The tips to be a better angler may sound easy. In most instances, the tips are easy to follow and learn. The problem is many people are self-learning. They have not had an experienced person to lead their journey. This leads to bad habits and too many mistakes when starting to fish. Fishing is like other sports in that you need solid fundamentals for success.
Starting with basic techniques and tactics will help you learn to fish. Taking the time to master specific aspects is part of the sport also. A good fisherman has spent a lot of time honing their skills. Learning to fish successfully is more of a marathon, not a sprint.
Table of Contents
- Be Patient
- Keep It Simple
- Study the Waterways
- Learn the Species Habitat and Behavior
- Practice Using Lures
- Fish with Exerienced Anglers
- Keep it Fun
Tip #1 Be Patient
It takes time to get the skills to be a good angler. People overlook casting with accuracy. Practice casting as a beginner in an open area. Place targets to aim for and land your cast in the target. Practice tying knots. People have problems with fishing knots while fishing. A little practice helps reduce or eliminate the problems.
Target easy to catch fish several times when starting to fish. Lakes and ponds with panfish are ideal. You will learn to set the hook and release the fish. Plus it is fun and builds confidence in catching fish to start.
Tip #2 Keep It Simple to be a Better Angler
People often overthink fishing. The many tactics and techniques are simple. The issue is the number of things you need to learn. Inexperienced anglers tend to make the same mistakes. They buy the wrong rod and reel, line, and terminal tackle. Know what you will fish for before buying gear. In many cases, a medium or medium-light power rod is best for beginners.
Spinning tackle is easier to use. Avoid baitcasting gear, it is harder to use and requires more skill to cast. Buy a pre-made combo or have someone with knowledge help you find a good setup. The mom-and-pop shops are the best to buy a starter setup. These people know what is needed for their area. They will make a balanced setup with the proper line.
Add in a few hooks, sinkers, and bobbers to complete a starter setup. Go fishing with live baits a few times. After you have an idea of what fishing is about. You can try a few lures. Do not rush and keep it simple.
Tip #3 Study the Waterways to be a Better Angler
People have misconceptions about fishing. You will fail by going to a lake or river and simply casting in the water. You need to learn the waterway and species in the waterway. This means you need to ask questions about the waterway. The majority of waterways fall under the saying”10-20 % of the water holds 80-90 % of the fish.” You need to find the productive areas on the lake or river.
If there is a local mom-and-pop tackle shop. They can guide you to a few popular places. The areas will have more pressure from a lot of people. Yet, the areas do hold fish. This is a starting point. If the opportunity arises speak to other anglers. A few may suggest other spots to try.
Structure and Cover
Look up the structure and cover for fishing. These are features fish use to travel or hide in the water. Find a topo map for the waterway. It will show where the features of the structure are located. Fish are always on or near the structure. If a map is not available, you need to use electronics or learn to read the water. The cover is a little harder to find if underwater.
On lakes, weeds make up cover in many instances. Types of cover vary but include fallen trees, brush piles, and rock piles. Some maps will show these areas and porcupine cribs. The cribs are manmade cover sunken in lakes. They will hold fish but are also places you will snag a lot.
Tip #4 Learn the Species Habitat and Behavior
Understanding the species and habitat is a big difference. It is the difference between very good and poor or average anglers. People that understand the behavior and habitat. Know where to look for the fish in all the seasons and conditions. You may catch your favorite fish in the spring in an area. Come summer and fall it seems as if the fish are gone. Fish move around in the habitat searching for their preferred conditions and food.
The season and weather affect fish activity. Each season poses different conditions for the fish. They adjust by moving into the water with better conditions. In the spring and fall fish transition into different locations and behaviors. Understanding these behaviors allows you to catch fish all year.
If your success rate of catching fish drops in a spot. You need to move to a place with better conditions for the fish. In some cases, changing the time of day is the better option. The weather is another element that changes a fish’s behavior. You need to learn about weather, habitat, and behaviors relating together for continuous success all year.
Tip #5 Practice Using Lures to be a Better Angler
People buy a lure with the belief it will catch fish easily. This rarely happens with lures. Each lure has a specific technique for best results. You need to practice these techniques. A pro will spend a month or years honing the use of a lure. You need to spend at least a little time practicing a lure’s technique.
