How have you learned the most about fishing

[Okeechobee_Cracker]

Well Id have to say so far its been a mixture of other people and on the water time.........but after this year I will probably have to say on the water time

[Bluecraw]

I'm guessing that most beginners will say "book" or "internet" because you have to know what to do and how to do it before you go on the water.  And I'm guessing that most veterans will say "on the water" because they already have all of the baits and techniques down and they know how, when, and where to use them; so, they are still learning things by being on the water.

Personally, I learn the most by catching fish.....it's like a fireman; he can read, take classes, learn from others, and train for weeks about fighting a fire, but really learns the MOST about putting out a fire by actually doing it, not practicing to do it.....no, I'm not a firefighter.....

-MH

[Guest avid]

No doubt about it.  ON the water.

[BucketmouthAngler13]

I'd have to say all of the above.

My dad tought me the basics, my friend showed me the more advanced stuff, and I learn most of the other from BassResource.com, and I learned 3 knots from a book.

But most of all being on the water. The other day I tried to discribe the feeling when a bass hits your lure to a friend, and I couldnt. Its somthing you have to do in order see.

[=Matt 5.0=]

On the water, and from my dad, and my grandfather. There was no internet back in 1975.  ;D

[CraigBaugher]

I spent 3-1/2 years being trained by 2 ex-B.A.S.S. Touring Pros from the 1970's & 80's for the attended purpose of me turning pro.  Life suddenly changed, and I never got my chance, but the point I wanted to make was:

You can spend a lifetime on the water, and many do, and never progress past the basics.  Hell, I fished most of my life 33-years, before I was trained.  I really, really  thought I knew how to fish.  I quickly learned, I didn't know anything about how to really fish.  In those 3-1/2 years, I spent 1000s of hours on the water (roughly 4-5 hours a day, about 350-days a year).  But it was the knowledge of my trainers combined with the on-the-water practice that accellerated my knowledge and skills.  I read every book and magazine I could get my hands on.  I watch every video that was available.  I studied everything I could get my hands on from freshwater Biology, Botany, meteorology, geology, etc.  Then took and applied all this information while I was on-the-water.

On-the-water by itself is nothing.  To become good, requires a commitment, a driving desire to learn, and a lot of hard work.   On and Off the water practice.  I would drive my wife and kids nuts, flipping and pitching in the living room, or out in the yard, which embrassed them too.  I learned how to build rods, and rebuild reels, and work on outboards, in addition to everything else.  You have to study, read, and spend time with the best angler in your state.  BEG them, if you have too.  But that is how you will learn the little speciality tricks.   Kevin Van Dam was trained, primarily by his brother Randy, who RULED the local Tournaments circuit for years.  Becoming  good requires WORK AND A LOT OF IT! ;D

[Catt]

Here's mine

1965: Spend the entire summer working on my uncle's charter fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico and learned how to locate deep water structure.

1972: Started bass fishing seriously on Toledo Bend at my father-in-law's camp on White's Point in the mouth of Lowe's Creek.

1974: Joined two bass clubs whose members included John Torian, John Hall, John Dean, Villis P "Bo" Dowden SR, Harold Allen, Larry Nixon, Tommy Martin, & Zell Roland all guides at Toledo Bend's Pendleton Harbor Marina. Ray Scott would latter come up with the "The Hemphill Gang" moniker arguably the most successful group of professional bass anglers to ever emerge from one small region of the nation.

1976: Attended a seminar in Houston Texas that totally changed my outlook on bass fishing. The man putting on that seminar was Elwood L. " Buck" Perry, not only did I buy his books but I became a devout student of his teachings. I took what Buck taught about deep structure fishing and applied it to Toledo Bend. Not only did the quantity of bass I caught go up but so did quality.

My desire was to become a professional angler but due to the lack of major sponsors and lack of support by my family who believed professional tournament fishing was not a stable way to raise a family so I stayed in the construction industry.

I still continued to fish local tournaments on Toledo Bend until 1982 when my divorce put a stop to my self sponsorship, I would not return to the Bend until 1993.

I'm an avid student of the following

Elwood L. " Buck" Perry & Bill Murphy: Finding & understanding deep structure

Douglas Hannon & Shaw Grisby: Understanding bass behavior

Rick Clunn: Mental aspects of bass fishing

Bobby Murray: Big bass can be caught on light line

That's the who's now for the what

I was introduce to night fishing in 1973 and have continued until the present. These years of having limited or no visibility has heightened my awareness of what is taking place below the surface. This heightened awareness has made me better at fishing deep water where feeling the bite is harder than finding structure.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I have gotten the most advice here period. However i voted for water time, because that is where i have to learn to put it into action.

