10 mistakes amateur anglers make 2024
Glenn reply :
What do you think are the top 10 mistakes amateur anglers make?
lure junkie reply :
using too many different baits or changing too often
Wayne P. reply :
Define "amateur", non-professional, beginner, some experience, etc.
Glenn reply :
Whatever you feel it should be.
Bobby Uhrig reply :
UH !!!!Listening to the anglers on Bass Resource-would be my first guess LOL- Ok then- They dont spend enough time on the water- They think that they are just going to bang fish every time they go fishing-thats not going to happen-second -staying with the same bait over and over for long periods of time -meaning they think that the fish are just not biting or they are in the wrong location-Keep changing baits and techniques- If you keep using the same bait and technique you will have the same results-now that could be good or bad- If you are catching them ,thats a good thing if not change it up. Let the fish tell you how and what they want- Learn different techniques-REMEMBER REPITITION IS THE FORMULA FOR SKILL
florida strain reply :
Here is a few of my mistakes i made in the past
1.try to hard to be a pro, than what is important
2.not soaking in information from a boater if a co-angler
3.following the trends of what everyone else is doing instead of being ones self
4.not believing in yourself that what your doing is the right move
5.not experimenting, stuck on one or two things or ways
6.understanding and reacting to change of conditions
7.knowing on water experience is priceless
8.intimidated by others, rigs, and product.
9.not giving a 100 %,100% of the time
10.knowing the importance of self image/marketing skills
Gatorbassman reply :
1. Thinking that the lure is the reason for not catching fish.
2. Putting to much emphasis on that perfect color lure.
3. Not spending the time to find the fish first.
4. Must have the best of everything in order to be successful
5. Thinking that that other fisherman across the lake is catching fish when he/she's not.
6. Being stuck on the same bait.
7. Always going back to the same spot because the fish were there last week, month, or year.
8. Not visualizing the lure under the water.
9. Not practicing accurate casting.
10. Not finding a fishing mentor.
thrawn67 reply :
1. Getting frustrated
2. having the drag set wrong, tho they usually learn that one quick
3. knots also one they learn quick
4. proper care for gear
SGT Rico reply :
I can sum it up with one word, IGNORANCE!!!!
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
Quote10. Not finding a fishing mentor.
This is my biggest problem. My father was my mentor growing up, but I grew up saltwater fishing. Bass were never part of the equation. The few times we went saltwater fishing, it was treated as a joke day. As I've started fishing freshwater more often, I realize the challenge of Bass fishing isn't the act of reeling them in, it's actually finding them and figuring out what they want to eat. I'm able to take some of my saltwater techniques and apply them to bass fishing, but there are some drastic differences between the two. Thankfully today we've got the internet and loads of information out there that can fill in a lot of the missing gaps.
Red reply :
Fishing too fast! I am getting better at this. When I pitch my craw I just let it sit for a few. Thats when the bites usually come, or on the first hop following.
Bass Tracker 20 reply :
I'm a very young angler, and very amateur, there are lots of mistakes that I have made but the number one mistake is not being confident. When I started getting more confident when I went fishing, I started catching more fish and I fish alot better when I am confident.
Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :
One is anglers not taking proper care of their boat letting it sit long periods of times without being cranked or not storing it properly
Blue Streak reply :
QuoteDefine "amateur", non-professional, beginner, some experience, etc.
I am wondering about this myself. Does this mean people who do not fish for an income? Or does it just mean inexpierenced fishermen?
SirSnookalot reply :
1. Emulating pros with multiple rigs.
2. Switching lures and techniques too fast... patience.
3. Overworking a bait.....slow down, don't get hyper.
4. Overspending.....reels and rods are only tools, they will not not catch more fish, if inexperienced.
5. No magic bullet, all lures will catch fish if given a chance.
6. Find the bait, you'll find the fish, up to you to entice a strike.
7. Relax and just let it flow, happens when it happens, take the pressure of yourself and just have fun.
8. Almost all fish do only 2 things, eat and reproduce, don't over analyze.
I fish both fresh and salt, 1 rod and no more than 3 or 4 lures with me, I keep it real simple and I catch nice fish everyday.
burleytog reply :
Not spending enough money.
