Getting "schooled". - Page 2 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Tagger · 10-01-2006, 08:03 PM

Some people are very competitive .. I try not to be and the people I fish with are cool . We'll yell out what were taking fish on ,,,try to help eachother out .. I think alot of times its just luck getting your stuff in front of the fishes face . Hey Flap ... you forgot to mention smelly jelly...

afterhours · 10-01-2006, 08:58 PM

fish with a few people- no competion with them- love it when they catch! love it when i catch! it's all good.

piemma · 10-02-2006, 04:25 AM

MD2020
You sound like a great guy.

Back Beach · 10-02-2006, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlapinski

How often do you get schooled by a fishing partner? How does this make you feel? It used to be that I would get pissed if a buddy of mine out fished me on a given night. I would get all bent out of shape knowing I wasn't the top dog of the night. As the night would wear on, I would get more and more worked up which probably led me to do even worse.

This season the roles have been reversed and one of my fishing partners has pretty much put me in my place night after night. One night, I stood along side him as he landed several nice fish to the low 30#'s while I landed nothing over 20. On the trip to Cutty last week, I only managed fish into the low 20's while this guy tonged bass to the 30's again. Saturday morning, along side the same guy, I again took fish to about 20#'s while he landed twice as many bass to 28#'s. This was a spot I grew up fishing and he had never made a cast into before this trip. Am I just becoming a better guide this season, or am I slipping?

Toby,

Good thread and here is my take... When its your turn, its your turn. This is what a comrade on the cape used to tell me all the time.Sometimes you are fishing the same spot, tide, presentation, bait, etc., and it seems you can't do anything right. Sometimes it seems you can't do anything wrong. I used to dismiss this philosophical b.s. that this guy used to tell me. Now the longer I fish, the more I believe it. Chock this saying up with my top three:

1. What are you catching NOW?

2. Show me the slips

3. When its your turn, its your turn.

NIB · 10-02-2006, 07:47 AM

In my yrs I have fished with some pretty good surfcasters,so being skooled as u say is not something new to me.Over the past few yrs i believed I could carry myself with anyone.As u may know, I like to travel some an got to make some good friends an fish in some very interesting area's.The North East is a wonderfull place chock full of nooks an cranny's that require Yr's to disect.Even for a thinking man being lead by the hand it is hard to compete when someone has all the little nuance's of a particular area or style down like clockwork.One thing I have learned is there will be spots within a spot.I like to call em Hotspots area's that for some reason hold the better or bigger fish.
U would be surprised there is a spot in the canal for instance..
Where 5 oz jigs an 100 yd cast are the rule.the guy who can thro 115 yds is in a hole other zone of fish.an if ur standing the same 20 yds down from the main rock ur getting beat up 5 to 1.I found it hard to believe but it's true.
I have been on both sides of the beatings an i think i handle it pretty good I try to understand why.watching, learning.I can leave catching fish, being content but not catching drives me further.This drive to be a better fisherman is what has taught me the most in all my yrs. of fishing.I don't worry bout being skooled as long as I get something from it.
Too me it is what makes this sport so interesting.It's not always about the biggest fish.It should be more about the art of angling disecting a new area breaking it down an finding fish. As u draw from past experiences, an ones u have yet to encounter...

Saltheart · 10-02-2006, 07:54 AM

I suppose you should be paying attention and getting some "schooling" every trip out Even when you are high hook!.

NIB · 10-02-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltheart

I suppose you should be paying attention and getting some "schooling" every trip out Even when you are high hook!.

I agree u should try to learn every trip.
Even a blind squirrel finds the acorn.
Why, was the wind different does he like to real faster or slower.there are millions of reasons.there is always one.
I used to fish alot of LMB tourney's as the competive juices in that game are very high.On thing it taught me, on the tough days,someone always came in with the bagfull.
There is a reason for everything. I often contemplate hundreds of em when I'm not catching.It's what we do as fisherman or atleast I do..

RIROCKHOUND · 10-02-2006, 08:31 AM

Some nights you catch
Some nights you don't catch
Some nights everyone catches,
Some nights nobody catches
Some nights you gaff your partner fish and he takes over your place in the club standings.. then said fish comes untied from said anglers leash and you have to atomic drop into a hole to pin the fish to the rocks before it can swim away....

