What are you giving up on in 2020?

Good chatter each spring in past years about what we plan to do different the coming open water season, new things to try… but what do you plan to stop doing or at least less?

For me, I spent too much time in search mode when frogging. Instead of targeting high percentage areas with a standard frog or poppin’ frog – I’ve relied on covering lots of water with a ToadRunner. I think it’s just too fast and too much commotion on our highly-pressured waters around the metro area anyway.

I’ve also gravitated away from tying Palomar knots. Still will use it on braid but after a couple slips on fluorocarbon I started switching over to the 3 tag Grigsby knot.

Anyone else? Been too quiet here lately… maybe it’s just cabin fever

Give up some eye fishing and actually target the brownys and blackys.

I’d never use the Palomar knot with anything but braid. Everything else gets the trilene knot.

FryDog62 wrote:

Anyone else? Been too quiet here lately…

I’m giving up on all the time spent on keeping up with internet forums. Damn, just realized I had my first relapse.

I have to admit I’m a top water junkie. I keep throwing Deer hair Bugs and Poppers long after I should have gone to something else. I need to spend less time doing that and more time throwing big streamers.

S.R.

I plan to fish a lot less Mono and Fluro this year and switch over to more braid to fluro setups. With how small the Diameter is on some of the better braids ( Seaguar and Prower pro ) I like how well it cast on spinning reels and the sensitivity you get with it. The 20 Lb. test ( 6 Lb. mono Eqv. .007 )of the Seaguar is what I mainly used last season. I am going to try some of the Power Pro super 8 slick V this year. I’m hearing great things about it. I believe their 15Lb. test is .08 Diam. ( about the same as most 6 or 8 lb. mono’s ) I played around with various knots last year to connect the braid to the Fluro leader. By far the best knot I found was the FG knot. It takes a little time to get use to tying ( Do it at home or on a really calm day ) I really like how smooth the connection point is – It really passes thru the rod eyes nice. I normally tie mine about 6 Ft long. This allows for several bite offs and retie without having to tie on a total new leader.

The topwater thing takes up too much of my time as well because I WANT it to work. Its arguably the most entertaining style of bass fishing available but it simply just doesn’t work very often and I spend too much time trying it.

avoiding docks with people watching me nearby. Always been too self conscious and would skip past them (pun intended). Still respectful about people on their docks.

“I played around with various knots last year to connect the braid to the Fluro leader. By far the best knot I found was the FG knot. It takes a little time to get use to tying ( Do it at home or on a really calm day ) I really like how smooth the connection point is – It really passes thru the rod eyes nice.”

After years of using the Uni-Uni knot, I’ve been experimenting with various line-to-line knots the past 5 years. FG is a great knot and touted to be the thinnest passing through the guides. I think it might be until you tie the hitch knots at the end… they usually tie off thicker than the rest of the knot and “tick” going through the guides. I’ve gravitated back to the Crazy Alberto and it seems narrow enough and is strong too. Plus I like the fact the braid wraps around the fluorocarbon. This protects it some from fracturing as it goes through the guides all day – the primary cause of fluorocarbon knot failures.

I do still use the FG if/when I tie heavy lines together on my Flippin rods.. both great knots and I prefer either over the Uni-Uni.

Put in my archer ears and do more musky fishing at nite with the old hawg wobbler! Read the post wrong! I give up nothing. I have the time,

What am I giving up in 2020? Using overly heavy line. Stubbornly, I like the more secure feeling when setting-up and fighting a fish on heavy line. Too many experiences too ignore have me convinced heavy line is costing me bites – and sometimes a lot of bites. My new thinking is that I’d rather be in the game battling a fish on lighter line than not be in the game at all.

Fry, +1 on that Grigsby knot. Its more bulky, but has eliminated the break-offs experienced with other types of knots when tying to fluoro.

As for the FG, are you using the Rizzuto finish? Two half hitches and a Rizzuto finish is what I use. The OCD in me finishes that with a drop of superglue. Super strong and very thin. Using this on line diameters down to 6lb with high confidence.

Brian, that Grigsby knot is dam tough… only knock on it is if you’re fishing around fine moss or slop… those 3 little tags seem to grab it and you have to clean it off nearly every cast. In most areas though its an awesome knot.

