Month: August 2016

This is my constant self reminder. Whether it be an opportunity that presents itself on the water or an opportunity to get on the water at a unique time or place – take it! It’s easy to not do something, but not doing something is never rewarding. Don’t say to yourself later, I could have caught this if I tried or I could have fished there if I made the time.

This is a text book example. Family travel was taking us through prime catfishing waters. We could just pass through and save time, or with a little preparation and planning, we could make some great memories with a morning on the water. We took the latter.

As I get my gear together for an outing with a good friend on very challenging trout water, I began thinking about this. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of big fish equals success. To some that may always be the case, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I admit, at times I follow that equation too. When I really stop and think about why I spend time fishing it’s not as cut and dried as pounds and ounces.

Quantity is generally the initial goal, but often it’s the peripheral details that make a fishing trip rewarding. Seeing a mink on the shore could be the highlight of the day. An unexpected species or a particularly colorful example of a common species could be the day’s trophy. Big fish are great, but other factors frequently outweigh the largest fish.