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Posted

I hate to admit this, but there's no fast track to successful fishing (is there??).  Even with the excruciating amount of experienced knowledge available these days, I'm thinking that the best way to take advantage of it is skimming.  Fishing should be taught as a college course.  Fishing professors would know about the level you're at and what you need to be concerned about to insure quick progression.  This is a great example of why we should treat our teachers A LOT better in this country.  Teachers give us the guidance that we need to take the most direct path to knowledge.  Some of us have built-in teachers (Dads, Moms, whoever in your family who, lucky you, have given you help).  What about the rest of us who have to sort through this incredible morass of knowledge and figure out what is appropriate for us?   I guarantee you that if you are early or even moderately on in your fishing and you follow the sage words of indisputable fishing experts, that you will fall way short of your expectations when you've followed all the "rules."  

 That was the rant.  I feel like that I'm hooking into fishing by reading a ton of stuff, buying every recommended lure and rod that I can afford. And only AFTER doing that do I begin to appreciate how I, personally, might enjoy fishing.  Right now, I just want to take a simple soft hollow-bodied nose-hooked fluke or shad jerkbait out to a lake or stream and just throw the sucker. 

Okay. Yeah.  I wouldn't have been able to say that a year ago.  

I thought about deleting this post because it's really just a personal process.  But maybe it will ring a chime for some other novice followers.  

  • Like 2
  • Super User
Posted

i think the only fast track is to fish with friends. if one of your friends is a bass pro..even better.

 

i like how 3 guys can work together for figure things out..try different baits and techinques until one finds the silver bullet.  then..game on.  at least for the moment. 

 

other than that, i think youtube helped me.

  • Like 1
  • Super User
Posted

I think once I got out of a mindset that "because I put so much time and effort into this and watched this many videos and got this tip from a BR member, I should definitely be catching more", I was better off. Nobody owes me anything, certainly not the fish. They seriously do not care about what I put into this sport, and hardly anybody else cares either. That's okay. I care, but I'm not owed any amount of success. I have to earn that.

  • Like 3
  • Super User
Posted

Young guys become better much faster than years ago, due to all the info that's out there. It wasn't always that way. Many of us learned on non magnetic reels, glass rods and hooks that weren't chemically sharpened.                      All the new tackle and baits are light years better than years ago, but that won't make you a good fisherman.                                          Take in what you can, and before long you'll start to develop your own thing.  It's an individual sport. The mistakes you make are yours alone. But, you can learn from any mistakes along the way. Time spent fishing is where it's at in all this.  The main thing, if I can borrow a good phrase from our site moderator A-Jay, is Fish Hard!!! Best of luck out there.

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  • Super User
Posted

Over the years I have picked up a lot of fishing knowledge, but it took me a while to learn how to use it correctly.

  • Like 3
Posted

The best thing I ever did was take a instructional trip. It was 8 hours with a pro fisherman. The first 4 were us sitting in a restaurant and him literally telling me the how he breaks down a lake for tournaments, what bass do based on water temperature, and what minimal amounts of baits he recommends I need for each season (water temp). We then went to the lake and he said ok, what would you do today based on what I just taught you. It was 3pm, July, blue bird sky, and 100 degrees, on a lake I had no knowledge of, and we wore them out. 
 

Ex: rule - big fish ambush

 

winter (~40deg water) moving baits - A-rig, jerkbait

winter slow baits - drop shot, Ned 

 

Patterning in winter- cut off all dirty water (feed more by sight in colder water), cut off all south facing coves (wind blown and colder). Now look for north coves that big tournaments go out of and start there. Hit the best looking cover in the back 3rd, middle 3rd, and front 3rd or the cove. 10 minutes or so per spot. If you can establish a pattern, go fish as many north facing coves following that pattern, that you can for the tournament. 
 

That’s a very short snippet of a TON of info I got that day. Just one pro’s, who is pretty successful, simplified way of breaking down a lake. It helped me eliminate water. It helped me simplify my tackle. 
 

Once you’re comfortable you can start expanding out on tackle and such based off the same principles. 
 

Ill never be a pro or a hammer. But I do cash checks in local clubs, beat my buddies often, and catch fish. 

  • Like 5
  • Super User
Posted

When it comes to fishing nothing beats experience earned while on the water.

