I recently just began bass fishing. I've been twice and have been studying since. Reading articles, magazines, posts on the forums and watching ESPN outdoors. I've begun with reading about bass and the physiology and psychology. Then I read about lake habitats for bass and terminology for beginners. Then I read about basic equipment: rods, reels, lines. The I read about the basic lures: spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwaters. Then to the little more advanced: jigs, soft plastics, and setups (carolina, texas, drop shot). I cannot believe the amount of studying that needs to be done to understand this sport. It's simply amazing!

 I always go by the old saying "fools rush in where angels fear to tread". Usually a lot more fun ;D!!! You probably learn things better your way though :-/...

                                             As Ever,

                                              skillet

One way to put it all into perspective is to go to our Fishing Articles section at the top of this page and click on "For Beginning Anglers" These articles will get anyone started in the "Science" of bass fishing.

AIR ASSAULT!!!!

This site is the best. Everyone is very helpful and always willing to teach you and answer any questions. I should know I ask enough of them. lol. But it really helps me as everyone always can put it into words I can understand. Good luck to you.

Helms83,

You are exactly right. Sometimes I think people who have been bass fishing for a long time forget how much there is to learn. After doing pretty much as you did, I started reading various bass forums to see if I really understood what I had read, only to be met with other abbreviations, i.e., tm, crig, trig, etc. But I got it.

Your education is not over. You need experience now. So put some legs under all that learning and go out and try to build your confidence. Ask plenty of question. People are great about explaining things without the complicated jargon. Best bass forum on the net.

I cannot believe the amount of studying that needs to be done to understand this sport. It's simply amazing!

No doubt, there is much to know and learn.

But this is recreation.

Enjoy  

1 hour on the water = 8 spent reading about it.

Reading is nice but you need to spend time on the water.  That what fishing is all about.

Helms, thats a really good point.I've never thought about it that way.I started bass fishing as a kid and gained knowledge through experience and talking to my bass fishing buddies.We learned it a little bit at a time.But now with the internet and all the other resources you can learn it in a very short period of time.However the amount of info can be overwhelming.

The one piece of advice I would give to you is to give frog fishing a try.To me it is the most fun you can have bass fishing.For some reason bass hate frogs.The strikes on frogs are often heart stopping and very exciting.They are also a good BIG bass lure.I always start out using a frog,but if the bass aren't hitting it I change to something else pretty quickly.Give it a try I think you will like it.

GOOD LUCK

"Bass fishing is a Science!"

Perhaps so, but not 100%. It's an art in addition to a science, because there are many, many things about bass fishing that don't conform to the "book", or the conventional wisdom. So when things aren't going as well as you'd like, don't be afraid to "think outside the box" and do things that are different from what you learned from books, TV shows, etc.

With the advent of the internet there has been an explosion of knowledge; sadly there isn't much wisdom  

I absolutely agree with thinking outside the box. I love fishing places people wouldn't dare throwing a lure. It's fun bank fishing or fishing with friends when someone will walk up and be amazed that your flipping through 5" of gunk with milfoil and dirt in water that is 3' deep. I pulled a 6lb hawg out doing this last weekend and there were a couple bystaders with their mouths dropped by my technique. An older gentleman stopped by and said "It's great to see someone actually fishing places that the public would never fish. It takes a true fisherman to understand where and when to fish places like that." I felt very pleased and kinda honored that he would say something like that.

Sure seems like there are two sides of the fence. Those that think that bass fishing is a science, like this post refers to it, and those that think it is simple, hmmm!

I think it's a lot like music.  Some people are born naturals and some aren't but everyone can improve with practice and knowledge.

I wish it would have been a class while i was in school because I spent more time studing it then I did just about anything else while I was there ;D ;D

There are many ways to learn how to catch bass.Articles,internet,forums,on the water,fishing with knowledgible people,and others.It can be a science as you mentioned,but as Avid said it is recreation.Keep it fun.If not it can become like a job.Don't forget that there are no dumb questions.We've all been there.I've been bass fishing for 34 years and still ask questions.Welcome to the sport and have fun.