Is it better to master techniques or lakes?

[Bender]

I'm not sure exactly how to put the question. I'm still kind of new to bass fishing and I am wondering what your opinion is about the difference between mastering one technique and using it almost all of the time, or really getting to know one lake well and being able to catch fish consistently on it.
I know that in the end you should be a well balanced angler that can adapt to any conditions that any given lake may offer, but I am not to that point. I fish a lot of different lakes around here but I mostly use the same tactic. So far this year (luckily) it has been working for me. I am wondering if I should fish the same lake all of the time and learn more approaches to catching fish. As an example I have very little confidence in a jig, so I seldom use it. If I spent enough time on one lake I'm sure I would eventually need to learn to use a J&P.
I bet time on the water, any water, is the real answer and I am not trying to shortcut that, just trying to make the most of it.

[smbassman]

It is important to know a few different techniques for catching fish and the best way I have found to learn them is to fish with many other people.  You may see a location to be perfect for one technique while the other guy will see it differently.  If he starts catching fish, it will give you the confidence to learn that technique and you will have the basics by just watching him.

I have found this to be better than the common recommendation of going fishing with only one new lure. 

After you learn a few basic lures/techniques and when/where to use them, I think it is important to focus on learning one lake really well if you intend to tournament fish on it.  At local levels, the tournament winners are usually those that have the most fishing time in on a certain body of water.

[BigSmallie]

For me........I enjoy fishing new water....or lakes that I'm not familiar with....but I choose the lakes that have good fishing (St.Clair, Burt/Mullet, Saginaw Bay, Lake Erie, etc..etc..)

Each lake will fish different and usually require a different lure presentation, however, if you enjoy throwing a spinnerbait most of the time, you can find areas on any given lake that throwing a spinnerbait is the better choice of lure to throw.

If you're fishing St. Clair and dragging tubes or throwing a drop shot and not catching any.........you may move to a nice flat with grass.......the tube would not be the "best bait" for that situation.  A blade or fluke type bait may be the best bait for that situation.    So you really do need to learn to work more than one lure to be successful.

For every given fishing spot..............there is always a better lure to throw.   Example: You wouldn't want to throw a spinnerbait while working the 30' channel of St. Clair.    A heavy tube or drop shot would be a better choice working deep water.

If you want to learn to fish a jig & pig.........go fish a lake that would match this style of fishing............like Fletcher Pond.     You will gain confidence in the lure......and whack some nice fish!    Then apply the jig & pig on other bodys of water you fish when the situation comes up..........like flipping docks or wood on a shoreline.

And yes............time on the water is everything.

Hope this helps.

BS 

[WayneC]

The best way I answered that question for myself was to join a local club that fished tournaments.  On the clock, decisions about techniques, baits and locations are put under a microscope for 7 to 8 hours and the results are cast at the end.  I've seen the same lake yield the same results (in weight) with anglers using different techniques.  The learning curve on any body of water is shortened considerably (and you begin to build confidence in a new technique in hurry) when someone crushes you at the scales with it.  For me it was slop fishing that I eventually disciplined myself to learn on inland lakes.

I've seen anglers succeed both ways that you mentioned:

Angler #1 has two, maybe three confidence presentations and takes them out to any body of water and works those presentations until he finds fish that adjust to him.  If he doesn't find those fish his day is over.

Angler #2 adjusts to the conditions.  For this angler anything goes so the creative juices are always flowing.  Sizing up the situation on any given day, this angler will make sure that whatever bait he is throwing matches the water clarity, weed growth, depth and seasonal patterns.  This angler does run the risk of making too many changes and adjusting his way out of the bite instead of into it.

All in all it comes down to confidence.  Confidence will catch more fish than any technology.  I've seen anglers throw the wrong bait at the wrong time, the wrong way and still catch fish because they believed they could.

I really like your question because it shows that you are seeing your skills for what they are.  Successful right now, but down the road you might need to become more versatile.  It makes me think of that Tigers pitcher, Miller.  He says, "Right now I'm living off of my fastball, but I'm working on the off-speed stuff and will eventually get it over."  That's confidence now and confidence in the future!