Taking the Back Seat in 2010.

[BigBassin144]

This kind of goes along with my New and Improved for 2010 thread. I didn't want to distract form that main topic however, so here's the new thread.

We all know what we want to focus on this or year, or at the very least, know that we do want to focus on a certain technique. But what a lot of don't look at too much when working on a new technique or improving on one that you already know slightly, is what presentations took a back seat to these new techniques.

So after looking forward into 2010 at what presentations you'll we working on, let's take a look back into 2009 at what presentations we'll be ignoring, for a lack of a better word, this year. Please try to refrain from talking about the new 2010 techniques and leave that to the other thread.

For me, senko's will probably take a back seat to my presentations this year. I caught the majority of my fish last year on a t-rigged weightless senko (or mostly senko knock-offs). Another one for me is cranks. While this was my go to in 2008, and still a strong lure for me last year, I think my crankbaits may see less time in the water this year as I focus on learning new presentations and improving on some.

BB

[TN_Bassin]

Personally I don't think any of my techniques will be used less at all. Every technique has a time and a place, and finding out what that is is how I fish. But if I had to pick one technique I would use less it would have to be the Jig. I have been fishing jigs since I started fishing, and I have a lot of faith that it will produce decent fish (and it usually does for me). Usually when I start fishing a jig I usually can't put it down. Good idea for a thread. It got me thinking.

[nofearengineer]

I'm not sure if I will intentionally neglect a certain type of bait. You can bet that if I happen to throw my old favorite, a T-rigged purple worm, and it appears to be working, I'm going to keep using it until it stops working.

What I will say is, I will stop being so stubborn, continuing to use an old favorite, when it is clearly not the presentation of choice that day.

[bassinbob]

What they said above. Especially throwin a frog. Never stop doing that.

[BigBassin144]

Ok, I guess the question was misinterpreted a bit. I wasn't necessarily talking about abandoning a tactic when the right time and conditions present themselves to using them, what I'm talking about is what tactics will you probably use less because of focusing on a new tactic.

For example, this year, I'm going to be improving (or trying to anyways) my jig fishing. So I'll probably throwing a jig a lot more than I did last year which leaves less time for my main baits from last year (the t-rigged senko and cranks). I'll definately be using the senko and cranks, just not as much.

BB

[WTL]

I think I understand the question, but since my answer to the other thread was along the lines of "to create an intellectual understanding of bass behavior"

I guess the back seat would be to neglect to easy approaches I have learned over the years, things like flinging a spinnerbait shallow, or a senko, things I have previously felt comfortable with just cause they tended to work. I was also going to list a crankbait as a possible candidate for the back seat, but on second thought I think cranks have a more crucial depth element that keeps me from being lazy and so I can still learn tons from their use.

[Jrob78]

I'm going to try to get away from using soft plastics so much. I'm pretty good at using soft plastics with a lot of different presentations. That's where my comfort and confidence lies. I need to focus on traditional reaction baits more instead of trying to use plastics to cover all depths of the water column.

[flippin4it]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

Ok, I guess the question was misinterpreted a bit. I wasn't necessarily talking about abandoning a tactic when the right time and conditions present themselves to using them, what I'm talking about is what tactics will you probably use less because of focusing on a new tactic.

For example, this year, I'm going to be improving (or trying to anyways) my jig fishing. So I'll probably throwing a jig a lot more than I did last year which leaves less time for my main baits from last year (the t-rigged senko and cranks). I'll definately be using the senko and cranks, just not as much.

BB

Pitching a jig is a great choice and if you find the jig bite to be hot (picking it up on the fall) try pitching a spinnerbait in a similar color in that situation. Find a spinnerbait in a bluegil pattern. You might find the bite to be "on fire". I pitch a spinnerbait in heavy cover all the time. I let it sink a little and use a slow twitchin' and crankin' retrieve after allowing it to sink for a second. I use a heavy action 7'ft rod with 15-17 pounds test and a 7:1 ratio reel. The faster ratio reel is only used to get them out of the cover fast, not to move the bait fast during the retrieve.
Now as for fishing a Senko, if your fishing breeze/windy days. It becomes hard to allow enough time for the bait to fall all the way to the bottom. In this case I will t-rig it with a 3/16 bullet wieght or wacky hook them with a 1/8 Flik Shake style head. I use the Damiki Kaiser Jighead.
Dropshot..........Need I say more. Get brave with it. Fish it on 10lbs Viscous Florocarbon and use a 1/0 wide gap hook with a 4-5 inch finnese worm rigged weedless. Throw tight to cover. Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[Bassboss]

Cranks for sure! Also in 2008 I think, or 2007, (something like that), cranks where my goto and and caught bunches of fish on them, but the last year or two they've been pretty much dead to me.