1. Be prepared to adapt your fishing to the conditions. The fish decide what works, not you.

2. Even if you're not confident in a particular technique or bait learn to use it. It could salvage your fishing outing.

3. Safety First wear eye protection especially with shatterproof lenses.

Went out to my buddy's pond this morning with a friend and starting using the old reliable Ragetail products and no luck. Mind you this is the pond where I caught 21 bass in three hours about a month ago on Ragetail Shads and Toads. Well no luck, so my buddy ties on a plastic worm and proceeds to catch the next 4 fish before I catch my next bass. It was in those next 4 hours I relearned a lesson every fisherman should remember. The fish dictate what works not the other way around. Even if you feel uncomfortable or not particularly confident in a bait or technique, there's no better time to try it than when you're on the water. I started fishing plastic worms also and proceeded to catch 6 of our next 8 bass. I also had a bait unsnagged come flying back towards my head hook and sinker attached at a high velocity once at my head and once nailing me in the leg. Thank goodness for long pants.

Being reminded of things you've gotten to the point of taking for granted is always good ...

                                    As ever,

                                     skillet