Hardest to learn? 2025
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
I'm wondering what has been the hardest thing for you guys to learn? Has it been a technique like walk the dog, or maybe something like boat control. For me its been having patience enough to wait on top water bites to set the hook, which i still haven't been able to do. So lets hear it , what has been the toughest thing for you to learn when it comes to bass fishing. 
GTrombly reply :
hardest thing for me is taking someone with me who don't really know anything about fishing. most of the time it is ok but sometimes they need help every five minutes and don't remember anything you show them.
NeedAnewScreenName-587943 reply :
mastering the San Diego Jam knot has been hard, although not the 'hardest'.
breaking off too many 15-25lb Stripers on fluorocarbon with Uni-knots led me to research a better fluoro knot.
The San Diego Jam fits the bill. (the name sounds cool too - like a movie about foul play).
A video on Youtube helped me to perfect it, at least most of the time.
My av is a 24lb that came from a 600 acre lake last December (San Diego Jam baby!).
fourbizz reply :
Being succesful with the really big baits, like 4+ ouncers.
A-Jay reply :
Deep Cranking
A-Jay
Radical Conservative reply :
Being patient enough to jig or worm fish (when the conditions call for it) and not throwin' the rod down to grab my crankbait setup.
Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :
The hardest thing for me is to get over loosing a fish during a tournament
Blade-Runner reply :
Locating fish consistently in highly-pressured waters.
Fishes in trees reply :
There are lots of things I can't say I've learned yet, because it is a work in progress. Confidence with a jig, deep cranking, sonar skills, drop shotting, fish locating skills, would fall into this category.
As far as a skill I've learned, I'd have to say pitching. It took me most of 2 seasons, making myself pitch when I could have overhead cast or side arm cast, to get good at it. Now, for the most part, If a target is within 70 feet and I've got a lane to it, I can hit it.
I went through a couple of service spools of 14 lb Vanish during those seasons, I backlashed alot.
J Francho reply :
Most everything I've tried came pretty naturally. Each new thing I learned opened new doors to more fish. As a kid, all I did was crank deep water. When I learned how to tie a Texas rigged ribbon tail worm, all the weedy haunts were now available to me. That's just one example. Hollow body frogs, something I only started throwing a few years ago is another. Total slop, unlocked. I even use these in open water now.
Probably the hardest thing to learn was the jig. It takes concentration to learn. Problem was, I wasn't sure what I should be concentrating on, LOL. Then I fished with a jig man, and now its probably the bait I throw the most.
roadwarrior reply :
Fishing a jig.
My strong suit is soft plastics and you might think
the jig is about the same...NOT!
After more than two years, I finally "got it".
Even though soft plastics are far more productive
than any other class of lures, I prefer fishing a
jig.
8-)
Goose52 reply :
The patience to fish plastics. That's what I have to work on this year.
Taylor Fishin 4 life reply :
as far as lures go i dont fish hard jerkbaits enough nor dropshoting and shakyhead
The Capn reply :
The hardest part for me has been (and will always be) understanding how bass react to the million-and-one possible combinations of conditions. The good news is that this is also what makes this pursuit so enjoyable. Every day is a new challenge.
bassman31783 reply :
QuoteDeep CrankingA-Jay
X2 However now that I have a good depth finder it's gotten much better.
Also mastering the drop shot would be up there, but I also haven't given it enough time to really say that it's the hardest to learn.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Finding and catching fish offshore in the deep.
Long Mike reply :
Dealing Crank.
Hammer 4 reply :
This may sound stoopid, but the hardest for me was learning how to flip, and pitch..sometimes I still get overruns, maybe cuz I don't do it enough..?
swamper79 reply :
QuoteThis may sound stoopid, but the hardest for me was learning how to flip, and pitch..sometimes I still get overruns, maybe cuz I don't do it enough..?
Definately not stoopid. It is still a work in progress with me. Seems like it takes a while to remember how each time on the water.
Hook Set reply :
Detecting the jig bite.
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
As far as techniques I would say drop shot. This is a weird rig. It feels different and the bite is different than other techniques with plastics.
Lund Explorer reply :
For me, it isn't so much a technique problem as it is an attitude problem.
I need to learn how to adjust to changing conditions better. I may go into a day with a specific battle plan of baits and/or spots, but if the fish aren't responding that day, I'm in trouble. Too many times I retreat to the wormin' stick, even though I know something better might work.
Bigbub reply :
The hardest thing for me is skipping a jig. Just can't seem to get the hang of it. :'(
simplejoe reply :
For me it's off shore structure, I'm not talking about 10-15 of water, I'm talking about 40-50 of water. I can pinpoint the structure and catch a couple fish off it, but I know there's more fish there. It could be better boat position too. I'll get better.
