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The Science of Fishing
A little research will bring you great results.
I am back in school listening to lectures, writing notes, watching educational videos, and completing assignments. In my science class yesterday I was listening to a lesson on gravitational pull of the earth, the sun, and the moon. As the teacher lectured, some of the information was not new to me. Now, let me set the record straight. Science has not been my strongest subject, but as the teacher spoke about moon phases and their effect on tides, I could relate to it because of my fishing experience. All of a sudden science became easy; I participated in the class discussion and that brought a strange look to the teacher's face.
How does science relate to fishing? As I shared in class how the tides and moon phases have a big part in the feeding patterns of fish and animals, I could sense that some of my classmates didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I don't claim to know much, but I have been around people that are very knowledgeable when it comes to the science of fishing.
Now that I am fishing on my own I am quickly learning that it's not just hopping on the boat and expecting the fish to jump in the ice chest. If you want to be successful in your catching, you must do your homework. Instead of being the passenger, I now find myself being the driver, and with that comes responsibility. The fishing trip begins the night before by making sure you look at the weather and what the conditions will be for that given day. I have learned that the direction and strength of the wind will direct me as to where I can fish and where I can't.
I remember a seasoned fisherman and good friend telling me at a younger age, "You think you know it all; wait till you get out on your own, and you will see what it's all about." How right he was.
Have you ever been asked while you're cleaning fish at the dock, "Man, where did you find them? We went everywhere and couldn't even find a hard head. What did you use to catch them?"
I mean no disrespect to any of these fishermen, but if you really sat down with them and asked, "Hey, what are the tides like today," you would probably see the same face my teacher had when I got involved in the class discussion. They probably wouldn't have a clue much less have an estimated tidal correction for the area they were fishing.
From my experience, my dad, and others, I have begun to learn about tides and how they affect the areas that we fish. I know that certain areas will hold fish depending upon the height of the tide. Some areas will act as fish magnets as the tide begins to fall, and other areas act as gateways to the flats as the tide begins to rise. I know where I can fish or shouldn't even attempt to go according to the level of the tide. Looking at online sites and reading the tide chart in TSFMag has helped me tremendously. I haven't gotten it all down, but the key here is to keep learning.
I know through my science class and fishing experiences that the sun, the moon, and the earth all have an effect on one another which in turn affects the creatures on this planet. Take a look at your local tide chart and begin to study it. Keeping a log of this information can only increase your chances of being a more successful fisherman. Study the moon phases and how they relate to your catches during that particular month of the year. Talk to someone that is knowledgeable on this subject, attend seminars, read the articles here in TSFMag, or perhaps look at their archive issues on www.TSFMAG.COM.
As you dig in deeper into the how and why, you will learn there is a lot of science in fishing. No one will have all of the answers to all of the questions, but with a little bit of homework you will be the one cleaning fish at the dock, not the guy asking questions.
Another thing to remember is that the catching side of fishing doesn't start or stop with tidal movement. This is only a part of the lesson we need to learn to become better fishermen. You also have the seasons of the year and how they affect fish migrations. There are also the air and water temperatures for the area you plan to fish. If you like challenges in your studies, then take a look at the barometric pressure and how it affects your catching. If you don't have a log, get one and start taking some notes. The first year it might not make any sense, but as your data grows, you will begin to see what I am talking about. Like I mentioned before, I have been lucky enough to be around people that are knowledgeable on this stuff and have learned the importance of keeping a log of information and experiences. If you start logging now, the science of fishing will become much easier in the future.
Remember to take notes and learn when you're out there. A slow day of fishing is not always a bad day of fishing when you take the information and learn the how, the why, and the why not. I have a lot of studying to do to pass my science class; the question is how are we doing in our fishing class? Are we passing or failing? We probably all have some studying to do.
How does science relate to fishing? As I shared in class how the tides and moon phases have a big part in the feeding patterns of fish and animals, I could sense that some of my classmates didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I don't claim to know much, but I have been around people that are very knowledgeable when it comes to the science of fishing.
Now that I am fishing on my own I am quickly learning that it's not just hopping on the boat and expecting the fish to jump in the ice chest. If you want to be successful in your catching, you must do your homework. Instead of being the passenger, I now find myself being the driver, and with that comes responsibility. The fishing trip begins the night before by making sure you look at the weather and what the conditions will be for that given day. I have learned that the direction and strength of the wind will direct me as to where I can fish and where I can't.
I remember a seasoned fisherman and good friend telling me at a younger age, "You think you know it all; wait till you get out on your own, and you will see what it's all about." How right he was.
Have you ever been asked while you're cleaning fish at the dock, "Man, where did you find them? We went everywhere and couldn't even find a hard head. What did you use to catch them?"
I mean no disrespect to any of these fishermen, but if you really sat down with them and asked, "Hey, what are the tides like today," you would probably see the same face my teacher had when I got involved in the class discussion. They probably wouldn't have a clue much less have an estimated tidal correction for the area they were fishing.
From my experience, my dad, and others, I have begun to learn about tides and how they affect the areas that we fish. I know that certain areas will hold fish depending upon the height of the tide. Some areas will act as fish magnets as the tide begins to fall, and other areas act as gateways to the flats as the tide begins to rise. I know where I can fish or shouldn't even attempt to go according to the level of the tide. Looking at online sites and reading the tide chart in TSFMag has helped me tremendously. I haven't gotten it all down, but the key here is to keep learning.
I know through my science class and fishing experiences that the sun, the moon, and the earth all have an effect on one another which in turn affects the creatures on this planet. Take a look at your local tide chart and begin to study it. Keeping a log of this information can only increase your chances of being a more successful fisherman. Study the moon phases and how they relate to your catches during that particular month of the year. Talk to someone that is knowledgeable on this subject, attend seminars, read the articles here in TSFMag, or perhaps look at their archive issues on www.TSFMAG.COM.
As you dig in deeper into the how and why, you will learn there is a lot of science in fishing. No one will have all of the answers to all of the questions, but with a little bit of homework you will be the one cleaning fish at the dock, not the guy asking questions.
Another thing to remember is that the catching side of fishing doesn't start or stop with tidal movement. This is only a part of the lesson we need to learn to become better fishermen. You also have the seasons of the year and how they affect fish migrations. There are also the air and water temperatures for the area you plan to fish. If you like challenges in your studies, then take a look at the barometric pressure and how it affects your catching. If you don't have a log, get one and start taking some notes. The first year it might not make any sense, but as your data grows, you will begin to see what I am talking about. Like I mentioned before, I have been lucky enough to be around people that are knowledgeable on this stuff and have learned the importance of keeping a log of information and experiences. If you start logging now, the science of fishing will become much easier in the future.
Remember to take notes and learn when you're out there. A slow day of fishing is not always a bad day of fishing when you take the information and learn the how, the why, and the why not. I have a lot of studying to do to pass my science class; the question is how are we doing in our fishing class? Are we passing or failing? We probably all have some studying to do.