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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I've been reading and posting on fishing site boards now for about 3 years or so. I enjoy sharing the knowledge I've acquired through years of my own experience and helping people be better fishermen. And this is not to pass judgment on any posters or contributors, rather they be Pro's or beginners.
But I've noticed a distinct tendency by most new, and some not so new to the fishing game, to ask for specific explanations from Pro's why they didn't/couldn't catch any fish on Lake X or River Y, and just what the Pro's would do different to change that.
Now, don't get me wrong. Asking people with the most time and experience spent doing any particular work is not a bad idea. And, there may always be a technique, lure type, certain bait or way to rig it, even certain places on that lake/river to find feeding walleyes during that tough time of year. But even the Pro's, Guides and Charters come to the scales or docks skunked on more than a few occasions, fishing these same bodies of water.
So, even beginners have to realize and understand that it's not always just them, and that on certain days the fish will just not bite and that's all there is to it. And that old saying that "Somebody is catching fish someplace today on this body of water" will always be true. But those fish are usually grouped tight together and have had their feeding triggers pulled by some isolated or reoccurring phenomena on that lake or river on that day.
I think the first few things everybody should learn fast about fishing, is that finding fish is a good start, but doesn't always mean catching fish. And nobody (no matter how experienced) will ever have all the answers to the fishing game.
Edited by walleye express 3/4/2005 10:03 AM
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Location: Rhinelander | I've seen the same thing. it is sometimes inconceivable to some folks that a Guide or top Pro could get beat up by the 'eyes on any given day. It happens, and pretty frequently as a matter of fact.
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| Yes, it does happen to everyone of us. Maybe not as often as it does to those who are, shall we say, a little more casual about fishing than we are, but it does happen.
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| This is very true during tournement fishing,If you are fishing to win or just for a limit of eaters is a very different thing. Kitch |
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Posts: 538
| One of the best things I did some years ago was fish as an Am in the PWT eastern. I went their expecting to learn some dead on techniques that would improve my fish catching. I met some great folks and had a good time, but I found that we all do pretty much the same thing, just at different times and locations. Everyone gets beat up on occasion.
The second best thing was following Kitch around Winnebago. It may not be productive, but it was scenic. 
BTW, Kitch, how is retirement treating you? Oh yeah, I forgot, I am retired and you are not!
Take care,
Jim O
Edited by Jim Ordway 3/4/2005 11:47 AM
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Location: Berlin | I agree but the difference is that a real professional usually knows why and a beginner does not. One thing that bugs me is that fish can always, 100% with no exeptions be caught......because they are FISH! I hate it when people can't get fish to bite and they blame it on everything except themselves. I have zero'ed in my share of tourneys and have seen bad bites but have also seen people bring in limits in those same tourneys. If I would have fiqured out a better pattern I know the fish would have bit. I believe if I don't put fish in the boat, it is always my fault. As soon as I stop feeling that way I will stop learning.
The more bad days you have now that you actually pay attention to will result in a lot fewer bad days in the future. |
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Location: Omro,Wi. | Fish are Fish..I like that! They only do two things-spawn,and eat. If you want them,then go where they are doing one or the other.Changing technics,is the most important thing we can do,when they shut off.Last summer I was on a great bite in the river,for 3-days.The 4th day they shut down completely.I could not buy a bite with the jig,and crawler,pulling flies,or cranks on 3-way rigs.It finally dawned on me that they wanted the crawlers,so what new presentations could I use?I anchored above them,put on a slip sinker rig,and hook tipped with a crawler,and let it drift down current to them.Bang one after the other,just like the 3-days before.Granted I had wasted 2-hours of my guide trip,trying to get them figured out,but the reply from the client at the end of the day was"that was the neatest thing I ever saw,the way you figured that out" that made the day.If he only new the sweating I was doing.LOL Changing colors or bait shapes trolling is the same way.One day Shad-Raps,the next,Deep Lil-Rippers.The main thing is to know the fish you target,and give them what they are feeding on. |
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Location: shores of Indian lake, Ohio | I really enjoyed this thread! |
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Location: Upper Sandusky Ohio | Erie, how is the bite at Indian Lake? |
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Location: Westland, Mich. | here you go talking about me again, . you know, even with the coaching that you and pat did, i think that i was instinctivly thnking that i was working fish in 10-20 fow with 10-20 ft of line out, not 3-5 fow with 40-60 ft of line out. even though i was able to get a decent presentation and get hits i was't able to get the fish to the boat. while i'm self effacing i'm not masochistic, so i'm not going to be to harsh on myself. even trolling can't depend on dumb luck. you still have to find the fish, put a bait in the strike zone and use a technique that will attract the hit. i was able to learn a couple of things though. maybe a few more hours in those conditions and i can find a cure? who knows. like i said saturday, every dog has his day.
Edited by JAKE 3/7/2005 7:32 AM
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | JAKE - 3/7/2005 8:31 AM
here you go talking about me again, . you know, even with the coaching that you and pat did, i think that i was instinctivly thnking that i was working fish in 10-20 fow with 10-20 ft of line out, not 3-5 fow with 40-60 ft of line out. even though i was able to get a decent presentation and get hits i was't able to get the fish to the boat. while i'm self effacing i'm not masochistic, so i'm not going to be to harsh on myself. even trolling can't depend on dumb luck. you still have to find the fish, put a bait in the strike zone and use a technique that will attract the hit. i was able to learn a couple of things though. maybe a few more hours in those conditions and i can find a cure? who knows. like i said saturday, every dog has his day.
Hang on Jake.
If you noticed, I made this post before our trip. 
If I knew then that it would turn out to be a self prophecy or forecast for a future charter client, I would have been a little more specific on when it could actually be "somebody's fault". 
Kidding aside, I gotta believe I wouldn't automatically grasp the dynamics of hand lining right away either, like you and your brother have done. I'm sure the next time we fish together, you'll have the quarter casting technique tuned right in. |
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| You are the one retired, but getting that senior discount at all the resturants has to be depressing. Kitch |
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Posts: 538
| Kitch,
Us retired guys have to watch our pennies. It is not like we are on the public dole like others I know
Jim O |
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