Articles about fishing certain species

[Tom7227]

I just finished reading the umpteenth article about fishing and it proved once again to be virtually useless. This one was about fishing for northerns and was in the weekly outdoor newspaper that many of us read.

The information focused on fishing with spoons. The author pointed out that water temperature was a key factor in both location of the fish and the speed with which the lure should be retrieved or trolled. The problem is that that was all that you could learn from the piece. How about suggesting that if the water is 40-43 degrees you present the bait at around 1.765 miles per hour concentrating on water that is less within 6.965 feet of the weed line? If the water is about 59 degrees the lure speed should be faster than 12 miles per hour....... Of course my numbers are made up, but that's because the author failed to give me any info.

The final tidbit was that lure color was important. The example given was the person that had 2,000 spoons and apparently a full compliment of paint and a compressor so he could make something up while in the boat - trolling at 7.492 mph in 43.87 degree water.

If you're going to write an article how about putting some useful information in it? If you're going to publish an article how about not paying for one that really doesn't impart any information?

[Alagnak]

Yeah it's funny. There are VERY FEW articles (or new lures) out there that really change the game. I'm sure some help a new guy get in to the sport- sure. The fish haven't changed much- besides some being pressured more than others I guess. People just have to keep regurgitating old bee S to fill up magazine pages and create the next new fad to sell to humans, not to trick fish.

Beginners aside- I would venture to guess that if most avid anglers took the time they spent reading some of this garbage and applied that time to a new body of water/ diff method/something outside their usual comfort zone- they would learn more just spending that time doing it (fishing) instead of reading/talking about it.

Although- a guy's gotta do something on those days you're stuck at home watching the little ones or whatever.

[neptune]

A little off topic but I also think its funny that some people can learn something new but still be too stubborn to implement what they learned. I went fishing with a buddy to prefish for a bass tourney he was in and I out fished him 4 to 1 with a technique he had never used yet when it came time for his tournament he still stuck with his old method.

[tunrevir]

This exact reason is why I stopped subscribing to various outdoor publications. I grew up with scrips to Outdoor Life and Field and Stream and they have really become the same magazine with the same old stuff just rehashed over and over. I like Infisherman for the technique specific articles and used to get Walleye insider for the interest in tournament techniques but after awhile things all tend to get rehashed. I like Mn Outdoor news just because it is a weekly and regional paper that has more to do with what is going on in our state. I feel the Mn Sportsman gives out some decent info on species specific lakes to try out but you get a fair amount of generic info on techniques. I still find myself buying an issue here and there if there are articles I want to read. A lot of the outdoor television shows fall into the watch me catch fish category without really getting into specific technique details of the where, when, why, how of the technique other then Infishermen and Linders Angling Edge. I found that the Critical Concepts books does a good job over covering various species thoroughly and the when, where, how and why along with the types of techniques to be successful on the water. A series of these books on the species you are looking to fish go further in my opinion, to educating you then all of the articles you might read in the monthly mags and are well worth the money. The other thing I like is that they aren't advertisements for the latest, greatest, newest shiny products, just a good overview of various techniques and the lures you could use to go with them.

Tunrevir~

[Nhamm]

Quote:

I found that the Critical Concepts books does a good job

I have read every walleye book I can get my hands on over the years including ones that were written before I was born and these books are the best to date. I am only 3/4 way through the first but very detailed and well worth the money. At $16 a book with 6 or so books that makes for quite a bit of money but the wealth of knowledge gained is priceless. Can't wait to get book #2!!

[Stick in Mud]

Interesting thread. I suspect part of the difficulty with writing useful articles is that there are so many factors that it's just about impossible to give advice that works under most circumstances. It's tough to give useful, specific advice when sticking to a word count.

Think about the most honest answer to most fishing-related questions...it's usually "It depends." How fast should I troll? It depends. How deep? It depends. What color should I use? It depends. Inside or outside weedlines? Midlake structure or shoreline breaks? It depends. The variables are just about endless--that's what's so fun about this sport/hobby--and that makes giving general advice a tricky business indeed.

I am a bit of a sucker for fishing publications....I love reading them even though I learn very little that's useful. Sure, I could be out fishing and probably learning more, but I need to have something to read as I'm drinking my morning coffee.

What I find much, much more annoying are the fishing shows on TV. These guys actually have the time to give some real, useful, specific information, but most of the segments are nothing more than infomercials. Without that sponsor support, though, the shows probably wouldn't exist, so I guess that's just the business.

[pikerliker]

I agree with you carmike. If they were super specific on things like how fast to troll, what color to use, etc. then somebody would be upset because they tried those exact things and they didn't work. Again because of all the facors involved. It's really up to the angler to take the information that is out there and then experiment themselves. Personally I like the articles and shows that I watch and try to take little pieces from all of them.

[DTro]

Its really sad to see how sponsors, affiliates, and partners have taken over just about every aspect of the fishing industry when it comes to print and video.  Very rarely will you see an article or show that doesn’t have a lean towards a product or service.  You really can’t even find a simple fishing show any more.  Like someone said above, just infomercials basically.

 

Really though not much has changed, it has always been that way.  I’ve seen and heard first hand accounts of staged shots, creative editing, and even blatent disregard for using a known simple tactic to catch fish ONLY because you have to get a shot with a certain lure and instead of catching 100 fish you might catch 2 or 3. It has always been part of the fishing media industry.    I recall a story from a guy that fished with Roland Martin back in the day (probably 30 years ago).  He said they fished Smallies for several days and kept their biggest fish in a pen during the trip, then filmed a show “catching” all these huge fish in a one day shoot.  

 

I always get a kick out of shows going around the country on the HOTTEST bite to prove their baits or gear catch the most and biggest fish, when in reality, you could throw out any generic twister tail with a cheap combo and do just as well.

 

Nope, personally I can’t even watch this stuff anymore.

 

 

There is actually some really good stuff on YouTube and if I want to learn something I usually get a good start looking around there.  You end up weeding through a lot of crud, but also some very good channels with people that have not been tainted with sponsor money.  Instead, genuine people who are willing to take their time to demonstrate things they have learned. You can find real world accounts and reviews of products you won’t find anywhere else.   Yes of course you still get the same infomercials there, but watch a few of the guys videos and you can get a good idea of what you are dealing with

[Stick in Mud]

 There is actually some really good stuff on YouTube and if I want to learn something I usually get a good start looking around there.  You end up weeding through a lot of crud, but also some very good channels with people that have not been tainted with sponsor money.  Instead, genuine people who are willing to take their time to demonstrate things they have learned. You can find real world accounts and reviews of products you won’t find anywhere else.   Yes of course you still get the same infomercials there, but watch a few of the guys videos and you can get a good idea of what you are dealing with

+1

[BoxMN]

Gotta remember, though, not everybody has watched as many shows as you or me/etc., or read as many articles as you and me/etc. Some of this rehashed stuff is new info to people, and especially kids. Same with the shows.

I am old enough to have had shows on TV as a kid, but not many. And I cherished watching Virgil Ward, Tony Dean, The Fishin' Hole, Roland Martin - only once a week then, and no reruns and no DVR. I know my grandkids like watching fishing shows, and yes they then want a new "skitterpop" or whatever because that is what was catching fish on the show. More than not, their Dad or I will go to FF and get one for them, even if they have something similar already.

I think even with the negatives some mentioned, the shows and magazines and articles are a good thing, even if more seasoned anglers don't glean as much info as they/we once did.