How is fishing such a big sport? 2024
Bailey. K Bassin reply :
I just have a question about the tournament side of fishing. How do people do so good if fishing is all random. Are they just lucky people?
IndianaFinesse reply :
Luck has very little to do with fishing. The reason the pros are so successful is because of skill, focus, knowledge of the basses seasonal movements and basses habits in general, a lot of on the water experience, and a little bit of luck. Fishing is not all random.
A-Jay reply :
Hello & Welcome to Bass Resource ~
Interesting first post. Are we being serious here or is this more of a tongue & cheek thing ?
Either way, like many ventures in life, there is always a certain amount of "Luck" involved; both Good & Bad.
Funny thing is, seems the harder I work, the Luckier I get.
btw - I'm not a big believer in Bad Luck - Life happens & we live it best we can.
A-Jay
MattMurr reply :
Not all random..
Equipment plays a role, Hard work plays a bigger role
Bluebasser86 reply :
I think it was @Dwight Hottle
that used to have this signature, "The harder I work, the luckier I get".
As with anything, there is a certain amount of luck involved that can't be quantified since we have no idea what's going on in that tiny fish brain.
Fishing is big because it doesn't matter what you look like, what walk of life you come from, age, race, gender, ect, everyone can get their shot if they're willing to put in the work.
Nitrofreak reply :
It's not really random in a sense, fish do roam, especially in the summer months but that doesn't mean that it's as you suspect.
Look at it differently, each body of water is different, each has their own key to success, in essence each requires a lot of work to have success, some anglers will figure things out seemingly almost effortlessly while others may struggle on their first trip out, a lot of this comes from experience or as the other hand would have it, the lack thereof.
The experienced angler can look at places on a map and use his or her past experiences on similar bodies of water to find potentially good spots, they will take that knowledge out on the water and begin to make adjustments as soon as the boat is moving and already start to formulate a plan during their pre-fishing times, they will record many different aspects of the day, what holds the most value, what holds the least value, what times are better for the spots they find, what times are not, which spots are primary, secondary, and which baits are best suited for each and then of course there is always a plan B or even a plan C and that's just the beginning or tip of the iceberg but you get the idea.
I don't think many will tell you that luck has anything to do with it, it does however have an awful lot to do with hard work and how well you prepare yourself for the challenges of tournament fishing, after that, it's all up to Mr. Bass and his or her mood for the day.
A-Jay reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 9:11 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I think it was @Dwight Hottle
that used to have this signature, "The harder I work, the luckier I get".
As with anything, there is a certain amount of luck involved that can't be quantified since we have no idea what's going on in that tiny fish brain.
Fishing is big because it doesn't matter what you look like, what walk of life you come from, age, race, gender, ect, everyone can get their shot if they're willing to put in the work.
~ That would be me.
A-Jay
Ohio Yakker reply :
I think most of the pro's success comes from experience and dedication. Most of them fish 300+ days a year and have been doing so for many years. They have learned what techniques work in certain situations, and can make a decision on what lure/presentation to use quickly. There are no guarantees in fishing, since you are trying to get a living creature to bite a hook, so yes some luck is probably involved.
RichF reply :
I think luck has a lot to do with winning a tournament. I've seen guys that do nothing but bank beat with a senko win every now and again but finish at or near the bottom most other times. Having consistently high finishes in multiple events is a much different story. You need the skills everyone has mentioned to consistently do well.
As for why it's so popular...I couldn't tell you. I often ask myself what's so intriguing about catching fish with a "stick and string" just to throw them back in the drink. It's my favorite thing in the world and I can't even explain why it gives me such enjoyment. Catching bass is just an awesome feeling. Catching them during a tournament dials it up to a whole different level.
K_Mac reply :
Why is it great sports teams are always lucky? Top professional poker players? Tournament anglers who consistently finish at or near the top? The reason is the same for all: Ability, desire, and commitment.
Catching fish consistantly is not random. Yes, chance plays a part...a small one.
flyfisher reply :
No such thing as luck Luck is where preparation meets opportunity and in fishing, that can't be more true.
senile1 reply :
When I am catching fish and doing well it is all a result of my extensive skills. When I have a bad day on the water, that is due to bad luck. 
Chance plays a part obviously, but like anything the more you learn and the more skill you acquire the better you are able to determine where fish are and how to trigger them to bite. A-Jay's signature is a perfect encapsulation of this axiom.
everythingthatswims reply :
"How can you be 'good' at fishing? Isn't it all luck?"
I've stopped trying to explain it to people. The ones who would understand are the ones who already have it as bad as I do and don't need an explanation!
SDoolittle reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 11:00 PM, everythingthatswims said:"How can you be 'good' at fishing? Isn't it all luck?"
I've stopped trying to explain it to people. The ones who would understand are the ones who already have it as bad as I do and don't need an explanation!
