Theories in Swimbaiting: Qualifying to Catch Trophy Bass

[@Jace_DeGough]

This video is great. I’ve never really pictured it that way but it makes sense. The way I’ve always thought of trophy bass fishing was less like a list of attributes or “qualifiers” and more like a list of eliminators. Eliminating factors that might prohibit or hinder the final goal. For example, 1: choosing bodies of water where trophy fish live and have been caught thereby eliminating poor unproductive bodies of water 2: Choosing to fish only in areas where big fish are seen, have been caught before or where the area possesses similarities to those types of areas thereby eliminating areas on the lake that only hold small fish 3: Fishing large baits that (mostly) eliminate the chances that smaller fish will bite first. 4: Making long precise casts that put and keep the bait in the ambush point for the longest period of time thereby eliminating the chance that the fish never sees or has an opportunity to bite. 5: etc. 6: etc. With enough “eliminators” you narrow down enough of the possible outcomes and make the chances of your next cast being the one that lands the trophy. Unfortunately, as we know, there is tradeoff and that is that you also eliminate a lot of the chances that you will get a bite at all from any fish. This is the game. High risk, high reward. Great video bro. Nobody else is doing this kind of stuff currently. Keep it up! Also, Sowell is the MAN!

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

Thanks for the awesome response Jace!

[@JuanHerrera-oj5ir]

Couldn’t agree more. I will add, these qualifiers will always be changing, usually in favor of the fish. Going back to your previous vid on highly pressured fish v. non-pressured fish, it’s about putting the variables in your favor. While we can’t control the environment and majority of qualifiers (variables), we can control adaptability, angles, and attitude. When we (as anglers) immerse ourselves in the variables, the ratios will turn in our favor, momentarily. Once a fish commits, getting them in the boat is another set of variables within itself. Great content, love the in depth. Still trying to get my first Battle Shads at non-flipper prices. Tight lines!

[@ijustwanacatchbigolefatbas3653]

Again, GREAT STUFF! Please do not stop putting these videos out. It’s tremendous help for an angler like Me that strives to catch bigger fish. Who cares if the math is off. The principal is what you have nailed. I have the good fortune to be not only in Texas but East Texas. I do not have a boat but do have a qualifier most don’t. Thank you for your knowledge man. It REALLY is appreciated!

[@toddg.2638]

I agree. I thought I was ready for it, but when the time came, I failed to land the 10+ on a swimbait. I knew I had to winch it in, but in all the excitement, I let off the pressure slightly and paid the price even though it had engulfed the entire bait. Lesson learned.

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

I absolutely love these rant or mind twisting videos,what I love to listen to is motivational speakers like Les Brown and Tony Robbins because the key to success is truly hidden in our daily routine,Thank you Mike 👊

[@loganpeat]

Cool vid! I agree. This is why I think time on the water during peak big fish times is so important. If I know the bite and ruffly doing the right thing. Its just a matter of time till it lines up. Of course the more dialled you are the less time it should take. You can get lucky , but thats not consistent.

[@stephensignorelli437]

The fact that you know who Sowell is, is amazing.

[@brandonk8412]

Why??

[@stephensignorelli437]

@@brandonk8412 not a household name in the political world unfortunately.

[@doubledigitbass3344]

Right on with the mindset, Gilbert! You are putting out qaulity talking points....We Salute You!

[@jflesh.bassin4948]

Thanks for continuing to help me not sleep on Tuesday nights, Mike! Haha. I am much like you in that I am an over-thinker. I am still unpacking the last video! 😂 Great thought process. It's this ability to think outside the box that makes you one of the best trophy bass hunters going, and certainly adds value to your channel! Keep em coming, Brother. I love this stuff!

[@swimbassin6196]

Makes sense here in San Diego there’s like 3000 people on 1 point

[@0tw_david]

I love how in depth you get in these videos

[@af4od02]

This is an excellent video. I am subscribed. I can think of other qualifiers. Fish solo or fish alone. Having another fisherman or passenger in the boat can disturb and interrupt the angler’s concentration, process and introduce more noise to the natural environment. Try to have the most quiet noise free boat you can obtain. Turn off marine electronics. Depth finders, forward facing units, bilge pumps, live wells. Put your cell phone on mute. Have everything you need to fish on the deck, and easy access, extra baits, tools, so you don’t have open loud compartments doors. And know where each of these items are located to avoid needless searches. Sneak up on your primary best locations with your trolling motor on low speed. Turn off the gas motor 1/4 or 1/2 mile away and troll up to the spot. Try to use the wind to position the boat so you don’t have to use electric trolling motor. Try to avoid using “spot lock and power poles” if you have them on your boat. A simple mushroom anchor and cord is quiet and provides enough holding power. Fish on days when there are not many anglers on the water.

