When you first start fishing, catching any old fish will do. Even the smallest crappie is cause for celebration! However, as you get more and more experience fishing, little fish won’t do the trick anymore. You’ll want bigger, more exciting fish.
Unfortunately, bagging those big fish is a lot harder than the tiny fish you’re used to catching. You can’t just toss in any lure anywhere in the water and expect to catch a huge fish. Instead, it’s time to start honing your craft by following these tips.
Adjust Your Methods to Fit Your Boat
The easiest way to fish is by standing on the shore or on a dock and dipping your lure in the water. That can make for a relaxing afternoon, but you probably aren’t going to find the biggest fish in the water when you fish this way. Instead, you have to explore the lake in a boat!
The kind of boat you choose matters. You can fish from any kind of boat, as long as you adjust your methods to fit the boat you’re using.
Every boat should be equipped with a trolling motor to make fishing easier. An anchor can make things easier too.
You can catch the biggest fish with large fishing boats, but you can get into tighter spaces with a kayak. Larger boats can accommodate more fishing supplies for a long day out on the water, while a smaller boat is better for short excursions.
Know What Kind of Fish You Want to Catch
When you first start fishing, any species will do. If you want to catch a big fish, you have to know what you’re going out there to catch.
When you know what kind of fish you want to catch, you can be better prepared to catch the biggest one in the lake. For example:
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- If you’re going after bass, you should put nightcrawlers on your hook.
- Salmon, on the other hand, prefer cured fish roe or cut herring.
- Jigs are great for catching bass, and spinnerbait is great for catching pike.
- If you’re looking for trout, stay close to trunks, logs, and grass beds.
Know How to Use Your Rod
Using a fishing rod is fairly intuitive, but if you want to get the biggest fish, you have to know your rod inside and out.
First, you’ll want to make sure you have your rod in the proper position, especially when you’re pulling up a big fish. Keep both hands on the rod, and place the rod so that it is centered on your body. This position provides you with the most leverage.
Consider your drag when you catch a fish. Reel steadily and let your line, rod, and reel do what they were made to do. Don’t be afraid to back off a little in order to bring the fish in.
Practice using different kinds of rods to find one that you like the best. For example, you may find that you prefer open faced reels to closed face reels.
Use a Net
When you think of fishing nets, you probably think of the oversized nets used by professional fishermen. Although they make catching large amounts of fish easy, they can also be extremely helpful for individual fishermen and women.
It can be exciting to reel in a big fish by hand, and it’s definitely entertaining for everyone else, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient way to make sure you bag that big fish. Just ask any fisherman and they’ll tell you about the big one that got away!
Make sure you get that fish without damaging your equipment or pulling a muscle by using a dip net. It’s also the best way to avoid traumatizing the fish when pulling it into the boat.
Be Patient
Patience is something that is helpful to practice in every area of life. That includes being patient when you go fishing.
You can spend the entire day catching tiny fish, or you may not catch any fish at all. Don’t let it discourage you. The more you practice and the more you try, the more excited you’ll be when you finally do catch that big fish you can show off to your friends and family.
Nothing is as exciting to a fisherman or woman than catching a huge fish. You can increase your chances of catching a big fish that’s worthy of any scrapbook by following the tips on this list.
