The fishing tip you wish someone had told you. 2024
BankBassing reply :
For me, I learned one today. Still learning with the baitcaster. I've gotten a lot better, but I couldn't figure out why sometimes I would backlash time and again after doing so well for a long time. Today, it happened, and I got frustrated enough that I unspooled about 90% of my braid and respooled it while holding some tension on it. Suddenly it was like I became a much better caster. Before today, I'd just unspool a few rounds after getting the tangles out. Here half of my backlashes were because of the tension problems caused further down in my line by a previous one. This made my day so much better.
What is one thing that nobody told you that could have saved you a lot of frustration bass fishing?
Scott F reply :
I've been fishing the same lake on average 1 week a year for over 25 years. I wasted a lot of time in the first 20 years fishing patterns that were successful on another lake. I did catch fish but it wasn't until I found some mid lake, underwater islands that I really started catching. The lake I fish is pretty big but doesn't get much pressure. Even now, I never see anyone fishing any of the spots I do, when I'm there. If someone had told me about this pattern a long time ago, it would have made a huge impact. Now if I could only find someone to tell me where find them when i go back in the fall.......
soflabasser reply :
Don't miss the forest for the trees.Enjoy bass fishing and understand that everyone has slow days in fishing. Relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Yeajray231 reply :
Some lures catch fish.. some lures catch fisherman. I know for sure I'd have alot less stuff if someone let me in on this little secret without finding it out for myself.
scaleface reply :
I wish some of the guys I fished with early on knew what they were doing . I had to go learn everything by myself . Bassmaster , FishinFacts , In Fishermen were my text books .
JigMaster4 reply :
Not to go and buy a bunch of baits. I did and then didnt use half of them.
OCdockskipper reply :
That what works on each lake is different (similar to Scott F's).
For me, when I was a teenager & learning, I was like Scaleface and had to rely on Bassmaster & other publications. I tried to apply what pro's & experts would do on Southern reservoirs to a Southern California lake that was nothing like those bodies of water. Throwing big topwaters & spinnerbaits shallow on a lake where smaller finesse baits in deeper water would have been more appropriate. Initially, I thought that the lake I was on just didn't have many fish in it, over time I found that I was just fishing the wrong lures in the wrong places.
soflabasser reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 12:03 PM, JigMaster4 said:Not to go and buy a bunch of baits. I did and then didnt use half of them.
Same here.Those lures become part of my fishing lure collection or are given away to family members .
riverbasser reply :
Hard to say. I think I struggled for a long time trying to force fish to bite the way I wanted them too instead of figuring out what they wanted.
MikeWright reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 11:05 AM, scaleface said:I wish some of the guys I fished with early on knew what they were doing . I had to go learn everything by myself . Bassmaster , FishinFacts , In Fishermen were my text books .
First thing that comes to.mind when you say text books...is man you're an old school
Molay1292 reply :
When you catch a fish don't take it for granted. Take the time to try an understand why that fish was there, why it bit the bait you presented. Look at the depth, water color, temp, wind direction, shadows, structure, cover, try and take in as much as you can about why, why, why. It can really help you start to understand some things, and find a pattern.
Trust your instinct and don't let anyone talk you out of them, find out for yourself.
AndrewJ reply :
I wish I understood fishing rods and reels more thoroughly when i started. This would have saved me some money as I have a few fishing rods and reels that are not what I want and I could have avoided buying them by doing some research.
"hamma" reply :
Exactly the same as Scaleface, I primarily fished a bog, a small reservoir, and a couple small ponds. To only have the same magazines to go by, I was at a huge loss and struggled for years, then I eventually learned that the techniques depicted, needed to be applied in different manners to work up here. It took many years and I must say,...It would have been nice to have someone "teach" me, But then I wouldnt have become the angler I am now. My diligence and determination on the water is what it is, and I can attribute that to those days I struggled.
I can remember using a old bagley's fat cat crankbait in the bog, as a topwater technique, jerking it to dive a few feet, like a dying bluegill, and snagging brush, slime, weeds, etc.,and not many bass....lol.
Slowrolling a spinnerbait in the res, on the ever so slight "channel" in summertime searching for key cover on structure, which just wasn't there,. fishing that 90% of the res that had no fish,.....
