Gene Kugach - Freshwater Fishing Tips & Techniques: A Fully Illustrated Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Books and Pamphlets:
Fly Tying, John F. McKim
Complete Fly Tying Instruction Book, Hobby Bait Industries
Practical Flies and Their Construction, Gee and Sias
Publications by the Illinois Department of Conservation.

Magazines:
Mid West Outdoors, Outdoor Notebook, The In Fisherman,
Fishing Facts, Sports Afield, Great Lakes Fisherman,
Salmon/Trout/Steelheader, Fly Fisherman, Rod and Reel,
Fishing World, and Fins and Feathers.

Manufacturers Catalogs:
Shakespeare, Eagle Claw, Mustad, South Bend, Orvis, Tackle-Craft,
Trilene, Cortland, Grizzly Inc., Mister Twister, Northland Tackle Co.,
Lindy-Little Joe Inc., and Du Pont Stren.

Most anglers who are successful and who are considered lucky are really educated anglers who utilize experience and knowledge.

Fishing success can be obtained only by understanding and applying basic fishing knowledge rather than depending on luck alone.

Much of the information contained in this chapter has been compiled from experience obtained during many hours of fishing, and input and feedback from other successful anglers.

The following pages include information that can make a big difference in filling a stringer full of fish, or going home empty-handed.

Included are many tricks, tips, and suggestions on how to improve your fishing skills, how to locate fish, as well as some common sense tips on ways to make your fishing experience more enjoyable.

I hope that some of the information presented here will improve your skills and help you catch more fish.

The following are a few simple things to remember to make fishing a more enjoyable sport for everyone.

• Keep only the fish you can use.

• Practice Catch and Release.

• Dont be a polluter. Properly dispose of your trash (tangled line, bait containers, and so forth).

• Observe angling and boating regulations.

• Respect other fishermens rights

• Respect property owners rights.

• Support local conversation efforts.

• Never release fish, baits, or plants into public waters.

• Share your knowledge and skills with other anglers.

• Promote the sport of fishing.

You probably will catch more fish if you avoid making the following mistakes.

1. USING OLD LINE
Solution: Replace or change your line frequently.

2. USING DIRTY OR FAULTY REELS
Solution: Keep your equipment clean and in good working order

3. IMPROPERLY SETTING YOUR DRAG
Solution: Adjust and set your drag before you start fishing.

4. USING DULL HOOKS
Solution: Make sure your hooks are sharp.

5. USING ONLY YOUR FAVORITE LURE
Solution: Try different lures, colors, sizes, shapes. EXPERIMENT.

6. FISHING ONLY ONE LOCATION
Solution: Try new areas.

7. FISHING FOR ONLY ONE SPECIES
Solution: Be versatile.

8. BEING UNOBSERVANT
Solution: Observe conditions, weather, temperature, and so forth.

9. LACKING CONCENTRATION
Solution: Concentrate on catching one fish at a time.

10. LACKING CONFIDENCE
Solution: Have a positive mental attitude.

KEEPING A FISHING LOG

To improve your future results, try the following suggestions before you plan your next fishing trip.

Start keeping records (Fishing Log) of the waters you have fished in the past.

Record the fish you caught, the time of day when you caught them, the season, the weather conditions, and the bait or lures you used.