And NIB; your right.. I ALWAYS contemplate/question when I'm not catching...

I have learned from everyone I have fished with, PIemma, JoeP, E/M, Nebe, GooseFish, and everyone else not from the site/internet.. hopefully they learned a bit from me too...

Toby, what drives me is me, fishing clubs and contests are fun but but drives me is that somewhere, someone is catching fish that I could be catching.. and it's just what I love to do... I'm happy fluking, trolling tuna, catching sea bass, scupping, sharking etc.. its all good... Bass at night from the surf and Blackfish in a boat just happen to be better than the rest... what my buddy on the rock next to me catches doesnt drive me to beat them, just to catch my own fish!

choggieman · 10-02-2006, 08:43 AM

I have schooled and been schooled- its a cycle. Sometimes you have the mojo, sometimes he's got it on the side of you. Or sometimes he has a 2 oz Tattoo darter and I don't!

tlapinski · 10-02-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

... somewhere, someone is catching fish that I could be catching.. and it's just what I love to do...

Quote:

Maybe he's bringing you down, I say ditch him!

Done and done!

As had been said, never stop learning! I learned several items the other morning fishing the spot with the "new guy". The only really bad fishing triops are those in which I do not learn anything. I wish I could say I put him on what was always my "best rock", but the whole area has treated me well. To be honest, the spot he caught on may have been the one spot I have never taken fish from.

Slingah · 10-02-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tagger

Some people are very competitive .. I try not to be and the people I fish with are cool . We'll yell out what were taking fish on ,,,try to help eachother out .. I think alot of times its just luck getting your stuff in front of the fishes face . Hey Flap ... you forgot to mention smelly jelly...

ya....like you and me out there yelling back and forth...."what do ya got on????"
"Blue and white needle"
"Huh?"
"Blue and white needle"
"I can't hear you"
"#%&$@ BLUE & WHITE NEEDLE!!!!"
most of the guys I fish with are not competitive with each other...that I know of anyway..and we all share info and network where the fish are
Sometimes it is your nite and other nites it is a classroom......I watch everything and soak it all in......Ive learned ALOT this past week alone

fishaholic18 · 10-02-2006, 05:37 PM

Canalman and I have schooled each other many nights, I have never gotten p!ssed or frustrated if he schooled me and he doesn't when I school him. We're glad for each other, I think thats what a good partner is all about. There's no competition between us when were fishing, it's just us against cow bass.

I remember one night he got his biggest bass ever and I topped it on the next cast,,OOPs, I felt kinda bad but we were both happy with our catches. He's since done the same to me.

It's all about having a good time, and we always do. The only frustration we have is when neither of us are catchin'.

Jenn · 10-02-2006, 05:40 PM

RM...for what its worth I am still laughing about the itchy butt story...but dont be offended if I dont shake your hand

ANYWAY......Last year while LMB fishing we couldnt catch to save our lives no matter what we did.....and we tried it all. So here is our frinds kid with a bobber and shiner set up....doesnt even cast it.....just drops it over the side of the boat (literally only 2-3 feet of line in the water) and is nailing Smallmouth bass left and right..from the same spot...and in the middle of summer...needless to say we adults were schooled that day!

here we were trying every technique in the book when all we needed to do was to throw the book aside....

Joe · 10-02-2006, 06:24 PM

I'm very happy to be schooled - so long as they did not get the fish of a lifetime that I frigged up - then I'm not too happy.
But overall, my best article ideas and product selections come from being schooled - being beaten is one of the best opportunities you'll come across.
With some people I intentionally try not to compete - usually when I know they are better. I just kind of lay back and watch everything they do.

riverrat2 · 10-02-2006, 06:29 PM

Hey backbeach I heard you schooled someone at their favorite spot the other night. Nice fish. I have been schooled many a time. The canal this spring was a perfect example, standing next to tony and backbeach watching them pull decent fish, while I was sitting there looking like an idiot

bloocrab · 10-02-2006, 07:31 PM

I was fishing side by side with a good friend of mine once...we knew the fish were in this certain hole, we start fishing BANG!, he's ON, it's big - over 40#s...I drop the same exact offering in the same EXACT hole....bang? I'm on..........32" fish,,, His next cast,,, BANG!...he's ON, it's big..another fish over 40#s, again I cast in the exact same hole...bang? I'm on .......another 30 + INCH fish,,,, His next cast,,, BANG!...he's ON,, it's BIG...another fish pushin' 40 POUNDS!......yeah, I don't have to tell you the size of my next fish.
Did I feel schooled? NO,,, but I felt something...was I happy for him? ECSTATIC...did a small voice inside me ask....WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING DIFFRENT?WRONG???........of course,

I didn't feel schooled as we were fishing the same method and we did catch fish consistently....the bigger fish just liked him better that night.