And casting a original berkley powerworm weightless on a eagle claw weedless bait hook, rigged with a slight twist by pushing the worm on just a bit too much, this created a "spin" for the worms presentation, hoping to create a better vibe in the weeds. Hence, how I learned the valuable lesson of fixing line twist,... To think of the money wasted on new line back then,..omg. I did catch a few fish, but under extremely aggravating conditions.
As for baitcasting gear? OMG,.. 3 full seasons of pulling my hair out till I finally gave up. I "learned" from my team partner many years later.
Also, I learned the hard way about: DEET, sunburn, heat exhaustion, and to never go barhopping the night before a early am canoe outing, cheap snaps suck, sunglasses are better than losing a eye, and before you push off a log with a paddle? look to see if there's a dangerous snake on that log first, they will slither down the paddle. Gigantic ancient snapping turtles will attempt to flip your canoe, if you have a bass on a stringer, hung over the gunnel into the water. Slow moving puddle jumper type rigs, are at a loss on big lakes, when there's a threat of lightning.
Just for a few tips I "remember",... Im now like one of those old guys, I used to curse at the launch,..that took so long getting ready to shove off while I waited in my truck. And now I know why they did so. lol
Senko lover reply :
I wish I had understood more about which rods and reels to buy. Don't go cheap; you'll regret it later.
Torn Thumb reply :
I wish I wasn't led to believe that nightcrawlers and bobbers should be held up on a pedestal. I wish I was taught to fish for more than just trout. These things I learned only more recently. I could have been having more fun all these years.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 7:08 PM, Torn Thumb said:I wish I wasn't led to believe that nightcrawlers and bobbers should be held up on a pedestal.
Same here. I was taught how to fish with live bait (crawlers, shiners, craws, etc.) and that artificial baits don't work.
When I left the nest I became experimental and tried new things. I can still remember the first trout I caught on a rooster tail. I am now fishing with almost 100% artificial baits.
I also wish I had learned sooner that the Ugly Stick is not the best rod in the world.
Yeajray231 reply :
I think ugly stick is hard to beat for the money tho..
NYWayfarer reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 9:18 PM, Yeajray231 said:I think ugly stick is hard to beat for the money tho..
I did love my ugly sticks back in the day but I would rather have a Berkley Lightning rod for the same money. Much more sensitive than the mushy tipped ugly stick.
scaleface reply :
To go further on my last post ,when I started bass fishing from a boat in a bass club , not one of the guys I fished with had any idea on thermoclines and offshore structure . It sure would have saved me a lot of Trial and error if there was someone who understood deep fishing . Every last one of them was a bank beater and I knew we were missing out on the best fishing our lakes had to offer .
crypt reply :
keep it simple.don't over think it.
Scott F reply :
One thing that stands out to me about the replies on this thread. IF, someone had given the advice that we now find valuable, way back when, would we have been wise enough to listen and done as we were told? I'm sure we all got good advice from our parents when we were young. How many of us ignored that wisdom and went out and did something stupid anyway?
Robeng reply :
Well put Scott F.
buzzed bait reply :
1. don't buy everything in every color, every size right off the bat
2. get a 2nd and 3rd job for buying tackle
3. only marry a chick with a lot of money that lets you fish all the time (this would eliminate the need for 1 & 2)!!!
Surfcaster reply :
That you had to bounce a crankbait off something in order to trigger strikes. When I was younger I tried my best not to get hung and loose my crankbaits (and rarely caught fish). Now it seems I have be hung up on a submerged tree or digging a trench on the bottom, on every cast, in order to get a bite.
A-Jay reply :
There are a few concepts that I've come to know over the years that had I know them many years ago, when fishing was different, may have had an impact on my fish catches.
Bass (and often Very Big Bass) can be caught the day the Ice goes out. I used to Wait for warmed weather - Stuu-Pid.
Wish I knew what a drop shot was in 1966.
And finally, wish I knew the power of speed back in the day as well.
A-Jay
GORDO reply :
A fishing tip I wish someone would have told me was how to balance a girlfriend and fishing time.
Scott F reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 12:52 AM, GORDO said:A fishing tip I wish someone would have told me was how to balance a girlfriend and fishing time.
