4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Pretty sure I'm a 'natural' when it comes to this deal.

Unfortunately, it doesn't make for very good video.

🤓

A-Jay

Don't underestimate the value of showing your fellow anglers that they aren't the only ones that suck! 😁 

Fishing shows back in the day (Virgil Ward, In-Fisherman, Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin), all had an impact on me.

 

I would see them catching fish on _____, and immediately think I needed that lure, or that rod/reel set up, or to be fishing that lake, in that way....all in order to catch fish. 

 

Now with YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc., it's even worse. Keep reminding myself they are all out there, posting those videos, trying to get clicks, sell product, increase "influence," and make a buck. 

 

I think it was my Uncle who said, "The world is all about separating you from your hard earned $$$" (or something like that). 

 

This thread is a good reminder to settle the heck down, get back to my roots, and fish with what's catching fish. Case in point...on Sunday I set my wife's boy up with a 1/16 oz. jig and gulp minnow...a known producer on my home lake. He proceeded to catch 5 panfish while I threw a blue fleck power worm, then a swimbait, then a jig-n-craw...and caught nothing. 

 

Then I gave in, and tied on the gulp minnow...and started catching crappie and bluegill...and even a 17" LMB, and a few small LMB's.

@Craig P  Yer not crazy, yer in good company.  Al Linder tells that Ron Lindner would change his lure or presentation as soon as he started catching fish.  His reasoning:  "How are ya gonna learn if ya don't."

Depends on the purpose of my trip. Sometimes I go out on trial runs where if I start hammering them on something I will try something new. If I'm in a competition I might change after getting a limit to try and increase the size of fish. Most the time, I'm just going to keep catching them on what is working. Not gonna leave fish, to find fish ya know. 

I used to have a terrible habit of paying too much attention to the Sportsman’s Warehouse ad - err “fishing report” and wanting to try out the new stuff I bought based on what Bassmaster said, and subsequently abandoning what I knew worked. 
 

Couple years ago, fishing a night tournament came up blank. Last hour switched to my “drop in the toilet and catch a fish” bait, and picked up a 9.5 lb sack - good enough for 5th. That was when I learned my lesson of keeping a rod at the ready with what I know works, then tinkering with the other stuff after getting a few in the boat.