Are You Ok Were You Are?

[Squirmin Wormin]

This doesn't apply to those starting out ,but do you see yourself as the angler and skills you have and aquired since we all started fishing as good as you need them or need improvement ? now this scale is what i have made up tackle ,techniques,bait etc.. 1-3 average fishing and 4-7 above average and 8-10 advanced fishing , so i see me on this scale as a 5 1/2 since i haven't used all techniques or lure's either .

so where do you fit on this scale? and what needs any improvement if you need any improvement.

[that possum]

There's always room for improvement. Like pudding.

I like to aim low so I don't disappoint, so I'll put myself at a 6.5. But there's some days I feel like a 3.

My biggest weakness is not experimenting with other techniques as often as I should.

[Bluebasser86]

If I ever get comfortable where I'm at I'd probably quit fishing. Part of what I love so much about this sport is there is always something new to be learned. 

[Josh Smith]

I'm OK where I'm at.  I'm always learning and experimenting and asking "why?"

 

It used to be that catching bass was a huge thrill for me and adrenaline would make my body do things it didn't want to do.  Now I enjoy it just as much, but it's a lot more mellow.

 

I can go out and catch two bass and be as happy as if I'd caught 10.  This comes from working on my own reels and such these days, not just polishing them as I've always done, but rather taking an active interest in making them perfect.  Too, pitting myself against the bass is the challenge now.  Losing to a crafty bass can be as exciting as winning.

 

Josh

[Catt]

Me! I'm Happy Happy Happy!

[Catch and Grease]

I'm happy where I am, but I'm always happier when I improve/learn something new!

[WIGuide]

I'm ok with where I am but I have a constant drive to get better and better. 

[BassinLou]

I have tons of room for improvement. I have been bass fishing exclusively for 25yrs, and I can honestly say I am no where near the top of my game. That's what keeps me motivated. Every outing is different from the last. The situations and variables change all the time. I absolutely love this game between me and the green fish. Sometimes I win, and sometimes they win. 

[A-Jay]

Interesting question.

 There are many portions of this "hobby" that I would certainly benefit from improving on.

The short list would include:

Learning more about the local bass populations situational & seasonal movements. 

Knowing more about what the bass here eat, specifically where & when would be good.

My deep cranking skills are only basic at best.  I'm betting that there are some important nuances of that technique that I don't know or am brushing over which is reducing my success.

I need improve my ability to skip a bait into & under cover (dock & trees).

My swim bait experience (the 2 ounce plus jobs) is minimal and something else I should step up.

As for the Umbrella (A-Rig) deal, though I have several, I'm a total Noob. 

I love to fly fish for bass but my fly casting skills could use some Big Time work; especially with larger flies.

Despite these short comings (and I'm betting there are several more I just don't know about), some how I've managed to do OK.

 

So I'm not sure where that puts me on any scale.

Either way, with the exception of some very special personal relationships, there's nothing else on this planet I enjoy more.

 

A-Jay

 

[Mainebass1984]

I am never satisfied after a day on the water. I think there is always room for improvement and new techniques to learn. Losing big fish hurts.  I do not know where I rank on your rating system. I have fish for bass 64 times this year. A total of 1122 bass, 20.7 bass on average, 38 bass over 5 lbs so far. I wont be satisfied until I catch a 10 lb bass from New England. I am sure even then I will try for a bigger one.

[Skeeter Dan]

I'm a 1-3 my skill of finding bass are terrible. My casting skills aren't to good either. The only bait I seem to be good with is T-rigged worms and spinner baits. I try alot more but its a no go for now. No matter what I still enjoy being on the water. A bad day of fishing is still a good day on the water.

[BrianinMD]

The day I am happy with where I am at is the day I quit.....

[rabidsquirrel]

The title of this thread had me utterly confused...  

[RMcDuffee726]

I'm comfortable where I am right now in my fishing, but I want to learn more.  Everything becomes boring if nothing changes or progresses.  All of us are just lucky enough that we fell in love with an activity that you literally can't know everything about.  Always learning something new everyday.  It is a blessing.

[Fishes in trees]

Do you mean "where" instead of "were"?  I sure hope so.  Anyway, I think, like many guys, that I do ok, but my skills could get better.  I thought I was pretty good at pitching,  until I went down to Lake of the Ozarks and was reminded what a pitching nightmare those thousands of docks and tied up boats and dock cables represented.  I hit where I was aiming maybe 10% of the time.  I could sure get better at pitching and dock fishing in general.  Question - How do you tell if the owner of one of those 40' or so cruisers is home?

 

Answer - The second the you bounce a jig off the hull of his boat, he will come out and tell you all about it.

If you bounce a jig off the hull of one of those boats and no one comes out to rag at you, they probably aren't home.

[RoLo]

Nothing that I've accomplished in the past has diminished my desire to do better in the future.
'No', I am not okay where I'm at, and all doors to improvement remain wide open.

 

Roger

[K_Mac]

Nothing that I've accomplished in the past has diminished my desire to do better in the future.

'No', I am not okay where I'm at, and all doors to improvement remain wide open.

Roger

That's a great answer Roger. I completely agree.

[geo g]

I am ok where I am.  I have the everglades with at least 10 different ramp sites and excellant winter fishing.  Lake Okeechobee's southern bank is 40 minutes from my driveway, and I have at least 10 twenty acre size lakes within 10 minutes of my house, with manicured bank fishing, quality fish, and unlimitted access.  I fish these almost every afternoon.

 

I do like to try different types of plastics, and oouldopen a store with all the plastics I have left over.  

[ColdSVT]

I knew i was an 8 or so until i fished with two time classic qualifying pro...he made me feel and look like a 3 lol

I learned so much from him over the few months that i got to fish with him!

Id put myself in the 6.5-7 range right now as i still have much more to learn

[*Hootie]

I'm happy where I am....RETIRED!!!

Hootie

[tomustang]

I'm happy I'm still able to just fish

[tatertester]

Agreed tomustang!

[everythingthatswims]

When bass are so afraid of me that they leave the beds when I'm sight fishing, I'll be happy.

[Brayberry]

I'm ok where I'm at.  I always try to learn more, but I've progressed to a point where I'm very happy.  I placed a goal or myself when I first started fishing to be able to catch at least a 5 bass limit of 2 lb bass every trip, and most days I can accomplish that.  I'm also thrilled I just caught by 10th bass citation in Virginia to earn my Expert Largemouth Bass Angler status

[Josh Smith]

Reading through these I get an idea that the cup is half empty for some and half full for others.

 

For example, someone is unhappy because there's always more to learn.

 

On the other hand, I'm content knowing that I will learn more.

 

I think a lot of folks are saying the same thing, but feel quite differently about it.  For many, it's the journey, not the destination.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

Josh