6) Snap Swivels. I truly despise these things. They might seem like a good idea at first, but they ruin lure action and give off negative que's to the fish. If you have the option to tie your line directly to the lure or bait or hook, DO IT!
5) "Everyone else is fishing here so it must be a hotspot, right!?" Most of the time, wrong. I've seen it happen many times where 1 or 2 boats or ice houses set up somewhere, and before you know it, everyone else thinks it must be a hotspot to be fished! Did you ever consider that its likely the first few people fishing there weren't and aren't catching anything? Fishing new spots is almost always better than fishing community holes.
4) Too thick of line. While using the heaviest line possible is nice for not losing fish, its also nice for not catching as many fish in some situations. Thick lines can ruin lure action, cause tangles, and often result in less fish being caught. For example, Don't use a heavy braided line or thick monofiliment line for panfishing or walleye fishing. Match your line size to what you fishing for and what lure you are using!
3) I need livebait. Maybe, but in many situations, no, you do not. Nearly all bass tournaments have banned live bait. There's no need for it. I almost never walleye fish with live bait yet limits still come into the boat. Artificial lures today are simply more effective than live bait at covering water and triggering fish.
2) Old fishing line. Replace your fishing line once a year! Braids can sometimes last longer, but monofiliments ought to be replaced at least once a year. Much longer than that and they can become brittle, lose knot strength, and cause you to break-off on a fish you would have otherwise caught with fresh line.
1) Mismatched gear. You wouldn't tee-off on a long par 5 with a sandwedge would you? Go for a short put with a 3 wood? The same concepts hold true for fishing. Sure you can catch fish using a heavy rod for panfishing, or an ancient ugly stick/buggy whip rod for heavy bass fishing, but why would you? You are best off fishing for the species your gear is made to target using lures that fit the rod weight, line weight, and overall setup. This is why you see most serious fishermen with 5-10+ rods in the boat at any given time. Each setup is for a specific presentation or style of fishing.
Put a little more thought and effort into your fishing this year and you will catch more fish! Any other things that you have noticed makes a notable difference in the number of fish brought into the boat?? (or not brought into the boat!)
5) "Everyone else is fishing here so it must be a hotspot, right!?" Most of the time, wrong. I've seen it happen many times where 1 or 2 boats or ice houses set up somewhere, and before you know it, everyone else thinks it must be a hotspot to be fished! Did you ever consider that its likely the first few people fishing there weren't and aren't catching anything? Fishing new spots is almost always better than fishing community holes.
4) Too thick of line. While using the heaviest line possible is nice for not losing fish, its also nice for not catching as many fish in some situations. Thick lines can ruin lure action, cause tangles, and often result in less fish being caught. For example, Don't use a heavy braided line or thick monofiliment line for panfishing or walleye fishing. Match your line size to what you fishing for and what lure you are using!
3) I need livebait. Maybe, but in many situations, no, you do not. Nearly all bass tournaments have banned live bait. There's no need for it. I almost never walleye fish with live bait yet limits still come into the boat. Artificial lures today are simply more effective than live bait at covering water and triggering fish.
2) Old fishing line. Replace your fishing line once a year! Braids can sometimes last longer, but monofiliments ought to be replaced at least once a year. Much longer than that and they can become brittle, lose knot strength, and cause you to break-off on a fish you would have otherwise caught with fresh line.
1) Mismatched gear. You wouldn't tee-off on a long par 5 with a sandwedge would you? Go for a short put with a 3 wood? The same concepts hold true for fishing. Sure you can catch fish using a heavy rod for panfishing, or an ancient ugly stick/buggy whip rod for heavy bass fishing, but why would you? You are best off fishing for the species your gear is made to target using lures that fit the rod weight, line weight, and overall setup. This is why you see most serious fishermen with 5-10+ rods in the boat at any given time. Each setup is for a specific presentation or style of fishing.
Put a little more thought and effort into your fishing this year and you will catch more fish! Any other things that you have noticed makes a notable difference in the number of fish brought into the boat?? (or not brought into the boat!)
When fishing with a bobber don't use a red/white round float ("bullhead bobber") but fish with precision weighting the line so that almost none of the bobber sits above the water. This will ensure that when a fish takes it very little resistance is felt not causing the fish to spit out the bait.
ReplyDeleteGood call Jeremy... you want to use enough weight so that the bobber barely pokes out of the surface of the water, making it easier for a fish to bring it down without detecting the bobber's flotation. Can't really do that with a round bobber.
ReplyDeleteWhen jig fishing, especially in a river scenario, always use a jig just big enough to get by. As long as your jig touches the bottom when you lower the rod you are using a jig heavy enough.
ReplyDeleteReally in general when fishing is tough downsizing your presentation can reap huge rewards.
What about for catching pike on Lake Winnie? What size line should you use so you don't lose fish?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your preferred method of fishing for them?
DeleteLOL sometimes laziness gets the best of us. Then again, I wasn't fishing for pike...
DeleteHehe...good answer!
ReplyDelete