Mattlures reply :
Man I must be the worst angler ever. I do all the mistakes the amateurs do!!!
I absolutley have to have the perfect lure for the situation and I belive there is usualy 1 superior lure for every situation. I believe Color is extremly important. I have zero patients except when trophy hunting, and even then I dont like it but I know I will eventualy be rewarded.
If I am not getting bit then I have to change something.
I spend money on quality gear.
Even when I shore fish I have at least 2 rods sometimes 3. When I take my boat I usualy have at least 15 rigged and ready. I like to have a specific rod for every technique I do.
I over analize things
I never had a mentor , I had to teach myself.
I go back to the same spots that worked before
I use several different baits and a change them often untill I find the right one.
It bother me if someone else is catching fish and I am not.
I declare I am the biggest amatuer of all!!! :-[ :-[ 
;D
Two mistakes that I see other amatuers make that I do not is, They get frustrated and give up and I will never give up. I may not have the answer all the time but give me enough time to over analize it and I will figure it out.
And I am always observing and learning. You dont always need to have a line in the water to learn. Sometimes I just watch the bass.
Sooo I guess my answers are
They give up to easy
They dont observe their quarry enough.
They buy junk gear(doesnt have to be expencive, just decent)
They use stupid lures
They fall for gimiky products.
They listen to people who pretend to know what they are talking about.
They dont know enough, to know who to listen too 
They use theri gear in the wrong way.
Sam reply :
Buying baits and equipment that they see advertised on TV or in magazines which prove to be useless.
Not suscribing to bass magazines nor purchasing DVDs about baits and techniques.
Not being a member of this site.
Catt reply :
Failing to understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.
Failing to understand the predominate prey species in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.
Failing to understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.
Failing to understand that to consistently catch bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive.
Failing to understand the #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.
Failing to understand it takes a rare breed of fisherman using simple techniques to perfection to consistently catch bass
The average bass fishermen does not like to anchor, or even own a anchor
Anglers often respond to failure and frustration by over-complicating theory and technique. As much as it helps our egos to regard a difficult task as complex, this type of thinking is often the biggest obstacle between you and your fishing success.
Failing to understand that if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got
K.I.S.S. 
steezy reply :
1. fishing too fast.
2. not paying attention to environment (structure,weather,water)
3. using too many setups
4.-10. (see 1. & 2. & 3.)
fishfordollars reply :
1. Fish too fast
2. Casting accuracy
3. Lack of knowledge
4. Maintain tackle(Line)
5. Focus
6. Learn to set patterns
7. Realize they are on fish(The right fish)
8. Make a move when they need to(Instincts)
9. Lack of time on the water
10. Relying on another's info when their own would be better
Crestliner2008 reply :
They forget the basic principle of finding fish; depth & speed control.
Daniel My Brother reply :
5. No sunscreen.
4. No mosquito spray.
3. No rain gear.
2. Not checking your line often and retying.
1. Spending too much time with your bait out of the water.
roadwarrior reply :
1. Location, location, location.
2. Fishing too shallow, too much
3. Fishing too fast
4. Not being able to recognize structure and cover
5. Shoddy or cheap gear, especially line and hooks
6. Ignoring natures clues: especially baitfish and birds
7. Poor techniques, both presentation and hook-up
8. Trying too be "versatile" before mastering basic skills
9. Moving too often
10. Changing lures too often
8-)
Shad_Master reply :
In no particular order:
1) changing too often or not changing enough
2) being intimidated (e.g., not throwing lures into the heart of the brush piles, etc.)
3) getting tied to the bank
4) not being precise or smoot with the presentation (splashing the water)
5) fishing history (I caught 'em here last year!!!)
6) not spending enough time studying bass behavior
7) not spending enough time learning new techniques
8) getting stubborn about a particular lure, color or techniqe
9) taking what other fishermen tell you a gospel (it's good to learn from others, but don't always count on them to tell you the whole truth)
10) leaving an area when fish are biting
Paul Roberts reply :
This will vary with angler of course.
FM hit a lot of really good ones:
Quote1. Thinking that the lure is the reason for not catching fish.2. Putting to much emphasis on that perfect color lure.
3. Not spending the time to find the fish first.
4. Must have the best of everything in order to be successful
5. Thinking that that other fisherman across the lake is catching fish when he/she's not.
6. Being stuck on the same bait.
7. Always going back to the same spot because the fish were there last week, month, or year.
8. Not visualizing the lure under the water.
9. Not practicing accurate casting.
10. Not finding a fishing mentor.
Jigfishn10 reply :
Presentation, concentration, location and patience
Gangley reply :
1. Improper tackle matchups.....(Frog fishing with 6lb mono and a Medium Light rod.)
2. People thinking they need 30 different rods and reels to fish 30 different lures.
3. Improper Knots (see this one a lot), tend to break a lot or simply come undone. A lot of newbies tie fishing knots like they tie their shoe laces, with a couple overhand knots.
4. Patience...they see pro's slamming them hard on TV, and they want to give up after 10 minutes if they are not catching anything.
5. Being too scared to ask for help. I have found that if I offer to help they usually graciously accept it, but that if I didn't offer it, they will never ask. Don't know if it is embarrassment or what, but they rarely ask, and asking for help is the quickest way to learn.
5. Lure selection. Many newbies don't even know what they have, much less how to fish them sometimes. Its like they just went down the isle and picked up a few lures that they thought looked "fishy". Not that I havent done that before :-D
K_Mac reply :
There are some common themes that have already been posted. We have a tendendcy ot make a lot of the same mistakes.
I think lack of preparation may be the biggest sin. I fish with, and talk to people all the time who just do what they have always done. The idea of spending time reading and studying off the water, and taking time to study electronics, try new techniques, and explore different locations on the water, just doesnt seem to register with a lot of folks. Not having equipment prepared is another example. When someone is having trouble casting because of a half filled spool of old cheap line, or wonder why they can't get a hook set with an old dull hook, I can't help but wonder...
It is sometimes the guys who have a little experience, and think they know what they are doing that are the worst offenders. Sometimes our egos get in the way of learning. A new fisherman will usually try to follow instructions. Once we have a little success we become a little harder to train.
Catt reply :
Eliminate your history you've eliminated your experience
WRB reply :
When first reading this post, before anyone had added their comments, I started to make a top 10 list and didn't have the time due to going to a concert to see James Taylor and Carole King.
Now that I have the time and reading the inputs, it came to me that we all learn from our mistakes and need to get out and fish however we choose. What may appear as a mistake, may or may not be a mistake.
Sure good tackle helps, but bass can be caught on nearly anything, that is why they are so popular.
I have watched kids in Mexico catch a lot of bass casting with a beer can wrapped with old mono line, a rusty hook and discarded plastic worms.
Yes, we should take the time to study what is available, but there is too much misinformation along with good advice.
Carole King and James Taylor's music is classic, no added whiz bang, just simple instrument and lyrics, performed to perfection.
Go out and fish and learn to use the lures of choice to perfection, that bass will let you know if you are making mistakes.
Fish too fast; tell that to KVD. Fish too slow; tell that to a live bait trophy fisherman camped out double anchored on 1 spot all day. The perfect lure, the best rod & reel, terminal tackle or line hasn't been made, that will pass the test of time.
Enjoy you time on the water, the mistakes will continue to happen, even the pros make them and learn by them.
WRB
Paul Roberts reply :
Quote... but give me enough time to over analize it and I will figure it out.And I am always observing and learning. You dont always need to have a line in the water to learn. Sometimes I just watch the bass.
