Fishing Coaches?

[KSanford33]

So I've been lucky enough to excel in two sports in my lifetime: ice hockey and golf. And in both, you usually have several coaches at a time. For instance, in hockey, I had a head coach, goalie coach (I was a goalie), strength & conditioning coach, etc. And in golf, I've had swing coaches, short game coaches, putting coaches, mental game coaches.

 

But it doesn't seem like there are any type of fishing coaches, outside of college programs. The majority of you guys know more about fishing than I do, any ideas on why that is?

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

But it doesn't seem like there are any type of fishing coaches, outside of college programs. The majority of you guys know more about fishing than I do, any ideas on why that is?

Theres big money in hockey, even bigger money in golf.

Fishing theres just pro tournaments, college tournaments, and your buddy who put a facebook post up for guys at the local lake tournament. Most of these you either sink a bunch of money in it, or break even. Money is only there at the pro level, and compared to most other hobbies and sports they are only making pocket change.

 

Which similarly reminds me that i was just thinking about pro motocross a few nights ago, super physically demanding sport. Tons of work and dedication just to qualify for a lesser event. Super hard on the body, and theres a big chance of severe injury constantly. And if you arent sponsored, you will sink every dollar you have in it and again lose money or break even. The guys at the top level may make a few million, while most wont even make a few hundred thousand, or a million. (not talking about careers but a season/year). But if you can throw a ball youll get signed for 10s-100s of millions? Makes 0 sense to me, but thats where the money is!

 

Bass tournaments on the lower level seem like a good time, and alot of fun.

On the big stage however (IMO) it seems very boring, like watching paint dry.

It went from what used to be a hyped up bunch of dudes, with interesting personalities (kind of like showman, or a bands frontman) going out on their boats blasting through the place to get a spot, and actually fishing! All luck, skill, etc.... I wasnt alive back then but from what ive seen it looked like a blast to watch. Now its a bunch of guys who dont have the same vibe, just silently standing there staring at 4 screens all fishing the same technique. Add on theres a new scandal each month (what it feels like). Hard pulling in big crowds by the masses on what i just described, so wheres the cash pouring into it? Its just not there.

Most of the guys i talk to on the water wouldnt even think professional tournaments that are televised are still a thing..... And myself and they are big bass fisherman.

 

Maybe one day if things change drastically it will get more attention and money will start getting dumped in like bigger sports, and then you can hire me to be your coach. I need a 2nd job for this tackle addiction

 

 

[KSanford33]

38 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Theres big money in hockey, even bigger money in golf.

Fishing theres just pro tournaments, college tournaments, and your buddy who put a facebook post up for guys at the local lake tournament. Most of these you either sink a bunch of money in it, or break even. Money is only there at the pro level, and compared to most other hobbies and sports they are only making pocket change.

 

Which similarly reminds me that i was just thinking about pro motocross a few nights ago, super physically demanding sport. Tons of work and dedication just to qualify for a lesser event. Super hard on the body, and theres a big chance of severe injury constantly. And if you arent sponsored, you will sink every dollar you have in it and again lose money or break even. The guys at the top level may make a few million, while most wont even make a few hundred thousand, or a million. (not talking about careers but a season/year). But if you can throw a ball youll get signed for 10s-100s of millions? Makes 0 sense to me, but thats where the money is!

 

Bass tournaments on the lower level seem like a good time, and alot of fun.

On the big stage however (IMO) it seems very boring, like watching paint dry.

It went from what used to be a hyped up bunch of dudes, with interesting personalities (kind of like showman, or a bands frontman) going out on their boats blasting through the place to get a spot, and actually fishing! All luck, skill, etc.... I wasnt alive back then but from what ive seen it looked like a blast to watch. Now its a bunch of guys who dont have the same vibe, just silently standing there staring at 4 screens all fishing the same technique. Add on theres a new scandal each month (what it feels like). Hard pulling in big crowds by the masses on what i just described, so wheres the cash pouring into it? Its just not there.

