Tips On Getting Started

[Champ188]

Like Edwin, I am not a fulltime fisherman or guide, but I'm slightly north of age 50, meaning I've been fishing better than 45 years now. I've learned most of what I know the hard way and wouldn't trade a minute of the effort it took to get where I am now.

That said, in fishing pro-am tournaments and talking with/observing my back-seat partners, I think the biggest mistake I see is they get too wrapped up in particular lures or techniques and they forget the most important thing --- you gotta know something about the dadgum fish that you're trying to catch!

Techniques are important and at times it is downright critical to be throwing the right lure, but the one constant in bass fishing is that no matter what lure you have or how good you are with it, you can't catch squat if you aren't around the fish. Learn their habits, their seasonal patterns, and as much as possible, learn WHY they do what they do.

Hot lures and techniques come and go with the wind, but learning the stuff above will serve you a lifetime.

And I couldn't agree more with the guys who recommended hiring a guide. Just be sure and hire one who wants to see you learn something and who isn't out there to impress you with how much HE knows. Bill Babler would be a heckuva good choice.

[Jerry Rapp]

hire Bill for 2 days and tell him what you want to learn. Then in late July hire him again for a day, and the same in the fall. I bet that investment will pretty well dial you in for the upcoming years. Good luck, and just enjoy it.

[WeekendWarrior]

I agree with hiring a guide, I have wasted money on so-called guides, but this lake is full of great guides, several of which talk with each other on and off the lake. I have had a guide trip with Bill Beck and would definitely recommend him as well as Bill Babler as both talk to each other as previously said. Jerry Rapp has a great point in that if you really want to learn the lake you need to get a guide in spring, summer, and the fall and be a sponge and absorb everything they are saying.

[Darron Cooper]

Definitely HIRE A GUIDE!!! I have fished with Bill Babler 3 times over the past 3 years and learned something each time. Best to go out at different times (take one trip pre spawn and the next post spawn or fall, etc) so you can learn different patterns. One time I fished with Bill and only caught a few b/c it was a tough day (sunny and slick) but I learned techniques that allowed me to catch fish later. About everything i do now i learned from a quide. Table rock is to big to just go out and start throwing lures. I plan on taking several more trips with Bill. Also, this board is invaluable. I was struggling 2 weeks ago to find a pattern and read Bill's report. Guess what? Went out the next morning a threw a split shot rigged fish doctor and caught a few smallmouth. My 10 year old son caught a nice 18 inch smallie. For us "weekend warriors" its tough to catch fish. When I retire it may it will hopefully be different. Its just tough to start from scratch on such a big lake when you only get out a few days a month.

[dwiebenga]

I am a weekend warrior as well. I have been with Bill on 3 occasions, and it has totally increased my production on TR. Then, I can not say enough about this forum. It is a gold mine of information. Listen to these guys and gals, they know their stuff.

Here is my basic set up for the year on Table Rock...

Spring: Jerkbait, grub, white fluke, shakey head, spinnerbait, jig

Summer: jig, topwater, dropshot

Fall: jig, topwater, wart, drop shot, spinnerbait

I spend the majority of my time around Shell Knob. I am not a pro by any means, but I have been able to catch fish pretty regularly.

Good luck, and as they say the best advise is ..."Go do it!"

Dave

[tmoney]

Here's my advice:

1. Read this thing daily

2. Buy good gear. I regret every cheap rod or reel I ever bought.

3. Change techniques and lures often if your not getting bit. Biggest mistake I made when I started 3 yrs ago was staying with one thin because it worked last time. Lol!

4. Hire a guide that supports you! Bill babler supports this forum and gives countless advice to thousands of people for free. When I hire a guide, he will be the man.

5. Good electronics make a difference. Cheap ones are nothing more than depth finders. U don't have to spend thousands but a good hummingbird down imaging front mount is key. Especially in the summer when drop shot is on.

[CaptainJoe]

Here are my Top 10 suggestions in random order that I have used extensively:

1. Learn everything you can about the fish you want to catch, e.g., forage base, seasonal patterns, etc.

2. Read everything you can about the fish, fishing, and this lake, e.g., this site, FLW/B.A.S.S./Central Pro Am tournament article results, magazines, blogs, etc.

3. DVR/tape fishing shows on NBC Sports Network, ESPN, Outdoor Channel, Pursuit Channel and learn from them.

4. Probably the most important: Join a local Bass Club. Best to be a non-boater and get paired up with people that know the lake well.

5. Participate in tournaments either as a partner or non-boater.

6. Buy good gear, not great gear, but not cheap gear.

7. Study, study, study your lake map.

8. Use good electronics and other tools (Hydrowave).

9. When the pros are here, pick one that uses similar techniques that you do (from articles and TV shows) and follow him throughout the tournament.

10. Practice casting until your arms almost fall off and then cast some more. Hit a coffee can while flipping and pitching at all distances. Hit a bucket when casting. Skip baits under a dock. The best fisherman are the ones who can put the bait "exactly" where they have "learned" where the fish should be located.

If you do all of the above well, you may not need a guide. But, if you still need help, a guide will help you to put everything above into perspective and should be able to demonstrate it on the water.

Good luck!

[dtrs5kprs]

...and on TR when all else fails, get on some windy gravel and swim a smoke grub or drag a football jig out to about 30'.

[techo]

To echo what everyone else is saying.....get a guide. The first year I fished the Rock...I almost gave up as we weren't catching anything. I hired Bill for a half day and told him what I wanted to learn. He drove me around the lake pointing out different things and we were off. Every year since then has been fun! The money for a guide will be saved in gas after the learning session.

I fished other lakes in the past and did pretty well, BUT Table ROck is a different beast for me.

[kyled]

very helpful feedback......... I would not ask the question if I was not willing to take the advice given, and it sounds like I need to:

1. Read, study , read some more about the fish I am trying catch and not as much about the baits or new hot lures.

2. Hire a guide. I don't know exactly why I was against it initially, but this many positive opinions about it cant be wrong. I would not hesitate to use a consultant in my day job, but never thought of hiring a guide for my hobby. Kind of funny how that works. So it looks like I need a consultant (guide) for my hobby.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to reply and help me out, also thanks for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate how open you guys are about what is working for you.