SPOONMINNOW
Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2016
- Messages
- 259
One definition of superstition: a false conception of causation
One of definition of prejudice: an adverse opinion formed without sufficient knowledge
Not all superstitions or prejudices regarding lure fishing are problematic when you still catch fish consistently based on those misconceptions. For example, I've been critical of matching lures to forage, as you all know from my many posts. But what if I'm wrong and there really is something to it?!! (Nope, I'm not and there isn't!
)
Believing in something that works - even if untrue- doesn't matter to the fish you've boated. You must a been doing something right such as finding fish that would bite your lures, choosing the right lures and retrieving them the best way. I've been in the same boat with someone and thought, no way is he catching fish on that thing!! But he does, making me an instant believer. One superstition down, a million more to go!
When I catch fish on a certain color, lure profile and action, I cannot shake the belief that the thing is capable of catching every species in any lake - forever! example:
Recently I found a bunch of fish in 6' in only one area of the lake. I cast a laminated, gold pearl Crappie Magnet on a 1/24 oz ball head jig, as well as a hand poured white pearl, 2" thin straight-tail grub. 45 fish later, I forgot all the other lures I caught fish on in the past and believed (temporarily) that I discovered the two best lures since the invention of the hook! Plus, every time I catch numbers and quality fish, my ego and sense of invincibility expand to the size of my boat - superstition in action! (..or at least until I'm only able to catch a doz. fish in 5 hours ...)
The biggest problem with superstition, prejudice and bias are the negative choices we make that limit lure selection and the catch. I've been fortunate in being able to quash many superstitions such as lure color choice and realistic paint jobs along with line visibility and fish being line shy. Thousands of fish have been caught on more lure colors than you can imagine as well as on white and chartreuse-colored braid. Those superstitions have been dispelled in my mind, permanently, none as critical as maintained in the media and posted on this forum.
Note: granted, my superstition regarding line diameter is this: the smaller the better, given a preferred pound test that allows the best lure action, especially casting small, light finesse lures. It is one I'll believe until the day I die (hopefully in my boat and not overboard).
Another one is trolling crankbaits. Wasn't a big fan until a buddy showed me a thing or two in the fall. He caught some rather nice crappie and a few bass on one. (Still not a big fan and I did try to quell his bias against casting & reeling small lures that always result in far more fish vs towing a lure around all day.)
My bias (superstition) against using lures that have caught fish in the past, but that haven't been used in a while is another. The latest is always the greatest! Yeah Right! Example: The Beetle Spin has fallen in favor but shouldn't, even though its presentation is limited to a steady retrieve. (Reminder: got to force myself to cast one in the spring and renew my faith in them along with crankbaits...)
I'm sure many of you have superstitions/bias, most of which you won't admit to being superstitions. Though some are fine, some not so fine. The greatest way to dispel any superstition of course is to see with your own two eyes what's false vs what's true. To accomplish that you must test theories before accepting as fact that which may not true or not true all the time. The evidence-based conclusion drawn is from catching fish.
example:
I posed a theory about bass jig skirt colors and trailers - which should I chose and why?
After tying on many living-rubber, solid colors and color patterns of silicone skirts and then catching bass on all of them, only one conclusion can be drawn: it don't matter! Same for trailers. Uncle Josh # 11 pork frog was it for me until I started pouring various soft plastic shapes. Caught bass on all of them! Conclusion? Trailers add to a skirt's action with actions of their own, making the combination a #1 bass catcher.
What about trailer color? I stick with dark colors for no other reason except that I always caught fish with blue & black or just plain black pork trailers.
The other question for bass anglers, answered by the above: do bass jigs & trailer simulate crawfish to fish?
My thought: putting lipstick on a pig and naming it Ethel won't make it less of a pig same as labeling a lure as this or that prey animal.
Anglers have an imagination that fish do not!
I mentioned a few of my biases, prejudices and superstitions. What are some of yours - if dare you to admit them? Though I can understand if none exist by the certainty that one's beliefs are solid as a rock.
