Confidence!

[palisade1kid]

So how does a fisherman gain confidence?

I've been thinking about fishing over the last 40 years

and there are so many ways to catch fish.It's funny when to realize

how many different styles and patterns that I've used to catch those quality fish.

One of the main ingredients to producing great action is having confidence in the pattern

you are using.I believe once you have determined the forage the fish you are targeting are eating and the structure the fish are holding too you need to have the patients to work that pattern.

It does not matter if your young and just learning how to cast or your an old pro

working a proven pattern .Time spent working a pattern will produce fish and sometimes a fish of a lifetime.

Fishing is really a game of numbers.The more time your baits are wet ,the better your odds are of catching fish.

It's also a game where anything goes...well just about.

Letting those fish tell you want they want is key ,but what's even more important is

remembering how it all went down.

Keeping a log can aide you.Things like wind direction,moon phase,barometer level,water temperature,

storm fronts,time of the day or year all play apart of developing your pattern.

As we find a pattern we should bank that pattern in our memories or the log .

Patterns can change from day to day as they change for different species of fish.

My general rule of thumb is to start small and work to bigger baits or visa versa until I find what those fish want.Colors can have an effect as well,so have different sizes and colors in a bait aides me in dialing in to

exactly want that species want on that day.Retrieval speed or trolling speed has to be considered as well as boat control.

Since I have some experience already banked I can dial in quicker then I was able to 20 years ago.

For example catching crappies just after the ice melts.

I know that I can go into some of the smaller lakes that warm faster. 3 days after the ice leaves for the open water season is when I can start .

I know that the mud flats and cabbage patches adjacent to deep water will be areas that I'll target looking for those early slabs.

I know that the submerged trees and floating bogs have a tendency to warm that water a bit faster .

I also know to work those areas with super small baits under a bobber in stealth mode.

A key option here is to work a ton of water until you find that 1st one.Since crappies are a schooling fish

I know that to find the 1st one is everything.Once that happens it's time to set anchor quietly and proceed to

rearing.This is a CPR time of the year for me as these will be spawning fish as soon as the water warms into the 60's.

All fish have patterns,finding one that works for you within your abilities and working that pattern is where that confidence is developed through catching fish.

Make sure you bank that pattern as you fish throughout the year.As the fishing trips come and go your account will grow enabling you to reach into that account to withdraw that go to pattern for those species of fish you are targeting.

Work that pattern.Your confidence will drive you to catch more fish more often.

Have fun and remember what got you there!

It's hard to have confidence in something that is new to you.

Being a well rounded fisherman requires that you have an adventurous spirit.Trying new tactics to catch those same fish.

Having an open mind and trying to get educated in that new pattern is key.

Fishing with someone else that is successful with that other pattern really helps to shorten that learning curve.

As an example I used to fish for walleyes in deep water.I always looked for sand or rocky bottoms and I lindy rigged them with crawlers,leeches or minnows.

A decade ago I met a fellow that was a plastics fisherman and he worked the outside weed edges

just on top of the break.

I have gravitated to that method and have caught a ton of waldos in 6-12 fow.

I would have never believed how easy it would be to catch them and in most cases these areas are over looked by many walleye fishermen.

The same technique can also be used in a eddie on a river.

During the spring just after openers I've hit the river and caught 30 walleyes back to back on every cast and retrieve.

Confidense in different presentations takes time to develop.

Be patient and try those different methods.

The confidence will develop.

[slurpie]

That is some great insight.I started keeping a log this year and there is alot of info to be had in that book. I can see how in a few years it will help alot.

[Schloogs]

nice post crappie

[ocf1]

I totally agree, fishing is work, fun work that is, you have to work out the patterns and get confidence in them, and if you dont expect a fish to be on the other side of the line, you dont have confidence!

[palisade1kid]

A fisherman is the ultimate optimist....everytime he casts out he thinks he's going to catch a fish.