First off, hello everyone. I found this site a few days ago and I couldn't be more impressed with all the information available.

I just started fishing. Of course I'd been going for years, but I never had any clue as to just how much I didn't know. Now at this point, I still don't actually know anything. Except of course I am now aware of all the things I don't know (if that makes any sense) Which is the first step.

So anyway enough about me. I'm curious to those of you who are experianced anglers if you had the chance to go back in time, and tell your past self one thing you know now that you wish you knew then...

What would it be?

The fact that the past version of yourself that knows nothing about fishing is at the same stage I am personally at is purely coincidental.

I swear. ;D

Invest everything in this little company called microsoft.

Invest everything in this little company called microsoft.

I have heard good things about them, now that you mention it.

Don't they make crankbaits or something?

Never look back for you will surely miss a golden opportunity coming your way.

I get your question bud.

If I could go back to the learning days, not that those could ever be over, and change 1 thing, I would fish slower.

I was always told to "slow it down" and I would nod,........and I would try,.......but "patience" always escaped me on that level.

SLOW IT DOWN

Ignore your first wife & turn Pro

I get your question bud.

If I could go back to the learning days, not that those could ever be over, and change 1 thing, I would fish slower.

I was always told to "slow it down" and I would nod,........and I would try,.......but "patience" always escaped me on that level.

SLOW IT DOWN

Thanks, that is great advice.  I'm not sure why, but I really do have to tell myself "It's not a race to reel it back in."

There are many things I would have said to myself if I could go back in time, some of the things I would have said to myself:

1.- Get a bigger TM before you click "add to cart" on that one you are picking

2.- You ain 't a mechanic, don 't even think about trying to fix that gas pump in your outboard, it 's gonna cost more and the outboard ain 't gonna be the same.

3.- Purchase more of them TDZs  ( when Cabela 's was clearancing them for 200 bones a pop )

4.- Git the next model depth finder, it only cost 20 bucks more than the one you are getting.

5.- Idiot ! don 't purchase that VW Jetta, with the same money you can purchase a double cabin Nissan pick up that ain 't gonna be parked in the garage for 14 months beore you sell it with less than a 1,000 miles.

Throughout the years I have accumulated enough lures to open up a small tackle shop.

I wish I knew fifty years ago, that I was never going to find any lure

that is measurably superior to a "plastic worm".

Roger

Treat each day like it is your last one. Enjoy every minute and don't carry your troubles to bed. Have fun, happiness is a choice.

Failed to take the advice a guide gave me one day while we were fishing. Follow your heart and go for what's important to you. I was considering guiding and fishing as my sole occupation. My parents had the money that would have allowed me to do this, but I just could not make the decision.

HOOKSETS ARE FREE !!!

GOOD LUCK !

BB

Move away from the hype

Learn to fish a hand full of lures correctly

the jig is my friend

and most importantly

It's what 's between the ears, not what's in your waller,,Thanks Catt!

Finding them is where the game is at

Buy only what you can afford. Expensive doesn't mean better. It's all about who's holding the rod, not the rod itself.

Start off with just a Spinnerbait, Jig and worm. Learn everything about them and master them. Then branch out to a Crankbait and all other things.

I wish I would have realized sooner that the most important thing to know when targeting bass is HOW TO FIND THEM. You can't catch them if they aren't where you are casting.

Fish deep when the going gets tough.

I get your question bud.

If I could go back to the learning days, not that those could ever be over, and change 1 thing, I would fish slower.

I was always told to "slow it down" and I would nod,........and I would try,.......but "patience" always escaped me on that level.

SLOW IT DOWN

As soon as you asked the question, this is what i thought of.

I guess great minds think alike eh LBH?  

learn to deep crank and fish dropoffs and creek channels ASAP!!!

Buy only what you can afford. Expensive doesn't mean better. It's all about who's holding the rod, not the rod itself.

Start off with just a Spinnerbait, Jig and worm. Learn everything about them and master them. Then branch out to a Crankbait and all other things.

I wish I would have realized sooner that the most important thing to know when targeting bass is HOW TO FIND THEM. You can't catch them if they aren't where you are casting.

Duly noted.  Sounds like a great idea.

Throughout the years I have accumulated enough lures to open up a small tackle shop.

I wish I knew fifty years ago, that I was never going to find any lure

that is measurably superior to a "plastic worm".

Roger

Words from the wise indeed! He stole my answer so, I would have listened to people who told me that there won't always be bass on the banks! It took me years to get out of the habbit of bank beating! I am a much better angler now that i do.

Hello and welcome. I love profound questions.

I would have to stop beating the banks and start working the ledges.

If it's just one thing, it would be how to fish plastic worms really well.  If I could add another, it would be how cast a BC really well.  Those two will catch em if they are there to be caught.

If I had wishes it would be that my Dad would have been a bass fisherman rather than the crappie he loved.  Although he did catch a big LMB and had it mounted.  He was so smart and skilled that if he had gone after bass he would have been able to teach me a thousand things that I am just now learning in the "autumn" of my life.

Jeez...Where to begin?  But if I had to choose one thing, it would be that the 3 keys to successful fishing, as in a successful business, are location, location, and location.  Everything else is just details.