| Anyone can learn how to catch big beautiful | | | | helps if the fisherman is smarter than the fish. In |
| trophy fish by following some common sense tips | | | | lakes near populated areas, fish that have lived a |
| and techniques. Maybe you've never caught a | | | | long time have probably seen many hooks, lines |
| really big fish and you're wondering why. I'm willing | | | | and sinkers. So it doesn't take much to spook a |
| to bet that if you've spent much time fishing you | | | | big fish. Use the thinnest line possible and the |
| probably had at least 1 "big one that got away". | | | | minimal terminal tackle. Tie the line directly to the |
| That happens to everyone, including experienced | | | | hook and use the smallest sinker to get the bait |
| fishermen who forget to follow some basic rules. | | | | to the correct depth. You can land a 20 lb fish on |
| The tips I cover here will be targeted at | | | | 4 lb test line if you have a quality reel. |
| freshwater fishing but apply to both fresh and | | | | 4. Sharp Hooks are Necessary |
| saltwater. Learn how to locate, lure and land that | | | | The need to even mention this is proof that |
| fish of a lifetime. | | | | trophy fish can be smarter than fishermen. You |
| First of all you don't have to spend a lot of | | | | can do everything else right and get that monster |
| money or travel to exotic locations to catch | | | | Trout or Walleye to grab your bait. With a |
| trophy fish. Almost any pond or lake that has | | | | pounding heart you wait that necessary 3 |
| water year-round and enough depth to support | | | | seconds and then pull back on the fishing rod to |
| fish during both cold and hot dry months, will hold | | | | sink the hook. The behemoth doubles your rod |
| a good number of big fish. You can even catch | | | | over and the drag screams as he goes on his |
| huge trophy fish from shore if you know how to | | | | first run. Suddenly the line goes slack and the fish |
| find the right spot. I have caught large Bass, | | | | is gone! What happened is that a cheap or dull |
| Walleyes, Trout, Salmon and Pike from the shore. | | | | hook just pulled right out of his mouth. Dang it! |
| I have also caught saltwater Striped Bass, Bluefish | | | | Don't let that happen to you...it's painful. |
| and Sharks from the shoreline. Here is the basic | | | | 5. Learn your Lake and your Fish |
| outline for success. We will go into more detail in | | | | Every body of water is different and the habits |
| future article and on my website. | | | | and locations of fish can vary considerably. The |
| 1. Use Large Real Bait | | | | length of this article will not permit a discussion to |
| What do I mean by real bait? Well I mean the | | | | cover this subject. One quick example is to locate |
| things that fish actually feed on to live. Do you | | | | the thermocline in the summer and the fish will be |
| eat plastic steaks? Do you cut pictures of food | | | | just below it. Some fish come close to shore to |
| out of a magazine and eat them? Of course you | | | | feed at night. Some wait at the edge of weed |
| don't and neither do big fish. While imitation lures | | | | beds at mid-day to ambush bait. Others feed |
| do have their place and time, all they do is imitate | | | | almost exclusively at night or early morning. Your |
| Live Bait. Also to eliminate catching small pesky | | | | local bait shop can be a great source of |
| fish, use bait that only trophy fish can swallow. | | | | information if you are humble enough to listen. |
| I've used 12" shiners in Florida and 6" perch in | | | | 6. Patience, Patience, Patience |
| New England, where it is legal to use smaller fish | | | | "Run and Gun" is a common practice these days |
| as bait. | | | | that you'll see on the Bassmaster TV shows and |
| 2. A Quality Reel is a Must | | | | magazines. Power up that 250 HP motor and |
| A quality fishing reel makes all the difference in | | | | scream across the lake scaring every big fish |
| actually landing a big fish. This is one place where | | | | within 200 yards of your boat! Yeah that's |
| it makes sense to spend some money. Once you | | | | perfect for the impatient generation that needs |
| finally get that trophy fish to chomp your bait | | | | constant stimulus to avoid thinking at all costs. If |
| after waiting a long time, it would be a shame to | | | | that's what you want, you've come to the wrong |
| lose it because of a cheap reel. A good fishing reel | | | | place. If you want to enjoy the beauty of nature, |
| has a finely tuned drag that allows the big fish to | | | | discover your inner self and catch trophy fish, |
| run and get tired without breaking the line. | | | | then take it slowly and quietly. Catching the |
| 3. Use Thin Low-Visibility Line | | | | Trophy Fish of your life will be well worth it. You |
| Trophy fish did not get big by being stupid! So it | | | | might even discover that you like yourself. |