What's Your Problem? 2024
JT Bagwell reply :
What is the single aspect that you struggle with the most in regards to bass fishing?
Mine would probably be fishing deep, clear water.
MDBowHunter reply :
Getting out of bed at 330 am, that sucks.
scaleface reply :
The heat. I physically cant fish anymore when its hot .
Todd2 reply :
I fish a T rig, Jig, or a C rig about 90% of the time. Those just fit my style. I struggle branching out with new techniques and throwing faster lures.
scaleface reply :
As far as techniques , I dont struggle with anything .
Lund Explorer reply :
The easy answer would be to say something about fishing topwaters in January.
During soft water season, the hardest part is during a mayfly hatch or an alewife spawn.
Oregon Native reply :
Been around long enough that I enjoy all teqniques but in thinking bout things I really don't enjoy people leaving their headlights on when launching in the dark.
scaleface reply :
I struggle getting my new boat trailer'd , it just doesnt go on .
Preytorien reply :
Fishing deep, or a C-rig, which kind of goes along with deep. I'm just not tuned into it well enough to be effective at it
Turkey sandwich reply :
I'm currently working on building patience with slow techniques like drop shooting or fishing wacky Senkos. I'm so used to finding active fish with Crankbaits or spinnerbaits and then picking areas apart with jigs/T-rigs, that I don't think about finessing the less active fish. I need the confidence that when I see a piece of water, the voice in my head says "ok, you should drop shot/senko here".
A-Jay reply :
Not hating the human that invented the Jet Ski ~
A-Jay
Djf3864 reply :
Patience is my biggest issue.
MFBAB reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 7:16 PM, Oregon Native said:Been around long enough that I enjoy all teqniques but in thinking bout things I really don't enjoy people leaving their headlights on when launching in the dark.
That's hilarious. I had an experience early on, it was when I had my first boat so I was still a noob.
We were fishing one evening and ran into a guy who is sort of a local celebrity on the water and had a nice exchange.
FF to the ramp when we were taking out, I was loading my boat and had the lights on, the same guy was backing down the ramp next to me (2 trailer ramp), and he made a comment about the lights that made me feel about 2" tall.
I've never spoken to him since, but I've also never left my truck lights on at the ramp when trailering since either 
My big fishing problem is usually being too stubborn. I try to make them bite my way sometimes, even when I know better.
Abother thing I do a lot that frustrates my fishing partners sometimes is to leave biters to expand on a pattern.
I don't tourney fish, so just fooling around and seeing how far you can take a pattern is a lot of fun to me, but it drives a lot of guys nuts when you tell them you're about to leave a school of mediocre biters to look for something better.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Fishing deep
Gotfishyfingers? reply :
Good question..For me, it's pitching jigs far back under low lying docks. 
wytstang reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 7:49 PM, Djf3864 said:Patience is my biggest issue.
Same here I tend to abandon slower techniques too quick, this killer heat is not making it any easier.
Canyon explorer reply :
Big Boats e.g. Cruisers > 30', Scarabs on big lakes at night.
the reel ess reply :
Finding enough time to go fishing is my biggest obstacle. I try to got to places where I have a lot of confidence-smaller bodies of water. If I were still chasing dinks on public lakes, locating fish in the dog days of summer would be an issue. Never been very good at locating offshore fish. I might fish for 3 hours for one fish.
I'm not very good with finesse techniques either. But I rarely have to fish very clear water.
Jdw2920 reply :
I hate fishing worms bores me to death
Mike L reply :
"Finesse" fishing! Yeah I said it!!
It's juust sooooo freaking sloooowww.
I have to constantly yell at myself to let the #$@# wacky rigged worm fall and keep falling and falling....
Pinch myself to keep the #$@# shaky rigged worm on the bottom and shake, shake and shake again....Then move it a little and Shake Again!!!
And this from a guy who fish's shallow water 90% of the time.
I do it, successful at it sometimes, but dang I hate doin it...
Mike
Choporoz reply :
I don't have one single struggle...I have about ten all tied for first...lol
-Electronics
-LMB suspended deep, tight against steep ledges
-Sticking too long with a lure or presentation that isn't producing
-Boat positioning
-Managing a vertical fall on (semi) slack line while maintaining feel and good view of line
-Keeping my head in the game when confidence is waning
...that's off the top of my head....I'll think of a bunch more right after I hit 'post'
ww2farmer reply :
Not getting the "kicker fish" in tournaments. The, literally, 20 or so money finishes that I have the last 2-3 years, that were not wins, have come down to one cull.