The Flying Wallendas couldn't balance on that tightrope!
A-Jay reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 12:52 AM, GORDO said:A fishing tip I wish someone would have told me was how to balance a girlfriend and fishing time.
Have a girlfriend that DRAGS YOU fishing ~
A-Jay
blckshirt98 reply :
I wish I could have had it drilled in my head more that you just need to keep your color selection simple. No need for 15 different colors of the same size/brand of senkos, worms, crankbaits, etc.
WRB reply :
I shared "The Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar" back in 1974.
Tom
BiteFiend reply :
That I will spend thousands of dollars on this hobby. But then again, it's not hookers and blow so that's kind of a win.
soflabasser reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 12:52 AM, GORDO said:A fishing tip I wish someone would have told me was how to balance a girlfriend and fishing time.
Take her fishing with you.When you hook up to a big fish give her the fishing rod so she can catch the fish.Keep her happy when she is fishing with you and you will be able to go fishing more often.
flyingmonkie reply :
I wish somebody would have told me to get a better boat before I got married...
Ohio Archer reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 12:45 AM, A-Jay said:There are a few concepts that I've come to know over the years that had I know them many years ago, when fishing was different, may have had an impact on my fish catches.
Bass (and often Very Big Bass) can be caught the day the Ice goes out. I used to Wait for warmed weather - Stuu-Pid.
Wish I knew what a drop shot was in 1966.
And finally, wish I knew the power of speed back in the day as well.
A-Jay
How old are you? J/K!!! I was only 6...
Wish someone had told me not to get into Musky fishing. WAAAYYYY more expensive than Bass fishing. I still love to catch the green fish but in the lakes around here they are almost as bad as the big toothy critters in terms of casts required to hook one.
Use heavy enough line to cast, pitch, punch, flip into the nastiest stuff you have on the lake. The easy ones are easy to catch, the old, smarter ones are in the deep stuff.
j bab reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 12:45 AM, A-Jay said:wish I knew the power of speed back in the day as well.
Tell me more
A-Jay reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 9:18 AM, Ohio Archer said:How old are you? J/K!!! I was only 6...
Wish someone had told me not to get into Musky fishing. WAAAYYYY more expensive than Bass fishing. I still love to catch the green fish but in the lakes around here they are almost as bad as the big toothy critters in terms of casts required to hook one.
Use heavy enough line to cast, pitch, punch, flip into the nastiest stuff you have on the lake. The easy ones are easy to catch, the old, smarter ones are in the deep stuff.
LOL ~ I was only 7 myself -
But think of the possibilities !
On 9/23/2016 at 9:30 AM, j bab said:Tell me more
There isn't a whole lot to say - between spinner baits, rattle baits & small crank baits - Burning them is a great way to get bit.
A-Jay
Ohio Archer reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 9:39 AM, A-Jay said:LOL ~ I was only 7 myself -
But think of the possibilities !
A-Jay
Yeah, KVD might never be known and all the Bassmaster tournaments would definitely not be the same.
Catt reply :
Sometimes we are given tips but it takes awhile for them to sink in!
bigbill reply :
Don't dwell when we lose a big bass, suck it up and learn from it. The next day schedule a tow truck to land it. Stay calm, fish on like it never happened. Lmao
Columbia Craw reply :
Bass live deeper than you think. Get off the bank a little.
Mike L reply :
I wish I realized much earlier that bass are not always shallow. Some will move in and out all day long.
I wish I realized much earlier that what I did, and where I did it yesterday doesn't mean it will work today.
I wish I realized much earlier that when no matter how slow I think I'm working a bait it's sometimes not slow enough.
And finally and probably the most important thing I wish I learned much much earlier, is that the best teacher I ever had is what I learned on my own.
Mike
bigfruits reply :
no one told me not to stand to pee off of a canoe when I am 5 beers deep.
papajoe222 reply :
Mine was: Study the fish you want to target and then study the forage they target.
I got into bass fishing because I would occasionally catch a few when walleye fishing. I went out and bought a few 'bass' lures and spent many a day fishing those walleye hang outs in search of bass. Once I read up on seasonal movements, bass being ambush as well as schooling feeders and their preference in forage in northern, natural lakes, I began catching on a fairly regular basis. I still have fishless days 50 yrs. later, but it's not because I don't understand my quarry.
