For me, it's the presence of baitfish, but I may be oversimplifying, because something had to have got the whole thing started by attracting the baitfish in the first place.

So if you had to pick one, under what single condition do you most oftentimes find fish?

moving water

I too like moving water, esp. any area that a large body of water flows out thru a smaller cut into the main body of water.

FISH:laugha::laugha::laugha:

Solitude::rollem: I always seem to catch good fish when I'm alone.
(Go figure - it doesn't help with my "You should have been there" speech the next day.)

Seriously, I would say bait. Not massive schools, as it may interfere with you ability to get fish to hit your offering, but just the presence of bait.

25+ NW wind in my face

Baitfish is the easy answer, birds certainly do the trick, but I too am a fan of the moving water, stripers love current....

Free time

because I still can....

..... stripers love current....

Heresy perhaps, but my experience is that while stripers are easier to catch in current, the biggest fish come out to prowl and are more accessible during slack water (or barely moving water).....not that they usually have any interest in what I'm throwing.

Free time

Exact-a-mundo!:uhuh:

Heresy perhaps, but my experience is that while stripers are easier to catch in current, the biggest fish come out to prowl and are more accessible during slack water (or barely moving water).....not that they usually have any interest in what I'm throwing.


:uhuh:...most definatly, big bruisers are lazy, most of my bigger fish ( over 40lbs) have come from quiet slow moving water...

3rd night of the new moon in August. :lasso:

bait

A bass' willingness to bite what I'm throwing.

DZ

when its Flat A $$ Calm ::: I,ll take that 24/7

when its Flat A $$ Calm ::: I,ll take that 24/7

:cheers:

when its Flat A $$ Calm ::: I,ll take that 24/7

.....and dark with the wind @ my back.

Presence of bait is the lowest factor for me. People make way too big a deal out of it. In fact, its completely meaningless to me whether bait is there or not. This isn't to say presence of bait doesn't often coincide with presence of fish, bbbbbbbbuttttttttttt......

.......most of the things they like to eat(like crustacenans) are difficult to detect.Bigger fish are primarily solo and sometimes in small pods. They are bottom grubbers for the most part.

.....and dark with the wind @ my back.

Presence of bait is the lowest factor for me. People make way too big a deal out of it. In fact, its completely meaningless to me whether bait is there or not. This isn't to say presence of bait doesn't often coincide with presence of fish, bbbbbbbbuttttttttttt......

.......most of the things they like to eat(like crustacenans) are difficult to detect.Bigger fish are primarily solo and sometimes in small pods. They are bottom grubbers for the most part.

Yup!
My biggest this year came in the slop, but most consistent is under these conditions. I think it's all about presentation. This is easier done when it is FAC then 20kts NE in your face.

Moving water.
An hour or so into the east has been very good to me...

Shore.... a flooding estuary on a moonless night, late Summer.
Water.... any forming rip inside sheltered waters.

Heresy perhaps, but my experience is that while stripers are easier to catch in current, the biggest fish come out to prowl and are more accessible during slack water (or barely moving water).....not that they usually have any interest in what I'm throwing.

yup, when i say moving water, i'm talking more about a sweep or minor rip, not raging current

Okay, so far we've covered the gamut . . .
bait is important
bait isn't important
FAC
moving water

I can see why now it all comes down to putting your time in and having the time to do same.

absolutley right tamer.... with all the conflicting information out there, it comes down to u fishing if u want to be out there. cause ya kno there are gonna be countless nights when u get skunked.

At night near an outflow with big rocks present. Some of you probably know an area like this. :)

I like current and bait but the single most important thing for me is the wind.

Wind at your my back equals very long and unproductive casting for me. I would much rather have the wind in my face. I can't cast as far but it is always more productive for me (even in the canal). I know a lot of people don't think it makes a difference in places like the canal but i'll fish whatever side of the canal puts the wind in my face if any is present.

In my limited experiences it depends on the time of the season. Spring and fall when I'm on my skiff I'm clueing in on birds. Summer time I'm hitting spots that hold fish with no clear visible signs that they are actually there but rather going on previious experience and knowledge of what they like. Personally I love getting to a spot and not seeing anything until WHAM they hit your plug or sluggo and the game is on.

live (moving) water

Depending on where I am fishing, there is not one single factor
structure, moving water, and bait. I try not to over think but never it happens. just get out and fish

100% agree with you mike. Big fish setup in locations where they can scrounge weather it be lobsters, juvenile tog, scup, crabs etc... Deep water with nearshore reefs, boulders etc are my favorite. Wind to me means nothing other than the fact that if it is blowing more than 10knts in my face im going to sleep or finding a spot with the wind at my back.