Dye99 reply :
I fish too much and spend to much money on it!
Choporoz reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 10:08 PM, Dye99 said:I fish too much
I'll trade for your 'problems'
stkbassn reply :
My problem is no boat to fish out of. It's been so hard on me not having one and having to rely on friends with boats who never seem to have the time to get out there. Ironic. Makes me pretty miserable a lot of the time but I've been saving. The bait monkey does not want me to save money. I am not in a position to get a loan with my so-so credit rating at the moment. Sucks.
The other problem I have is I don't(didn't) really understand my electronics at all and still don't really when me and my buddy go. I have a problem imagining or seeing in my mind what is below me...I always feel like I'm throwing into the abyss. I know if I could figure out a few simple things or learn to "see" the water differently I would improve. There are other areas I could improve on too....too many to list probably.
Ratherbfishing reply :
A general malaise toward fishing and life in general.
Catt reply :
This year! Not going enough!
I went yesterday for the first time in a month
I do take my grandson 3-4 days a week but I sit back & watch him from an elevated point.
Mike L reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 9:59 PM, ww2farmer said:Not getting the "kicker fish" in tournaments. The, literally, 20 or so money finishes that I have the last 2-3 years, that were not wins, have come down to one cull.
Totally agree!!
I respectfully change my answer! 
Mike
gardnerjigman reply :
fishing deep cranks.
AdamsEye reply :
Besides not getting enough fishing time, and having a Monetary limit, well...
If I had more money and time I would have the ability to find more problems lol!
d-camarena reply :
Fishing deep for me
NathanW reply :
Preparation!!
Something that I used to do but don't anymore. I used to check and trend the weather, study map, check all my line for nicks, organize tackle, plan how I am going to fish certain areas, rig up not for how I wanted to fish but for how weather trends, water trends, and forecasts say I should be fishing.
Its probably a factor of having young children at home combined with relying way to heavily on my on the water abilities.
zachb34 reply :
Consistency I get on some great streaks where I have them figured out exactly. At some times I can't figure them out for the life of me, while I see others are still catching and even doing really well. I never have an in between period it's always great or bad fishing.
Senko lover reply :
My problem is that there are techniques I still haven't tried and classic lures I still haven't caught a fish on.
Take a frog, for example, even though I've been throwing one since April.
But the nice thing is, I have a solution: get right back out there and try it!
Jon G reply :
I'm to stubborn to change tactics.
Master Bait'r reply :
Going deep on a hot day. I can do it no problem when it's nice out but once it gets really hot my patience wears thin much faster.
Nice_Bass reply :
I don't live on the water with my boat on a lift and going to work/not enough 10k acre or bigger lakes around that would require a short drive.
Mainebass1984 reply :
Fishing big lakes with a small 10 ft bass raider and a 55 lb thrust trolling motor... Makes it a bit tough to fish bigger lakes like Champlain. Wind and waves an be pretty harsh at times.
tomustang reply :
Waking up early.
Bankbeater reply :
Pitching and flipping. I usually cast first, and then realize that it would have been better to pitch or flip the bait into the spot.
WilliamMcCabe reply :
Catching em.
lo n slo reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 7:56 PM, MFBAB said:My big fishing problem is usually being too stubborn. I try to make them bite my way sometimes, even when I know better.
Preach on brother!
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
Can't pick one. It would be a tie for fishing deep or fishing slow. I can't seem to figure out how to catch them deep even after I find them with the fish finder. Also, when the tie is slow like this week where it is 90 all week, I work my baits faster than I should. I just like to turn and burn.
lmbfisherman reply :
Deep water for me.
TwoCan reply :
Lately, it's been fishing with somebody new. My buddy and I have always fished, not always together but we would always exchange stories. He just got a new bass boat and he is all about going out all the time, which I have to say isn't a bad thing. What I struggle with is the frustration that he has always been a bank fisherman so he still is only fishing in 3-5 feet of water even if he is in the boat. It's July, the water temps are 85+ degrees, THEY AINT HERE
Also, he tends to see a spot and say "that looks like a good spot for bass" instead of listening to me talk about "patterns", "seasons", "baitfish". Not trying to be a know it all. It's just when you go out 2 weeks in a row, nobody is listening and you're not catching anything. It gets old quick!
