I'm new to bass fishing, but this summer has been very rough for me on the water. I have been skunked so many times, and there has only been one day were I caught more than one bass on a trip. My biggest fish this year is under a pound; I haven't even caught one at 15". It's been that kinda year! So I haven't been able to really practice or learn much, cause I don't know if I'm doing anything right since I'm not catching anything.

But yesterday I went to a private stocked farm pond just for some fun. Again, nothing over a pound but I caught 5 bass and I learned alot! I figured out the pattern for the pond, I lured how to use certain lures, I learned some bass behavior, I learned subtle hits and how to react, and I learned pond environment.

I felt I finally learned some key aspects of bass fishing.

Good for you. Every time out on the water is a learning experience in my opinion.

Last year this time I was a freshman in college and I was just learning the area and I found a little pond not to far away that became my learning ground and I didnt catch anything over a pound the first three months I fished it!  It was still a lot of fun and before I knew it I was catching 2 and 3 pounders   I loved that little pond but in the spring they drained it to do some work on the culvert and its basically a field now :'(

I have a little pond i like to fish. it helps me figure out possible patterns for other bigger places i may go to. when i go to a bigger body of water i like to section it off like a bunch of small ponds and fish it that way. its a way to fish big water without overwhelming yourself.

Boy, do I know what you are going through. I started fishing in June and to date I have caught 4 fish. Nothing over 2 pounds. It can get mighty frustrating especially when you read how some of the other guys are catching up to 7 or so a day. :-[ But like they say, each time on the water is a lesson learned and even if you don't catch anything at least you were out doing what you love to do. Congrats on the learning experience there will be many more to come. "DON'T GIVE UP, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!' (Jimmy V) ;)

Ponds like that are also good for practicing new lures and ones you have trouble with. Places with a lot of fish allow you to get the bites and get used to the feel and action of the lures.