The "one thing"......

[WoodyCT]

Proper preparation prevents poor performance by instilling self confidence.

Check the drag, sharpen the hooks, tie on a new leader, choose the right plugs for the conditions, know what conditions you will encounter, etc..

I always do better and have more fun when I am confident.
Selfdoubt and worry have never lead to a good catch or a good time.

[nightfighter]

If live pogies are available. get them and fish them.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

reliable information.the ocean and bays we fish are huge in size. by knowing charter captians, commercial fishermen, divers,surfers, life guards and anybody else who is on the water on a consistant basis,your odds of finding fish are greatly increased.

[Krispy]

Surfcasting has been around a long time, follow in the footsteps of better fishermen

[BasicPatrick]

Wind is the most underrated of natural conditions!!!!!!

[Skitterpop]

Its the have the drag set right and how you play the fish to bring them in.

Curly

[stiff tip]

have a good friend thats a "know it all"that talks, and has a boat..aka flaptail....

[Crafty Angler]

Something an old-timer told me years ago that changed my perception in the beginning - rocks are game trails for fish - and they haven't changed very much in hundreds of years...

[rphud]

Approach (between the ears).....think (decide/prepare), observe (conditions when you get there), think again, then fish. Kind of like measure twice, cut once. Repeat often!

[CaptMike]

Just have fun and be glad you're not at work

[bassballer]

1. CONFIDENCE
2. learn a handful of spots and fish the piss out of them

[Bobbike]

It's not all about the catching.

[fishbones]

1. A boat.
2. A fishing partner whose company you enjoy.

[JohnR]

Have fun and enjoy it.

If you can't enjoy it - find something else to do

That said - time on the water, time to learn, law of averages, opportunities....

If i could have one thing it would be more & better time on the water...

[spence]

Think like a fish, it's not like they're all that smart.

That may sound obvious, but I find one of my biggest problems is doing things that don't make a lot of sense simply because of habbit or being lazy.

I'm sure Laptew would agree

-spence

[tynan19]

Shut up, listen, and do as your told when in the company of better fisherman.

[Gunpowder]

all serious fishing methods aside, when im out there, i always remember how lucky i am to be doing what i am doing and having a great time

[stripercrazy]

learning all the right stuff knots/ line /rod/ reels/plugs and how to work them...the fish will come.....with time....being ready was a big step learning how to fish

[Pete F.]

Time on the water and the ability to adjust, not be a one way player.

[EricM]

Enthusiasm only gets you so far.

[Flaptail]

I asked this question because I don't think there is really "one thing". I have tried over and over in moments of reflection on how and why certain things have or not happened while involved in my favorite recreational activity.

If I had to list the top three though it would be :

a. Confidence in your ability and what you know.
b. Experience you have have had in many differing fishing situations.
c. The determination to succeed, as in life in general, you won't succeed unless you will yourself to do so.

Thanks for all your input and answers, tight lines and many fish in your season ahead.

Flap

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

I asked this question because I don't think there is really "one thing". I have tried over and over in moments of reflection on how and why certain things have or not happened while involved in my favorite recreational activity.

If I had to list the top three though it would be :

a. Confidence in your ability and what you know.
b. Experience you have have had in many differing fishing situations.
c. The determination to succeed, as in life in general, you won't succeed unless you will yourself to do so.

Thanks for all your input and answers, tight lines and many fish in your season ahead.

Flap

Oops I must've missed it.Very Zen like,or even kung fu masterish.
Snatch the pebble from my hand.Wax Caa,Sand froor..
Only thing is,,You said one thing...
I think my answer is better.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Any time of day is a good bet to catch......as long as its Dark.

[Ed B]

"Stay curious" is a saying that you may have heard on the public television commercial. You need to have the inner desire to think about the situation in front of you and come up with a better solution to reach a higher level of success or knowledge. Curiosity is a natural trait and is beneficial in all professions and many areas of life.

The most talented people I have met in the science and engineering fields all have a natural curiosity that motivates them to look around the next corner to uncover the mystery and figure out a solution.

The best fisherman I have met all have an active mind that motivates them to assess the conditions to increase the probability of success. All kept open minds and could engage in conversation with a natural desire to contribute and learn at every oportunity. Without that natural curiosity you will hit a plateau very quickly and become just another grunt fisherman going through the motions that somebody else showed you. The goods ones are always cutting new trail combining knowledge, experience and desire to figure out a better way to get a fish.

"Curiosity killed the cat" is one we've all heard but it also makes for a better and more successful fisherman who will be catching when noone else is.

Ed

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Ed B

"Stay curious" is a saying that you may have heard on the public television commercial. You need to have the inner desire to think about the situation in front of you and come up with a better solution to reach a higher level of success or knowledge. Curiosity is a natural trait and is beneficial in all professions and many areas of life.

The most talented people I have met in the science and engineering fields all have a natural curiosity that motivates them to look around the next corner to uncover the mystery and figure out a solution.

The best fisherman I have met all have an active mind that motivates them to assess the conditions to increase the probability of success. All kept open minds and could engage in conversation with a natural desire to contribute and learn at every oportunity. Without that natural curiosity you will hit a plateau very quickly and become just another grunt fisherman going through the motions that somebody else showed you. The goods ones are always cutting new trail combining knowledge, experience and desire to figure out a better way to get a fish.

"Curiosity killed the cat" is one we've all heard but it also makes for a better and more successful fisherman who will be catching when noone else is.

Ed

Well said, Ed -

Staying curious and intellectually active is also a great anti-aging device, too - although some might argue that the difference in my case has been negligible...

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Crafty Angler

Well said, Ed -

Staying curious and intellectually active is also a great anti-aging device, too - although some might argue that the difference in my case has been negligible...

Crafty... being Bi-curious dont count

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Crafty... being Bi-curious dont count

Jeeeeeez....this from a guy posting pictures of sea-monkeys wearing lipstick, homo-erotic horses and suspected of having latent flyfishing tendencies...

Hey, listen, Nebe - with any luck you too will have to address aging issues. I've got several friends who will never have to worry about being a day older than they once were.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Ed B

"Stay curious" is a saying that you may have heard on the public television commercial. You need to have the inner desire to think about the situation in front of you and come up with a better solution to reach a higher level of success or knowledge. Curiosity is a natural trait and is beneficial in all professions and many areas of life.

The most talented people I have met in the science and engineering fields all have a natural curiosity that motivates them to look around the next corner to uncover the mystery and figure out a solution.

The best fisherman I have met all have an active mind that motivates them to assess the conditions to increase the probability of success. All kept open minds and could engage in conversation with a natural desire to contribute and learn at every oportunity. Without that natural curiosity you will hit a plateau very quickly and become just another grunt fisherman going through the motions that somebody else showed you. The goods ones are always cutting new trail combining knowledge, experience and desire to figure out a better way to get a fish.

"Curiosity killed the cat" is one we've all heard but it also makes for a better and more successful fisherman who will be catching when noone else is.

Ed

149 posts and I bet most of those are every bit informative as this one. That is why I read or have read all of Ed's posts. He makes sense to me.
Great post ED!


Flap, I can't think of just one thing either, but I do know this, the fish have to be within casting distance in order to catch them, so you better know where they'll be and when.

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Any time of day is a good bet to catch......as long as its Dark.

Experienced anglers realize the "dark" side is over rated.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Experienced anglers realize the "dark" side is over rated.

In my Experience the only time that has worked well for me is 1 hour before Sundown to 1 hour after sunrise....after that I've gotten nada....

and the thread is, after all, what have I learned.