KyBassin reply :
On 7/30/2015 at 7:22 AM, TwoCan said:Lately, it's been fishing with somebody new. My buddy and I have always fished, not always together but we would always exchange stories. He just got a new bass boat and he is all about going out all the time, which I have to say isn't a bad thing. What I struggle with is the frustration that he has always been a bank fisherman so he still is only fishing in 3-5 feet of water even if he is in the boat. It's July, the water temps are 85+ degrees, THEY AINT HERE
Also, he tends to see a spot and say "that looks like a good spot for bass" instead of listening to me talk about "patterns", "seasons", "baitfish". Not trying to be a know it all. It's just when you go out 2 weeks in a row, nobody is listening and you're not catching anything. It gets old quick!
so true.. and i hate when they want to burn the trolling motor right through a spot where you could almost anchor and pick it apart instead of making 3 casts and being in another spot.
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
This may seem surprising, but my main weakness is fishing for shallow largemouth. I'm just plain bad at it. I am much more comfortable with deep smallies.
clh121787 reply :
Having 6-9 rods rigged up all with different variations of T-rigs C-rigs weightless worm/fluke and Jigs. And that's it all the time.
Big Bait Fishing reply :
having patience with lipped crankbaits , i just don't have confidence in them anymore . i have not a drop of confidence in spinnerbaits or heavy carolina rigs .....
kcdinkerz reply :
Amount of time I can fish lol, to dang busy
JT Bagwell reply :
When I posted the question I was thinking about specific techniques and things of that nature.
But I have to say, some of the answers so far are pretty funny.
I posted this same question on my social media and got some interesting responses there too.
It just kind of makes me think about how to get better and help other people get better.
Catch and Grease reply :
Fishing slow, patience, sometimes cofidence... I say confidence because some days I constantly wonder if I'm doing the best thing and sometimes I get caught up in running back and forth across the lake trying different things when I should just slow down and stick to one tatic...
webertime reply :
Senkos... I just hate to fish them, I will do nearly anything else before I finally submit.
"Trying" new things in a tournament is also something I should avoid... "Hmmm Double Carolina Rig seems reasonable to do now..."
Slefler reply :
Skipping
hatrix reply :
Not have enough money to just buy anything I want.On 7/29/2015 at 6:45 PM, JT Bagwell said:What is the single aspect that you struggle with the most in regards to bass fishing?
Mine would probably be fishing deep, clear water.
Lund Explorer reply :
On 7/31/2015 at 1:39 AM, JT Bagwell said:When I posted the question I was thinking about specific techniques and things of that nature.
But I have to say, some of the answers so far are pretty funny.
I posted this same question on my social media and got some interesting responses there too.
It just kind of makes me think about how to get better and help other people get better.
When I first saw this thread JT, I was sure you were going to say that your local Little League had started "Fall Ball"! 
Tim Kelly reply :
Living 3000 miles from the nearest bass is a problem for me!
bassr95 reply :
I'm in college right now, and money is definitely an issue. For example, I would love to get into swimbaits, but I can't justify the $300+ to buy a swimbait specific setup and then spend anywhere from $50 - $200 per lure. Right now I've got a Huddleston 68 and a mattlures ultimate gill, and that is all the swimbaits I can afford for a while.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
Patience
Primus reply :
Not getting ticked off when idiotic lake associations turn very good fishing lakes into swimming pool by years overly aggressive weed spraying .
scaleface reply :
On 7/30/2015 at 9:45 AM, OntarioFishingGuy said:This may seem surprising, but my main weakness is fishing for shallow largemouth. I'm just plain bad at it. I am much more comfortable with deep smallies.
Fishing shallow largemouths is difficult when everyone else is doing it too. I have got a lot better at it in the past five years. I simply fish differently than everyone else .
EmersonFish reply :
My biggest weakness is BOAT CONTROL, the most underrated skill in fishing, and one I struggle with. So much of my bass fishing up until now has been with my dad who co-owns a boat with me and he's the boss, so he runs the boat most of the time. It's only been lately since his health has been as issue that I've had more time up front, and I'm finding that it takes time for concentrating on precise techniques, and simultaneously maneuvering the boat to become second nature.
Using electronics to the fullest of their capabilities is another weakness of mine.
