Fishing Outside Your Comfort Zone

Fishing Outside Your Comfort Zone

“This is my jerkbait. There are many like it but this one is mine. My jerkbait is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my jerkbait is useless. Without my jerkbait, I am useless… I must fire my jerkbait true…”

Show me your war face: Full Metal Jacket
Show me your jerkbait face!!

It’s easy to get attached to our favorite lures, favorite locations or favorite fishing patterns. So much so, that parting ways with a certain bait – or a certain lake – seems unfathomable.

We go with what we know.

If you take a look at the recent TV spot for Minn Kota Trolling Motors with iPilot & Spot Lock – what do they keep repeating?

“This is MY SPOT. I ain’t going NOWHERE.”

It’s the same with confidence baits. While they are (very) important, if we don’t break away from “the usual”, we never grow as anglers.

… so… what do you do when YOUR SPOT ain’t producing fish? What happens when YOUR CONFIDENCE BAIT gets ignored?

YOU PIVOT – because sticking with the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

hillary crazy you dont say
Here’s a picture of Hillary. No reason.

It’s time to fish something different!

I bank fish often. Love it. Usually, it’s a successful way to target largemouth bass… but lately, the bank-bite has been off.

Way off.

I’m talkin’ non-existent at my favorite lakes. We touched on setting up scouting missions when times are tough – which is exactly what I’ve been doing – fishing new, challenging water with presentations I’ve never tried before. (Some old favorites have produced as well…)

Take a look at a few recent fish and presentations that have worked. See if one of these suggestions sparks your curiosity – then get out there and give it a shot!

Jon Boat Largemouth Bass Powerbait Minnow
Exploring new water in the jon boat. Tried a walking bait for the first time ever. Several largemouth crushed it!
Heddon Zara Spook Puppy:
Tackle Direct | Amazon
Largemouth Bass Bank Fishing Strike King Super Finesse Worm Floating
Found a new, tiny pond on Google Earth. Fished it with a simple fluorocarbon leader, 3/0 Trokar and a floating worm. Great success!
Strike King Super Finesse Worm:
Amazon
Jon Boat Bass Largemouth Yum Dinger Wacky Rigged
Took the jon boat out for a second time and the topwater bite was off. Slowed down and threw a small plastic to mimic the minnows I could see skipping about in the shallows. BOOM!
Powerbait Twitchtail Minnow:
Tackle Direct | Amazon
Snakebite Rig Largemouth Bass Fishing Illinois Bank Fishing
Found another small local lake with clear water and weedy cover. Fished a Snakebite Rig through the grass and connected many times. I’m still developing this rig and I’ll post it later – but one key component is the compact weighted hook.
Z-Man Finesse BulletZ:
Tackle Direct | Amazon
Jon Boat Bass Zara Puppy Yum Dinger Largemouth
My biggest bass from these last 2 weeks came on the smallest bait I threw, fished weightless in ultra-clear water, on light line. Got ’em!
3″ Yum Dinger:
Tackle Direct | Amazon

How about you? Any lures or locations you’ve been experimenting with? Let me know!

What do you think?

It ain't rocket surgery - if you want to grow as an angler, it's never too late - but you need to push yourself. Grab something new, go somewhere strange, and start casting.

I'll be doing the same.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Thank you Readers!

Thanks for visiting! I’m going to keep doing everything possible to keep the helpful content coming, and FREE FOR EVERYONE… but I need your help. Please chip in by making a small monthly contribution to keep this site alive & growing. $4.96 will buy a sweet Pack ‘o Dingers, and with it, I promise to catch many bass in your honor. Thanks. You are a gentleman & a scholar! -AJ

Featured Videos:

pop n drop creek fishing in chocolate milk
Pop 'n Drop Creek Fishing in Chocolate Milk

Stars & Bars Fishing is a video log dedicated to catching fish with the techniques we write about. All Episodes >

featured video donkey tails mule jigs
In-Depth Review: Donkey Tails & Mule Jigs

The Minimalist Fisherman channel focuses on bait reviews, strategies & projects. See More Fishing Videos>

Join Us. Subscribe.

creek fishing illinois aj hauser ned ocho smallmouth bass

Blue Arrow Pointing

Worth Checking Out:

%d bloggers like this: