10 mistakes amateur anglers make

[Paul Roberts]

This will vary with angler of course.

FM hit a lot of really good ones:

1. Thinking that the lure is the reason for not catching fish.

2. Putting to much emphasis on that perfect color lure.

3. Not spending the time to find the fish first.

4. Must have the best of everything in order to be successful

5. Thinking that that other fisherman across the lake is catching fish when he/she's not.

6. Being stuck on the same bait.

7. Always going back to the same spot because the fish were there last week, month, or year.

8. Not visualizing the lure under the water.

9. Not practicing accurate casting.

10. Not finding a fishing mentor.

[Jigfishn10]

Presentation, concentration, location and patience

[Gangley]

1.  Improper tackle matchups.....(Frog fishing with 6lb mono and a Medium Light rod.)

2.  People thinking they need 30 different rods and reels to fish 30 different lures.

3.  Improper Knots (see this one a lot), tend to break a lot or simply come undone.  A lot of newbies tie fishing knots like they tie their shoe laces, with a couple overhand knots.

4.  Patience...they see pro's slamming them hard on TV, and they want to give up after 10 minutes if they are not catching anything.

5.  Being too scared to ask for help.  I have found that if I offer to help they usually graciously accept it, but that if I didn't offer it, they will never ask.  Don't know if it is embarrassment or what, but they rarely ask, and asking for help is the quickest way to learn.

5.  Lure selection. Many newbies don't even know what they have, much less how to fish them sometimes.  Its like they just went down the isle and picked up a few lures that they thought looked "fishy".  Not that I havent done that before :-D

[K_Mac]

There are some common themes that have already been posted. We have a tendendcy ot make a lot of the same mistakes.

I think lack of preparation may be the biggest sin. I fish with, and talk to people all the time who just do what they have always done. The idea of spending time reading and studying off the water, and taking  time to study electronics, try new techniques, and explore different locations on the water, just doesnt seem to register with a lot of folks. Not having equipment prepared is another example. When someone is having trouble casting because of a half filled spool of old cheap line, or wonder why they can't get a hook set with an old dull hook, I can't help but wonder...

It is sometimes the guys who have a little experience, and think they know what they are doing that are the worst offenders. Sometimes our egos get in the way of learning. A new fisherman will usually try to follow instructions. Once we have a little success we become a little harder to train.

[Catt]

Eliminate your history you've eliminated your experience

[WRB]

When first reading this post, before anyone had added their comments, I started to make a top 10 list and didn't have the time due to going to a concert to see James Taylor and Carole King.

Now that I have the time and reading the inputs, it came to me that we all learn from our mistakes and need to get out and fish however we choose. What may appear as a mistake, may or may not be a mistake.

Sure good tackle helps, but bass can be caught on nearly anything, that is why they are so popular.

I have watched kids in Mexico catch a lot of bass casting with a beer can wrapped with old mono line, a rusty hook and discarded plastic worms.

Yes, we should take the time to study what is available, but there is too much misinformation along with good advice.

Carole King and James Taylor's music is classic, no added whiz bang, just simple instrument and lyrics, performed to perfection.

Go out and fish and learn to use the lures of choice to perfection, that bass will let you know if you are making mistakes.

Fish too fast; tell that to KVD. Fish too slow; tell that to a live bait trophy fisherman camped out double anchored on 1 spot all day. The perfect lure, the best rod & reel, terminal tackle or line hasn't been made, that will pass the test of time.

Enjoy you time on the water, the mistakes will continue to happen, even the pros make them and learn by them.

WRB

[Paul Roberts]

... but give me enough time to over analize it and I will figure it out.

And I am always observing and learning. You dont always need to have a line in the water to learn. Sometimes I just watch the bass.

Figuring it out -- that's where knowledge and the "fishing" coincide. It's what makes "fishing history" a tool for some, and a crutch for others.

They forget the basic principle of finding fish; depth & speed control.

Absolutely key.

[Catt]

Another major misconception is that Pros like a KVD simply fish fast when nothing could be farther from the true.

By eliminated patterns & waters that are non-productive, duplicate patterns & waters that are productive the whole process speeds up.

[Raul]

Not knowing their tackle well enough

Not paying attention to the conditions

Fishing history instead of fishing the current conditions

Not checking their line frequently, cut and retie, how often ? as much as you need to, not as little as you think you need to do it

Lousy knots, knots have to be perfect all the time

Plus some others like location, cover. structure, etc, etc, etc ( that have already been mentioned ).

[WRB]

There is a difference between what mistakes amateur tournament anglers make and general recreational bass anglers. Tournament anglers are under a set rules that don't always apply to recreational anglers.

Time being the most obvious and total weight to win a check should be the goal. The recreational angler just wants to catch a few bass and enjoy themselves on the water and that should be there goal.

My goal for example is catching big bass with lures. One big bass every 5 trips out on the water is OK, catching no big bass during the year isn't bad as I enjoy bass fishing in general and catch a lot of bass pursuing big bass.

I was talking to Robert Munoz the other day and dropped one of my bass mounts off to be touched up after some damage that occurred from an earth quake. One of the trophy bass anglers asked what I fish with and my reply was hair jigs. The angler asked why would you use that and not live crawdads??? you are making a big mistake!!! Maybe, but I enjoy catching giant bass on lures. Enjoy what you do and you will become a better bass angler and learn what you need to know to become better.

