Becoming a better fisherman

[AlvinRoberts]

Hello all...I am new to this forum. I am 36 years old and have been bass fishing since I was old enough to go with my dad. We have always been kinda weekend anglers. We just tie on worms, spinnerbaits, topwaters, crankbaits...everything in the box to try to catch a fish. There's no real rhyme or reason to it. I just recently bought a 17' Nitro bass boat for the wife and I to enjoy but it's getting old going out every weekend and maybe catching a fish or two or maybe none all day. I guess my question is, how does a weekend angler become a knowledgable bass fisherman? I know there's a lot more to it than grabbing your favorite lure and throwing it in every direction. I just don't know how to go about finding that information. I would appreciate any help!

[rangerbobber]

Spend 300 days a year on the water and hang out here on BBC, you'll get better......

[lefthook3305]

Get a subscrition to FLW, Bassmaster or In-Fisherman. If you're like me you get all three. Also look at the Lindners Angling Edge Series of DVD's. KVD has a new book out that is very thorough. There is loads of information out there and if you're dedicated, you can learn a lot.

Also get on the water and apply what you've learned. There is no point buying and studying all that info if you plan on fishing the same way anyhow. Learn the science, then master the art.


Also look at joining a bass club in your area.

[AlvinRoberts]

I used to have a subscription to Bassmasters years ago. I never really read it enough to learn anything. At the time I just wasn't that interested. I think I will get a subscription again.
I have been fishing some smaller oxbow lakes here in south MS and I have caught a few bass. What are some tips on how to approach it next time I go that might help?

[LOZman]

A serious question for everyone trying to learn. The basic strategy is to find the forage the bass are feeding on. No forage= no bass. Learn the patterns the forage use in your area and fish around the forage. For summer baitfish, in highland lakes they are in two types of patterns. Shad will school off of main points and drops. These fish are in small schools, sometimes as much as 50-60 yrds. out from the point. Use your electronics to find the schools. If there are predators around, the bait will be in a tight ball. These bass are feeding. Use lures you are comfortable using for these fish.
The other pattern for baiit fish is in the mid channel of the lake. Deep bait schools, sometimes in football field size, are around 20-45 ft. deep. Small bass feed to the sides of these schools and the larger, lazy bass, are underneath the school waiting for stunned bait to fall to them. These bass feed sporadically throughout the day. They are seldom fished and readily bite. I use large grubs ona 1/2 oz. head, 3/4 oz. short arm spinnerbaits, and jigging spoons for these fish.
Lots of good patterns during the summer but these will help you out. As I said, you have to learn the seasonal patterns of the bait to catch fish.
Good Fishing!

[jc2bg]

Don't know about your neck of the woods, but for much of the country right now is not the easiest time of year to catch a lot of bass. As soon as the weather and water starts to cool a little, bass will start moving to intercept bait pushing back into creeks, or anywhere wind or water flow creates a little current. Get on points, just inside bends, brushpiles on open-water flats, and where logjams help to create a little eddy action. Use spinnerbaits, swimming tail worms, weightless sinking worms, t-rigged craws in these spots and hang on. As long as this weather stays hot, your best action might be as early as you can get on the water. Really hot, muggy evenings in the summer, even though it's starting to cool down then, often aren't as productive as early mornings. If the "conventional" lures aren't working, keep downsizing your bait until you start getting bites. You can always go to bigger baits once you've located fish, but micro baits will help to show you where they're living.

[AlvinRoberts]

Okay, I ordered a subscription to Bassmaster and also ordered KVD's book, Bass Strategies. Hopefully these will help some. The depth finder in my boat stopped working a couple of weeks ago so I am going to need to buy a new one. I had a cheaper model Humminbird that came on the boat in 1996. I really have no knowledge of how to use a fishfinder other than using it simply to see how deep the water is. I don't know how to recognize structure and other things. It seems there's so much to learn and hard to know where to start!

[AlvinRoberts]

How do I recognize schools of baitfish with a fishfinder? Mine stopped working so I need to buy a new one and that's another problem...since I don't have a lot of knowledge on how to use them, I don't have a clue what features I need to be shopping for. Will the cheaper models work or do I need to invest in one with more features? I'm not opposed to spending extra money for a good one but I simply don't know what I need.

