Bass face

I’ve had a few short discussions on this site about the “ electronics issue “ in professional bass fishing. Or, even the weekend angler! I’d like to get a more in depth discussion on, how good are they/you really, is it more video game fishing than actually fishing, has it narrowed the sport to just find and catch, has it weakened our relationship with Mother Nature, and, who out there would love to see a professional bass fishing series that doesn’t allow electronics? Something similar to MLF... but no electronics. Just you, Mother Nature, a boat, a trolling motor, on a new body of water and good luck!!! 🏄🏼‍♂️🎣

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

I never used a fish finder until I got my kayak three years ago. I fish the old way, knowledge of the area and what bait they were after at that time of the season. My fish finder shows me the debris at the bottom and near the top of the creek or river I’m fishing in. It also shows me fish, but it doesn’t tell me what they are. If I went out of my area to fish, I would have a lot of questions from the locals about the fish.
As far as seeing the pros fish without the electronics I’d like to see that and see how many fish they catch without it. Since they are Pro fishermen I’d like to think they would do well. I was in a bass club for a few years, years ago, and we just trolled areas where bass should be. It was exciting when we guessed right. Tight lines. 🇺🇸🇨🇱

Bass face

You bet hacksaw, it’s a great feeling when you can find fish the old way! I do use Navionics & Google Earth prior to fishing a new body of water. That said, it’s only a very small part of what it takes. I truly enjoy trying to figure out the puzzle 🏄🏼‍♂️🎣

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

Myself BF. It’s so much more fun to use what you know and catch fish.
Short story:(Maybe)
One night myself and two buddies went in my boat to a power plant discharge plant to fish for Red Drum. We began using live Shrimp but the reds weren’t hitting them. We caught a few specks. Then we noticed the shad were tearing up the water, running from fish. We didn’t have a net to catch any so I tied four or five treble hooks on a line and began foul hooking them for bait. We put them on and cast our lines and didn’t have to wait long. We fished all night and only left because all three of us had limited out. Two guys in a John boat behind us asked what we were catching them on. I told them what we were using and how we were foul hooking the shad. I heard one of them say, that’s BS, we’re using shrimp. I thought to myself, go on then, continue catching nothing, and they did, all night. That’s what you have to do. Use your brain, especially if someone is catching fish and you’re not. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🇺🇸🇨🇱

MadMac Loc: Marion (in Grant County) Indiana

Sounds like my brother and me the other night. Cat fishing. I had caught five. Him? Nothing. Told me they weren't biting! I was using my home made punch bait he was using chicky liver. He got skunked. Just wouldn't use what worked. I admit the fish weren't big. Three and four pounders. Better than nothing. I pick up my new cast net tomorrow evening. I know where I can net shad and another spot a few miles away when flats and channels tear shad up. He don't like using live bait. I wonder why he fishes. Hanging on to the old days when there were scads of catfish around here I suspect. Not so these days. Pressured to death. People lined up shoulder to shoulder catching nothing. I hit the lonely spots. Hard to do with this spinal stenosis. By the time I hump it through the bush I'm in serious pain but I can usually put fish in the pan. Got my caudal injection yesterday. I'll tell you something. That darn needle going deep into the tail bone hurts. The doc said he nailed two of the nerve ends dead to rights. Must have. Not much pain today. Oh well ... tight lines y'all. Hey Oz...don't lose that new pole. I may need to borrow it when the shot wears off in three-four weeks.

hacksaw Loc: Pasadena, Texas

There’s a place near here that I used tear up the Crappie. It’s a reservoir which serves as cooling water for a chemical plant at one end of it. When I first started going I couldn’t catch anything but the people around me were catching the hell out of them. I finally asked a person next to me how were they keeping their corks in the same place. My line kept floating back to shore. They told me I needed a Crappie rig which had two Crappie hooks on it and a swivel at the end of the line for a weight. So, I went to the bait shed and bought two Crappie rigs, pinned on the minnows, and it wasn’t long before I started catching fish. I fished out there for 15 years. The guy at the bait shed told everyone to make sure the trash, minnow bags, wrappers, etc. we’re kept picked up or the Galveston Parks Dept. was going to shut the gates. The trash was getting sucked up in the plants filters. There were about 6 or 7 of us that fished there daily, every week and we tried our best. One morning I went out there and sure enough the gates were locked and still are. All it takes is a few buttheads to ruin everyone’s fun. I have other stories about that happening but I’ll stop for now.

oldsalt Loc: Holland Pa

An old time way to find and catch striped bass in the ocean is called “snag & drop”. If you locate a school of bunker (menhaden) - tie on a weighted trebble snag hook. When you manage to snag a bunker, stop reeling, the weighted hook will drag the bunker down in the water column. The bass are lurking under the school and will pounce on wounded prey.

oldsalt Loc: Holland Pa

Hay Madmac - I had spinal stenosis - had back surgery Oct 2017. Best decision I ever made. The key is finding a top notch surgeon.

MadMac Loc: Marion (in Grant County) Indiana

I've consulted with five surgeon's and because of my heart problems all five have refused to operate saying that I wouldn't live through the surgery.

Dennisjj Loc: Kinston N.C.

It don't really matter how big they are for me but you do want to catch a big one it's the fight for me feels great .

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

I have a portable fish finder for my canoe and row boat. It’s come in handy plenty of times. Marking drop offs, structure, even bait fish.

Jimmyking Loc: Desoto , Missouri

Only a depth meter should be allowed ! I laugh at these dudes that use these live scopes to find fish . CHEATERS !!! They've taken the sporting spirit out of fishing .

Bass face

I agree! When I was on my annual trip to Tennessee, my buddy had nothing but an 60hp outboard on the back and a minkota trolling motor on the front of his boat. Prior to my arrival, I sent him a $100 Garmin unit. Basically, depth, and water temps. We fish a bass tournament every year against some of Tennessee’s finest... $80k bass boats with all the bells and whistles!!! We took 2nd place! How you may ask? I simply studied some lake maps, looked at some topo maps for contour, found some creek heads, detected drop offs and flats, river channels, & had a game plan before I even landed in Nashville! You can do the same on any body of water anywhere in the U.S..... and, I personally enjoy the process of thoroughly studying a body of water and getting to know it before I fish it... 🏄🏼‍♂️🎣

flybynight Loc: Brookline, MA

I don't like fishing I like Catching, a good machine is a MUST.

flybynight Loc: Brookline, MA

You cant get to know the lake if you cant see into the water, and you Cant without a Good Machine.