Bass fishing is a fun way to spend time with friends and family. You can head out on the water with your rod and use your fishing knowledge to hook that beautiful largemouth bass, Kentucky bass, spotted bass, or another black bass species.
However, your success on the water can often depend on how much knowledge you have. Many of the best fishers gain their knowledge with time, patience, and experience. However, it’s also possible to acquire it in some of the following ways:
Join Fishing Groups and Teams
If you attend some of the top fishing universities in the country, such as Penn State University, Yale University, and Paul Smith’s College, you’ll enjoy not only quality education but also the potential to expand your fishing knowledge.
These universities and others are in proximity of desirable fishing spots, meaning you’ll never be too far from a body of water to drop in a line. Due to their location, many of these universities also have fishing clubs, meaning you can share and receive knowledge from other people passionate about bass fishing. Even if you aren’t enrolled in a university with an on-campus fishing club, you’re bound to find a bass fishing club in your area with plenty of knowledgeable people to learn from.
Ask Questions
Pride can sometimes get in the way of learning new things and enhancing your current bass fishing knowledge. If you know someone in your life who is a knowledgeable bass fisher, don’t be afraid to take every opportunity presented to learn from them.
Ask about the best fishing knots to attach fishing line to your reel and the best fishing techniques to use in various seasons. The more you ask, the more you learn, and the person you ask is likely more than happy to share their tips and tricks.
Join Online Forums
Not everyone is blessed with an educated angler in their life willing to share their knowledge. In that case, don’t be afraid to join an online bass fishing forum when you’re trying to refine your skills and become better at catching the big one.
Bass fishing forums are generally where like-minded people come together and share their experiences, knowledge, and wisdom in case it’s of benefit to others. They can also be ideal platforms to ask questions if you have a bass fishing-related problem you can’t solve alone.
Watch Videos
When you can’t quite master that perfect fishing knot, or you’re having difficulty choosing the best soft or hard baits, browse the internet to find videos of people with all the answers. Video platforms like YouTube can be a haven of information, with people comparing different products and techniques and even describing their pros and cons. When you watch videos, you can gain knowledge and make a well-informed decision about something you can do or purchase for your next bass fishing trip.
You might be disheartened about your lack of bass fishing skills, but everyone has to start somewhere. You might be a beginner now, but by joining online forums and clubs, asking questions, and watching videos, it might only be a matter of time before people are coming to you for advice to improve their own skills.