Haven’t done the Rizzuto finish, will have to try. LOL, have you seen Seth Feider’s video on how he finishes the FG? Wow, he even admits its overkill which is fine if you leave it on all season like he does I guess. But again all that extra tie off just makes an otherwise thin knot very bulky IMO. Probably one more reason I’m not in Seth’s league either though

Here’s the one video that best illustrates the FG knot/Rizzuto finish I’m using. I tend to use a few more wraps on the finishing knot, especially with light line.

I did see Seth’s video btw, though stick to what I know works well and have confidence in based on the ‘ol don’t-try-to-fix-what-ain’t-broke adage.

I plan on fishing a lot less shallow structure. I’m a dock, laydown, flooded bush, flooded tree junkie. However as I’ve been working on offshore techniques more and more I find I’m catching larger bass out there. I’m obviously not going to totally give up on fishing shallow the average quality of fish I’ve caught out deep has me convinced to keep getting better out there.

I also would never use a palomar knot on anything but braid. When I starting using fluoro a few years ago I learned real quick how fast a palomar knot slips.

I’m going to try to quit buying more lures and plastics this year! Especially plastics, I need to burn up tons that I already have. Damm bargain bins.

I tried to do this last year, but it didn’t work out. Been staying away from the Bargain bins so far this year.

BrianF wrote:

Here’s the one video that best illustrates the FG knot/Rizzuto finish I’m using. I tend to use a few more wraps on the finishing knot, especially with light line.

<div class=”ido-oembed-wrap”><iframe width=”850″ height=”478″ title=”How to Tie The Simplified FG Knot” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/T9Fu7BsfPBA?feature=oembed&#8221; frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=”” allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture”></iframe></div>
I did see Seth’s video btw, though stick to what I know works well and have confidence in based on the ‘ol don’t-try-to-fix-what-ain’t-broke adage.

That is a different finish. I normally just stop after the two half hitches. May have to try that finish and see how it works

I’m giving up frying fish.

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SpoonbillSlayer wrote:

I’m going to try to quit buying more lures and plastics this year! Especially plastics, I need to burn up tons that I already have. Damm bargain bins.

I tried to do this last year, but it didn’t work out. Been staying away from the Bargain bins so far this year.

I was thinking the same thing. The bargain bins of plastics or cranks always get me.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

I’m giving up frying fish.

As a “Fryer” myself, I resemble that

I’m giving up on Ice Fishing.
Got a 2 man with a couple of mods, and a one man
Got an Vex, fl-18 and a Markum lx9
Several rod and reels
A couple of cases
Strike master w/ 12″ extension
I’m giving up on Ice Fishing.

Fish more….work less

I’m going to also give up buying any new plastics until my current supply is gone…

..except some Maxscent Generals, Yum Genies, Caffeine Shads, Flute worms, Moxies, TRD’s, craws…

FryDog62 wrote:

I’m going to also give up buying any new plastics until my current supply is gone…

..except some Maxscent Generals, Yum Genies, Caffeine Shads, Flute worms, Moxies, TRD’s, craws…

I was thinking I would do the same thing until I saw how effective the Zoom Speed Worm was in the Opens a few weeks ago.

And obviously SK Rage Bugs in black/blue flake. You just can’t have too many of those.

I’m going to try to fish memories less and branch out to a couple new spots on lakes I regularly fish each time out. Catch less 14in slimers that steal by lures would be nice.

I’m waiving the white flag on Tokyo Rigs… I think they snag more than traditional jigs in weeds… and too much hangin’ below when grinding across the bottom. Better off with a Biffle Bug or Jointed Structure Head IMO.

FryDog62 wrote:

I’m waiving the white flag on Tokyo Rigs… I think they snag more than traditional jigs in weeds… and too much hangin’ below when grinding across the bottom. Better off with a Biffle Bug or Jointed Structure Head IMO.

Yep. I’m find the same thing. A traditional punch rig is just easier.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FryDog62 wrote:</div>
I’m waiving the white flag on Tokyo Rigs… I think they snag more than traditional jigs in weeds… and too much hangin’ below when grinding across the bottom. Better off with a Biffle Bug or Jointed Structure Head IMO.

Yep. I’m find the same thing. A traditional punch rig is just easier.

X3 always have one setup with me on the boat.