It is true some lures are simple to cast and retrieve. Yet changing the speed or adding a twitch or pause helps tremendously. Some lures are intended to bounce along the bottom. While others run higher in the water or on the surface. Each type of lure has a time and place it is the better choice.
Spinners
Spinners and Spinnerbaits are used in many depths. The weight and blades determine the depth. You can do a slow roll near the bottom or burn the lure near the surface. The slow roll is good for less active fish while the fast speed is for aggressive fish. These are good lures for multiple scenarios when fishing.
Choose a few sizes, blade types, and colors to start. Once you find the type that works well in your area. Then consider adding more lures in other colors or sizes.
Jerkbait Tips to be a Better Angler
A jerkbait is the lure people use wrong the most. The lure works best with twitches, snaps, pauses, and jerking on the retrieve. Using a steady retrieve does work, yet produces fewer fish. The twitches, pauses, and jerks create the appearance of injured prey. Fish seek injured prey due to the ease of catching it for food.
The lures come in floating, sinking, and suspending models. Each model works in different conditions. Beginners will do well with a few floating and suspending models.
CrankBaits Tips to be a Better Angler
Tips to be a better angler includes fishing crankbaits. This type of lure is for deeper water and fast retrieves. It is the best option for active fish in water over 8-10 feet in depth. It is a search lure able to cover larger sections of water quickly. The lure is another good choice for beginners or inexperienced people.
It is retrieved with steady cranking. Try to have to lure bounce and glance off the bottom or cover for best results. There are shallow diving versions for water less than 8 feet in depth. They work well In some situations. When fish are close to shore and active, try a shallow model.
Soft Plastics
When fish are in deeper water and/or less active. Soft plastics offer the solution. These lures are bounced or drug across the bottom slowly. The popular types of this lure include the following
- Texas or Carolina rig
- Tube and Grub tail jigs
- Ned, Neko or Drop shot rigs
Every angler needs to have at least one of these types of jigs or rigs. The soft plastics tend to be specific in which condition you will use them. The list is grouped in rigs using the same hooks and soft plastics. In other words, having the Texas rig tackle allows an easy change to Carolina.
Soft plastics take longer to learn. The majority of the rigs fall into what is called finesse lures. Finesse lures are moved a short distance and left at rest for a few seconds to over a minute at times. This style of fishing works for pressured fish and cold fronts. Plus, finesse fishing is worth trying if other lures are not working.
The regions you fish in will determine the best choices in soft plastics. In the south, Texas rigs are common. In the northern areas, a tube jig may be the best option. Talk with local anglers or people at the tackle shops. They will know which lure is better for the area. Each waterway is different.
Tip #6 Fish with Experienced Anglers
There is no substitute for experience. A person will benefit from having someone with knowledge guiding them at times. Talk to friends, relatives, and co-workers. If these people fish, see if you can get together to fish a few times. The little things are learned from people with experience. These individuals may know what baits work well in your area. You can learn new places to fish. The possibilities of fishing with other people are numerous.
If you fish a larger lake repeatedly a guide may be an option. Guides know the waterway better than other fishermen. They fish the water every day with good results a very high percentage of the time. A good guide will improve your knowledge of the waterway, plus show you a few tips on how to catch fish.
Tip #7 Keep it Fun
Fishing is a relaxing and enjoyable sport. Do not try to be a pro angler around friends and others. Simply have fun. I see too many people with the mindset it is a competition all the time. Save the competition attitude for tournaments.
Do not expect to catch fish every time you go. All anglers get skunked, even the pros. It is part of the sport. On days the fish do not bite enjoy the scenery or practice a lure technique you need to improve. Who knows, practicing a lure may catch you a fish or two.
Choose the time you go to be successful and enjoy fishing. Fishing mid-day in summer is not a good idea. Fish tend to be far less active and you are uncomfortable with the heat. Take your time learning and enjoy the sport.
Tips to be a Better Angler Conclusion
Fishing is a nice hobby for many. It does take time and some effort to become a good angler. When you have time. Study the species and habitat. Learn the waterways you plan to fish. Improve your casting and knot tying at home by spending 20-30 minutes when possible. Practice how to use a lure correctly. Pros practice getting to an expert level. You need to do the same to get good. Fish with other people and learn a few things from them.