What Makes One...

[Rock Hopper]

I got to thinking about this the other day and wanted to see what everybody here thinks....

What make one angler better than another? Is it that they are more attentive to detail, more driven, more in tune with what is going on with tide, current and pattern or did they have a mentor that taught them all they know or is it just "luck"?

We all realize that with the advent of web sites, there is a vast pool of information available at our finger tips, people are almost completely eliminating the learning curve....most with limited time in actually putting the techniques to work on the water.

I have seen this many times as I am sure many here have as well. There are two (or more guys) who always fish with each other but one always seems to do better than the other(s). "They" also seem to always know when to change up or switch to something else just at the right time. This can be said of charter captains as well, many will catch their fill but the few will always excel with consistently catching larger fish year in and year out.

Why is that the few are always ahead of the rest?

Rock Hopper

[Slipknot]

They have the knack

[beachwalker]

their line is wet...

[iluvspots]

the length, girth, and firmness of one's rod.

[JohnR]

Dwende, 6th sense, people that go beyond the shortened and flattened learning curve of the Internet... People that put time in with their mind open and sharp.

I am not one of them but I have fished with a few of them (there are but a handfull) and I can recognize it in them and can recognize that I don't have it yet...

Good question

[Rock Hopper]

Yes John, I would have to agree with you to a degree but there are those that put the time in, read voraciously, pick the brains of the successful "ones" but still come up short...

I mean we have all been there I am sure, two or more guys, equal skills, equal equipment, same place, ususally same plug....one guy consistently does better.... WHY?

Slip, you may have a point.

Beachwalker, so are a lot of others but without the tighness

iluvspots, gotta say, love your answer but that applies to another form of success

Rock Hopper

[FishermanTim]

I would say that patience, while it may not make the fisherman, will definitely make them a better fisherman.
Patience... to listen to and learn from others mistakes.
Patience... to learn for yourself. Take the time to do things on your own, and learn from your experiences.
Patience... to offer assistance to others and accept their response when they say "no thanks".
Patience... to enjoy the moment, let others have their "moments" to themselves. Not everyone reacts the same way, or sees things as you do.

Most important (for me at least) is the patience to have fun.
There is a saying that goes "The more complex the mind, the simpler fun needs to be!"

[rizzo]

there are 2 things that seem to always make the difference where I fish. The first is knowing the window of oppurtunity when the large fish will be in the area. You have to play the game of probability, and sometimes fish at times where its not most enjoyable to you. I constantly try to target that window of oppurtunity in each spot whether it by 15 minutes or 3 hours. Many times too this window of opportunity is only valid on a certain wind, time of year, tide and moon phase. To be successful you have to be out there on those producing tides all the time, even if they are horribly inconvinient for your sleep schedule.

The second is the use of eels or other live bait. It did not take me long to learn that youre gonna get outfished for quality if you dont use eels from the surf. Eels are worth their weight in gold while fishing the surf, and a lot of guys fail to realize how important this is. Its youre responsibility to always have a supply on hand. Many are lazy and figure, plugs will do, I'll be happy enough catching a low 20 pound fish, no need to spend the money and effort on eels. Their attitude changes when the guy next to them catches many nice fish and weeds out a 40#+ fish. Plugs do catch their share of large fish, but if youre playing the game of probability, live bait consistantly produces much better.

In addition to these 2 factors you have to be the driving force behind yourself. You have to be aware off all the conditions and details that will affect your fishing, constantly making mental note and looking for patterns. Fishing is never mindless for me,I'm constantly thinkin of all the variables and planning what to do next. Its a full time job in being successful from the surf constantly monitoring the weather and other factors.

[Rock Hopper]

FT,

Yes, patience is a big part of the success. In today's instant gratification mode, a lot of folks lack that and quickly get frustrated.

I for one, have been on both side of the coin. When I am in the "zone" I can hone in and feel everything, almost think like a fish as far what I would want to target and go after. In tose times, I was almost always successful.

Maybe it's a mind set.....maybe that is what seperates everyone.

RH

[Rock Hopper]

rizzo,

I couldn't agree with you more on the live and the thinking aspect. Like you, I am always thinking too. What are they on? How does it swim, what does it look like in distress, it's size, how does the moving water affect its motion etc...

Eels, slow is the gospel but depth is the key....do you come back from the bottom (where most large stay and where most eels will move around) or mid-water for the likely opportunity or is it just off the top....the time of day/night changes this scenerio as well as the tide stages, moon phases and current in a given area.

Thinking is key but again, I come full circle to mind set....does thinking successfully, breed success and do the successful ones always know they will be successful?

RH

[iluvspots]

i know i will have achieved greatness when the back of my truck smells just like Alberto's.

[Rock Hopper]

ils,
You funny....


That's not greatness, that just plain "Crazy"

RH

[MakoMike]

Rock,
re:"two or more guys, equal skills, equal equipment, same place, ususally same plug....one guy consistently does better.... WHY?"

becuse the skill is not equal. One has it the other doesn't. Just because two guys tie the same knots doesn't mean their skills are equal. Remember the old saw, 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I think (unfortunetly for me) its the details, and observation that will make/break someone... Paying attention to conditions and presenting a bait/lure so it looks "natural" is part of this whole thing... think like a fish, and put your time in... someday I'll get there with bass...

