Just finished reading "High Percentage Fishing"

[TotalNoob]

If you're:

-In the early stages of fishing (1-2 yrs) 

-Don't have any sort of "mentor" (or don't have the opportunity to go fishing with experienced anglers) 

-Or often find yourself overwhelmed by the abundance of "information" in youtube vids (and other non-specific information out there)

 

...do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK. 

 

I feel like it cuts to the chase and it checked a lot of boxes I'm looking for right now: 

1) Author summarizes and compares key observations from the authors of three classic bass books (Big Bass Magic, Trackin' Trophies, and In Pursuit of Giant Bass)

2) Author compiles information from thousands of reported catches then analyzes & cuts the data to draw conclusions (or NOT) regarding key fishing concepts

3) It's not a long, cumbersome read (123 pages)

 

My only complaint would be that I felt there was too much skimming over bass biology in general but that wasn't the point of the book. Also a little frustrated that the information was specific to Largemouth bass. Would love to find a book like this about Smallmouth bass as well.  

 

In my brief time doing it, I've come to think of fishing as a mixed skill/luck "game" (similar to poker) where short-term results often seem random at face value. But when you dive into the details/specific situations you find there are adaptations you can make based on your observations to sort of "create your own luck"/increase your overall probabilities. This book definitely solidified my belief in this and backed it up with data and actionable conclusions.  

 

Will definitely be reading this a few more times. Just wanted to share this with anyone else in a similar boat or who finds there's almost too MUCH "information" out there in this crazy internet age we live in now. 

 

[FCPhil]

Thanks for the recommendation

[WRB]

You should also Alwine's book Lunker Lore, Quest for a fish of a lifetime.

Tom

[MIbassyaker]

Josh is a member here, if I'm not mistaken.

[Sam]

Great news.

 

Keep reading and reading and reading and then watch some DVDs.

 

Then, hit the water where you will learn a lot more with "hands on" experience.

[12poundbass]

2 hours ago, TotalNoob said:

If you're:

-In the early stages of fishing (1-2 yrs) 

-Don't have any sort of "mentor" (or don't have the opportunity to go fishing with experienced anglers) 

-Or often find yourself overwhelmed by the abundance of "information" in youtube vids (and other non-specific information out there)

 

...do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK. 

 

I feel like it cuts to the chase and it checked a lot of boxes I'm looking for right now: 

1) Author summarizes and compares key observations from the authors of three classic bass books (Big Bass Magic, Trackin' Trophies, and In Pursuit of Giant Bass)

2) Author compiles information from thousands of reported catches then analyzes & cuts the data to draw conclusions (or NOT) regarding key fishing concepts

3) It's not a long, cumbersome read (123 pages)

 

My only complaint would be that I felt there was too much skimming over bass biology in general but that wasn't the point of the book. Also a little frustrated that the information was specific to Largemouth bass. Would love to find a book like this about Smallmouth bass as well.  

 

In my brief time doing it, I've come to think of fishing as a mixed skill/luck "game" (similar to poker) where short-term results often seem random at face value. But when you dive into the details/specific situations you find there are adaptations you can make based on your observations to sort of "create your own luck"/increase your overall probabilities. This book definitely solidified my belief in this and backed it up with data and actionable conclusions.  

 

Will definitely be reading this a few more times. Just wanted to share this with anyone else in a similar boat or who finds there's almost too MUCH "information" out there in this crazy internet age we live in now. 

 

There's a nice pinned thread in the smallmouth forum titled Brown Bass Tools that should help you out. It's a work in progress that @A-Jay and I are doing. There will be more to come.

[soflabasser]

Looks like a good book but I have the highest percentage catching big bass when I am actually bass fishing and learning on the water.

[wasabi_VA]

Oh great. Where can I get a white and chartreuse calculator with a carbon fiber case.

[TotalNoob]

16 hours ago, WRB said:

You should also Alwine's book Lunker Lore, Quest for a fish of a lifetime.

Tom

+1

 

16 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Josh is a member here, if I'm not mistaken.

Very cool, maybe he'll get the chance to see the positive impact his writing had on an inexperienced angler. 

 

15 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

There's a nice pinned thread in the smallmouth forum titled Brown Bass Tools that should help you out. It's a work in progress that @A-Jay and I are doing. There will be more to come.

