Depth

Speed

In that order

 

 

 

 

Mike

4 hours ago, Mike L said:

Location 

Depth

Speed

In that order

 

 

 

 

Mike

Only one of those is among the valid choices.

1 hour ago, Koz said:

Only one of those is among the valid choices.

Ok Koz

Using your parameters...

Location 

Timing

Presentation

Type

Color

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

Presentation, location, timing, lure type,  color

I fish at least 5 days a week with one trip from the boat and 4 trips from the bank in lakes that surround my house.  I will give you one big piece for bank fishing advice, when it is tough, slow down and down size.  Let that bait soak after casting.  Just shake a little and let it soak again.  Sometimes just slow drag with pauses as it comes to a change in structure or vegetation.  It has saved many a day when fishing was beyond tough!

> WHERE   (Location)

> WHEN     (Timing)

> HOW       (Presentation)

 

The above trio is the backbone of every fishing system, something carved in stone

before we were born. No one doubts the importance of ‘Location’, which would also

appear as the logical place to begin, but Location hinges directly on 'Timing'.

This brings us to 'How" (presentation), which rests solidly on the combination

of 'Where' & 'When'. Although "Presentation" may be the last addressed, 

it represents the most complex and most telling factor. 

 

All that said, I personally treat all 3 components as equal, because none of them

can stand alone. Rather than look for a hierarchy, my first step always is to create

a framework based on a 3-part query: Species – Waterbody – Season.

(e.g. Blackfish - Long Branch, New Jersey - Early fall)

Once the framework is established, I’m free to knock myself out regarding Where, When & How.

At this stage of the game, “WHEN” relates to Time-of-day, Weather and Water conditions.

 

How all this data is gathered and how it's applied, separates the dinks from the toads  ?

 

Roger

 

 

 

 

On 11/12/2020 at 11:13 AM, brrbass said:

For me its

location

timing

presentation

type

color

 

This right here^^

The first two are FAR more important tthan the rest, IMHO.

 

Tom