What's Wrong With My Fishing?

Gotta believe we all may have asked ourselves that question a few times...in my case, a whole bunch of times. In reality, there could be several "wrongs," starting with the one I raised a couple posts ago on my blog: lookin' for fish in all the wrong places.

Sometimes, I think we all forget that old angling rule which purports the philosophy that 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water. Reduced to its common denominator, this rule simply means that if you're not catching any fish, you probably should find a new fishing spot.

In other words, if you have fished the same spot for more than a half-hour without catching anything, it likely would be in your best interests to "move along, lil doggy." A good tip to follow is to keep moving until you actually catch something, or at least start getting some bites.

Another wrong could be your choice of baits. If you see other anglers catching fish in the area where you are, then the chances are that you aren't using the right lure.

Don't make the mistake of letting yourself get locked in to throwing the same bait every time. Instead, keep switching up your lures and technique until you find something that works.

Yet another wrong could be your choice of colors. In this regard, there is something to be said for going with dark colors on dark days and bright colors on bright days. And if you find a color that starts putting fish in the boat, my advice is to "wear it out," until the fish tell you it's time to go to something else.

It's also possible that you could be fishing at the wrong time of day. Many anglers believe that, with enough patience and persistence, fish can be caught at any time of the day. While there may be some truth in this belief, there is no denying that fish activity changes during certain times of the day, as well as during the changes of season.

Typically, most species of fish will be more active during the morning, late evening, or during overcast conditions.

Besides all the possible "wrongs" just covered, there's the matter that water temperature can play a big role in your fishing success. If the water temperature gets too hot or too cold, fish tend to shut down. When this is the case, try to slow down your presentation and cast directly on them. This technique will allow the fish to grab the lure without exerting too much energy.

No angler enjoys spending an entire day on the water without catching something. However, if you believe as I do, there simply are some days that I don't think it would help to throw a stick of dynamite in the water. If the fish are turned off for any reason, there's a good chance you may be skunked. I've certainly had my share of those days.