| Fishermen need to take a lesson from hunters. | | | | the use of their equipment. When both are |
| They need to spend more off season time | | | | achieved the level of proficiency raises to that of |
| scouting water. As any successful hunter will tell | | | | an efficient predator. |
| you, the pre-season scouting consumes as much | | | | These anglers are usually quite adaptive to |
| time, if not more, than the actual hunt. And during | | | | changing situations and circumstance rarely |
| these scouting forays you are likely to learn more | | | | becoming flustered by their target. The situation is |
| about your prey than just by the mere act of | | | | seldom new, having been quickly related to |
| hunting. | | | | experiences encountered before. The lessons |
| Like hunting, fishing is a blood sport. Sure, we can | | | | learned by continued off season observation and |
| practice catch and release, and for the health of | | | | scouting are at the ready to be used as needed. |
| the resource it is most often wise to do so. But, | | | | Another benefit to off season scouting for the |
| none-the-less fishing is an act of predation. And in | | | | fisherman is the additional time spent outdoors. |
| order to be the most efficient predator fishermen | | | | This needs no expanding on as one of the |
| can spend many enjoyable hours on the water, | | | | primary reasons many fish in the first place is to |
| be it river, lake or stream, honing their skills by | | | | kindle their outdoor relationship. Not being on the |
| being a careful observer and student of their | | | | water fishing per se also changes your focus |
| prey. | | | | allowing you to concentrate on other areas that |
| The many fishermen I've known over the years | | | | the distraction of fishing wouldn't allow. |
| have all had varying levels of skill and ability and | | | | One of these, and maybe the most important |
| those who are the most successful go about their | | | | one, is in finding new water. The advancement of |
| sport with a mindset far, far different than the | | | | GPS with mapping capabilities, websites like Google |
| casual angler. What I've seen as the primary | | | | Earth and other electronic based aids have lulled |
| difference is their intensity as a predator, and the | | | | many of us to think we can accomplish much of |
| time they spend learning the habits and reactions | | | | the above from the indoor confines of our home |
| of their chosen prey. Many times this can be | | | | or office. Nothing, and I mean nothing can |
| more important than having skillful command of | | | | substitute for actually being there. |