4 Quick Tips for the Better Angler
By Brad Paradis –
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#1 – Slow Down
You think you’re fishing slow? Fish slower. I’m talking about taking your time and really working an area over. I see so many anglers just burn over an area that looks good to them, don’t catch anything and move on quickly. Slow down! I can’t count the amount of times that I have fished behind someone burning down a bank on their trolling motor and I come behind them and catch fish. It’s not because I know something they don’t. I’m just fishing slower and working the area more than they are. The angler who moves fast will catch the active fish but they are leaving many fish behind by not slowing down, and many times these are the better fish that are a bit more sluggish and need some more coaxing.
This idea of fishing slower is particularly true when you catch a fish. Not very often do you catch a single rogue fish that is just hanging out by themselves with nothing else around. If you catch one, odds are there are more either right with him or very close nearby.
#2 – Downsize
We’ve all had those days when we are on the water and the bite is slow or non-existent. Many times as anglers we start cycling through our lures, tossing every different style of bait we possibly can, searching for that magic tool that will ignite that bite. Many times one of the lures you are using, is already the answer. You just need to make one change. The best advice I can offer you when the bite is tough is to downsize your presentation. Throwing a smaller bait doesn’t necessarily mean smaller fish. Sometimes dropping your lure size down can make a huge difference. Something as subtle as changing from a 5 inch plastic worm to a 4 inch plastic worm can turn your day into a successful outing. Many of the biggest bass that I have caught were on smaller baits. The same theory holds true to fishing line. Drop down a size pound test too. If you’re throwing 10 lb test, try 8 lb. If you’re throwing 8lb try 6 lb test. You’ll catch more fish.
#3 – Get Social
Fishermen know that we all like to tell our fish stories. You may think that no one is going to give away any special secrets or places for everyone to see but I can guarantee you that you will gain invaluable information by being social online. There are many options out there for fishermen including message boards, fishing applications, and mass social media. A place like Fishidy is a great place to start! Create a free account and start to learn! Even forms of mass social media including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Periscope etc. are all a venue to interact with anglers of all levels. Connect with people. There are a multitude of anglers out there who are willing to talk fishing, share tips, offer advice, and answer questions about anything on the water.
#4 – Journal
Keep a journal of your fishing outings. Even if you think you have the best memory in the world, keep track of time/date/season/weather/highlights/things you noticed/what you used etc. Looking back at previous notes can be very beneficial especially if you are someone who fishes many bodies of water. After a while you can use your journal as research as to what type of an area you should focus on fishing when certain conditions are present. There are even devices that can help you keep track of some of this information now, like the Connect Scale. You can also log your catches into bodies of water with your Fishidy account! Regardless of how you log your information, it can be invaluable as you fish different bodies of water throughout the year.
Tight lines!
Check out more at www.bradparadisfishing.com
