Trending
Anglers who pay attention to the signs around them will almost certainly log a few learnings during their days on the water.
Often the signs are from the fish. Sometimes the signals come from the friends with whom we go fishing. Frequently the messages come from Mother Nature herself.
Looking back on spring, summer and fall fishing trips, I can identify a variety of discoveries that are now tucked away in my memory bank as investments in the 2024 fishing year.
It is tempting to gravitate to areas on lakes where we see clusters of boats, which can be interpreted as evidence the fish are biting there.
Truth is, as I witnessed during the 2023 Muransky Companies Bass Classic on Pine Lake, zigging instead of zagging can pay dividends. The eventual winners went against the current during the late spring tournament and selected a portion of the lake void of other competitors.
While most of us worked the big weed-choked flat on the north end of Pine Lake, the team of Bill Schrader and Eric Sevenich capitalized on the uncrowded south end and filled their livewell with a stout limit of 4- to 5-pound largemouth bass.
The lesson, of course, is that while our eyes may tell us the fishing is hot in one area, that doesn't necessarily mean that spot is the winning ticket.
Fishing pressure can and will warn wary bass, walleyes, steelhead and other species to shy from anglers' lures.
Several times this year, I noticed the other angler in my boat got more bites on lures different from the ones I was using than if he was casting the same bait I was using.
I believe that unless the bite on one particular lure is on fire, it is a good idea for two anglers to toss different lures, different colors and even different techniques. It doubles the odds we will find a combination that tempts the fish.
Of course, when we do find the magic lure, we would be wise to both throw it.
Another interesting takeaway from the past several months of action is how the apex predator species are truly kings and queens of their domain.
Conditions this fall on my favorite bass lakes were perfect for casting and winding fast-moving lures.
I quickly learned that when the breeze was blowing in on the cover and the blue sky was decorated with white cotton-ball clouds, the bladed jig in the color of bluegills or yellow perch was the best lure choice.
What's more, I discovered that the strikes were more aggressive when I reeled the lure at high speed. I learned, in fact, that it was almost impossible to reel too fast; when the bass wanted to eat, nothing was going to escape - including the lure tied to my line.
Summer is gone, autumn is dwindling, and the value of our experiences is still fresh to analyze and bank. I'm taking this simple lesson forward for the '24 season: A fishing trip's success hinges on noticing the signs and adjusting accordingly.
Jack Wollitz's book, "The Common Angler," is a collection of stories that explain why anglers are passionate about fishing. Send a note to jackbbaass@gmail.com.