1 hour ago, Zcoker said:

three fish in the 7-8 pound class, one on a jig, two on a punch rig, all three of them won lol 

 

And that's why they're seven to eight pounds: Brains and brawn. 

 

16 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

And that's why they're seven to eight pounds: Brains and brawn. 

 

No kidding, smarty fishies. I think their mouths are just so massive, all that massive space for lures to detach easily. Bucket mouth is very fitting! 

18 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

 

No kidding, smarty fishies. I think their mouths are just so massive, all that massive space for lures to detach easily. Bucket mouth is very fitting! 

My thought always was that larger fish have tougher mouths and thicker lips. Hook needs more space and more force. Sometimes the angle winds up being bad too. I also do think you’re right that there’s a lot of wiggle room for a hook to come loose in a larger fish’s mouth. 
 

 

12 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

My thought always was that larger fish have tougher mouths and thicker lips. Hook needs more space and more force. Sometimes the angle winds up being bad too. I also do think you’re right that there’s a lot of wiggle room for a hook to come loose in a larger fish’s mouth. 
 

 

 

They’re also very good at subjecting the lure to just about every possible angle by jumping and thrashing and swimming all over the water. I once had a big 8 pounder press and shake it’s face against the side of my kayak, almost as if trying to use the hard surface to dislodge the lure! Now that was a first lol 

6 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

 

They’re also very good at subjecting the lure to just about every possible angle by jumping and thrashing and swimming all over the water. I once had a big 8 pounder press and shake it’s face against the side of my kayak, almost as if trying to use the hard surface to dislodge the lure! Now that was a first lol 

 

They do use what's available to dislodge hooks. Many times this summer, I had bass run for the reeds. If they reach the reeds, they free themselves. I hooked one nice bass in open water and there was one small stand of reeds. She saw it, ran for it, and freed herself. 

Im a 10 at providing fish dinners of all kinds. 
Bass fishing ? Overall around a 5 I’d say. Higher in my home lake - at least an 8 in there….

some of the time anyway?

I’m a 6 In the spring and a 1 in the winter. 

I dont like rating myself, I typically always will devalue myself more than I should.

 

Regardless Its hard for me to judge because its my consistency that is lacking. Its rare I'm skunked and when I do catch a fish a 3.5lb is on the smaller of the average now BUT it can take me a while to find the fish. My gut instinct is horrible most times guessing where fish are but I do have processes to find them. Some days takes longer than others but when I do start catching I can apply that to other areas of the lake. The quality of my day really comes down to how quickly I can get on them...which I guess is the bulk of the battle. 

On 10/2/2023 at 8:37 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

My thought always was that larger fish have tougher mouths and thicker lips. Hook needs more space and more force. Sometimes the angle winds up being bad too. I also do think you’re right that there’s a lot of wiggle room for a hook to come loose in a larger fish’s mouth. 
 

 

 

I complained for about a month and a half about the big fish I was losing. Then, when I switched to smaller lures for the fall, I started landing the big ones. I think higher water and dying weeds helped, but I also think the smaller hooks helped, for with a smaller hook, there's less metal to punch through their bony mouths.

 

In a canoe, I'll never be able to set a hook with the force of a fisher standing on a bass boat. In a canoe, I've only my old arms to set the hook, but a standing fisher gets to use the much larger muscles of their legs too. 

In between 6 and 7.

I'm a 6. Wish I was better.

Well they don't have a number for a old Duffer so maybe a 6 for me this year. Hope to work out some of my physical difficulties next year maybe that will gete back on track.

How would I rate myself, you ask?

 

 

But seriously, probably a 5. 6 on a good day. 

solid 6 here.  helps that i think my two friends are 4's.  

 

number rating doesnt change a bit if we are talking about our looks either.

5

 

Competent club-level fishermen.  If I dedicated myself to fishing with my old club for the entire schedule I feel I would finish top 5, maybe top 3.  

On 10/2/2023 at 8:54 AM, Skunkmaster-k said:

I’m a 6 In the spring and a 1 in the winter. 

this is awesome.  hahaha

A 7 down in Texas/Mexico. Up here in MI I'm a 5

I'd say a 6. Certainly a lot of people in my area that catch more and bigger fish. I feel like I have so much to learn. But I feel like I'm very dialed in with tackle and techniques, and usually when I have a bad day, so did everyone else at the ramp.