What bass fishing books or articles helped you?

So besides countless YouTube videos and fishing shows and forums such as this one, I have a thirst to know as much about bass fishing as I can. The problem I find with the internet, is that you can get 10 different videos with ten different opinions on how to catch the same fish. I have to say that I never trust what I see on TV (fishing shows) as I feel everything is about selling me something. So... I turn to books or magazines as my primary source of learning...

I have a handful of books that I have read, but here are the two that I really like and that have made the most impact on my fishing. The first is pretty simplistic and general, and helped me when I just started fishing, but I still look at it today when I am in a slump to see if there is anything I am forgetting.

The second one is a great read... Lots and lots of information about LMB and reading a lake, baits, how to's... I have read it a couple times and read pieces of it over and over as it applies to whatever I am trying to do. A must have.

Anyway, was wondering what other books are out there that some of you might have read and found impactful to your fishing. I guess at the end of the day nothing replaces just getting out there with different people and learning that way, but it helps with the 'cabin fever' for sure.

I just purchased "knowing Bass" by Keith Jones. It has not arrived yet, but I am looking forward to reading it over spring break on the Texas coast. It's pretty pricey so I hope it worth the $$. I have heard good things about it and it is highly rated on many sites.

I have also read "High percentage Fishing" by Josh Alwine. This one was pretty basic but did have some small nuggets of gold. No real aha moments.

Have not heard of the 2 you mentioned above. Will have to check these out as well. Thanks for the post.

"Small nuggets of gold..." Haha, I'll take it!

John Hopes Track'n trophies is tough to beat if you are a Texas Fisherman.

If you are experienced, then maybe just the bottom one will be of value, and I agree with the nuggets statement. I am going to check out the ones mentioned though... I need all the nuggets I can get lol

I think that you will enjoy Knowing Bass (can’t believe the current price as I only paid $15 or so years ago). It will give you an in-depth (scientific) understanding of a bass senses which is just as importing as finding their location. Along with In-Fisherman, it has been one of the best bass reads I’ve had.

NONE! Time on the water will help you the most!

exactly what I was gonna post.

They are good entertainment for when the wife is watching something I'd rather not watch on tv. I can read a book that interests me. But, time fishing is where you learn how, what, when, and where.

Of course time on the water is important, but you can vastly shorten the learning curve on just about any pursuit in life by absorbing the wisdom of folks who have done it before. It's the whole idea of mentors, the reason we invented language, and the sole reason that our species has achieved the heights it has.

Absolutely, spend as much time on the water as you can... But if you are like most folks you don't get as many chances as you'd like to get on the water so reading books can be a great way to ensure when you do get the chance you are maximizing the effectiveness of your time.

Obviously I'm a bit bias towards my books, but outside of that here are some of my favorites:

"Hannon's Big Bass Magic” - Paperback – June, 1986 by Douglas Hannon (Author)
"Doug Hannon's Field Guide for Bass Fishing” - Paperback – 2000 by R. Douglas Hannon (Author)
"Big Bass Zone” - Paperback – February, 2005 by Bill Siemental (Author), Larry Jones (Author), Michael Jones (Author)
"In Pursuit of Giant Bass” - Paperback – 1999 by Bill Murphy (Author)
“Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World-Record Largemouth Bass" - Paperback – February 28, 2006 by Monte Burke (Author)
"Knowing Bass: The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish” - Paperback – July 1, 2005 by Keith A. Jones PhD (Author)
"The Scientific Angler” - Hardcover – October, 1984 by Paul C. Johnson (Author)
"John Hope's Trackin' Trophies” - Paperback – 2001 by Jesse Miller (Author)
"Lunker!” - Hardcover – October, 1975 by Bob A. Underwood (Author)
"Spoonplugging” - Paperback – 1979 by Buck Perry (Author)

When I was around 8 years old, my first BASS subscription came with a book called "Bassin Magic". I read that thing cover to cover more times than I can remember, never had anyone to take me fishing or teach me anything so my buddies and I rode our bikes to Denton Creek or stock ponds to fish. I learned how to tie knots, how to rig baits, and basic presentation techniques from the book. While I agree time on the water is the best way to refine your skills and learn how to pattern fish, books and other information certainly have their place. IMHO.

