Part of the process. 


 I went to a body water and I consider it was a really good day, and I got to workout more details of what I was looking to learn. 


I caught two Largemouth today. A 12 inch and a 14 inch. Yes. I only caught two all day. Twi bites. Two bass. This was a great day!


I am still processing the day and a thought I had later in the day when I had not had a bite in hours.


I went fishing with little intention of catching fish! What?


Yes. I went to learn. But don’t you learn by catching fish? Sort of.


When you are catching lots of fish and things are easy you are not learning as much as you would practicing techniques. 


Catching a few fish while practicing are markers, showing how effective or ineffective the practice is.


One major factor why practicing may not produce many or no bites? Simple. Fish. The world of a fish is very dynamic. The technique that you are looking to learn may not be a good choice for the current conditions or the body of water that you have available.





So yes, attempting to somewhat match the current conditions and body of water to the agenda you have for learning. An obvious example may be trying to learn to fish aquatic vegetation on a body of water that has no aquatic vegetation. 


This two fish day on the water was monumental in several ways.


Be observant. Visually look for the prey of your target species.


Be aware of your bait at all time. Try and visualize what it is doing, this is especially important. Then when the fish bites, you will have another clue. 


For years I have read “be especially observant of your bait when a fish strikes” 


That is incorrect. Maybe whomever had written or said this before just did not describe it correctly?


You cannot suddenly become aware of what your bait was doing at the time a fish bites. You could. But that would require an instant replay. I do not have those fancy gadgets, so I have to remain aware of my bait when it is not bit so to know what it was doing as it is bit. Sounds easy?


Not for me. My mind wanders. 


Digesting this recent observation of I do much more fishing, on purpose, than going out to catch a lot of bass. How? Why?


Firstly as stated somewhere above to learn. Secondly, by making it more difficult. 


How do I make it more difficult? 


Difficult waters.

New water types.

New techniques.

New baits.


I also spend a lot of time on the water testing baits that I design. Many times I am on the water, I find the current design sucks!





One rod, one bait days. So much fun! So simple! So effective!


A final thought evolved through this thought process.


I have always done this. As far back as I can remember at age seven tying flies from the feathers of my toy Indian head dress. It has continued from then, through my “touring” days! ( it sounds good!) to present day. 


The big question remains. Then and now would I catch more fish if my goal was catching fish instead of practicing?  


"If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly"

🐾🐾 ADOPT, DON’T SHOP! 🐾🐾


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