But I hear ya, there's a small competitive monster in all of us, some admit it...some don't. ...and like you said Tlapinski, not in a bad way at all......just in a competitve way.

Good Thread.

JoeP · 10-02-2006, 08:20 PM

I agree with alot of what has been said here and alot of it describes what goes through my head all of the time.

The competition "feeling" is always in me, I can't help it. I think it comes from an athletic background. It's not the type of competition that I get upset, especially when a friend is catching - its always just an anxious feeling of "why am I not catching also", which leads to a healthy competitive drive to do better. The same goes for when I'm driving or walking to a spot - I get a very anxious feeling of "I hope noone is where I want to fish" - and it doesn't go away until my feet are planted where I want to be. It's all part of the strong drive to fish...

I also agree with RIRockhound/Bryan that learning as much as possible & as often as possible is very important. I've learned from fishing with him & Piemma, from fishing with a couple other guys not on the Board, and from talking to others. Learn on the water and off the water. More of the competitive drive to do better.

I also agree with #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& that many times I am guilty of overthinking a situation and changing what I've done in the past & had success at - whether it be where to fish or how to fish. That too gives me a feeling in the pit of my stomach afterward that "I should have known better" - and again fuels the competitive drive. This is especially true now that my fishing time is more limited - when I blow a trip for some reason it really aggravates me.

The best part of all of this competitive philosophical stuff about fishing is that there is always the next trip out to erase what happened the last time.

Funny, many (non-fishermen) people I know think I just go out there & throw something into the water & fish - as simple as that. They have NO IDEA what goes through our minds...

Adam R · 10-03-2006, 07:54 AM

One observation I've made, fishing with the same guy every night for I'm not even sure how many years - some nights I catch more, other nights he does, but at the end of the year, the totals are very close. There's not much competition between us, more like a team effort to find the fish. He starts with one plug, I'll start with something completely different and start covering the water with different techniques. If there's anything around, one of us will hook up. If one of us finds the correct "pattern", the other knows very quickly, switches techniques and starts drilling fish.

DZ · 10-03-2006, 02:33 PM

I fish alone most of the time - sometimes I "school" the bass - sometimes they "school" me. Either way - I learn and win. That's what I like about this game.

DZ

jim sylvester · 10-03-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam R

One observation I've made, fishing with the same guy every night for I'm not even sure how many years - some nights I catch more, other nights he does, but at the end of the year, the totals are very close. There's not much competition between us, more like a team effort to find the fish. He starts with one plug, I'll start with something completely different and start covering the water with different techniques. If there's anything around, one of us will hook up. If one of us finds the correct "pattern", the other knows very quickly, switches techniques and starts drilling fish.

Same way here Adam

sounds like you guys have a great team

Flaptail · 10-03-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZ

I fish alone most of the time - sometimes I "school" the bass - sometimes they "school" me. Either way - I learn and win. That's what I like about this game.

DZ

An intense course of "one on one"study is a prerequisite to a higher degree of "Bassmanship" and DZ has attained that level. (BTW Dennis Al Gag says Hi and we talked today of the snowstorm blitz. Man, if there was ever one event that I wish I could have been part of it was that!) Sorry I missed you the week before but there is something coming your way and one for Zeke too ( Who btw is a great guy).

Krispy · 10-03-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeP

I agree with alot of what has been said here and alot of it describes what goes through my head all of the time.

The competition "feeling" is always in me, I can't help it. I think it comes from an athletic background. It's not the type of competition that I get upset, especially when a friend is catching - its always just an anxious feeling of "why am I not catching also", which leads to a healthy competitive drive to do better. The same goes for when I'm driving or walking to a spot - I get a very anxious feeling of "I hope noone is where I want to fish" - and it doesn't go away until my feet are planted where I want to be. It's all part of the strong drive to fish...