High percentage Fishing and Lunker Lore by Josh Alwine are both very good reads.

Time on the water is always the best

I really like this site:

https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing

Always good reading.

books are ok with fundamentals like terminology, how to rig/tie etc. if you are wanting to become a better angler, you'll need to build your confidence in the more advance parts of angling. for example, understanding weather and forage as relating to bass, locating fish, electronics, confidence in lure selection, boat control, mood of the fish etc etc. I could go on and on but my point is that books cant teach confidence. TOW is the fastest learning curve exponentially.

Different opinion here. There's been lots of times I've read something, watched something, talked to somebody, then when out and tried something I learned. I never would have had the confidence to chuck giant swimbaits for instance, without first having read about it. Who in their right mind would sit on a funnel point and stitch for two hours without having read about Bill Murphy's and John Hope's techniques and successes? Do books instill confidence? In my case they sure spark it anyway. Read away folks. "The person you'll be in 5 years is based on the books you read and the people you surround yourself with today." Choose wisely.

I haven't read a book in decades, guess im a goner...

I think it's a great point.. lots of great points. I agree that there is no better way than time on the water, but I can't be on the water as much as I can be in a good book, so to fill that time, and pick up some things to try, books do that for me. I see a few here I will definitely take a look at. You know, I fish a lone a lot, and what I find is that if I didn't get an idea from a book, I would probably do the same thing that caught fish last time and not that one thing that might catch me more fish next time...

And just to add to the time on the water comments.. time on the water with new people that I have not fished with... I have learned so much picking up a back seat every once in awhile.

Thanks for all of the comments.. got what I came for.. and got some ordering/reading to do.

I have both of JPurdues books, both are real good. I also like Mike Icanonellis fishing on the edge. A good story of "going all in" to achieve your dream.

Al Eason's "How Pro Guides Find and Catch Fish"

greatness

That's because there are so many different ways to catch the fish and rarely two days are the same. Time on the water is the best teacher of all but it's not always possible. I learned a TON from reading BASSMASTER and every other book I could get my hands on when I was younger.

My advice is to go fishing with as many different people as you can every chance you can. Everybody has their strengths & weaknesses. Be like a sponge and soak up as much as you can from the guys that have the knowledge.

Bass masters gave me a lot of beneficial tips from the pros that I still use.

When I got crazy about bass fishing, it was Roland Martin's "101 bass catching secrets" that I read... it's very dated (especially now), but I think still has good info in it. It's pretty thorough in a lot of places, mine is 429 pages.

He was a character. I was fortunate enough to be with him in his final days and the last person to ever fish with him. Glad you mentioned that book it is always on my desk. Great memories.

It’s important to remember that people learn in different ways. For some, visual input is mandatory. Others learn well from audible input. Demonstration followed by practice works best for most, because it’s almost impossible to learn to DO something by listening or reading about how to do it. It can be done, though. the days before computers and videos, I taught myself to be a pretty good downhill skier by reading, looking at pictures, and lots of practice. Same with playing golf. Most folks learn best by using a combination of visual, audible, and demo/performance. Without a mentor to demonstrate, it’s a long, difficult process. Practicing a task (like casting) the wrong way makes little sense; practicing the right way is invaluable.

For good information, these helped me:

Largemouth: Book of the Black Bass (Henshell)
Smallmouth: Them Ol’ Brown Fish (Westmoreland)
All old issues of In Fisherman Magazine
Spoonplugging (Buck Perry)
Soft plastics: There He Is (Bill Dance, I think)
Most articles and videos in www.bassresource.com
J. Purdue’s 2 books
Roland Martin’s book mentioned above
In Pursuit of Giant Bass (Bill Murphy)
Both of Doug Hannon’s books

Hope this helps.

Tom