Next Time I Go Fishing

The next time I go fishing I’m going to remember to fish the conditions not the traditions.  Just because “Super Point” has held fish in the past, doesn’t mean I should just blindly pull up and start fishing.  Fish do things based on lake conditions not my fond memories of great fishing trips.

The next time I go fishing I’m going to stay within a lure system.  I know for example, that if the wind blows, spinner baits and crank baits are a good way to cover water in search of active fish.  If the fish don’t want a ½ oz spinner bait with willow leaf blades, I’ll throw a 3/8 oz bait with Colorado blades.  If my diving crank bait that reaches depths of 8 feet doesn’t work out, I’ll fish one that reaches 10 to 12 feet.  This feeds on my confidence. Over the years of fishing I have learned that certain baits work within certain conditions.  If I give up on a lure quickly, it tends to tear apart rules of thumb that I have fished with for many years.  Staying within a family of lures that I know are right for the conditions, while changing things like weight, color or style, will reinforce my convictions and strengthen my confidence.  A confident angler is a dangerous angler……to the fish.

The next time I go fishing I am going to trust my intuition.  When little thoughts or ideas about catching fish pop into my head, I am going to listen.  I am a firm believer that our mind is always sending sub conscious ideas to us that will help us accomplish something we are working with.  In angling this would involve flash backs to situations where we once experienced success.  I am going to focus on listening and acting on these ideas.  Think it, when you are having a tough day, you are reluctant to try something because “nothing else is working.” Everyone hits this wall and it is ultimately our down fall.  If you can train yourself to act on these impulses, you will be rewarded.  Allow your years of fishing to come back to you, allow your understanding of the surrounding environment to move you.  Allow yourself to trust yourself.  Some anglers call this listening to the fish.

The next time I go fishing I am taking all of my equipment.  How many times have I heard an angler say, “gee, I wish I had brought my spinner bait box.”  Or “I knew I should have brought my flippin stick.” -HELLO, what good is it doing you in your garage?

The next time I go fishing I am going to watch the birds.  These are the true anglers.  Since finding fish means staying alive, birds don’t waste time.  Are there Herons walking the bank searching the shallows for bait?  Are Greebs diving in open water? Finding bait is an important 1st step in finding game fish.  Far too many anglers pay way too much attention to dock talk and scuttlebutt when they set out for a day on the water.  The ones with the best information have feathers and while they don’t speak your language they give plenty of clues.

The next time I go fishing I’m going to share information, commiserate about a tough day or, if need be, even pass on some baits to a fellow angler who is struggling.  What we forget too many times is someone has done these things for us.  Nobody ever just picked up a rod and found instant success.  When I encounter that angler, be it a father and son, an obvious beginner, or even the guy who is holding his spinning reel facing up, I am going to offer some encouragement, some advice or even one of my lucky crank baits.  Hey this is a chance to brighten someone’s day.  I’m going to do this!.........The

next time I go fishing.

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