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Don’t Pass on the Bass Class

Andy Whitcomb

2/21/2012

“Teach a man to fish… better, and you keep him from chucking his rod in the lake.”–unknown

I am currently attending the “Bass Fishing Techniques” course offered by Rose State College, along with about 135 other avid anglers. In the first two sessions, we heard from former Bassmaster Classic Champion Ken Cook and Bassmaster Elite pro Tommy Biffle. They shared some subtle but significant technique pointers, interesting lure development history, fish biology, and even their flaws as an angler.

We also were treated to their stories and watched as Tommy Biffle utilized the auditorium’s plastic plant décor and deftly pitched a jig into it as “fish structure.” Perhaps another Bassmaster Elite Pro, Jeff Kriet will use the podium as a stump in his upcoming course.

Bass University is another intense fishing learning experience offered around the country. And if you don’t mind FREE, you might consider attending a Bass Pro Shops Fishing Classic Seminar, Feb 24-26. Perhaps there is a fishing class near you.

Although confident in my angling abilities, I never fail to pick up something new to try after a seminar or class. Like Tommy Biffle’s reminder not to “load” the rod when pitching a jig. That probably saved hours of picking out backlashes. In addition, I might be missing fish when I hesitate. “Anytime the line feels funny, set the hook,” Biffle shared. “Jerks are free.”

Fishing, Technique

Andy Whitcomb

Andy is an outdoor writer (http://www.justkeepreeling.com/) and stressed-out Dad has contributed over 380 blogs to takemefishing.org since 2011. Born in Florida, but raised on banks of Oklahoma farm ponds, he now chases pike, smallmouth bass, and steelhead in Pennsylvania. After earning a B.S. in Zoology from OSU, he worked in fish hatcheries and as a fisheries research technician at OSU, Iowa State, and Michigan State.

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