Luck or Skill?

[Scott M]

"Chance favors the prepared mind" -Louis Pasteur.

"Keep your bait in the water" -numerous cat guys

"There is no substitute for experience" -cliché

[hanson]

Not sure we've come to a conclusion yet...

I think we need some concrete definitions of "Chance" and "Opportunity".

I'm not going to argue with the fact that being properly geared up helps big, that knowing how fish behave in a river works big, that knowing how to fight a big fish will bring her to the boat. Put that bait in the right spot and you have a "chance" or "opportunity", eh?

However... when you put your bullhead, creek chub, or sucker on the bottom swimming around and kicking held down with a 4oz sinker, what's the factor that makes that flathead eat that bait? At this point, is it not out of the angler's hands?

[Surreal Deal]

Put that bait in the right spot and you have a "chance" or "opportunity", eh?

However... when you put your bullhead, creek chub, or sucker on the bottom swimming around and kicking held down with a 4oz sinker, what's the factor that makes that flathead eat that bait? At this point, is it not out of the angler's hands?

Putting the bait in the "right" spot with any consistency falls under skill, doesn't it? Skill is more than just prowess, it includes the application of all knowledge that you have accumulated, and if you have accumulated any at all it then is going to affect where you put your bait, correct?

A person who casts mindlessly into unpondered waters or trolls back and forth over some stretch that he "heard was good" depends on luck. A person who knows his water and understand his quarry is making his own.

I would call the following matters of luck: That the fish is in the right spot and in a positive biting mood, that your hookset finds it's mark (Again, skill can come into play here in regard to your choice of gear) and of course in deverence to other current discussons on the board, that your fish wasn't pulled off of the right spot by a meat hunter the night before!

[rushing]

Well what I know is you can do everything right and still not catch fish.

Flathead fishing tends to be a guesstimate, since you are fishing for a loner apex predator who may or may not feel hungry that night.

You can prepare until the cows come home but you cant make the fish take your offering.

[Surreal Deal]

Well what I know is you can do everything right and still not catch fish.

Flathead fishing tends to be a guesstimate, since you are fishing for a loner apex predator who may or may not feel hungry that night.

You can prepare until the cows come home but you cant make the fish take your offering.

[mplspug]

Not sure, as I am unlucky enough to have no skill.

[Scott K]

I tend to agree with most the others, as skill will bring you to the spot where they are at, but only luck can make the big one decide to eat your bait, instead of one not attached to a hook! I have been cat fishing for many years, and just caught my first 40+ pounder this year. I have caught many mid to upper 30's, and have been fishing with several people that have caught 40+ pounders out of my boat. Because they caught the 40+ and I didn't, would that make them the better fishermen? I have taken a quite a few fishermen out that have never targeted cats before, and a few of them have landed 40 #'ers, would that make them a better cat fishermen then me? Maybe it's luck on their part, or lack of luck on my part, but either way, just being there when one is caught, is very exciting to say the least!

[Surreal Deal]

I have been cat fishing for many years, and just caught my first 40+ pounder this year. I have caught many mid to upper 30's, and have been fishing with several people that have caught 40+ pounders out of my boat. Because they caught the 40+ and I didn't, would that make them the better fishermen? I have taken a quite a few fishermen out that have never targeted cats before, and a few of them have landed 40 #'ers, would that make them a better cat fishermen then me?

[Lowblazah]

I'm going with 80% "right time - right place" aka LUCK...20% skill.

I was heading to one of my better spots the other week when we noticed someone was already sitting there. So we motored down stream a little ways as it appeared the people sitting in that spot where not there to fish all night and I had a feeling they would be leaving soon as the sun was setting.

We dropped baits at this "temporary" spot and figured we would wait them out to leave when one of our clickers started buzzing. just like that we had a 30lb'r in the boat. Sat there a little longer and boated a 20lb'r.

By this time we realized the other boat had left but we stayed in this spot anyway as we were having pretty good LUCK.

The 20% Skill factor applies after the clicker starts buzzing...(knowing when and how to properly set the hook and fight the fish with your equipment, knowing the limits of your rod, reel (drag settings), and line, playing the fish out of a snag...ect ect.)

with that being said, my boat has been lucky enough to boat a fish almost every outing (including two 40# fish). I greatly consider it luck as this is only my 3rd year seriously targeting flats since my river fishing days in BP back in High school.

[Whisker Warrior]

since my river fishing days in BP back in High school.

You went to high school j/k lowblazah! I think i'm coming up wednesday to fish with jake so maybe you should bring your 80% luck with....

[Lowblazah]

no can do...wife has an evening work function...might go tonight tho.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

mmmm I wish I was able to go tonight

[nsnutter]

mmmm I wish I was able to go tonight

Me too ... would be headin out on a boat with Bob but duty calls at work and I have to answer the call haha

[Lowblazah]

I dont think there is ever a night that passes where I am not fishing but wishing I was.

Catting in one addicting sport...thats for sure.

[nsnutter]

Oh, and HKK ... I gotta ask man, noticed the email address, were you part of the 75th Regiment?

[nsnutter]

I dont think there is ever a night that passes where I am not fishing but wishing I was.

Catting in one addicting sport...thats for sure.

Absolutely! Better to be addicted to cattin than addicted to the other things so many people nowadays are though!

[DTro]

I know for a fact that since about the middle of April, I haven’t gone 3 straight nights without being on the river and only maybe a handful of 2 in a rows off.

A side benefit is that my body is taking a beating and worn down from a lack of sleep, and I think I might have dropped a few pounds. I think I’ll call it the Zombie diet.

Where’s Billy Mays when you need him? (RIP)

[nsnutter]

Haha If only I were so lucky Darren, sadly I generally work nights, so it's becoming harder and harder for me to squeeze nights in, and it's showing this year! I'm not hookin into anything worthwhile yet ... gotta serve the time to reap the rewards!

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

173RD SF and before that the 101ST

[nsnutter]

173RD SF and before that the 101ST

No kidding! How long active? 101st very very respectable man!!! Any deployment?

[nsnutter]

I would assume in the 173rd you were in Iraq or Afghanistan?

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

23 months over seas

[nsnutter]

23 months over seas

Atta boy! I'm about to enlist meself thinking of going airborne ... but part of me is thinking 19d

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Go to Georgia dont waste your time in Kentucky

[nsnutter]

Really? If you don't mind me asking, why is that? I know a scout who loves every minute of it, but I would love to hear a) an outsider perspective on the scouts and a little about airborne life ... if you wanted to you could shoot me an email [email protected]