Fish away from other anglers

Ideas and prejudices will be formed as you go through the steepest part of the learning curve. Here are the remaining five of my top ten tips for getting the most out of these first faltering steps on a new water.

Fish away from other anglers

Following on from the previous tip, try to avoid other anglers. From your point of view this is mostly because you want to be chasing fish that aren’t already on edge. Often if anglers are crowded into a small area it is because someone has had a good catch there. Note I said HAD, as the chances are it won’t be repeated. Much better to find your own fish and catch them on your own terms. This tip could equally apply to not fishing to obvious features. Whilst island margins always get fished, they are not likely to be particularly productive if the lake is heavily fished. Weir pools on rivers are another classic example. What about the margins of both rivers and lakes? Often ignored, they can be just what you are looking for.

Have confidence

Approach the fishery in a positive frame of mind. Go expecting to catch, not just going through the motions, hoping to learn a little with each trip. There is no reason why you shouldn’t catch from the first time your bait hits the water. Tied in with confidence is using methods and baits that you are familiar with. Although a certain method might be being used by the majority of other anglers that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the only one that will work. If you have a method that works for you elsewhere then use that on at least one rod. This is no time to be experimenting, or using tackle in which you have no faith. Make sure that everything is up to the job and convert every chance that you get. Confidence in bait is also vitally important. As with tackle stick with what you know. Believe that it will work and the chances are it will!

Don’t use too much bait

Once you have chucked it in you can’t take it out. Not only will using too much bait cause a lot of disturbance, which is the last thing you want when, with a bit of luck, you will be fishing over signs of fish. Using too much bait will also mean that the fish have to eat more before you get a chance of action. Use a bait that you have confidence in, and is likely to be accepted from the off. Naturals are ideal, but on more heavily fished waters, specials, such as boilies, are likely to be taken just as readily.

Cast to rolling fish

Although it isn’t always advisable, it is certainly worth having a go for any fish that you might see. Certainly, the most important thing is to ensure that you are fishing in the right area, and there can be no better way of ensuring this than casting to fish that you have actually seen. Again, proceed cautiously, don’t go chucking big leads, marker floats, kilo’s of bait at rolling fish. If the fish are feeding give them just a hook bait and you will stand a very good chance of catching.

Don’t panic!

So you can’t find the fish, you haven’t had a specimen within the first hour, the locals tell you that you are doing it all wrong. Don’t panic! Rome wasn’t built in a day. By all means take note of what others might say, but follow your own instincts. Many is the time I have caught fish using methods that the locals have dismissed out of hand. Similarly, trust your instincts when it comes to swim choice. Fish will tend to go for the same types of feature in different fisheries, so use the lessons previously learnt and do it your own way.

Finally, don’t worry if it doesn’t come right the first time.

You will never get it right all the time, and would you really want it to be that easy? Sometimes you will have to work harder. Sometimes you will have an unrepeatable result. Whatever happens remember to enjoy the challenge for what it is and make the most of the learning experience, for this is what it is all about!