At 73 years old, I have learned a few things about fishing. I will list some of them, in no particular order.

1) Forget about all the various tables about when to go fishing. Go fishing when you can, as often as you can.

2) There is no such thing as a "magic" lure or technique. Fish with what makes sense for the conditions and what you have confidence in.

3) Don't be afraid to go against conventional wisdom. Sure, try doing what is supposed to work, but if that doesn't work, don't just keep doing it. Do something else even if it seems like it should not work. What have you got to lose?

4) Unless you are a tournament fisherman, the only person you are really competing with is yourself. Just try to get better each time you go out and don't get too concerned about how others are doing. 

5) We all have bad days. Getting skunked does not mean the trip was unsuccessful. At the very least you learned what did NOT work.

6) While searching and scoping can be good for getting ideas, don't forget the idea is to go fishing. As the great Bill Dance says: "Wet lines catch more fish".

7) Unless you are in a tournament, or are in another persons' boat, or are taking someone else fishing and they really want to keep fishing, if you are not having fun, just quit for today. There always another day. Don't sour yourself on fishing by forcing yourself to have a crappy time.

? Maintain awareness of your surroundings and the weather. Don't put yourself at risk by being unobservant.

9) Be kind and considerate of others and respect others property. Trespassing or being rude will only make others less amenable to letting fisherman have access.

10) Always leave an area cleaner than you found it. Remember that the water is not a garbage can. 

11) Always be willing to help a child or inexperienced angle. Grow the sport. I usually carry an extra inexpensive but serviceable rod and reel (Walmart sets up you can get for under $25.00, or one of my old but still working rigs) which I will loan to a young person if they don't have a working rod and reel. I don't give a set up away all that often, but I will loan one out just about every time I am around youngsters.

12) Always do the right thing, even when no one else is around. Respect the rules and regulations.

Very well said!

 

 

 

Mike

2 hours ago, Mike L said:

Very well said!

 

 

 

Mike

X2

I think you nailed it.

yep

18 hours ago, Kirt Howe said:

4) Unless you are a tournament fisherman, the only person you are really competing with is yourself. Just try to get better each time you go out and don't get too concerned about how others are doing.

 

If you're a successful tournament angler or weekend warrior, you are competing against the bass, not the other anglers.

 

Everything else is spot on!

19 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

If you're a successful tournament angler or weekend warrior, you are competing against the bass, not the other anglers.

I get what you are saying, but that's like saying you are competing against the course or the finish line. Ironically, I have actually said that on really tough climbing bike races, something like "the climbs will take care of the competition", I can hear Springsteen in the background (counting his 1/2 billion) "They'll pass you by, In the wink of a young girl's eye"

2 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I get what you are saying, but that's like saying you are competing against the course or the finish line.

 

On any given day from February through April there can be 3,000-4,000 tournament & weekend warriors on Toledo Bend. My job ain't to try & figure out what they're doing. My job is to figure out what the bass are doing in the areas I'm fishing.

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

If you're a successful tournament angler or weekend warrior, you are competing against the bass, not the other anglers.

 

Everything else is spot on!

I was going to post something very similar. I like to think of it as fishing against the lake. It matters little if it's a tournament or not. I know what type of fish the lake kicks out, what weights typically win, lake records, etc. the minute I think "I have beat so and so, because they're always good on this lake," I'm done for. It took a bit to get rid of that chip on my shoulder, but once I left that behind, fishing  became much more enjoyable to me. 

31 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It took a bit to get rid of that chip on my shoulder, but once I left that behind, fishing  became much more enjoyable to me.

 

I actually started catching more because I  gained confidence in myself. 

Agreed. Stop asking yourself what are you doing wrong and start doing what feels right. 

Kirt I am your age and besides the fishing stuff.  I always prepare in case something goes wrong while on the water.

1). Always leave a game plan especially if I go out alone.  Leave the wife, the lake name, the ramp location, the direction I’m fishing, the time to expect me to return.  My wife also tracks my phone all the time.

2). Emergency numbers like fish and game are always in the boat.

3. Always wear PFD when alone, even when not running the boat.

4). Take more water than needed in case there is a problem.

5). Don't run as fast as I used too, especially when alone, and always wear the kill switch when running.

6). always take a pee jar so I don’t have to balance on the side of the boat, and make sure you have T/P in the boat.

7). Extra careful on wet ramps when loading and unloading.

 

The older you get the more important these things become.

Other than a few city park ponds, I don't fish alone.

I'm only 61 and hope to have that wisdom at 73, I've got a ways to go ?

I learn something anytime I go on or near the water. At least I pay as much attention to my surroundings. That is what I have learned over the years is to pay attention. 

 

3 hours ago, geo g said:

1). Always leave a game plan especially if I go out alone.  Leave the wife, the lake name, the ramp location, the direction I’m fishing, the time to expect me to return.

 

I do all of that.  In addition I have a family tracker app where my wife can track me.  I don't do anything or go anywhere that's a secret from my wife so I believe being able to track me on the lake is a good idea.  The biggest drawback is if I were to drop my phone in the lake and she checked to see where I was.  IF I were to lose my phone while fishing my first priority would be to find a phone to call her and tell her I was OK.  

I am trying to remember what was learned?

Tom

Excellent words @Kirt Howe!!!

8 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Other than a few city park ponds, I don't fish alone.

 

I too hate fishing alone, the problem is old partners have stopped fishing, or passed away!!!!!!!

Oh....I remember now don’t pee into the wind.

Tom

Don't judge anglers by their boat, tackle or the way they look.  That barefoot country boy just might kick your butt.  ☺️

Fishing tips from my grandpa.

#1 Keep it wet. You can't catch em if it ain't in the water.

#2 If your line's moving set the hook. The sob ain't got it in his hand.

#3 Don't miss a sunrise. It could be your last.

#4 All the money in the world can't catch a fish. ( I heard this every time I mentioned getting a new rod, reel, etc.

 

Not just in fishing….

The best decisions aren’t always the right decisions 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

Being A type personality and organized thinking (engineer) I often forget not everyone is like me. It took most of my lifetime to realize this fact.

Enjoy your time on the water, time is limited.

Don’t over think fishing take time to smell the roses.

Be a mentor and share information, fisherman are too tight lipped.

Tom