Patience is a natural part of the fishing process. In fact, the tranquility one feels when fishing is one of the reasons why the sport is so attractive to people. But, there comes a time when your patience starts to wear thin. After all, the goal of fishing in Wilmington NC is battling the big one and reeling him in!
If you’ve been on a bad luck streak of late, here are five simple reasons why you’re not catching fish.
You’re Overstaying Your Welcome in One Spot
Fish don’t magically appear in one spot or another. They’re either there or they aren’t. Sure, there’s always a chance that a school could move through, but if you have spent an hour or longer in one spot and you haven’t had a single bite, then you need to start thinking about another spot. Take a look around and take inventory of the location. Is there a structure nearby where fish may be lurking? Is there a shady spot on the river where the fish may be hiding from the summer’s sun? Is there a spot with a stronger current?
You’re Overthinking Your Strategy
Overthinking one’s strategy is something that can often effect tournament fishermen when they aren’t catching fish like they’re used to. The reason you aren’t catching fish when this happens is because when you second-guess yourself, it will usually lead to a day of haphazard fishing tactics. You’ll spend more time switching baits, lures, and locations than actually fishing and in most cases, you’ll be making these changes before you even know whether or not something is going to work.
You’re Not Paying Attention to Weather and/or Tide Conditions
Every seasoned fisherman knows that weather and tide conditions play a large role in the movement of fish. For instance, days with crystal clear skies usually tend to follow cold fronts and as a result, the fish are usually hiding in warmer water on these days. On the other hand, by paying attention to the forecast and going fishing right before the front arrives, you’ll find the fish are more likely feeding more aggressively. Likewise, when fishing saltwater or freshwater tidal areas, Choosing to fish during times of a strong incoming or outgoing tide will usually deliver more reliable action.
You’re Not Tying Proper Knots
If you’re getting a lot of hits, but you’re losing fish due to your hooks, lures, or leader lines dropping off, then it is most likely due to poor knotsmanship. In order to improve your chances (and save you from losing too many costly lures) you should learn more about, and practice, tying proper knots. Some knots to master – line-joining knots, rig knots, fishing lure knots, and hook knots.
You’re Using the Wrong Lures (or Fishing Them Too Fast)
Fisherman are deeply loyal to their lures, sometimes to a fault. Just because you had a string of good luck with a certain lure in the past does not mean that it will deliver similar results in every situation. In truth, different lures are made for different conditions so it pays to try a variety of lures in a variety of different conditions to find the right one for the job. Plus, it’s important to remember that some fish will become slow and lazy in the heat of summer, so if you’re reeling your lures in quickly and not getting hits, you might just be reeling them in a little too quickly.
Ready to Take Fishing in Wilmington NC to the Next Level? Visit Intracoastal Angler
From our lures, bait, and tackle to our online weather reports and fishing tips, Intracoastal Angler has everything you need to make your fishing trip to Wilmington NC a success. We provide you with in-depth local knowledge of what's biting and the bait it is biting. Stay current with local insight on great coastal fishing with our Fishing Report and visit our store today in Wilmington NC. For more information, just give us a call at 910-392-3500.
If you’ve been on a bad luck streak of late, here are five simple reasons why you’re not catching fish.
You’re Overstaying Your Welcome in One Spot
Fish don’t magically appear in one spot or another. They’re either there or they aren’t. Sure, there’s always a chance that a school could move through, but if you have spent an hour or longer in one spot and you haven’t had a single bite, then you need to start thinking about another spot. Take a look around and take inventory of the location. Is there a structure nearby where fish may be lurking? Is there a shady spot on the river where the fish may be hiding from the summer’s sun? Is there a spot with a stronger current?
You’re Overthinking Your Strategy
Overthinking one’s strategy is something that can often effect tournament fishermen when they aren’t catching fish like they’re used to. The reason you aren’t catching fish when this happens is because when you second-guess yourself, it will usually lead to a day of haphazard fishing tactics. You’ll spend more time switching baits, lures, and locations than actually fishing and in most cases, you’ll be making these changes before you even know whether or not something is going to work.
You’re Not Paying Attention to Weather and/or Tide Conditions
Every seasoned fisherman knows that weather and tide conditions play a large role in the movement of fish. For instance, days with crystal clear skies usually tend to follow cold fronts and as a result, the fish are usually hiding in warmer water on these days. On the other hand, by paying attention to the forecast and going fishing right before the front arrives, you’ll find the fish are more likely feeding more aggressively. Likewise, when fishing saltwater or freshwater tidal areas, Choosing to fish during times of a strong incoming or outgoing tide will usually deliver more reliable action.
You’re Not Tying Proper Knots
If you’re getting a lot of hits, but you’re losing fish due to your hooks, lures, or leader lines dropping off, then it is most likely due to poor knotsmanship. In order to improve your chances (and save you from losing too many costly lures) you should learn more about, and practice, tying proper knots. Some knots to master – line-joining knots, rig knots, fishing lure knots, and hook knots.
You’re Using the Wrong Lures (or Fishing Them Too Fast)
Fisherman are deeply loyal to their lures, sometimes to a fault. Just because you had a string of good luck with a certain lure in the past does not mean that it will deliver similar results in every situation. In truth, different lures are made for different conditions so it pays to try a variety of lures in a variety of different conditions to find the right one for the job. Plus, it’s important to remember that some fish will become slow and lazy in the heat of summer, so if you’re reeling your lures in quickly and not getting hits, you might just be reeling them in a little too quickly.
Ready to Take Fishing in Wilmington NC to the Next Level? Visit Intracoastal Angler
From our lures, bait, and tackle to our online weather reports and fishing tips, Intracoastal Angler has everything you need to make your fishing trip to Wilmington NC a success. We provide you with in-depth local knowledge of what's biting and the bait it is biting. Stay current with local insight on great coastal fishing with our Fishing Report and visit our store today in Wilmington NC. For more information, just give us a call at 910-392-3500.
RSS Feed