What do you love about fishing? You can probably come up with a list as long as your arm, but did you know you could find even greater love, just by knowing more about what it takes to be a great fisherman? Read on for some tips to help you do just that.
Don’t blind the fish! While shiny lures are often very effective at attracting specific species, the reflection of the sun can blind a fish and send it swimming away. Matte lures can be equally as effective while they won’t scare off as many fish as a metallic lure would, so consider using both when you fish.
If you are fishing in a river or lake, near the shore can be an ideal spot to cast. Fish who depend upon insects for food generally find them in abundance close to the shore, so you may get more bites by casting your lure in these areas. One thing to remember when fishing near the bank is that there are many obstacles that can tangle up your line.
No matter what the weather is, always carry a good sunscreen along on your fishing trips. Sunbeams over water are significantly magnified, and if you don’t use sunscreen, you can get a nasty burn.
Anytime you go fishing, it is important to take some basic essentials along with you. What you need depends on where you are going. Generally speaking, basic essentials are items like hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. If your plans include fishing in remote areas, you should also pack a cell phone, flashlight and maybe even a compass.
Anyone fishing would be wise to understand, there is a limit and size requirements for whatever fish you are fishing for. Fishing has become really regulated over the years and, in order to keep fish populations from dwindling, you should respect size and catch limits.
Limit the amount of fish you catch. While fishing can be a great, relaxing hobby, it is generally considered very bad form to catch more fish than you intend to eat or share. If you are simply catching for sport, then you should release the fish you catch back into the water. This will help you to enjoy the sport and leave fish for others.
Fishing with younger children can be a great way to bring them into the wild, but always put safety first. There should never be more small children than adults, and they should always use a life jacket when near the water. It is amazing how quickly children are able to throw themselves into water!
If you snare a large fish but it starts to turn around while you’re reeling it in, then it’s best you let it go. This is because your line will be too short to gain any reel and pump action to land it. Remember to use a little patience before you begin to reel a large catch in the next time.
Make sure you bring a good dose of patience with you on your fishing trip. Even though it may seem like common sense, many people give up too easily if they do not catch a fish in the first 30 minutes. Patience and time are needed when fishing.
Practice patience for fishing success. Every highly prolific person that fishes knows how to calmly wait out the fish, and lets them bite at will. Plan ahead to make sure you’re comfortable while you wait. The less you try to rush the whole fishing process, the greater your chances of having a bountiful haul.
Fishing requires an incredible amount of patience. If you are not a patient person, fishing may not be for you. To develop the necessary patience, start with baby-step trips and work your way up to the bigger fishes.
If you plan on fishing for hours, it is important that you bring some food. If this is your first time fishing, then it is likely it could take you a while before you get the first bite. During this time, you are probably going to get hungry. Don’t cut your fishing trip short because of your hunger, so pack some snacks.
If you are one of those people who gets bored easily when they fish, try moving to a new spot every hour. This affords you a change of scenery and keeps you awake and aware. Who knows, you may even stumble upon a great fishing spot!
Bugs are one of the most common irritations you can run into on a fishing trip, so remember to pack insect repellent! Different repellents can be more, or less effective depending on the local insect population. If you are visiting a new spot for the first time, try to bring along several types of repellent. Take note of which ones are most effective, so that you can be prepared next time!
While fishing is an amazing hobby, it can be made even better by finding success more often. What we’ve written here provides you with all you need to know to better your technique and improve your skills, leading to more catches, larger catches and an overall, great time on the lake.