100% agree with you mike. Big fish setup in locations where they can scrounge weather it be lobsters, juvenile tog, scup, crabs etc... Deep water with nearshore reefs, boulders etc are my favorite. Wind to me means nothing other than the fact that if it is blowing more than 10knts in my face im going to sleep or finding a spot with the wind at my back.


I'm big on the reliable food concept too.

Big fish seem to hang where food is reliable, in any form. If a school of something tasty like bunker comes by, so be it, they take advantage. But otherwise all they have to do is wait for nightfall and they go on the prowl and enjoy what's around.

Must begin with two words: LOG BOOK

Dark nights...............cloudy and pissing Full, regular New.

From FAC to 1'-3' max.....................worked well for my biggest feesh this year, multiple 30#'s, lost three Monstahs during same conditons at me honey hole.

Wind........................between 0 - 15 kts in my face, not in me mug, swirling, SW is good for that particular spot. it all depends on where. LOG BOOK

EEEEEEEEEELS.......................JULY to SEPT at just the right structure, slingin' 'em at the right time of the

Water........................the depth of the TIDE is key and changes with location and alters the availability of structure, unless yer at the EWall or similar places and can fish all phases.

My Honey Hole is definitely depth sensitive. 2 Hours either side of Low is GO TIME!!! 1 Hour, either side of High, has been marginally notable and will get more offerings next season. LOG BOOK

Some places are High tide places, some are Low, and some are Rising, and still others are Falling tide places. And then there's the Bways and River mouths, always feesh the outgoing on the outside and sometimes the inside on the incoming. Last summer caught some avg keepers on bunker Storms ~inside on the outgoing..........go figure. LOG BOOK

Beaches??? Pray for surf, 4'-6' ~and less~ works well for me. And then there is the Nor'Easters factor with regard to Water. Lots to learn, eh tamer? LOG BOOK

Mostly it's about puttin' in the time and finding yer own li'l honey cove, yer stretch of beach, personalizing "your" perch of rocks, and documenting the CRAP out of those ideal conditions that work BEST at your best producer, and then it's time to "Lock It Up". LOG BOOK

When asked about sharing my Honey Hole with others The Iron One once asked me, "Jess, how do ya think we know that our fish will always be there? It's because we keep our producers to ourselves. How well do you know the guy that your taking there? If he isn't yer best friend or family he's gonna tell his best friends and family, and who are they gonna tell?" Swallow the key, burn the map, and keep it to yerseff; sose as to not bring in the CLOWNS and/or send the COWS packing from too much pressh. Obviously, yer more public places are all about "first come, first served", and are already well known by most. I'm referring to that one or more places that work well for you on a consistent and productive basis and may be a little less well known.

Good Luck, bro! Oh yeah, did I mention the fact that we know these spots and we know the right conditions, and the right time of year, because we use a LOG BOOK???? Just bustin' ya! Have fun, cow tamer, and write it down!!!

technically this may be 2 single conditions but I tend to group them together as a condition....


Sunrise/sunset!!!!

Sunrise/sunset with a overcast, light winds, A little current,1 hour before and after high tide, plenty of bait, thats perfect conditions.

I love FAC. Especially when bait is around and the fish are on top. Makes being a fly fisherman alot easier in these situations.

As BASStracker stated the log book is absolutely your best tool. This year I started to use it on a regular basis and it gave me a major edge, when trying to figure out when and where to fish.

For example: My 2007 Log indicates that all of my best nights were had around a new moon (spot regaurdless). In my ussuall spots the last two hours of outgoing to the first hour of incomming tide were very productive. And I can see that on almost all of my good nights I had a wind in my face.

first of the flood,fac,light n/w or s/w wind,live eels

What is fac ?

What is fac ?

I'm glad someone asked

full a chit

WIND

As BASStracker stated the log book is absolutely your best tool. This year I started to use it on a regular basis and it gave me a major edge, when trying to figure out when and where to fish.

For example: My 2007 Log indicates that all of my best nights were had around a new moon (spot regaurdless). In my ussuall spots the last two hours of outgoing to the first hour of incomming tide were very productive. And I can see that on almost all of my good nights I had a wind in my face.

Vogt given this information one can deduce that you fish inlets, and bait was being held up in them by the wind.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

The most important thing to me is BAIT. Without bait fish WILL not hold. You might catch a cruiser going by but you wont catch the #'s of fish if bait is present. It is a whole lot more complicated than this though.

[QUOTE=keeperreaper;541965]Vogt given this information one can deduce that you fish inlets, and bait was being held up in them by the wind.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sometimes inlets, sometimes rivers, sometimes open beach. :scatter:

I'm glad someone asked

Flat ass calm = FAC

structure and moving water i.e. rips, surf, small current.

the best condition???

being single :hihi: