What Did You Do New This Year

[DownStream]

Trying to learn how to use a baitcaster. Definitely not coming natural to me.

I've struggled with this as well. I've been trying to relearn this after 8 or so years of only using spinning gear. I can use it, but just don't have the confidence that I feel with my spinning gear. That being said, there is only one way to get back on a horse. 

[Johnsfolly]

I bottom fished for carp using worms and some dough bait that I made myself. I got a bunch of light bites, but only hooked one fish. For the most part I have transitioned into a mobile fisherman using artificial baits. I found that I prefer to walk to find active fish than to sit and wait for them to come to me. Even when I have gone catfishing with a friend of mine, we tend to toss out  the baits with light wiehgts and drift across the lake. So sitting waiting on the bite was something that I had not done in years.

[Old plug]

This is an odd one...but i tried for the first time ever a jig n pig type lure.  Ive never used a traditional skirted jig with a craw trailer before, this year i gave it a shot.  Been using a nutech 1/2oz jig, with a rage craw trailer and custom skirts.  I certainly have not have much success with it, but caught a few to keep it interesting.  Funny that its what most people learn to fish with, but something ive never even considered until my cousin taught me an embarrassing lesson ill never forget  (his jig vs my wacky worm).  Now i desperately wanna learn it better. 

Jig fishing is not all that simple there is really no such thing as a traditional way. It takes  time on the water. There are so many variation it will make your he'd swim. But master it and you will have found the the best all around fishing lure of all time. That does not mean it's the best in every situation. But it will catch fish more consistently than anything else.