I prefer to take a few minutes to explain to them some of the many variables that go into successful fishing. Most of the non-fishing people I run into think of fishing as something done in a lawn chair with a cooler of beer close at hand. They're amazed to learn how much time, energy, and money we tend to invest in our sport. Educating the masses is key to preserving the future of fishing.
BassWhole! reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:17 PM, Bailey said:I just have a question about the tournament side of fishing. How do people do so good if fishing is all random. Are they just lucky people?
There is nothing random about fishing. As far as tournaments go, being a good competitor, ie "winner" is not related to the sport or event, doesn't matter if its football, fishing, twidly dinks or anything else.
blckshirt98 reply :
I think there's a lot of luck involved when you're looking at the majority of anglers at club or novice one-day tournaments, but at the Elite or FLW level luck plays a much smaller role in an angler's success over the course of a season. All the high level pros know bass behavior, movement, and feeding patterns like the back of their hand, but also set themselves apart by the number of techniques they excel at, and, how quickly they can change or adapt to find the right pattern to trigger a bite. Any club or novice angler can get lucky and pull in a big bag in a single day tournament to win, but the pros can do this more CONSISTENTLY tournament after tournament, 2-4 days in a row, under any change in conditions. Most anglers might get on a hot bite one day but will get skunked or only catch 2-3 fish the next day if the conditions do a 180 degree turn and the bite shuts down. The pros will find the right pattern and still pull in those 5 fish limits of 15+ pounds no matter what changes, any day of the year. Anyone can take a boat out and have a great day and pull in a great bag when the fish are spawning, but very few can take a boat out for 4 straight days and pull in 4 solid bags in 95 degree heat in the dead of summer or in 30 mph winds.
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 11:00 PM, everythingthatswims said:"How can you be 'good' at fishing? Isn't it all luck?"
I've stopped trying to explain it to people. The ones who would understand are the ones who already have it as bad as I do and don't need an explanation!
On 4/27/2016 at 11:17 PM, S. Doolittle said:I prefer to take a few minutes to explain to them some of the many variables that go into successful fishing. Most of the non-fishing people I run into think of fishing as something done in a lawn chair with a cooler of beer close at hand. They're amazed to learn how much time, energy, and money we tend to invest in our sport. Educating the masses is key to preserving the future of fishing.
This is the number one misconception about fishing that I have noticed. The majority of non-fisherman that I talk to think that fishing is pure luck and something that is done out of a chair with worms under a softball sized bobber while drinking beer.
frogflogger reply :
We've been fishing since before recorded history - it is in some of our genetic history - some of us have to fish - that is why there are so many fishermen - it's a very old need.
Those that study fishing and spend time on the water - usually do better than those who trust to luck.
stkbassn reply :
I think it resonates with a large portion of us because of some of the intangible things about it. For me it was my first experiences with my Grandfather..early, rainy mornings going trout fishing...I can still recall the dampness and the smell of the creek..the fish...the food we ate...all of those things stuck with me and became a part of my love for it...and then of course the fish ! So it was experiences as a whole that started it for me...then came my first bass, again, I remember it like yesterday, the pond , the geese, the crap from the geese all over the ground.. and the smells..the sounds...the rush of that first bass eating my plastic worm, the fight....the smell of those Mr Twisters...all of it. So if we are being a bit romantic and nostalgic we can probably trace a lot of the love for it all the way back to some of our first experiences...some love it, some don't but the numbers who do are vast and are at all different levels of angling... I am so thankful for those experiences and every one since. I treasure every trip. Some people will never understand and in a way I feel sorry for them but they don't know or care what they're missing....there's something inside of all of us anglers that can't be explained, it just is.
scaleface reply :
Because bass lures are just so cool .
I can remember as a kid and never have bass fished before , looking at the bass lures at the stores . Oh how I wanted some of those . I told dad that I wanted some bass lures for Christmas . So that Christmas i recieved a Lazy Ike , Flatfish , Jitterbug , Johnson Silver Minnow , Burke Flex Plug and many others I cant remember . The only one still have is the Burke Flex plug .
Bailey. K Bassin reply :
Hey thank guy. This was actually for one of my friends who believe that fishing is a game of chance. I actually fish many tournaments and know what it takes. I figured all you guy would teach him to bite his toung next time.
-Thanks everyone
YoungPlug reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 8:17 PM, Bailey said:I just have a question about the tournament side of fishing. How do people do so good if fishing is all random. Are they just lucky people?
Mostly skill but like every sport luck is involved. Bass fishing way more than say a riverside cat fishing tournament but either way,
soflabasser reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 10:05 PM, senile1 said:When I am catching fish and doing well it is all a result of my extensive skills. When I have a bad day on the water, that is due to bad luck.
Chance plays a part obviously, but like anything the more you learn and the more skill you acquire the better you are able to determine where fish are and how to trigger them to bite. A-Jay's signature is a perfect encapsulation of this axiom.
I agree with you 100%.