I also agree with RIRockhound/Bryan that learning as much as possible & as often as possible is very important. I've learned from fishing with him & Piemma, from fishing with a couple other guys not on the Board, and from talking to others. Learn on the water and off the water. More of the competitive drive to do better.

I also agree with #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& that many times I am guilty of overthinking a situation and changing what I've done in the past & had success at - whether it be where to fish or how to fish. That too gives me a feeling in the pit of my stomach afterward that "I should have known better" - and again fuels the competitive drive. This is especially true now that my fishing time is more limited - when I blow a trip for some reason it really aggravates me.

The best part of all of this competitive philosophical stuff about fishing is that there is always the next trip out to erase what happened the last time.

Funny, many (non-fishermen) people I know think I just go out there & throw something into the water & fish - as simple as that. They have NO IDEA what goes through our minds...

I think JoeP summed up my feelings.
I enjoy how we fish and even more so, enjoy the guys I fish with.

DZ · 10-03-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaptail

An intense course of "one on one"study is a prerequisite to a higher degree of "Bassmanship" and DZ has attained that level. (BTW Dennis Al Gag says Hi and we talked today of the snowstorm blitz. Man, if there was ever one event that I wish I could have been part of it was that!) Sorry I missed you the week before but there is something coming your way and one for Zeke too ( Who btw is a great guy).

Hey Flap,
Say hi to Gag. Just saw some of his Pocket rockets the other day - someone finally got the "Stubby" right, at least the design, haven't used one yet.
Thanks for your kindness.

DZ

basswipe · 10-03-2006, 04:35 PM

Those instances,and there're many,of being "schooled" have resulted in some of the greatest fishing experiences I've had.While my partner was catching more and bigger fish than me I was also catching the most and largest fish of my life.

Its all outlook:the glass is half empty or its half full.

Tagger · 10-03-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam R

One observation I've made, fishing with the same guy every night for I'm not even sure how many years - some nights I catch more, other nights he does, but at the end of the year, the totals are very close. There's not much competition between us, more like a team effort to find the fish. He starts with one plug, I'll start with something completely different and start covering the water with different techniques. If there's anything around, one of us will hook up. If one of us finds the correct "pattern", the other knows very quickly, switches techniques and starts drilling fish.

Tobias ,,,,I bet ...

JoeP · 10-03-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krispy

I enjoy how we fish and even more so, enjoy the guys I fish with.

I agree. I fish alone alot, which has its place sometimes - but its more enjoyable to fish with a couple of guys who you get along with well & who share your approach to fishing. That leads to the "team approach" discussed above by Adam & Jim... Great way to enjoy fishing & have more success.

libassboy · 10-03-2006, 08:16 PM

I dont know about u guys, but i really like NIB's posts..very matter-of-fact and always full of good applicable info....

tlapinski · 10-05-2006, 06:50 AM

Another schooling last night. Well, not completely. I learned from the weekend trip and managed fish to just shy of 30#'s. You know it's a good night when all 3 guys don't mind leaving because, "we've all caught our share of bass..." 3 hours of fishing, non stop action, nothing under 20#'s, GOOD NIGHT.

Oh yeah. Learned another important item too. Make sure your fillet knife is not sitting back home and the only thing you have is a 3" blade.

oke:

piemma · 10-05-2006, 07:28 AM

Some nights you catch
Some nights you don't catch
Some nights everyone catches,
Some nights nobody catches
Some nights you gaff your partner fish and he takes over your place in the club standings.. then said fish comes untied from said anglers leash and you have to atomic drop into a hole to pin the fish to the rocks before it can swim away....

Man, do I remember that night. I wouldn't have that fish if it wasn't for Bryan's amazing tackle of a 25+ pound fish loose from the leash.
Thanks partner!!

DZ · 10-05-2006, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlapinski

Another schooling last night. Well, not completely. I learned from the weekend trip and managed fish to just shy of 30#'s. You know it's a good night when all 3 guys don't mind leaving because, "we've all caught our share of bass..." 3 hours of fishing, non stop action, nothing under 20#'s, GOOD NIGHT.

Oh yeah. Learned another important item too. Make sure your fillet knife is not sitting back home and the only thing you have is a 3" blade.

oke:

Toby,
Nights like that get you through the winter and make all those "dry" nights bearable.

If you don't keep any you won't need to remember that fillet knife..

DZ