[@jcfishingwrld]

How is a mushroom anchor more quiet than a power pole

[@colinwalls3989]

such a great video . This is in depth, but it really provides an interesting perspective about just how far the rabbit hole goes. There are seemingly an infinite number of "qualifiers" due to the reality of constant variable change. However, one thing I think this video does very well is remind us all if you truly want to focus on chasing trophies, you must be on your game in all the variables you possibly can control or attempt to account for to up your chances at the opportunity to catch them.

[@Przymike]

Long time sub and fan of your content Mike. I don't really have the opportunity to chase the giants out here in NJ but I still watch cause you're passion is genuine and it always come through in your production. But this video takes the cake for me, I'm currently reading some Sowell too and you referencing him to truly explain the level of difficulty in your chase is awesome and you're a high school dropout(me too)? I swear if I ever go out to Cali I owe you a beer or sandwich or both lmao. Cheers brother.

[@_bassadd1ct_]

You're an interesting dude, and i think thats apart of your gift and what enables you to have the success you have on the water. You're thinking of things most dudes will never consider and really diving into the science of bass fishing. I'm not as in depth yet but i definitely pay a lot of attention to details. Sometimes it'll bite us in the ass, and sometimes it'll get us more and bigger bites. Cool vid

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

Sometimes, over thinking it can be the biggest problem.

[@garyong2499]

Just found your channel a couple of weeks ago. I like your thought process because its not often elaborated the way you present it. As for this video, I would think you would want to expand on the prioritizing of the requirements as some are far more important than others. If we went back to the writings of Buck Perry (way before your time), then Depth and Speed are at the top of the list. This might shed a lot of light on trophy bass vs numbers of bass caught. Keep up the good work.

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

Makes sense! My point in this video is that if you don't have just one of the determined prerequisites, then having most does you no good. Prioritizing them can help for sure though.

[@SideHustleGarageSwimbaits]

Next level content Mike! This vid is a great way for anglers to think about what it really takes to be consistently successful on the water.

[@bwspacity]

it’s a percentage game for sure to stay on larger fish. Very deep segment. Very good info

[@randykast87]

Always appreciate your insight Mike. I think there are several mandatory qualifiers that have to be met (big fish location/ making the right cast/ a retrieve that triggers the attack instinct) and there are optional ones ( qualifiers that would help your chances but not required).

[@michaelgepson2877]

As always great concepts and thought processes. Thanks !

[@ILLUMINATHAN79]

Thanks for the tips! Freaking awesome that you read Thomas Sowell, Intellectuals and Society is great also.

[@joshuaknight3005]

I absolutely love these bud and can relate to ALL of it!!! Please keep these coming 🤙

[@jonphillips1380]

Awesome... really enjoying you putting videos back out... good content as always and looking forward to the next one

[@nickcavazos5718]

Man it can get crazy, bc you can branch off each requisite and break down proper gear for each type of cover for example.... branch for- correct color for water clarity, branch for- forage base etc....and yea we could add way more general ones.

[@eugenemccracken3810]

Keep the knowledge coming Mike 🤘🏽😎

[@swimbaitohio]

My eyes widened when you said you were a high school dropout, you would never know if you haven't said so. Your definitely a very, very, smart man!

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

Knowing what I know now, it was a bad choice. Didn't have the option though.

[@dybrk_fishing3711]

Another great video full of knowledge! A few qualifiers that came to mind are - Line size - Current water clarity - Scent - Lure sound (adding a rattle) or flash (drip kit) - Barometric pressure - I’d assume fishing more often in a month would increase your odds? Hope to be 1 in 3,325 every time I hit the water

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

I think we all hope to be that person every time we are out on the water.

[@dybrk_fishing3711]

True

[@iraregister7589]

Like your channel man. In fishing, you have to pay attention to small details, but you dont want to pay so much attention to the small details that you are doing more thinking than fishing. Btw, biggest bite I got this summer (8lb LM north georgia) was on a dropshot haha.

