So you want to catch more fish, huh? Well, you’re in luck. I’m going to throw a few things at you here — do a little digesting and then try them out. You’ll be a better angler because of it. Now, don’t expect to be a rod-totin’ phenom overnight. It takes time, but stick with it, you’ll see results pretty soon. So, in no particular order…
Study, Study, Study
Let’s get this out of the way right now: fish are not smart. Anything that has a brain the size of a splitshot isn’t going to be doing any advanced thinking. I don’t care if you’re talking about a 15-pound brown trout, a 4-inch sunfish or a lunker largemouth. Fish just aren’t smart, people. They are simple critters with simple needs. Some of the obvious ones are structure, food, proper water temperatures and amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Once you figure out what the basic needs are of the fish you’re pursuing, you’re half way home. Read books, talk to biologists at DFG, quiz local anglers — do anything you can to learn more about fish. The more information you can get on your target species, the more likely you will be able to find them and put the right bait or lure in front of them. For example, when I’m steelhead fishing and the water is high, murky and very cold, I know that the fish will be migrating up the soft water along the margins of the river. That eliminates 95-percent of the river channel and enables me to fish exactly where the fish are. I know where the fish are because I’ve studied their habits and what I call their “lifestyle requirements.” It works.
Confidence
In fishing, like many other realms of life, confidence is everything. It’s weird, but true. I can use a lure or fly that somebody recommended to me and not catch anything all day. Then, I’ll switch over to one of my old standby favorites and immediately catch fish. In most cases, it’s not that my favorite bait was much different than the one I as previously trying — I just have much more confidence in the tried and true. When feeling good about what you are using, you tend to fish more effectively. I’m not sure why, but I think it has to do with anticipation. If you feel like ol’ reliable is going to get pounced on by a jumbo bass anytime, you pay more attention and are more likely to invest that little extra effort in casting and presentation.
Experiment
Having said all that, don’t be afraid to try something new when your favorite offering or technique isn’t cutting it. That’s how trends are started. If people stuck to the standard methods, you’d never see anglers using plastic worms for steelhead, trout-sized spoons for stripers, crappie jigs for shad, bass plugs for salmon and a whole host of other techniques that are now common practice. Sometimes you have to endure a particularly nasty skunking or two to get you to change your game plan. Go ahead, dare to be different.
Observe Your Surroundings
Sometimes, you can know every aspect of the fish you are after and the water they inhabit — yet, still you can’t catch anything to save your life. That’s usually when I start looking around for clues. Pay attention to the little details in and around the water you’re fishing and look for something different. Maybe the water level dropped overnight or the temperature changed. Maybe the crawfish began moulting and the fish switched over to eating them instead of shad. Maybe that evening hatch you always count on is late this season and the trout are only taking nymphs. In short, keep your eyes open — the keys to success are often spread out around you like eggs on Easter Sunday. You just have to find them.
Invest the Time
Trying to figure out the patterns at Donner Lake, Stampede Reservoir, the Feather River, San Pablo Bay and your local bass pond all at once can be an extremely overwhelming task. Instead, pick a water you’re really interested in and fish it every chance you get. Don’t only go when you’ve heard there’s a hot bite — go when the fishing isn’t so hot, too. Go when the sun’s out and when it’s raining. Get intimate with a particular area and the patterns will slowly materialize. Keep a log or journal of where you were fishing, when, what you caught, time of day, water temperature, lures or baits that worked, weather and any other factors you can think of. Do this over time, and you will have a good idea of what to expect from your lake or stream year in and year out.
Now, get out there and catch some fish.
