Quantity Or Quality???

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
1

I have not posted for aloooooong time. I have been brought out of hibernation to start a discussion which I have had many, many times in my years of fishing. below is a quote from a post dated 10-30-2010:

******"In recent years I’ve been out with a fair number of folks that were sure they could get me on numbers fish, but ended up rather frustrated. (I’ll never forget one fellow that chucked his expensive Shimano pole to the ground at the end of the day. Hey, it wasn’t MY fault. ) And especially after the 30th, it never ceases to amaze me how some will preach a particular method with unwavering zeal, but only catch well when conditions match their method… "[/i][/b]

Rog, I believe I am the guilty chucker of the Shimano pole. Here is my take. When I fish the Berry I prefer to search and destroy in weed beds located in water as shallow as 3 feet. I love to fish reaction baits and pretend I am fishing for bone fish on some tropical flat (not really). My so called “unwavering zeal” comes from past success, but more importantly the strike. I love to imitate bait fish weather I am at the Berry, Powell, Willard or wherever. There are many days that I know without a doubt that I could bait a tube and jig in deep water with great success (quantity). The problem is that I do not get the same rush, it is not my preferred method. I know full well that as I am driving from shallow spot to shallow spot ( admittedly passing deep water holding suspended fish willing to bite) that often it is a futile attempt to duplicate past success of finding chubs trapped against the shoreline by big cutts on the feed, taking every minnow lure I throw at them (top water, jerk bait, tube etc).

So here is the question. Is one method better than another? Well, that all depends on what type of fishing experience you are after. I say to each his own and that is kinda the beauty of our chosen sport and passion. Don’t get me wrong, I love quantity, however some methods to gain quantity bore me. I am OCD and ADD, why else would I throw a $300.00 Shimano set up, therefore I choose to go on the prowl, throw in the weeds and on some days it takes 100 casts before I get to watch an above the slot cutt, inhale my offering right in front of my eyes… I just gave myself goosebumps. Yes, quit often my methods don’t match the conditions I am facing and I choose to go home with few fish boated rather than tipping a jig and drifting. I don’t think this is an indication of poor fishing skills as much as a choice in my version of quality.

Is there anybody out there who gets what I am describing, or do I need to have my medication adjusted? I would love to hear your take on what I have been rambling on about. Lets take a poll and see if I should go back into hibernation.

Thanks for listening,

Stick’em Gentlemen.

2

Great Post !!!

Thats why I mainly fly fish not trying to start argument fly vs bait like you said to each his own but I get adrenaline rush when I land a fly on the water and a fish rushes up, crushes my fly and goes airborne.

Oh dont let me get started on bone fish or tarpon in my sole opinion when that bone fish murders your fly and shoots like out a missile taking yards and yards of line trying to fight him back absolutely amazing. … damm now I want to smoke :laughing:

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That sounds like great fun to me. My problem is I don’t know how to chase them so I wait for them to come to me. But I would be willing to learn from the master. Good to have you back Drake.

p.s.
When we going?

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I am a hunter/stalker with a fly too, but I love my Deep Nymphing[;)] I do have to find what depth though :laughing:

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personally it depends on what kind of fishing i feel like doing, sometimes i just want to get away from it all and just drift not really targeting anything, and other times i would like to target something or get more familiar with a new lure so I end up targeting fish and locations. It all depends on mood for me, and ya if someone wants to catch fish and doesn’t really know what to do to get them then i will take them somewhere i know what is working at the moment and if it fails i will figure out what bait/presentation needs to be used to get them into them and show them, which usually gets them excited and more willing to hone there own skills.[fishin]

6

Since I log about 9 hours at Strawberry for every individual fish I catch, slot or otherwise, it’s a moot point for me.

BUT, Der Weg ist das Zeil. (German saying)

          "The path is the goal."

It’s an old saying…I’ve heard a Chinese version, too. And it applies especially to ADD people. Trust me, I know. [;)]

In fishing, my version of this is to hunt down big bluegill. Truly big bluegill are my all time favorite fish. Bluegill in general are small. Finding big ones is somehow immensely gratifying, albeit oxymoronic.

Also, my perverse fascination with burbot. 5 TRIPS AND STILL NOT A BITE! No trout either, at the Gorge. Yet, I’m looking forward to the ice up.

REALLY comes out in my bowhunting, though. I’m one of those idiots who goes out, chops down a tree and whittles it into a paleolithic European style flatbow (or whatever other urge I have), which shoots maybe 170 fps. Then I cut bamboo or dogwood, harvest goose feathers at the park, and make arrows. Then I go hunt deer and elk, knowing 25 yards is a pretty long shot.

