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Saw this great article on bassmaster.com from Jason Christie. To me, he pretty much nails it:

I got a very insightful question from one of my Facebook fans recently. The fan wanted to know how I broke down the percentage of impact that different variables have on bass fishing. Basically, how would a pie chart of the different variables look?

Well, that’s a really good question – one that got me thinking about how volatile a day or a tournament week of bass fishing can be. Now, I wish I could draw a cool chart with specific percentages but the truth is that chart probably changes every single day for every angler.

In bass fishing, I don’t think anything is fixed. Every day is different.

There’s just no concrete evidence that I could use to give a consistent set of percentages for my pie chart. It’s a "best guess" proposition and you could have 50 variables, if you wanted to go that deep.

I think every angler should break down their day’s pie chart however it works best for them, but I’m going to keep it simple, so we can look at what I consider four key variables that we will all face. I’ll give each one a chunk of that pie chart, but understand that this is just my opinion on the importance. The actual impacts can vary based on circumstances.

Location – 40 percent

I think you have to give location a higher percentage because you can’t catch a bass where there’s no fish. You can have the perfect bait and the perfect presentation, but if the fish aren’t there, you’re wasting your time.

Within that location, there are a lot of variables. First of all, if you find a really good spot and three or four other guys find that same spot on the lake then its value decreases because you have to share the fish.

I always want to find that best spot on the lake, but sometimes a spot that may not look like the best to everyone can be very strategic, because it may not be found by everyone. The spot may not be as good as some of the others, but if you’re the only one using it, you can manage the fish that are there.

On this point, I like to find places that the fish are coming to, where they replenish a lot. In some places, the fish are leaving and you might run out of fish by the end of the tournament. Likewise, you may be on a spot that just has resident fish, so you might run out there, too.

But if your milk run includes several of those “A-number-one” spots that keep reloading, you don’t have to make the best decisions, you don’t have to have the best baits, you can kind of wing it. That puts you more in control of the situation.

Now, to keep as much of the control as possible in my hands, I’m going to look at my history on a lake and consider what areas have produced well in the past. I’m also going to pay attention to the weather forecast and pick areas that are protected from the wind and the mud lines.

I also think that we can’t overlook the importance of preparation and planning. The more situations that I’m prepared for in a tournament, the more I can control my pie chart.

Of course, the things I cannot control include other anglers fishing my spots, shifting weather that makes it impossible to fish that “A-number-one” spot and even things like spray boats that kill the grass. If I know that the grass has been sprayed right before a tournament, I’m going to avoid those areas.

Bait choice – 20 percent

I’m splitting up the remaining three variables evenly, but we have to remember that many times the impact of bait choice has a lot to do with location. If you have a really good location, bait choice may not matter that much. But if you’re in an area that’s really pressured, that’s when bait choice plays a more important role.

To me, the most important thing is using baits that I have extreme confidence in. I want to be fishing baits that I know catch fish, not something that someone said was catching them. So, when I establish my plan for a lake, I include baits that I have a lot of history and success with. That keeps me focused on finding fish and not burning a lot of time rotating through baits.

When you think about it, bait choice is actually one of the few variables that you can actually control. The only time that would change is if you just choose a bait that doesn’t fit the scenario. For example, if you pick up a Zara Spook in 5-foot rollers, you’re going to have a hard time working that bait effectively. Likewise, throwing a deep diving crankbait in 2 feet of water with hydrilla isn’t going to work.

Timing – 20 percent

To me, timing is most important in a pattern type tournament where you’re running a lot of water and hitting specific types of spots. If I’m in one big area, timing doesn’t matter as much; but if I’m on Table Rock Lake and I’m running a 30-mile stretch, I want to make sure my timing is just right.

One of the biggest challenges to timing is other anglers. I might be thinking about a spot all morning and just waiting for the conditions to get right, but then I get there and find another boat on the spot. That’s part of tournament fishing, but it’s a good example of how your pie chart can change throughout the day.

Weather can also affect your timing by limiting where you can run and how fast you can get to your spots and then back to the weigh-ins. Tides are another big consideration because water level positions fish and controls when you can get into and out of certain areas.

On top of all this, boat draw has a big impact on your timing. You might have a hot spot you want to get to, and you draw boat 99 out of 108. By the time you get to your first spot, there’s probably going to be another angler there.

That’s why I always have several spots planned for where I want to start my day. I’ll follow that with several more options for each of my moves throughout the day.

Decision making – 20 percent

There may be no science behind this, but it’s still a critical element. What I can control, is that even though I want to plan where I start and how I move, I don’t try to completely script out the day. What I want to do is have a few places to get rolling and then the rest of the day I want to fish by the gut.

It’s funny, a lot of times I have a plan for where I think I want to go and I end up not even going there. I just make a good plan, keep an open mind and give each spot time to show me what’s going on. I try to base all my decisions on what’s happing in front of me and not on what I planned out the night before.

I’ll say that all of these variables and many more deserve careful consideration in your pie chart of fishing, but more often than not, it comes down to making good decisions. How many you make depends on the day, but it’s almost impossible to imagine a day in which you won’t have to make at least a few key decisions.

When I consider this topic, it makes me realize that there’s no other sport in the world where you have as many different variables as bass fishing. But that’s what makes it so fun and enjoyable for us. No two days – and no two pie charts – are ever the same.

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Replies to This Discussion

That all makes sense

Fan of his asked him how he weights bassin' variables. What that be lookin' like accordin' to Jason:

My 2 cents...I personally think the guys that flat catch em everyday do two things better than anyone else...Bait Presentation and Decision Making.  If you look at what Christie but in the pie chart I think you could take all 4 pieces of his pie and lump them into decision making...deciding where to fish, when to fish there, and what to throw...I think the best do that better than anyone...and they put their bait where it needs to be!

Great article!

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