I can't tell you how many people tell me that I fish jigs incorrectly by keeping the rod tip down. Maybe, but it works for me.

The 10 mistakes the amateurs make; believing everything they read.

WRB

[Captain Obvious]

The one mistake I think a lot of guys make is thinking it takes $10,000 worth of rods reels and tackle to be successful.

And if their really serious about becoming better they have to understand that when it comes to rods and reels you always take quality over quantity. 

[tommy]

boat positioning....

[fishfordollars]

Retrieve angles. left it off the first list.

[D4u2s0t]

A big thing, which I think was already said, is always, always fishing too shallow...  I saw guys 2 days after ice out with their boat 20 feet from shore beating the bank...  meanwhile you have about a zero percent chance of catching anything along the shoreline for maybe 2 months after ice out in my lake.

[Blue Streak]

Not adapting to changing conditions.

Staying with their favorite bait or method way too long.

[Mattlures]

interesting thread. Most of the things mentioned have been contradicted. It seems something might be a mistake for 1 guy but not for the other.

[D4u2s0t]

interesting thread. Most of the things mentioned have been contradicted. It seems something might be a mistake for 1 guy but not for the other.

what it comes down to, is that much of fishing is personal preference, and working around your strenghts, and doing what works for YOU.  If there was just one way to fish, and it was the right way, there would be no need for hundreds of articles covering every circumstance, along with these forums.  It's the same at all levels of fishing...  I was reading an article written by pros (I think ike, kvd, there was 2 or 3 others can't remember who) and they all said "the best technique for early bass is xxxx "  and they were all very different techniques and tips.

Fishing is one of those things where it's going to vary from lake to lake, state to state, coast to coast.  Then, it's going to vary based on an anglers experience, level of patience, and willingness to learn and keep an open mind.

[BassThumb]

Maybe I missed it, but not keeping your hooks sharp is one issue, especially after snagging or catching numerous fish on light hooks. Another would be learning how to fish at a computer screen instead of learning from trial and error on the water. One I feel is very important, even though it has been mentioned a few times, is starting with good line and maintaining it strength by respooling often and tying strong knots.

"Fishing too fast" is a tricky one because it is a little vague. It can mean a few things, trolling too fast and missing spots, over-anxiousness, not saturating the entire structure or cover with casts from different angles, not letting lures pause for very long, or simply too fast of a retrieve. Although fishing fast can be a problem for some, fishing slow can be just as big a problem for others, when they sit too long and soak unproductive water with 9 lures because of what it once produced. I am guilty of this more often than not. I feel sometimes I fish too slowly and too patiently, and that I need to pick up the pace and give up on a spot that isn't producing and try another.

[Blue Streak]

"Fishing is one of those things where it's going to vary from lake to lake, state to state, coast to coast. Then, it's going to vary based on an anglers experience, level of patience, and willingness to learn and keep an open mind".

[timothy_spain]

1. using the wrong hooks

2. sets hook too early

3. hooksets for topwater bites are different

4. can't horse all fish in

5. knot slips

6. tackle maintenance (rusted hooks, line management, etc)

[Osprey39]

It's interesting that many of the things listed are related to actually hooking/landing fish (hook selection, line maintenance, knots, etc.)  To me, catching the fish is easy.  Finding them in numbers is the tricky part along with actually getting them to bite. 

Some of the mistakes I make:

1.  Moving too fast through an area

2.  Working baits too fast

3.  Bank beating way too often

I'm sure I could think of more but those are three things I've been trying to work on getting better about.

[snuffy33]

Finding them in numbers is the tricky part.

There it is.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

using too many different baits or changing too often

Thats not really a mistake.It can be great to try new things very often, but occasionaly it can be bad.

But i think fishing too fast can be a problem

[nubasser]

I have only been bass fishing for a few years and a lot of my biggest mistakes fall between two areas

1.)patience(not trusting things which will probably impede me developing instincts)

2.)and looking at each cast as an opportunity to catch a fish.

eight more i see myself and others do.

3.)fishing a bait because it's hot(seen on tv)but not matching it to conditions or presentation.

4.)When your co-angler or fishin buddy is wearing you out not paying attention to his presentation*ask him/her if they will tell yah

5.)scared to leave what u are familiar with(sure they were there hitiing *insert lure here*the last five trips out."they must not be biting"well maybe they aren't there-this I'm also very bad about I'm a chronic bank beater

6.)Not keeping some kind of log or record>(u can learn alot by knowing what worked and what didnt)

7.)not visiting bass resource(especialy forums and articles)

8.)equipment.You dont need  the best stuff but take care of whatever you use.Clean what can be cleaned and lube what can be lubed.good line sharp hooks.If you cant take care of your equipment find someone who will for you.

9.)being out when it's not safe(have all safety equipment available especially if fishing from a boat

10.)if you are an amateur and you arent doing this last thing you are really making a mistake....Expose someone you care about to bass fishing.Spouse,kids,parents friends,co-workers(thanks Bill)and any others.

[lure junkie]

another one based solely on personal experiences would be establishing realistic expectations