Question about teaching others....

[uglystyx]

so one of my friends that i met at a local marina about half a year ago decided to take me under his wing and show me the ropes of bassin'. over the months he's been teaching me about techniques, developing patterns, finding fish....etc. when he finally felt i was ready to fish the front of the boat, he taught me how to work the trolling motor, boat positioning...etc...

I was just wondering if any of you more experienced anglers/pros have taken a good friend or buddy under your wing as an apprentice or protoge just for the satisfaction of seeing him or her succeed.

[JamesH]

I think that is a great question! To be honest, it is a question that we should all be asking our self. Who have we taken under our wing, just for the satisfaction of seeing them grow and succeed?

We all have the ability to be a mentor to others but how often do we look past our own goals and desires to help someone else excel?

James Huffmon

[whazup]

I have always told my sons, "If you want to learn about a subject, put yourself in a position to teach it". Nothing will force you to learn it faster.

[gt5bass]

Really good question...

I am usually mentoring one or two guys at any given time. It is very satisfying to say the least. It is also amazing what you teach yerself when you are teachin' others I find I really don't understand how, what or why I am doing until I try to teach it to someone else It is kinda amazing when you find you were doing something you really didn't realize you were doin'

[parker]

One time I was explaining to someone about what the shad were doing (or suposed to be doing) based on the season and he asked me why and I didn't know it made me think and that was cool because I learned too.

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

I sure wish someone would take me under their wing.

[Skeeterman]

I know what you mean Jim I been looking for someone seens ive started bass fishing in 1993.

[JamesH]

Oh were we talking about fishing?

James

[Burke]

My fishing buddies vary in experience and expertise. I've been fishing with one of my buddies for about 5 years. When we first started fishing, his comfort level was using plastics year around to catch black bass only. My comfort level was using spinnerbaits and crankbaits to catch black bass, striped bass, and salmon.

I've been teaching him how to use spinnerbaits and crankbaits to catch not only black bass, but also striped bass and salmon. Since he has been fishing for a number of years before we started fishing together, he doesn't always listen to my suggestions until he gets a eye-opening hands-on experience. For years, I've been suggesting that he get a heavier rod to handle the stripers that we go after. He felt that his medium rod should be able to handle a striper. Well, 2 weeks ago, he caught his largest striper, a 15-lber, and the fish had him under the boat several times and almost broke his rod because he couldn't control the fish. I was constantly giving him suggestions on how to fight the fish, but he wasn't listening. After a 15 minute fight, he finally landed the fish and was totally exhausted.

While he was recovering, we sat there and compared notes between his fight and my fight about 25 minutes earlier when I caught a 12 lb striper and landed it within 5 minutes. When I was fighting my fish, I was telling and showing my buddy what I was doing. After his battle, he finally understood what I have been telling him over the years. It's hard to teach someone when he has years of fishing his way.

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

And then there are others who will readily change when the see success in someone else

[uglystyx]

during my experience with being under my friends wing, i've gotten a chance to meet some great people and good sticks. not to mention i've gotten to meet some legends like steve sapp and share a couple beers with him. im really greatfull that someone really took a chance on me and decided to take some time and effort out of his busy schedule to take me fishing. since i bought my ranger, he hasn't been going out with me on purpose just to see what i've learned. i'll usually swing by his house afterwards and let him know about the pattern i think i found. then, if he has time...he'll take is boat out with his wife, or just himself and see if i was right. he'll usually call me afterwards and fill me in. or just hold off until i come by his house again and hang out to tell me.

[Tornado Dave]

You know many tourament fishermen have a difficult time with teaching and sharing, largely because everyone has their day and they are afraid that they are teach you to beat them. And they don't want to put you in a position to take money out of their pocket.

A lot of recreational fishermen want a place to learn and grow in their fishing. Some clubs are just another money circuit, one of the great things about club fishing with Devil Mountain is that there is a lot of sharing of information and you discover that the sharing of information both levels the playing field and it raises the quality of fishing in the club as a whole. This is a club concept that is working really well for us, the recreational fisherman.

So to answer your question, we teach and mentor a lot. We can because we fish to catch fish and we want everyone to have monumental days on the water. Having the winning bag, just makes it better.

TD

[Tornado Dave]

You know many tourament fishermen have a difficult time with teaching and sharing, largely because everyone has their day and they are afraid that they are teach you to beat them. And they don't want to put you in a position to take money out of their pocket.

A lot of recreational fishermen want a place to learn and grow in their fishing. Some clubs are just another money circuit, one of the great things about club fishing with Devil Mountain is that there is a lot of sharing of information and you discover that the sharing of information both levels the playing field and it raises the quality of fishing in the club as a whole. This is a club concept that is working really well for us, the recreational fisherman.

So to answer your question, we teach and mentor a lot. We can because we fish to catch fish and we want everyone to have monumental days on the water. Having the winning bag, just makes it better.

TD

[ash]

for my mentoring sessions.....gosh darn guys beatin me at my own game..... Actually it makes me quite proud when I guy comes up to me and says you know that jig stuff that you have been showin me, thanks I cought all my fish on jigs....

[MIKE TREMONT]

I'm still waiting for someone to show me the ropes as well and my tournament success (or lack of) shows it.

In the mean time I'm gonna keep fakin it til I make.

[Lugnut]

Well lets see here. First it was my dad, he took my brother and I fishing quite often when we were really young. I must say I can't thank him enough for that. Then when I was in 6th or 7th grade my best buddies dad started taking me out with them in his bass boat (Thank You Big John.....well you used to be big). Then when I was in High School my dad and I joined what was a Brand New club, the 14/25 Bass Club (I think it is the 17/90 now, was the 16/60 for a few years as well, ncbf's very own Sacto John fished we me. We were the young guns in the club....lol). During the 4 or 5 years in that club I became good friends with a guy who took me under his wing. I was 16 or 17 and he was mid to late 20's. We fished together many, many times. He taught me the "basics" so to say. Much of my bass fishing "foundation" came from these three folks. Of course I learned from all the folks I fished with and/or against in those early years with that club. After taking 7 or 8 years off, I started fishing again and joined the Modesto AmBassAdors a few years ago. These guys (and Gal....Hey Karen hope all is well) have taught me a ton. I have the attitude that I can learn something from EVERY person I fish with. Boater,Non-Boater, even someone fishing from the Bank. Everyone does things a little bit different, keep a positive attitude and you can learn from everyone as well. Last but not least, I learn something every time I log on to westernbass.com. man we are lucky to have such and awesome website. Between the folks that moderate the site to the folks that post on the forum, Thanks for all the knowledge you have passed on.

[Cooch]

I was just wondering if any of you more experienced anglers/pros have taken a good friend or buddy under your wing as an apprentice or protoge just for the satisfaction of seeing him or her succeed.

Absolutely yes! There is no greater satisfaction for me, than to see the success and joy of others, whom I might have influenced. Especially the tournament guys. Way I look at it, since I didn't have the talent to whoop up on everyone, especially here on the Delta, it's great to see others doing it who can! I just love that it pisses a bunch of old time Delta Rat's off, that I give away all "their" , hard earned secretes! HAR! HAR! HAR!

[brambo0311]

I agree. I have more fun teaching someone to fish and haveing them nail a hog than I would getting it myself. But we are all still learning and will continue. I took one of my friends out on folsom a month back. He had never used a baitcaster or caught anything other than a planter trout. 1st cast perfect no back lash, and he landed a 4.5 lb largmouth, liped it like a pro and through it back without a second thought. I havent seen my kids walk across a stage for a diploma yet, but it must feel something like that.