by Bob Johansen, June 05, 2007

Bass anglers are a strange breed. Most like fishing with a buddy but have absolutely no reservations about fishing alone. While fishing alone, the bass angler usually positions his boat for the most favorable approach to his casting target. And, fishes in a manner where his lures stay in the strike zone longer. When fishing with a buddy the tactics change. It is important to give your back seat buddy somewhat of an equal chance at desirable casting targets and fresh water. Probably the best way to achieve this is to fish off shore within easy casting of the shoreline rather than fishing too close to the shoreline and pinching off his chances at fresh water.

On a recent fishing trip to Kitsap County’s Long Lake, I was fishing with a buddy and I caught fish and he did not. I felt real bad for him and tried hard to get him onto a fish. He fished hard and his casts were right on target. And, because we were fishing from my boat, I felt like the host and he was my guest. And, as the host I would much prefer that if only one of us was catching fish, it would be my guest. Of course, my first choice would always be that we both catch a lot of fish.

So what was the problem – or, why did I catch fish and he did not? Later, I gave this some serious thought and arrived at some conclusions. I did not reach these conclusions by reading bass articles or researching the internet. They were based on many years of spending time on the water and learning by trial and error. I think my partner, skilled angler that he is, was making a few subtle errors.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this little story, we were fishing Kitsap County’s Long Lake. Long Lake has quite stained water, it is quite shallow and it is quite weedy. Bass in this environment are inclined to hunt largely by sound and smell where their cousins in a clear water lake probably hunt more by sight. So why was I hooking up with fish and he was not?

First of all, it could be just be luck. Everyone who has ever fished very much knows that luck plays a very important role in fishing and especially in “catching.” However, that being said, I think that often an angler does a few subtle things that will enhance his “luck.”

And, most of the time when you think your buddy is making subtle errors, you are somewhat reluctant to suggest he change his tactics – especially when you consider him a skilled angler. Giving unwanted or not asked for advice can come across as bragging, crowing or insinuating that you are the superior angler. And, -- maybe he is actually doing more right things than you are and the fishing Gods are somehow a little mad at him.

Anyway, my conclusions reached after the fact were:

1. Maybe he was just trying too hard. I think that happens when your partner is catching fish and you are not. I have been there and done that.

2. I think he was using too heavy a lure for the conditions. As I mentioned the lake is shallow and weedy. His heavy lure made a rather loud splash on his accurate casts, temporally spooking the fish. And, because it was weedy, he was fishing too fast so he could avoid most of the weeds. The lure didn’t stay in the strike zone long enough for the spooked bass to return and investigate the cause of the splash. I think that a light splash down, with a lighter lure could sound like a dinner bell to the fish, like something falling off a dock or out of brush or a tree. Too loud of a splash down may sound more like a threat than the dinner bell.

3. And, I think that because the heavier lure did pick up some weeds that had to be picked off by hand, that some bass threatening odors may have been transferred from hand to lure. This could probably have been solved -- or at least helped a little by more frequent use of some kind of attractant that masks the odors and will also incite more strikes.

4. And, “May the fishing Gods smile on both of us on the next trip.”