07-18-2003, 12:48 AM
[ol][li]SIGHT
Fish during low light levels, especially during summer months. In most instances a full sunlit day will scurry fish off to the cover of depths, structure and vegetation. Normally, glancing over the side of your boat, one can see a beer bottle on the substrate in 20 feet of water. If you can see the bottom- game fish can see you... long before you made your presence. Fish overcast days, fog, early morning and late afternoon into evening hours. Always try to fish the shaded side of the lake and watch closely any shadows you cast.
[li]SOUND
They claim that sound travels faster and longer in murky water than in clear water. This may be true, however clear water game fish have an extraordinary sense for sounds. While fishing use a quiet, stealth like approach to deep water drop offs from points, weed lying areas and structure shorelines. Bang a tackle box on the bottom of your boat, hit the side of your craft with an ore, or encounter the same from a neighboring fisherman... hang it up! Under such conditions... the best thing you can do is leave the lake and pursue another alternative. If you're with a fumble fingered fisherman who has a tendency to produce sound alarms for game fish, it'd be a good idea to line the hull of your craft with a good insulator.
[li]PRESENTATION
I've seen this so often I wish I'd be given a dollar for every encounter. Most anglers believe the larger the diameter monofilament the better their chances of catching big fish... in anticipation of big fish. What do they get for fishing with 15 lb. test line? Almost always... NOTHING! Give up the notion that big is better. Actually, using too large a diameter of monofilament (especially if it's old) will result in line shy game fish to become wary and will totally refuse any offering if only slightly detected.
The greater the line size diameter, carries with it, a substantially larger olfactory (smell) sense... highly detectable to predatory game fish populations within our clear water lakes, rivers and streams. Suggestion... never, ever use over 6 lb test line. If you do, you fail. If you play your cards right and fight the fight, you can easily catch a 12 lb. plus fish on 6 lb pound test line. Isn't that fishing??? [/li][/ol]
Fish during low light levels, especially during summer months. In most instances a full sunlit day will scurry fish off to the cover of depths, structure and vegetation. Normally, glancing over the side of your boat, one can see a beer bottle on the substrate in 20 feet of water. If you can see the bottom- game fish can see you... long before you made your presence. Fish overcast days, fog, early morning and late afternoon into evening hours. Always try to fish the shaded side of the lake and watch closely any shadows you cast.
[li]SOUND
They claim that sound travels faster and longer in murky water than in clear water. This may be true, however clear water game fish have an extraordinary sense for sounds. While fishing use a quiet, stealth like approach to deep water drop offs from points, weed lying areas and structure shorelines. Bang a tackle box on the bottom of your boat, hit the side of your craft with an ore, or encounter the same from a neighboring fisherman... hang it up! Under such conditions... the best thing you can do is leave the lake and pursue another alternative. If you're with a fumble fingered fisherman who has a tendency to produce sound alarms for game fish, it'd be a good idea to line the hull of your craft with a good insulator.
[li]PRESENTATION
I've seen this so often I wish I'd be given a dollar for every encounter. Most anglers believe the larger the diameter monofilament the better their chances of catching big fish... in anticipation of big fish. What do they get for fishing with 15 lb. test line? Almost always... NOTHING! Give up the notion that big is better. Actually, using too large a diameter of monofilament (especially if it's old) will result in line shy game fish to become wary and will totally refuse any offering if only slightly detected.
The greater the line size diameter, carries with it, a substantially larger olfactory (smell) sense... highly detectable to predatory game fish populations within our clear water lakes, rivers and streams. Suggestion... never, ever use over 6 lb test line. If you do, you fail. If you play your cards right and fight the fight, you can easily catch a 12 lb. plus fish on 6 lb pound test line. Isn't that fishing??? [/li][/ol]