Torn Thumb reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 9:25 PM, bigfruits said:no one told me not to stand to pee off of a canoe when I am 5 beers deep.
Don't break the seal dude.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 9:01 PM, Columbia Craw said:Bass live deeper than you think. Get off the bank a little.
and continuing with that "theme", often the better fish are on the OTHER side of the boat.
MrPeanut reply :
I wish I learned how to read a topo map earlier - seems to help find fish a lot better driving around looking for fishy looking spots
Something I don't think is stressed enough still is sun protection - I didn't care about it as much when I first starting fishing a lot more often, a couple bad burns later and I always leave home prepared for sunny days.
Ratherbfishing reply :
That there aren't fish in every stretch of water and that I have to go to the fish rather than hoping the fish will come to me. I still have a LOT to learn in this regard.
Bankbeater reply :
I wish someone would have told me that if the hook in your hand has no play in it, then it is through something solid, and you should go straight to the ER.
You can push the hook through and cut the barb, you can back it out and cut along the barb to free the hook, or you can tie a line around the hook and yank it out with a quick snap.
When that hook has gone through something or is around something, then you might cause more problems by trying to remove it yourself.
Found that out about 30 years ago when a treble hook went into my hand. In the ER they told me that the hook had gone through nerve tissue, but luckily it was not severed all the way and would heal over time.
Raul reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 9:17 AM, BankBassing said:For me, I learned one today. Still learning with the baitcaster. I've gotten a lot better, but I couldn't figure out why sometimes I would backlash time and again after doing so well for a long time. Today, it happened, and I got frustrated enough that I unspooled about 90% of my braid and respooled it while holding some tension on it. Suddenly it was like I became a much better caster. Before today, I'd just unspool a few rounds after getting the tangles out. Here half of my backlashes were because of the tension problems caused further down in my line by a previous one. This made my day so much better.
What is one thing that nobody told you that could have saved you a lot of frustration bass fishing?
Don't purchase every lure you like.
ClackerBuzz reply :
-picking out back lashes will catch you some amazing fish so wake up and take note.
-if you're not catching fish on a new lure/ technique it's b/c ur adding too much 'angler action'
-stop trying to feel every bite. keeping slack in ur line will get you better quantity, and better quality.
-you can power fish in cold water.
-stop watching Youtube vids and immediately ordering from TW. take the time to dig thru ur Rubbermaid containers full of tackle and make due with what you have to try this newly discovered magical technique.
-expensive equipment won't help you catch bass. sooner or later ur going to bump into a guy with an Ugly stick that pulls out his cell phone pix and makes you drool with envy.
-if you fish from shore, skip ur next 3-4 technique specific combos, and several hundred lures, and buy a kayak.
-if you fish from kayak/canoe/boat, skip ur next 3-4 technique specific combos, and several hundred lures, and buy a sonar with side imaging.
-you can't have 'confidence in a lure' without experience.
-50% of what you read/watch online won't apply to your water. the other 50% still needs to be customized. learn to identify your body of water and it's biological personality
-you only need 3 colors: white, green, black/blue.
-it's better to try something new and completely ridiculous for 5 mins then get skunked for another 2 hours via the same 500-600 repetitive casts
Torn Thumb reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 12:52 AM, GORDO said:A fishing tip I wish someone would have told me was how to balance a girlfriend and fishing time.
Fishing time is my girlfriend.
On 9/29/2016 at 11:58 AM, ClackerBuzz said:-if you fish from shore, skip ur next 3-4 technique specific combos, and several hundred lures, and buy a kayak.
I could have gotten 1.5-2 decent kayaks by now with this logic and I wish that I had.
soflabasser reply :
On 9/29/2016 at 11:58 AM, ClackerBuzz said:
-expensive equipment won't help you catch bass. sooner or later ur going to bump into a guy with an Ugly stick that pulls out his cell phone pix and makes you drool with ***.
So true. Knowing how to fish well in a wide range of conditions is far more important than the price of one's fishing gear.I know plenty of guys down here that love to brag about their custom rods and $$$ reels,but their catches simply don't add up to what some bassers catch on "cheap" gear.These bassers that catch these big bass are more interested in having fun and catching big bass than showing off $$$ gear to their fishing buddies.
