Fishermen tend to trip and stumble in a rut. Their focus appears to lock in on a limited number of species working the same spots outing after outing and relying on the same basic tackle and bait. Call it a comfort zone in which they eventually become proficient. The thought of expanding their horizons in terms of tackle used or additional species sought seldom motivates them to pick up the gauntlet of other challenges.
Fishing does not have to be a static sport where very little changes. Instead, the opportunities to increase your skills and pursue more challenges is endless. If you are locked into conventional tackle, for example, you might want to explore catching the same species on spinning or plug casting gear. Battling a fish on lighter tackle not only provides a challenge, but when you are successful you gain a special measure of satisfaction.
Any fish that weighs less than 100 pounds can be taken relatively easily on 30-pound test line or lighter. If you are using heavier line, why not test your skill by dropping down a size? Once you master using the slightly lighter line, you may want to try fishing with line one more step lighter. Fishing is a great deal more fun when you set goals for yourself and strive to reach them.
For those who have always relied on natural bait, perhaps now is the time to start experimenting with artificial lures. During the summer months when water temperatures rise, fish become much more aggressive in their feeding patterns and that is the perfect situation to test your skill with artificials. Besides, fish feed more frequently because warm water speeds up digestion.
The next step centers on expanding the species you choose to pursue. Go beyond the fish you try to catch whenever you are on the water and add different species to the mix. All of this adds up to stretching your angling knowledge and your skills. The more versatile you are on the water, the more effective the day will be. One way to begin is to set aside a part of the day for experimentation. I can tell you that many of the top professional guides follow a basic plan that includes how well they do in the morning. If the customers have enjoyed a number of fish catches in the morning, you can bet the guide will look for new spots in the afternoon or encourage the anglers to try different techniques.
If you spend your days on the water trolling, why not try drifting baits or casting to various types of structure or working a deep jig from the bottom to the surface? For those who seldom troll, it’s worth the time to master the basics so that you can cover more water on those days when the fishing might be good, but the catching is well below par.
To me, the accomplished and complete angler should be able to handle conventional tackle as well as spinning, plug, and fly and be skilled in trolling, casting and jigging. Add to that the ability to target the most popular species in your area and, in my book, you can consider yourself a master angler.
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