Expert

[Mobasser]

The word expert, defined as a noun, is a person who has a comprehensive and authoritive knowledge in a skill.                                  I've head this word used in bass fishing many times over the years. Things like," he's an expert in crankbait fishing". Or, he's an expert worm fisherman".                           I'm not sure if we could really define anyone as an expert in bass fishing. There are many here on BR that I would consider close. Through experience, they've become very, very good at it.                                                              There are so many variables in fishing, can we ever become an expert at all that's involved in bass fishing?                           I'm far from an expert, even after all these years at it, and, I'm still learning too. But, this is what makes bass fishing so addicting and fun too.                             Do you think there's such a thing as an expert in bass fishing?     

[roadwarrior]

Yes, there are experts. Start with the professionals on tour. Next on my list is 

Steve Parks (Big O). Then there are certain guides, Tim "Hotdawg" Curtis at Bull

Shoals and the White River http://www.hotdawgguideservice.com/. "Cuda" http://cocodrieinsidecharters.com/charter-fishing.html. And the next

group would include a dozen or more BassResource members. 

 

Some guys can just "smell fish".

[J Francho]

I think there are experts in just about everything.  Just because you've reached a certain point doesn't mean the journey is over.  

[diehardbassfishing]

5 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I think there are experts in just about everything.  Just because you've reached a certain point doesn't mean the journey is over.  

Perfect!

[Mobasser]

20 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Yes, there are experts. Start with the professionals on tour. Next on my list is 

Steve Parks (Big O). Then there are certain guides, Tim "Hotdawg" Curtis at Bull

Shoals and the White River http://www.hotdawgguideservice.com/. "Cuda" http://cocodrieinsidecharters.com/charter-fishing.html. And the next

group would include a dozen or more BassResource members. 

 

Some guys can just "smell fish".

I believe our site moderators here are experts, or as close as can be to one. There are a handful of others here who qualify also. You can tell by the way they comment on questions here on the form.

[J Francho]

Experienced?  Yes.  Expert? No.  

[Team9nine]

Here’s a definition I like: 

 

“An expert is somebody who has a broad and deep competence in terms of knowledge, skill and experience through practice and education in a particular field.”

 

How exactly that translates to bass fishing in a social media world, where 90% of all content has been generated in the past several years, is a topic for discussion/debate. After a while, I think you form your own ideas on who these people might be, including forum content providers. I know I have ?

[Mike L]

There are experts in tying a knot,

Understanding their electronics,

Cast accurately,

Understand bass behavior in everything from how they relate to structure, seasonal changes, water temperature, depth etc. 

 

But in my opinion, those who can accurately dissect any body of water anywhere, at any time, every time, and able to Improvise, Overcome and Adapt to the slightest subtle change, are those who can truly be considered an expert. 
 

Are there any who meet all those considerations...every time? 
I don’t know, that means they’ve reached a point where there is nothing else to learn. 
 

However, there are some folks on this site who are as close to being considered an expert, in every sense of the word, as there can be. 

 

 

Mike

 

 

[Glenn]

Long ago I had a good buddy who was an incredible angler. He should've turned pro but did not have that aspiration. We used to joke he could feel a fish breath on lure.  I nicknamed him "Hoover" because he seemed to be able catch every fish in a given area, leaving nothing behind for his backseater (me). He was that good, but he was also an amazing tutor. I learned a lot from him.

 

Then Aquaview came out, and that changed everything.  It was a shocker to learn how many fish simply ignored our proven and go-to baits at times. It changed our perspective, and was humbling at the same time. The key takeaway was that we didn't know as much as we thought we did, but we learned a lot more with that discovery.  It made us both better anglers.

 

Never. Stop. Learning.

 

I think the term "Expert" applies to people who are very experienced but they continue to learn themselves, knowing they're not a "know it all".  The best ones are willing to share what they do know in order to help other "Experts", but are knowledge-seekers themselves.

[A-Jay]

Do you think there's such a thing as an expert in bass fishing?     

Interesting topic ~

May depend on one's personal way of defining the word expert. 

Over the course of a lifetime on the water, one can use experience gained

to help to continue ones Bass Fishing Education.

But when does one have enough to be considered an "Expert" ?

Does the learning ever stop ?

I'll say never & no right there.

And to even come close, especially during this day & age (consider just the last 10 years)

a basshead could certainly benefit from having an above average ability to learn & adapt to the 

ever changing times & techniques. 

Could the anglers that did well in the past do it now ?

Conversely, could the successful bass anglers of today still make it happen back in the day ?

Both those times in bass fishing history were wildly different.

 I'd propose that good is good, may not matter the "When".

 

That said, the list of humans my own version of a bass fishing expert, is fairly short.

Does include several BR members, as well as few 'professionals'; but definitely not me.

Won't keep me off the water though. 

A-Jay

[Shimano_1]

I totally believe this is a topic that will be all about one's perception.  Are all pros experts?  In my book absolutely not. There are a few I believe are and I'm sure a few on here would fall into that category!  I've done it for years but still find myself scratching my head more times than I care to admit. Some guys are way more confident in their ability than they likely should be...while some are modest and likely know way more than they'll let on like. I personally find myself more interested in learning now than I've ever been and I know a lot more now than I used to. Id guess if a guy calls himself an expert in bass fishing...he likely isn't. If a guy post pics of massive fish regularly and would never refer to himself as an expert...he may just be. As always my humble opinion tho!

[Mobasser]

26 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Do you think there's such a thing as an expert in bass fishing?     