Preytorien reply :
A couple things that would've saved me a lot of headache in the beginning and would've made my transition to fishing a lot smoother....
- As mentioned before, and still I hear it a lot, is how "in X lake or river you can't catch em' unless you're using live bait" - yea, tell me that as I'm pulling out a 4lb smallie on a Iovino popper or Rooster Tail spinner
- I would've had far less trouble if I used better line when I was younger. Back then admittedly it was about cost since I was at the very bottom rung of affordability, but now I realize so much of my success is due to the tiny little string that attaches the fish to me
- Some of the "worst" days for fishing are actually the best
- Spend some time fishing in ways you never did before. I tried wading a small river near me a couple years ago for the first time - now it's my favorite way to fish
- Can't buy/pull/afford a bass boat? Enable yourself to still get on the water with a kayak
- Lastly, make it fun. Do what makes you happy as a fisherman. If that means tournaments, go for it. If that means being a guide, be great at it. Do what makes you feel good on the drive back home. Just have a good time.
the reel ess reply :
Flip the bail on a spinning reel and tighten the line a little all with your free hand before you start reeling. This will save you a lot of line. I have a buddy who never does this though I tell him every time we fish and he always has half a spool on the reel.
Use braid on spinning reels. Less twist. You can use that same line until you get tired of it.
Don't go after bass with an ultralight combo. You never know when the big one is lurking. (I still do this BTW because it's fun for the dinks)
It doesn't really get too cold in the south to catch bass. That's what you tell yourself when you don't want to brave the cold.
Instead of asking what they're biting, ask generally where they're biting or what they're doing. I can't say how many times I've been told they aren't biting and caught either a lot of fish or a big one using a technique I like.
Downsize when they won't bite all the usual offerings.It's really fishing for smaller fish, but it works.
Take days off from work to go fishing-or do whatever it is that you love. On your deathbed you won't say "I wish I'd worked one more day."
scaleface reply :
On 10/7/2016 at 10:08 PM, the reel ess said:.
Instead of asking what they're biting, ask generally where they're biting or what they're doing. I can't say how many times I've been told they aren't biting and caught either a lot of fish or a big one using a technique I like.
Downsize when they won't bite all the usual offerings.It's really fishing for smaller fish, but it works.
LOL . The local fishing reports here are almost always wrong . I will have a fantastic day and a week later the fishing report comes out stating Bass fishing is poor .
The two points above I adhere too.. . Long ago I was constantly looking for the right lure instead of the fish . Now I have an understanding of where , when and how to use baits , I switch much less and concentrate on getting bites
I dont hesitate to go small . Little baits in the right spots get lots of bites and with numbers will come some nice ones too .
fishwizzard reply :
On 9/29/2016 at 11:58 AM, ClackerBuzz said:-you only need 3 colors: white, green, black/blue.
Surely I need red as well? And maybe brown? 
I started fishing with no one to teach me and I wasted a ton of money buying every lure under the sun, mostly plastics that I didn't really understand how to use. I have just recently got them all organized and anything I don't catch a fish on in the next year is getting sold/traded/given away.
Wind Knot reply :
I wish I would've learned sooner that a palomar knot is way better than a cinch knot.
Mosster47 reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 7:05 PM, Senko lover said:I wish I had understood more about which rods and reels to buy. Don't go cheap; you'll regret it later.
I agree with this for two reasons.
1. It will make you a more confident fisherman. If you know for an absolute certainty that it's you and not your gear then you're on the right track.
2. Resale. A $300 and above rod has legit resale value. A cheap rod, well you might as well just keep it.
The two things I tell every beginner are to be confident and fish. It's the same two things I tell people learning how to play guitar. Know you can do it and put your time in.
I see guys all the time come flying up to the stretch I'm fishing, come off plane, look at me for ten seconds, and punch it back out of there. I just shake my head. If you know there is fish somewhere then fish it. I could have motored away a minute before they got there and they would have stopped and fished away. Why? Because their brain tells them that is fresh water and they are confident that it will hold fish. Pull up, see what the boat in front of you is doing and do something else. If the boat in front of you is throwing reaction baits go behind them with bottom contact or top water and fish your pattern.