But you know what? I get one once in a while…and like you said, there is NOTHING like having it all come together…

7

I like both numbers and size..
But size is not just the biggest fish in the state, but could be the 6" er from the small stream or high mountain lake..

Or that 5" blue gill from the city pounds, or a 30" cut at the berry…

And numbers well that depends on the lake and kind of fish you are trying to catch…

You pick, and you call it..

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RE; “So here is the question. Is one method better than another? Well, that all depends on what type of fishing experience you are after. I say to each his own and that is kinda the beauty of our chosen sport and passion.”

It’s all about having fun. Do what you like to do and don’t worry about what others think. With only a couple of notable exceptions, most of the people that are obsessed with numbers haven’t actually ever really racked up high numbers themselves.

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Since you quoted me, I better respond! [;)] I’ve thought about this question too, as I examine what is the most rewarding thing about fishing – FOR ME. :sunglasses:

True, you were the one I referred to that chucked the pole! [sly] But as to “unwavering zeal,” that was NOT you specifically, that was a general observation I’ve made as I’ve fished with and asked questions of quite a number of fisher folk; from the highly experienced that have their methods very refined and highly specific, (and balk at those that prefer to fish another way) to the completely unlearned whose approach to fishing is the same on any water, species, conditions and every season. Let me make it clear and public - I believe that I can learn something from almost anyone. If I were to be judgmental of another’s preferences – then I would not be a very good sport – nor a good student.

It never ceases to amaze me that some like country music, others like rock and roll, a few like opera – my favorite is tight a cappella singing, so let’s not talk about “rap…” [:p] So I agree with you Drake and believe you have answered you own question as well as it can be. “Different strokes for different folks.” In fact, if there were only “one right way to fish” and as soon as I learned it I’d catch a lot of fish, then that would make fishing much less interesting for me because anyone could do it. I love diversity and challenge.

Now, as to things that give ME a “rush,” it’s things like the satisfaction of figuring out what works to catch fish on a particular day, and having different methods of fishing is to my advantage to just get fish on my line. Be it a strong hit or a finicky nibble, it’s exciting to me to set the hook at the right time and feel the fish on the line. I particularly prefer lake fishing because of the anticipation that I don’t know what I’ve caught until I bring it to the surface!

Slowly, I’m developing my own preferences and what works best – for me. As I look back I’m amazed at how often I got skunked a few years ago when I started fishing… I deserved to be! I fished where fish aren’t, and with methods that I know - in hindsight – had an almost zero chance of catching a thing! But I persevered and shed light on my ignorance by becoming good student and finding good fisherman that have been gracious and willing to take me out with them and teach me. I’ve only been skunked once this year. That’s satisfying to me to progress.

On my journey I found that when I get out fishing, I’m not thinking about the regrets of the past, the anxiety of the future, or the regular stresses of daily life – only about getting a fish on my line at the moment. I’m sure there are those of you can relate to that. Maybe it’s not about fishing, but getting some internal peace, or the opportunity I have talking with my sons when fishing is slow. Or maybe it’s the male bonding that comes from the hunt to kill something and eat it! It’s a little bit of all that for me.

I’ll refrain from saying what’s “boring to me cuz I’d hate to offend anyone, but fishing in a manner that isn’t catching fish for hours and hours would be on my list! [;)] Do I believe it’s easy to get stuck in our ways and limit our catches? Yup, I do! Many are fond of stating how conditions change from year to year– not to mention from hour to hour. Man would I love to get into numbers of active cutts as predators of the shallows and chucking large lures as you described at the Berry. I’ve tried for several years but have caught very few that way. I have wondered if maybe other’s skill is just no match for my bad luck! :laughing: However, I’m coming to catch a lot more by other means. Maybe the conditions at the Berry changed in recent years? Maybe I just have a better feel for jigging and being in touch with my line and simply suck at casting and retrieving? I still have to figure that out! But I do believe I’ll have a better chance of success if I don’t get stuck in my ways and continually try new things, and fish with different people.

It’s a “quality” day to get out and interacting with the beauty of nature – and especially with fellow fisher folk of good character. And, I prefer to get out fishing with as much “quantity” as I can.

It has to be more than about fishing, or why would people do what we do?!
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In answer to the root question “Is one method better than another?”

No, I love people who don’t catch fish because of some inane masacistic drive to fish “their” way. The truth is, they leave more fish for me to catch :slight_smile:

11

True…Very True.

Thanks for the responses folks.:slight_smile: