How to fish your own way

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Fishing your own way, finding your own pattern, this is something that I need to get better at.

Anyone can go online, YouTube, fishing magazines, this find someone telling you how to catch fish. Your buddy can tell you where they were biting last weekend, the guy at the boat ramp can tell you how he caught a 25lb bag, and I think this all gets into your brain whether you realize it or not.  I feel like this can be really detrimental to your fishing.

I can’t remember where I heard it, but something I heard a while back stuck with me. It was that if you copy somebody else’s pattern, the best you could do is fish as good as they were, but most likely you’re going to fish  worse than them. 
Do you have any advice on how to just clear your mind and fish, without trying to chase a pattern from someone else, or even an old pattern of yours? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. 

[gim]

Although I think bass resource is a great place to find just about anything bass-fishing related, there is one item that it isn't very good at.  When someone is looking for advice, quite often people from all over the country will chime in.  What happens in Texas is really nothing like what occurs in Wisconsin during most of the year.  IMO this is when the local regional threads are more helpful and it's the reason I try to post more specific trip details in the MN one.

 

I've tried to focus on about 7-10 lakes the past decade or so and develop a seasonal pattern on what bass tend to do during spring, summer, and fall.  When I first started fishing these lakes regularly, I wasn't very successful.  But as the years have gone on, I feel like I've learned them and I've been more consistent solely based on experience.

 

I find water temperature to be a critical detail at certain times of the year too - most specifically in the spring and the fall.

[Mobasser]

I think it all takes time. But, you'll end up a better fisherman by finding patterns yourself, and fishing your way, with your style.

[Pat Brown]

Confidence baits!!!!   It really begins and ends with confidence.

[WRB]

Back in the day before the internet all we had was sporting magazines and TV fishing programs. Both were promoting products for ads to tell sell.
In-Fisherman was a 1st by promote fishing knowledge primarily with products second to support revenue. Unbiased knowledge is hard to come by especially today.

I want you to know knowledge shared that is mine on this forum or magazines article is unbiased from my experience.

Today everyone is in a hurry and fishing experienced can’t rushed but it can be shared.

Tom

[A-Jay]

@August ~ How to fish your own way.

Great question.

Unfortunately I think the only one that can answer that for you - is You !

Each basshead does some form of this

but how they got to it is their way, not yours.

So passing on info regarding the question almost defeats the purpose.

I totally get why you're asking and it makes a ton of sense.

Especially today where everything is such an information over load

it's hard to know what the heck to do.

Despite all of that, my version for you to finding your own way to fish

starts with the bass itself.

Forget about rods, reels, lines, lures and patterns.

Forget it.

Instead perhaps start at the beginning.

Learn all you can about the life cycle of a bass.

From the spawn, to the hatching of the eggs, to how fingerlings manage to survive and eventually grow into adulthood.

Learn about what they eat at each stage of their life, what do they do when they are not eating.

Where to they hang out in the spring, summer, fall & winter;

and more importantly, why?

With this approach you'll not be putting the cart before the horse.

In other words, how can you know what baits to fish,

where to fish and when to fish, if you don't know about  . . . . . . The Fish ? ? ?

Then, take what you're learned and apply it, your way.

Don't ask for help, expect to struggle, remember there are NO time limits on learning to find and catch bass and bass do not care if you've fished 5 minutes or 5 decades.

No need to compare your results with what anyone else is doing.

Who cares ?  It will never effect what you do or do not do unless you let it. 

But then, it will happen.

You'll develop the August way of catching bass.

Believe me, it's a good time. 

It's about the journey not the destination. 

Have fun.

A-Jay

 

 

[papajoe222]

One way to avoid those 'traps' is to study the lake you'll be fishing beforehand, take into consideration the season and recent weather, then put together a loose plan on where to start your search. Do just that, search until you either locate fish or at the least some sort of cover on or near a structural element. Then determine the depth and activity level of the fish. Now you have a loose pattern of where to find more fish. Catch fish on a second spot and you can refine your pattern to eliminate more water. If conditions change during the day, at the very least you know where they were and can then deduce where they may have gone, or if they're still there, what you need to change to continue catching.

[casts_by_fly]

There is something to be said for putting in the time on your own lakes, fish them with a whole bunch of different things at different times, and adapt from there. Doing that, you can figure out the things and styles you like to fish as well as what the fish like on your waters. But the kitchen sink method can only go so far. You can only throw one rod at a time and time is limited. What I’ve found useful is to fish with someone who knows what they are doing and learn something. For me, I try to fish with my dad a couple times a year. I mean, he’s only been doing it for 50 years so…. Putting him on my lakes and seeing how he approaches it is something new. Me going to his lakes and fishing what I think I should be while he does his usual thing is similar. 

[Catt]

Everyone has their own personal repertoire of confusion that works for them. 

 

Knowledge comes from our experiences,  wisdom comes from an accumulation of the understanding of knowledge we rereceived over time. 

[Reel]

Finding your own way is difficult.  There is no security in doing it.  You can't say: ''That's the way everybody is doing it'' . If you dont' catch, you can't say : ''the fish are just not biting''.  You might spend days doing it and not catching fish.  

So this is how I go about it.  I spend the morning in spots that I know hold fish using lures that I know will produce.  I usually catch some fish doing that.

In the afternoon, I spend at least a couple of hours experimenting : 

-Going to places that  I would not normally go to ( and that others don't go to) and that do not fit known concepts for that time of year or that type of water  

-Using lures that have just come out or old popular baits from a few years ago or lures that are different.  

That way I balance success and familiarity with the unknown.

Maybe you will find that there is no greater satisfaction than catching a couple of five pounders in a spot where there is nobody, using a lure that nobody is using.

[Zcoker]

 

In the end, it’s all about catching fish, and how you go about that and to what extent is up to you because, ultimately, everything is in your hands. If you feel that you need to mimic someone else’s style or techniques, you’re still the one doing that. Take pride in what you do as a unique individual because nothing in the universe can ever take your place! 

[scaleface]

Dont get locked into doing something because that is the way its suppose to be done. Br open minded.

[Tackleholic]

I fish for enjoyment.  I enjoy trying out new lures, rods, reels, etc..  Even when I know others are catchin' them with certain methods and lures while I'm blanking out, I will usually continue my own way.  I have the boat, electronics, and experience to cover all bases, but some methods are unappealing.  For example, I don't enjoy "video game fishing".  Drop shotting, Damiki, jigging spoons, live bait, etc., are boring to me and I'm not entering tournaments or concerned with filling the freezer because that would turn my hobby into a job.

[TnRiver46]

Fishing my own way is the only way I’ve ever done any good at all, trying other peoples stuff is almost always a failure 

[Skunkmaster-k]

While I’m fishing I sing the theme song from Laverne and Shirley.  It’s a great way to remind myself to do it my way , yes , my way. Makes all my dreams come true for me and you. 

[Catt]

7 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

While I’m fishing I sing the theme song from Laverne and Shirley

 

There's s reason I'm in the sound booth!

[bowhunter63]

Always learning new stuff. Take what I learn and change it to where it fits me. Have been using spinning more and more. 

[Fishing_Rod]

17 hours ago, August said:

Do you have any advice on how to just clear your mind and fish

Greetings All,
You are on the path towards your aspirations, by simply asking the question. Now it is up to you to listen and learn, figuratively. The location you are at can tell you a great deal if you are willing to listen. Start somewhere where you are comfortable and enjoy the surroundings. While doing that pay attention to what is before you. Are the waves churning the shoreline? Do you see signs of baitfish, weeds, etc. If food is in the area then you have one of the necessary elements.

 

Because right now is the fall season. I will look at the conditions of the weeds as a simple decision point. Are they green or brown. Basically are they providing a place to thrive or simply a structure to hide in?

Of course temperament / determination come into play too. How determined are you? Doctor, Doctor, it hurts when I do this! (Doctor replies: Then don't do that...) At some point if you seek results and what you are doing is not producing, then a different approach is recommended.

 

Information published is a helpful guide as a plausible approach, it still benefits from paying attention to your environment and applying those considerations for your own approach.

 

A theme that has been helpful to me for angling and off-road travel has been "As slow as possible, as fast as necessary." Observing fish and animal responses in general has demonstrated to me when using that theme, it gets them captivated on what you are offering and provides them ample opportunity for a strike. Being on-line is good, right? (An angler's perspective)

 

Be well, and Cheers!

[crypt]

time on the water is the best teacher of all.    but if you want to try something do this.....take 1 rod and reel and 1 bait that you have faith in and use that and that only that  until you feel that you want try other things. that way you are in control of you .Not being influenced by others.

[Functional]

17 hours ago, August said:

Do you have any advice on how to just clear your mind and fish, without trying to chase a pattern from someone else, or even an old pattern of yours?

Not hard to do when all the information flies out of your head the minute you get on the water!

 

Honestly though my approach has just focused on how I like to fish. 

I started reading up on all the different techniques and "offshore is less busy", "fishing grass is exciting you fight them out in the slop", etc. etc. etc. I ended up with 15 different rods with stuff I didnt know how to really use and zipping all over the lake. I was a "Chicken on a tractor" as I've heard the term lately. (Cute but has no idea what its doing). 

 

I just ended up finding a handful of lures I enjoy fishing and picking areas where I could fish them effectively. Things have been going ok with that approach and I enjoy it. 

[king fisher]

I always fish my way, that is easy.  My problem is catching bass.