I often see people do this and they have not a clue they are. Have you ever gone fishing....had an idea of what you wanted to do, but it did not work and looking back you did it all day? That is tunnel vision....or have you caught fish every year for the last hundred years doing something and this year you have done it for weeks and it is just not working? That is tunnel vision fishing. Another one that kills me is watching a person fish the same place all freaking day and never catch anything or much. Then when I ask them why they stayed there all day I get some kind of answer that they caught them there last week and just knew it would be a matter of time before they hit that day. emoDoh
If you have done any of these things you are guilty of "Tunnel Vision Fishing". Your so busy looking at the trees that you overlooked the forest. Today there are so many ways to catch a fish that even on a bad day you can and will if you find the right bait, pattern or place catch a limit. Get your mind right and be positive that the next place you will find them. Keep changing up and mixing it up so that you will hopefully hit that moment when success happens.
With so many types of stuff to try it is hard and can be overwhelming to say the least. I like to find an area I am pretty sure the bass are in or around and break it down by depths, baits and speed. With today's electronics often the depth is easy....but what about where it will not reach. Take thick grass cover for example. I am willing to bet most thick grass has bass in it. Your electronic will be no help at all. Early... I like to start shallow and top water. As the sun gets higher usually the bass go deep or into grass thicker.
Baits.,...try a mix of baits. Flipping a heavy worm down into the grass with a big weight or using a light worm with a light sinker working it over and through the grass. The same can be true with open water bass on humps or drops. Will they take it off the bottom, hit something just off the bottom, suspended or up top. You have to try a little of it all and still there is not anything that says you will figure them out. emoScratch The one thing that always seems to happen is someone somewhere will find the bass that will be willing to hit and come in with a good sack. I really believe the guys who often place or win more then others are the anglers who are better at adapting to the conditions and figuring out what the bass will be willing to hit. We all have our favorites but don't be guilty of trying to force feed them something they will not bite. Size falls into this category. Do they or will they take a big bait like a big worm or will you need to down size and go small. I cannot tell you the times I tried big worms looking for a big bite just to finally give up...go to a small shakey finesse worm and have a big bite.
Speed is also a key. Have you ever been burning a crank and not get a bite? Sure you have...we all have. Then when you stop it for some other reason, say to look at the depth finder, stop cranking and...almost have one take the rod out of your hand. emoEek Or maybe be working a top water bait without a bite and stop it to do something. While the bait is just sitting there one explodes on it? That is a speed issue. Those bass are trying to tell you to slow it down. Vary your retrieves and speed to see if there is a way that works better then others. A good thing about a partner is often you can offer two different baits and looks. You have twice the chance to convince a bass to bite. From a burn retrieve to a crawl you have to try when it is not working. One reason I do like to pre-fish a little is to see what kind of presentation will work. Nothing says it will work the day of the tournament but it is a tool to use.
I have lived here for about nine years now. I still have folks tell me they hate the chick....they can't catch much on the chick...ex. I would bet if the truth be known they do the same thing each time they go and get the same results. If you always do what you've always done...you will always get what you've always got. emoGeezer Try to mix it up, get out of that box and your success might surprise you.
What's your take on this one? Anyone want to add to it? Thought we might get a good ol' fishing discussion going.
C-ya on the water..... emoAngler Jmax
If you have done any of these things you are guilty of "Tunnel Vision Fishing". Your so busy looking at the trees that you overlooked the forest. Today there are so many ways to catch a fish that even on a bad day you can and will if you find the right bait, pattern or place catch a limit. Get your mind right and be positive that the next place you will find them. Keep changing up and mixing it up so that you will hopefully hit that moment when success happens.
With so many types of stuff to try it is hard and can be overwhelming to say the least. I like to find an area I am pretty sure the bass are in or around and break it down by depths, baits and speed. With today's electronics often the depth is easy....but what about where it will not reach. Take thick grass cover for example. I am willing to bet most thick grass has bass in it. Your electronic will be no help at all. Early... I like to start shallow and top water. As the sun gets higher usually the bass go deep or into grass thicker.
Baits.,...try a mix of baits. Flipping a heavy worm down into the grass with a big weight or using a light worm with a light sinker working it over and through the grass. The same can be true with open water bass on humps or drops. Will they take it off the bottom, hit something just off the bottom, suspended or up top. You have to try a little of it all and still there is not anything that says you will figure them out. emoScratch The one thing that always seems to happen is someone somewhere will find the bass that will be willing to hit and come in with a good sack. I really believe the guys who often place or win more then others are the anglers who are better at adapting to the conditions and figuring out what the bass will be willing to hit. We all have our favorites but don't be guilty of trying to force feed them something they will not bite. Size falls into this category. Do they or will they take a big bait like a big worm or will you need to down size and go small. I cannot tell you the times I tried big worms looking for a big bite just to finally give up...go to a small shakey finesse worm and have a big bite.
Speed is also a key. Have you ever been burning a crank and not get a bite? Sure you have...we all have. Then when you stop it for some other reason, say to look at the depth finder, stop cranking and...almost have one take the rod out of your hand. emoEek Or maybe be working a top water bait without a bite and stop it to do something. While the bait is just sitting there one explodes on it? That is a speed issue. Those bass are trying to tell you to slow it down. Vary your retrieves and speed to see if there is a way that works better then others. A good thing about a partner is often you can offer two different baits and looks. You have twice the chance to convince a bass to bite. From a burn retrieve to a crawl you have to try when it is not working. One reason I do like to pre-fish a little is to see what kind of presentation will work. Nothing says it will work the day of the tournament but it is a tool to use.
I have lived here for about nine years now. I still have folks tell me they hate the chick....they can't catch much on the chick...ex. I would bet if the truth be known they do the same thing each time they go and get the same results. If you always do what you've always done...you will always get what you've always got. emoGeezer Try to mix it up, get out of that box and your success might surprise you.
What's your take on this one? Anyone want to add to it? Thought we might get a good ol' fishing discussion going.
C-ya on the water..... emoAngler Jmax