Interesting topic ~

May depend on one's personal way of defining the word expert. 

Over the course of a lifetime on the water, one can use experience gained

to help to continue ones Bass Fishing Education.

But when does one have enough to be considered an "Expert" ?

Does the learning ever stop ?

I'll say never & no right there.

And to even come close, especially during this day & age (consider just the last 10 years)

a basshead could certainly benefit from having an above average ability to learn & adapt to the 

ever changing times & techniques. 

Could the anglers that did well in the past do it now ?

Conversely, could the successful bass anglers of today still make it happen back in the day ?

Both those times in bass fishing history were wildly different.

 I'd propose that good is good, may not matter the "When".

 

That said, the list of humans my own version of a bass fishing expert, is fairly short.

Does include several BR members, as well as few 'professionals'; but definitely not me.

Won't keep me off the water though. 

A-Jay

A- Jay I agree. I have a brother in law who recently retired as a chemical engineer. A very smart guy, who had 40 yrs experience in this field. I considered him an expert, but he would deny this, because, according to him, " how can I be an expert when I'm still learning? Your right here. Learning, and applying your knowledge is the key for all of us, in becoming better fisherman.

[soflabasser]

A true expert bass fisherman is someone who has no need to hire a guide and they consistently catch their own fish. Experts do learn from others but do not have the need to pay another man to take him fishing. With that said there are many expert bass fisherman. 

 

[diehardbassfishing]

I tell non-fishing friends that don't totally understand the sport - why artificial bait for instance:

 

"I wouldn't fish if it was easy".

 

It's the every day, every season challenge of it all - the effort to figure it out that keeps us interested.

 

 

Karl

 

 

 

 

[soflabasser]

50 minutes ago, Mike L said:

But in my opinion, those who can accurately dissect any body of water anywhere, at any time, every time, and able to Improvise, Overcome and Adapt to the slightest subtle change, are those who can truly be considered an expert. 

Well said! If you can catch quality fish throughout the year by yourself with no guide you are an expert fisherman.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Good topic and read, thanks.

[MassYak85]

I've heard it said it takes 10,000 hours to master something. I'm sure there's a lot of people on this forum that have put more time into this sport than that. Like Glen said you can never stop learning with fishing. I'm not even sure what an expert would really look like tangibly. I feel like it would just be you're so confident in your experience and knowledge that you can go out and grind out a day with 100 percent confidence that what you're doing is the right thing for the conditions, not doubting yourself if it doesn't come together right away. 

[TcRoc]

Expert .... not me ... not remotely close ? . Wash rinse repeat. 
I try, I learn ,I scratch my head , more often than not curse . And at times come home and break out a scale weighing different combinations  in hope of scoring a magic presentation... than I give up and drink more beer. I am a fishing perfectionist.. just not good at the perfect part. 

[Mobasser]

One thing is for certain here. There's a big difference between what we would consider an " expert", and those we would consider a " know it all". As a general rule, I try to avoid the " know it alls". I learned a long time ago, that most " know it alls" are probably just full of hot air.

[CountryboyinDC]

27 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

I've heard it said it takes 10,000 hours to master something.

You can definitely spend longer than that and know nothing.  I've spent more than that amount of time around women, and I don't think I'm any closer to understanding them unfortunately.

Definitely there are expert bass anglers, in my book, and that's not just the Butch Browns and KVDs of the world.  The problem is figuring out who they are.  As an old operator who taught SOCM (a special operations medical course) told us, "It takes about 2 years for those capable to become operators, but only about 15 minutes to get kitted up like one."  The same is true of bass anglers, don't call him or her a cowboy until you seen 'em ride.

[WRB]

Bass fishing doesn't have merit badge ranking like shooting does for example. You earn a rank by skill level ; marksman, sharp shooter and the top rank expert.

Bass angler ranking is based on money won in professional bass tournaments.  

Good topic that we all can look to others we feel are experts like a expert top water lure angler for example. 

Tom

 

[J Francho]

Marksmanship is just one aspect of becoming a hunting expert.  Much like casting accuracy is a part of fishing.  I don't see the parallel.  I can shoot pretty well, but can tell you squat about gun maintenance, ammo, or tracking down deer.

[ajschn06]

I realize they are pretty humble guys.... but if @A-Jay and @J Francho don't qualify as experts then I don't think BR has any....

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

Does the skill with which one can produce monumentally complex backlashes count toward becoming an expert?  If so, ... I’m in there!!!

 

Seriously though, as I read these forums and the articles from this site and others, I find so many folks with knowledge of bass fishing far exceeding mine that I wouldn’t know how or where to draw a line that distinguishes between a knowledgeable fisherman and an expert. I don’t really care; I just steal as much of their knowledge as I can.

 

X = Unknown quantity

Spurt = Small amount of liquid released under pressure

 

So ... would an expert be some unknown drip under pressure?

 

Dunno.

 

[WRB]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

Marksmanship is just one aspect of becoming a hunting expert.  Much like casting accuracy is a part of fishing.  I don't see the parallel.  I can shoot pretty well, but can tell you squat about gun maintenance, ammo, or tracking down deer.

Shooting merit badges are not necessarily hunting skills unlike casting is a fishing skill. In the military being a expert shooter is a high honor doesn't indicate you have hunting skills it indicates you have shooting skills. The olympics has shooting as a skill event to compete for medals and you must be an expert to qualify.

Bass fishing doesn't have skill sets to achieve to qualify as an expert. You are just a bass angler regardless of your skill sets. 

Tom