Most of the guys i talk to on the water wouldnt even think professional tournaments that are televised are still a thing..... And myself and they are big bass fisherman.

 

Maybe one day if things change drastically it will get more attention and money will start getting dumped in like bigger sports, and then you can hire me to be your coach. I need a 2nd job for this tackle addiction

 

 

What an excellent answer! Thank you man. 

[islandbass]

Very cool point to bring to light. I think the fishing coach is usually

 

1) the parent or relative (uncle, cousin, older sibling, etc

2) you, yourself (like me)

 

I think it starts this way for many of us, myself included and I took route #2. Fishing had always been something I wanted to try and I finally took the dive in 2004. I had no friends or relatives to teach me since none of them fished so I learned on my through personal research (heavy on books) from which followed experience and time on the water.  
 

It does seem a bit  odd now to see that long-term coaching in fishing just doesn’t seem to happen as in other sports. 
 

I also love golf and finally started playing again after about a 15 year break. I hit my 9 iron about 150yds (early 2000s) and now I’m lucky if I can eke out 125 yds from it, lol. Sometimes I can string together 5 pars and snowman 5 other holes. I only play about once every 1-2 months now, so I can’t expect too much.  

[Susky River Rat]

I think one of the reasons is fishing is so secretive. Everyone is looking for an edge or pile of fish that they do not want anyone else to know about.  How do you teach someone to wiggle a worm? How many times have you tried to get a friend in the boat who wasn’t catching fish to do the exact same thing as you and it didn’t work for them?  
 

Mx/Sx is worse than fishing in my opinion. You have factory teams giving guys bikes with no salaries unless you are the top dog on your team.  They may have winning bonuses but, no salary. The sponsors are usually team specific gear, boots, helmets, handle bars, etc. you get no money from them goes to the team to use their stuff. So unless you have a personal sponsor you’re just a puppet for your team. PED run rampant through that sport and they do not randomly test for it only  recreational drugs. It’s to expensive to test for. The grooming of a pro motocross racer starts at age 4. That’s when factories start looking. By 16 they turn pro and by 30 they were already pro 14 years. Kids get pulled out of school with their parents living a dream through them. They mostly have no choice but to continue because they don’t know much else. 
 

“Hobby sports” will never been taken seriously and always be the black sheep to the stick and ball. 

[Glaucus]

There's not a lot people willing to give up everything they know to strangers. In our sport, you can legitimately ruin bodies of water by trying to be a nice guy to selfish people.

[Mobasser]

My older brother was the only fishing " coach" I ever had. Mid 1960s, on our grandpa's farm pond in Chillicothe Mo.         We stayed on the farm much of the summer to help our grandpa. And, we fished every evening.

[Catt]

I have been "coaching" others in the fine art of bass fishing for a couple dozen years now. I've done it privately & publicly.

 

 

[Lottabass]

Why does being a coach to an angler have anything to do with money or competition?  I'm 74 and have been fishing and hunting since I could ride a bike.  I had nobody to teach me.  Love of the outdoors and the natural world drove me to learn how to fish and hunt.  Many people (young and old) have shared my boat and most don't have that spark or drive or curiosity or whatever it is to want to learn (or maybe it's my inability to light that fire...?)  When you do run across that special person it is wonderful, not only for them but for you, because when you teach you learn!

 

I have a personal story to bore you with.  I was in Viet Nam in 1969.  There was a Montagnard village we frequented. It was near a lake so fish was a big part of their food which they caught using nets.  This lake was similar to a typical midwest farm pond.  I had my wife send me several of those cheap rod n reel combos and I showed those village kids how to catch fish by pitchin a crappie jig into holes in the weeds.  It wasn't near as efficient as their nets but it sure was FUN!

[J Francho]

Monetizing a hobby has rarely worked out well for me. I have several stories, none that really apply here. 
 