Figuring it out -- that's where knowledge and the "fishing" coincide. It's what makes "fishing history" a tool for some, and a crutch for others.
QuoteThey forget the basic principle of finding fish; depth & speed control.
Absolutely key.
Catt reply :
Another major misconception is that Pros like a KVD simply fish fast when nothing could be farther from the true.
By eliminated patterns & waters that are non-productive, duplicate patterns & waters that are productive the whole process speeds up.
Raul reply :
Not knowing their tackle well enough
Not paying attention to the conditions
Fishing history instead of fishing the current conditions
Not checking their line frequently, cut and retie, how often ? as much as you need to, not as little as you think you need to do it
Lousy knots, knots have to be perfect all the time
Plus some others like location, cover. structure, etc, etc, etc ( that have already been mentioned ).
WRB reply :
There is a difference between what mistakes amateur tournament anglers make and general recreational bass anglers. Tournament anglers are under a set rules that don't always apply to recreational anglers.
Time being the most obvious and total weight to win a check should be the goal. The recreational angler just wants to catch a few bass and enjoy themselves on the water and that should be there goal.
My goal for example is catching big bass with lures. One big bass every 5 trips out on the water is OK, catching no big bass during the year isn't bad as I enjoy bass fishing in general and catch a lot of bass pursuing big bass.
I was talking to Robert Munoz the other day and dropped one of my bass mounts off to be touched up after some damage that occurred from an earth quake. One of the trophy bass anglers asked what I fish with and my reply was hair jigs. The angler asked why would you use that and not live crawdads??? you are making a big mistake!!! Maybe, but I enjoy catching giant bass on lures. Enjoy what you do and you will become a better bass angler and learn what you need to know to become better.
I can't tell you how many people tell me that I fish jigs incorrectly by keeping the rod tip down. Maybe, but it works for me.
The 10 mistakes the amateurs make; believing everything they read.
WRB
Captain Obvious reply :
The one mistake I think a lot of guys make is thinking it takes $10,000 worth of rods reels and tackle to be successful.
And if their really serious about becoming better they have to understand that when it comes to rods and reels you always take quality over quantity.
tommy reply :
boat positioning....
fishfordollars reply :
Retrieve angles. left it off the first list.
D4u2s0t reply :
A big thing, which I think was already said, is always, always fishing too shallow... I saw guys 2 days after ice out with their boat 20 feet from shore beating the bank... meanwhile you have about a zero percent chance of catching anything along the shoreline for maybe 2 months after ice out in my lake.
Blue Streak reply :
Not adapting to changing conditions.
Staying with their favorite bait or method way too long.
Mattlures reply :
interesting thread. Most of the things mentioned have been contradicted. It seems something might be a mistake for 1 guy but not for the other.
D4u2s0t reply :
Quoteinteresting thread. Most of the things mentioned have been contradicted. It seems something might be a mistake for 1 guy but not for the other.
what it comes down to, is that much of fishing is personal preference, and working around your strenghts, and doing what works for YOU. If there was just one way to fish, and it was the right way, there would be no need for hundreds of articles covering every circumstance, along with these forums. It's the same at all levels of fishing... I was reading an article written by pros (I think ike, kvd, there was 2 or 3 others can't remember who) and they all said "the best technique for early bass is xxxx " and they were all very different techniques and tips.
Fishing is one of those things where it's going to vary from lake to lake, state to state, coast to coast. Then, it's going to vary based on an anglers experience, level of patience, and willingness to learn and keep an open mind.
BassThumb reply :
Maybe I missed it, but not keeping your hooks sharp is one issue, especially after snagging or catching numerous fish on light hooks. Another would be learning how to fish at a computer screen instead of learning from trial and error on the water. One I feel is very important, even though it has been mentioned a few times, is starting with good line and maintaining it strength by respooling often and tying strong knots.
