GENERAL FISHING TIPS
Any day of fishin beats a day at work!
Remember, there is a difference between Fishing & Catching!
To become great at fishing you must remember 3 important things - LIE, CHEAT, & STEAL.
LIE - you need to lie in bed at night thinking about the possibilities (different tactics, techniques, presentations, areas to fish). CHEAT - you need to cheat a little more time from your job, wife, computer, phone, television, etc. and spend more time on the water fishing. STEAL - you need to steal every good idea, tip, technique that comes your way and include in your fishing bag of tricks.
LIE - you need to lie in bed at night thinking about the possibilities (different tactics, techniques, presentations, areas to fish). CHEAT - you need to cheat a little more time from your job, wife, computer, phone, television, etc. and spend more time on the water fishing. STEAL - you need to steal every good idea, tip, technique that comes your way and include in your fishing bag of tricks.
Do your homework. Check with local bait shops, fishing reports & forums, stocking reports, fish surveys, lake maps, to gain knowledge on areas your interested in fishing. Check out our Links / Resources Page for some good fishing information.
Invest in a good digital camera and always take with when you go fishing. You never know what you will see. It's good documentation for your trip and you'll have more than the memories. Take several pictures of the fish you catch ... 1 in 4 pics will turn out good. If you are fishing alone, use a tripod or other mount to secure your camera and use the self-timer button to take pictures. Don't regret leaving your camera at home.
Keep a Fishing Log. Take notes and learn from your experiences while on the water. Often, you will find patterns and fish behavior that will help you catch fish in the future. "A dull pencil is better than a sharp mind."
Don't be afraid to try something different. Don't just use the same bait over and over, day after day, year after year. Become multi-faceted. Learn how to use as many angling methods or techniques as you can. Challenge yourself to catch a fish with a new rig or lure. Fish new waters. Fish the deep. Try night fishing. The possibilities are endless.
Some fish cleaning tips: Fish you catch should either be kept alive for as long as possible before cleaning. While fishing, put fish in livewell, fish basket, stringer, or put in cooler with ice. Clean fish immediately after done fishing. If you cannot clean immediately keep them on ice or place in the refrigerator for no more than 12 hrs. Eat all fish after cleaning within 24 hrs. Fresh fish are much more tasty than frozen fish. Any fish you save to eat for another day place in a ziploc bag labeling the contents and date of your catch and freeze for 1 month. For storing fish for more than 1 month freeze fish fillets in a ziploc bag half filled with water.
Check the moon before you go fishing. Some people swear they catch more fish by fishing around these lunar and solunar phases. Does it work? Try it out for yourself and you decide. Visit these links for more info: The Real Scoop On Moon Phases & Sun and Moon Charts.
Loosen up on drags and brakes on all fishing reels when your not using for extended periods of time. This will ensure smooth reel operation for many fishing seasons in the future.
Periodically throughout the season spray some line lubricant on your monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line. Sprays such as Blakemore's real magic work well for reducing line memory, increasing casting distance and overall extending the life of your line.
Myth - You don't need to replace your fishing lines every year. This solely depends on how much you fish and how you store your rods and reels. Obviously if you are a fishing pro or are fishing all the time you will replace line more often, but for most of us every now and then anglers, we can get several years of use from our lines. The single most important factor in making your line last is to always keep your combos in a cool dry place and out of the sun when not in use. Do not keep in your vehicle or boat all the time. Always check your line for knicks - especially in the first ten feet directly above your bait. Retie your bait if necessary.
Be frugal. You don't need the most expensive or fanciest equipment to catch fish. Instead of buying the "best" of everything, purchase fishing equipment at a more modest price. When it comes to big ticket items such as boats or electronics, consider buying used. This will allow you to be able to have more of everything in your fishing arsenel instead of putting all your dollars in one single item. Do you really need a $300 fishing reel or would you rather have 2 reels, 2 rods, and a bunch of new lures?
Try using your ice fishing baits for summer fishing applications. Ice Panfish jigs and tip-up treble hook rigs tipped with live bait, work great rigged under a bobber. Jigging rapalas and jigging spoons are effective vertical - below the boat presentations.
Revisit old fishing articles / books / videos to gain or remind yourself of often lost along the way tactics and techniques to catch more fish.
Try using saltwater fishing techniques, tactics, applications, and lures for freshwater fishing. Often alot of excellent fishing ideas are spawned from the saltwater angling community. Many saltwater lures are extremely effective for species like Musky, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Bass.
When fishing with inexperienced or beginner anglers such as children, try rigging their rods with line that is a bit heavier, adjust their drag a tad lighter, and if live bait fishing - try using circle hooks. This compensates for their inexperience and allows them to land more fish and ultimately have more fun.
Shop Ebay or Craigslist for used or new fishing equipment. You will be surprised at the bargain prices of hard to find and latest fishing items.
Give your older lures a facelift. Go through you tackle box and give your older lures new life by replacing old hooks and split rings with proper sized, x strong, fancier, or red hooks. Clean off the dirt, etc. It will give you the confidence to use the bait again and help you land more fish.