Chances are that every angler you speak to will have a slightly different take on what it is that both makes for a successful fishing trip and what is guaranteed to hold you back. Much of it comes down to your specific fishing style and your approach in general, but there are nonetheless certain rookie errors that tend to be perpetuated more than any others.
According to the experts at Fishing Republic, it’s never too early to think carefully about the bad habits you may be falling into in order to oust them as quickly as possible. And while it’s never easy to be told you’re doing something wrong, the faster you accept where you’re not doing your very best, the quicker you can expect to progress.
So, with this in mind, what follows is a quick introduction to some of the most common and easy-to-fix fishing errors of all that affect so many rookie anglers during their early days/weeks/months/years:
1 – Poor Fishing Line
First and foremost, it’s often said that the single most common mistake in angling at all levels is the use of poor quality fishing line. This if course makes sense when given even the slightest thought for the simple reason that without line of the highest quality, all the other gear you have in your arsenal is technically useless. You may have the best lures, the best poles and the best reels on the market, but if your line just isn’t up to scratch, you’re wasting your time. And what’s more, given the fact that quality line is so affordable, you’ll be kicking yourself if you fall foul of this one.
2 – Low End Hooks
Chances are you’ll pick up on a theme as this list progresses – one that suggests that most of the mistakes made by rookie anglers have in fact nothing to do with their technique or their efforts. Second in the list comes low end hooks, which just like the line you choose will have a bigger impact on your fishing than pretty much anything else across the board. In this instance, it’s not a case of only making sure your hooks are in good condition, but also making sure you choose the right hooks for the job. There’s a reason so many hooks come in so many different shapes, sizes and specifications – choosing the wrong hook for the job will seriously impede your progress.
3 – Incorrect Rods and Reels
Your preferred fishing type and style will determine the kind of rods and reels you’ll need to invest in, but what’s crucial to remember is that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution for fishing rods and reels. If you want to try out different types of fishing, you’ll need to be willing to branch out and try as many as necessary to get the job done. It seems on the surface that it’s just a rod and a spool so surely it’ll do the same job in any instance – this however is a bad habit and assumption to move away from at all costs.
4 – Refusing to Study
For those that are genuinely into fishing in a big way and want to become the best they can be, the study process represents half of the fun. From memorising a world of different fly designs in accordance with the fish they target right through to identifying the very best swim when you find it, there’s so much more to fishing and indeed the joy of fishing than choosing a spot at random and casting any old line into the water. If you’re willing to put in the hours, then your efforts will be rewarded – if you simply cannot be bothered, you’ll never progress far.
5 – Forgoing Gloves
One of the less obvious entries to the list is that of overlooking the importance of wearing gloves…and properly protective gloves at that…while fishing. The simple fact of the matter is that it only takes one particularly mean-spirited fish to scrape, cut and slash the hell out of your fingers without warning and leave you with a gash at best, or an infection if you’re really unlucky. Gloves exist for a reason, so use them – it’s hard to fish successfully when your hands are well and truly messed up.
More often than not, the secret to more successful angling lies in little more than taking one or two tips from the experts and accepting bad habits where present.