1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

Before the internet was available, all we had were magazines, and advice from other fisherman.                 I read all sorts of magazine articles back then. After a few years, I realized that much of the info I read didn't always apply to my lakes. I bought lots of baits that I've never caught anything on.                                                                 Now, I've narrowed it down to a few things that work the best on my own lakes.                            Because of the internet, we're flooded with info now. Much of it is useful, some pure hogwash. We've all become skeptical to a degree. I think it comes down to being able to take in the info you learn, and apply it to your own waters. 

I went through something similar when I first started bass fishing.  I would try to add a new technique or two every month from the latest issue of Bassmaster magazine.  What I eventually learned was that every technique takes time on the water to figure out and even more time on the water to master.  You're better off focusing on mastering of a few techniques than being familiar with a bunch of them.   If you're young,  working,  and have a family,  you probably don't have time to master more than two or three techniques.  That's a very hard thing to admit to yourself.

I must be pretty decent at “not believing everything I read/hear” because I’ve never purchased a ned rig………….

 

Or jackhammer or whopper plopper 

18 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I must be pretty decent at “not believing everything I read/hear” because I’ve never purchased a ned rig………….

 

Or jackhammer or whopper plopper 

It's because you trap animals for a living and the bait monkey is scared of you.

Just now, Tennessee Boy said:

It's because you trap animals for a living and the bait monkey is scared of you.

And im also a cheapskate ………. 

32 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

whopper plopper 

I'll sell you mine.  Its basically brand new, 3 years old.  Then you can say you have one even though it won't work.

51 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I'll sell you mine.  Its basically brand new, 3 years old.  Then you can say you have one even though it won't work.

I have one, it was a gift from a generous fisherman. I haven’t caught one yet but I did have something hit it really hard once 

 

I also found another one in the water  but can’t remember where I put it 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I must be pretty decent at “not believing everything I read/hear” because I’ve never purchased a ned rig………….

 

Or jackhammer or whopper plopper 

There's a guy that fishes tournaments at Norris and he donates lures to me every year.

He's turned me onto some really good things I would never have purchased myself.

A short list includes Shower Blows topwater, Whopper Plopper (x 3), Jackhammer(x 2), S-waver swim bait, Spro rock Crawler(X2), 6th Sense deep diver and quite a few smaller poppers.

 

He's got to be the worst caster of all time, probably fishes night tourneys and he ties everything with the cheap snaps that have the 2 prongs sticking out. I don't know who likes the guy more me or the bait monkey!!

 

I believe (or at least I hope) that lying not is a big issue here. But I do believe that confirmation bias colors most peoples opinions - even informed opinions.  That is why contextual information or consistency with personal experience is important to be able to filter the signal from the noise.

23 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I will say that in over 40yrs of bass fishing, the only thing that actually worked as taught was Slider Fishing by Charlie Brewer. 

<takes off hat and kneels>

<the clouds part and angels begin to sing>

Interesting subject with lots of good responses. I have learned to not pay much attention to sponsored fishermen since they will tell you the tackle they are using is the best since they are getting paid for convincing people to buy the tackle from their sponsors. The worst ones are the sponsored fishermen that overhype tackle that is of average quality at best. That is why I pay more attention to real fishermen who do well and fish just to have fun, these are the type of fishermen you can get honest advice from. 

On 10/18/2021 at 9:12 AM, 813basstard said:

That 3 foot deep, black, 93 degree Florida water brings them back to reality in a hurry. 

If you can do well in the Summer in Florida you can do well almost anywhere. Post cold front conditions is another time that will show who really knows what they are doing.

On 10/18/2021 at 10:58 AM, Catt said:

The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

Well said.

You cannot have my whopper ploppers. I have caught some very nice fish on them. So, that tells me they worked when and where and how I fished them. But it doesn't tell you they will work if and when and where you might decide to fish them. Doesn't even mean they will work the next time I do the exact same thing.

 

See, this is the joy of fishing. There is a way for it to frustrate everyone.