Mastering techniques

[GoneFishingLTN]

How do you master a technique I see this often but isn’t it all simple. I mean once you know the rod/line/reel/weight of fall and where to use the technique and how to work it how is there more to master? I just get confused by people saying they want to master x technique this year

[Mobasser]

Practice makes perfect. The more you fish a certain style, the better you'll become.

[jimmyjoe]

   A lot of the fishermen here are into competition. They don't need to know about a technique, they need to master it, to know when to use it to catch the fish they need to win.

   And your criteria are a bit flawed. It's like saying, "Once you know the shift pattern of the gears and the shift points, and once you know where to drive on the road and how to brake and steer, how much more is there to master?"

   I guess for some people, that's enough. For some others, not so much.          jj

[Catt]

Just because you know righty-tighty and lefty-loosey doesn't make you a master mechanic!

[livin2fish]

 "Mastering a technique" for me as a recreational fisherman is impossible.  It is far beyond my desire and willingness to put in the effort.  Maybe becoming ''reasonably competent" or even partly competent is enough for me.  There are just too many factors.  To me, if I can place the cast where I want it, that is fine.  I'll just try different things from there.  I do think about, seasonality, bass habits, and a multitude of other things, but mastering them, I never think of that. 

[A-Jay]

Mastering a Technique ~ 

May depend on one's definition of the term.

Generally considered being highly skilled in something, when applied to fishing it often starts to get a little tricky.

Because there's enough 'professionals' who are considered masters of many different techniques, that get totally blanked often enough that the term starts to lose much of it's luster.

In my bass fishing world, mastering a technique simply means knowing what gear to use to fish it effectively as well as knowing what conditions can contribute to it's success.

So how, when & where I guess. 

However, locating said bass, getting them to strike, and landing them, is a totally separate deal.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

[GTN-NY]

When I want to “learn” a new technique I do it till I catch some fish. I’m good after that

[Mike L]

In my opinion Mastering is the wrong goal. Why? Because you’re trying to out smart a living thing with a brain who knows more about his environment than you do. Can’t be done 
 

Again imho, if you put the emphasis more on learning how to improvise overcome and adapt and gain as much experience as you can, you can come as close as you’ll get. 
 

I’m a self described “power” fisherman who would rather punch a mat and pick a fish off a bed than anything else and it’s always what I only try to do. 
But I certainly haven’t mastered either. 

Sometimes being successful at something doesn’t mean that it’s been mastered. 

 

 

Mike

[Boomstick]

I would say there's more than just how but when, where and why to truly master a technique.

[scaleface]

  I never liked the idea of just sticking to one lure or technique all day just to learn it.    Fishing is pretty easy .  If one fishes all day and not have much luck because of hardheadedness, then all one  accomplished   too learn is  how not to catch bass . Try something for a while and if it doesnt work try something else . Thats the way I learn new techniques .

[Catt]

If ya wanna "master" anything ?

 

Master what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

 

Master what the predominate prey species in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

 

Master the understanding that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

[whitwolf]

Good question and good replies. 

 

I'm more of a fun fisherman than anything analytical. That's not to say I don't want to learn but the desire to enjoy the day far outweighs spending the day throwing one bait. 

 

In retirement (5 years) when I have more time that might change but now it's all about fun. I have, through years of trial and error, found the way(s) I like to fish and that's what I do. I don't know that I have mastered any one technique but I'm proficient in enough to catch fish and have fun.

[Boomstick]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

If ya wanna "master" anything ?

 

Master what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

 

Master what the predominate prey species in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

 

Master the understanding that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

I'm still trying to master these

[Teal]

1 hour ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

How do you master a technique I see this often but isn’t it all simple. I mean once you know the rod/line/reel/weight of fall and where to use the technique and how to work it how is there more to master? I just get confused by people saying they want to master x technique this year

 

This actually very good post and poses a question that sits in the back of my mind sometimes.  I have some random thoughts about it.  Mastery is term that inthink gets thrown around sometimes but is very difficult to achieve in any aspect of life much less something so debatable, controversial and left to personal preference like bass fishing with artificial lures.  

 

Do I believe there are guys out there that have mastered some techniques? Yes I do..absolutely.  But what does that mean? It means this person has the what,where, when, why, color preference, weight, retrieve speed, and adaptability to change on the go much like a wide receiver running an option route..I think a master of a bass fishing technique would have ideal fishing gear set up specifically for that technique and a back up combo that varies slightly to accommodate changes that they need to make.  In a sense, a master of a technique cant just be a guy who is great at this one thing with it all figured out, to me a master (and I hate the word master by the way) is someone who is innovated in their craft, ever charging forward, making changes, improvements, and is consistently finding more efficient ways to do way they do. Example, look at Gary Klein, not only is he a jig flipping fool, he is designin jigs, and constantly pushing the industry standard.

 

But let's go back to basics real quick.  To even get to that level in one technique, this person should have solid if not excellent basic fundamentals.

 

I honestly dont think I have mastered anything, I try to stay really balance but there's a couple things that are my bread and butter and I try to tend to those and keep my production and efficiency up.

 

Very interesting topic

But to answe the original question.  How do you master anything? Time spent..practicing, studying, and taking advantage of every resource you can to get better.  

[MGF]

4 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I'm still trying to master these

Me too. As soon as I think I now how to fish a ledge the fish head to a flat. As soon as I learn the hole in a section of river the fish school in the runs right in the middle of the sort of current they're supposed to get out of.

