Best bass magazine for beginners

[BartoszP]

Many bass magazines out there. Which do you recommend to learn the ins and outs of bass fishing? Not so much interested in the latest and greatest gear, more on tips and tricks on how-where-when to fish. 

[Jleebesaw]

They are all just selling stuff. 

[The Bassman]

Just stay here.

[GoneFishingLTN]

Bass Angler Magazine (BAM)

[Scott F]

Staying here is the best suggestion. All the magazine articles are just there to help sell more tackle. Save your money for the bait monkey.

[Russ E]

I would agree with everyone above.

Three years ago,when I bought my Ranger, I received a free one year membership to FLW and apparently a lifetime subscription to Bassmaster magazine. 90% of both magazines are advertisements.

I was a member of B.A.S.S. 30 years ago. back then the magazine had more stories.

 

I read the articles here because they have all I need.

[Glenn]

47 minutes ago, BartoszP said:

Many bass magazines out there. Which do you recommend to learn the ins and outs of bass fishing? Not so much interested in the latest and greatest gear, more on tips and tricks on how-where-when to fish. 

Welcome Bartoszp!  Glad you're here.  Here's a library of articles for you: 

https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

 

And as others have said, feel free to ask questions here.  There's a ton of very helpful and knowledgeable anglers here ready to help!

 

Glenn

[WRB]

^^^this^^^

caution, too much too soon can lead to overload. Kick back and enjoy BR, we are all here to help.

Tom

[scaleface]

Bassmaster will give you lures that cost more than the subscription .

[Black Hawk Basser]

Tom is correct - Take some of what you learn on here and anywhere else that you can, but take your time and you'll learn more from your experiences on the water.

[Fishes in trees]

I understand that I read and learn in different places and some of those places the desk top computer can't go.

That is why I need magazines.  Magazines that occupy space where learning occurs and my desk top can't go might include:  In-fisherman   Not as good as it once was but still has a couple of bass oriented articles each month and the

                                   Multi-species stuff applies to general fish behavior which often translates to understanding

                                   bass behavior.

 

I receive several BPS catalogs throughout the year and on a rotation basis they get space.  BAM  (Bass Angler Magazine) is a decent read but it isn't readily available in my neighborhood but when I see one I'll probably buy it.

 

I find BASSIN ( I'm pretty sure I'm spelling it wrong) to be a decent magazine.  Same goes for Bassmaster & the FLW magazine.  Round these magazines out with a Missouri Conservationist, Smithsonian, maybe Popular Mechanics & Popular Science, and my sit down learning area reading material is mostly covered.

 

To address an earlier comment that these fishing magazines are kinda dedicated to selling you stuff - OF COURSE THEY ARE.  How else are you going to find out about fishing stuff that is different from what you've got.  May be better - may be worse - who knows but at least you've got options you weren't aware of previously.

 

Mostly I like the Missouri Conservationist for the pictures.   There are always 7 or 8 high quality, really interesting photos that take some time to look at and "get".  I don't know if other states conservation agencies have a product like the Conservationist - if not, too bad.   It is mostly a product of the 1/8 cent sales tax (dedicated to the conservation department and the legislature can't touch it) that Missourians passed sometime during the mid-70's as I recall.

 

I looked at the original post, and I digressed some.  In nearly all of the bass fishing mentioned and the multitudes of ones I didn't, once you get past the featured gear, there is generally some technique applicable stuff somewhere in the article.  The pages that don't have that are called "advertisements", and for a magazine to be financially viable, roughly half the pages have to be ads.  So it goes . ...  . .

[Scott F]

6 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

I looked at the original post, and I digressed some.  In nearly all of the bass fishing mentioned and the multitudes of ones I didn't, once you get past the featured gear, there is generally some technique applicable stuff somewhere in the article.  The pages that don't have that are called "advertisements", and for a magazine to be financially viable, roughly half the pages have to be ads.  So it goes . ...  . .

Even the articles are often just thinly veiled ads for the tackle companies that sponsor the author of the “techniques” article.

[MIbassyaker]

As far as I have been able to tell, except for reports on recent scientific findings, or how-to articles on some of the more recently-developed (or at least recently-popularized) lures and techniques (e.g., bladed jigs, drop-shotting), most of the best written material was published over 20 years ago.

 

I have current bassmaster and In-fisherman subscriptions, and I enjoy them for what they are. But there is no question that both of these magazines were far, far more substantive 2 and 3 (and 4!) decades ago. 

[Glaucus]

This site and Bassresource on YouTube is all you need as they provide much more information and it's free.

[5/0]

I second most of the above replies. Bass mags are into the advertising. 

[MIbassyaker]

The thing is, it's possible to have advertising and still deliver good, useful, detailed content -- It's just takes more effort, deeper analysis, and better writing to do that than the more common alternative, which is to just whip up another article about some new lures on the market, and sprinkle it with comments solicited from a couple of pros.

 

Look up some of the In-Fisherman articles from the 80s and 90s, like the ones by Rich Zaleski or Ralph Manns, and compare those to what you get now. 

[813basstard]

On 7/5/2019 at 7:01 PM, Jleebesaw said:

They are all just selling stuff. 

^man you ain’t kidding.

Just got an issue of FLW and I thought it was a catalog...and not drop shot weights or lure dye either.

Pic of some dude in a boat with the morning sun coming up and the caption

”Only $68,459” 

Right. 

‘Babe, we’re going to sell one of the twins and the lawn mower. I like this boat.’

 

[Djohn]

As others have said just stay here.

[FishTank]

The best advice I ever got was on this site......  Don't try to learn it all at once, figure out you equipment one set up at a time, and learn one technique at a time. And most importantly, you can learn more from your line in the water than anything else.

[LCG]

Every magazine sells advertising, just the way it goes. 

 

Agree with everyone saying this site is the best place to learn new skills. Time on the water practicing what you've learned here will make you a much better angler. 

[BoatSquirrel]

To add to the wisdom above, watching the tour pros has helped me.  Also, BassTalkLive podcast.

[Happybeerbuzz]

You are posting on this website, so I assume you are comfortable with the Internet.  Consequentially, I would advise you to skip written publications.  They are about as obsolete as newspapers if you are comfortable with electronic media.  Use this website to see past discussions on what you are interested in at any given time and start threads if you can't find what you are looking for or are looking to have a discussion.  Do not take it personally if someone links a thread to previous thread.  In all likelihood, they are sincerely trying to be helpful and not blowing off your question.

 

Youtube is awesome for bass fishing.  You can get ideas or solutions here.  Youtube will demonstrate the execution of said ideas or solutions.  For example, I can sell you are on the San Diego Jam knot here.  Youtube will show you how to tie it.  

 

One other thing that might help you navigate this site for information.  Use Google instead of the search function of this website.  It is better at finding results.  Just Google whatever you are looking for and add "bassresource" to your search.  

 

 

[bowhunter63]

Bass Angler Magazine is pretty good plus there are some great books out there.