3 THINGS TO
BOOST YOUR
FISHING
CONFIDENCE
your GPS and depthfinder?
Do you have a VHF radio? Do
you have all pertinent channels
programmed and/or memorized?
Do you have spares for all critical
items? e.g. spare boat plug,
spare fuses, extra propeller, etc.
Is all of your life saving gear present and in serviceable condition?
Do you understand the various
drag and braking functions on
your reels?
When was the last time you took
all of the twist out of your fishing
line and re-tied your knots?
When I can’t go fishing I will take
time to familiarize myself with
equipment and techniques. I’m
really just practicing. This way,
when I do launch the boat, I am
spending my time actually fishing, not learning something I
could have done at home.
yard. I am getting better and
will be prepared
to give those
bass a hard
time!
FISH
OFTEN
The more
time you spend
on the water
Do you know how this braking system works? Knowing how to best utilize your tackle will make you
equals the more
an exceptional, and confident, angler.
experience you
will gain and,
dirty? That’s a great time to learn in yourself and your ability to get
consequently, the more confion a great bite.
how to fish those conditions.
dence you will garner through
Imagine, if you went out there
eventual success. Being out
and caught fish you would bethere, trying new techniques and
STOP DOING THE
come ten times more confident
catching fish by doing so is how
SAME THING
one reaches new zeniths of confi- because you defeated some of
It was somewhere I once read
the nastiest conditions known to
dence.
that “doing the same thing over
inshore anglers!
and over again and expecting a
Waiting for “perfect” condidifferent result is the definition of
tions to go fishing is nothing
insanity.” Wondering if people
more than cheating yourself. You
ever judged me to be insane, I
lose out on the opportunity to
have become a strong believer in
gain new experiences, improve
doing new things within the
your fishing skills and, subserealm of inshore fishing. In
quently, build your confidence.
Episode 5 of our Inshore InterDon’t ever give up when you
views podcast our guest, Lou Da
are fishing. When you walk out
Fish, speaks continually of always
because things are not going as
being open to new ideas by tryexpected you have committed
ing
new lures, tactics and techyourself
to
failure.
It
is
a
nasty
However, not all of us can fish
niques.
mindset that can offer itself to
3-4 days a week. Few people do!
One day you may grow tired
other
parts
of
your
life;
never
set
Maybe you fish once a month,
of fishing and it won’t be beaside your goals. Do what it is
and that is okay. The point is you
cause
you have conquered the
you
set
out
to
do.
When
you
should fish as often as you can,
sport. Instead, it will be because
eventually beat all the odds you
even if the conditions are poor.
you
never rose to new chalwill
create
a
growing
confidence
So the water is low, cold and
“Waiting for “perfect” conditions to
go fishing is nothing more than cheating yourself. You lose out on the opportunity to gain new experiences,
improve your fishing skills and, subsequently, build your confidence.”
I have a couple trips to Lake
Okhissa planned this spring. I
know my pitching and flipping
game isn’t that strong, so during
my breaks I practice pitching into
a five gallon bucket in the back-
44
March 2016 www.marshandbayou.com