 

For a long time I was an avid scuba diver with a preference for fresh water and it always seemed to me like the fish aren't reading the same stuff we are. LOL

 

Deer are the same way. They seem to do what they want more often than they do what they are supposed to.

 

I still refer to my electronics as a "depth finder". That's because I never had a hard time seeing fish on it but that doesn't mean that I can catch them. LOL I have spent a LOT of time unable to tear myself away from fish that I could see but couldn't catch.

[Mike L]

9 minutes ago, Teal said:

 

This actually very good post and poses a question that sits in the back of my mind sometimes.  I have some random thoughts about it.  Mastery is term that inthink gets thrown around sometimes but is very difficult to achieve in any aspect of life much less something so debatable, controversial and left to personal preference like bass fishing with artificial lures.  

 

Do I believe there are guys out there that have mastered some techniques? Yes I do..absolutely.  But what does that mean? It means this person has the what,where, when, why, color preference, weight, retrieve speed, and adaptability to change on the go much like a wide receiver running an option route..I think a master of a bass fishing technique would have ideal fishing gear set up specifically for that technique and a back up combo that varies slightly to accommodate changes that they need to make.  In a sense, a master of a technique cant just be a guy who is great at this one thing with it all figured out, to me a master (and I hate the word master by the way) is someone who is innovated in their craft, ever charging forward, making changes, improvements, and is consistently finding more efficient ways to do way they do. Example, look at Gary Klein, not only is he a jig flipping fool, he is designin jigs, and constantly pushing the industry standard.

 

But let's go back to basics real quick.  To even get to that level in one technique, this person should have solid if not excellent basic fundamentals.

 

I honestly dont think I have mastered anything, I try to stay really balance but there's a couple things that are my bread and butter and I try to tend to those and keep my production and efficiency up.

 

Very interesting topic

Very well said @Teal

 

 

 

Mike

[Team9nine]

Interesting responses. I agree with those using the terms “learn” and “proficient” instead of “master,” because I think most people really only acquire the former, not the latter, level of knowledge and/or ability. Mastering  a technique takes years, along with hundreds, if not thousands of hours of use and experimentation, more to the intuitive side of things as opposed to the practical or mechanical side.

[Boomstick]

Just now, MGF said:

I still refer to my electronics as a "depth finder". That's because I never had a hard time seeing fish on it but that doesn't mean that I can catch them. LOL I have spent a LOT of time unable to tear myself away from fish that I could see but couldn't catch.

I always used the term fish finder, but I'm right there with you. I just got mine this year so I'm fairly new with it, but I've spent some time trying to catch a fish I saw on it, got one, had another (pike) bite right through my line but the majority of the time I'm looking for multiple fish around some key structure more than chasing single fish.

 

It does bring out my ADD when I'm fishing a brush pile and getting bites and then I see a giant fish go by and have to go chase that.

[Mobasser]

I sometimes think lots of guys are sort of " Jack of all trades", master of none".

[GaryH]

This is a great post and very informative. Sure makes you think. Thanks guys

[JustJames]

To me “master techniques” is to learn how to present the lure more effectively in different circumstances and how to detect different type bite on each individual lures. Then apply those techniques where it is more suitable.

If all the fish you caught are “tab” bites, you missed other 30-40% different bite. If you only drag anything bottom contact, you might miss some chances to get the more bites. Now to apply the techniques, you learn the techniques you learn the spot, now apply the techniques to where it most effective.

 

Oh btw I’m a dinks master, if you don’t know me.

 

[Sphynx]

I think people are using the term loosely more often than not, or else theymean in a practical sense...there are some baits that are much more difficult to properly present than others, lots of guys struggle with walking frogs and cigar style baits, or might have to refer to the forums or some other document for help remembering under which conditions/line/rod/reel speed etc to throw a bait on, "mastering" a technique to me in a practical sense is it becoming a confidence bait, you are so familiar with it you are writing your own rules on when and how to use it, rather than following someone else's example...not because you just up and said "I'm doing my own thing" but because you have used it enough that you know intrinsically what has and hasn't been working, you know the conditions to fish it under as well as you know what size t-shirt you wear, I also think that if you aren't consistently catching fish on it, you aren't there yet, I can tie on a spinnerbait, fish it 24/7/365 and catch plenty of fish (have done, too) but that doesn't make me a master of it, if I walk out to a fishery, assess what's going on due to observation of both what the conditions are telling me, and what any electronics I have are confirming, and it becomes obvious that a white spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades in silver fished at xyz depth is where I'm starting, and you start nailing fish after a couple of fine tuning adjustments, you have probably mastered that bait for all intents and practical purposes. 

[king fisher]

I hope I live long enough, have the good fortune to be able to fish often enough, and use that time on the water efficiently enough to master multiple techniques.  It would be nice to also  catch some nice fish, and have a great time on the journey to becoming a bass master. 

     So far I have mastered buying more gear than I need, loosing almost as much gear as I buy, and thoroughly fishing the 90% of the lake that doesn't have any fish.  

[Mobasser]

Some of this may also apply to where a person fishes the most. A guy who fishes shallow rivers for smallmouth would be able to get good at this style. He would probably struggle with heavy punching for LM bass. Not all of our teqniques work the best on all waters.

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, Mike L said:

Sometimes being successful at something doesn’t mean that it’s been mastered. 

 

   HOW TRUE!   This applies to a LOT more than just fishing!      jj