Jon P. reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 12:19 PM, OCdockskipper said:That what works on each lake is different (similar to Scott F's).
For me, when I was a teenager & learning, I was like Scaleface and had to rely on Bassmaster & other publications. I tried to apply what pro's & experts would do on Southern reservoirs to a Southern California lake that was nothing like those bodies of water. Throwing big topwaters & spinnerbaits shallow on a lake where smaller finesse baits in deeper water would have been more appropriate. Initially, I thought that the lake I was on just didn't have many fish in it, over time I found that I was just fishing the wrong lures in the wrong places.
I live in Montana, here everything is giant swimbaits and finesse, none of that power fishing activity like down south.
On 9/22/2016 at 12:19 PM, OCdockskipper said:That what works on each lake is different (similar to Scott F's).
For me, when I was a teenager & learning, I was like Scaleface and had to rely on Bassmaster & other publications. I tried to apply what pro's & experts would do on Southern reservoirs to a Southern California lake that was nothing like those bodies of water. Throwing big topwaters & spinnerbaits shallow on a lake where smaller finesse baits in deeper water would have been more appropriate. Initially, I thought that the lake I was on just didn't have many fish in it, over time I found that I was just fishing the wrong lures in the wrong places.
I live in Montana, here everything is giant swimbaits and finesse, none of that power fishing activity like down south.
MBB Nate reply :
Buy terminal tackle in bulk because you WILL lose it.... a lot!
AnthonyBarnaoBASS reply :
One thing that i have been taught is to always fish with someone else while fishing. Not only does it keep you occupied, you can always learn something or a new technique. Another thing that i learned is to get to know the employees of your local tackle shop, not only will you meet new people to fish with, they also fish the same lakes and ponds that you do, resulting in a exchange of information.
Bait Runner reply :
As a newbie to bass fishing, I wish someone would have told me sooner that at this stage I shouldn't make every fishing trip about catching as many fish as possible, but about learning something new each time. It's much easier for me to grow as a fisherman with this mindset.
joeblowwwww reply :
I wish I had known earlier that dragging a soft plastic behind the boat at 40mph would catch so many big bass. Can't believe I wasted so much time on dropshots and swimbaits.
bigfruits reply :
On 12/23/2016 at 10:54 PM, joeblowwwww said:I wish I had known earlier that dragging a soft plastic behind the boat at 40mph would catch so many big bass. Can't believe I wasted so much time on dropshots and swimbaits.
wow, you must have a pretty heavy weight on that.
BassWhole! reply :
If you get advise online and on the lake, listen to the lake,
if you get advise on the lake from some guy and from KVD, listen to KVD,
If you get advise from KVD and the fish, listen to the fish.
NCbassraider reply :
Most anglers fish too fast with all baits but especially soft plastics. You can't fish a senko slow enough.
Watch Gary Yamamoto fish. He is the opposite of all the power fishing we see on TV. Wish I had learned to slow it down years earlier.
ww2farmer reply :
About 5 years into my tournament "career" I had a light bulb go off in my head that would have helped a lot had I been told to do so....And that is:
On tournament day............just go fishing, and do what you do.
Leading up to that, I did OK in tournaments, cashing once in while, and rarely winning. Since I said "screw it, I'm just going to fish a tournament like I would fish any other day", I cash more times than not, and win more often.
S. Sass reply :
On 12/22/2016 at 11:41 AM, AnthonyBarnaoBASS said:One thing that i have been taught is to always fish with someone else while fishing. Not only does it keep you occupied, you can always learn something or a new technique. Another thing that i learned is to get to know the employees of your local tackle shop, not only will you meet new people to fish with, they also fish the same lakes and ponds that you do, resulting in a exchange of information.
Heck some fine looking and knowledgeable ladies work at some tackle shops as well. 
I'd be willing to say several here could probably out fish many of the locals.
On 12/23/2016 at 10:54 PM, joeblowwwww said:I wish I had known earlier that dragging a soft plastic behind the boat at 40mph would catch so many big bass. Can't believe I wasted so much time on dropshots and swimbaits.
Awesome 40mph bass fishing. Ill have to research that one a little more before I give that a try. I'm not sure any of the bass in my local lakes are that fast. 
