You newer anglers need enthusiasm then experience

[NavyVet1204]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve fished that river many times! I’ve dissected that map in my mind so much ....... when I saw it on the screen of my phone it almost scared me hahaha.

 

@NavyVet1204, check out Dustin Connell on YouTube, he’s from a bit north of there but has plenty of videos on how to catch coosa river spots and largemouth. I camp on the Alabama river every year for a week on Memorial Day, have for about 22 years 

Will do friend and thank you!

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said:

Will do friend and thank you!

Oh, and if you are bank bound, fish below the dams. Let me see if I can find a link of when the elites fished there

 

i think they took off from downtown Montgomery 

 

 

[Big Hands]

On 7/28/2020 at 10:40 AM, BrianMDTX said:

Think fishing is bad? Try taking out new bowhunters who expect to see the next cover buck on Deer and Deer Hunting to show up within 30 minutes of sunrise. Then tell them it took you three years to arrow your first doe and seven for your first buck...and that was a spike lol. And...you have to stay silent, don’t move and watch your scent. 
 

At least while not catching fish, you’re active! 

Not sure I'd like a sport where smelling like urine ups your chances of being successful ?

[galyonj]

On 7/28/2020 at 9:12 PM, NavyVet1204 said:

I’m not originally from the area my wife is so I’m still learning the land so to speak.

Google Earth's 3D view is invaluable for sleuthing out little hidden spots like that.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Big Hands said:

Not sure I'd like a sport where smelling like urine ups your chances of being successful ?

One of your hunting buddies got you good!

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, Big Hands said:

Not sure I'd like a sport where smelling like urine ups your chances of being successful ?

“I love the smell of doe-in-estrus in the morning! It smells like...victory!” 

[Sphynx]

As a trucker more often than not I get one chance for a very limited period of time to fish a given body of water, rain, shine, mid day, if you want to fish, you'd better just go make the best of it...you WILL become a better fisherman under these circumstances, it's almost impossible not to, your going to take a whole lot of L's, but your going to learn a bunch, another great way to make sure you stick with it is to invest a stupid amount of money into it, you'll start feeling guilty every time you look at your gear and go fish. Lol!

[Fin S]

As a fisherman, you have to get comfortable with the idea that you will spend more time fishing than catching fish.

[garroyo130]

18 hours ago, galyonj said:

Google Earth's 3D view is invaluable for sleuthing out little hidden spots like that.

I also use this pretty frequently. You can see changes in water level and for me, its been especially useful in figuring out quarry depth/structure since there are no topo maps for it. 

 

https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

[ABart61]

On 7/28/2020 at 8:38 PM, txchaser said:

Some of my best days are when I grind all day (usually in crappy weather, hot/cold/win) with very little to show for it, and somewhere along the way I solve the puzzle. That moment when it all comes together, and you can back into what the missing pieces were. And then just unleash on them because you are dialed in. Sometimes even over a span of multiple trips, where I have to ruminate on it all week, wondering what I missed... then it finally comes together. 

 

I think far too little time is spent on the -where- and far too much on the -what-. Growing up we always cast our baits into the most open water we could find. Now it feels like the opposite. 

 

 

I call those tough days "Learning Days". I can't tell you how many times I have used information I've learned on a slower day of fishing. Then use that information either the next day or even a year later and catch fish. Thankfully I learned early on that "Learning Days" are very important in becoming a better fisherman. I find that not a lot of people around my age (I'm 23) have learned that. 

[Hammer 4]

Here's what I see a lot with newer anglers that are trying to catch bass. They start out with a fairly common bass lure, say a t rigged worm, after 10 mins they may change to a crank, ect. Then after changing baits 3 or 4 times, and after a hour or 2. I would see them switch rods to a light or ultralight setup, and proceed to try for panfish, because they couldn't catch any bass.

 

IMHO, they give up to quickly. How much can you learn as a new angler in an hour or 2..? 

 

When I began throwing larger swimbaits, I'd take 1 set up, and maybe 3 or 4 swimbaits and spend no less than 4 to 6 hours fishing those baits, varying my retrieves, how I presented the baits, ect, ect...Doing this day after day.

 

Bass fishing in most bodies of water is tough, without putting in the time, meaning quality time, becoming proficient is seldom achieved, if ever. After a good many years, I'm still learning, I try to pass on some of the things I've learned to people that show a dedication to catching bass. 

 

It takes Time, be willing to spend hours and hours, to get good at it.

[Jleebesaw]

Maybe its because i grew up fishing walleye, pike, and muskie, but i dont think catching bass takes all that much patience. Even as a kid, i could always catch bass if i beat the bank early morning or late evenings. If a beginner is out at noon in july i can see them getting frustrated. 

         Thats why i always figured bass make such wonderful sportfish. They arent hard to catch! The real challenge is catching big bass or learning how to catch them when conditions arent good. Learning to catch them consistently and learning to break down new places, thats the stuff that makes someone a good bass angler. But in the beginning, they are easy enough for anybody to find and catch under the right conditions. 

[soflabasser]

A true fisherman will enjoy fishing for anything that bites and will be happy just going fishing. Beginners need to understand that it takes years to be a very good fisherman. The more knowledgeable you become the more you learn that you do not know everything and you need to constantly adapt to new situations. Fishing is a hobby that you will learn for a lifetime. 

[Sphynx]

8 hours ago, soflabasser said:

A true fisherman will enjoy fishing for anything that bites and will be happy just going fishing. Beginners need to understand that it takes years to be a very good fisherman. The more knowledgeable you become the more you learn that you do not know everything and you need to constantly adapt to new situations. Fishing is a hobby that you will learn for a lifetime. 

