Be prepared to catch a big fish.
THE LINE BROKE!!! THE FISH THREW THE HOOK!!! Don't make these excuses, prepare now. For you guys up north, the water is frozen, so NOW is the time to sharpen hooks, put on fresh line, designate(in your mind) specific rods(action) for certain lure types, clean/prepare reels for spring. Fishing is NOT lures...it is LOCATION and PREPARED. In a gallon bag, put a camera-scales-tape(for a trophy). Even if you sharpen hooks now, re-sharpen before tying on. Are you busy, NOW, watching "Big Bang Theory"? That's why the fish of a lifetime got off? Study maps, don't just go fishing, go to a place. If you have NEVER caught a decent fish from area X, try a new place.
Fish strike lures in 3 locations: up(surface, or near), bottom, horizontal.
Surface, or near, self explanatory. Natural place to find food. Frogs, baitfish, ducks, whatever...these targets know they are in danger, and move erratically...work your lure that way. Spook, Sluggo, Jitterbug, these lures have endured because they are erratic, not mechanical in movement. Frankly, when a fish looks up, it sees a silloutte, so dark(black) shows up best.
Bottom: worm, jig/chunk, crankbait, even spinnerbait. These lures are, again, erratic in movement, and a NATURAL feeding area. Work the lure that way. A crawfish scurries here...then over there. A wounded baitfish swims up a foot and over a foot in death throes(easy food source). A crank POUNDS into a rock and careens around, causing a reaction strike. Again, erratic, easy to catch.
Horizontal lures. Hardest to work PROPERLY, unfortunately, easiest for fishermen(people) to do. Cast and crank. Looks mechanical...fools only the most naive fish. Cranks are the most notable, hardest to work properly, worst hookers, and most expensive, and come in really pretty colors. Spinnerbaits can be worked thru this area, pulsate, flash erratically, and hook great. Fish get a really good look at horizontal lures, and great care should be taken in this area. Also, food in this area is usually healthy, and can be difficult to catch, a fact not lost on adult predators.
Make your lure look easy to capture, similar to food from that area. Remember the basics: erratic, fresh line, sharp hooks, location, be quiet.

I never put that much effort into fishing. I figure sooner or later a 33" plus walleye will find me. I got tired just reading that.

LOL..ILMAO...I guess I have too much time on my hands, I think A LOT on how to make me a better fisherman, and how to make you better, also!!

That effort doesn't go unnoticed. Being relatively new to fishing the info on this site helps me improve every season. Have yet to catch a true lunker but my numbers are improving and who knows this may be the year.

quote LazyLefty: "That effort doesn't go unnoticed. Being relatively new to fishing the info on this site helps me improve every season. Have yet to catch a true lunker but my numbers are improving and who knows this may be the year."

Lefty they look like this. Unless you want a bass.

265



Patience is a fisherperson's greatest asset, patience.

Thats a nice look, but I'm not picky.

Hey, I love Big Bang Theory!! Should ask those guys to build something to help us all catch a hog or three.

Bassnut im anal like you about my fishing equipment, I always sharpen hooks, always check my line for nicks, always check my drag before I cast whatever reel that day, and I always do line maintenance as far as keeping a tight line on casts, so you dont get the birds nest on your reel. Ive caught many big fish and the one thing every single one of them has in common is a quiet approach. Some think fish are just stupid creatures programmed to respond and in some cases thats true, but if you fish a pressured lake, the trophy fish in that lake got that way for a reason because they are very cautious, and you need to sneak up on them. You also have to have sharp hooks and good line and a smooth drag because a big fish is going to put them all to the test.

quote GSP: "I never put that much effort into fishing. I figure sooner or later a 33" plus walleye will find me. I got tired just reading that."

Just remember you had heavenly intervention on those walleyes :-)

quote Basspro69: "

quote GSP: "I never put that much effort into fishing. I figure sooner or later a 33" plus walleye will find me. I got tired just reading that."

Just remember you had heavenly intervention on those walleyes :-)"

Yes, I did. I take care of the basics but fish slowly and follow the old ways of doing things.

I do a lot of wishin' I was fishin' when the water is hard. Looking over new techniques and trying to learn or improve on them. I only started fishing for Walleye in the past few years. So this forum and google have helped a lot.

The water will be soft the canoes will come out and I will be on the water trying for the BIG One what ever it may be.




JB

Does watching Al Linder and the boys count for anything? :)

I've been spending my winter catching these hogs. Both went back in the water.