I'll say this, helping others get over the steep learning curve with regards to everything from breaking down water, choosing baits, the mechanics of catching fish, and gear selection is one of the cornerstones of this site. It's what initially drew me to contributing. I get a real kick out of seeing someone finally "get it."  

[Pat Brown]

There's a lot of good coaches in here.

 

I learned to use Google to search topics on this site and it sped my learning curve up a lot.

 

The most important coaches in bass fishing are slimy and green and live under the surface of the lakes and ponds you're fishing.

 

They try to teach us every year - we don't always want to hear what they're telling us!

[Catt]

14 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

There's a lot of good coaches in here.

 

I learned to use Google to search topics on this site and it sped my learning curve up a lot.

 

That's a fact Jack! 😉

 

Fishing "coaches" that get paid are called guides 

[F14A-B]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

I have been "coaching" others in the fine art of bass fishing for a couple dozen years now. I've done it privately & publicly.

 

 

 Right on Catt, I was going to add this.. most guys that participated in this sport from its inception to 80’s or so grew up on a prolific watershed somewhere in this country and learned some fine details at a very young age. A strong community & that is like having the answers without knowing the questions. I know you’ve been on that lake a very long time.. maybe things are just too different now.. I’ve read Trey McKinney had an electronics coach so who knows. It feels like the good ole days are by and large over. I still maintain that anyone that grows up on a major waterway will learn way more than the average Joe..

 

[Catt]

Richard @LovestoFish & I has been carrying on a discussion in messages since February 5, 2015. Lots of others to 

[TOXIC]

As has been said, most learn by being self taught but I can attest to being a guide and have taught many with varying degrees of experience.  As a guide, many times I was tasked with teaching a specific technique but many were extremely novice that couldn’t tie a knot.  I taught how to set up gear, read water, operate boats and 1000 other things in the fishing world.  It was up to me to stay current on trends, baits, etc.  When you get into the tournament realm, it’s different because even as a co angler, you are competing against the other guy in the boat.  Not a very good environment to learn.  That’s why I say, a guide is a paid coach in your definition and should offer his or her knowledge freely.  How you build on it is up to you. 

[Team9nine]

In the bass fishing world, they’re most frequently referred to as ‘mentors’ - guys who took an up-and-comer ‘under their wing’ and showed/taught them everything they know. Also acting as a sounding board to try and help them along the way. If you look for it, you’ll find a lot of current pros mention a name or two of guys who served that role in their early careers.

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

In the bass fishing world, they’re most frequently referred to as ‘mentors’ - guys who took an up-and-comer ‘under their wing’ and showed/taught them everything they know. Also acting as a sounding board to try and help them along the way. If you look for it, you’ll find a lot of current pros mention a name or two of guys who served that role in their early careers.

#Wheeler

A-Jay 

[king fisher]

My coach is the Bait Monkey. Win or loose he is always by my side

[Jar11591]

I learned the basics from my dad, and anything advanced I learned was from either time on the water, or from here. So I guess my coach is BassResource. 
 

A good guide should be able to coach a client on some things as well. Whether intentionally or not. 

[Catt]

43 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

 It was up to me to stay current on trends, baits, etc.

 

Being a guide in my opinion is the most difficult aspect of fishing. It takes a level of commitment above tournament fishing. Staying on active fish for a multiple day tournament is hard, try doing it daily & year round.

 

@F14A-B mentioned having a "network", it is very helpful at shorting the learning curve. 

 

2 hours ago, F14A-B said:

It feels like the good ole days are by and large over.

 

Couldn't disagree more 😉

 

Different Era, with more advanced tools, the good ole days are now. 

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

There's a lot of good coaches in here.

 

And you're one of the best, Pat.

 

Mr. Sanford, there is a lot of coaching at Bass Resource. @Glenn is, like @Pat Brown, a natural teacher. Others, like @AlabamaSpothunter and @T-Billy, have taught me through personal messages.

 

My challenge as a bass student has been to glean what works for me on my local water. Because I fish from a canoe and without electronics, FFS advice doesn't work for me. It's as informative to me as taking a chimpanzee to an M.I.T. physics lecture. 

