Fishing I.Q-knowledge

[jcb]

Keep a fishing log of fish you catch.

Calendar date
Time of day
Water temp
Air temp
Barometric pressure and rising/falling
Wind speed and direction
Cloud cover
Lure
Size
Color
Depth
Presentation

[Rob1678]

Great advice folks. Thank you

[DHart]

I second Sripernut 1.

I could look at 100 videos, and would not learn as much as spending time on the water with a reputable local guide. I learned more about smallmouth fishing in 6 hrs. with a guide from Ketttle, KY than I could ever learn from books or videos.

This experience also gives you confidence, because you know it works for you. That makes a big difference.

[Rob1678]

I posted this question several weeks ago and wanted to come back and give an update. I might get laughed off the board but here goes. I TOTALLY AGREE that the number one way to get better at bass fishing is to get on the water and figure stuff out!! BUT if you do everything in the off-season you can do to increase your odds or better yet confidence, you might have a better chance of figuring it out on the water when you do go fishing. I spent the last weekend in Indiana attending BASS UNIVERSITY seminar. The seminar was very informative, but the basstv is also very informative and hopefully beneficial. Keep in mind I am a total redneck nerd. I put together spread sheets and track ph, water temp, water color, barometric pressure, lunar tables, etc... I research crawfish and shad lifecycle and migration patterns. I really do try to do my homework. This is the kind of “fishing knowledge” I was trying to expand upon, but keep in mind... I am still a terrible fisherman, though educated... terrible! LOL! I think the fishing logs and the hiring of a guide is probably the MOST important in increasing your knowledge, but I just can’t afford to hire a guide 5 times a year even though I really want to!! Good luck and tight lines!

[1Cast 1Fish]

3 Simple Letters: TOW

I have been working on trying new baits and such and will continue to do so, but the only way to really get better is the hands on approach of TOW. I have watched a ton of video, even make a few videos to share myself, but videos do not put fish in the boat. YOU still have to master the techniques that you watched in videos to be successful.

[Moveon]

The guys that I know who catch lots of fish are pretty smart and they do a lot of work in the off season. Studying the fishes behavior and putting in brush piles or bamboo condo's for crappie. They study the topo maps and learn the structure under the water. They look for long points that extend down into the deeper water form land to river or creek channels.

I highly recommend the In-fisherman books on various species of fish. Crappie Wisdom books are great and will show you how the crappie behave year round. From the early spring season to the late winter and every thing in-between.

And time on the water with a good guide can't hurt.

I posted this question several weeks ago and wanted to come back and give an update. I might get laughed off the board but here goes. I TOTALLY AGREE that the number one way to get better at bass fishing is to get on the water and figure stuff out!! BUT if you do everything in the off-season you can do to increase your odds or better yet confidence, you might have a better chance of figuring it out on the water when you do go fishing. I spent the last weekend in Indiana attending BASS UNIVERSITY seminar. The seminar was very informative, but the basstv is also very informative and hopefully beneficial. Keep in mind I am a total redneck nerd. I put together spread sheets and track ph, water temp, water color, barometric pressure, lunar tables, etc... I research crawfish and shad lifecycle and migration patterns. I really do try to do my homework. This is the kind of “fishing knowledge” I was trying to expand upon, but keep in mind... I am still a terrible fisherman, though educated... terrible! LOL! I think the fishing logs and the hiring of a guide is probably the MOST important in increasing your knowledge, but I just can’t afford to hire a guide 5 times a year even though I really want to!! Good luck and tight lines!

[Rob1678]

Thanks for all the good advice. I will use this to my advantage. I will just tell my wife I need to fish more!!! And I have proof from the folks on fishin.com

[Wormin]

Off season? We don't have an off season,this is the time to learn and put a lunker in the boat in the process. Anyone can catch fish in warm water but if you want to learn then fish in cold water were your fishing for maybe 3bites in a day.

[Moveon]

Thanks for all the good advice. I will use this to my advantage. I will just tell my wife I need to fish more!!! And I have proof from the folks on fishin.com

Tell her I said she has to go fishing with you more often.

[tracy]

Study the species of fish that your fishing for. Learn their seasonal patterns, habits and food. Learn what the fish do when things change like raising water. Fish are easy to catch once you find them. Finding them and staying on them throughout the day is the hardest part.

[linedrager]

I’m with riverrat, time on the water, but read a lot and try things out, stay open minded, read buck perry’s spoon pluggin