Gutmon: you are da MAN:::!!!
Basspro69:we are from the same mold...I am Pagan, I do uynderstand you are not...I will be in GM, latter May, maybe w_h will be there...like you, I do not harvest unless I need.
Do minnows have rattles?? Fish nquiet...make your lure "sneak" past a potential ambush area...Hibdon...Van Dam...Houston...did not make money fisdhing with grenades

GSP-
Those are beautiful fish.
All- There is no doubt that being patient is virtuous while fishing some of the time, especially when you are fishing for one fish- the big one. My fishing pals give me grief for being ADD and switching and changing and moving all the time. They also give me grief for catching the most and the biggest fish pretty regularly. (I know, sounds like a brag...oh well). My point is this: Once you have some experience with different methods and get a feel for what is working, don't be afraid to change it up early and often. If you are catching small fish, decide if you want to catch other fish--big ones--or are you happy with small ones? I often am. If not, MOVE! Change! Unless you are absolutely sure you are on big fish, don't be afraid to abandon whatever you are doing if it isn't working. Have a plan A, plan B, and plan C. Find big fish, fish when they are biting, and have fresh line spooled on reasonable equipment. Do you want to catch a trophy walleye? Fish Lake of the Woods in August with downriggers. Jig the Rainy River in April or November. Troll big cranks on Mille Lacs on the October full moon. Pay your dues and get a spot and time on Sag. You get the idea. Go get 'em.

quote GSP: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote GSP: "I never put that much effort into fishing. I figure sooner or later a 33" plus walleye will find me. I got tired just reading that."

Just remember you had heavenly intervention on those walleyes :-)"

Yes, I did. I take care of the basics but fish slowly and follow the old ways of doing things."

Thats a good way to do it.

quote lundojam: "GSP-
Those are beautiful fish.
All- There is no doubt that being patient is virtuous while fishing some of the time, especially when you are fishing for one fish- the big one. My fishing pals give me grief for being ADD and switching and changing and moving all the time. They also give me grief for catching the most and the biggest fish pretty regularly. (I know, sounds like a brag...oh well). My point is this: Once you have some experience with different methods and get a feel for what is working, don't be afraid to change it up early and often. If you are catching small fish, decide if you want to catch other fish--big ones--or are you happy with small ones? I often am. If not, MOVE! Change! Unless you are absolutely sure you are on big fish, don't be afraid to abandon whatever you are doing if it isn't working. Have a plan A, plan B, and plan C. Find big fish, fish when they are biting, and have fresh line spooled on reasonable equipment. Do you want to catch a trophy walleye? Fish Lake of the Woods in August with downriggers. Jig the Rainy River in April or November. Troll big cranks on Mille Lacs on the October full moon. Pay your dues and get a spot and time on Sag. You get the idea. Go get 'em."

Sounds like a good way to catch big eyes to me.

Hard to beat lotw for big fish.....32.5" walleye

And a big spring pike on lotw...43"24lbs no eggs....my biggest....pike fishing on lotw in the spring is a sickness...

quote stench62: "Hard to beat lotw for big fish.....32.5" walleye "

That is an incredible fish !

quote stench62: "And a big spring pike on lotw...43"24lbs no eggs....my biggest....pike fishing on lotw in the spring is a sickness... "

Wow great fish.

quote lundojam: "GSP-
Those are beautiful fish.
All- There is no doubt that being patient is virtuous while fishing some of the time, especially when you are fishing for one fish- the big one. My fishing pals give me grief for being ADD and switching and changing and moving all the time. They also give me grief for catching the most and the biggest fish pretty regularly. (I know, sounds like a brag...oh well). My point is this: Once you have some experience with different methods and get a feel for what is working, don't be afraid to change it up early and often. If you are catching small fish, decide if you want to catch other fish--big ones--or are you happy with small ones? I often am. If not, MOVE! Change! Unless you are absolutely sure you are on big fish, don't be afraid to abandon whatever you are doing if it isn't working. Have a plan A, plan B, and plan C. Find big fish, fish when they are biting, and have fresh line spooled on reasonable equipment. Do you want to catch a trophy walleye? Fish Lake of the Woods in August with downriggers. Jig the Rainy River in April or November. Troll big cranks on Mille Lacs on the October full moon. Pay your dues and get a spot and time on Sag. You get the idea. Go get 'em."

I have spent my time on the lakes, Missouri, Mississippi and many other rivers. I have found sitting in a boat running and gunning isn't much fun for me and costs way more money than I care to spend. Been fishing for 50 yrs paid my dues, I like the old ways and teaching new people. hell give me a cane pole, worms and yellow belly bullheads and i am happy. You get the idea. Go get em.

quote PineKnot: "Hey, I love Big Bang Theory!! Should ask those guys to build something to help us all catch a hog or three.
"

Big Bang Theory must be an OHIO thing. I love them also!

GSP-
I'm a cane pole guy myself; don't get me wrong. I can't afford to run and gun either-I've got a 14' Lund from 1968 with a 4-horse. I'm just sayin', for big fish, it's easier (for me) to go and get them.
Here are some cane pole pics.

wow nice fish.

I clearly remember an Al Lindner seminar from the early 90's. He said that for the avid fisherman who sort of knows what he/she are doing, you can expect to do really well about 1/3 of the time. That same angler could expect to do fair and catch just some fish about 1/3 of the time. We won't talk about the other 1/3. I think about this all of the time and it seems to hold true, based on journal entry data etc. I think that this formula holds true for big fish as well. If I'm fishing hard/smart I can usually catch what I consider big fish about 1/3 of the time.