I'm currently working on a project and looking for some feedback and here is the question:

What is the hardest thing to learn or hardest concepts to grasp for bass anglers?

That fishing is problem solving, pure and simple. Not about the right rod or reel. Not about a special bait. It's about solving the problem in front of you: How do I catch a bass right now?

^^^Great post.

Adjusting to the fish. I've had too many bad days in the past because I fished where I caught fish the day/week/month before instead of adjusting to the conditions that day.

I think the hardest thing to learn for most is when to set the hook on a bottom contact lure. There are a million different opinions on it from as soon as you feel the first thing to wait three seconds and swing away to make sure you see the line moving off first. It is much debated and nobody has the PERFECT answer.

Jeff

For me the hardest thing to learn is how to fish the moment. I too often find myself reliving past experiences and using certain techniques becasue that is how I want to fish and how I had success in the past. It is very difficult for me to read a certain day and figure out the puzzle because I all too often rehash old stuff.

For me it was learning to be patient.

Finding the pattern on a given day. Which is perhaps another way to put what J Francho said. The pattern (for me) is the problem needing solving.

That fishing is problem solving, pure and simple. Not about the right rod or reel. Not about a special bait. It's about solving the problem in front of you: How do I catch a bass right now?

Simply put!

I read the question 2 different ways:

What is the hardest technique to learn and what is the hardest concept to learn.

The hardest concept for me to learn was that fish can always be patterned. They are not mindless and do not float around aimlessly from place to place for no reason. Identifying the pattern for the day or week is key, and it takes time to learn it. You will not learn a pattern by catching one fish in one spot, but combined with multiple fish in multiple spots you can form a rough pattern by which to work from.

The hardest technique for me to learn was how to pitch a jig and make it skip multiple times across the water surface and into a specific location (ie under docks or large overhangs).

GREAT TOPIC by the way.

Weather and water conditions.

We get set on throwing a KVD 2.5 Sexy Shad crankbait and no matter how the weather or water conditions change we just do not put down that biat and change to something more appropriate.

I think it boils down to our "comfort levels" and we continue to do the same things over and over as we have confidence in what we do be it right or wrong.

How many times have I kicked myself after a tournament when my friends kicks my butt using the same lure I have in the boat and the techniques I know???

for me right now is reading a contour map and translating that onto the body of water. I'm starting to get the picture with the maps with the creek ditches and finding humps and flats and how the bass use these little highways to come up stage then spawn, BUT when your on that big ole body of water its not as simple.

Accepting confidence in a bait and trying to find the same confidence in another. Also moving to spots that have bass opposed to staying in the same spot for to long.

Very good points so far!!! One thing I have struggled with at times and it too is a part of the problem solving is knowing when to stick with a spot or move on, or when being systematic in the lure selection process to got with a change in size first or color or both.

I think everyone has touched on it, making good decisions on the water! You have an idea of how you WANT to catch them, but once you get out there, things have a tendency to change. How you adapt to those changes is how your success is going to be determined.

Dropping water is always tuff for me.

Processing all of the information you have for that time, place, and conditions, to come up with the proper location to fish, the proper presentation, and the right bait for that particular time and conditions.

For me it was learning to be patient.

There it is, that one word which really sums everything up for me... patience... with out that you can't do any of the other stuff nearly as effective.

It takes patience to learn, understand, perform, and overcome any given day on the water.

To me, patience builds confidence, confidence builds success.

Another vote for patience!

Recognizing a pattern fast and applying it correctly

I've spent hours on end reading on this and other sites, reading magazines, and talking to people about bass fishing, not to mention the hours out on the water "putting together the puzzle" for that day.

The hardest thing for me is focusing on where to start. Some days I get out on the water and just go blank on what spot to hit first, what bait to start throwing, when to switch or when to believe in my technique and be patient. It's a comedy of guesses.

In golf I called that " paralysis by analysis"

Great questions Steve.

I think the hardest thing for me to learn is that close is not always good enough. Whether it is deep water structure or flipping/pitching tight to cover, there often is what KVD (and others) calls the spot on the spot. The difference in not getting bit, or getting bit big can be very small and attention to details is a vital part of fishing.

I think the hardest concept for to get my head around is that being versatile doesn't mean being good at everything. It has taken years for me to figure out that a handful of colors and a fairly small variety of baits, fished properly, in the right spots, at the right time are all I really need. I am not saying that having one of everything is a bad thing; just that if I'm not careful I can be distracted by searching for exactly the right color, size, wiggle, etc, instead of location, speed, and depth. My goal at this point is to be really good at a few things and confidently do them in the right spot. Finding the right spot consistently is a function of applied knowledge and experience, and I'll have to get back to you on that.

I'll completely agree with a couple of the earlier posts. The toughest thing for most fishermen to learn is that what worked for you before might not be what you should be doing today. We are creatures of habit unfortunatly. We would all be much better fishermen if we could forget everything we did every time we left the lake.

The hardest thing for me is learning to adapt to the weather conditions. i learned that if bass want your lure...THEY WILL EAT IT! slow days are mostly slow because i want to stick to what i think works rather than throw something different. sometimes i have to go back to the basics... "Shut up and fish!" That helps...

How NOT to buy everything in the tackle shop!

Learning how to read my electronics.....