The TRUE Story of WHY I Research NEW Bass Lakes (And MUST See Old TV Footage of Mine 😂)

[@paulstuartwilson485]

Hello Steve. I'm 58 and every time I go out on any body of water to fish, I always begin with the mindset of "I am the newest and most inexperienced angler to have ever fished anywhere". With that mindset, I also do as much research prior to getting in the boat and I will try to already have some idea of where, specifically, I want to fish as well as an idea of what patterns I want to fish. I use the DD app constantly and I use it for the possible patterns it shows and the lure selections it suggests. I try to combine the knowledge I get from the app with the actual conditions I find myself in during my fishing day. I make adjustments according to water temp, clarity, depth, time of day, time of year, wind direction and strength, and shadows cast by the sun (if the sun is out), and what I have learned from past experiences fishing on the current body of water. I also try to force myself to take into account the knowledge I have gained from more knowledgeable anglers like you and other professional anglers. I don't have any "modern" electronics available to me currently so I try to remain focused on the techniques and the methods that you and others have demonstrated to be effective. I am not always successful in my fishing attempts, but every once in a while, I actually am able to catch fish and those days make it much more satisfying when I have days of being skunked. My friends and family tell me that I overthink my fishing and I don't disagree with them. There have been days (and nights) on the water that have been extremely frustrating but there have been other occasions where I am lucky enough to load the boat (metaphorically speaking) within an hour or so. I have gained a lot of knowledge and information from you and your channel specifically that has given me more confidence and success and I just wanted you to know that I am grateful for it. I especially appreciate your underwater footage that shows exactly what the fish are doing and how they behave in the different situations we all find when fishing. I know this is a ridiculously long comment and I don't know if you will even read it all the way through but I'm hoping you may. At the end of all your videos, you always say to go out and encourage someone so, this is me, just another anonymous angler, encouraging you to keep up the great work you do and keep these great videos coming. Thank you very much from Royal AR just South of Lake Ouachita. 👍🇺🇸

[@paulstuartwilson485]

Oh yeah, Merry Christmas, Steve. 👍🇺🇸

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you! I do read them all the way through. Thanks so much for the kind words! I really enjoy fishing that part of AR. Good luck out there!

[@BattleattheBank]

As a subscriber I read a lot of the comments certainly don’t mind a long one. I enjoyed your comment. Merry Christmas Happy New Year to you, Steve and all that follow.

[@shannonkirby9295]

Hey, Steve, pray y'all are well and had a Merry Christmas. I love your videos and I thank u for them. Be safe, brother

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks you! We had a great Christmas! Pray you did as well and have a restful weekend.

[@bradr.7249]

Thanks for sharing that vintage footage of a young Steve Rogers. Also thanks for sharing your experiences of trying to break down lakes you have never been too. Back in the day, I would go to the local Mom and Pop fishing stores and get info from them about the various lakes I fished in AZ. Most of them would have some type of fishing report and were willing to help. Sometimes though, I knew they just wanted to sell product. That was something I had to wade through when I was younger. Thanks for the great video Steve.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

You’re welcome! I figured that old footage would be interesting. Can’t believe how much I’ve aged! Lol.

[@jackdixon4530]

Your videos are excellent!!! Thoughtful and meaningful!! 🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it!

[@funkymojo111]

Great hearing the back story on your entry into the industry. And remember folks, the water can change but by-and-large the hard structure fixtures will still be there even if the water conditions change. Knowledge is power!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

It was an interesting event and I will never forget it.

[@thatfishingnoob]

Steve those throwback photos were great haha. Great video production. Thank you for sharing with us all!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! Those old photos and videos seem like they just happened yesterday.

[@stevereindl2098]

Greetings Steve, I greatly appreciate the wakeup call to do my homework. Laziness has crept in over the years and your video is prompting me to put in some effort. Keep up the good work!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks so much!

[@itllkeal]

Thanks for all the experience you share

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! It was quite a trip.

[@itllkeal]

@SteveRogersOutdoors i took my sons fishing in a HIGH PRESSURED pond that I knew held big bass that I fished for 2 years and only caught 2 bass in knowing what was in there. I showed them the balloon and shiner with a swivel dropshot hook. I didn't show them myself getting the 3inch golden shiners and I'll say that GOD WAS GOOD TO ME THAT DAY. I caught a 5plus lb 27inches largemouth that weighed about 5lbs 4oz. MY PB because if it was prespawn it would have been 6½or 7 lbs.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

@ that is a great fish! Congratulations!

