I guess I look at fishing for new guys, especially kids, a little differently.  I think as a new angler, numbers are much more important than size.  If you take someone out who has no experience fishing, a dink bass is a great catch!  I always try to put them on numbers.  That's not to say nightcrawlers and bobbers necessarily - but I will generally get them rigged with small baits like a little grub etc.  That said, I'm taking out the nephew next week - it will likely be 90% live bait.

 

My thought is that if we help them get the excitement from fishing, that will help them "want" to spend the time to begin to understand fishing and learn what it takes to upsize their catches.  That said, after a few hours of fishing, if I am being skunked, I will pull out the ultra-light and pick up a bluegill lol.  Sometimes just getting that fish in the boat sparks a turn around.  

 

I 100% think catching fish is the easy part.  The hard part, for me, is finding them in good numbers.  Years back I spent a ton more time on the water.  I caught a ton more fish each trip too, but, because I was out there I had a better idea of where they happened to be.  Now, I feel like I have almost as hard of a time finding the suckers as I did when I first started fishing lakes, lol.  Add to that, most of my trips lately have been with the wife, mid-day, when it's closing in on 1000 degrees lol.  Bonus fun, both of my fish finders are being stupid.  Once is dead and the other only kind of works at reading depths, and only then if its over 10 feet.  I guess it is probably time to replace them...

I have been bass fishing for over 60 years. There is not much in this sport that I haven't seen or experienced.  I want young anglers to know that no one catches bass on every trip.  Even the most seasoned, experienced, and Yes, famous fisherman of all time struggle on occasion.   All my life I had the same standard of bass fishing success.   If I catch at least one bass each time I go out, I feel good about that trip.  It doesn't even have to be a keeper.  Bass fishing is challenging.  That's what makes it fun.  

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

I have been bass fishing for over 60 years. There is not much in this sport that I haven't seen or experienced.  I want young anglers to know that no one catches bass on every trip.  Even the most seasoned, experienced, and Yes, famous fisherman of all time struggle on occasion.   All my life I had the same standard of bass fishing success.   If I catch at least one bass each time I go out, I feel good about that trip.  It doesn't even have to be a keeper.  Bass fishing is challenging.  That's what makes it fun.  

I needed to hear this, because the fishing has been a real grind for me lately. It's about to the point that I'm not having fun anymore.

1 hour ago, galyonj said:

I needed to hear this, because the fishing has been a real grind for me lately. It's about to the point that I'm not having fun anymore.

Hang in there.  Here in Florida, summer is the worst time of the year for bass fishing.  It's a good time to experiment with new places and techniques.   Try new water.  The best fishing is sometimes where you don't suspect. 

I only have about 4 months experience and I tend to become more and more determined the more unproductive time I spend at the water. I find it difficult to give up, so my problem becomes the fact that I end up spending way more time than I planned for lol