Some thoughts on Bass Fishing

[justfishin]

Wow, I am a professional pool player too. I play pocket pool a lot. ;D

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Thanks Catt for this thread. I decided last night to just give my recomendation for equipment and such and I don't have to defend anything, A guy asks for experience and we share it with eachother I don't wanna be KVD or Bill Dance I just wanna be Muddy, havin the time of my life every time I am blessed to be out fishin

Speaking iof advice I have that Trigg on the Rod going out Tue and Wed and trying that spot Thanks for your encouragement all the time Catt you bee 8-) with me

[Guest avid]

This is a great thread.

I really enjoy when when passionate, differing opinions are expressed with intellegence and civility.

ON SKILL - My personal opinion is that the elite pro's are outstanding bass fisherman.  There challenge is to find fish in huge bodies of water and under whatever conditions are presant at the time.  The guys like Ike, and KVD and others who can do this consistantly are highly skilled anglers.

Big bass specialists like are own Fish Chris, are also highly skilled fisherman.  As BH (the headless basser ) points out it takes alot of skill, dedication, and perserverence to consistantly catch double digits.  Personally I admire the Big bass guys more, because I can't muster the discipline to "go big or go home"  Kudo's to you.

ON HYPE - Let's remember that unlike other sports Pro bassers do not get paid a salary.  If KVD were the best Football, baseball, basketball, and fuggedaboud soccer star, he would be pulling down double digit millions of dollars a year just in salary.  Plus the endorsement bucks.

So these dedicated, hard working, skilled guys have no choice but to earn as much as they can while they are "hot" by pimping for Big Tackle.

Great thread.

Great posts.

BassResource.com rocks  

[garry77]

Ithink avid summed it up in a nutshell.I have to admire the pros for having the tenacity to make a career out of fishing,and the big bass fisherman like badhabit,not because they catch lots of fish or because they catch big fish,just because they get to fish almost anytime they want.That would be so awesome to be able to fish any or every given day by your choice.

[Catt]

Tournament anglers & Big Bass anglers are both skilled at what they do but both do they same thing I've said since my first post. They go fishing when they can, they fish with baits they have confidence in, & they let the chips fall where they may.

Take these simple elements of knowledge, bass strike a bait more often out of reaction than hunger, bass like cover of some type, bass relate to structure what ever it is.

The human tendency is to respond to failure and frustration by the over-complication rather than simplification of technique and theory.

[feldtbass23]

I've read these forums for about two months now while staying quiet. However, this thread finally made me talk...

I personally love this thread, and the fact that Catt and Needemp are in such a good debate. To add to what Catt said, I think that somewhere you said that most people wouldn't have the desire to be out on the Pro circuits for over 200 days. However, I think if you asked many of the Pros if they loved what they do for a living (or trying to make a living), than you would get a very positive response. However, I do agree with you that there are so many theories to bass fishing and that nobody will ever figure it out. So I do stay with my confidence baits, especially around local ponds and let the chips fall as they may.

I agree with avid in the sense that I never "go big or go home." I throw on what I think will catch the most fish, and not the biggest. And although the Hawg Hunters should be very respected, it's very hard not to say that people like KVD or any person trying to make a career out of fishing isn't very "ballsy." Although it takes a lot of skill, many fisherman fish circuit tournaments and go to work at a seperate job while trying to persue their dream early in their careers. If that isn't respectful, than I don't know what is.

Instead of being drafted like other Pro sports it's you against the water. Anybody who is fishing legally gets my respect. Thanks for listening guys, and by the way the name's Mike ;]

[Needemp]

I am back from my family trip. I agree with what some people have stated. We can have a logical debate without letting our emmotions take control. I understand a lot better now where you are coming from, CATT. I don't agree yet, but hey, I am opened-minded enough that if I see the things you are talking about, I might end up on your side of the fence.

[Guest avid]

Tournament anglers & Big Bass anglers are both skilled at what they do but both do they same thing I've said since my first post. They go fishing when they can, they fish with baits they have confidence in, & they let the chips fall where they may.

Catt,

I have to disagree with you on this.  There are significant differences between the big bass guys and the tournament pro's.

The tournament pro's cannot "fish when they can"  They MUST fish at the scheduled time on the chosen lake.

The big bass hunters can choose the lake and times they think will give them the best shot at a lunker.

I'm not sure what you mean by "letting the chips fall where they may"  If it means accepting the outcome well, is there really any other choice?

But any angler driven to win a tournament or catch a big fish, or just hit some personal mark, is going to aggresively pursue his goal. The chips will fall for sure, but some people are better at accepting defeat than others.  That's one reason why champions are champions.  

[Catt]

Actually avid the pros can choose to fish a peculiar lake and not another although not very beneficial to their income. Now we are getting into semantics which will only get away from the point. "letting the chips fall where they may" means if you go fishing any time you can, using the techniques you have confidence in, fish the areas you believe to hold fish & the outcome will be what is ever it is because you have done you part.

