Best tip for new fisherperson

After seeing posts by new crappie fishermen in another blog I gave them my thoughts:


I see a lot of questions popping up that I assume are coming from people wanting to break into crappie fishing. First off, I know some of the best guides on Kentucky lake, they don't limit out every time and neither will you. The pictures you see posted are not an everyday occurrence. It's how the fish keep us humble. "The man in the village who caught the big fish of the day never takes the back roads home" Secondly, there's no magic color, jig body, crankbait size, or spider riggin weight that is going to cover every circumstance for every day you fish. When I first started those crappie would whip my tail nearly every time out. I got madder than a mosquito in a mannequin factory, but I did the one thing that still works for me today. I outlasted them. If you can do that, you'll have those magical days that'll draw you back for more of the same. So that one special wiz bang gizmo you need in your bag is, don't give up!


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Amen brother

After all the reading, asking, buying, listening, and seminar attendance, nothing beats time on the water. It’s important to reminder to go slow. Learn throughly a fishing technique before attempting several. Trying to learn several techniques at once will cause frustration and lengthen the time it takes to constantly catch fish. Finally, have fun doing it and enjoy each day the good Lord gives ya.

My best advice outside of what sage advice has been given is from day one begin a log or journal of every trip. Log details like water and weather conditions, technique used, colors, locations, what you see on your electronics, how you and others that you might have spoke to, and the list goes on.
You can refer back to these notes at anytime now, and use for future trips. Log weather events that will affect your body of water.


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As I've spent years on the water, with and without clients, I've found getting out of my comfort zone will most times make me more comfortable.

Spend as much time as you can OFF the water looking and learning new areas and tactics. Pour thru magazines, maps, and videos, even subjects you might not think will even pertain to your area, species, or likes. Instead of sitting mindlessly watching 2 teams play you barely know, get on YouTube and burn some new things into your brain. Do obscure searches on say "longlining for crappie" but don't pass up those videos that don't get the most hits or are the most recent. I've seen videos say of walleye trolling that gave me one minute tip or put a thought in my brain of some little thing I need to try the next time I'm on the lake. Then, go to the lake to get out of your comfort zone with the intention of spending the time needed to try what you learned to see if it will work for your situation or location. Many times it won't, but if it does, you've now got a leg up on those who mindlessly do the same thing and fish the same places every time they hit the lake.

Folks who walk into my taxidermy studio will be met with a pile of lake maps on the front counter. They aren't there for decor. They are there for me to take a break, get a cup of coffee, and find new fish. I may have 2-3 maps of the exact same area. Some Corps, some tourist, some HotSpots, etc. I may overlay them and find some little area I've never fished or haven't in years. Things change. Structure changes. Water conditions change but bottom doesn't change. I have copies of maps from the 1920s-40s of the area of the lake prior to it being a lake. That roadbed intersection that only shows up on that free tourist map might be your next hotspot for the year. I can some times be found sitting in my boat in the garage watching scans of my LakeMaster maps in an area I want to try. Rickie now has me set up so I can bring my 1199HD or Helix 10 into the house and play with maps in my recliner.

Last year I made myself fish new water. Day after day in the same spots can only lessen your chances of catching good numbers of crappie. Clients want results and their picture with a pile of results (fish). I'm the only one responsible for making that happen. He who works hardest has the best things happen by chance.

Great advice. But I think the number one thing is have fun and enjoy being out on the water. Once you except that catching a limit is a bonus you won’t stress over it and then you can really enjoy it.


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Read, study what you read. Watch as many videos as you have time too. Don't hesitate to stop that video and rewind to hear something you liked and listen and watch it until you understand what's going on in it. Talk to people about what you want to learn. Take all the advice you liked and get on the water or shoreline that you intend to fish and see what works for you. Time on the water is crucial to becoming the best fisher person you can be but unfortunately LIFE gets in the way of fishing. So make the most of your time.

Great advice in these posts. Study, try new and different techniques/places, learn from others, spend time on the water and good things will happen. Enjoy the journey!!

Really good advice from these fishermen