Become a better bass angler

Too Much – Too Soon
Too many newcomers to the sport want to learn too many techniques too quickly.  Stick to the basics!  
Pick one technique at a time and learn to fish that technique properly before mo-ving onto the next. Take time to catch enough fish on the technique until you are confident enough to know that you can catch fish on it. Confidence is the best bait in your tackle box!

Bait Fixation
We all know the story...Johnny says that so and so lure is the only lure to fish at so and so dam! We go out to the tackle store and purchase so and so lure because we are planning a trip to so and so dam, only to be disappointed in that specific lure’s productivity.
Catching bass is more about locating bass than using any specific lure. Find the bass and you will catch the fish! It is easier to catch a bass in the right area with the wrong lure than to be in the wrong area with the right lure.

History does not always repeat itself!
Just because you caught a couple of fish in a specific spot last week will not necessarily mean there will be fish in the same spot next week. Pay attention to the specific conditions surrounding each catch – time of year, weather, water temperature, depth, lure, etc.  
Conditions may change several times within a day. Seasonal conditions may take a while longer to change. Make a mental note each time you catch a fish and keep a fishing log of the day’s catch.
If the conditions repeat themselves then yes, you may catch fish in the same areas as the last trip but don’t get caught in the ‘spot’-checking trap. Fish each day for itself and be open to adjust your fishing strategy to suit the changing conditions.

Monkey See...Monkey Do
Johnny won a tournament at so and so spot, with so and so lure, using so and so colour. Peter says that so and so technique works in so and so area. So you run around the dam, checking out Johnny and Peter’s spots whilst fishing with lures or techniques you are not totally confident in. What happens? You end up going home empty-handed. Do not listen to launch-ramp or tackle store sales talk! Find your own fish, establish a pattern and fish with lures and styles you are familiar with.

Focus – Focus – Focus
Once you have selected an area to fish commit to that area and fish it 100%.  Concentrate on the conditions.  Know where your lure is at all times and know what it is doing under water!
If you felt your bait coming over rocks and shortly thereafter you hook a fish, chances are that the bass are relating to rock. Find some more rock and you could catch more fish.  How long does it take for your lure to reach bottom? Count down the seconds. If you are casting into 20 count depths but your lure stops sinking after only 10 counts...set the hook!
You do not always feel the fish pick up your bait but if you are paying attention you will know when something is different.