[lurch]

they have the rosetta stone to crack the "code"

Sorry I had to say it..

[Nebe]

Originally posted by rizzo

Many are lazy and figure, plugs will do, I'll be happy enough catching a low 20 pound fish, no need to spend the money and effort on eels.

Remember, some rarely use eels not out of lazyness, but out of enviromental awareness.

[Rock Hopper]

MM,

Assuming they both know what they are doing, proper retrieve (speed, depth), presentation etc. one catches where the other does not. I agree with the 10/90 rule if you will, but that again begs the question. Are they just more talented or do they almost will it? Is it confidence combined with knowledge?

There was a time when I was the most successful amongst the group of friends I fished with regularly, but after moving and such, I developed a whole new set of friends to fish with. In this new group, there were a bunch of very, very good fisherman (more so than the first group) who I knew as much as and we all had the same gear so there was no dis-advantage.

The difference was amongst this new group I was no longer the most successful consistently. My skills did not change so what was it?

RH

[Nebe]

Originally posted by Rock Hopper
The difference was amongst this new group I was no longer the most successful consistently. My skills did not change so what was it?

RH

Time...... They fished more than you.

[Rock Hopper]

Eben,

As much as I am aware that the American Eel pop. is in decline based on the studies, they are extremely productive (I know I don't have to tell you this... ).

I use eels (and throw plugs) but my favorite way to use eels is rigged or on a skin jig. When I get eels, I tend to cherry pick them (for the bigger ones) so when they die (if I don't lose them on a cast or to a blue), I can recycle them for either the rigged or the skin.

I tend to always have eels with me in some manner because when they don't want plugs, they will almost always take the eel.

RH

[Christian]

i call it the force...
you can tell right away. even before they start catching fish. hard to explain.

[Krispy]

Some people just "have it". Its innate and undefinable, it is what makes great fishermen.
Fishing hard, being intellectual, proper gear, etc. is what makes you a good fisherman, and thats takes alot of work in its own.

[iluvspots]

Kadir is turning into an old fart. Not quite grumpy, but very farty.

That's what happens when you're too busy workin burnin' the candle at both ends.

When ya gonna fish man?

"Oh, I'm too tired to pack up the truck."

p.s. After I renew my 4x4 permit @ Robert Moses, I'm coming over to harass you into a trip out to Demo.

[Big Dave]

indepth local knowlage of the area there fishing. And a good network of dedicated fishermen to share information with. Big Dave

[rizzo]

There are a lot of guys out there who have been fishing for many years and have never caught a quality fish from the surf. Some have put in a lot of time and still havnt been successful. On the other hand theres younger guys 20-30 year olds who have caught many 40s from the surf... Some catch on quick and can see the importance of certain strategies, others never seem to get it. Each person is unique, but it doesnt take long to tell if someone "has it" or "has the potential to have it" just by talking to them/fishing with them.

[ThrowingTimber]

Wetting line

[FishermanTim]

For those that have their "hot spots", think about what it feels like when YOU are in "th zone". Foe me, it's fishing the east end during the start of the flood tide, an learning how to differentiate between the Sluggo/jig bouncing on the bottom, and the VERY subtle pickup by the bass. It took some time before I realized why I was missing the strikes. Once I corrected for that, I was slaying them. I may not have gotten a keeper every time, but I was regularly pulling fish from that area.
Like virtually everything worth while in life, if you put your time in, you WILL seem like an expert to someone less experienced.
Heck, I've been approached a number of times by fellow fishermen wanting to know what my secret was. My answer: No secret, just keep trying.

[Rock Hopper]

Christian, Krispy, rizzo,

You guys are right on! You know, when you see it..hard toexplain what 'it' is but you know it. The question then is what the hell is "it".

BD,

You too are rigt but the ones that "have it" can make "it" work anywhere. That's what seperates them.

ILS,

LOL, you are so right pal. I welcome it, get your pass and let's get out there for a tide or three


Kadir

[Krispy]

I think some of you guys are missing the point of what a great fisherman is.
Its more than just someone who puts their time in or knows how to fish a some spots really well. Or enjoys the full spectrum of the sport and gives alot to the fishing community. Thats nice..
You have to catch ALOT OF LARGE FISH for a LONG TIME to be considered great.

[CANAL RAT]

luck plays a major part but there are somethings you can do to up your odds of catching big bass like ,putting your time in,not quiting not matter what,being observant, knowing the habits and biology of your prey,fishing at night,ruling out unproductive areas, and keeping on the move

[Rock Hopper]

Krispy, Canal Rat,

Great points by both. There are other elements/factors/aspects that make some better than others, we have gotten a general concencus that time put in, patience, attention to detail, learning, overal knowledge are all part of the successful ones MO but there a few more that I can think of..... what are they?

Kadir