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So what can fishermen learn from fishing with others??
Luckily, I am one that came from the Tourney Ranks, and of course, like others, I thought that I knew it all, and was the Greatest Fisherman on the Earth....Funny how life HUMBLES you and makes you realize your "shortcomings"....the sad thing is that most people that are humbled, just continue on the same path and never learn anything. I regrouped after 10 years and started over!
So how do you learn from other fishermen?
I fish with a lot of people, a lot of good people, a lot of good people who are Great Fishermen!
All fishermen have a technique they are comfortable with, and certain areas that they love....most fishermen HATE CHANGE!
To be a GREAT fishermen, you have to adapt, just like the fish do...they don't stay in one particular area, and they don't follow the same pattern all year long....so why should we!
People ask, why would you fish with DOC (Lange), he's a Cat Man, what can you learn from a Cat Man???
That's an easy one.... Doc knows the North End better than I do, he can also teach you about the entire lake and it's history, he trolls exactly like someone would for Walleye or Crappie except with Heavier Tackle....He actually Trolls like a Walleye fisherman, but has better techniques and rigging!
Doc catches Walleye and Crappie on his Catfish bait...his huge Catfish bait! Those Big Fish are what I'm after! Why is Doc catching them in "Catfish Waters"??? So I fish with Doc to learn the ways of a CAT MASTER!
Why Fish with Don??? Don knows the West Bank better than anyone...but he also knows the entire lake. He fishes like me, we are like Brothers, I can ask him anything and get an answer from myself, we fish alike but different.
Same with Jeremiah, Bill, Paul, all the Jeff's, Rusty, etc, etc....everyone has something they do different to catch fish, everyone has a "Specialty" and most of them are trying to learn and get better also! It is an even exchange of thoughts and ideas to better everyone....I can tell you exactly how everyone fishes, where they like to fish, and what they use, and fish for....every time we add a new guy, like Daniel, I learn something from them, I have never seen someone grasp things the way Daniel does, he has a new fresh outlook on things, and it refreshes you and clears your mind. He asks things in a different way, and you see him processing info different than you and giving a different opinion...then you see him become an excellent fisherman....it is very exciting for me!
Bill is my Big Brother, he brings the DEEP South Approach, that I missed after I left the South...Paul is the finesse fishermen, sometimes no matter how you hate it, you just have to slow down to catch fish....Rusty is the drift Master, the outdoorsman, calm and centered like Yoda, he is all "Feel".
Everyone has developed their Technique....I try to build their Techniques into a SYSTEM. Listen to them, I listen to JAB, his experiences become yours, you can help each other!
Why would you fish with a Bass Guy like Shag or Jesse, etc???
I started fishing for Crappie again by accident! Like Doc, Crappie were hitting my Big Bass stuff! WHY??
Heck, I figure this was Great, I could fish my downsized Bass stuff for Crappie at all times...it worked like a charm...still do the same today!
Actually, Crappie fishing is more fun throwing a larger Bait, because they smack the daylights out of it, instead of being able to nose it, smell it, or fool around with it, if it is under a bobber or stationary...they don't have time to think about a big moving bait, they have to react quickly before this big meal gets away...I learned that also, no way a 12 inch fish is gonna pass up a wounded 4 inch meal that is easy pickin's...NO WAY!
Always remember....FISH EATS OTHER FISH! That's as basic as it gets.
Break the Bad habits!
Trust me, there is nothing I want more than a brand new boat...I also want a couple BIG DOLLAR rods...But Big dollar Boats and Rods, etc, are not going to catch you fish....you may have 20 thousand in Electronics and still not be able to catch fish....Jeremiah is the best skinny water fisherman I know, he also can fish from a boat, bank, dock, etc...that is from being taught and learning.
I think I am a better fishermen now because I had to relearn how to fish from the bank...Bank fishing is tough, you have to choose your locations correctly because it is harder to move, choose wrong and you can waste an entire day. You also have to know the lake, and where the fish are that you can reach....Bank fishing is way more challenging than being in a boat, especially if you are not just sitting down relaxing and "enjoying the day"!Which is just fine also!
Good fishermen are all shapes and sizes, they fish with cane poles, cheap poles, expensive poles, and use all kinds of tackle, they can fish different, they can fish for different species.... but in some way we are all the same...Good fishermen share knowledge and experience, that's what allows them to be good....not the equipment, just their minds! WE ADAPT!
Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR
