Training Techniques

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

There has to be exercises or systematic training/practice methods to improve your fishing but I haven't heard of many.  What are they?  These can be "off the water" and "on the water."

[Ozark_Basser]

When I learned to pitch baits, I would get a five gallon bucket and turn it on its side to practice.  If I could get it into the bucket without hitting anything but the back (bottom) of the bucket, I knew I would be presenting the bait perfectly (no splash) out on the water.  That's all the "off the water" practice I've ever done.

[Bluebasser86]

Fishing is the best fishing practice I've found 

[Oregon Native]

My son used to flip/pitch in back yard when younger all the time.  Think he did this to learn how to long line me!!

[tatertester]

Your making this thing called fishing way too complicated.

[Catch and Grease]

Fishing is the best fishing practice I've found

2x...

[BassinLou]

3x.... time on the water fishing is the greatest practice of all.

[Djf3864]

Obviously being on the water is the best practice, especially if you can concentrate on working with one bait to get comfortable with it.

 

Going out in the yard and casting/flipping/pitching is the extent of my practice off the water.  I just started fishing again after a near 20 year "break", so I suck at casting for the most part that's my focus right now.  Trying to get better at targeted casting, and working on improving my accuracy when tossing worms and such in lilly pads and docks.

[Bassun]

Time on the water is #1 for sure... nothing competes with experience.

 

BUT -- Time BEFORE the water is highly important, especially if you are fishing new water.  So my #2 way to improve fishing would be research.  Putting in due diligence, before fishing new water especially, is key in my opinion.  Approach your day on the water with a solid plan based on research of the lake (internet, old magazines, tackle shops, friends, and map study) and appropriate for the seasonal pattern, so that when you get there you're not trying to figure out where to start.  Being able to get good start based on the map, and where the fish "should" be is a great step towards a great day.  Practicing that when it doesn't matter will help when it does.

 

I also do the whole "yard fishing", and it's a good way to improve certain skills.  I've also done the "only take one type of lure" fishing, but I think that kind of get's tricky.  If the conditions and bite are right for lure x, then you will have better success then if they aren't regardless of technique, etc.  If you want to work on your topwater skills, but it's a bluebird day, no wind, high sun, clear water... chances are your success will be worse than trying early A.M., on a foggy morning, with a litte wind out of the west. 

 

I would suggest practicing how to effectively fish structure vs how to fish a lure.  Take a dock in 12 feet of water, for example.  You can learn so much from that first doc you come to IF you can fish it effectively.  You can spend a lot of time trying different techniques to throughly examine that structure, and even if you don't catch fish, you will be learning "how" to approach it for the best coverage. 

 

Where as if you are just trying to learn lure "X" you are giving up a lot of opportunity to find fish quite often.  Replace doc with offshore hump, or secondary point, or inside creek channel, etc. etc.  Yeah, I know that not every (insert place) will be full of fish, but I think you can learn more technique by learning how to throughly vett structure then you learn by only throwing lure "X".

 

So I guess my practice suggestions are research and to spend time practicing specific structure. 

[buzzed bait]

i'd say the already mentioned casting in the yard.... 

for me, off the water "practice methods" would be just better studying some of the rigging presentations.  i'm borderline OCD about getting a worm or soft plastic just perfect on a hook so i'm always trying to improve rigging methods. 

i'm also constantly cleaning, sorting and organizing gear and tackle to make every minute that i fish as efficient as possible to allow me a better time on the water.

[fishballer06]

I've practiced flipping into buckets. Also, whenever I'm trying out a new knot, I'll practice tying it a bunch at home, so that I can tie it up quickly and properly when I'm out on the water. 

[Bassun]

I was about to add a second comment about knot tying.  I have spent a lot of time working different knots.  What's bad, is that I still end up tying the same knot 99% of the time.  That's something I need to proactively work on.

[Team9nine]

Fishing isn't "practice", it's just "fishing", unless you have some type of goal or outcome you're trying to achieve. This ties in nicely with your lure specialization post in another forum section. Again, I used to do this (training techniques) pretty regularly, too. For example, one thing I did was "speed fish," where I'd put the trolling motor on a particular setting (always fairly fast) and leave it on "constant on." This teaches you casting (and retrieving) efficiency, boat control, decision-making and effective presentation. Another was timing myself to see how fast I could put the first fish in the boat, or how fast it would take to catch a limit. Again, this teaches you several things in regards to efficiency and decision-making. The same can be done with a single lure, how fast you can catch a fish on it. You'll quickly learn the importance of varying your retrieve or changing up your usual presentation. Yet another was how many different crankbaits I could catch a fish on in a certain amount of time.

 

These are just a few examples. There are lots of others. You'll learn a heck of a lot from doing these exercises, or something similar, if you put forth a good effort.  

 

-T9

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

Fishing isn't "practice", it's just "fishing", unless you have some type of goal or outcome you're trying to achieve. This ties in nicely with your lure specialization post in another forum section. Again, I used to do this (training techniques) pretty regularly, too. For example, one thing I did was "speed fish," where I'd put the trolling motor on a particular setting (always fairly fast) and leave it on "constant on." This teaches you casting (and retrieving) efficiency, boat control, decision-making and effective presentation. Another was timing myself to see how fast I could put the first fish in the boat, or how fast it would take to catch a limit. Again, this teaches you several things in regards to efficiency and decision-making. The same can be done with a single lure, how fast you can catch a fish on it. You'll quickly learn the importance of varying your retrieve or changing up your usual presentation. Yet another was how many different crankbaits I could catch a fish on in a certain amount of time.

 

These are just a few examples. There are lots of others. You'll learn a heck of a lot from doing these exercises, or something similar, if you put forth a good effort.  

 

-T9

 

That's awesome!  I didn't think of some of those but that's exactly the type of thing I was looking for.

[FunkJishing]

^{like many others have said, casting to targets like buckets in the yard. pitching, flipping, side arm, and many other casting techniques. I also read about fishing all the time, watch videos and really try to apply what i learn to my fishing.}

[PersicoTrotaVA]

A bathtub, kiddie pool and for all you rich people, real pools, filled with water and different rigged plastics and crankbaits, spinnerbaits, whatever baits.  I like to see how baits move with different actions of the rod.  This along with research and "yard fishing".  Though I do agree the best practice is on the water.

[Bassun]

Along the lines of pressuring yourself for quick catches, or on specific lures, etc. Something we often did when wading creeks, to help keep it interesting, was scoring our fish.  I don't know if it counts as "practice" per se, but you did learn to target fish so I guess maybe it counts...

 

Anyway - it works like this, and while it sounds complicated to explain, when your doing it it works great and if you have three people it gives everyone first shot at different targets.  So you start wading in a staggared line, person A up front, B in the middle, and C in the back.  Smallmouth and Largemouth (spots would count too) count as 1 point.  Redeyes count as 0 and bluegill or any "junk" fish (chubs etc) count as -1.  Most points at the end of the day, wins.  Now, as for the order - every time you catch a bass, you go to the back of the line.  For a bass to count, you have to "touch" it. 

 

I know it sounds goofy, but man does it help you target the bass.  We're all super competitive and I found that doing it like this not only gives everyone a better chance at good structure, but it really made you focus on getting to those prime spots on your first cast.  We would constantly be walking forward so you didnt have but one or two chances before someone else could cast in on you.

[einscodek]

Your making this thing called fishing way too complicated.

As with anything in life.. experience and knowledge make complexity -> simplicity

As your experience and knowledge come together it make things appear simple but for those who havent had it come together.. it seems complex cause it hasnt been "figured out"

[Texas Hawg Hunter]

Along the lines of pressuring yourself for quick catches, or on specific lures, etc. Something we often did when wading creeks, to help keep it interesting, was scoring our fish.  I don't know if it counts as "practice" per se, but you did learn to target fish so I guess maybe it counts...

 

Anyway - it works like this, and while it sounds complicated to explain, when your doing it it works great and if you have three people it gives everyone first shot at different targets.  So you start wading in a staggared line, person A up front, B in the middle, and C in the back.  Smallmouth and Largemouth (spots would count too) count as 1 point.  Redeyes count as 0 and bluegill or any "junk" fish (chubs etc) count as -1.  Most points at the end of the day, wins.  Now, as for the order - every time you catch a bass, you go to the back of the line.  For a bass to count, you have to "touch" it. 

 

I know it sounds goofy, but man does it help you target the bass.  We're all super competitive and I found that doing it like this not only gives everyone a better chance at good structure, but it really made you focus on getting to those prime spots on your first cast.  We would constantly be walking forward so you didnt have but one or two chances before someone else could cast in on you.

 

That sounds like fun!  Nothing like a little competition to hone your skills.

[Big Jon]

When I first picked up a baitcaster, I spent hours with just a wait on the line casting before I went fishing. Otherwise, I just fish. Oh, and I watch a ton of youtube videos about fishing, watching tournaments, watching what experts are doing when it counts.

[geo g]

There is no substitute for time on the water.  I also agree practicing skills in the yard will help especially flipping and pitching.  For the young guys under 50 that's probably all it takes.  But for us over 60 doing squats, bike riding and walking or jogging will certainly make it easier to stand all day on the front of the boat.  For the young guys this may seem ridicules, but for the senior citizens like me it makes a world of difference. especially on your back and legs.  Take a little time and work those muscles.  Things seem to change fast as the years go bye.  Don't worry, you will know what I'm talking about if you make it this far.  Its all part of the game!

[Bruce424]

knot tying... and being efficient at certain knots...

[guitarglynn1]

Fishing is the best fishing practice I've found 

 

That's sport specific training right there!

[guitarglynn1]

There is no substitute for time on the water.  I also agree practicing skills in the yard will help especially flipping and pitching.  For the young guys under 50 that's probably all it takes.  But for us over 60 doing squats, bike riding and walking or jogging will certainly make it easier to stand all day on the front of the boat.  For the young guys this may seem ridicules, but for the senior citizens like me it makes a world of difference. especially on your back and legs.  Take a little time and work those muscles.  Things seem to change fast as the years go bye.  Don't worry, you will know what I'm talking about if you make it this far.  Its all part of the game!

 

There are few activities in life where being stronger is not advantageous. Be it young or old. 

[Robert Riley]

If I wasn't out fishing, I was flipping/pitching into a trash can in my living room.

 

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