"Fishing too fast" is a tricky one because it is a little vague. It can mean a few things, trolling too fast and missing spots, over-anxiousness, not saturating the entire structure or cover with casts from different angles, not letting lures pause for very long, or simply too fast of a retrieve. Although fishing fast can be a problem for some, fishing slow can be just as big a problem for others, when they sit too long and soak unproductive water with 9 lures because of what it once produced. I am guilty of this more often than not. I feel sometimes I fish too slowly and too patiently, and that I need to pick up the pace and give up on a spot that isn't producing and try another.
Blue Streak reply :
"Fishing is one of those things where it's going to vary from lake to lake, state to state, coast to coast. Then, it's going to vary based on an anglers experience, level of patience, and willingness to learn and keep an open mind".
timothy_spain reply :
1. using the wrong hooks
2. sets hook too early
3. hooksets for topwater bites are different
4. can't horse all fish in
5. knot slips
6. tackle maintenance (rusted hooks, line management, etc)
Osprey39 reply :
It's interesting that many of the things listed are related to actually hooking/landing fish (hook selection, line maintenance, knots, etc.) To me, catching the fish is easy. Finding them in numbers is the tricky part along with actually getting them to bite.
Some of the mistakes I make:
1. Moving too fast through an area
2. Working baits too fast
3. Bank beating way too often
I'm sure I could think of more but those are three things I've been trying to work on getting better about.
snuffy33 reply :
QuoteFinding them in numbers is the tricky part.
There it is.
CAdeltaLipRipper reply :
Quoteusing too many different baits or changing too often
Thats not really a mistake.It can be great to try new things very often, but occasionaly it can be bad.
But i think fishing too fast can be a problem
nubasser reply :
I have only been bass fishing for a few years and a lot of my biggest mistakes fall between two areas
1.)patience(not trusting things which will probably impede me developing instincts)
2.)and looking at each cast as an opportunity to catch a fish.
eight more i see myself and others do.
3.)fishing a bait because it's hot(seen on tv)but not matching it to conditions or presentation.
4.)When your co-angler or fishin buddy is wearing you out not paying attention to his presentation*ask him/her if they will tell yah
5.)scared to leave what u are familiar with(sure they were there hitiing *insert lure here*the last five trips out."they must not be biting"well maybe they aren't there-this I'm also very bad about I'm a chronic bank beater
6.)Not keeping some kind of log or record>(u can learn alot by knowing what worked and what didnt)
7.)not visiting bass resource(especialy forums and articles)
8.)equipment.You dont need the best stuff but take care of whatever you use.Clean what can be cleaned and lube what can be lubed.good line sharp hooks.If you cant take care of your equipment find someone who will for you.
9.)being out when it's not safe(have all safety equipment available especially if fishing from a boat
10.)if you are an amateur and you arent doing this last thing you are really making a mistake....Expose someone you care about to bass fishing.Spouse,kids,parents friends,co-workers(thanks Bill)and any others.
lure junkie reply :
another one based solely on personal experiences would be establishing realistic expectations
Shamster reply :
I'm sure I'm making all of them! A lot of these contradict each other though!
Paul Roberts reply :
Expecting, or hoping, the fish will find your lure, rather than the other way around.
Straining water, chuck-n-wind, rather than physically probing/nipping/crashing/banging/ripping structure and cover. Once you get hip to CONTACT, your electronics and lure/tackle choices begin to make real sense -they become real tools not just things to have that other people have caught fish on.
WRB reply :
The misconception that all you have to do is find bass and they will react to your lure if presented correctly is #1 mistake. #2; Most novice bass anglers pass up bass and miss detecting strikes without realizing it.
Bass are only actively feeding about 10% of the time during the day. When the bass are not active, catching them can be very difficult. Most successful tournament anglers don't waste time fishing for inactive bass, hoping the bass will turn on. Tournament anglers tend to cover a lot of water fishing for 5 active adult size bass, using techniques and presentations that work well for their specific skills.
Bass fishing at night helps to slow down most anglers and their success rate goes up as a result; thoroughly covering the area and focusing on strikes.
WRB
dmac14 reply :
Switching baits too often. I did this like crazy my first few years of really fishing, I would change every 5-10 casts.
