Being versital,, but above all I think you have to have will and the ability to learn from your mistakes.

SOOO TRUE!

I always get mixed feelings from these types of threads.... one part says one part of me thinks, its only fishing - its not some high art form and we shoudnt over analyze. Another side of me thinks there is more to the spiritual side, being in touch with nature.

I grew up in a fishing family so my viewpoint is biased. I remember cutting open the bellies of bass when I was 8yrs old to see what they were feeding on. Fsihing is like eating, its something we've always done. I think my dad is a great fisherman, he has a number of trophy bass under his belt and knows the water. He's consistent
I don't consider myself a great or even good fisherman, its something I do and don't care to compare myself to others. I know one thing. 80% of my life, I feel out of place and not quite right, I've felt like thsi since I was a kid. As soon as I am in the water, I feel at home, everything feels right , my purpose is clear and my focus is on the fish. Everyting is aligned.
I'd also would say that most "great" fsiherman get skunked a lot, becasue they fish alot. History only rememebrs the catches.

Personally I think that nowledge takes a big part in someone's ability to catch fish consistently. Given the time, we can all master are waters and the lures or baits we use. That's why my favorite lure mite catch fish for me, but mite be the worst lure in your tackle box. I belive that fish aren't as hard to catch as its portraid to be, but then again luck does enter into the game when it comes to big fish tho, but for those how can do it consistently its a skill. Thats why I teach the kids at the fishing academy that a true throphy fish is your personal best. To be good at fishing or anything for that matter you have to just do it. Confidence plays a big part in fishing and being open to change. I have showed many people tricks on the beach and have watched them up there catch within minutes. So it is something that can be thaught, but knowing when to impose them is the hard part.

Sorry I got a little carried away it won't happen again

i have been fishing since i was born and when i hold a rod in my hands if feels so natural like a extension of my body like i was ment to do this and have done it million times before.sometimes i get this feeling about a particular spot i go there and catch fish. this has happend when i got into a massive bass blitz also.
also i have dreams about a spot or a plug and plug color and i catch fish at that spot the next time im there

to me what separates the good from the great,is for good fishing is part of their lives, for the great fishing is their life,. it is much more than just fishing a lot for one species of fish.the truly great fisherman is in tune with thier envoirnment, they put their time in chasing bait,they know how fish relate to the bottom. often times fish will gather in a spot no bigger than a garbage can if you aren't putting your offering in the right spot you twitch everyway under the sun and still not catch even if you are bumping shoulders with your buudy catching fish after fish. i don't think that catching large makes you any better than the next guy, you might have the opportuntiy to fish were large fish congregate. guys with some knowledge ,and the time to follow the large are going to put more large than a guy who can only fish a certain area.

to me its a guy who is in the suds at least 4 nights a week, can adapt and react to every situation the surf may throw at them, they know spots that will hold fish at certain times of the year most of which are depended on tide wind and bait, they know how to fish a certain plug in any given area the correct way, I could go on and on, but its really all about putting your time in and having good gear to fish with...

Hunger. Hungry enough to forego sleep, family and comfort. Hungry enough that you are constantly thinking about it. Hunger that drives you each night to make one more cast, drive farther than most and walk around that next bend on the beach. Hunger that makes you analyze each and every facet of of the fishes world, the bait, the weather, the moon, the tide and how it all relates to what you experienced. Hunger that drives you to read everything you can find on the subject and drives you to seek out those that are consistently successful and ask thier counsel. It's an insatiable quest, a spirit journey to master the art of Striped Bass fishng.:)

Great question Kadir, no doubt one that has been debated many times. Yes luck plays a small role in this equation because I believe that I have had my share of it and I agree with many of the answers posted but I still feel it is more. I chuckle at the thought that I go out to relax and enjoy myself. I enjoy fishing but there is a lot of thought and preparation involved. We would be fooling ourselves not to believe that this is a thinking mans sport, knowing how to read the water and what makes it productive, find structure and understand how to use (fish) it. What bait, plugs, tackle or gear to use under various conditions. Understanding the tides, wind, phases of the moon, weather conditions and time of year. The speed of our retreive, the depth we fish our bait or plugs. Knowing and understanding these things is what gives us that confidence. But sometimes it takes more, we have to let the fish tell us what they want. If we know the water is productive and the fish are there, yet we can't generate a strike know when to change it up. Vary the presentation, then change plugs or jig etc. and go through the formalities again. The fish will tell you what they want and how they want it,thus the learning continues. We need to understand how to make each cast productive and fish with a purpose with a limited number of casts and not just continue casting thinking maybe on the next cast I'll hook up. We also need to spend a couple of moments each time out and observe the environment and condtions around us, ask ourselves what worked and what didn't, then ask why. Make a mental note or better yet keep a log. Guarenteed over time this will make you a better fisherman. Yes we can learn some of this through our fishing forums and having a fishing buddy that's a sharpy certainly helps but for most of us it's putting in the time and paying our dues. Just remember to take away something you learned every time you go.
;)

No doubt hunger/drive is huge, knowledge is key, time put is important and confidence breeds success or vise versa.

