How Do You Get through The Tough Times On The Water?

[Stizzla]

Most of us know the smell of Pepé le Pew.
Sometimes it just a time or two, sometimes it’s 5,6,7 or even more times in a row.

I have had some confidence battles with my fishing Lack of success, including right now. The shining light here is that I love fishing even when I’m not into them. But come one, they sure are fun to catch.

I’m telling myself: I know I WILL CATCH FISH AGAIN! ...Even big ones... Even many in a day. I will high five my net guy and be high fived when I am doing the netting!

Does anyone else have any tips or motivating words to help pick up a buddy when he or she is feeling down on their game?!

Thanks

 

[Buckethead905]

Stick, stay, and make it pay.

If you know the fish are there, it’s only a matter of time until it turns on. Don’t start running all over the place and swapping your gear every 15 minutes. Put down something you know catches fish on one line, and experiment on the other line with different patterns, sizes, and depth.

 

[tinboatrobb]

Stizzla. This was the 5th year that we owned our boat. In the first 4 years we probably put 10 or 12 springs in the boat in total. My wife was really starting to get discouraged. This past season I made a few changes and we ended the season with 20 springs on my license and 11, I believe on my wifes. I kept telling her that it would all click and our patience would be rewarded and it was. We love to be on the water. Not really words to pick domeons up but we paid our dues and karma paid us back. Never get discouraged, it is fishing, often with your best friend.

 

[Fishmyster]

Sounds like your in a bit of a slump!! Are there people around you catching fish lately? Are you definitely fishing where there is fish?

 

[Aces]

Stick, stay, and make it pay.

If you know the fish are there, it’s only a matter of time until it turns on. Don’t start running all over the place and swapping your gear every 15 minutes. Put down something you know catches fish on one line, and experiment on the other line with different patterns, sizes, and depth.

I’m going to say that I don’t agree that part about changing the gear

 

[banger17]

Pull up a picture of your desk at work or a project you are working on and get your perspective back that being out on the water (even without fish on board) beats most days at work!

Otherwise, don’t stray away from what’s traditionally worked and as hard as it is to do, stop thinking so hard about what you are “doing wrong” and do some other things on the boat to change your mindset... then the fish will come!

 

[Buckethead905]

I’m going to say that I don’t agree that part about changing the gear

Sticking with some proven gear on one line and swapping gear out on the other? What would you recommend?

 

[RBL]

Haul your boat up to Nanaimo next week and your luck will change

 

[Filletandrelease]

Man it’s still early. Give yourself a break, think back to the basics and yes, keep the line in the water.

 

[Irishwolf]

Never fear Stizza as I believe it was my 17th or 18th trip out before I finally caught one. The guy I had in the boat at the time was too slow with the net fussing about the downrigger arm. JUST NET IT! I nearly jumped in to grab it with my bare hands!

For me a lot of it was gaining confidence in my boat, my gear and my locations. But it wasn’t until I changed a couple of key things, my depth and my speed that I started catching.
For winters you gotta run your ball 10-15 feet deeper than bottom (I only do this when I know it’s a sand bottom) and with a 15lb ball I keep my rigger line angle at 45degrees or a bit less.

Unclenching my white knuckles also helped.

Gotta keep at it with a lure you have confidence in and just enjoy being out there.

 

[scott craven]

Even the best fishermen get skunked, they just don't talk about it !

 

[wayne marwood]

Find the fishing report for we’re you fish ,go to a good fishing store ask them ,they can tell you how deep and what to use ,some days it is so bad you ask your self what am I doing wrong ,nested time you can not keep them off.for me find how deep are they ,use lures that are working in your place you fish,lots of peoplefishtoslow put the time in the fish will come get a bottle of scent too

 

[Viking]

I'm with @RBL . If you take your boat to thrasher 3 rd week of April, your skunk will end. Fish the 600ft contour. Big spoons down deep. Thank me later. Or wave cause I'll be there for sure!

 

[wildmanyeah]

Stizz soon u will have a data base of when you catch and when u don’t. Patterns will emerge and you will find some times of year for areas just aren't worth the effort to scratch a fish up.

Maximize your time when the fish are biting.

 

[The Jackel]

Just shut up and fish

 

[Gong Show]

Good vibrations. Fish do not like the negative energy on a boat.
Enjoy and embrace all the things that are going well while you are fishing, the engine maintenance, the new leader you tied up last night...
Just when you get blissed out, a fish will hit and chaos erupts.
I love that part!

 

[Rayvon]

From your reports ,I think you fish Sidney a lot.I would recommend jigging needlefish jigs when you come across area's holding bait.Sidney Spit off the end marker,Shag rock,Powder wharf,Saanichton Spit. My best colours are green -gold,purple-silver and white. Focus on hour before and after tide-current change.If none of this works,take up golf. (kidding)

 

[RiverBoy]

When you know your hooks are sharp, your leaders are perfect, you’re fishing the right tide and current, proven gear, cable angles are good etc. you will catch fish.

If you know something is wrong, you will doubt, start overthinking and then you won’t be able to catch a cold.

 

[barkerfam]

When you know your hooks are sharp, your leaders are perfect, you’re fishing the right tide and current, proven gear, cable angles are good etc. you will catch fish.

As long as there are fish beneath you!!!

To me, there are no "tough times" on the water unless we've had a mechanical issue or injury. Being on the water is a blessing. Fishing while on the water is a bonus. Catching a fish is pure icing on the cake!!!

 

[Original]

Just shut up and fish

Lol that was his shirt yesterday.
I'm second in line on skunks so can't give much advise but his boat,gear,ability to run it is first rate. We always enjoy our days fishing together.
I try hard to read up on currents,tides, even atmospheric pressure & moon phase but usually the time we get to fish isn't aligned with those. One of the things I find so hard to figure out is currents & tides and how can they work opposite at times. Choosing the direction to fish in those tides & currents has me settling for just getting the sun to warm me shining into the back of the boat.