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  • Super User
Posted
6 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Take in what you can, and before long you'll start to develop your own thing.  It's an individual sport. The mistakes you make are yours alone. But, you can learn from any mistakes along the way. Time spent fishing is where it's at in all this. 

This is spot on.   You have to "develop your own thing".   In my opinion,  you have to spend time on your own water to find your own way.  In the process you will encounter problems and questions and others can help you find the solutions and answers.   If you try to start with the solutions and answers of others without understanding the problems and questions you will struggle.

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  • Super User
Posted
1 hour ago, Masaccio said:

I hate to admit this, but there's no fast track to successful fishing (is there??). 

Nope. You can watch boxing matches. You can read boxing books. You can even train boxing. Everything is different once you step into the ring. Nothing comes close to experiencing something in real time. That's when you really learn.

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  • Super User
Posted

There will never be a substitute for time spent on water.   No internet, no book, no forum can ever match having a wet line, and repeating this process over, and over, and over.   

 

Having a true Bassmaster fish with you for a few years under all the various types of conditions would be as close to a fast track as I could come up with.

 

The difference b/t a true professional Bass fisherman, and every other angler is lightyears.   

  • Like 2
  • Super User
Posted
11 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

When it comes to fishing nothing beats experience earned while on the water.


Exactly. Nothing beats time on the water. The more hours spent actually fishing, the more things begin to just “click”. 

  • Like 4
  • Super User
Posted
1 hour ago, Masaccio said:

I hate to admit this, but there's no fast track to successful fishing (is there??).  


No !!!! Time on the water and if your lucky fishing with someone who is very good.

 

 

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  • Super User
Posted

“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you confuse  him for a lifetime.”

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  • Haha 12
Posted

I’ve slowed down… I don’t want the fast track to fishing 101.

I like getting advise from friends around me and here on this forum. 
I go out to relax and unwind…. I totally enjoy catching , that’s why I go and I strive to get better ….but not obsessed. …… anymore.

 

 

 

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  • Super User
Posted
2 hours ago, Masaccio said:

Fishing should be taught as a college course.  Fishing professors would know about the level you're at and what you need to be concerned about to insure quick progression. 

Here's something to keep in mind about our region of the country, and if you accept this as a fact you'll be less frustrated. Many of the places we have are shallow water LM fisheries whether they're natural, manmade lowland reservoirs, or old mill ponds. Compared to other regions, or very large deep water lakes, our spots generally have a low population density per acre of Largemouth Bass. There's often quality, but not necessarily quantity. Any spot I've found so far that had quantity is usually a dink factory, or a stunted population of mature fish. 

 

Also, many similar looking places with the same forage base fish quite differently. Each lake has its own culture and rhythms. Each place is its own puzzle. Approach them this way, be adaptable, and you'll be better for it in the long run.

  • Like 3
  • Super User
Posted
9 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

There's often quality, but not necessarily quantity. Any spot I've found so far that had quantity is usually a dink factory, or a stunted population of mature fish.

You shoulda been on my NY ponds. I actually miss em a little.

  • Super User
Posted

The OP is talking about overload not fast track.

Back in the dark ages all we had was monthly hunting/fishing magazines with a possibility fishing article on bass fishing.

No TV let alone fishing programs to watch.

Today it’s 24-7 availability to read, watch programs uTube, Internet and forums like BR. 

Local bass clubs are everywhere that can provide mentors to teach fishing skills on the water. Guides are available that teach on the water. Knowledge is unlimited.

It takes time to learn any sporting skills to become efficient enough to be above average.

I learned to cast and bass fish using 1 rod reel and lure back in the 50’s. I believe this is still a good way to start.

Tom 

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Posted

Bass Resource is that fast track!

 

Years ago you'd need books, a magazine subscription or three, friends that lie about how good they fish (which wastes even more of your time), and maybe an uncle who could show you some things.

 

Now we have Uncle Glenn!

 

Seriously, this site has all the info you need, videos, write-ups, Tom, Catt....me. No just kidding about me. You have arrived.

  • Like 3
  • Super User
Posted

Fast track?

 

Find a professional guide that understands that you are new and anxious to learn.

The right guide can teach you more in one day than you can learn in a year on your

own.

