02-03-2004, 08:32 PM
Seems to me that generalizations rule.
Gotta have a spring bobber. Gotta have a short pole for ice fishing. Fly fishing is the best way to go. Bait fishing kills fish.
What ever happened to the basic principles of catching fish?
I am no expert on the subject, but I thought in order to catch a fish, first you need to know what type of fish you were going to catch. A basic understanding of the target species habits, and prefrences as it relates to food, cover, and structure will give you much more advantage than a spring bobber.
Next knowing where to find fish by understanding seasonal movments, locating structure that holds or funnels fish, and being able to work cover and edges effectivley as they relate to the specific needs of the target species and being able to locate thier food scource will give a guy much more advantage than a short rod.
And understanding the concepts of presentation such as bait choice, size, color, and the applied action given the specific species of fish, available food, cover, and structure and gaining skills in making presentations will net you more fish.
All the time we see generalization after generalization when in fact the art of becoming a skilled angler is in fact a very specific process.
Seems to me that the external elements of flasher versus LCD, short pole versus long rod, are the least important elements and last in line when it comes to actually catching fish.
I hate the generalization that bait fishing kills fish. Its simply not true. Its a poorly thought out generalization.
For example, a guy casting upstream and working a crawler along the bottom of the river, whos bait is always in constant contact with him, and he sets the hook as soon as he gets the bite will not harm a fish. The fish will not be able to take the worm any deeper than he would a fly. Hes gonna get hooked in the lip.
Another example, vertical jigging for lake trout using cut bait. As soon as that fish picks up that chunk of meat and the weight is gone, you are setting the hook. No killed fish there.
Casting a jig and crawler for walleye or pulling a baited spinner harness does not increase fish kill. Neither does pulling a minnow on a down rigger at strawberry.
A broad generalization is made that bait fishing increases mortailty, when in fact its fish that are allowed to take bait and swallow it before they are detected that is the culprit. This generally happens when still fishing with slack line off the bank. But is not, in fact, the majority of bait fishing.
I may be completley wrong here, maybee there is more magic in fishing than I was aware of. The almighty spring bobber, and that magical wonderlure that must be kept secret may be why I dont catch very many fish.
I am just by all the talk of this is better than that, and you have to have this, if you dont you aint doing it right.
When I always was under the impression that undertanding and using basic fishing concepts was what helped a guy gain skills and catch fish.
Dont get me wrong, I love the quality stuff, big powerful fishfinders, high quality rods, and all the stuff that gives you an advantage, and anyone who has ever fished with me knows that I love all that stuff cause I have it. Spare no expense, but I know one thing,
"I can be outfished by a guy with lesser equipment, who uses basic fishing principles better than I do."
And that aint no lie.
[signature]
Gotta have a spring bobber. Gotta have a short pole for ice fishing. Fly fishing is the best way to go. Bait fishing kills fish.
What ever happened to the basic principles of catching fish?
I am no expert on the subject, but I thought in order to catch a fish, first you need to know what type of fish you were going to catch. A basic understanding of the target species habits, and prefrences as it relates to food, cover, and structure will give you much more advantage than a spring bobber.
Next knowing where to find fish by understanding seasonal movments, locating structure that holds or funnels fish, and being able to work cover and edges effectivley as they relate to the specific needs of the target species and being able to locate thier food scource will give a guy much more advantage than a short rod.
And understanding the concepts of presentation such as bait choice, size, color, and the applied action given the specific species of fish, available food, cover, and structure and gaining skills in making presentations will net you more fish.
All the time we see generalization after generalization when in fact the art of becoming a skilled angler is in fact a very specific process.
Seems to me that the external elements of flasher versus LCD, short pole versus long rod, are the least important elements and last in line when it comes to actually catching fish.
I hate the generalization that bait fishing kills fish. Its simply not true. Its a poorly thought out generalization.
For example, a guy casting upstream and working a crawler along the bottom of the river, whos bait is always in constant contact with him, and he sets the hook as soon as he gets the bite will not harm a fish. The fish will not be able to take the worm any deeper than he would a fly. Hes gonna get hooked in the lip.
Another example, vertical jigging for lake trout using cut bait. As soon as that fish picks up that chunk of meat and the weight is gone, you are setting the hook. No killed fish there.
Casting a jig and crawler for walleye or pulling a baited spinner harness does not increase fish kill. Neither does pulling a minnow on a down rigger at strawberry.
A broad generalization is made that bait fishing increases mortailty, when in fact its fish that are allowed to take bait and swallow it before they are detected that is the culprit. This generally happens when still fishing with slack line off the bank. But is not, in fact, the majority of bait fishing.
I may be completley wrong here, maybee there is more magic in fishing than I was aware of. The almighty spring bobber, and that magical wonderlure that must be kept secret may be why I dont catch very many fish.
I am just by all the talk of this is better than that, and you have to have this, if you dont you aint doing it right.
When I always was under the impression that undertanding and using basic fishing concepts was what helped a guy gain skills and catch fish.
Dont get me wrong, I love the quality stuff, big powerful fishfinders, high quality rods, and all the stuff that gives you an advantage, and anyone who has ever fished with me knows that I love all that stuff cause I have it. Spare no expense, but I know one thing,
"I can be outfished by a guy with lesser equipment, who uses basic fishing principles better than I do."
And that aint no lie.
[signature]