The best fishing advice I ever heard for merely locating active fish…..”reading the conditions”……what really made sense (to me) and brought things into focus and was EASY to remember – 4 simple words. LOOK FOR THE EDGE. The edge of a current seam, the edge of rock croppings, the edge of a weed bed. The edge of shadows. The edge of a drop off. The edge of a mud line. The edge of structure. The edge of a confluence area. Really anything that contrasts is what I look for when I’m seeking out new spots or active fish – THE EDGE. Electronics are a huge time saving advantage in allowing you to “see” under the water but remember electronics won’t show you everything.
I also think it’s very important to read every article you can get your hands on or attend any seminars feasible concerning your favorite species. There is no substitute for experience – but acquiring a general understanding of fish behavior associated with time of year will take light years off the experience learning curve. The next time you are on the water & start catching some fish don’t be just satisfied with catching them. Look around you. What’s different? What’s special about this spot? Why are these fish here? Where is the Edge? Even if it’s a spot you’ve had success with in prior trips. Figuring out why the fish are there will only help you locate similar niches and new spots. I’ll freely admit – I come off the water mentally exhausted on a lot of days. My late father once told me as a young frustrated lad to think of “fishing” as a 1,000 piece jig saw puzzle. Some days the pieces fall right into place and others…..well VandeKamp needs to make some $$$ too.
