Several variable have been mentioned on many different posts, but how would you rank the variables in bass fishing. Just so we are all agreeing on what a variable is, the definition will include anything that can be changed to improve your odds in catching fish. These variables can be controllable (lure profile) or uncontrollable (weather).

 

Lets get those opinions flying and please limit yourself to the 5 most important!

Wind

Weather

Weeds

Water temp

Whiskey

Wind

Weather

Weeds

Water temp

Whiskey

 

If you are married, you forgot to put Wife at the top.

Attitude

Confidence

Patience

Weather

Water Quality

On a river the biggest factor is current

Water temperature

Bait migration

Weather

Structure

1.  Weather and cold fronts moving through the area.

2.  Wind.

3.  Confidence.

4.  Structure and Cover.

5.  Water Clarity and Temperature.

1: Pressure from other anglers

2: Weather

3: Structure/Cover

4: Matching the Forrage

5: Confidence

Weather

Water clarity

Depth

Bait

Speed

Positive attitude

Mantra (google it) Next cast is a 6 pounder...

Water temp

Match the hatch

Drive a Ranger...

Guess i'm alone in my number one but....

 

 

1.) Time of year

2.) Location

3.) Weather 

4.) Water Temperature

5.) Water clarity

Location of fish is the most important item, bar none, and it is made up of many factors.  My first five factors would all relate to locating fish so I added a sixth for presentation.  Once you locate the fish, you have to present the lure properly to catch them.

1. Season - Affects fish location
2. Forage location - Affects fish location
3. Types of structure - Affect fish location
4. Current - Affects fish location and fish positioning
5. Weather - Affects fish location and activity
6. Presentation - lure type, depth fished, and speed

Edit:  I read the original post more carefully.  Although I can't control some of the location items I mention above, I can change where I fish based on these factors.

I cheated by lumping several together:

 

Time of year

Wind/wind direction

Water temperature/clarity

barometric pressure

structure and cover

Things I have no control over:

 

#1 - Water clarity.

 

#2- What the bait is doing.

 

#3 - Water temp.

 

#4 - Weather

 

#5 - Fishing pressure

 

Things I can control

 

#1 - Accurate, and quite bait presentation

 

#2- Adapting to changes through out the day

 

#3- Confidence

 

#4 - Not worrying about what everyone else is doing.

 

#5 - Not getting spun out when things don't go my way.

Location

Location

Location

Seasonal period

Depth

#1 confidence

#2 Aproach..........how you set up and approach each spot

#3 game plan

#4 stealth

#5 location.

#2,3,and 4 overlap and are all kind of #2

1) Location/Access (boat or shore)

2) Water Temp

3) Weather conditions:

    3) Rain/Sun

    4) Wind

5) Knowledge