WHAT EXACTLY ARE THOSE "LITTLE THINGS"

 

We've all heard the old adage "pay attention to the little things" in conjunction with fishing as well as most of the other important pursuits in life.

What exactly are those "little things". You know, those things that can make the difference between an average angler a good angler. Through experience and listening to some of those great anglers I've picked up a few that really do make a difference when it comes to putting fish in the boat.

Take the time to check your gear the day before you fish. A day before is important because if you need to do some adjustments you still have time.

•  have you got a sufficient selection of the terminal tackle and lures you expect to use ?
•  lots of line on your reels, hooks sharp?
•  check the last ten feet of line on your reels for frays or nicks
•  throw a selection of the soft plastics you intend to use in a Ziplock bag with a little of your favorite scent
• tie your rods together with velcro straps and don't untie them until you're ready to fish. It saves dealing with a big tangle and lost fishing time
•  Once you start to fish keep in mind a comment I recently read by a notable pro angler and guide of 40 years. "The most common mistake I see my clients make is working their presentations too fast".

• When using an electric motor especially in shallow water avoid speed bursts and running it on a high speed. It definitely spooks fish.  Also, don't forget what your Dad told you, "be quiet". Heavy feet and dropping articles in the bottom of the boat is a definite no no.

• I fished in the Canadian Open last year as an amateur. My professional on day two was one of the best smallmouth bass anglers in the country. I learned a lot but the two things that stuck with me were the emphasis he put on having a line in the water at all times and how he studied other anglers in the area that were on fish to ascertain exactly what they were doing. There is absolutely nothing unethical about going "to school" on other anglers. It's just makes good sense.

• Have a plan of attack before you hit the water and then tweak it as the conditions and bite dictate.

Example for a bass fishing outing.  It's fall and the water temperature is dropping. There should be some good fish in shallow (less than 10 feet).

We'll start on large weed flats with spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits to cover water for active fish. If we find a concentration of fish (because bass do tend to bunch up in the fall) we'll pick it apart with tubes, senkos and shakey worms.

These are just a few and I'm sure there are hundreds more that have helped you over the years. Send them to me and I'll post them in my next blog.
 
Fall is absolutely my favorite time to fish and it's when you can score some really big bruisers so get out on the water and get after them !