We're not supposed to like it when bass jump because they often throw the hook, but when they bust out of the water with their big mouths agape and gills flared, they are magnificent and I can't help but love the moment, even if they swim free.

 

What's your "We're not supposed to, but...."?

Can’t agree more..

We’re not supposed to like catching only 1 fish but I’m not after every 1 lb fish in the lake and when I get one big bite in 6 hours I like it the best.

Pat, you're not supposed to not like catching one fish because you're a big bass angler. I truly don't like catching one fish because I'm a busy boater.

 

Here's another one: We not supposed to love trolling for bass because bass anglers are supposed to cast, but I love the paddling, being free to watch for birds and beasts, and the thrill of watching my rod bend and bend and bend backwards. 

My favorite days are definitely the days where it’s a busy big girls boat day - rare - but it does happen!

 

but I’d trade 20 sub 12” bass for one 22” bass any day of the week.

1 minute ago, Pat Brown said:

those days are rare but they sure do happen!

 

Yeah, I have one of those busy boat big bass days here and there. This was one, all caught on the same morning and many others:

 

 

When I can no longer fish frosty mornings, such memories will keep me warm.

...catch bass on topwaters every time out. But I always have one rigged up. Sometimes as many as 3 to start the day. Rumor has it the Whopper Plopper doesn't work anymore. LOL. It's been my 2nd best lure of 2025. I caught a nice one in February on it.

 

...use straight braid. I do this for almost all my rods now. Just got tired of losing bass because of the leader knot. If they aren't worried about the hook and the weight, they most likely don't care about the line 95% of the time. On the trebles, I just adjust my drag/thumb accordingly. Also, baits cost too much now to be losing.

 

...catch big bass shallow in the dog days. Pssshhh!!! Some of my biggest bass have been so shallow I hit them with the lure. They're still there or close by if there's grass around.

27 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

My favorite days are definitely the days where it’s a busy big girls boat day - rare - but it does happen!

 

but I’d trade 20 sub 12” bass for one 22” bass any day of the week.

I'm the same. When the 2 lb. bass won't bite the usual stuff I don't downsize. I go for broke. If I catch one good bass, my day has been made. Saturday I only caught 3 fish. A dink, an average size crappie and this 6-1. But I had a good fight and got one to add to my "fish over 3 lbs." log. BTW, I got it shallow on a size 10 X-Rap.

33 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

but I’d trade 20 sub 12” bass for one 22” bass any day of the week.

 

We all would!

 

11 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

 

...use straight braid. I do this for almost all my rods now.

 

Me too! @T-Billy three!

I love when a big bass tail-walks across the surface. If it results in a thrown hook, I prefer them to not breach, but if they do it’s always exciting.

3 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I love when a big bass tail-walks across the surface. If it results in a thrown hook, I prefer them to not breach, but if they do it’s always exciting.

When I was a kid watching Bill Dance I thought you were supposed to encourage the acrobatics. LOL.

Every time I see my line start racing towards the surface I think "O man this is going to be great" and then quickly " no no I'm not supposed to want this, it will throw the hook" and lower my rod tip into the water. 

I'm not supposed to use black spinnerbaits in the day time, but I do it anyway.

I guess I'm not supposed to love days where I don't catch many fish or not big fish, but I've been so blessed to fish so many amazing places that just being there is great. I've had days where the bite is nonexistent but the scenery and wildlife were so amazing I could still say what a great day.

 Don't get me wrong, for years it seemed like I was always after more fish, bigger fish, just one more cast.

I had many days out on the salt that were 200 + fish days. 

 But now that I'm in my seventies I'm just glad to still be able to still just be there.  

I'm not supposed to eat bananas in the boat, but I do.

I love it when I hook a new PB in Coldwater. She can hardly jump at all, mostly does the slow motion wallow just under the surface. And eventually, like a puppy dog on a leash, swims herself directly into my waiting net.

Hey, a man can dream can't he ? 

A-Jay

 

I'm not supposed to like my Diawa Zillion on my Shimano Expride rod or My Shimano Metanium on my Diawa BLX rod but I do.  I also throw deep diving crankbaits on 30# braid with no leader.

FM

12 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I'm not supposed to like my Diawa Zillion on my Shimano Expride rod or My Shimano Metanium on my Diawa BLX rod but I do. 

 

I'm cool with mixed marriages too.

 

Another: 

 

We're not supposed to enjoy catching bass with bait. I'm not doing it currently, but I've caught thousands of smallies with leeches. It's so exciting when you feel that tiny tap and set your hook into three pounds of brown fury or five pounds of hard-diving walleye. 

37 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I'm not supposed to eat bananas in the boat, but I do.

Someone ban this man from the forum 

OMG, I forgot my big "not supposed to do."

 

I'm not supposed to use spinning rods for everything, but I do because I can cast accurately with them and I believe I cast longer with them. I wish you guys could see me cast under bushes with my spinning rods like the baitcasting pros do. 

9 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

We're not supposed to like it when bass jump because they often throw the hook, but when they bust out of the water with their big mouths agape and gills flared, they are magnificent and I can't help but love the moment, even if they swim free.

 

Not just bass. I had a roughly 40" muskie rocket up and eat a spinner just under the surface about 10' from the boat this morning. Immediately after the hookset and those initial big head shakes, it launched about 4' into the air, bounced off my trolling motor, circled back around the bow, and launched again, doing a backflip on about 5' of line. It came unbuttoned mid backflip and swam off. It would have been nice to net it, but I'm grateful for that awesome bite and short but exhilarating fight. 

 

I'm not supposed to set the hook as soon as I see a topwater bite but after 50 years of topwater fishing I still do.  I still miss most of my bites, but I guess I am just a slow learner.

I'm not supposed to dream of the multiple big swimbait bass that have jumped and thrown my bait. But I do.

Below is a pic of those bass.

I'm not supposed to cut my main line when I'm trying to cut the tag off a new knot but I do regularly.  Then I say words I'm not supposed to say when I toss my untethered lure into the water and watch it sink out of sight.

 

 

We're not supposed to be happy with what we have, but I don't crave new rods and reels and a bigger, faster boat. I'm happy fishing small and old.

 

Plus, we're not supposed to pass up bigger bass for smaller bass, but I do. It's just so much easier on me to fish my pond instead of bogs. My pond is closer and has a canoe sitting in the water waiting for me. Yeah, the bass aren't bog bass, but they're big enough for me:

 

28 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I'm not supposed to cut my main line when I'm trying to cut the tag off a new knot but I do regularly. 

 

LOL, glad I'm not the only one.