Do the things you have control over, don't fret over the things you can't control, & by all means K.I.S.S.

[cart7t]

I'm going to disagree with this part

"letting the chips fall where they may" means if you go fishing any time you can, using the techniques you have confidence in, fish the areas you believe to hold fish & the outcome will be what is ever it is because you have done you part.

If a pro tour angler used this line of thinking he'd probably bomb half the time he went out on the water.  The one thing that sets the pro anglers apart from most is their ability to fish waters and techniques they aren't familiar with or have 100% confidence in in order to adapt to the water conditions or lake type they're fishing.  If he used the technique you're describing, he'd try and find water that best suited his style of fishing, lure presentation and technique and THEN the chips would fall where they may.  Most of those pro's though become familiar with all types of techniques because they have to in order to remain competitive.  A guy like Denny Brauer may be known as a jig flippin expert but he's just as adept at switching to drop shotting if he has to. He may not like to drop shot, Probably doesn't have anywhere near the confidence in it as others but he will catch fish doing it.  Conversly, KVD, who's best known as a spinnerbait king could switch to flippin to put fish in the boat if he had to.  He may not necessarily like to do it nor be 100% comfortable but he can change gears like that if conditions dictate.  He made the choice to not just toss his confidence bait and let the chips fall where they may and instead, change tactics to put the odds back in his favor.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

it's simple,....the bass can't read these posts so they don't know that they were supposed to bite a dark bait on a dark day with a slow fall.  

Badhabit- don't limit yourself by geography.  I sure do care what works no matter what part of the country you're from.  A bumper sticker like that just makes you look green w/ ***  (Being from RI though,....it's understandable  ;D )

Needhemp- MANY pro's ABSOLUTELY DO rely on guides and locals to help them learn a lake.

[-badhabit-]

it's simple,....the bass can't read these posts so they don't know that they were supposed to bite a dark bait on a dark day with a slow fall.

Badhabit- don't limit yourself by geography. I sure do care what works no matter what part of the country you're from. A bumper sticker like that just makes you look green w/ *** (Being from RI though,....it's understandable ;D )

Needhemp- MANY pro's ABSOLUTELY DO rely on guides and locals to help them learn a lake.

LBH - That sticker wasn't made about fishermen. But does apply in a lot of situations though with the thick cover, shallow water, tons of types of vegetation, muck, and FL not having even 1 rock that is native (except limerock).

If you worked in construction here in FL where the laws are all much more strict because of the weather (hurricanes, tornados, hail, etc...) you would know what it meant Most things that you build here have to be built to withstand 125 mph winds. With the flood of people that move here every year and get hired to work not having a clue how to build things in FL (and all other states are north of FL). A person gets kind of tired hearing "Up home we do that this way."

I wouldn't have a clue about fishing for smallmouth or largemouth up north and would prob bomb out (+ I don't do snow ).

So don't take it personal Bro and I still look forward to putting you on a double digit bass. (doing my best to anyway) ;D

[roadwarrior]

The "science" simply improves your odds. "Consistancy" has nothing to do with luck, it is all about the science. It involves what is known about bass behavior, what experience on the water has tauught us and our perception of the clues on any given day.

Rick Clunn makes the point with this comment: "Catching bass is pretty easy, it's finding them that is the challenge."

Fish_Chris is my hero. He fishes alone (no guides), is multi-species, uses artificial and live bait, travels

to numerous water bodies, both freshwater and salt, CONSISTANTLY catches HUGE fish and uses

the "wrong" equipment. :

I don't think he's lucky...I think he's pretty good.

[Matt Fly]

Pros on both sides of the fence have different rules, ie.......FLW pros don't have a very strict off limit period as the BASS does!     Pressure doesn't play into the equation for all pros either, ie...... Byron Velvick doesn't have to do well on the water to make a living, so pressure is only part of the equation for some.

AN angler who excels with versatility does well on the tour.     Denny Brauer is one of the best jig fishermen ever, but half the lakes on the newer extended tours, he doestn't display enough versatility to be an angler of the year.     He's a great pro, but the lakes that are scheduled today look at well rounded strengths.

Look at AOY's from the early years.      Versatility was limited, alot of techniques  used today was not introduced yet.     Todays guys have learned alittle of everything.

20 years ago, you didn't have the western lakes, the western light line tactics.   Most of the tours were on southern lakes, with mostly southern pros in their back yards.

My thoughts are,  Versatile fishermen of today are better apt to "MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE WATER",   that applies to "some" of the casual anglers as well as pros.

Hookem

Matt

[Guest avid]

I decided last night to just give my recomendation for equipment and such

Yo, muddy

Don't be so modest dude,

You have some techniques pretty well locked.  I'm sure the newer bassers would enjoy hearing from some one who has only been bass fishing for a year or so, but has used the forum to learn and get good at some proven styles for catching em.  

You might want to hold off on the jig fishing advice for now though.  

