raferguson
Member
I have been dissatisfied about my lack of success fishing for some time, so I decided to look at my fishing logbook, and figure out my average rate of catching fish. It turns out, I catch an average of one fish every three or four hours fishing. Obviously, when the average is one fish per four hours, it is not unusual to go eight or ten hours without catching a fish. No wonder I get frustrated. If I am having a good day I might kid myself that I am an average fisherman, but the data suggests that I am a poor fisherman.
I should say that the four hour average per fish is based on three years of data. I fish around 20 hours per year. I don't count fish less than six inches.
I do a variety of fishing, ranging from rivers to lakes. I fish for trout, usually in Colorado. When lake fishing, I fish both from the bank and from a boat. I don't troll. As far as my home fishing waters, I fish most often at South Delaney Buttes lake in Colorado. I use both fly rods and spincasting gear, whichever I think will work best, sometimes switching back and forth. I think that I have caught more trout on spinning gear with Kastmaster spoons than anything else; I don't use bait. I have been fishing for thirty years or so. I usually fish with my wife, who fishes less than I do; she is probably about as good or bad a fisherperson as I am. I generally avoid fishing water that would be considered difficult to fish, for obvious reasons. I understand that there are places and types of fishing for which four hours per fish would be a good result, but I don't think that I fish in those places.
My question is what should I do about my lack of fishing success? I have come up with three possible answers, but I have no way to know which answer is correct. Maybe all are correct.
1. Four hours per fish is not terrible for somebody who only fishes occasionally. If I want to catch more fish per hour I need to fish many more days a year. Maybe I need to fish one body of water until I master it. My objection is that if I spend several hours fishing and don't catch any fish or even get a bite, did I learn anything that day?
2. I need remedial fishing instruction. I should say that I have taken a beginner flyfishing course, some years ago, but have received no further instruction. The available classes appear to be directed to rank beginners, not somebody with experience who wants to get better. I have friends who are much better fisherpeople than I am, but they seem reluctant to try to coach me, and I am reluctant to twist their arm. I could hire a guide, but could not afford many days of guiding.
3. Forget it. If I have not learned to fish in thirty years, why do I think that I have what it takes to be a good fisherman? Accept low catch rates or take up another sport.
What do you think?
I should say that the four hour average per fish is based on three years of data. I fish around 20 hours per year. I don't count fish less than six inches.
I do a variety of fishing, ranging from rivers to lakes. I fish for trout, usually in Colorado. When lake fishing, I fish both from the bank and from a boat. I don't troll. As far as my home fishing waters, I fish most often at South Delaney Buttes lake in Colorado. I use both fly rods and spincasting gear, whichever I think will work best, sometimes switching back and forth. I think that I have caught more trout on spinning gear with Kastmaster spoons than anything else; I don't use bait. I have been fishing for thirty years or so. I usually fish with my wife, who fishes less than I do; she is probably about as good or bad a fisherperson as I am. I generally avoid fishing water that would be considered difficult to fish, for obvious reasons. I understand that there are places and types of fishing for which four hours per fish would be a good result, but I don't think that I fish in those places.
My question is what should I do about my lack of fishing success? I have come up with three possible answers, but I have no way to know which answer is correct. Maybe all are correct.
1. Four hours per fish is not terrible for somebody who only fishes occasionally. If I want to catch more fish per hour I need to fish many more days a year. Maybe I need to fish one body of water until I master it. My objection is that if I spend several hours fishing and don't catch any fish or even get a bite, did I learn anything that day?
2. I need remedial fishing instruction. I should say that I have taken a beginner flyfishing course, some years ago, but have received no further instruction. The available classes appear to be directed to rank beginners, not somebody with experience who wants to get better. I have friends who are much better fisherpeople than I am, but they seem reluctant to try to coach me, and I am reluctant to twist their arm. I could hire a guide, but could not afford many days of guiding.
3. Forget it. If I have not learned to fish in thirty years, why do I think that I have what it takes to be a good fisherman? Accept low catch rates or take up another sport.
What do you think?