[20_lb_sack]

Find and join a local bass club. Guys on here will tell you about all the bad experiences they have had, ignore them. Best way learn fast, is from fishing your local water, monthly for at least a year. I guarantee if you just pay attention, you can learn from everybody you fish with. Granted it might be what not to do, but even those lessons have to be learned.

When it comes to electronics, any current base model, will be way better than the old one. In relatively shallow water, if you can find the drop-offs/channels swings, identify brush/rocks, and read the bottom hardness transitions you'll have a good starting point.

[BUCOBasser]

Imitate those who have success. I have a friend I get to fish with who is a solid angler. When we fish together it seems that at least one, if not both of us, catch good fish and good numbers. A lot of the time we both are using different baits and styles simultaneously. When I can't seem to get it going I look to him for advice. I guess what I'm saying is find someone you like being with, share ideas and first have fun and a positive attitude. This takes the pressure off. Our motto is "We've never gotten skunked." Any day you catch fish no matter how many or how big is a good day on the water. As to sonar I have found that looking for and finding structure anomalies, bottom layout etc. for the beginner is more important than trying to read fish, I'm far from any kind of expert but just sharing some thoughts,


Modified by BUCOBasser at 10:18 PM 8/6/2011

[blake711]

yup best way is join a club or find someone with lots of experience. Guys that are retired that fish 200-300 days a year are great to get in with.

[20_lb_sack]

I'm retired,but not rich, I don't get but a day or two on the water a month, wish it was 200.

[AlvinRoberts]

I just sent an email to the secretary of the closest club I could find. I don't know if they are still together as a club or if they will accept new members who are not "pro" anglers. I know I wouldn't be of much help fishing in the boat with someone. I just want a place where I can learn from others.

[AlvinRoberts]

I went out and fished for a few hours this morning. I tried fishing in the lilly pads which I don't normally do. I was fishing a frog. I did get a couple of hits. I hung one but it tangled me up and got off. I guess I didn't get a good hook set. I have been pretty bad about not hammering down and setting the hook and it's cost me a lot of fish lately. I am always afraid I will yank it right out of the bass's mouth. I guess I need to put a lot more into my hook sets.

[blake711]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by AlvinRoberts &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I went out and fished for a few hours this morning. I tried fishing in the lilly pads which I don't normally do. I was fishing a frog. I did get a couple of hits. I hung one but it tangled me up and got off. I guess I didn't get a good hook set. I have been pretty bad about not hammering down and setting the hook and it's cost me a lot of fish lately. I am always afraid I will yank it right out of the bass's mouth. I guess I need to put a lot more into my hook sets.</td></tr></table>

if you are fishing a frog you need to be using a Medium heavy or Heavy rod 6'6 or longer preferably. With braid. When the fish hits it you need to wait about 2 seconds then set it like you mean it. Most folks missing frogs aren't letting the fish get it all the way engulfed in their mouth or using to light of equipment.

[AlvinRoberts]

Blake, thanks. I am using a medium/heavy Berkley Lightning Rod which is 6'6" with an Abu Garcia 5500C. I am using Spiderwire braid. The bass had the frog, I could feel it on and pulling for a few seconds. I set the hook but rather lightly. A couple of seconds later I could tell I was tangled good in the pads. When I finally got it pulled loose, the fish was gone. I think my real problem is not setting it like I mean it. I've lost several fish, including a good one, in the past few weeks due to not getting a good hook set. I have a tendency to just snatch the rod tip up lightly and start reeling. I have not been REALLY driving it home.
I do get what you are saying about not giving them enough time to get it in their mouth. I have missed several when fishing buzz baits for that reason...hear the splash, set the hook....oops....missed!

[Phoenix Jim]

trust me when I say you will learn a ton if you join a local club not to mention the friends you will make. I also beleive in quality gear and equipment. I seen guys in my club have some cheap equipment and then do a little upgrading and start doing a lot better.

[KTyler32]

http://www.msbass.org/

That may get you headed in the right direction to find active clubs and the forums may have some fishing information about what,when and where the fish are. The others advice on this topic are dead on. This time of year the majority of fish are deep especially once the sun gets high in the sky.

[adamchasejones]

Go with someone who's a good fisherman is a big thing. It ups your game big time.

Second is know seasonal patterns. General patterns for each season are important. SHallow in spring and fall and summer is a deep time.

[NCFatBoy]

Find a local club, fish with them a couple of times. If you like the guys, join. Clubs are supposed to be for teaching, and many are...