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Planning for Success

(By: Jerry Carlson)

photo of jerry carlson

As we stare into the open mouth of a new fishing season I am sure that many anglers are setting goals. Individual goals are gong to be different for all anglers, yet I believe that many will also be the same.

The overall purpose of goal setting is to make plans to do something different with your fishing than you have normally done in the past. It is similar to making a New Year's Resolution that has to do with fishing instead of other aspects of our complicated lives.

I know of no angler that set goals to catch fewer fish than they did the year before. Instead, the contrary is true. Anglers set goals to catch more fish than previous years. As a general rule this cannot be done with out some planning.

All too often I see anglers trolling the fishing isles at the tackle shops looking for the perfect lure that will help them catch more fish than ever before. It is true that lures can make a difference in the quantity and quality of fish caught, but more importantly than lures is the know-how of how to correctly use them.

Tying on a new lure and giving it a toss is not what your resolutions for catching more fish should be all about. Resolutions for catching more fish have to be about learning more about fishing, being flexible, and being willing to try something new.

Anglers tend to get into fishing ruts that are almost impossible to break out of. We tend to fish the same spots with the same presentations regardless of the weather and time of the year. This rut fishing is the last thing you need when it comes to being a more successful angler.

I believe that one of the keys to fishing success is diversity. Diversity needs to be applied to where you fish, lures you fish with, and presentation.

Location is a real key when it comes to catching fish. Location does not just mean trying a new lake, it means learning more about the water systems you are fishing now. When was the last time you tried to learn something new about your favorite lake? When was the last time you went to the old reliable spots last instead of first?

I recently talked to an angler that was very excited about the upcoming open water season. He went on to describe how he had caught more fish and bigger fish last year than ever before by switching location. He did this by breaking out of a fishing rut. During previous years if he did not catch fish in his normal milk run of spots he would give up looking for fish and start randomly casting shallow shoreline in hopes of finding something that was biting.

This last year he tried going deeper when the fish were not in their normal spots. He was amazed at the quantity and quality of fish caught between 30 and 40 feet of water. He is excited about the prospect of exploring more deep water habitat this year in hopes of equaling or even improving on last year's success.

Trying new locations isn't the only goal you can set for this year. My own personal goal is to spend more time fishing crankbaits. Too many times I have found myself switching to crankbaits only after nothing else worked. As a last resort we tried speed trolling Shad Raps and Shadlings with bottom bouncers at the same depth we had been working live bait.

The results were not spectacular, but we did catch a little of everything including bass, northerns, crappies, and walleyes. One of the northerns was the biggest fish ever caught by the person that owned the cabin we were staying at. Afterwards I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to troll cranks on this lake when the fish were active.

Giving fish too much time to study your offering isn't always the answer. By speeding up you create something called a reaction bite.

Fish strike baits that are moving quickly because they don't want them to get away. By using spinner rigs, like a Hatchet Harness, you also add a thumping blade that will attract even more attention.

As you work your way through this year's open water fishing season, don't lose sight of the goals you have set for yourself. Becoming a better angler doesn't just happen, it is something you have to work at. By experimenting with location, new lures, and different presentations you will gain the knowledge necessary to become a better angler. You will also catch more fish in the process.