5 Things You Can Do to Become a Better Fisherman

A dedicated fisherman should always be looking for ways to hone their craft. When you’re a beginner, it’s all about mastering basic skills and building your confidence. For experienced anglers who have spent years on the water and could reel in a catch in their sleep, it may seem like there’s no room left for improvement. Anyone who really knows fishing though knows that’s not that case, and that when you stop trying to better yourself, the sport you once loved can even become boring and monotonous.

Fortunately, there are a lot of creative ways to expand your horizons—and we’ve put together a list of our favorite ideas below!

1) Hit the books.

The more you learn about the sport of fishing, the better you’ll be in action. There are a ton of resources readily available to you about different species of fish, how to adjust your approach to different conditions, techniques and equipment to use, and so much more.

You can do your research the old-fashioned way by checking out books and magazines. Or, of course, the internet is a goldmine of tips and tricks to be found in fishing blogs, journal articles, and videos too. Oh, and don’t forget one of the handiest resources of all—your fellow fishermen! Always be willing to learn from the mistakes, experiences, and insight of others in your field.

2) Go on a guided trip.

What better resource is there to build on your fishing skills than someone who fishes for a living? Even if you’ve been hitting the water for years, booking a guided fishing trip is a great way to expand your knowledge and hone your abilities.

There’s a lot you can learn from a professional guide through observation and their expertise. They’ll also be able to help you on an individual level, pointing out strengths and weaknesses in your technique and offering suggestions to help. Sometimes the smallest of tweaks make the biggest difference.

3) Try new things.

You’re never going to improve as an angler if you don’t challenge yourself. Going to the same lake at the same time of day and fishing for the same species using the same equipment you always do is not going to teach you anything new or be enriching in any way. True progress begins at the outside of your comfort zone. Being stubborn in your ways is only going to stunt your growth.

If you want your fishing skills to reach new levels, you need to switch things up and be versatile in your approach. This can mean anything from trying out different lures or a new rod, targeting new and bigger species, to going to a new location, heading out at a different time of day, or fishing in more challenging weather conditions.

4) Keep a fishing journal.

Recording details of your fishing exploits can help you better see and evaluate your progress. When you fish all the time, it’s easy for your experiences to blur together and forget what worked in what situations and what didn’t. By keeping a log, you can look back on it as you go, making adjustments to your approach based on past successes and failures.

In order to provide the most insight, your fishing journal should be as detailed as possible. Make an entry every time you get out on the water and include as much information as you can remember. Record details such as the date, weather conditions (including things like wind direction, light conditions, and temperature), exact location, water conditions (depth, temperature, visibility), species you fish, techniques and equipment you used, and what you catch (or don’t catch).

5) Practice, practice, practice!

Practice makes perfect in everything that you do, so this one is a no-brainer. You can read all of the fishing books in the world and watch all of the videos on the internet, but if you don’t practice what you’ve learned, it’s not going to stick in your mind. Even if you’re just casting in your backyard or at the local park, the more you do it, the better you’ll be.

Whether you’ve been fishing for decades or have never been out on the water in your life, there’s something for everyone to learn from a guided fishing experience at Lawrence Bay Lodge! The fishing opportunities at our location on Reindeer Lake are some of the best in Canada. Who knows, you might even catch a 35-pound trophy Northern Pike!