Reading it... this is excellent!

 

11 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Looks like a good book but I have the highest percentage catching big bass when I am actually bass fishing and learning on the water.

35° water (where I am) has me thinking I'd be doing a disservice to myself not to absorb information right now in preparation for the upcoming season. I could sit and think about fishing soon or I can sit and learn something about the habits of the fish.  

 

Thanks for the feedback though (?) ... just thought I'd try to give back to the community what little I can at this point in my fishing life. 

[Lottabass]

I don't think you will be "inexperienced" for long....

[jpurdue]

Minnow.  Glad to hear you enjoyed the book and found it helpful.  As an author there is no better compliment.  I don't comment on here often, but I do drop in from time to time to check in on you guys.

 

In regards to bass biology.  When I published High Percentage Fishing, "Knowing Bass" by Keith Jones was still readily available in the open market.  His book so thoroughly covered the topic I thought I would be doing readers a disservice to cover the topic at any great length.  Of course I had no idea that book would become so scarce.  I'd love to track down Dr. Jones and find out the story, but with a last name like Jones, I've been unsuccessful.  If anyone knows his contact information I'd love to have it.

 

In regards to Smallmouth, trust me I'd love to write this book.  I've thought about it at great length.  The trouble is that I have been unable to find any large reliable databases of catch information specific to Smallmouth.  They are just too different an animal to draw any conclusions from my Largemouth data sets.  Without the data anything I'd write would be personal conjecture, which is no different than anything else out there already written on the subject.  The scientist/engineer/statistician in me wouldn't be happy with that book.  

 

Love your quote by the way.  Chance does favor the prepared mind.  I'm a firm believer we should do everything possible off the water to stack the odds in our favor on the water.  Tight Lines.

 

-Josh

[Hawkeye21]

I skipped the High Percentage Fishing book and went right to the Lunker Lore book. I really enjoyed it. I’m currently reading Knowing Bass.

[rod snapper]

I received high percentage fishing for Christmas, and read it in its entirety within a couple hours of getting it. very helpful, recommend it because overloading on information you will never remember is the best!

[MrPeanut]

I actually just found this book on amazon and picked it up.  I'm pretty stoked to read it while waiting for the lakes to thaw.

[soflabasser]

I rather focus my efforts on the water than buying a book that does not discuss in detail fishing for bass in South Florida.

[TBAG]

I've been meaning to read this book for a while, this thread just confirms that.

[Crow Horse]

Just ordered it and I'm looking forward to reading it......

[WRB]

On February 2, 2019 at 6:38 AM, jpurdue said:

Minnow.  Glad to hear you enjoyed the book and found it helpful.  As an author there is no better compliment.  I don't comment on here often, but I do drop in from time to time to check in on you guys.

 

In regards to bass biology.  When I published High Percentage Fishing, "Knowing Bass" by Keith Jones was still readily available in the open market.  His book so thoroughly covered the topic I thought I would be doing readers a disservice to cover the topic at any great length.  Of course I had no idea that book would become so scarce.  I'd love to track down Dr. Jones and find out the story, but with a last name like Jones, I've been unsuccessful.  If anyone knows his contact information I'd love to have it.

 

In regards to Smallmouth, trust me I'd love to write this book.  I've thought about it at great length.  The trouble is that I have been unable to find any large reliable databases of catch information specific to Smallmouth.  They are just too different an animal to draw any conclusions from my Largemouth data sets.  Without the data anything I'd write would be personal conjecture, which is no different than anything else out there already written on the subject.  The scientist/engineer/statistician in me wouldn't be happy with that book.  

 

Love your quote by the way.  Chance does favor the prepared mind.  I'm a firm believer we should do everything possible off the water to stack the odds in our favor on the water.  Tight Lines.

 

-Josh

Dr Jones works for Berkley.

PS, enjoyed Lunker Lore.

[the reel ess]

Good post. It looks like a good read. I ran across this book in a thrift shop, so naturally, I had to take it. 

It was not fundamentals. I'm neither a novice nor a fisheries biologist, but this was info overload.

https://www.amazon.com/Fisherman-Critical-Concepts-Largemouth-Fundamentals/dp/189294734X

I'm also shocked at the price. I'm sure I got it for less than a buck.

[shovelmouth83]

I did just read this book. Great book. I read on a kindle.