I would'nt say there is a fast track to learning how to fish or mastering a certain technique other than putting in the hours. But it definitely helps to have someone experienced at your side who can give you pointers and guide you to improvement. I have to say the countless forums and videos online have helped me to diversify techniques and pinpoint what might work in different situations which I guess is fast tracking in a way ?‍♂️ I mean before all these tutorials and forums, other than word of mouth, you had to trial an error a lot to figure out what a certain fish might take.

On 8/31/2022 at 4:18 PM, LrgmouthShad said:

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.

Exactly.  Thanks for that.  It's what I want to believe. 

On 9/2/2022 at 11:27 PM, Columbia Craw said:

I’m more concerned that young people can read and write upon graduation.

Absolutely, but a different forum. I'd give up fishing, and a lot more, for that. 

On 9/3/2022 at 10:12 AM, MassBass said:

I could see how if you were just starting the learning curve now, you would probably suffer from paralysis by analysis. Regional differences in bass waters can only compound the confusion. When I first started reading bassmaster and searching the web, most all of the advice given was about southern reservoirs. So if you are fishing a natural northern pond or lake, you first have to recognize the difference in the water, and then try to adjust the tactics discussed for your own use. 

That's a good one - paralysis by analysis.  And analysis of my own fisheries.  It's complication on top of complication.  As most of you have observed - go, try, fail, try again. And keep reading, of course. 

On 8/31/2022 at 5:10 PM, Cbump said:

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. 

 

 

 Care to share anymore of those tips LOL