I feel like people should have 3-4 baits they really trust and stick with using them. I recently slimmed it down to 4 baits and I have seen more fish and also cut down cost a bit because I now only focus on buying the things I will really fish.
farmpond1 reply :
1) Fishing too slow when they need to speed things up.
2) Fishing too fast when they need to slow things down.
3) Sticking with a lure too long.
4) Changing baits too often.
5) Staying in one location too long
6) Moving too often.
7) Relying too much on expensive equipment
8) Not spending enough for quality gear.
9) Not utilizing their past experiences/observations
10) Thinking they've nothing new too learn.
Osprey39 reply :
QuoteSwitching baits too often. I did this like crazy my first few years of really fishing, I would change every 5-10 casts.I feel like people should have 3-4 baits they really trust and stick with using them. I recently slimmed it down to 4 baits and I have seen more fish and also cut down cost a bit because I now only focus on buying the things I will really fish.
What fun is that? 
Spending money is like 1/2 of the fun of fishing. You can't be on the lake all the time so buying a new lure gives you a little something to remind you of fishing until your next trip, lol.
avid reply :
Alot of good stuff here, but the one thing that all newbs I have ever known, including myself do, or rather fail to do is learn how to tie knots.
The palomer knot, loop knot, and uni as well as some others have applications where they are the best choice. Learning some basic knot tying skills will improve the experience for most new anglers.
Mattlures reply :
I thought of a couple more good ones that I dont think has been mentioned.
BE QUIET!
dont bang your box and your compartments. Walk softly.
Also dont draw atention to yourself when you do catch a fish.
MFBAB reply :
I think it's complacency. I know that if I tie on a T-rig worm and start hitting visible cover I can go out and catch fish on it pretty much any day of the year, that won't always be the best pattern going but it will get bites and a lot of people never want to expand on that. If you are willing to leave your comfort zone once in a while and try some other techniques like using new presentations or idling around and finding/fishing structure, you might fall on your face a few times but you might start learning some new ways to catch them too. I think leaving that comfort zone is really tough for most people, they would rather stick with the guarrantee of a few small bites than take a chance on striking out while looking for a better pattern. I've gotten to where I really relish the days I get to fish alone and break out of that mold, most of my buddies start to get the hives if they are more than a cast length from the bank, lol.
Raul reply :
QuoteI thought of a couple more good ones that I dont think has been mentioned.BE QUIET!
dont bang your box and your compartments. Walk softly.
Also dont draw atention to yourself when you do catch a fish.
Man, you tell that to my compadre !
Raul: "compadre, lower anchor pleez"
Raul 's compadre grabs the anchor and throws it, anchor lands creating a huge splash kinda like a cow just landed on lake after being thrown from a plane without chute and reaching terminal velocity.
What part of "lower" he didn 't understand ? :-? for what I know lower and throw are not the same. :
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteQuoteI thought of a couple more good ones that I dont think has been mentioned.BE QUIET!
dont bang your box and your compartments. Walk softly.
Also dont draw atention to yourself when you do catch a fish.
Man, you tell that to my compadre !
Raul: "compadre, lower anchor pleez"
Raul 's compadre grabs the anchor and throws it, anchor lands creating a huge splash kinda like a cow just landed on lake after being thrown from a plane without chute and reaching terminal velocity.
What part of "lower" he didn 't understand ? :-? for what I know lower and throw are not the same. :
What would he do if you told him to weigh anchor? Look for a scale? :D
Raul reply :
My compadre is a special person, can 't help it, I love the guy but there are days I 've thought about using him as anchor :, the man is loud for everything and since he is quite disorganized you can imagine his tacklebag, so when he needs something he practically opens his bag and pours the contents on the boat ( t bag pukes tackle ;D ), of course with it 's subtantial amount of noise, wants something from the cooler ? get ready for a good session of noisy cooler rummaging, on his end of the boat there 's always some kind of noise happening most of the time, actually in those rare ocassiones there 's silent I just gotta check if he still alive.
