About new water, techniques, intel?
For me:
•12 new lakes this year, 10 in Minnesota, 1 in Wisconsin and also 1 day on Okeechobee
•How to use Livescope effectively
•My new favorite post-spawn technique: Neko-Rig
•How to fish a Ned-rig with lightweight baitcasting gear
•And of course – how to still get skunked fishing right after turnover in the late Fall 
I know this is going to surprise everybody here, but I learned how effective the Neko Rig is. It opened up the off shore structure for me where I usually have no confidence. Learned how to manage time in tournaments much better and how to make my partner in the back of the boat more effective.
I need to hit more lakes I’ve never fished and especially south like the Waterville area. And need to actually stick to the plan and not get lazy and fish lakes I know I can catch fish on.
“I need to hit more lakes I’ve never fished and especially south like the Waterville area. And need to actually stick to the plan and not get lazy and fish lakes I know I can catch fish on.”
I forced myself to try several new lakes this year so not to fall into same patterns. Waterville area was one of my stops. Some good fishing down that way..
Waterville area was one of my stops. Some good fishing down that way..
That’s what I keep hearing. Wanted to get down to Okoboji and Clear lake in IA this year too and never made it down.
Here’s a recent show from the Waterville area: Lake Commandos – Fertile Water Bass: Crank vs Worm. Can prob find it on YouTube or Sportsman’s Channel.
Here’s a recent show from the Waterville area: Lake Commandos – Fertile Water Bass: Crank vs Worm. Can prob find it on YouTube or Sportsman’s Channel.
Nice, that’s a decent show. I’ve seen a few episodes.
I learned despite doing a lot of wade fishing in the salt I miss my ponds within walking distance that were loaded with 4-5# bass.
Still waiting for this place to open up. It is the closest freshwater lake with shore fishing potential.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/terra-ceia-preserve-frog-creek
Although the one pond near me is unfishable because of the brush and dangers that lurk, perhaps I should try the other pond, although I suspect it is too shallow.
I had never really fished a chatterbait of any kind with regularity until this season – I was mostly a spinnerbait kinda guy. The chatterbait was arguably my most effective lure all season because I could fish it deeper and slower with the same amount of vibration. I found out that pike LOVE them too. Had two snipped right off, even using braided line.
I learned that a 40′ boat does not make me a better fisherman.
Also, the less time I have a line in the water, the less fish I catch.
I learned that having a newborn significantly hinders my time to fish
I’m with Frydog and Mahtofire. The Neko rig absolutely slays them. I would have never tried it if you two weren’t talking about it on here or posting about it on YouTube. Thanks for teaching me something new!
This year, I learned to hone in on aggressive fish after a miss. If they strike and miss, or I set the hook and miss, it’s definitely been worth it to stick on that exact spot. Far more often than not, I’d end up catching that same fish or another fish within just a few feet of the first hit.
A couple weekends ago, there were plenty of boats out on Indian Point making long passes or trolling to and fro. I’d see someone set the hook but come up empty, and they’d keep right on moving. A few minutes later, they’d be blasting off to go somewhere else on the lake.
Fact is, you never know what’s in front of you, but you do know that you just missed a fish that had decided to hit whatever you presented. Show the same thing to it again. Turn the boat in a tight circle around that spot, give it a minute, and wait for that fish to take another run at you. It’s unclear how many fish are sitting in an area, but you know you could’ve/should’ve caught that one.
I learned not to leave fish to find fish. I did that too many times and it did not pay off once.
…., don’t be afraid to throw a Buzzbait when there is a bit of a breeze on the water.
…., always check your fuel tank before leaving the house.
…., keep casting, you can’t catch them if you head in early because it is going slow.
I learned despite doing a lot of wade fishing in the salt I miss my ponds within walking distance that were loaded with 4-5# bass.
Still waiting for this place to open up. It is the closest freshwater lake with shore fishing potential.
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/terra-ceia-preserve-frog-creek
Although the one pond near me is unfishable because of the brush and dangers that lurk, perhaps I should try the other pond, although I suspect it is too shallow.
I’m with you on a preference for freshwater bass fishing. As you know I lived in FL for awhile and still visit. Enjoy some of the saltwater fishing but if given the choice I would end up at the ponds too majority of the time.
