Thought this needed to come up again. This site may be the best collection of inshore know-how I've ever seen. There are about 200 pages of top notch trout fishing education at this link.
http://skinnywateradventures.com/pages/ ... 0Index.htm
Here's ONE example:
Getting Consistent Results
by McBride
One of the most common questions I hear or get ask personally has something to do with "why can't I catch fish like that" or "how do the some of tournament guys manage to do what they do?" We might think the answers would have to include a lifetime of discussion. Some do, but in reality, there are a lot of very basic things most fishermen can do to improve their results. To the guys who ask "why not me?" I'd like to throw a few simple questions back. The first question is "how good do you really want to be"? Lets find out.
What kind of equipment are you using? If you're serious about results, equipment that fits the job is a must. We can never take away anything from the guy south of the border using a tin can and kite string. If you've ever bumped shoulders with them you know they can kick our butts sometimes. However, to do what we are trying to do, one very basic rule applies. He who cast the longest and the mostest wins. It's amazing how many 'enthusiast' show up with a heavy blunderbuss half-spooled with 30# stump puller line. A balanced, well maintained rig in excellent condition is critical for working open water, not to mention giving us an endurance edge during the course of a long day. There are plenty of guys who put on clinics with spinning gear in many situations, but for the most part, your average accomplished lure grinder lives in the no-spin zone. For me hard to beat a Curado or Chronarch Super Free for dedicated lure manipulation. You rod doesn't have to be expensive, but it needs to be matched with what you're throwing and sensitivity can be crucial. We just cannot expect to do well with lures if we can't cover water effectively.
How often do you actually fish? A better question might be "what do you do when you get there?" Even if you are fortunate enough to go on a consistent basis, there are people who have fished for thirty years and have about thirty years worth of one day's experience. People who don't fish assume luck is a large factor. We that do fish know differently. A huge percentage of success comes from making our own luck happen through determined effort. Let's face it. We are good at whatever we really want to be good at. A few basic questions here might be: When you get there, are you ready to go or do you fiddle with your stuff for an hour? Do you wade? We'll find that most of our better anglers get in there with them and the advantages are huge. For one, we can work small areas with calculated precision. Drifting is fine, but unless the drift is designed to stay on fish holding structure at the right speed, again we are relying on blind luck. Good drifters know exactly what they are doing and it's much more than just floating, casting and hoping. Do you concentrate every cast in high percentage zones? Do you stay in contact with the lure at all times and can you recognize a subtle bite? Preparation, intensity and focus are what we're looking for. Above all, we have to want to get better on our own instead of having it given to us. That takes effort, and to be blunt, a lot of people I hear complain really haven't put in the required effort.
Why do you go where you go? No matter what equipment we have, how often we go or how hard we try, all is for naught if we aren't where fish are. Getting on them is and will always be the bigger game. Have you studied seasonal patterns for your area? Have you kept logs and shared with trusted friends of like minds? Did you check the water levels before you left or trended them for a few days prior? Do you just go to "spots" or do you combine logical areas with signs before you commit? When you do commit to working an area, do you try to understand what the fish are telling you and do you give it ample time to pay off? Are you patient or easily flustered the point of leaving fish to find fish?
What lures are you using? The absolute best lure to use for trout is the one you have the most confidence in. Everything I have ever won has come from either Super Spooks or Corkies. Those are just my go-to baits, but other people do as well or better by sticking to something totally different. An old phrase that says, "it's not the arrow it's the Indian" has a lot of truth to it. There are certainly lures we call situational baits that excel in certain situations, but over all, you will catch your fish on your favorite lure with proper presentation. Yes, colors can be important, but give a good fisherman anything within reason that he can present well and he can make things happen. It's all about confidence. Keep it simple, and keep casting!
Who do you take with you? Funny thing. The parallels between golf and fishing are sometimes large. We tend to play golf on the same basic level with the group we are with at the time. Play with hackers and we hack. Play with good players and we do much better. Same with fishing. If you're serious, surround yourself with good people who have the same goals and intensity. One goober in the boat can ruin everybody's attitude. To a good fisherman, the partners he chooses to share the water with are critical decisions for maximum enjoyment.
I know all of this is plowed ground with nothing new added, but reminders never hurt. The bottom line is again; we are as good as we want to be. Homework, confidence, a positive attitude, clear focus, and the determination to stick it out are the basic factors that will always lead to success. To re-cap what I've said in the past, most of us already have all the "right stuff" in the tackle box, but it’s the right stuff between the ears that really puts fish on the stringer. An encyclopedia could be written on each of the above subjects and there's much more, but in the meantime, remember to concentrate on using the knowledge you already have. Find ‘em with diligence, feed ‘em with focus, stay with it and expect a strike every cast. Odds are you already have what it takes! You just have to go do it.
Trout Stories, A Must Read !!!
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
Trout Stories, A Must Read !!!
Last edited by Littoral on March 27th, 2006, 3:23 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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fishsticks
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Jumptrout51
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Jumptrout51
- Site Sponsor
- Posts: 12120
- Joined: December 12th, 2001, 8:00 pm
- Location: Tallahassee
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Jumptrout51
- Site Sponsor
- Posts: 12120
- Joined: December 12th, 2001, 8:00 pm
- Location: Tallahassee
