More advice please

[Steve]

Since Poorboy is the best at giving advice, i thought i would pose another question.

I'm an average size guy 5-11" 195#.  My partner on the other hand pushes 3 bills.  Under the theory of water displacement, when my partner steps on the boat, should I target bass in the shallows?  And when he jets to the jon, would it be wise to move a little deeper?  Assuming we would be fishing a highly pressured inland lake.  I've always been confused on where to fish when there is a sudden shift in water levels.

Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

Confused angler.

[McCarter]

Dear Steve,

Your question intrigues me greatly, however there are so many variables to consider.  so i will offer a few options.

If it is sunny, and we are talking pre-spawn with water temps in the high 40s - low 50s, and assuming your portly pal is jetting to the can for a #1, i say stick to the shallows and target isolated weed beds with reaction type baits.  I like a Rattle Trap that time of year.

If it is late fall and we are talking speed boat pressure versus actual fishing pressure, i would tie on a Norman DD22 in reversable green craw or coleslaw pattern and crank the deeper stumps until the bathroom break was over.  In this case you should really be hoping that it is a #2, this will give you ample time to position your boat and locate the stump rows with your bait.

Now lets say its mid summer and the fishing is extremely slow.  You have tried deep with no luck, you have tried shallow with no luck.  And the night before your tubby sidekick decided on mexican food, so the bathroom breaks are considerable close together, timewise.  Perhaps he made it all the way back down to the boat a few times, only to tighten the cheeks again and penguin walk back to the toilet.  This is rare, but if it does happen you will be well prepared because of this tasty little tidbit i am about to give you.  The secret is to think your fishing deep, but really be fishing shallow.  In other words, you have to convince yourself that the depth is 20 feet, even tho it may only be 3 or 4.  Once you have convinced yourself, you must tie on a the bud-weis-errrrrr talking topwater frog bait to a 1/2 carolina rig.  Making multiple phantom casts to the same area, you will make fish rise to the surface, revealing there secret lairs.  Once you have established where they live, it is up to you to earn there trust by learning to swim, act, eat, sleep, and even mate like them.  This part can get a little tricky so be forwarned.  After the fish are comfortable with your presence you will know you have succeeded.  At this point you will know what to do in any water displacement/bathroom break scenario.  And thats what its all about really, being able to make the right choices in the right situations.

Hey, thanks for the question Steve.  Good luck and tight lines.

PoorBoy himself

[djkimmel]

Hi PoorBoy - long time listener, first time caller here.

Great answer. I once think I saw a TV show where Jacques Costeau mated with a freshwater porpoise in the Amazon River... It touched me man!

[Steve]

Poorboy, as always thanks for the good info. 
Now if I could only figure out why my boat pulls to the left when he is riding in it???

(note to self:  Tell Phat NO All you can eat Mexican Buffet, the night before tourney)

[gnewski5]

You guys are havin waaaayyy too much fun pickin on a phat guy that has a hard enough time hooking a fish, let alone actually catchin it. Now he has to worry about how much he jiggles when skippin across the water. Shame on you guys!

As for the mexican buffett's he's consuming, his wife can't control his eating, how are you going to being his fishin partner?

[djkimmel]

My wife keeps feeding me more. I'm thinking about a "Please don't feed the husband" t-shirt.

BTW, I have 3 authentic Mexican restaurants with a mile or two of my house, including one only two blocks away - that explains my 'healthy' physique!

[gnewski5]

Is that what their callin it now a days "healthy physiques"!??

Sweet !!   I have one too!

I was just callin it a "weight distribution" problem with my tournament load!!!