So you spent the weekend reading about an interesting new fishing technique that’s all the rave on the bass fishing tournament trail. You go to your local tackle shop, pick up all the components necessary, call your buddy and head out on the lake. Your friend decides to stick with the technique that he’s used to, while you rig up the new one and begin to try to fish it.
As the day goes on your friend catches fish while you end up catching nothing or panfish. Towards the end of the day you put it down and pick up ol’ reliable and catch a fish or two. When you get home all the new tackle and the technique go right into the spare tackle box, and you have convinced yourself that it’s all hype. I can admit, that once upon a time this was me, but a close friend of mine told be about how I could overcome this way of thinking and expand.
The first thing you should consider is the weather, are you going to try it on a day before/after a frontal system, or in the middle of a stable weather pattern. A stable pattern is usually better since the fish may be in a routine and have some predictability to them, I stress “may” since there are no hard rules to fishing.
Next, you should pick a favorite lake that you are very familiar with, a lake that you know every little weed pocket, wood and shopping cart that holds fish. Also make sure the lake has a good population of your target species and has a good catch per unit effort (CPUE).
Your fishing personality is the next item to consider . I prefer to fish a new technique alone if there is no one around that really knows the ins and outs of it. This way I can take my time and analyze what I am doing. If there is someone in your circle of fishing friends that is familiar with the technique, ask them to take you out and show you how it’s fished.
So, next time you read about a new bass fishing technique you want to try, don’t get frustrated, give these few simple ideas a try, hey they worked for me.