  • Like 4
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  • Super User
Posted

A guide helps.  But not if you can’t cast accurately. 
 

my friend hired that Bobby guy.  Guy associated with the Bobby’s perfect frog. Early into his fishing life.  Not every cast was perfect.  Bobby would say, “well now you went and S_ the bed”. After every bad casts.  Haha. Pressure!  
 

time on the water is pretty crucial.  :)  

  • Like 1
  • Global Moderator
Posted
4 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

A guide helps.  But not if you can’t cast accurately. 
 

my friend hired that Bobby guy.  Guy associated with the Bobby’s perfect frog. Early into his fishing life.  Not every cast was perfect.  Bobby would say, “well now you went and S_ the bed”. After every bad casts.  Haha. Pressure!  
 

time on the water is pretty crucial.  :)  

This is very true. I’ve taken many people on guided trips for trout in the mountains and sometimes all the help and instruction in the world will not get a fish on their line. Some folks just ain’t got it

  • Like 1
Posted

Bass fishing is certainly not the ONLY fishery out there but it sure is a big one. What, $60 billion a year industry in the USA alone? That's pretty darn big. It's only been a couple of years for me and when I first got the bass fishing bug, I looked into the fast track situations like you described and was amazed at the sheer magnitude of things. Like, wow! The whole wide world is jammed crammed packed with so much bass fishing information. YouTube is a massive leader with great info but one has to weed through all the scammy waters, the sales pitches, and all the one hit wonder wannabes. It's hard to know what's true and what's not true. I mean, what are these dudes actually trying to push or sale? It's like someone is always trying to "hook ya" lol I can certainly see how any newbie might get totally disoriented by all of this. Heck, information overload can have very negative effects, like a killer in disguise, I've actually seen it ruin fishing altogether. My best advise is to keep things as simple and as practical as possible. I mean, if you are very comfortable with spinning rods, don't feel inclined to run out and buy expensive baitcasters just because "they" say so or just because "they" use them. Same with lures, if a certain lure has always had a certain magnetic appeal, don't get all caught up in the current frenzy to only buy what they are peddling. There's some very pretty colorful alluring stuff out there with a some very pretty colorful price tags! I went down this same path only to revert back to what I liked most, which was to keep all things as simple as possible and to learn as much as I could about the species that I was pursuing. Lesson learned: the fishing world can be as vast on dry land as it is in the wet water! 

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  • Super User
Posted

The problem with a guide is you don't have long-term access to them.  The problem with online content is it's not tailored to you.  The fast track to getting good is to regularly fish with people who are better than you.  That's the same whether we're talking about fishing, sports, music, cooking, whatever.  Find someone local to push you to be better, and who can help you when you need it, and you'll make years' worth of improvements in months.  Just be sure to pay it forward one day.  

 

Time on the water is how you get good.  Time on the water fishing with someone better than you is how you get good quickly.  

  • Like 2
  • Super User
Posted
On 8/31/2022 at 4:09 PM, Masaccio said:

I hate to admit this, but there's no fast track to successful fishing (is there??).  Even with the excruciating amount of experienced knowledge available these days, I'm thinking that the best way to take advantage of it is skimming.  Fishing should be taught as a college course.  Fishing professors would know about the level you're at and what you need to be concerned about to insure quick progression.  This is a great example of why we should treat our teachers A LOT better in this country.  Teachers give us the guidance that we need to take the most direct path to knowledge.  Some of us have built-in teachers (Dads, Moms, whoever in your family who, lucky you, have given you help).  What about the rest of us who have to sort through this incredible morass of knowledge and figure out what is appropriate for us?   I guarantee you that if you are early or even moderately on in your fishing and you follow the sage words of indisputable fishing experts, that you will fall way short of your expectations when you've followed all the "rules."  

 That was the rant.  I feel like that I'm hooking into fishing by reading a ton of stuff, buying every recommended lure and rod that I can afford. And only AFTER doing that do I begin to appreciate how I, personally, might enjoy fishing.  Right now, I just want to take a simple soft hollow-bodied nose-hooked fluke or shad jerkbait out to a lake or stream and just throw the sucker. 

Okay. Yeah.  I wouldn't have been able to say that a year ago.  

I thought about deleting this post because it's really just a personal process.  But maybe it will ring a chime for some other novice followers.  

You already have the best teachers, they are green swimmy things with gills and fins, just don't cut class and listen carefully and take notes. Everything else is sophomoric...

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