How'd that quote go, something like "The more I learn, the more I realize I have left to learn."

[MGF]

I guess I had it easy starting out. I tagged along with my dad from the time I could walk. There were time that he caught all the fish and I mostly worked at untangling my gear but I could see that fish could be caught and how. In time I was catching them too.

IMO, you have to enjoy being out there and /or practicing the skills. Then catching fish is a bonus.

 

My wife and I do most of our fishing on a local river. Whether wading or using one of the boats, it's a nice place to be even if you don't catch fish (but we usually do). I can have fun all day just casting to targets and skipping under stuff.

 

We have a lot of lake around here that we don't fish much because of the loud water toys and the bank lined with houses. There's fish there but it's just not as nice of a place to be.

[roadwarrior]

Well, I don't know...I like fishin', but I like catchin' a lot more.

 

[Bird]

Some days I feel like a veteran and some days I feel like a novice......it's an endless cycle. 

 

An old song by John Denver just popped into my head " some days are diamonds and some days are stone " lol.

[dodgeguy]

On 7/28/2020 at 10:24 AM, scaleface said:

For all you new anglers who are struggling to catch fish . Just stick with it . If you have the enthusiasm to fish 8 hours trip after trip no matter the outcome you will gain the experience to become more successful . I bet every dedicated veteran  bass angler on this site had that kind of stck-with-it-ness.

 

    That is all .

That is the best advice ever. If you limit yourself time wise you might not be in a time period when they will bite. Time on the water is paramount.

18 hours ago, Jleebesaw said:

Maybe its because i grew up fishing walleye, pike, and muskie, but i dont think catching bass takes all that much patience. Even as a kid, i could always catch bass if i beat the bank early morning or late evenings. If a beginner is out at noon in july i can see them getting frustrated. 

         Thats why i always figured bass make such wonderful sportfish. They arent hard to catch! The real challenge is catching big bass or learning how to catch them when conditions arent good. Learning to catch them consistently and learning to break down new places, thats the stuff that makes someone a good bass angler. But in the beginning, they are easy enough for anybody to find and catch under the right conditions. 

I disagree with bass not being hard to catch. It depends. If they have lockjaw it doesn't matter what you do they will not bite. 

[greentrout]

I keep things in perspective when i read about some big name pros who on occasion will fish all day in a tournament and not even get a strike ...

 

good fishing ...

[txchaser]

On 7/31/2020 at 4:24 PM, ABart61 said:

I call those tough days "Learning Days".

Yesterday I re-learned why I like owner CPS hooks so much. Using a regular gammy EWG on a big worm, and didn't pin the worm with a keeper or mono. Caught fish, but the one (unmistakably) big bite I had been hunting for all day ended in a balled up worm on the hook. It was too hot for dumb mistakes or re-learning. Grrr...

 

On 8/1/2020 at 11:26 AM, dodgeguy said:

I bet every dedicated veteran  bass angler on this site had that kind of stck-with-it-ness.

Not a vet, but my two biggest bass were on the hardest fishing days I've ever had. Sounds backwards, but in both cases were a result of just pushing through when I really wanted to stop. 

[PourMyOwn]

Persistence is a skill that can take years to learn. Some never do, but those who can stay focused after hours without a bite are often rewarded. 

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, PourMyOwn said:

Persistence is a skill that can take years to learn. Some never do, but those who can stay focused after hours without a bite are often rewarded. 

The truth is that not every fisherman is able to have patience and fully understand that you have to put in lots of hard work to be good at bass fishing. I have had days I caught trophy bass, days I have caught +30 pound 5 bass limits, days I have caught +100 bass, and also days I catch no bass even though I did my best. You have to be able to accept there will be days you will not catch bass, no matter how good you are. 

[MGF]

To say "persistence" makes it sound like a chore. It helps if you enjoy being out there. Fishing is more fun when it pays off with some catching but I keep searching water and casting because I enjoy doing it.

 

 

 

[Jaderose]

I love it when a new (to me) technique begins to gel and I start getting proficient at it.  This year has been particularly productive for me.  I've never had any confidence with jigs or fishing deep water brush piles.....until this year.  I've actively worked at both and experienced all the usual frustration with trying new things until one day it just clicks and you start reaching for that rod with enthusiasm instead of dread.  Now I get it.  I guess most would know me as an avid frogger and I've fairly good at it.  I ain't Ish Monroe or Dean Rojas, but still.  I didn't get that way with raw talent...lol.  Hour after hour after hour of casting and targeting and learning how to read mats.  All the achy shoulders and Advils.  All the expensive frogs thrown and lost until I settled on one I love that happens to be fairly inexpensive.  For what?  I don't eat Bass.  I dunno.  I don't analyse it too much.  All I know is that I am addicted to it to the point that at 52, I am planning the rest of my life around it.  

 

[Teal]

This is a particularly tough subject.  While I dont doubt there are plenty or new, young,  or green anglers out there. I question weather our" throw away society" and the way our young people are being brought up and the way major tournament fishing is being fished and then way fishing marketers push new lures, techniques, and gear is helpful in instilling, persistence and perseverance in new anglers.  

 

It's a tough topic, every one can talk a big game, but for many new anglers, they want immediate results

 

 

Not the way it works.  I used to hate fishing a jig.  If you gave me one lure for the rest of my life, I could keep up with everyone else with just a 1/2 oz jig now.  

 

Our kids get coaching and learn basic baseball skill over a period of years, but sadly most dont get into bass fishing until they are grown and they give up easily when things dont go their way.