I feel as far as applying "techniques" go, once I locate the areas I'm looking for, is my strength. Perhaps an advantage of being in the back more and focusing solely on those types of things.
gardnerjigman reply :
On 8/4/2015 at 10:21 PM, EmersonFish said:My biggest weakness is BOAT CONTROL, the most underrated skill in fishing, and one I struggle with. So much of my bass fishing up until now has been with my dad who co-owns a boat with me and he's the boss, so he runs the boat most of the time. It's only been lately since his health has been as issue that I've had more time up front, and I'm finding that it takes time for concentrating on precise techniques, and simultaneously maneuvering the boat to become second nature.
Using electronics to the fullest of their capabilities is another weakness of mine.
I feel as far as applying "techniques" go, once I locate the areas I'm looking for, is my strength. Perhaps an advantage of being in the back more and focusing solely on those types of things.
Don't worry. With more time up front soon that trolling motor will be another appendage operated with muscle memory.
bassfreek152 reply :
The things I have trouble with are fishing deep crankbaits, and I'm just starting to learn how to effedtively fish Texas Rigs. Time will tell if I can be successful with it! I'll tell you one thing though, the videos here on bass resource have really helped me turn what were once weaknesses into what are now strengths. Dropshotting for instance
Chris S reply :
On 7/30/2015 at 1:31 AM, Senko lover said:My problem is that there are techniques I still haven't tried and classic lures I still haven't caught a fish on.
Take a frog, for example, even though I've been throwing one since April.
But the nice thing is, I have a solution: get right back out there and try it!
Same color each time? If yes switch it out
Time is my issue, I have a boat and lots of equipment its just getting out to fish!
DevinFishing29 reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 8:25 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Fishing deep
X2
Rhino68W reply :
Finding the fish.
wnspain reply :
Distance, as in travel. My region went through 5 year severe drought and the fishing sucks unless you go 50 miles east.
blckshirt98 reply :
Detecting bites on the fall. I hear pros and other people saying that 90% of the time a fish will bite a jig/plastic/creature on the fall. My detection rate is like 0%.
scaleface reply :
On 8/5/2015 at 4:10 AM, blckshirt98 said:Detecting bites on the fall. I hear pros and other people saying that 90% of the time a fish will bite a jig/plastic/creature on the fall. My detection rate is like 0%.
Use a Zoom Lizard . Then if you have a question as to whether or not had a bite , you can examine the bait for teeth marks. If a bass hit it , then will leave teeth marks that are easily seen on the smooth shiny surface of a Zoom Lizard and other such baits. You should start learning how a bite feels once you determine you had one .
CFS reply :
I hate ragweed pollen! That, along with the heat, makes me stay indoors a lot.
Jake the Cake reply :
I feel like I have no clue how to fish deeper than 20 feet and my results prove it.
EmersonFish reply :
You are right. I know it's just a time on the motor thing, and to be fair, if most people saw me out fishing, they would have no idea I was having a problem at all. I'm not out there doing doughnuts and getting pushed into the bank. It's just a little internal thing where I have to give a smidge too much thought to what the muscles in my lower leg are doing at times, which takes away from my concentration.On 8/4/2015 at 10:30 PM, gardnerjigman said:Don't worry. With more time up front soon that trolling motor will be another appendage operated with muscle memory.
kadas reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 7:39 PM, A-Jay said:Not hating the human that invented the Jet Ski ~
A-Jay
Love this--could not agree more!!! 
quanjig reply :
Hind sight, I get off the water thinking I shoulda, coulda, woulda waaaayyyy too much!!
Decision making on the water at times, I think would improve my results. Don't get me wrong, I've gotten much better, just wish it was more second nature at times!!!
bigbill reply :
I did struggle with bass fishing. I'm fishing from shore. My son's helped me figure out the bottom structure and layout by drilling holes when the ice was on. Then my whole world of bass fishing opened up with the hummingbird portable cast out fish finder. I use it to learn the bottom structure this tells me what depth, where the flats, deep holes, droppoffs, transition points are. I don't need to find fish. I'm fishing small bodies of water with ancient man made dams that were used for water power many centuries ago. No shore fisherman should be without this portable fish finder. Now it's up to me to fish it I have the knowledge. It's skill in fishing not luck.
Tip, we can use any reel and rod but your weakest link is your line. We need to use a quality line. I landed a pb#10 on Excalibur silver thread 8lb test copolymer line. Make sure your drag is set correctly at all times.
Change your knot often. After landing a larger bass remember to retie.
No action, with any lure slow your speed down. Make it look like an easy meal. It works with spinnerbaits, inline spinners, crankbaits depending on the water conditions. In stained water slow down.
fishblitzer reply :
My biggest problem is not having a boat, so I can't spend as much time on the water as I would like.
