The "one thing"......

[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.

[InTheHole]

Have fun and make it fun for those with you, it's just fishing and if you get too twisted up about doing it ... why do it?

[Saltheart]

Fish with mental intensity. be aware of you offering and anything that touches it at all time. no cast and daydream.

[steve]

Put in your time,as much as possible, persever I guess. Also, patience. If you go, you will learn and you will catch fish in time. Thomcat, you are absolutley correct. Don't ever take fishing for granted if you love it!

[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

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

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.

Let go of the dark side Luke. Look into the light.

[redlite]

don't just fish, hunt 'em.

[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.

[smac]

Knowing my limits.

[whiplash]

Listen to the voices in my head - they know more than I do

[good2hook]

waking up. the rest is gravy

[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.

[MarshCappa]

Patience!

[gone fishin]

Patience and the ability to enjoy fishing even when skunked.

[fishingaddict]

i agree with alot of you guys but by far the best technique i learned striper fishing is (drifting).

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

You find most important over all the lessons, tricks, techniques et al you have learned in your striper fishing.

What is your personal "one most important thing"?

Oh, I just had a brainstorm.Can I answer twice..??
Thats easy.Embrace the internet.Books have written off of what has been learned from AlGores wonderland.

All kidding aside.There's ton's of good information here..Seems too much at times.I think the hard part can be weeding through the crap as everyone will have an opinion.After a while you will learn how to separate the sh!te from shinola.There are some really smart ,insightful people willing to share.Information available at the touch of the search button is equivalent to volumes and volumes of books or magazines.If I had this type of information readily available when I was a novice my learning curve would have been greatly abbreviated.Not sure it would have lead me to the same place I am now.
Then again, perhaps thats a message in itself.
So, what was I saying...
That mary jane never really leaves your system..


What say you Mr.Flap, whats your take on this..??
What where YOU looking for when you started this thread..??

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

Let go of the dark side Luke. Look into the light.

Every time I "Look into the Light" My boss asks me why am I sitting at my desk day Dreaming.

Now If "The Light" would just give me the winning lottery numbers it would make things a little easier

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by NIB

Oh, I just had a brainstorm.Can I answer twice..??
Thats easy.Embrace the internet.Books have written off of what has been learned from AlGores wonderland.

All kidding aside.There's ton's of good information here..Seems too much at times.I think the hard part can be weeding through the crap as everyone will have an opinion.After a while you will learn how to separate the sh!te from shinola.There are some really smart ,insightful people willing to share.Information available at the touch of the search button is equivalent to volumes and volumes of books or magazines.If I had this type of information readily available when I was a novice my learning curve would have been greatly abbreviated.Not sure it would have lead me to the same place I am now.
Then again, perhaps thats a message in itself.
So, what was I saying...
That mary jane never really leaves your system..


What say you Mr.Flap, whats your take on this..??
What where YOU looking for when you started this thread..??

Tony, I answered that on page 2 of this thread.
Comin' to plugfest this year?

[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.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by redlite

don't just fish, hunt 'em.

As one my mentors always said, "Find out where they aren't."

[Krispy]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

As one my mentors always said, "Find out where they aren't."

When did I say that?

[Hooper]

Go, don't think about it, just go fish

[jkswimmer]

Check the wind.

[keeperreaper]

The most important thing or lesson I learned is get the kids involved early in their life and let them be active participants throughout the whole process/experience. Doing this will teach them respect for the sport and fishery and also engrain the skills in them at an early age. I look forward to this year fishing with my daughter. Although she won't go offshore this year she will be with me fishing for bass.

[Roger]

Pay attention to your surroundings:
Ex:
What's that bird looking at?
Where'd all the gulls go?
What's that smell? Rust?

Just a couple examples of things observed, questioned and acted upon; leading to some great fishing.

[MikeToole]

Old truths are not always true:

"Fishing sucks during a full moon" Surf fishing during a full bright moon can be great. Just need to adjust by fishing areas that are a little deeper and more current. Helps if the surf is up some. If there is food in the area a bright moon will not keep the fish away. The new moon might be the most productive time but don't miss out on the other times if you have the time to go.

"Other then the fall day time fishing sucks" Surf fishing on bright sunny days can produce nice fish at times other then the fall. Chunking in rocky areas with no people or boat traffic can be productive when the fish are moving North or have settled in for the summer in the Northern areas.

"Chunking is for newbees and old people, doesn't take any skill" Chunking can be extremely productive on big fish if you know what your doing. Walk the outer beaches on the cape at night and you will meet people who really know what chunking is all about.

"You got to hold the rod, miss to many fish with sandspikes and deep hook to many" If you know how to tie a hi/lo rig correctly you will not deep hook fish. While you may miss a few more fish using a sandspike they will mainly be the smaller fish and having two rods will make up for this.

One new one: "Sluggos are as good as real eels" Sluggos are good but as tony the tiger would say "eels are great"