What Really Makes A Fisherman?

[FM2]

I have often wondered why some people catch more fish than others, have you?

I have fished the NW rivers, lakes and streams for over 20 years and have caught alot of fish. I have read articles, studied everything from fish, water, weather, tackle, seasons and everything else relevant to fishing but yet I know people who catch more fish even when I am standing next to them using the same rig. What's up with that!

Anyone care to share their opinion! :grin:

[Navigator]

Well, I am usually the one standing next to the person catching the fish. Lately though, my success has picked up. I have really been going to the river with a strategy. I pick the type of water I want to fish, how I will fish and just stick with it for the few hours that I have. I do make adjustments with respect to size, color, weight used, presentation - that is part of my plan. I usually base my impromptu decisions on what I have seen others be successful with.

Ifish has been a tremendous help for me. It allows me to track conditions, check river levels, follow reports so when I go out I am really paying attention.

And I have been sticking to the same water.

I am building success based on planning and experience and getting to know one section of river.

Most importantly, I am very relaxed when I go. I never worry about catching a fish. I am out for the fishing - cathcing is a bonus, always.

[Hawaiian]

Great post Navigator. A lot of insight is in your post. I agree with all of them.

Hawaiian

[blacktail]

Confidence, flexibility and the ability to read the water are a few things I think are very important.

Mike

[Carver_OR]

Every dog has his day.

Hooks Sharp?
Pat

[Lund]

1. good tackle
2. "GREAT BAIT" :grin: :grin:
3. knowing where and when to go
4. covering LOTS of water
5. trying new things all the time
6. have more than one option/river for the day
7. 10 minutes without a bite then move.
8. be able to do all this and still sleep the night before.
9. oh ya! if you are the captain of the boat, make the other guys bring you a lunch!

[Pete]

Heck, you all are making this too hard! The difference between a fisherman and someone who is just fishing is that a fisherman has a fish on the end of his line! :grin:

[David Johnson]

I think lund and fishbait have hit it on the head.

Confidence, detail, skill, flexibility......

Speaking of confidence, how many of you go fishing expecting to catch a fish or hopping to catch a fish.

Those that have the knowledge, skill ect will have to confidence to say, "I expect to catch a fish today" Unless conditions drasticly change while you're on the water fish should be caught.

Those that hope usually end up spectating. Fishing isn't about luck, it's about putting everything all together and gettign a check mate.

[David Johnson]

#9 is a good one too, shouldn't forget that one :smile:

[BigSpinner]

I am far from a good fishermen but this is what i think. If you fish water that no one has hit that day you will be more likly to get a hook up. And watch what is going on around you. What is everybody using, were are they casting, why do they keep casting in the fast water and hooking fish and you are not getting anything in the slow deep hole, that says right there you need to go find some fast water. Just little stuff, the more time on the water the better you get. But like I said before, I am far from a good fishermen. But every trip I take I get better. I learn something new every time I hit the water.

Jeremy,

[Pitch Pocket]

Shorten your leaders and sharpen your hooks.

[Capt. Hook]

1. keep your worm in the water.
2. Have confidence in your gear.
3. If fishing on or near tidewater, be aware of the tides and how they affected your success before.
4. If you catch a fish, try to remember exactly what you did and do the same thing again. How many times have you gone out, baited up your rigs, studied the water carefully and hooked a fish on your first pass? Make every pass just like it was your first.
5. I like to cover lots of water too, but some of my best days have been just slugging it out over the same hole. Sooner or later it turns on.

[DanS]

Keeping a log of where/when/water level/water color/temp/gear used/results will help you greatly in the future when deciding what to fish for. Timing is everything. There are a few days a year when you'll get into more fish than you can shake a stick at. I call it "the day". The log will tell you when "the day" is likely to happen. When it is likely.....BE THERE.

Now, if you're getting outfished by a guy next to you using the same everything.........MOJO. :grin:

[Uncle Bob]

It's not always being the first one thru a drift, right Dave?
My buddy Greg was drifting the Clackamas a while back, and saw Dave Johnson fish a spot, right after another drift boat had just left that spot. About five minutes later, you guessed it.
Dave is putting more fish in the boat.

David Johnson, You Rock!

UB

[ 02-23-2002, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Uncle Bob ]

[happybrew]

I find that I hook more fish when I'm fishing by myself than when I'm fishing with someone else. I spend more time concentrating on what I'm doing, rather than yacking, and worrying about what my partner is doing. It's all a mental game.

happybrew

[fishbait]

Paying attention to detail and doing the little things exceptionally well.

[Rauly]

I've been told it is this size of the fishermans rod that makes the difference. graemlins/1zhelp.gif

Rauly

[FM2]

Great responses :smile:

I think flexibility is REALLY important. I find myself sticking to often to the "bread and butter" setup that works most of the time but not everywhere so I get caught up into that. What works one day at the coast might not work the next on the Clack.

I personally like to fish with just corkies, yarn and birdies. But I do have eggs along and good eggs can make a difference as others have brought up. I fished with Lyle Froyd yesterday and he has some egg mixture I have never seen but these were gorgeous eggs with an awesome smell. Of course it's a top secret receipe but as soon as I win the lottery I will pay him his price for that mixture :grin: . I use a specially blended cure made by an awesome NW fisherman and are really sweet but these eggs look like their day is due!

Time to graemlins/lurk.gif

[ 02-24-2002, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: FM2 ]

[Pilar]

Lets not forget persistance.

Curiosity is good too. But #1 is attention to detail. Sometimes a little detail makes all of the difference.