I guess the one thing that I really wish I had done better with was skin protection. I do remember my mom at some point when I was a kid discussing this with me. As I get on up in age it really would have been more proactive in this area. I'm not a nut about it even now but just simply rubbing some sunblock on is important and very helpful.
CTBassin860 reply :
Thats an easy one.NEVER leave without packing toilet paper!
the reel ess reply :
I wish someone had told me to buy a kayak instead of a bassboat about 6 years sooner. I've caught a lot more fish from it and can put it in anywhere.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 9/23/2016 at 9:24 PM, Mike L said:
And finally and probably the most important thing I wish I learned much much earlier, is that the best teacher I ever had is what I learned on my own.
Mike
This right here. Every fancy trick in a magazine isn't useful unless I apply it to my situation, and sometimes the new trend in the magazines or on the TV won't work for my specific circumstances. Sometime you just have to learn a body of water.
lonnie g reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 4:39 PM, AndrewJ said:I wish I understood fishing rods and reels more thoroughly when i started. This would have saved me some money as I have a few fishing rods and reels that are not what I want and I could have avoided buying them by doing some research.
got to start somewhere. but if we do take time to ask a few questions and read. probably benefit from it. in short I agree with andrew
smr913 reply :
I caught a lot more fish this year by doing two things:
1. Exploring new waters. Past years I hit the same couple miles of river wading. This year I started kayaking and finding new stretches from Google Earth.
2. Reading a topo map. This pertains to Lake fishing. Once I sat down and located what I thought would be spawning locations I tried to figure out where they would be heading from there.
Tracker22 reply :
Sometimes, try the unexpected. On my last trip, all the signs said fish deep. Caught a few then during a lull I tied on a top water. Boom! I found them. Suddenly we were getting blowups one after the other. Sometimes you just have to experiment.
Cranks4fun reply :
I wish I had accepted the advice from Bill Dance years ago about plastic worms. He said something like, "If you think you are fishing slow enough, you need to fish just a little bit slower (paraphrased)." While that is not always the case, oftentimes it is. I also wish I would have known to occasionally put my favorite crankbaits and topwaters down, regardless of how fun they were to fish, and to use jigs and weedless soft stuff to go into the heart of nasty cover. I've read that biggest mistake that tournament fisherman make (pros and amateurs) is to ruin their winning chances by getting "stuck" on their favorite methods when circumstances are screaming for change.
bassinhole reply :
On 12/22/2016 at 7:06 PM, Bait Runner said:As a newbie to bass fishing, I wish someone would have told me sooner that at this stage I shouldn't make every fishing trip about catching as many fish as possible, but about learning something new each time. It's much easier for me to grow as a fisherman with this mindset.
That's one of those things each angler really needs to find out on their own. Many never do...
mllrtm79 reply :
On 9/22/2016 at 10:18 AM, soflabasser said:Don't miss the forest for the trees.Enjoy bass fishing and understand that everyone has slow days in fishing. Relax and enjoy the outdoors.
^ this... one of my best days of fishing this past summer started out with 4 bass on in 6 casts, and by 930am I was just taking pictures of trees and docks along the river.
Enjoy time with people you care about, fishing is just waterboarding bait. I'm not nearly the fisherman I was at ten with a broomstick stiff rod and brittle mono (or even a cane pole)
soflabasser reply :
On 1/14/2017 at 3:03 AM, mllrtm79 said:
^ this... one of my best days of fishing this past summer started out with 4 bass on in 6 casts, and by 930am I was just taking pictures of trees and docks along the river.
Enjoy time with people you care about, fishing is just waterboarding bait. I'm not nearly the fisherman I was at ten with a broomstick stiff rod and brittle mono (or even a cane pole)
Thank you. I am very fond of the outdoors and I often make my fishing trips short just to marvel at natures beauty like you do. Love taking pictures of the wildlife around me and spending time with my better half, family, and close friends.
dragger201 reply :
For me it was a gear thing. From childhood thru my first 5 years bass fishing I used spinning reels on fiberglass rods. Man a day of tournament style fishing with my BIL my hands/wrist/arms would be worn plum out. My BIL bought me for my birthday a left hand Shimano Citica and an Abu Garcia graphite rod..........best thing that ever happened to my bass fishing............
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