03-23-2015, 08:39 PM
[#0000FF]Sounds like you are at that phase in the progression of anglership where you have already caught your first fish, lots of fish, lots of small fish and are now ready to focus on quality vs quantity. A worthy goal.
In my former life...in which I regularly disguised myself as a business person...I often compared fishing to selling/marketing. You gotta go where the prospects (big fish) are, make good presentations, have positive expectation, use the right lures, be attuned to what is happening at all times...ready for a positive response (strike), set the hook with strength and conviction...and then play the catch so it does not wiggle off the hook.
I have been a lifelong student of both business and fishing. I believe that you cannot be over-learned in either...but especially in fishing. And with all of the new tackle and philosophies being developed every year you gotta stay up or you will be left behind. Thankfully, that does not mean that you always have to have the latest and hottest lures on the market. Fortunately some of the old tried and true stuff still works as well as ever. The new stuff just gets all the publicity (advertising).
I don't believe one has to spend the money to buy all of the most expensive gear. But I do believe that it is false economy to go cheap on terminal tackle. I can't believe all the reports in which anglers lost fish because of line breakage, malfunctioning reels or broken rods, etc. Ditto for hooks. Buy good sharp hooks...of the right type and size for your type of fishing...and keep them sharp and rust free.
Just remember...fish don't break lines. Fishermen do...through poor tackle, faulty knots, improper technique, etc. If you are going after larger fish, be prepared with gear that will not only attract those fish but will properly handle them once hooked too.
It all starts with habitat. There are a few larger than average fish in almost any water. But catching them is often more a matter of luck...or stubborn persistence...than focused fishing. So do your homework and fish waters in which there is a good population of good sized fish...with some that can make your entire fishing career.
Best baits and lures? As you have already been advised larger fish generally eat bigger meals...and usually don't snack on "junk food". As a general rule, using minnows or good lure imitations will usually get you more big fish opportunities than pitching small stuff or soaking "bottle baits". There have been some big fish caught on crazy stuff but that's not playing the odds.
If you want to take it one step further, spend some time to get to know the ecology of the waters you fish. What is the primary forage of the big boys? If...as in Scofield...it is large chubs, then either fish large whole dead chubs or lures that closely imitate them in size, color and action.
See? Simple...but not easy.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
In my former life...in which I regularly disguised myself as a business person...I often compared fishing to selling/marketing. You gotta go where the prospects (big fish) are, make good presentations, have positive expectation, use the right lures, be attuned to what is happening at all times...ready for a positive response (strike), set the hook with strength and conviction...and then play the catch so it does not wiggle off the hook.
I have been a lifelong student of both business and fishing. I believe that you cannot be over-learned in either...but especially in fishing. And with all of the new tackle and philosophies being developed every year you gotta stay up or you will be left behind. Thankfully, that does not mean that you always have to have the latest and hottest lures on the market. Fortunately some of the old tried and true stuff still works as well as ever. The new stuff just gets all the publicity (advertising).
I don't believe one has to spend the money to buy all of the most expensive gear. But I do believe that it is false economy to go cheap on terminal tackle. I can't believe all the reports in which anglers lost fish because of line breakage, malfunctioning reels or broken rods, etc. Ditto for hooks. Buy good sharp hooks...of the right type and size for your type of fishing...and keep them sharp and rust free.
Just remember...fish don't break lines. Fishermen do...through poor tackle, faulty knots, improper technique, etc. If you are going after larger fish, be prepared with gear that will not only attract those fish but will properly handle them once hooked too.
It all starts with habitat. There are a few larger than average fish in almost any water. But catching them is often more a matter of luck...or stubborn persistence...than focused fishing. So do your homework and fish waters in which there is a good population of good sized fish...with some that can make your entire fishing career.
Best baits and lures? As you have already been advised larger fish generally eat bigger meals...and usually don't snack on "junk food". As a general rule, using minnows or good lure imitations will usually get you more big fish opportunities than pitching small stuff or soaking "bottle baits". There have been some big fish caught on crazy stuff but that's not playing the odds.
If you want to take it one step further, spend some time to get to know the ecology of the waters you fish. What is the primary forage of the big boys? If...as in Scofield...it is large chubs, then either fish large whole dead chubs or lures that closely imitate them in size, color and action.
See? Simple...but not easy.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]