scientific or Experience

[Bigbass Dez]

I got topic from another Forum and i wanted to share it with the Washington anglers and get more of a local opinion . So the question at hand is from your own personal perspective relating to bass fishing , whats more important to you as the bass angler the scientific approach or the time on the water approach ? Is it more important to read up on all the basics and fundamentals of bass fishing or just get out there and let the experience on the lake teach you ? ...Iv been fishing since i was a kid and started with a cane pole down in the south and i got my first zebco @ age 7 , I still to this day remember and reflect upon tips and techniques that my grandad gave me when i was young . I later on in life decided to make Bass my fish of choice to pursue , I became a member of B.A.S.S. (i still to this day were there patch) this begin the process of reading the magazines , bass books , etc . At this point of my my fishing i personally have retained more knowledge from time spent on the water than in the books. Not to take anything from excellent and necessary reading material , i feel like i have a edge over a angler that i refer to as "the book worm" . From a different perspective I also realize that not all anglers started bass fishing from time on the water but yet watching anglers on t.v or reading about about this wonder species ..Is this to say that a fish biologist is just as good as a touring Bass pro ?


TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK !!!



BBD

[Drewp]

I think a good healthy combination of both is the best, but nothing beats time on the water. Magazines, books, tv shows, etc are good for learning about cutting edge/new techniques, but no matter how much you read up on 'em or watch them, you won't really learn 'em till you try 'em.

[A9]

I don't think this is just with bass fishing either, but I think one can read all the information available and be lost out on the water. Experience is a far better thing to have working for you then the books and TV shows. You'll remember/learn more from a good day on the water then reading stuff on the internet....

I still think reading up has it's place and is very valuable, but nothing beats experience....

[Bigbass Dez]

I think a good healthy combination of both is the best, but nothing beats time on the water. Magazines, books, tv shows, etc are good for learning about cutting edge/new techniques, but no matter how much you read up on 'em or watch them, you won't really learn 'em till you try 'em.

So Drew are you saying that you believe that most of what you read as far as cutting edge /new techniques is without question true , and from that point you experiment with it on the water ? and if so what would you base your results on ? .. Example if you read that it's good to skipp a tube under a dock for monster bass , and your next venture out you attempt this with no success it that to say that you did something wrong or did that article mislead you ? hmmm ...what will motivate you to continue to try it again your personal experience from that day or more reading materiel on fishing docks ?

[Kevin K]

For me personally, time on the water is the most important. However, information in books and magazines, and on TV are helpful in learning new techniques to try. While I might not always be successful with a new technique or lure, it never hurts to add something to your arsenal. Even if it does not work initially, it gives one something to try again when the usual methods are not producing. I also believe that a good topo map and the knowledge of bass migration/mating/feeding paterns learned from TV, magazines, etc...are valuable tools that can make a difference in making your ability to catch fish more consistent.

[Drewp]

BigBassDez - I was coming at it from more of a purely informational standpoint. Magazines, TV shows, Books and even internet forums are great sources to find out what the latest rage and successful new techniques are that I might not otherwise even know existed. And don't get me wrong, all of those resources are excellent troves of classic fishing knowledge as well. One definitely must know his/her roots and respect the basics for sure.

But, as much as you read up on something, you gots ta get out and there and do it. Whether it's failure or success, nothing can substitute for time on the water. That's where the real learning takes place.

[Drewp]

One other thing meant to mention about the "bookworm" method is that it can do wonders on your confidence level. If you read about a technique, watch it in action on TV, and hear about it working for another angler on a forum, it can really boost your own confidence about said technique - and we all know how huge the confidence factor is in fishing. Still, in the end it boils down to getting out there and getting that first fish on a jig, dropshot, Carolina rig, Texas rig, spinnerbait, lipless, topwater, etc, etc. A combination approach (bookworkm and the real thing) gets you the best of both worlds and I would argue makes for a more successful angler.

[fishing collector]

I would think that a little of both would be the best. It's like anything in life you gotta practice, practice practice to be the best that you can be in any subject. I think that if you read about fishin' for bass before you went out, you would at least have a background on what the heck you were fishin' for and how to get 'em. Reading about the technique gives you the background and practice gets the fish...Good luck and go out get and some practice.

[HillbillyGeek]

I think a good healthy combination of both is the best, but nothing beats time on the water. Magazines, books, tv shows, etc are good for learning about cutting edge/new techniques, but no matter how much you read up on 'em or watch them, you won't really learn 'em till you try 'em.

Yeah, what he said...

There is no substitute for time on the water, but a little research could reduce frustration in a big way. NOT catching fish can be a learning experience, but if I can save lots of time and money by reading a book or getting advice from people who have been successful, I'm on it!

[fishaholictaz]

I see it this way; I have a friend who got some books and watched some shows but can't cast to save his life:-$ He will never get to fish productivly until he isn't rerigging every 10 casts#-o But he knows how to work the lure and what colors/patterns to use. But to be a super basser he has to practise or I will still catch more.
Also another thing that you can't learn without practise that affects catching fish is boat control. It can be very tricky fishing and trying to keep the boat out of the holes on those windy days!

