Was 2024 a good or bad year for catching and learning?

[John Bales]

My own thoughts on how I look at past seasons and decisions in moving forward, all of which both the learning and catching can go hand in hand. Keeping records can show the numbers, size and specific notes can be looked at down the road for good information. In my case, my brother in law got a job so his numbers has to be taken into consideration for my end of year count. Even without a partner most of the year, I was within 200 bass of being the same in numbers for the bass. Size of bass 3 lbs and up were less but I think last years trip to South Dakota gave us so many bass over 3 lbs, it was hard to compete with that. Even though I don't really keep track of how many schools of bass were caught, I know that it happened plenty of times last year. Getting into a school for me is always the goal. Conditions don't allow getting into the school every time but if it never happens, some thought should be given to how your going about your fishing. Trolling is for locating the bass, casting is for putting them in the boat. We need to be able to do both well. Many of my local lakes just aren't very good because of the weed spraying. My thoughts are to leave those lakes alone and stick with the ones that produce more adults. I have to bring up the use of livescope and how it has changed my fishing life. Lots have been learned the last 4 years with it. I could write a book on all the situations I see, mainly the locations seasonally. Summer is the most interesting. You can see fish (bass), using structure and also out in the middle of the lake related to deep structure and most of the time suspended in relation to the thermocline and bait. Next year I will spend a lot of time out there in the abyss looking because they are out there sometimes and some are big ones. With two units linked, I can deploy the trolling motor, point the transducer straight ahead and sit in the back seat , drive around and look. My livescope is my guideline to use to say if it's worth stopping and make a few casts to check it out. To me this is no different than trolling a 200 at ten feet to see if any fish are at that depth. Both take a similar amount of time to eliminate the fishing waters. I use livescope to learn what could not be learned without it. Some say that it's just not necessary and if I would just stick to the guidelines, I will eventually find the fish. That's a very true statement. This is what livescope does. It provides a view that nothing else can!!!!!!!! Before Livescope, we could only imagine what a school of bass would look like. It looks nothing like I thought it would look. The places the bass chose to spend their summer are places I would have never looked. No where near the deepest water in the lake and not necessarily near the best looking structures. When Buck said that the fish will use the flatter features in a lake in the summer, you cannot believe how flat these places really are!!!!!!! All that has been learned with Livescope is new knowledge for me. Just like when a new technique comes along, I may grab hold of it and practice it for quite a while and then bag it up and bring it out when it's needed. In my opinion, the more knowledge you can gain, the better fisherman you become. I still do not recommend anyone with less than 30 years spoonplugging, get the livescope. Without good spoonplugging knowledge, it just won't benefit that fisherman. Having the Livescope will just keep that person from learning the things that are most important. FFS is the most efficient piece of electronics that has ever come along if it is used for the right reasons, to learn. To answer questions we have always had. My own energy has not change over all these years. Other than taking away a few lakes off my list because they suck and adding a few, I'll still go about how I fish the same. Trolling and casting and using FFS . Take Care. John

[MuskyAddict]

Great post, John. You consistently catch fish and have banner years. You are an inspiration to all of us.

I’m at a whole different level than you when I look back at my past season. But I’m happy with the results and even more satisfied with the lessons I learned. Fish have a way of teaching us hard lessons and humbling us along the way. For about 7-8 weeks I was able to dial in on my lake the areas of structure that the bass were using, the pike were using and the walleye were using. I learned more about fishing other breaklines, such as the thermocline, the sand/mud transitions and the walls of massive bait schools. I located one school of bass, a couple schools of walleye and Scott and I (mostly Scott) found a wolfpack of pike. I fished a brand new lake in Canada and averaged about 17 fish/day - mostly fishing by myself. I came to a better understanding of where baitfish move throughout the summer. Lastly, as I added casting to my presentations, I was able to catch multiple species throughout the summer.

Next year I want to learn more and become more successful in the spring and fall seasons. My success was significantly less during those seasons this past year. Still, I’m happy with where I am, I worked very hard and know I have my best effort and I’m faithful that next year will bring more knowledge and success.

Hope the ice comes off your lakes soon,
Ken

[joseph radunz]

One of things I have learned as of late- chasing walleyes under ice. I have been with friends using ffs, schools of walleyes move more than I ever imagined. Seemingly constantly. On much shallower, flatter areas than I anticipated for the late fall - early ice timeframe. I have always caught them shallow at this time of year but always associated the areas with steep/deep access. That has not been the case this year. Fish were found in places that I’ve always considered more spring time looking areas, almost creek arm looking spots if you will, on natural lakes, that are neither steep nor deep. Seemingly roaming relatively flat sections. This is something new to me that I found interesting. I don’t own a ffs so my experience is very limited , but I can see how you can learn a great deal from using one as I never would have fished these areas without seeing them with it. It was very neat. I was not fond of ffs my first few experiences using it but have now changed my tune a little as I have been able to see it a little more. Kind of eye opening when your steed fast beliefs are turned upside down and you prove yourself wrong. Goes to show you that know matter how much you think you know- you actually know very little…

Joe