This might sound strange but I would have never joined B.A.S.S.  I wasted a few of my early years trying to put into practice everything I read in each issue Bassmaster.  I learned a little about everything but didn’t learn how to master anything.

I wish I would've joined FLW when I was in my early twenties. Ive only done a few small tournaments and I always have a great time.  

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I wish I hadnt bought that Force motor .

My dad worked setting up boats in the mid to late 80s. I've heard a lot of anti Bayliner/Force rants!

I wish I'd have figured out cover and current a lot sooner.

Wish I hadn't bought the Ranger boat I had. It was a money pit that never ran. Sold it for what I bought it for after putting hundreds into fixing it and never got to use the outboard more than a trip without something going wrong. 

B.O.A.T.

Break out another thousand...

 

But I gotta have one!

Not really.  I learned to fish with spinning gear and have stuck with it.  At this point in my life I have no real interest in learning to use a bait caster.  When I was more flexible most bait casters were right hand retrieve and wasn't worth the effort to learn to reel with my right hand.  I went through a progression that ended with me using ultralight tackle when that got less challenging.  I switched over to fly fishing.  No regrets there.  I might not catch as many bass as I would with conventional gear, but it's more fun.  Still looking for my first 5 lb bass with the fly rod, maybe this week.

I would have fished more.

I wouldn't have married my first wife, though it all led to the wonderful family I have now.

I would have left my last job sooner.

I regret trying to force my kids to fish with me. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t pushed so hard they would have enjoyed it more. If my Dad would have said “ let’s go play hooky and catch a few bass “ all you would have seen was a blur headed to hook up the boat. Oh well, I’ll have grandkids pretty soon and maybe I can get it right this time. 

34 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

My dad worked setting up boats in the mid to late 80s. I've heard a lot of anti Bayliner/Force rants!

They got a lot better when Quicksilver bought them. But then, they were basically rebranded, low frills Mercs.

9 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I regret trying to force my kids to fish with me. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t pushed so hard they would have enjoyed it more. If my Dad would have said “ let’s go play hooky and catch a few bass “ all you would have seen was a blur headed to hook up the boat. Oh well, I’ll have grandkids pretty soon and maybe I can get it right this time. 

I remember trying baseball for the first time. I stunk. I couldn't hit and was relegated to right field, swatting gnats with my glove and kicking the dirt. I wanted to quit and I thought my dad was going to tell me to stick it out. So I told him and his response: "Good, let's go fishing." That started me down the path to something I love so much it's a spiritual thing to me. I don't even like to watch baseball. And if I had liked it, it would have eventually ended for me.

56 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

This might sound strange but I would have never joined B.A.S.S.  I wasted a few of my early years trying to put into practice everything I read in each issue Bassmaster.  I learned a little about everything but didn’t learn how to master anything.

I did the same, and bought all the new baits that the pros were using. It took me some time to realize that not all this stuff worked for me.

11 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

"Good, let's go fishing."

Your Dad sounds like an good man. 

Success is on the same road as failure; success is just a little further down the road.

Jack Hyles

 

Fishing is a neverending learning process, if I could change anything I would take today's electronics back to the 70s & absolutely kick bass!

When I got started, my older brother taught me the basics. When he left for the service, I was on my own. Before any internet, I bought all kinds of magazines, and tried to learn from them. My hero was Larry Nixon. 

When I got started, my older brother taught me the basics. When he left for the service, I was on my own. Before any internet, I bought all kinds of magazines, and tried to learn from them. My hero was Larry Nixon. 

I have a saying.  

 

In the past you'll find your sadness.

In the future you'll find your anxiety.

Only in the present will you find your happiness. 

IIm still learning things. An example is learning how to not double up post here on BR. I apologize.

2 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

When I got started, my older brother taught me the basics. When he left for the service, I was on my own. Before any internet, I bought all kinds of magazines, and tried to learn from them. My hero was Larry Nixon. 

When I got started, my older brother taught me the basics. When he left for the service, I was on my own. Before any internet, I bought all kinds of magazines, and tried to learn from them. My hero was Larry Nixon. 

When I got started, my older brother taught me the basics. When he left for the service, I was on my own. Before any internet, I bought all kinds of magazines, and tried to learn from them. My hero was Larry Nixon. 

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

This might sound strange but I would have never joined B.A.S.S.  I wasted a few of my early years trying to put into practice everything I read in each issue Bassmaster.  I learned a little about everything but didn’t learn how to master anything.

But what if you were much better than average at a lot of things, wouldn't that be better than being a master at one thing?

Go back 4 months ago, tighten my drag, land half of the 12 fish I lost and get 1st or second in the Cherokee BFL. I really need to win one just to get this one out of my head.

I wish I wouldn’t have stopped fishing entirely during my college years and there after. I didn’t pick it back up until I was 30. Honestly I think I was a better angler at 17 than I am today. 

44 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Your Dad sounds like an good man. 

The best

7 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

But what if you were much better than average at a lot of things, wouldn't that be better than being a master at one thing?

Good question.  It depends on how you defines better.

 

As far as being good enough to win a tournament,  I would say no.  Mastery produces big catches that are require to win in my opinion.  Being a master of one thing will not win every tournament but no one wins every tournament.

 

As far as enjoying the sport,  most people don't enjoy doing the same thing all the time so it's probably better to focus on more than one thing but not too many.

 

Where am I today 40 years later?   I feel like I’m very good at two or three things but still working to improve on them.  I'm working on two or three more things that I have a lot to learn about before I would call myself good.  I'm still tempted to try more things than I have time to master.

Good luck in your journey @Tennessee Boy! 

 

I, unfortunately, have to settle for being average at things and maybe better than average at very few things. 

 

I have a few more years before I can get out more consistently to try and get better than average at a lot of things.  

5 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Many of us have been fishing a long time. 50yrs and longer. If you could go back, is there anything you would change?                                              Are there any techniques you wish you would have focused on more?                             Looking back, is there anything you would do differently with your fishing?

Great topic @Mobasser, and the only thing I might change is don’t by that d**n Color-C-Lector and all the whole color palette of plastics before that trip to Lake Okeechobee back in the ‘80’s. Never used them, then or since.

 

Otherwise, things are good just the way they are because incremental improvements (thanks to the Bass Resource community) moving forward keeps making my fishing experiences fun.

I would've bought better rods, reels, and line at the beginning. Oh and always had a Fluke tied on.

Thrown a chatterbait at least 50% of the time.    I'm sure I'd have a whole lot more trophy Bass on my list.    

 

Wish I wouldn't have taken 15 years off as well.