What are going to do different or improve in 2015?

I am going to finesse fish more this year. More drop shotting, more shakey head, more grubs on lead heads, small jigs and a few other things. I love to power fish and will at times go down swinging before I pick up that dang sissy spinning rod and finesse fish but this year I am going to make myself do it. I have made myself a drop shot box and I plan on doing a lot more of this when the going gets a little tough or just make myself do it when they are actually eating stuff I would rather throw.

Plan on jig spooning deep off shore more and trying to become a better deep water fisherman. I do ok at that now but have a ways to go yet.

In my personal life I am going to try and be more patient with my wife and attempt to not curse as much.

How bout you guys?

You'll have fun finessing Mark. I don't usually do it in a tournament unless I have to, but just fun fishing I finesse a lot.

I'm going to try and improve by using electronics more this year, and from now on. Never bothered with anything other than 2d sonar, but I just installed a Humminbird 898 side/down imaging finder at the console. Plan to replace the front finder with a networked 'bird soon as I can afford it.

I've had too many guys tell me utilizing your electronics will change the way you fish. Well, it's time to give it a try.

In my personal life I'm going to try and eliminate those nasty cigars I smoke. Haven't had one since last Sunday when I was fishing, which is the second best time I like them. First best time is when I'm sipping on a cold barley pop. The little woman says if I quit she'll make it worth my time, and so far she has delivered.

Good stuff Jim and much like you I have fished depending only on a Lowrance X135 and so need to pull the trigger on a unit like you are talking about, dang those rascals are pricey.

I do finesse fish quite a bit and I like it but if I don't get on them pretty quick I find myself migrating back to my strengths. I usually read water pretty well, fish habits, bait patterns using the channel's and depth contours, and water temps to tell me what to do. But when I see some of my buddies on those big units just flat finding them and marking them i know I'm missing the boat. I will have to have somebody patient to show me how to use it though and I mean patient....

Last year my buddy and I had a ball whacking brown ones at St Clair on drop shots but its almost to easy up there but so much fun.

Quit smoking brother I speak from experience and have seen what it does at the end of ones life, stop now pal do it for your wife and let that motivate you.

[QUOTE=mhall;541688]Good stuff Jim and much like you I have fished depending only on a Lowrance X135 and so need to pull the trigger on a unit like you are talking about, dang those rascals are pricey.

I do finesse fish quite a bit and I like it but if I don't get on them pretty quick I find myself migrating back to my strengths. I usually read water pretty well, fish habits, bait patterns using the channel's and depth contours, and water temps to tell me what to do. But when I see some of my buddies on those big units just flat finding them and marking them i know I'm missing the boat. I will have to have somebody patient to show me how to use it though and I mean patient....

Last year my buddy and I had a ball whacking brown ones at St Clair on drop shots but its almost to easy up there but so much fun.

Quit smoking brother I speak from experience and have seen what it does at the end of ones life, stop now pal do it for your wife and let that motivate you.[/QUOTE]

St Clair is on my list of places to go. I saw your posts about it, and was envious of you globetrotters up there spanking them Yankee fish around.

Some of the best brown fish I've ever caught were on finesse baits, and I've caught some good green ones on the little stuff too.

[QUOTE=Devils Horse;541690]St Clair is on my list of places to go. I saw your posts about it, and was envious of you globetrotters up there spanking them Yankee fish around.

Some of the best brown fish I've ever caught were on finesse baits, and I've caught some good green ones on the little stuff too.[/QUOTE]

You have to go there man it is crazy good. We were late last year due to work and got there in mid/late June and they were transitioning to deeper water and pretty much all the brown ones were post spawn. We found some nice largemouth in a bay one day just looking around but who wants to chase green carp with a lake loaded with bronze beauties. Some of the largemouth were still in all stages of the spawn.

We still caught tons of fish and great numbers of 18 to 21 inch fish. Lots of double hook ups and razzing each other about who's fish was bigger. The rock piles and grass act as banks way out from shore, find those and it's very easy as they stack against it. This year we are going when its the right time, mid May.............I am literally counting the days.......:)

Less prostitutes........It will leave so much more money for fishin, and will be much more enjoyable :) :)

OK, really. More spring trips locally to try to fish more. Right now I do a bunch of trips to KY Lake, but I could double my time out by cutting 2-3 KY Lake trips and making 8 - 9 daytrips to Patoka and Local Indiana Lakes.

Less Fall trips to KY Lake. Again more opportunity to fish Local lakes in the fall.

More DALE trips in Late November, and December, and maybe January. I may even rent a place down there for the entire month of December.

Really nothing specifically to improve on. I always try to be better at anything I do so I will continue with that attitude.
I would like to Golf more, fish more in the Spring than last year and seriously search for a nice fiberglass boat! The funds are lining up for a boat and man I have missed having my own glass boat. It's been 13 years since I sold my Skeeter!!!

I'm going to fish in places around the state I normally don't go. So many great places here in ky I haven't tried yet. I want to take a trip and float a few streams and river this year. I watched an episode of ky afield a little ways back where farmer and company floated down the green river. They were catching all kinds of smallies. Seemed like a dream day.
I want to learn how to fly fish as well. Looks like a blast. Especially catching some smallies wading a river. I can't wait to try it.
I'm not as big of a bass fisherman so I'll continue to try learning more about the white bass and hybrids. The spring runs are my favorite fishing all year. I took notes the last 3 years on dates and times the fish were biting and what lures worked well. Almost like a fishing journal. I've caught fish out of the same holes around the same time each year. They alternate on colors and baits each year. Year 1 was white curly tail grubs. Year 2 was chartreuse curly tails and chartreuse rooster tails. This past spring was white rooster tails and small spoons. They can be picky sometimes. I love the challenge and fight the put up though. Best believe I'll have vacation days for the white bass runs at nolin this year. I might finally take a trip back to the Dix river as well. Why can't it be spring yet....

Well my new years resolution was to fish less spend more time with my wife take her shopping maybe take up knitting-----well that didn't even last 10 days, I need to become more realistic this year.

Unfortunately, I'll probably sell my boat. I only fished a handful of times last year and I've only been out 2 times this winter so far. It just seems like other interests and general busy-ness get in the way.

[QUOTE=know1;541931]Unfortunately, I'll probably sell my boat. I only fished a handful of times last year and I've only been out 2 times this winter so far. It just seems like other interests and general busy-ness get in the way.[/QUOTE]

Don't do it man you will totally regret it. If it is not a financial burden keep it and fish when you can. I had mine out last year a whopping total of about 7 to 8 times and that isn't enough but when I was in it and fishing I was happy happy happy. Stress relief is worth it for me and the fact that you can go fishing when you want to and get a wild hair.

Keep it Michael.

[QUOTE=mhall;541933]Don't do it man you will totally regret it. If it is not a financial burden keep it and fish when you can. I had mine out last year a whopping total of about 7 to 8 times and that isn't enough but when I was in it and fishing I was happy happy happy. Stress relief is worth it for me and the fact that you can go fishing when you want to and get a wild hair.

Keep it Michael.[/QUOTE]
I agree keep it if you can