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 11:25 PM, IndianaFinesse said:
This is the number one misconception about fishing that I have noticed. The majority of non-fisherman that I talk to think that fishing is pure luck and something that is done out of a chair with worms under a softball sized bobber while drinking beer.
Why can't it be that too? Nothing wrong with just plopping a bobber and worm on hook out there while sitting back downing some beers.
avidone1 reply :
On 4/30/2016 at 12:09 AM, Hawkeye21 said:Why can't it be that too? Nothing wrong with just plopping a bobber and worm on hook out there while sitting back downing some beers.
Now yer talkin'
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 4/30/2016 at 12:23 AM, avidone1 said:Now yer talkin'
Some of my favorite fishing is going on the Mississippi and fishing the wing dams with just a heavy sinker with a worm on a hook. Catching fish isn't really luck but what species you catch is pretty lucky. It's a crap shoot which is what makes it so much fun.
Just let your pole sit there and wait for a bite while you sit back and drink some beer and snack with friends. We catch anything from walleye, large mouth bass, small mouth bass, blue gills, sheepshead, moon eye, dogfish, catfish, red horse, carp and even sturgeon.
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 4/30/2016 at 12:09 AM, Hawkeye21 said:Why can't it be that too? Nothing wrong with just plopping a bobber and worm on hook out there while sitting back downing some beers.
Nothing wrong with it, but most people think that's what everybody does and that it's what fishing always is.
Last_Cast reply :
On 4/30/2016 at 12:51 AM, IndianaFinesse said:Nothing wrong with it, but most people think that's what everybody does and that it's what fishing always is.
Once in a while when I'm lazy I'll do it.
It's my girlfriend's favorite technique...Just saying.
"hamma" reply :
to answer the original question,..I believe that it comes down to the love of the sport,.The top anglers that consistently are on top have that love of the sport that brings them to a different level, they excel due to the desire to give the day on the water their all, combined with the skills, abilities, and experience such a desire harbors. Does luck play a part? Only to a point, there maybe some luck involved within every cast, but without the desire?, and the skills needed to follow through correctly within that cast, consistent success just wont be there. And what gives these pro's that exccelerated "love" for the sport. I think its the challenge, the ability, and opportunity to "fool" our quarry in that quarries world. To enter their world and overcome the challenges put forth to either, conquer or fail, raises the adrenaline level in any angler whether they realize it or not,..If you were ask any tourney pro angler why he fishes,, its not foronly the money, its not for only the competition, its for the hunt of it all. Competition and elevated success may play some part.,... Some may have trouble finding the correct terminology, but im sure it will come down to the same thing. Love of the sport
greentrout reply :
I have really enjoyed watching Major League Fishing. The word I hear often is pattern. They are always looking for that. The one who finds it usually wins the deal. My .02 cents.
Bailey. K Bassin reply :
On 4/30/2016 at 12:09 AM, Hawkeye21 said:Why can't it be that too? Nothing wrong with just plopping a bobber and worm on hook out there while sitting back downing some beers.
Ya i agree there is nothing wrong with that at all. The only thing that rattles me is how little people out there now what tournament anglers go through, and how much time we put in just for people to call it luck and not notice the skill and training that actually goes into it.
lo n slo reply :
i fish, therefore i am. i've fished on days when i could'nt buy a strike. i've fished on days when i could do no wrong. fishing is like life itself, good days and not so good days. those that excell, are driven, talented, smart, they have the "it" factor (possibly gill plates and lateral lines too). others, well, not so much i guess. i fish because i love it. some would say it is my addiction. i will tell you it is my passion.
Sam reply :
Bailey, let me tell you a funny story.
Fishing on Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) out of Eastland Creek a number of years ago in a club tournament, the weather turned on us and the white caps and heavy waves started to appear in the afternoon.
One of the guys in the club had no fish for the day and with a 4 PM weigh-in time he knew his goose was cooked as it was 2:30, rough water, and it was going to take him about 45 minutes to an hour to fight the water back to the weigh-in creek.
He pulled into a cove to rest and decided to try his "luck." And did it pay off.
He landed his five fish on five casts (as he told us) and ran away with the win with over 16 pounds.
Had the weather been nice he 1) would have never gone into that little cove and 2) the bass probably would not have been in the cove as they got out of the rough water.
So luck can have something to do with successful bass fishing (like the time I landed one waiting to trailer the boat at the Hopewell City ramp on the Appomattox River) but for the most part, it is time on the water and the understanding of all of the elements that you have to take into consideration to find the bass and entice them to bite some sort of silly looking bait you are throwing.
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 5/2/2016 at 12:16 AM, Bailey. K Bassin said:Ya i agree there is nothing wrong with that at all. The only thing that rattles me is how little people out there now what tournament anglers go through, and how much time we put in just for people to call it luck and not notice the skill and training that actually goes into it.
I fished in my first fishing tourney yesterday and I have a whole new respect for it. It's a ton of work and I was whooped by the time I got home. It's a full day of work. The fishing is really the easy part although can be the most frustrating.
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