Has it gotten easier?

[Mobasser]

I know it took me three seasons to learn to fish a plastic worm, over 35yrs ago. It took hrs of practice for me to feel like I could cast accuraty, and hit targets. It also took me quite a while to learn about finding bass, and figuring out what lures to catch them with. Do you think, with videos, internet, and all the info on bass fishing available today, that fisherman learn faster? Some young anglers seem to pick it up much quicker than I did when I started. Of course after 35+ yrs I'm still learning. I never had any social media to learn from. I learned on.my own, from books, and countless hrs of fishing. Do you think younger anglers learn to catch bass quicker now?

[J Francho]

It is easier, but you still have to put in the hours.  The discussions at the old timers session at the skate park often center around this, too.  We didn't have YouTube to learn a trick, just B&W stills.  Sometimes they would do a detailed sequence with instructions, but that was rare.  It was best if you went out and skated with others, and learned from each other.  I think that still rings true, even with fishing.  I've seen some pretty good sticks come out of n00bs in the club I fished with. 

[Bird]

With all that you've mentioned, technological advances such as our fish finders, videos, fishing equipment and tackle options, younger anglers have the advantage. Imo

 

The one advantage us old guys had was minimal fishing pressure or lake activity years ago as there were no jet skis and simply not much boat activity at all.

 

Fishing has become a VERY popular past time for good reason so we're always looking for a presentation the fish hasn't seen to increase success rate.

[Cam R]

I always watch videos on how to perform a new bait i buy but you’re new going to master it by video. Always try it on the water, the first time i used a Wacky rig senko i got 8 LM and a i watched a few videos now its very easy how to use. Most plastic are used the same or a very similar way. 

[Deleted account]

No, I don't think it makes it easier. I know that one of the things that caused me to not progress as an angler early on was all the reading I did, and that was just books and magazines. Being exposed to something, or knowing about it is not the same as being able to do it. One can watch as many videos as one can stand, and it won't make one any better of an angler. There is no substitute for time on the water.

[scaleface]

I dont know . There are so many lures and techniques available now that it could make  it even  more confusing to the new angler .  its harder to learn the basics when one is swamped with information .  I believe if one would learn the texas rig/jig  well , then everything else would come easy . Now days they are wacky rigging , drop shotting , neko rigging...   and not learning the basic  of working a bait through a brush-pile and detecting a strike  . 

 

I caught on to  worm/jig  fishing rather quickly and wore the bass out with it . I didnt have all these other riggings to clog up my brain . So it may have been easier for us older guys .

[senile1]

7 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

No, I don't think it makes it easier. I know that one of the things that caused me to not progress as an angler early on was all the reading I did, and that was just books and magazines. Being exposed to something, or knowing about it is not the same as being able to do it. One can watch as many videos as one can stand, and it won't make one any better of an angler. There is no substitute for time on the water.

I agree with this for the most part.  I'm not one of those gifted anglers who immediately takes to fishing like a fish to water.  I have to practice and learn how things feel and move.  Take jig fishing for example.  I can watch videos all day but that doesn't give me the feel for the jig to know exactly what it is going through or if that bump was a fish or cover.  I have to fish it and experience it before I learn it completely, and that applies for all lures though some require less time than others. 

 

Then there is the aspect of learning which areas of the lake hold fish and how to approach them.  Without time experiencing successes and failures on the lake, it was just a guessing game for me.   

 

I do see how the videos and tools of today provide a base of knowledge to work from in a much quicker fashion than back in the day.  But honing those skills takes time on the water.

[NYWayfarer]

33 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

No, I don't think it makes it easier. I know that one of the things that caused me to not progress as an angler early on was all the reading I did, and that was just books and magazines. Being exposed to something, or knowing about it is not the same as being able to do it. One can watch as many videos as one can stand, and it won't make one any better of an angler. There is no substitute for time on the water.

I have a friend that feels the same way. He says all the stuff in books and magazines is "theory and speculation" until it is put into practice. Experience is the best teacher is his motto.

 

To that I say you can go experience fishing blind or you can be equipped with some "theories and speculation" to put into practical action. I choose the latter.

 

With all the information we have on our smartphones at our fingertips 24/7 you bet it makes things easier. 

 

[Jermination]

It can certainly help with the learning curve, but just like anything until you actually get out there and practice/figure it out for yourself you won’t get any better. Luckily I was taught by my Pappaw growing up throwing Jitterbugs in the pitch dark on mountain lakes. I think a lot of your skill depends on where you live, I fish mostly all tva waters, so you have to know a buncha different ways at all times of the year to catch fish. 

[Deleted account]

33 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I have a friend that feels the same way. He says all the stuff in books and magazines is "theory and speculation" until it is put into practice. Experience is the best teacher is his motto.

Ask your friend if he wants to go fishing....(on a day you have to work)...  

[Mobasser]

I don't really watch fishing videos. I do like the ones that Glenn puts out here. The only other videos I like are films of the older Bassmaster Classics, because many of these guys are still my heroes. I've picked up some good info here on this site also. I still feel like the best way to learn is to get out there and " get your hands on it".  Experience has been the best teacher for me

[Tennessee Boy]

I actually think it makes it harder for some beginners.  I'm convinced that most anglers would be better off if they forgot half of what they've heard, threw away half their tackle, and focused on getting really good with what they keep.  It's hard to focus when you are constantly being exposed to new ideas that you don't have time to learn properly.  There is no substitute for TIME ON THE WATER. 

[Mobasser]

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

I dont know . There are so many lures and techniques available now that it could make  it even  more confusing to the new angler .  its harder to learn the basics when one is swamped with information .  I believe if one would learn the texas rig/jig  well , then everything else would come easy . Now days they are wacky rigging , drop shotting , neko rigging...   and not learning the basic  of working a bait through a brush-pile and detecting a strike  . 

 

I caught on to  worm/jig  fishing rather quickly and wore the bass out with it . I didnt have all these other riggings to clog up my brain . So it may have been easier for us older guys .

I agree. If you think on it, a Texas rig, jig, spinnerbait, crankbait, and topwater can keep most anglers busy for an entire day. There's plenty of versatility within those baits alone

[MIbassyaker]

Too many factors to make a blanket judgment. For every change that has made it easier, I can think of changes that have made it harder.

 

Basic information about fishing is more available now than it used to be through social media...but the proliferation of options in tackle and gear, along with general industry marketing efforts, have mostly just added noise and confusion for new anglers. 

 

It is probably easier for a new angler to put themselves in position to accidentally catch a bass here and there. But that's not the same as learning to fish, and to be successful with regularity, which requires putting in just as much time on the water as it ever did.

 

 

[Bird]

Makes sense. 

 

Just last evening I went to my favorite online tackle supplier and punched up " swim jigheads " and WOW.

[TnRiver46]

It seems every time I try a new technique or lure I read about I spend all my time hauling water. When I put a plastic worm on a jig head I catch bass. The only time I remember something new working out for me was when I got some bladed jigs from @Bluebasser86 . I’m still mad at the whopper plopper hype, thankfully I was gifted one instead of having to buy one or I would be $13 madder 

[Shimano_1]

As much as I hate to admit it....absolutely easier. I do agree time on the water has no equal.  But...when I started I just had what I learned from my old man and a couple of friends. Now you have the entire world in ur front pocket. Fish not biting...let me Google how to fish these conditions.  This definitely doesnt put the fish in the boat but it gives anyone who wants to try and learn a good place to start. I've been fishing for 30 years and there are high school kids that could teach me quite a bit I'm sure...especially about electronics.  I wont say any of the technology makes anyone a better angler...but it is definitely a useful tool to have and the younger generation use it for sure. I do agree with the above post that in a lot of ways it may be harder. Flood of tackle and opinions plus the major increase in fishing pressure I'm sure makes for a different dynamic. 

[Team9nine]

9 minutes ago, Shimano_1 said:

As much as I hate to admit it....absolutely easier.

This ^^

 

Technology in all forms, from boats and boat accessories, electronics to tackle, and online access to information has allowed this. In a recent article, KVD stated, “This technology isn’t just for pro style anglers, either. I’ve found it reduces, if not eliminates, the learning curve for novice anglers.”

 

[scaleface]

It seems like weekly there is a thread started that goes something like this .

 

 " Help , I cant catch fish . I have tried shaky heads , Whopper ploppers , wacky rigged senkos , Spinnerbaits , frogs , jigs , crankbaits , buzzbaits , spooks , poppers , drop shot , ....

[Bird]

6 minutes ago, scaleface said:

It seems like weekly there is a thread started that goes something like this .

 

 " Help , I cant catch fish . I have tried shaky heads , Whopper ploppers , wacky rigged senkos , Spinnerbaits , frogs , jigs , crankbaits , buzzbaits , spooks , poppers , drop shot , ....

Then you have this ^ . Lol

[5/0]

For me it's going to be spending more time on the water.

I've watched many technique videos on T-Rig plastics and jig fishing in the attempt to get better at these applications. The cast is made, the bait hits the water, then the bottom. The bait is popped or dragged with the rod, then the person makes 3-4 turns, sometimes more, with the reel. That's moving the worm or jig at least 10'! Okay where the water is real shallow, but on many bodies of water, that bait would pendulum back to the boat.

Yeah I know that you need to know where the drop offs are, but the guy just trying to learn this technique doesn't have a clue as to why he can't catch fish.

[scaleface]

I guess for someone really dedicated like Everythingthatswims , they would have an advantage today . For those less eager, I dont know .

[skekoam]

7 hours ago, scaleface said:

I dont know . There are so many lures and techniques available now that it could make  it even  more confusing to the new angler .  its harder to learn the basics when one is swamped with information .  I believe if one would learn the texas rig/jig  well , then everything else would come easy . Now days they are wacky rigging , drop shotting , neko rigging...   and not learning the basic  of working a bait through a brush-pile and detecting a strike  . 

 

I caught on to  worm/jig  fishing rather quickly and wore the bass out with it . I didnt have all these other riggings to clog up my brain . So it may have been easier for us older guys .

I really agree with this.  TMI is the phrase for me as a noob.  Not to mention whenever I watch bass videos, they are fishing in areas or states where there seem to be tons of fish with very little pressure.  I on the other hand call California home.

[GReb]

It’s true the equipment and technology has shortened the learning curve. But there’s also more distractions keeping folks off the water too. The dedicated anglers will prevail today just like they did 50 years ago. Technology has just removed some of the trial and error. 

[Mobasser]

5 minutes ago, GReb said:

It’s true the equipment and technology has shortened the learning curve. But there’s also more distractions keeping folks off the water too. The dedicated anglers will prevail today just like they did 50 years ago. Technology has just removed some of the trial and error. 

True. No matter how much tech is out there, you still.have to be dedicated and apply yourself to get good at bass fishing. Some folks are more dedicated, and work harder to learn it