farmpond1 reply :
QuoteMy compadre is a special person, can 't help it, I love the guy but there are days I 've thought about using him as anchor :, the man is loud for everything and since he is quite disorganized you can imagine his tacklebag, so when he needs something he practically opens his bag and pours the contents on the boat ( t bag pukes tackle ;D ), of course with it 's subtantial amount of noise, wants something from the cooler ? get ready for a good session of noisy cooler rummaging, on his end of the boat there 's always some kind of noise happening most of the time, actually in those rare ocassiones there 's silent I just gotta check if he still alive.
Sounds like you could write a book about him.
Maybe you could add an extra layer of carpet or foam on his end of the boat.
WRB reply :
QuoteQuoteI thought of a couple more good ones that I dont think has been mentioned.BE QUIET!
dont bang your box and your compartments. Walk softly.
Also dont draw atention to yourself when you do catch a fish.
Man, you tell that to my compadre !
Raul: "compadre, lower anchor pleez"
Raul 's compadre grabs the anchor and throws it, anchor lands creating a huge splash kinda like a cow just landed on lake after being thrown from a plane without chute and reaching terminal velocity.
What part of "lower" he didn 't understand ? :-? for what I know lower and throw are not the same. :
I mentioned learning from mistakes; wrap a loop of anchor rope around your compadre's foot, then he may understand.
WRB
Osprey39 reply :
My buddy is kind of like that too Raul. There have been multiple times he moved from one side of the boat to the other so rapidly he nearly threw me out on the front. I finally had to ask him to be a little more subtle in his movements (ie: don't rock the boat!)
BassThumb reply :
QuoteI thought of a couple more good ones that I dont think has been mentioned.BE QUIET!
dont bang your box and your compartments. Walk softly.
Also dont draw atention to yourself when you do catch a fish.
Good ones. The first two really annoy me.
I have another, but it's minor. The long tag-ends on people's knots. I have seen a few fish pics online where they have 2-3" of line hanging from the knot. There's no need for a tag-end of longer than 1/8 or 1/4".
triglet reply :
crying when they lose a big big fish. :'( that was me this week. lost about a 7 lb smallie at pickwick.
umm the one problem with "amateur" in the boat is they forget they are in a confined space. as in i get whipped with a bait every now and then.
senile1 reply :
. . . . . and last but not least, spending too much time on forums when they should be on the water.
RockvilleMDAngler reply :
Quote.
9.not giving a 100 %,100% of the time
This is huge! I take a lot of my friends fishing and usually I am the only person they have ever fished with. The first few times out they only catch the fish that really slam the lures since they are not completely 100% focused on the lure and they never felt or noticed the subtle bites. This is mostly true for soft plastics but I have seen it happen with frogs and buzzbaits too, if you are not dialed in and ready to set the hook at any given time then you will definitely not catch as many fish. By the fourth or fifth trip (if they like it the first time) my friends are usually getting much better at this and when that happens they have a lot more fun but talk less/drink less beer/eat less etc. This is not a problem just for brand new anglers, I have had guys in the boat in tournament situations who considered themselves serious anglers who have not figured this out, they pay attention for the first 1/3 of the retrieve then just go through the motions while talking or staring off into the distance. When you get a bite you should be able to quickly identify what your lure was doing when it was bit so you can repeat it.
Ol� Dirty Basstard reply :
60% of the time, whatever I'm throwing works every time!
It's been said already, but I'll say it again. Amateur anglers, like me, sometimes take too much stock in the words they read on the internet. Only a 5/0 for those!; Never go less than 50lb braid!; You need an 8'6 X-heavy, XX-fast, XXX-expensive rod if you really want to catch anything!; That brand sucks, don't bother!
