By James Hill
Now that 2014 is upon us it’s time to start thinking about some New Year Resolutions. No, I’m not talking about promising that I’m going to go to the gym more or how I’m going to eat more salad. I’m talking about some New Year angling resolutions. Winter is a great time to reflect on how the previous season went, what you learned and what you think you need to work at.
We all know that summer will eventually arrive, some years earlier than others, which makes each fishing season a bit different than the previous year. This brings me to my first resolution for this upcoming fishing season. Take notes! Head down to a business supply store and pick yourself up a small notebook, try to look for one that will fit in your tackle box, this ensures you will never forget it. Write the year on the cover of the notebook, each page inside will represent a day of fishing. On each fishing excursion in the top corner of the page write the number of the each fishing day this number will represent how many times you were able to get out on the water that year, which is a great stat to have, underneath that write the day’s date. Some other great info to record is weather conditions (outside air temperature, wind speed and direction, sky condition). Also, record the water conditions (water temperature, water clarity), the time you were on the water, where and when you caught fish, what depths they were at, what you were using and so on. All this info may not pay dividends right away but stick with it, and over a few years you will start to see trends and tendencies of lakes and fish, which can give you a better understanding of the waters your fishing which in turn will make you a better angler!
Technology has come a long way in the sport of fishing since the Lego Land fish finders of old. Boats are now equipped with sonar units that would have had NASA foaming at the mouth when they sent the first rocket to the moon. Anglers now have Down Imagining, Side Imaging, we even now have 360 degree imaging all at our finger tips. Of course, understanding all these take time, which leads us to our second resolution: learn your equipment. It’s as easy as heading out to your favorite fishing hole and keeping the rods in the locker. This is a good way to better understand what you’re looking at since you already have a general idea of what’s down there. Drive along a shoreline with your side imaging, go past known boulders and see what they look like on your screen, drive over humps to get an idea of what they look like when in down image mode. Having a better understanding of how to use your equipment effectively will ensure more hook sets in the future. With Outdoor Show season just around the corner why not head down and talk to a rep from Humminbird or Lowrance. They should be able to answer any questions or concerns you have and give you a few more tips to make your time on the water one to remember.
Maximizing our time on the water is something we all could work at, especially if we don’t get out as much as we would like. Spending as much of your time fishing instead of searching for stuff is a direct result of your preparation for the day. The night before spend some time organizing your tackle and rods in anticipation for the next day. If possible, have your tow vehicle and boat trailer already hooked up the night before that way there is one less thing to do in the early morning. Have your lunch pre-packed the night before and include items that may be consumed while driving (Cliff bars are a great source of energy to keep you going all day and are easy to eat on the run. Have bottled water and Gatorade to keep you hydrated and to replenish electrolytes you’ve lost throughout the day). Staying hydrated and energized will keep you chucking all day and taking advantage of your time on the water. Ensure everything you need for the day is in the boat before it’s launched, heading back to the truck to grab something you forgot is a time consuming mistake that could have easily been avoided by being organized and prepared. Unlike the weather, our level of readiness for the day is something we can control so take advantage of this and it will ensure your time on the water will be time well spent.
The last resolution I have for you is the simplest of them all, and look at you, you’ve already started by reading this article. It’s as simple as reading more. There are so many great publications out there that make it extremely easy to stay on top of all the new gear and techniques as soon as they come out. Don’t stop there though; don’t forget about the information highway that we call the internet. With sites like YouTube you’re able to subscribe to many different channels that offer a wealth of how to videos, videos of pros explaining what they are fishing and what type of conditions they are applying it to. Simply checking out forums offers up great information about gear. If you can find a local one it’s also a great place to find news and info tailored to your region, info about current lake conditions, what bait anglers are using, and possibly even some hot spots that are really producing at the moment. This is a great way to pass the doldrums of a cold winter and have you set up for success as soon as the ice melts. Having more information never hurt anyone.
Now that you have your resolutions, it’s time to stick to them. Remember, just like dieting and working out, fishing demands time and dedication. With a little bit of work, and a touch of luck, these resolutions will not only help fill your live well, it’ll also give you better stories to brag about.
About James Hill
Residing in Thunder Bay, Ontario and fishing throughout Northwest Ontario, it’s only natural to love the outdoors… and now chashing smallmouth has become more than just a pastime for FLW, BFL pro, James Hill. Sponsored by Crestliner Boats, Smith’s RV Centre, Big Ed’s, D&R Sporting Goods & Chronicle Journal, James will be fishing 3 FLW Everstart central events as a co-angler in 2014, and sharing his bass fishing knowledge with FHQ readers. You can find James on the airwaves as host of internet’s Fishin’ Outdoors Radio, and on the web at jameshillfishing.com
