Ya never know unless you try

[Spoonminnow]

You guys are AWESOME! Wish at least just a few local anglers were less secretive when it comes to sharing. I've never cared for one-way streets.

But one thing just ocurred to me: I see fishing as a mystery to be solved whenever I venture out. Number one is fish location; number two is lures that can catch fish in those locations. Ruling out both is a top priority and based on past experiences on those waters leading to a build up of a knowledge base concerning them. Lakes are unique in many ways but similar in other ways. But as usual, luck comes into it and we always hope lady luck is on our side whenever we fish.

Example: two lakes that fish differently because of significant differences in each:
One has pads, is much larger with wetlands; yesterday's lake - no pads or wetlands.
Shallow water fishing is a must in the former, open deeper water fishing in the latter.

Luck allowed me to catch this large pickerel in 4' on a wetland flat two days ago around dying pads (especially considering the fact that the jig snagged its outer lip!):


Yesterday luck resulted in me making the first cast to deep water I would have never thought held crappie. When I felt a faint strike and then another, I knew I wasn't going anywhere! At the same time I was reminded that that end of the lake last month held over 30 fish, though more to the right of where I was casting.

Curl tail grubs were not as effective as a straight tail in either water because of differences in how each design is retrieved. Lure color may have been important but chosen based on confidence and the many fish caught over the years. Regardless, I know that lure contrasts draw strikes via action and color by tickling the fish's senses just right.

Pre-frontal conditions (15-20 mph wind) gave me hope that fish would be super active in the 49 degree water somewhere in the lake, which was also the reason for 40 fish caught on the shallow flats in the lake with pads the day before a cold front.

Clues, gentlemen, are discovered; luck leads to their discovery which results in fish netted. At the end of the day, there's nothing like the feeling of having been lucky on the water. For me, luck means adding to my knowledge base - even when few fish are caught.

(Man do I still wish I lived in Texas for so many reasons and especially for the fishing buddys I made on and off the base I was stationed at! Hope all my fellow vets had a great Veteran's Day!)