Please don't get me wrong; I think this site is a wealth of information! It's a great place for beginners and old-timers alike. But our best teacher is (almost) always experience. We need to get out there and get some bait wet and learn/remember the basics. What does this lure look like underwater? How can my rod make it look different? What is it touching? What is it snagging? When are they hitting? If I do the exact same thing, can I make them hit it again? Those are probably more important that the lure itself, but I think folks new to the sport don't always understand that. Once you have a good command of the basics, then you can start experimenting a little. But it seems like now-a-days things go in the opposite direction.
I'm too lazy to go back to see who wrote it, but I recall his pic looking like he might be a younger guy. Anyhow, he said he cut is tackle box down to 4 types of bait that he knows how to fish. Since then, he's catching more bass. Wow. How non-amateur is that? I catch his drift; and I like it!
wisconsin heat reply :
my dad is a horrible fisherman and will lob a huge lure on his ml spinning rod and let it crash down on the surface,gets annoying, and even when i catch alot of fish he'll just say that the fish wernt biting, thats a little more annoying
Nitrofreak reply :
As a ammature I don't think we exude enough patience and we look too hard for the correct advice.
1: We tend to look for advice from pros when we should be looking for club's to help hone our underdeveloped skill's.
2: We spend too much money on thing's that may or may not work without asking why first.
3: The learning curve is too broad and we take to many shortcut's to try and shorten the curve and end up backtracking and starting over and getting frustrated in the process.
4: We don't pay enough attention to detail with the structures around us and below us.
5: We tend to start off wanting to turn pro and then realisation becomes reality we are not as good at this as we think.
6: We tend not to learn from our mistakes and failure to document them in mental notes leads to more frustration.
7: We don't know how to establish patterns yet so we over think and don't react to what's right in front of our face.
8: We still haven't joined a good club yet.
9: We spend more money and still have not joined a good club yet.
10: We spend even more money and still have not joined a good club yet.
11: Patience,Patience,Patience and the lack of it.
Blue Streak reply :
Fishing presents an opportunity to make a different mistake every day. Conditions change and that is about the only thing you can really rely on. After many, many years of fishing I still make bad decisions at times and on the ride home I think about what I coulda or shoulda done. That is the mental part of our sport and one reason why we love it so much.
Dinky reply :
I've made all of the listed mistakes at least once and expect to make many more.
I have been a marshal at the Elite Bassmaster tournaments several times the last two years and a few things I have noticed about the pros that seem universal:
They don't change lures much throughout the day.
Now, of course they have 10-12 rods/reels pre-rigged so changing lures is not an issue usually. (some are duplicate rigged)
But, the point is-they knew what they were going to use the night before when they rigged their rods/reels.
They carry very few different types of tackle in the boat.
Example; if they are going to be using a crank bait for a significant time they usually have at least 3 similar/same style cranks pri-rigged, but each one is for a different depth. They may not be carrying any more crank baits other than a few of the same style already rigged in case they lose one.
Example; If they are going to be using a C-rig for a lot of the areas they will have at least two pre-rigged--one with a lizard maybe and one with a worm.
Also, assuming the bass may be chasing shad on the top of the water, they will always make sure they have a top water rig on deck, with the lure unhooked and ready to throw.
Knots: some tie a knot faster than you can imagine and some not so fast. But, all of them constantly check their line for evidence of wear and retie often.
They spend zero time looking for a place to fish. They know exactly where and how they are going to fish a spot and go to it--if it is occupied they go to another one they have marked. No wasted time.
They don't change their strategy or technique (throughout any single day at least) easily or quickly.
They have confidence in their reading of the lake conditions and that their technique will produce results.
Finally: their casting technique and accuracy is unbelievable. They can skip a jig and pig half way under a dock with a bait caster. Most seem ambidextrous and can throw back handed as well.
The point being they can reach the proper zone and are seldom if ever wasting a cast.
It is both mental and physical.
Makes it tough on us old, not so bright guys!
J Francho reply :
Beginners or amateurs? Amateurs, and I mean those with some fishing experience, usually think they know more than they do. They get to a plateau in their ability, and quit learning. I know I've been there at times.
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