[kevinb]

Time on the water is key but I have learned some great tips from media publications.
At least with certain species of fish.

[Bigbass Dez]

Thanks for the feedback Boyz , The whole purpose behind this thread is to mainly "Highlight" how we mentally and physically go about bassing . What im hoping to achieve here is that a beginner angler will read this and not feel bad or less confident about there experience on the water . It really gets under my skin we i hear people in general talk about how easy it is catching bass . I will stress that 10% of the lures catch fish and 90% catch anglers and with the fishing industry grossing a Billion dollar a year "knowledge is Power" ..


Thanks again guyz and my your next bass be your best bass ... BBD

[cavdad45]

Here is how I started...

I caught a bass by chance while fishing for trout. Instantly fell in love with bass and started studying and reading everything I could find. So I started on a scientific approach, but soon realized that many of the "truths" of science did not apply so neatly to Northwest waters as they do on Southern impoundments.

Now I use experience based on based upon bass science. Is that muddied up now?

[Bigbass Dez]

Here is how I started...

I caught a bass by chance while fishing for trout. Instantly fell in love with bass and started studying and reading everything I could find. So I started on a scientific approach, but soon realized that many of the "truths" of science did not apply so neatly to Northwest waters as they do on Southern impoundments.

Now I use experience based on based upon bass science. Is that muddied up now?

Now were talking C-dad , thats were im going with this . Alot of people started the same way here in washington but all Bass reads dont apply to the northwest and that can only be determined by your experince on the water here and other states. Im sure alot of people will agree that we learn more from other angler on "our" lakes than what skeet reese or another pro has say about bassing in genaral .. Too answer your question about bassing reads being muddied up , That has yet to be determined at this point but i think we are on way atleast getting a over all opinion .

[bassmasterderek]

Here is how I started...

I caught a bass by chance while fishing for trout. Instantly fell in love with bass and started studying and reading everything I could find. So I started on a scientific approach, but soon realized that many of the "truths" of science did not apply so neatly to Northwest waters as they do on Southern impoundments.

Now I use experience based on based upon bass science. Is that muddied up now?

I agree Cav! I grew up learning to bass fish in the midwest mainly oklahoma. When I started fishing bass here I had to change allot of favorite methods I used to use! Time spent on the water helped me adjust to the new northwest fishing waters.

I can see that someone just wanting to learn to bass fish may read bassmaster magazine or watch bill dance/roland martin and go out and try their techniques. When they fail they may get frustrated but don't understand that we live in totally different conditions than the midwest. Experiment with techniques you know at different lakes/conditions and with time spent on the water you gain enough knowledge to have decent fishing experiences!

[cavdad45]

BBD, back in the early 90's, I used to write magazine articles which appeared in Washington-Oregon Game & Fish, Pacific Northwest Outdoors, even a couple short pieces in Field & Stream. I approached several book publishers about a Northwest Bass book, and the common reason for the decline was that the topic was too narrow in scope and therefore would not be cost effective to publish. Even Frank Amato said that!!

That's why most fishing info published is directed toward a Southern audience.

[Bigbass Dez]

BBD, back in the early 90's, I used to write magazine articles which appeared in Washington-Oregon Game & Fish, Pacific Northwest Outdoors, even a couple short pieces in Field & Stream. I approached several book publishers about a Northwest Bass book, and the common reason for the decline was that the topic was too narrow in scope and therefore would not be cost effective to publish. Even Frank Amato said that!!

That's why most fishing info published is directed toward a Southern audience.

That kinda plays into the Billion dollars a year figure . It seems that in order for "good info " too get passed around it has to be marketed on a national point of view , but since the south has the majority of bass lakes thats were the writers most focus is going to be . I have been here for 3years now and i just read a magazine i got @ the NW Bass circuit (cant recall the name of it right ) It cost like $8.00 / but this was the only read that got very detailed on the lakes and baits here in Washington and Oregon and they only have four issues per year .

[Trent Hale]

I feel that when the fish are active you'll catch fish. So I would say time on the water.

[AaronE]

I spent my first 30 years in Georgia and Florida, and I can tell you that bass fishing is the national pasttime down there, followed closely by whitetail season. And like others have mentioned, it's a different game up here - what works in Georgia and Oklahoma might not get a second look up here.

I think once you have a scientific understanding of what *should* work you can build on that and manipulate it to fit what actually *does* work.

Or, as I heard Bill Dance (or was it Orlando Wilson?) say one time, "Name me one natural food for a bass that looks and acts like a plastic worm. There isn't one." And he's right. But plastic worms slay the bass when a lot of other lures won't get noticed, so at that point experience trumps science.

[cavdad45]

Don't get me wrong, there is alot of valuable bass info out there. Remember what Ray Scott always said, "A bass is a bass, no matter where he lives."