Catt reply :
How to avoid Carol's Honey Do List 
Crestliner2008 reply :
Accurate pitching for me. Don't do it enough....then when I get myself into a position where I need it, I'm not very good at it!
My forte is definitely soft plastics on off-shore structures.
MALTESE FALCON reply :
OK, now everybody is going to laugh. I can't catch a cold with a tube. I live on one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the country, and everybody says tubes are their go-to smallie bait...............not me. I can catch them with crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits, as soon as I put on a tube, I may as well grab a sandwich, and Dr. Pepper, because my fishing is done.
Falcon
TommyBass reply :
Hard jerk baits... I don't try them enough so that dosn't help. Have never really got good with them. Maybe if I had some smallies to try them on.........
senile1 reply :
QuoteThere are lots of things I can't say I've learned yet, because it is a work in progress.
No matter how experienced one is there are some things that are always a work in progress. I honestly don't know if any one thing is more difficult than others. I fish lakes with lots of clutter on the bottom so I can only use the carolina rig in particular places. Because of this I don't use it enough to become what I would call an expert with the technique. I think my sonar reading skills could always improve. Side-imaging and downscan could make this easier but I don't own these tools at the moment. I think the average wind speeds where I fish range from 15 - 25 mph so my boat control is something that I still need to improve. It will never be where I want it to be. Improvement is always possible and it is a lifetime activity.
Crestliner2008 reply :
QuoteOK, now everybody is going to laugh. I can't catch a cold with a tube. I live on one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the country, and everybody says tubes are their go-to smallie bait...............not me. I can catch them with crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits, as soon as I put on a tube, I may as well grab a sandwich, and Dr. Pepper, because my fishing is done.Falcon
That's a shame! You may be really missing out on something good here. How are you trying to fish them? Even if you just drag them along the bottom, you're going to get bit!
A slow drift and casting or dragging is bound to get you into fish with a tube; unless the structures you're fishing are not supporting that good a population.
brushhoggin reply :
QuoteFishing a jig.My strong suit is soft plastics and you might think
the jig is about the same...NOT!
After more than two years, I finally "got it".
Even though soft plastics are far more productive
than any other class of lures, I prefer fishing a
jig.
8-)
gosh this worries me. i just stocked up on jigs of all colors and weights thinking i could add them to my arsenal and just fish em like a worm and youre telling me thats not it! how can this possibly take two years?
Patrick Ferguson reply :
Id have to say patience. Waiting for the fish to take the bait, fishing worms slowly, etc.
Paul Roberts reply :
QuoteThe hardest part for me has been (and will always be) understanding how bass react to the million-and-one possible combinations of conditions. The good news is that this is also what makes this pursuit so enjoyable. Every day is a new challenge.
'Ditto'.
Understanding how bass behave. It's not only the biggest challenge, but the most interesting one too.
Well...that's number 2. Number 1 is finding the time to get out the door and onto the water.
timothy_spain reply :
Still can't get my swimbait rigged properly
Pitchinkid reply :
Confidence in swim-baits. Might be easier in Cali, hard to throw sometimes in WV. Real swimbaits anyway.
Nine Miler reply :
QuoteOK, now everybody is going to laugh. I can't catch a cold with a tube. I live on one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the country, and everybody says tubes are their go-to smallie bait...............not me. I can catch them with crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits, as soon as I put on a tube, I may as well grab a sandwich, and Dr. Pepper, because my fishing is done.Falcon
Now, I have only fished St. Clair for about two seasons, but I just bought my first pack of tubes this winter. I still have a hard time believing I can catch fish with this thing. To this day, I have never tied a tube on my line. Maybe we should start a St. Clair tube support group.
bcody reply :
Fishing a Jig for me as well...
Still haven't learned when and where and why even after reading tons. I may try to have one on at all times and force myself to fish it.
CAdeltaLipRipper reply :
Dragging and hopping a jig.I mean ive caught fish off of them but i just really dont have a feel for them yet i love them
Elite Image Fishing reply :
The hardest lesson I have had to learn is to welcome new techniques, but also stay true to my older ones. I have gotten used to throwing one rig all day as opposed to using different pieces to put together the puzzle. Its almost as if I try to use one color to paint a picture. I'm not the type to pull up on a hump and catch 30 fish. Its a buzz-bait here a drop-shot there... ooo a mad-paca would work great here. And I have strayed from that by trying to use one or two new techniques to catch the fish and it has cost me.
So learning to add to my arsenal and not devote 100% of my time to one technique.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
detecting soft bites on a jig , well, jig fishing period !!! :-[
UrbanAngler reply :
Fishing with "Hammer4"
and drop shot fishing.
A-Rob reply :
I hear about local pros finding a spot and catching something like 64 bass. I have never done that before.
I think I don't find that sweet spot on the spot and fishing it out.
So I would say my fish locating skills. I can catch them if I know they are there most the time.
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