What Kind of Fisherman are you? (the stolen post)

[bassjunky]

Well, i stole this idea from the Lunkerville site. I thought it was a good idea so here goes..

What kind of fisherman are you....The Specialist....or the jack of all trades

So do you specialize in one kind of bait or style or do you throw everything but the kitchen sink at them...or are you some where in between

[pieman1998]

mostly cold water fisherman here

[devil-man]

I actually tried the kitchen sink once. Didn't catch a d@mn thing. 

I fish for smallies, pike, 'eyes and occasionally salmonoids during the open water season. Then mostly perch and 'gills through the ice.

I wouldn't call myself a specialist, but I am slowly and surely getting better.

[chillywillie]

Whatever wants to bite, I like to catch.

[fishmix]

 Had a six species day last sunday. started in LG and ended in the Hudson. a full day on the water. I fish for them all. Not a pro by any means but do enjoy some success.

[Deposit]

I like em all, But I am beginning to know how to target each species individually, however I don't mind catch the wrong kinda fish when I am tooking for specifics. I'd label my self a multi-specialist in training

[bassjunky]

Sorry guys, I guess I was not clear on what I was asking. I was hoping to find out, whether when you fish you use maybe only 1 thing or if you bring a loaded tackle box and try everything.

I have a buddy who is a specialist. he only used plastic worms, senkos or tubes, thats it. He may fish them differently under different situations but all in all thats all he uses

I myself like to try different things. I use plastics and cranks and spinnerbaits and live bait and anything else that may catch me a fish on any given day..

[susquayuga fisher]

I bring it all, and leave most of it in the car, and carry what I need, and replenish with whatever conditions call for. Too many times I've wished I brought this spinner, or that jig, etc, etc, but now I cover all bases.
Andy

[Deposit]

All off it comes with me, as I said, I am still learning ne techniques with diffrerent types of lures and baits

[Big Zig]

I've been called a situational angler by boat partners.
Depending on the weather, time of year, and body of water I tend to fish for specific species first, then adjust to conditions.
Each species has it's own "go-to" lure/bait/technique, then it starts getting more detail oriented. Presentations, lure sizes, color changes, complete type of fishing changes, etc.

I used to have a set of coffee containers that dictated each fishing trip.
It's a really interesting way to fish a given body of water, and a great way to understand how different species pattern throughout the year - not mention learning each body of water completely.
One can had slips of paper for each species of fish we have locally: musky/pike, walleye, striper, catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch.
The second can had slips of paper for different waterways - around eight (8 ) different locations.
The third can had certain ways of fishing: live bait, crankbaits, plastics, hair jigs, and a combo slip - jigs w/live bait.

The day before I wanted to go fishing I'd pick one slip from each can - sight unseen.
Basically, I had no idea where I'd be fishing, how I'd be fishing, or for what.
I could be fishing a local river, with crankbaits, for striper -or- I could be an Army Corp lake fishing hair jigs for yellow perch.
If you ever want to challenge your angling abilities - try this for a year (and stick to what you pick). I had a very steep learning curve the years I did this - and the trips where a little more interesting as well.

What was the question? What kind of fisherman?
Guess I'm one looking for a challenge - against my own abilities.

[ice dude]

Jack of all trades, but i am a soft plastic specialist.

[Fat Boy]

My first love is bass fishing, both smallies and largemouth particularly on my home waters.  That said, I also love to fish for variety.  My home state offers some great walleye, muskie, panfish, and striper fishing and I've come to love that as well.  I'll never turn my nose at catfish either!

I plan trips to catch things that I can't catch at home, particularly salmon, lake trout, etc.

Now, since my first love is bass fishing I'll talk about my approach to patterning and what tackle I bring.  First of all, to be a successful bass angler, you have to be familiar with how bass behave during all seasons.  Knowing that will help you determine what lures work best at various times of year.  And, on any given day, some lures that are good seasonal lures work better than others, so you have to observe, determine, and understand the various clues that your local body of water is telling you to help you fine tune your lure selection, color, and presentation.  Wow, that's a general answer, but heck, to be the best bass angler that you can be you have to be versatile but still good at presenting any particular bait that you intend to throw, so you also have to understand how to use each lure that you own.

What to bring?  I've been accused of bringing everything with me because I do bring a lot, but, if I brought everything on the boat it would sink from all of the weight.  I bring what I think is possible to catch the species that I'm targeting based on what my experience (including my own research of media) tells me is best at any given situation (time of year, water conditions, etc.) and I do my homework accordingly to match local situations, structure, conditions, etc..  So, if you do as I do and bring a lot of stuff to use, you still have to have an understanding of how to use what you bring and when best to choose what you use. 

When I have a great day or good day, then I know that I've made the right choice.  Some days just don't work out as well as I plan and usually I found out later that I've either done better or as well as anyone that I've talked to.  In other words, sometimes the fish just don't hit as well as you'd think.  And guess what, that happens in the biggest tournaments as well.  Sometimes tournament pros come to the ramp on a tough day with one keeper not expecting to be near placing and wind up winning with one stinkin' fish.

Now, about other species.  I approach things basically the same way.  Understand your quarry, understand the body of water, do your homework on conditions, and know how and when to use the tackle that you bring with you.

[Bobman]

I personally prefer small stream trout fishing and try to do that more often than not, but my basic philosophy is, "Them's fish and I is fishin' ".  I would just as soon catch big sheepshead (freshwater drum) than nothing at all, or if the trout aren't cooperating give me some good sized suckers or chubs.  If it swims and has some size I'll enjoy catching it.  My fishing gear is also setup around that philosophy.  I have very few specialized rigs (except flyrods) and most of what I buy are general enough that I can use them for multiple species.

[troutman]

I’m a lake trout specialist. Probably the best troller on Seneca Lake. I’m strictly a deep troller. I know every trick in the book and old fork tail cant hide from me. I fish for perch pike and crappie for fun but it’s hard for me to give up my laker fishing

[gillmaniac]

it depends on the season. i fish for gills crappie lg sm bass and sometimes we nite fish for catfish in the summer but in the winter on the hardwater i fish for gills crappie and perch.

gill