Lake Champlain Fishing:

Tricks Of The Trade
Consistently successful anglers

By Shawn Hayes

We have all heard the saying that 10 percent of the fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish. Although I am not sure if these numbers are exact, I find this statement to be true. But why is it that some guys are so consistent and others struggle?

I have found that there is no substitute for time spent on the water actually fishing and learning. It stands to reason that the guys on the water the most have the advantage and tend to know more about changes taking place below the surface.

Some of the things I have found that can help the average weekend fisherman to hook up more often are as follows:

Attention to detail and sweating the small stuff: The guys whom are the most consistent are usually the guys who take the time to check their gear. Let’s face it, with the economy and work, every minute on the water fishing is precious. Don’t waste it getting caught unprepared or making rookie mistakes.

Line: Line is probably the most important thing I can think of. This is your direct connection to the fish. Take some time at the store and ask about line. There are so many choices that it can get overwhelming. A common mistake is that fishermen tend to fish with heavier line than they need. That is what your drag and a good balanced rod are for. I try and fish with the lightest test line I can get away with but still ensure some level of confidence if I hook into something much bigger than usual. Lighter line also sinks quicker and helps with the action of your lures and baits. 

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