The real question then is, what do we really measure "the great ones" by? Knowledge? Drive? Time? Success?

Plus, is it a case of longevity, reputation or pure dominance on their part in their ability to be successful?

They have put in their time, they are driven, they have the knowledge and have been successful for the most part.

Some are record holders, some are not. Some have caught large and some have not but what is it that makes them better than most in most peoples minds?

Is it fact, fiction or perception? Is it myth or lore and how do we really know which? Is it in our minds?

Interesting questions I think. Many people are very knowledgable and many people fish A LOT and catch quite a lot but are not seen as "great". What's the seperation?

Thanks INS!! :)

Kadir

i think it takes an obsessive compulsive disorder and a trust fund :hihi:

The age old struggle between the "lucky" and the "good", something I still can't explain.

I like the old saying "Luck is simply oppurtunity meeting preperation" The best seem to be always prepared, have a game plan, good equipment and the knowledge to enact it all properly..
I had an argument with a non-fishing friend (they do exist) about luck and fishing... I agreed that sometimes it is luck that causes you to drag that plug/bait in front of a lifetime fish, but if you put yourself in the right places, your "luck" increases, and if you hook it you better have the skill, gear and knowledge to land it... thats where luck ends and skill takes over..

Being able to do it consitently in ALL conditions is key as well

In certain cases longevity/experience help... I'm an average bass fisherman, but consider myself well above average when it comes to catching blackfish, especially big ones in the late fall, it's been in my blood for generations, soemthing passed down from my grandfather to my father to me.. and as good as I know I am, and even though the last few years I've taken the bigger fish between my father and I, most days the two of us fish togethor I get out fished, sometimes 2:1 or 3:1, he has "it" when it comes to catching 'chins... what "IT" is... I dunno, but he has it...

Then again in my case.. if I didnt have Bad luck... I'd have no luck at all :rolleyes: :D

RIRockHound, You are right aboout what you say, and some do have 'it" and that "it" is what seperates us.

I think that "it" is knowledge and passion for what they do. They don't do it just to do it...they do it with passion and are confident in their ability and are keen in their knowledge.

Not to sound too over the top but they almost have become one with their environment and their target. They always seem to be two steps ahead because they know what is going on in the other world.

Kadir

The superior fishermen constantly assesses current/learned information and integrates that knowledge with previous knowledge and can adapt to the constantly changing situation he is faced with.
Secondly experience time on the water yields a great deal to becoming "great" at fishing. Recognizing patterns and situations lends itself to greater numbers of fish caught.
Thirdly not being afraid to experiment and fail helps become solvent in the suds or on a boat. Experimentation yields itself to evolution = productive fishing.

BTW- I am NOT a master, great, or even decent fisherman but I strive to better myself each time out.

thanks

:D :D :D :D

your welcome:ss: :soon:

cant wait

Examining anglers that excel, the fist thing I notice is that excellent anglers fish a lot. They dont seem to accept things as they come. They constantly yearn to fish smarter, not harder.

you cant win if you dont play

Practicing thier skill on the water :smash: Man am I rusty :eek:

Having 3 sets of clothes in the truck so you can take lots of different pictures of the same fish and put them on the internet.

:cool:


Seriously though, - :huh:

Due to the fact that we cannot predict the size of the fish.. nor the size of the school that are holding up at one of our favorite spots on a given day (except for time of year)...a lot of what makes a great fisherman...........is LUCK :D, yeah...I'll say it first.

How do you increase your odds/luck/greatness?, you fish more than the average Joe, like a great fishermen does. The more time you put in, the more you learn, adapt, and CATCH. A great fisherman has more fishless days than you do, but at the same time...has 4X as many fish-filled days than you do, WHY ?... time spent on the water. As stated above, 2 avid fishermen can share the same hole with the same plug using very similar retrieves, what decides who catches the biggest fish??

To me, it's consistency, not size that determines a great fisherman. Someone who can adapt to what's available EVEN when large are not present. Someone who can make a popper swim because the opportunity is at hand and there's no time to switch plugs. Someone who knows where to place the lure when a fish surfaces on a crisp early morning...again, time on the water along with some luck will take you a long way. I could bore you with more details but I'm sure many don't agree....just wanted to share my .02, ...It's been awhile -

I fully agree Bloo...time =fish.

Gosh dangit, Bloo, now ya figured me out. :wall:

Nicely Put
 

From the master...
http://www.finefishing.com/1saltfish...lystripers.htm