One of definition of prejudice: an adverse opinion formed without sufficient knowledge
Not all superstitions or prejudices regarding lure fishing are problematic when you still catch fish consistently based on those misconceptions. For example, I've been critical of matching lures to forage, as you all know from my many posts. But what if I'm wrong and there really is something to it?!! (Nope, I'm not and there isn't!
)Believing in something that works - even if untrue- doesn't matter to the fish you've boated. You must a been doing something right such as finding fish that would bite your lures, choosing the right lures and retrieving them the best way. I've been in the same boat with someone and thought, no way is he catching fish on that thing!! But he does, making me an instant believer. One superstition down, a million more to go!
When I catch fish on a certain color, lure profile and action, I cannot shake the belief that the thing is capable of catching every species in any lake - forever! example:
Recently I found a bunch of fish in 6' in only one area of the lake. I cast a laminated, gold pearl Crappie Magnet on a 1/24 oz ball head jig, as well as a hand poured white pearl, 2" thin straight-tail grub. 45 fish later, I forgot all the other lures I caught fish on in the past and believed (temporarily) that I discovered the two best lures since the invention of the hook! Plus, every time I catch numbers and quality fish, my ego and sense of invincibility expand to the size of my boat - superstition in action! (..or at least until I'm only able to catch a doz. fish in 5 hours ...)
The biggest problem with superstition, prejudice and bias are the negative choices we make that limit lure selection and the catch. I've been fortunate in being able to quash many superstitions such as lure color choice and realistic paint jobs along with line visibility and fish being line shy. Thousands of fish have been caught on more lure colors than you can imagine as well as on white and chartreuse-colored braid. Those superstitions have been dispelled in my mind, permanently, none as critical as maintained in the media and posted on this forum.
Note: granted, my superstition regarding line diameter is this: the smaller the better, given a preferred pound test that allows the best lure action, especially casting small, light finesse lures. It is one I'll believe until the day I die (hopefully in my boat and not overboard).
Another one is trolling crankbaits. Wasn't a big fan until a buddy showed me a thing or two in the fall. He caught some rather nice crappie and a few bass on one. (Still not a big fan and I did try to quell his bias against casting & reeling small lures that always result in far more fish vs towing a lure around all day.)
My bias (superstition) against using lures that have caught fish in the past, but that haven't been used in a while is another. The latest is always the greatest! Yeah Right! Example: The Beetle Spin has fallen in favor but shouldn't, even though its presentation is limited to a steady retrieve. (Reminder: got to force myself to cast one in the spring and renew my faith in them along with crankbaits...)
I'm sure many of you have superstitions/bias, most of which you won't admit to being superstitions. Though some are fine, some not so fine. The greatest way to dispel any superstition of course is to see with your own two eyes what's false vs what's true. To accomplish that you must test theories before accepting as fact that which may not true or not true all the time. The evidence-based conclusion drawn is from catching fish.
example:
I posed a theory about bass jig skirt colors and trailers - which should I chose and why?
After tying on many living-rubber, solid colors and color patterns of silicone skirts and then catching bass on all of them, only one conclusion can be drawn: it don't matter! Same for trailers. Uncle Josh # 11 pork frog was it for me until I started pouring various soft plastic shapes. Caught bass on all of them! Conclusion? Trailers add to a skirt's action with actions of their own, making the combination a #1 bass catcher.
What about trailer color? I stick with dark colors for no other reason except that I always caught fish with blue & black or just plain black pork trailers.
The other question for bass anglers, answered by the above: do bass jigs & trailer simulate crawfish to fish?
My thought: putting lipstick on a pig and naming it Ethel won't make it less of a pig same as labeling a lure as this or that prey animal.
Anglers have an imagination that fish do not!
I mentioned a few of my biases, prejudices and superstitions. What are some of yours - if dare you to admit them? Though I can understand if none exist by the certainty that one's beliefs are solid as a rock.
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