I have been out of fishing for about 10 years have gotten back into it and would like to improve my abilities to catch fish. What are some of the best techniques and ways to learn?

Pick a technique and stick with it until you get comfortable. T-riggged plastics are a good place to start. Buy yourself a few sizes and types and keep the colors simple (watermelon, green pumpkin, black/blue, etc). To me, they're the most versitile bait and will work almost anywhere.

Fish with as many different people as you can. I've learned most of my stuff from others.

I am still catching fish the same way I did 10 years ago.

+1 on fishing with different people

Join a laid back club that really promotes the sharing of information and what has been learned. There will be many individuals that are good at particular ways of fishing. Once you get the idea of a certain technique and you want gain a high degree of confedence in it, hit the water without any destractions by yourself and only rods rigged to fish that way. Work it till you know what does and doesn't work for you. Anytime you see someone make changes ask why. Pick their brain if it works for them.

I was out of the bass fishing game for a few years too, and just recently got back into it in recent months.

I used to be a spinnerbait/crankbait only kind of fisherman. When I got back into it, I expanded to worm fishing and other soft plastics. It's been a great platform to expand my fishing abilities.

Reading this forum has also helped me a ton.

When I started many years ago I joined a club that had draw tournaments.When I drew the top spinnerbait fisherman I fished spinnerbaits-worm fisher-worms -ect.It really helped me develop the confidence to use multiple baits.

Higher a guide. They can show you things that you would have never thought of trying and build confidence in that techniques.

Ya can't beat time on the water.

Time on the water and patience..

Practice-Practice-Practice!!!

Go fish with someone who knows what they are doing. Watch them but most importantly ask questions. Most fishermen will readily talk to you about what they love to do, fish. I really enjoy taking people who may not be the best fishermen but who ask questions and will listen. Then go out and practice. If you have seen the technique work it will be easier to develope it into a skill of your own.

I cant help but say this, and dont take it the wrong way.


You have to go where the fish are


I have been working on this forever and its probably the hardest thing i have tried to do as far as fishing goes.

Someone who doesnt fish much will basically do the same thing, they go out and pound the bank with a lure. Alot of us become guilty of this, i know i do.
So i have been woking very hard at fishing points, secondary points, creek channels and points that intersect with creek channels etc. its tough, because i find myself always wanting to go back to the bank and cast away, and i know in my head the fish are not there they are deeper.

There is a time and place for everything, i guess thats what im trying to say overall. I feel when im able to learn this part of fishing it will definately make me a better fisherman, so thats what i continue to focus on.

as far as learning this? i usually take a map of the lake and sit it out on the boat and start putting Way points in on the gps. then when im on the water i try to target the spot and also look and see if any structure has been placed there or is there.
i'll throw a marker out and proceed to fish it. Sometimes you catch some, sometimes you dont, but if your fishing the same lake sooner or later you will have several areas you can go fish that alot of other people will never think of. this is without a doubt the hardest thing i have tried to do to become a better fisherman. its tougher than it sounds.

Jdb3,I couldt agree more....Im guilty of being a bankbeater as well... but I committed myself to learning more about offshore stuff this summer,and its paid off big.But to Robbie,my advice is learn to fish a jig first..it is a bait that I have HUGE confidence in.But alot of people avoid jigs for some reason,it is this very reason that I made myself learn to fish a jig.I think its one of the hardest baits to learn,but it pays off big once you get the hang of it.Good Luck and if youre ever out at Fork,let me know.


~Mike