[CraigBaugher]

1974: Joined two bass clubs whose members included John Torian, John Hall, John Dean, Villis P "Bo" Dowden SR, Harold Allen, Larry Nixon, Tommy Martin, & Zell Roland all guides at Toledo Bend's Pendleton Harbor Marina. Ray Scott would latter come up with the "The Hemphill Gang" moniker arguably the most successful group of professional bass anglers to ever emerge from one small region of the nation.

I still continued to fish local tournaments on Toledo Bend until 1982 when my divorce put a stop to my self sponsorship, I would not return to the Bend until 1993.

Two things:

1.  Now that was one hellva bass club!!!  Oh how I would have wanted to be in that club, WOW!!!

2.  I'm sorry about your pain, but that liine was classical

[Bankbeater]

On the water and right here on this forum!!!

[cart7t]

On the water from others in a bass club.  The best thing any angler can do is join a bass club and spend some time in the back of a boat with a more experienced angler and learn from them.  

[Matt Fly]

My Dad and personal experiences from being able to fish a multiple varieties of lakes across the country.

Matt

[deadeye32.]

absolutely being on the water, and here's why, you can go to see speakers, watch tv, and look on the internet and many times, you forget exactly what they were saying, but when you actually go out and experience something either good or bad (ex. losing a big fish or finding a pattern) you remember that and can associate what you learned to the experience on the water.  So I say nothing compares to actually being on the water.

[Garnet]

On the water, willingness to work for free on charter boats. But the on the water needs to accompanyed by taking notes and reviewing my performance.

Garnett

[Blue Eyed Fisher Chick]

Where I used to live growing up we had a small pond in our front yard that was stocked with nice bass, brim, and catfish. I would hunt the yard for grasshoppers and worms to fish with, with my sisters. My dad showed us how to hook them and we would fish away. Then my grandparents bought a place on Sinclair and we would fish with plastic worms on their dock. My grandfather would sit there and instruct me on what I was doing wrong. But I have learned the most over the past year. My wonderful boyfriend has taught me alot about fishing. He taught me how to use a baitcaster, which now I love!! Sometimes I think he's crazy with some of his reasonings but he's been at it way longer than me. I can be really hard headed sometimes and do my own thing, but I do my best to try and take in every little piece of information, so hopefully one day I will catch the MONSTER and show him up!!!

[Valascus]

I voted "other" since it is really all of the above for me. I try to glean as much information as I can fro as many sources as possible. But I do agree that the MOST IMPORTANT factor is time spent on the water. That is where you put everything that you have learned into practice and make any necessary adjustments.

Last year I didn't get to spend a lot of time on the water due to two job lay-offs and a pretty severe construction job site injury. I have been reading a lot of things and have spent a lot of time on the site, so I am chock full of new techniques and ideas. Can't wait until things start warmin' up a bit so I can get out and start slayin' 'em.

[Nick B]

There is no better learning experience than being on the water

[Bass_Cash]

Hands down. On the Water! You can't learn until you go out and fish.  You must make mistakes to learn from them. If you went out there and started slayin em from day one, then it really wouldnt be fishin. More like catchin.

[llPa1nll]

Well Id have to say so far its been a mixture of other people and on the water time.........but after this year I will probably have to say on the water time

I couldnt agree with you more...

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I gotta say on the water and from other people. For the most part, fishermen are introduced to the sport by another person who teaches them the basics of fishing. Without a basic foundation, no advanced skills will be developed.

The little tweaks and tricks will be learned from your own experience (mistakes, mostly) and from observing others who are more skilled or knowledgeable.

Wayne

[bubbler]

I learned the most off of this website and out of books.

This website rules. :)

[fishbowl807]

I would have to say all of the above, I've learned a great deal from being out on the water, nothing can beat what you learn out there but the beauty of today technology is you can keep learning when your not on the water, the internet, other people, forums, books, magaiznes, tv show, and tivo.  

[Captain Cali]

No doubt about it.  ON the water.

Ditto!    

[eastkybass]

I do learn from what I read but I think that you can't really know it till you can apply it on the water.

[BASS fisherman]

It has been a combination of learning from others, reading books, and finally time spent on the water.

With the highest being a cross between reading books, and on the water time.  I love reading about different techniques, and habits of bass during the seasons.  And I love to modify techniques while on the water.