[@creedecentko469]

As always, great video. Its interesting to me how one particular angler can have seasonal "qualifiers". Thats me for sure. The summer months i struggle to get the better catches on my fishery. But fall, winter and spring i have much better success. I wonder how much of that can be contributed to an anglers "natural ability" with certain teqneques and confidence in said teqneques, and if that can compensate for possibly lacking one of the other qualifiers. Just a thought, and on a final note, who are the two people that didnt like this video?!?!

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

There is a consistent amount of individuals that try remain in the shadows and dislike everything I do, but can't seem to make themselves stop watching the videos. It's kind of trippy. If I don't like something, I just don't pay attention or engage with it anymore.

[@ROSSCO7777777]

i think the bass being in a feeding mood is another key one that im not sure if it got mentioned.

[@swimbaitohio]

Ross the Bawse 👊🏼👊🏼

[@jasonmessner4736]

NUMEROLOGY! The strongest science ever created. Everything can be solved with numbers, as discouraging as it may be…I can dig this concept. Your a legit fella, with a legit thought process on trophy bass angling. We appreciate your time…Tight lines to ya!

[@jask1tattoos]

Great video.

[@MichaelCraig-bi3wj]

Big fish guys like Buck Perry, Doug Hannon, Billy Westmorland come to mind with this video. Wonder if they thought along the same lines as you. Interesting video for sure.

[@FuzzyJDunlop]

I was wondering how you can tell a body of waters potential for holding trophy caliber fish? Is it mostly researching history of previous caught fish, if not could you maybe do a video on features to hone in on? Great video as always Mike! Inspiring

[@jerrodknapke7324]

Great topic!!

[@8.21productions9]

fuck. i’m never gonna catch a trophy. lol.

[@NFiltr8Red]

Your the guy that goes out to the Club and only wanting to smash 10/10’s.

[@garym2293]

That can be a very deep hole brother very interesting Cheers!! :))

[@matthewbaver9859]

To sum it up tbats what i call dialed in (angler with all quilifiers) i see it in tournements all the time

[@victorxavier9977]

Summer is always going to be a more difficult month unfortunately lots of pressure from fisherman and people in and on the water.

[@kayakfiend4436]

Ty needed this 🤘

[@archtx9]

I think you need to weight your qualifiers,,,,,cool idea

[@EliteNugz]

I've fished for forty years. This past seven I've caught double digit teener bass every single spring. March and April. Never fails. I love fishing big trout swimbaits during pre spawn. My pb is 14lbs and that's pretty huge for Kentucky. But I've never caught anything over three pounds in the summer and never caught a bass over five pounds in the fall. Guess if I had a boat with live scope it would help but that's why I try to fish for other fish during the hot months like smallmouth or hybrid stripers. My biggest hybrid which was 27lbs and can be verified because it's in the April 98 infisherman magazine was caught in July of 97. It was almost one hundred degrees. But for me the big largemouth just shut off after spawn.

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

Do the big largies shut off or are you no longer in possession of some key qualifiers it takes to get them?

[@EliteNugz]

@@WorkingClassZeroFishing probably both.

[@jdean1851]

Zero Summer Giants and Cali kicks you Off the lake at Sunset....uh" Night Fishing box..not checked! imo

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

That is definitely a factor.

[@connergrant7113]

The number one qualifier for me is mentality. If you don't have the mentality, you'll never be successful

[@jcfish6702]

you're really starting to sound like Rick Clunn

[@repairdrive]

Being a bank angler in northern Illinois trophy quality areas are a no. Correct spots in those areas are a no by default then 😕

[@paulkoeberle1372]

Are there qualifiers to playing the lottery...

[@WorkingClassZeroFishing]

hahaha

[@granthuddlestone8631]

I feel your approach is incorrect - you cannot score all the qualifiers at 2/3. For example: The equipment qualifier will be 1 for most hardcore trophy hunters i.e. they have the right rod, reel, line etc. A rookie might fish with a 7ft MH stick so his equipment qualifier might actually be worse than 2/3. Similarly, the time on the water qualifier might make sense to score out of 7 - if you fish twice a week you score 2/7. If your presentation is always near perfect then 9/10 for that particular qualifier etc etc.

[@rodfather_bass_fishing]

I like this approach Grant. It definitely changes the numbers, as well as showing how much one trip can differ from another.

[@Lowdowndirtybassin1978]

I got a hundred qualifiers do the math 😁

[@preachaman3661]

More knowledge please

[@jerrythomas4457]

Did you smoke a bird leg before making this video?