How do you qualify someone as a great bass fisherman?

[Md]

Maybe my point is (no argument here I hope you understand -not sure how I'm coming off), a lot of fishing is simply out of our control. Recognizing this (being humble) might be part of "greatness".

You are not coming off as confrontational at all. Anyone that says that they never have days like Ike did would lead me to question their honesty. If you read "A Day on the Lake" you'll see how many of the best pros get humbled quickly as many of us do. That being said, I can personally chose to set goals such as, "I want to improve every time I get out on the water" or I can set my goals so high that they MAY be unreachable (the beast). I feel the later drives me more and actually makes me even more driven when I don't attain them. And I don't have the energy to worry about things that are out my control...I just try to adapt and deal with the moment. By the way Paul, GREAT point about understanding why the bite is off.

[Paul Roberts]

Another important point is hindsight.

When you get off the water and say "I should of..."

Gosh yes. We are all better anglers in hindsight. But in my case it doesn't tend to transfer to the next trip out, especially if it's a week away.

But, unless I made some egregious call, I'm always left to wonder if my hindsight was just another idea that might not have panned out. It's like discovering in my journaling that my memory is actually mush and I start re-writing history as soon as I leave the water LOL.

Or, it's the "I wish I had my camera!" syndrome, when you see that huge buck step out along the road as you drive by. But try to actually GET that photo. Or hiking without a shotgun and you're flushing grouse like crazy! But, if you HAD your shotgun how many would you ACTUALLY get a good shot on? Hindsight can just be our ego's, or enthusiasm, talking. Reality is much more challenging.

Decision making, in the moment, is a key attribute. Book learning is very helpful, but experience brings it home and is a much faster responder.

[Md]

Another important point is hindsight.

When you get off the water and say "I should of..."

Gosh yes. We are all better anglers in hindsight. But in my case it doesn't tend to transfer to the next trip out, especially if it's a week away.

But, unless I made some egregious call, I'm always left to wonder if my hindsight was just another idea that might not have panned out. It's like discovering in my journaling that my memory is actually mush and I start re-writing history as soon as I leave the water LOL.

Or, it's the "I wish I had my camera!" syndrome, when you see that huge buck step out along the road as you drive by. But try to actually GET that photo. Or hiking without a shotgun and you're flushing grouse like crazy! But, if you HAD your shotgun how many would you ACTUALLY get a good shot on? Hindsight can just be our ego's, or enthusiasm, talking. Reality is much more challenging.

Decision making, in the moment, is a key attribute. Book learning is very helpful, but experience brings it home and is a much faster responder.

Hmmmmmm...it seems Rick Clunn goes by the name Paul Roberts around here...hahaha...just kidding! Great stuff as always Paul...keeps me thinking and staying sharp.

[Paul Roberts]

Yeah, Rick and I have a lot in common. But he chose bass and I chose creek chubs. I've had to live with that decision. Didn't I already mention humble somewhere?

[IDbasser]

When I think of great fisherman, I think of my uncle who seems to be fishing all the time.  He can consistently catch fish, and is always trying to figure out how to do it better.  Is always trying out new things and tricks to make him better, and most of all, if I am having trouble, I can pick his brain for suggestions.

[Catt]

Why someone did or did not catch are some times never understand; the great anglers accept this fact and instead of focusing on the uncontrollable they instead focus on the controllable. Even a simple Cajun like me understands that focusing on hindsight leads to second guessing and second guessing will kill the best laid plans. Take the positives from your last trip discard the negatives and move forward; in hindsight you will say well what if, the problem with that kind of thinking is there is no way to prove any thing since those conditions may never take place again.

Great anglers never think in the negative

[Muddy]

Taking the positives,negatives and all that is in every bit of information you can use. Negatives can turn into positives when used correctly. To ignore why something didn't work is bound to get you into the same mistake again.

 Fishing in itself is a blessing and if you just deal with positives ( fish catching) you are only dealing with 1/2 the picture.

[Paul Roberts]

OK, first the Twilight Zone theme song...Da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da .... (best I can do)...

There really is no future. There is only the present. The past is a comet trail of historical constraints and something to draw on, but not be stuck in. Living things are pure potential and the "future" is all contingencies.

To put it in fishing terms (from Md's profile -you were on it all along ):

"There's no such thing as luck good or bad. And, there's no such thing as a hot streak or a slump. Every day really every cast is a new experience. Success or failure in the past has nothing to do with the future."-KVD

So, how do you qualify someone as a great bass fisherman?

Lots of history to draw on, raw potential, and staying present. Humble comes with the territory.

[Catt]

Acknowledge what didn't work but do not worry about why it didn't work because those exact set of scenarios may never happen again so how can you figure out the why?

Even what worked this morning may be totally useless this afternoon

[Muddy]

Yea like my left knee, swollen and iced down!