It's Not Always a Case of Knowing What To Do, But Rather, What NOT To Do

That, according to an author named Kevin (whose last name I couldn't find...might be Van Dam, but who knows?), is what makes an otherwise good fisherman a great fisherman. As he explained, "All too often out on the water, I see very capable anglers make mistakes that, had they not made them, could have led to a good day of fishing." Kevin went on to name some of these common mistakes, which both experienced and rookie fishermen alike make, "hopefully to open your eyes to new and better fishing.

"The 'Confidence Bait' Flaw. This is probably the biggest mistake I see anglers make on the water. Every fisherman has a confidence bait...that one lure that always seems to catch fish and outdoes the other lures in your tacklebox. Ask Denny Brauer (right) what his confidence bait is, and he'll tell you straight up: the jig. He's made millions fishing that lure. Rarely will you see him throwing a spinnerbait or slug-go. So what is wrong with having a confidence bait? Nothing, but if you're going to be like Denny Brauer and always throw that confidence bait, you'd better know how to catch fish with it day in and day out in all conditions.

"I see it all the time. Fishermen will catch a ton of bass one day on say a worm, and the next day, they are trying to do the same thing. I know I would be trying to do the same thing as the day before, but if it isn't working, it isn't working. I've seen fishermen go the whole day fishing one bait, changing colors, thinking a little blue fleck may be all the change that's needed to get those bass striking again. You have to be cognizant and realize when it's time to make a change.

"When you find yourself fishing a lure and not getting any bites, two things should come to mind: One, do I need to change location? Or two, maybe this bait has lost its appeal to the fish. I used to be the kind of fisherman to fish a bait for hours, even without a bite, convincing myself that if there were a fish to be found, he would hit my lure I was fishing. Now, I have realized it is much better to constantly change. I think a lot of anglers watch fishing shows on TV and see the pros spending the whole day throwing the same bait, even though they may not be catching fish. What you have to remember, though, is those pros have spent hundreds of hours pre-fishing their waters, so they probably have a good reason for using what is on their line.

"The next time you're out on the water and not getting any strikes, change baits. Adapt to the situation, and seek an answer. Don't assume the fish will start biting and what you have tied on is your best bet. If you aren't catching fish, changing up should be the only thing on your mind.

"Don't Be a Camper. This is another common mistake I see anglers making. Whether the particular cover they are fishing has given up good fish in the past, or it just looks like a winning hot spot, fishermen often make the mistake of camping out on a certain piece of cover. Have you ever been fishing down a relatively bare bank and come across a massive tree that has fallen into the water? This tree has hundreds of branches, and every nook and cranny could hold a 10-pound bass. Sure sounds like a great laydown to me...I'd fish it. But if I hit the main spots of the laydown with my jig, and maybe toss a spinnerbait or crankbait to it a few times and get nothing, I'm out of there. Your fishing time, especially in a tournament, is a precious commodity. If you're not getting bites on a piece of cover, disregard it and move on.

"I've seen fishermen spend hours fishing one single tree. They will tie on every lure and color combination imaginable. They're convinced this tree, rock pile, or pier looks too good not to have active fish on it. They are sure if they spend enough time on this piece of cover, there's a chance they will find a nice fish hidden somewhere their first one hundred casts didn't reach. Don't put all your faith on a single piece of cover, 'cause you're just asking for disappointment.

"Losing Concentration. Fishing is a tough sport. Though the whole 'fishing takes patience' saying is true, the word patience is less fitting than the word focus. Patience is sitting back, waiting for the fish to find your bait. I like to think of focus more along the lines of actively making your bait seek out the fish. As much as I think fishing is a relaxing sport, if your goal is to catch the most fish possible, it really isn't relaxing. Your mind has to be sharp, everything you do must be for a reason, and letting up on your focus will cost you in the long run.

"I remember when I was young, going fishing with my dad. The two best casts I made were the first and last. The first cast, I had all my energy and focus. I was ready to catch fish. As soon as that lure hit the water, I was making a note of everything. Every little bump along the retrieve, water color, tides, wind, etc. I was focused. Then after a couple hours and not having much luck, I found myself just casting. Sure, I still was trying hard, but that same focus I had on the first cast wasn't there. I wasn't watching the line when my worm was making every drop. I wasn't being cognizant of the tides, wind changes, water color, etc. The focus had died.

"Then toward the end of the day, my dad always would say, 'Alright, Kev, we gotta be getting back in a few.' It was right then and there I was making casts that counted. I wanted to eek out that last bass before heading home. Then after ignoring my dad to pack up my gear, I would hear, 'This is your last cast... .' It was on that last cast that I tried my hardest to catch that one last fish. I would find the BEST spot to cast to and try to feel for every little bump and tap I possibly could. My eyes would be glued to my line as my worm hopped across the bottom, rod ready to snap into action.

"Sorry to have told a story, but hopefully I made my point. Make every cast like your first and last."