 

I've written a couple articles for Bass Resource and my forte is wilderness fishing. Want to learn how to drive a car across a stream to reach a pristine lake? I'm your gal. Want to know how to create a portage trail to reach a lake that perhaps no one EVER has fished? That's me too. 

 

I know stealth fishing too. However, if you fish busy tournaments, my knowledge is pert near worthless.  BUT if you want to sneak up on bog bass in a canoe, so close that you bump them with the bow of your canoe, reach out to me.

 

So, there's a lot of chaff before you reach the seeds that'll grow your particular fishing skill and knowledge, i.e. what'll work for you. WHEN you find a Bass Resource member who's fishing similar water to yours and from a similar platform (shore, bass boat, kayak, etc.) message them. That'll be your coach. 

[KSanford33]

13 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

And you're one of the best, Pat.

 

Mr. Sanford, there is a lot of coaching at Bass Resource. @Glenn is, like @Pat Brown, a natural teacher. Others, like @AlabamaSpothunter and @T-Billy, have taught me through personal messages.

 

My challenge as a bass student has been to glean what works for me on my local water. Because I fish from a canoe and without electronics, FFS advice doesn't work for me. It's as informative to me as taking a chimpanzee to an M.I.T. physics lecture. 

 

I've written a couple articles for Bass Resource and my forte is wilderness fishing. Stealth fishing too. However, if you fish busy tournaments, my knowledge is pert near worthless. However, if you want to bounce down a logging road in northwestern Ontario and paddle and portage to cast to wilderness smallmouth, I'm your coach. Likewise, if you want to sneak up on bog bass in a canoe, reach out to me.

 

So, there's a lot of chaff before you reach the seeds that'll grow your particular fishing skill and knowledge, i.e. what'll work for you. WHEN you find a Bass Resource member who's fishing similar water to yours and from a similar platform (shore, bass boat, kayak, etc.) message them. That'll be your coach. 

This is an excellent point. I couldn’t be more thankful for Glenn and the content he puts out there. Also the help I’ve gotten here on the forums has been invaluable. 
 

 My point was there’s really no established path to learning how to fish successfully other than learning from a parent or trial and error. If someone wants to learn how to play golf, you can buy a starter set and go get lessons, but the same isn’t true in fishing. 
 

 

 P.S. Please call me Ken; Mr. Sanford was my father. 😊

[F14A-B]

11 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Being a guide in my opinion is the most difficult aspect of fishing. It takes a level of commitment above tournament fishing. Staying on active fish for a multiple day tournament is hard, try doing it daily & year round.

 

@F14A-B mentioned having a "network", it is very helpful at shorting the learning curve. 

 

 

Couldn't disagree more 😉

 

Different Era, with more advanced tools, the good ole days are now. 

I appreciate you Catt, perhaps it’s true. Perhaps I’m just a sentimental LMB fisherman that really loved the older ways.. but progress is inevitable. My many years in aviation has certainly taught me this. Nonetheless, I’m an old school guy and ya know what? Those tactics still work…

 

The difficulty I find mostly is the States that spray for vegetation, kinda hurts this dude who swears by flipping and pitching, haha 🤣 it is my favorite way to fish & I can’t help that, electronics be damned 🤣🤣

[Swamp Girl]

I understand your point, Ken, and it's a good one. I agree that competition is why. There are only so many big bass in a body of water. However, hole nine on a golf course has the potential for limitless birdies. 

 

2 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

it is my favorite way to fish

 

Me too. I don't flip or pitch exactly, but I love the weeds!

[WRB]

Don Iovino has been on the water instructor teaching local pro’s how to use their new sonar units to get the most out of them for decades.

A good local guide can be a good coach instructor if you ask them teach in lieu of just catching bass.

When demonstrate various presentations to friends I take the time to show how to rig, tie and present the lure by the launch ramp clear water to see the movements.

Tom