When a good pattern just isn't enough

doc · 03-15-10, 12:27 PM

Our local club had a tournament this weekend, I took off work friday to prefish. During the prefish I found a good pattern fishing dock pilings with a jig. On tournament day we set the plan into action, we hit our pilings religiously. We must have had 6 other boats fish them at times with us and only seen 1 person pull a little dink off of them. We fished them all day, and I only lost 1 bass (had to be 6+, wrapped me up in the pilings, I got a good look at him just couldnt get him out, and he came unbuttoned) Conditions were tough, a cold front moved thru the night before, wind was blowing 15-25. Despite all that I put together a 16.5 lb sack of fish.

I thought surely that would do it, well at the weigh in we had a 20lb sack and an 18 lb sack so I took 3rd. Not too bad, and definitly helped me out on our AOY race, but It is kind of dissapointing when you put the time in, find a pattern (wich was different than anything the rest of our crew was doing) catch some quality fish, dont make many mistakes and still come up short.

Does it make you second guess yourself, or your decisions on the water when you think you have it figured out, only to find out at the weigh in someone had a better day?

screwballl · 03-15-10, 12:35 PM

Always have a backup plan and alternate pattern figured out, especially with weather changing like that. I would have suggested to move a bit deeper off points, bottom transitions and weedlines since they likely headed a bit deeper to more stable temperature water.
I ran into that this past weekend where the front moved through the day before and only caught a few small bass by the dock, and guys out on a boat fishing deeper on the weedline edge did better (for fun, not a tourney).

Rebbasser · 03-17-10, 02:46 PM

Doc, that's fishing. If that 6 pounder hadn't come unbuttoned you win. Sounds like you had it right, just had a spot of bad luck. I wouldn't second guess yourself over this one. With the conditions you faced you did better than I probably would have!

brushhog · 03-17-10, 03:57 PM

What Reb said...

cassidyta · 03-17-10, 06:02 PM

Doc,

I have had similar experiences. You had a good pattern that caught a decent bag. It turns out that someone else had a better one.
The only time I second guess myself is when I find myself catching the same size fish over and over again.

That is when I need to change my plan or pattern to find that kicker.

Jigger · 03-20-10, 10:46 AM

Gee, cry me a river! If I caught a 16 lb bag the day after a cold front and finished third, I'd be celebrating.

03-15-10, 12:27 PM	#1
doc BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,134	When a good pattern just isn't enough Our local club had a tournament this weekend, I took off work friday to prefish. During the prefish I found a good pattern fishing dock pilings with a jig. On tournament day we set the plan into action, we hit our pilings religiously. We must have had 6 other boats fish them at times with us and only seen 1 person pull a little dink off of them. We fished them all day, and I only lost 1 bass (had to be 6+, wrapped me up in the pilings, I got a good look at him just couldnt get him out, and he came unbuttoned) Conditions were tough, a cold front moved thru the night before, wind was blowing 15-25. Despite all that I put together a 16.5 lb sack of fish. I thought surely that would do it, well at the weigh in we had a 20lb sack and an 18 lb sack so I took 3rd. Not too bad, and definitly helped me out on our AOY race, but It is kind of dissapointing when you put the time in, find a pattern (wich was different than anything the rest of our crew was doing) catch some quality fish, dont make many mistakes and still come up short. Does it make you second guess yourself, or your decisions on the water when you think you have it figured out, only to find out at the weigh in someone had a better day?

03-17-10, 02:46 PM	#3
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	Doc, that's fishing. If that 6 pounder hadn't come unbuttoned you win. Sounds like you had it right, just had a spot of bad luck. I wouldn't second guess yourself over this one. With the conditions you faced you did better than I probably would have! __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

03-17-10, 03:57 PM	#4
brushhog BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Whitesboro, NY Posts: 1,222	What Reb said... __________________ 3/4 of the Earth's surface is water and 1/4 is land. Clearly god wants me to fish, not mow the lawn.

03-17-10, 06:02 PM	#5
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	Doc, I have had similar experiences. You had a good pattern that caught a decent bag. It turns out that someone else had a better one. The only time I second guess myself is when I find myself catching the same size fish over and over again. That is when I need to change my plan or pattern to find that kicker. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

03-15-10, 12:35 PM	#2
screwballl BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NWFL Posts: 654	Always have a backup plan and alternate pattern figured out, especially with weather changing like that. I would have suggested to move a bit deeper off points, bottom transitions and weedlines since they likely headed a bit deeper to more stable temperature water. I ran into that this past weekend where the front moved through the day before and only caught a few small bass by the dock, and guys out on a boat fishing deeper on the weedline edge did better (for fun, not a tourney).

03-20-10, 10:46 AM	#6
Jigger BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 490	Gee, cry me a river! If I caught a 16 lb bag the day after a cold front and finished third, I'd be celebrating.

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