Robeng reply :
Having enough free time to fish.
Silas reply :
I seem to be enjoying the thrill of buying nicer equipment (on a deal of course) perhaps even more than fishing with it.
I actually now have rods and reels I HAVENT FISHED WITH YET!
Maybe I'm just getting old?
LuckyGia reply :
Slowing down. My mind runs a million miles an hour. I have to constantly remind myself to slow down.
masterbass reply :
I struggle with fishing deep. Especially deep cranking.
bstephenson1225 reply :
Trying new techniques or baits that I have no confidence in. Been trying to force myself to only taking a few things to the water to learn. If I take everything I struggle to keep trying those new low confidence lures or techniques.
StratDude reply :
Being patient with crankbaits.. If I'm not getting bit, I want to switch to something else too soon rather than keep casting cranks..
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 7/29/2015 at 7:39 PM, A-Jay said:Not hating the human that invented the Jet Ski ~
A-Jay
I hear that. And I'm the type, give it gas and make it go- I'm there. But those things and fishing just don't play well with each other.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/13/2015 at 11:52 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:I hear that. And I'm the type, give it gas and make it go- I'm there. But those things and fishing just don't play well with each other.
Perhaps if they were "Silent", maybe battery operated, then might feel less hatred.
But honestly, that's a pretty weak "might"
A-Jay
badhatharry reply :
Concentration on a slow fishing day.
Jar11591 reply :
fishing pressure
fishing pressure
fishing pressure
fishing. pressure.
Kentuckysteve reply :
Fishing deep!
Catch 22 reply :
Getting a decent sleep in before any morning fishing trip.I wake up every 30/40 minutes all nite long. Ya think after
70 yrs I could get over that.
SirSnookalot reply :
Under my normal conditions, I get about midnight do my homework and try to get to my spot about an hour before daybreak. Being 70 myself,the older I get the earlier I rise.
MasonV reply :
Fishing VERY slowwww. Fishing when the water temps hit the upper 80s. Getting the most out of my electronics.
MrBigFishSC reply :
Making myself fish a jig. The technique is not so different than other bottom contact baits but I never seem to be able to fish one. I guess I'll have to go out with nothing else and throw my keys in the water so I can't leave.
bigbill reply :
On 8/6/2015 at 12:11 AM, fishblitzer said:My biggest problem is not having a boat, so I can't spend as much time on the water as I would like.
U don't need a boat for success. Read my posts on being stealthy, get out there at 4am. The bass are close to shore. I do it then u can do it too. Once you poke a big one were the one who is hooked.
bigbill reply :
On 8/17/2015 at 3:41 AM, MrBigFishSC said:Making myself fish a jig. The technique is not so different than other bottom contact baits but I never seem to be able to fish one. I guess I'll have to go out with nothing else and throw my keys in the water so I can't leave.
Look for Rocky points, sand bars, transition areas. Fish on the back side of the current. The bass are lined up waiting for the current to push some bait by.
When fan casting don't make the casts close together. Skip fan cast. Make your casts far from each other.
My first jig bass I was hopping a green pumpkin football jig with a uncle Josh pork trailer straight up a point. I used a inline spinner and fan casted across the point. There were bass from shallow to deep.
It's about finding the structure that's were the hot spots are.
squirtbait reply :
fishing slow, i'm good at it but hate it. I love reaction strikes and like to cover a lot of water fast. if I go through an area and catch a few I will turn around and go back through it and fish it really slow. i just don't like waiting for a bite. lol BH
Kentuckysteve reply :
Fishing deep water.Fishing with crankbaits is another problem for me.I do pretty good with the lipless cranks but never had much luck with other crankbaits.I just need to fish them more!
mnbassman23 reply :
Keeping my mouth shut when other anglers knowingly cut me off. Walleye guys are usually the worse. They pull up within 20 yards and act like it's no big deal. I usually fire up the big motor and let them know how I feel about it. Jet skiers are a close second, followed by my struggles to fish deep and finesse baits.
SirSnookalot reply :
When it comes to fishing, I have no problems. I will always catch fish, if not today then tomorrow. Big or small fish just being out there is euphoria(the name of my Tripp 30 sailboat). Have fun, without pressuring yourself is the key to eliminate problems, I personally don't give a hoot about the next great lure, technique or rods and reels, I just go fishing, like golf you play the ball where it lies.
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