| Sometimes what makes a good fisherman great | | | | piece of cover. Have you ever been fishing down |
| is knowing not so much what to do, but rather, | | | | a relatively bare bank and come across a massive |
| what NOT to do. All too often out on the water I | | | | tree that has fallen into the water. This tree has |
| see very capable anglers make mistakes that | | | | hundreds of branches and every nook and cranny |
| otherwise could have made for a good day of | | | | would have to hold a ten pound bass. Sure, |
| fishing. In this article, I want to point out these | | | | sounds like a great laydown to me....I'd fish it! But |
| common mistakes that both experienced and | | | | if I hit the main spots of the laydown with my jig, |
| rookie fisherman make and hopefully open your | | | | and maybe toss a spinnerbait or crankbait to it a |
| eyes to new and better fishing! | | | | few times and get nothing, I'm out of there! Your |
| #1. The "Confidence Bait" Flaw | | | | fishing time is a precious commodity. Especially in |
| This is probably the biggest mistake I see anglers | | | | a tournament, if your not getting bites on a piece |
| make on the water. Every fisherman has a | | | | of cover, disregard it and move on. |
| confidence bait. That one lure that always seems | | | | I've seen fisherman spend hours fishing one single |
| to catch fish and outdoes the other lures in your | | | | tree. They will tie on every lure and color |
| tackle box. Ask Denny Brauer what his | | | | combination imaginable. They have it in their mind |
| confidence bait is and he'll tell you straight up, | | | | that this tree, rock pile, or pier looks too good not |
| "The Jig". He's made millions fishing that lure. | | | | to have active fish on it. If you spend hours on a |
| Rarely will you ever see him on TV throwing a | | | | piece of cover, there is a chance that you will find |
| spinnerbait or slug-go. So what is wrong with | | | | a nice fish hidden somewhere where your first |
| having a confidence bait? Nothing, but if you are | | | | hundred casts didn't reach. But you need to take |
| going to be like Denny Brauer and always throw | | | | the 'chance' out of fishing! So don't put all your |
| that confidence bait, you better know how to | | | | faith on a single piece of cover, or your asking for |
| catch fish with it day in and day out in all | | | | disappointment. |
| conditions. | | | | #3. Losing Concentration |
| I see it all the time. Fisherman will catch a ton of | | | | Fishing is a tough sport. Though the whole "fishing |
| bass one day on say a worm, and the next day | | | | takes patience" saying is true, the word 'patience' |
| they are trying to do the same thing. I know I | | | | is less fitting than the word 'focus'. Patience is |
| would be trying to do the same thing as the day | | | | sitting back, waiting for the fish to find your bait. I |
| before, but if it isn't working, it isn't working. I've | | | | like to think of 'focus' more along the lines as |
| seen fisherman go the whole day fishing one bait, | | | | actively making your bait seek out the fish. As |
| changing colors thinking a little blue fleck may be | | | | much as I think fishing is a relaxing sport, if your |
| all the change that's needed to get those bass | | | | goal is to catch the most fish possible, it really |
| striking again. You have to be cognizant and | | | | isn't. Your mind has to be sharp, everything you |
| realize when it's time to make a change. | | | | do must be for a reason, and letting up your |
| When you find yourself fishing a lure and not | | | | focus, will cost you in the long run. |
| getting any bites, two things should come into | | | | I remember when I was young going fishing with |
| your mind. One, do I need to change location? Or | | | | my dad, the two best casts I made were the |
| two, maybe this bait has lost its appeal to the | | | | first and last. The first cast I had all my energy |
| fish. I used to be the kind of fisherman to fish a | | | | and focus. I was ready to catch fish. As soon as |
| bait for hours even without a bite, convincing | | | | that lure hit the water, I was making a note of |
| myself that if there were a fish to be found, he | | | | everything. Every little bump along the retrieve, |
| would hit my lure I was fishing. Now, I have | | | | water color, tides, wind, etc. I was focused. Then |
| realized it is much better to constantly change. I | | | | after a couple hours and not having much luck, I |
| think a lot of anglers watch shows like | | | | found myself just casting. Sure I was still trying |
| BassMaster and FLW Tour and see these pros | | | | hard, but that same focus I had on the first cast |
| spending the whole day throwing the same bait, | | | | wasn't there. I wasn't watching the line when my |
| even though they may not be catching fish. But | | | | worm was making every drop, I wasn't being |
| you have to remember, these pros have spent | | | | cognizant of the tides, wind changes, water color, |
| hundreds of hours pre-fishing their waters, so | | | | etc. The focus had died. |
| what is on their line they probably have good | | | | Then towards the end of the day, my dad would |
| reason for it. | | | | always say, "Alright Kev, we gotta be getting |
| So next time your out on the water and your | | | | back in a few." It was right then and there I was |
| not getting any strikes, change up! Adapt to the | | | | making casts that count! I wanted to eek out |
| situation, and seek out an answer. Don't assume | | | | that last bass before heading home. Then after |
| the fish will start biting and what you have tied on | | | | ignoring my dad to pack up my gear, I would |
| is your best bet, cause if you aren't catching fish, | | | | hear, "this is your last cast...". It was on that last |
| changing up should be the only thing on your mind! | | | | cast that I tried my hardest to catch that one |
| #2. Don't Be A Camper | | | | last fish. I would find the BEST spot to cast to, |
| This is another common mistake I see anglers | | | | and try to feel for every little bump and tap I |
| making. Whether the particular cover they are | | | | possibly could. My eyes glued to my line as my |
| fishing has given up good fish in the past, or just | | | | worm hopped across the bottom, rod ready to |
| looks like a winning hotspot, fisherman often | | | | strike into action |
| make the mistake of camping out on a certain | | | | |