That newly renovated lake/pond area looks very interesting – 128 acres is a nice size. I think it says bank fishing only, but can you use a yak/canoe at all? Be nice to use a depth finder and locate structure/cover…
I had never really fished a chatterbait of any kind with regularity until this season – I was mostly a spinnerbait kinda guy. The chatterbait was arguably my most effective lure all season because I could fish it deeper and slower with the same amount of vibration. I found out that pike LOVE them too. Had two snipped right off, even using braided line.
I switched to a Chatterbait a couple years ago and funny, the Spinnerbaits just sit there unused now in my tackle box. I really think I get more bites with a Chatterbait, maybe it’s a confidence thing.
As far as pike go, I use those 2.5 inch crankbait leaders Wayzata Bait sells. I think I only lost 2 Chatterbaits the entire year and I fish them ALOT!
“don’t be afraid to throw a Buzzbait when there is a breeze on the water.”
I also learned something this year… right after Fall turnover late in the year… if the bass aren’t cruising mid-depths or hitting jigs in the remaining green weeds… it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. You just might have to pi$$ them off with a Buzzbait to get a reaction – even in 50 degree water. Apparently this is the one exception to cold water/topwater not being an Oxymoron..
This year, I learned to hone in on aggressive fish after a miss. If they strike and miss, or I set the hook and miss, it’s definitely been worth it to stick on that exact spot. Far more often than not, I’d end up catching that same fish or another fish within just a few feet of the first hit.
A couple weekends ago, there were plenty of boats out on Indian Point making long passes or trolling to and fro. I’d see someone set the hook but come up empty, and they’d keep right on moving. A few minutes later, they’d be blasting off to go somewhere else on the lake.
Fact is, you never know what’s in front of you, but you do know that you just missed a fish that had decided to hit whatever you presented. Show the same thing to it again. Turn the boat in a tight circle around that spot, give it a minute, and wait for that fish to take another run at you. It’s unclear how many fish are sitting in an area, but you know you could’ve/should’ve caught that one.
Curious – when you try again is it always the same lure, or do you throw something different like a slow sinking plastic back in the same general area?
On what seems like a slow day, a lot can happen in a short amount of time. I need to get better at learning why they bit all of a sudden.
On what seems like a slow day, a lot can happen in a short amount of time. I need to get better at learning why they bit all of a sudden.
My problem is on a slow day I start switching lures and trying to get too fine with my casts. More focused on that, cast after cast – then eventually something hits and I’m asleep at the wheel – thinking to much about making the next cast and not setting the hook properly..
I try to put the same thing down as soon as possible. For the weekend I mentioned, that involved grabbing another minnow and getting it back down right away.
It’s looking like 10/19 was my last day on the lake for the year. Too bad, because the big smallmouth were snapping.
I learned that dry flies are the beast (I’m a fly fisherman), and how to use bobbers. I also know how to use bait rigs, now. I also have learn how to make lures.
I don’t know what the deal is, but in my mind, it seemed as if fishing was slower this year than the past couple of years. But I know that isn’t the case as I kept pretty detailed information about my fish catches going back to 2011 thanks to Fish Swami Online Fishing Logs. I learned that sometimes I see the past through rose-colored glasses. I didn’t get out in the boat a whole lot in June due to motor issues. Once I got the issues solved in early July the bass just weren’t using a lot of my old standby areas that always used to produce consistently in the summer. I was constantly having to move to stay on fish this year, which made me perceive the fishing as slower than normal even though it was slightly better than normal.
There is a lot of good bass fishing in the Bemidji area and not a lot of folks fishing for them.
There is a lot of good bass fishing in the Bemidji area and not a lot of folks fishing for them.
Haven’t fished very near Bemidji, are the better lakes in that area known for largemouth or smallmouth?
Haven’t fished very near Bemidji, are the better lakes in that area known for largemouth or smallmouth?
I have no info on the smallies. We were just targeting largemouth in the shallow water, usually in the weeds. We spent 3 days fishing them in August. This was our 1st year. Plan on making it a yearly trip. My buddy is the bass expert, I am just a beginner. He out fished me 5 to 1 the 1st day. It was about 3 to 1 on the last day.
Went out today at half time of the Vikes game. Got up on plane. Saw a bird sitting high in the water. We then hit a thin layer of ice. The bird’s height makes sense now. Managed a few crappies on jigging raps in 25fow. The end is definitely close. I don’t love ice fishing much. It will have to do. Fishing shows and videos will have to do for awhile.
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