[@kevinatwell9781]

Best fishing channel in my opinion!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@victorycigarettes]

Merry Christmas Steve!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@raygissendanner1476]

Thank you Steve for the information

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

You’re very welcome!

[@stevevanhorn1909]

Awesome story ! Good luck !!!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! I’ll never forget that event.

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Great video!!! Thought you were going to put in a tip up & show how to do some ice fishing!!! lol Thanks again for the info!!!! Happy New Year!!! ⛄🎉🎊☃ Stay Safe & God Bless!!! 🤠👍

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Lol. I haven’t ice fished in some time. Have a Happy New Year as well!

[@davegwiazdon8450]

Looking forward to hearing how your trip to that new lake in N. Carolina turns out for you. Happy New Year Steve. And to all....Tight Lines in 2025!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I will let you know how it goes. Happy New Year to you too!

[@turtlepoi]

Hope you enjoy the holidays Steve.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! Happy Holidays to you too!

[@DONT.BUY.MAJOR.CRAFT-BAD.RODS.]

All the information was very interesting. Thank you very much. Is one year i have a suacuatic dron and i am learning a lot of things. I think i am a small version of you in Spain. 😂

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

The underwater drones are so fun to use.

[@bass1445]

Great video be sure to let us know how you do and Happy New Year

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Happy New Year to you too!

[@johndynneson662]

Way back here in Minnesota. You had Buck Perry. Ale Bill Linder. ( In-Fisherman). What at the time had to go on. But for me first clues about relationships with. Bass. And food. My mom and dad’s lake where this lake had Cisco in it. As teenagers me my cousins. Would try all the. Bass fishing stuff we thought we were supposed to be doing. Never caught much. Get frustrated go water skiing 😄. Until one morning. When shad rap was introduced. One morning couldn’t sleep. So went out really early. Tied on a shad rap. Too get it down. Small split shot infront of it. Casting it ripping and stops. It started catching fish. Cisco 💡💡💡. Also known as. Tullibee. We’d troll big dare devils around for big pike. So moving on years later. Was fishing a lake central Minnesota that was advertised to have Alwife. A rare lake. For Minnesota no clue what they were. But an instructor for my apprenticeship was explaining he had a cabin out there that you’d could catch nice fish but had too fish deep. So!! Went out when I had my first boat Trolling around catching little hammer handles what we called it. On some weedlines. I decided to move on to a different shorline. I had to cross over a deep channel to get there. So!! Cranked up the trolling motor fast as it would go. Left line in the water. When I got over 30-40 ft. 💥💥about a Ten pounder. I discovered thro out the day I had too troll over 30 ft of water catch those fish. Had a huge stringer. ( back then you did ). I figured I gotta learn this. Only way 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️. Get that info ?? Library Your videos are great. Can’t get enough.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! That shad rap is such a great lure.

[@johndynneson662]

@ I was 14 years old when it came out. It was a huge thing. Back then.

[@somewhereinsd362]

I am genuinely praying you find and catch a bunch on your trip to jordan lake...i need to seriously consider a winter fishing trip down south away from the frozen lakes lol 😅.... coming back to the frozen tundra is gonna be tough..... safe travels

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! I normally go to Florida but trying a different area this year.

[@somewhereinsd362]

What lakes or area in Florida do you typically fish... I'm in the beginning stages of planning for next winter... if you don't want to say I would understand

[@ricktaylor6141]

Get a map of the lake, look up the lake and you'll have good idea of what you're looking at. Plenty of vegetation and shore line cover. Have a great trip and just go fish.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! I’m looking forward to it!

[@Rooster0529]

My new research/database technique: call Steve!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I collected a lot of info over the years. Lol

[@LowBrowFishing]

Yeah, it can be kind of hard to burn a crankbait through an ice fishing hole. Spring will be here before you know it!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I hope so! Tough to keep looking at all the ice.

[@Schnazola]

Jeez, was that YOU?! Ha!

[@FishinDr]

Google earth is your friend

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Definitely!

[@JamesBondDZero7Mi6]

Steve, If you think that old photo of you made you look clueless, you should see a youngster's face when you ask them which direction is north. I feel sorry for this modern generation when the electronics fail and they must travel.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I remember for that event there was no gps on the graphs and I had a paper map stuck under my leg as I drove the boat. Lol.