[senile1]

The "science" simply improves your odds. "Consistancy" has nothing to do with luck, it is all about the science.  It involves what is known about bass behavior, what experience on the water has tauught us and our perception of the clues on any given day.

Rick Clunn makes the point with this comment: "Catching bass is pretty easy, it's finding them that is the challenge."

Fish_Chris is my hero. He fishes alone (no guides), is multi-species, uses artificial and live bait, travels

to numerous water bodies, both freshwater and salt, CONSISTANTLY catches HUGE fish and uses

the "wrong" equipment.  :

I don't think he's lucky...I think he's pretty good.

I have to second this opinion.  Fish Chris is The Dude.  

[largemouthslayer]

By far the best post since joining this forum.....I'm lost because this steers up alot of emotions. I played golf for a living for six years and taught golf for four years after that.I had a whole chapter writen about me in a book  last years #1 best seller in golf and stood next to Tiger Woods on the practice tee at this years Masters while working with my best friend who qualified for winning the US Mid Am (this is not to build myself up....I walked away from golf 5 years ago to start a buisness...I just want to make a point and wanted to let you know I know what I'm talking about... no B.S.) Fishing like Catt and Badhabit are talking about is different than pro fishing I think we would all agree.The friend I mentioned above that played in this years Masters walked away from professional golf 5 yaers ago.We were coming back from a tournament in Kentucky and he said "I hate playing golf for a living it has taken all the fun out of something I love." Now this guy has IT! It being what it takes to play the PGA tour. This is what the difference is I think in alot of local guys that can really fish. Competing in local tournaments is fun but I really wonder how many KVD's ,Cunn's,and Swindles wake up every morning and really want to go fishing like I and most of you do. I think most of use on this forum would also trade 20 5lbers for 1 dd. So in a since we are all big bass hunters don't kid yourself!

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I decided last night to just give my recomendation for equipment and such

Yo, muddy

Don't be so modest dude,

You have some techniques pretty well locked. I'm sure the newer bassers would enjoy hearing from some one who has only been bass fishing for a year or so, but has used the forum to learn and get good at some proven styles for catching em.

You might want to hold off on the jig fishing advice for now though.

Hey Avid I have been Bass Fishin for 10 years, just got into it more completly when I arrived here

I think Im gonna write a manual for using your trolling motor for better baot position when Jiggin

[Redtail]

Great Post!  I gotta go with Catt on this one.  Until the bass start reading the same magazines we do, they won't always do what their suppose to.

[-badhabit-]

I like this thread also and to hear everyone's opinions on the different subjects.

(edited "sorry RW" I had never seen a thread relating to that topic and I do have strong feelings about it.)

I do learn something from everyone that gets in my boat whether they have been fishing 3 days or 3 decades. That's part of the reason I offer just about anyone to go out on the lake with me, I like diversity in styles and studying them.

Just my thoughts on this.

(largemouthslayer - My company put the kitchen in Tiger's new home here in Orlando a couple of years ago. I got to spend quite a bit of time with him and his wife. But I don't golf. If you put a club in my hand you better have taken the kids & pets inside then boarded up your windows. )

[Catt]

That's where you guys are wrong while a pro is proficient at various techniques they select 2 or 3 techniques that can be used on a specific structure/cover and will not drastically vary from that plan. Case in point you will not see KVD catching fish on day one with spinner baits and then change to deep diving cranks on day two. He will ride that spinner bait bite to victory or defeat; thus the chips have fallen where they may.  

You guys are over complicating some thing that is not complicated  

To quote roadwarrior It involves what is known about bass behavior, what experience on the water has taught us and our perception of the clues on any given day

[roadwarrior]

*** MODERATOR NOTE ***

This topic is pretty broad, but it's NOT another debate over bed fishing...Please stay on topic or start a new thread.

[Rattlinrogue]

I like to use the newer techniques,and I do catch fish using them.However,I usually go with what I have confidence in.I like to go fishing and use baits that have passed the test of time as far as being fish catchers.Using the dropshot,shakey head,and other finese presentations is exciting and fun,but I catch most of my fish on tried and true baits that have been catching 'em for decades.Although I don't limit myself to these baits,I've caught more bass on a silver/black back Rapala Original floater and a plain ole black plastic worm fished Texas style.

[Catt]

*** MODERATOR NOTE ***

This topic is pretty broad, but it's NOT another debate over bed fishing...Please stay on topic or start a new thread.

Yes sir boss  

[Guest avid]

Case in point you will not see KVD catching fish on day one with spinner baits and then change to deep diving cranks on day two. He will ride that spinner bait bite to victory or defeat; thus the chips have fallen where they may.  

Catt, you can't be serious  

You really believe that KVD got to be where he is by sticking with one bait and " riding it to victory or defeat"??

With all due respect dude, that is totally absurd.  Conditions can, and often do change radically during tournaments. The top pro's are consistant winners because they can adapt to changing situations, adjust their tactics, and continue to bring in the bass.