Best Fishing Techniques to become a pro

Fishing isn’t just only about luck, it’s a sport. It’s a combination of skill, patience, and knowing how to work with nature. While it can feel like a relaxing pastime, mastering the best fishing techniques is what separates the casual weekend fisherman from the true pros. Whether you’re fishing in freshwater or saltwater, with a fly rod or a spinning reel, knowing the right strategies can dramatically improve your catch.

If you’re eager to up your fishing game, this guide will walk you through the best techniques that can turn you into a pro in no time. So grab your gear, let’s dive into these must-know methods.

The Art of Casting

Casting is a primary step in fishing and the most important one, as accuracy is key. While anyone can throw a line into the water, casting with precision is what the pros focus on. Fish tend to hide near structures or in deeper waters, so choosing these prime fishing zones to cast, heightens your chances.

Pro Tips: Practice makes perfect. Practice casting toward targets like rocks or logs, to hone your accuracy. In actual fishing scenarios, focus on understanding how wind, distance, and obstacles affect your cast. For long-distance casting, keep the rod at a slight angle, and use a smooth, controlled release to maximize your distance and accuracy.

Reading the Water

Pro fishermen don’t just fish anywhere, they know how to read the waters and locate the fish. Fish love structures as they can hide, rest, and ambush prey in them. If you identify these underwater structures like rocks, fallen trees, weed beds, and drop-offs, your odds of success increase. Fish are ambush predators. They hide around structures, waiting for smaller prey to come by. Fishing near these hotspots makes it easier to put your lure in front of a hungry fish. Learn to use tools like fish finders to detect depth changes and find hiding spots for fish. Fish tend to hide in shaded areas or near rocks in the middle of the day. Early morning or late afternoon, when fish are more active, is the best time to target open waters.

Pro Tips: Learn to read the water to locate structures even if you can’t see them. Look for changes in current, watercolor, or the presence of vegetation. Cast around the edges of these areas, as that’s where fish are most likely to strike.

Bonus Tip: Use polarized sunglasses to reduce surface glare and better spot underwater structures.

Mastering the Retrieve

Retrieving your bait is more than just winding the reel. Different retrieval methods can mimic the natural movement of baitfish or injured prey, which is often enough to trigger a strike from even the most cautious fish. The pros understand that how you retrieve can make or break your fishing success. Fish have different moods, they might be aggressive one day and cautious the next. Your retrieve needs to match how they’re feeling. You should master multiple retrieval styles to adapt to changing conditions and fish behavior. You can experiment with different speeds and actions as well.

Pro Tips: Vary the speed and rhythm of retrieve until you find what the fish respond to that day. When using crankbaits, use a “bumping” technique, where you allow the bait to hit rocks or the bottom. This erratic movement often triggers aggressive strikes from predatory fish.

Know Your Knots

Fishing knots might not be the most exciting part of fishing, but they’re crucial. A weak knot can be the difference between landing a trophy fish or watching it swim away. Pros know a variety of knots for different situations. The right knot keeps your hook securely attached and ensures that the line holds up under pressure from a strong fish. Poorly tied knots can slip or weaken your line, leading to lost fish and wasted time. Some knots are better for specific lures, while others work well for attaching leaders to lines.

Pro Tips: Learn the Palomar Knot for general use, the Improved Clinch Knot for tying to hooks, and the Loop Knot for lures that need more movement. Practice tying these knots until they become second nature. Besides that, always wet your line before tightening any knot. This reduces friction and ensures a stronger, cleaner knot.

The Power of Patience

Slow and Steady Wins the Fish, as cliché as it sounds, patience truly is key when it comes to fishing. Pro anglers know that sometimes, you’ve just got to wait. But patience isn’t just about sitting still, it’s about knowing when to switch up your tactics or move to a new spot. Fish can be finicky. On some days, they’ll bite immediately, while other times, you’ll need to wait hours for just a nibble. Patience allows you to adapt to the fish’s behavior instead of getting frustrated.

Pro Tips: If the fish aren’t biting, don’t be afraid to move to a different location or switch up your bait. Use your time waiting to observe the water, adjust your gear, or test different retrieval speeds. Try fishing at different times of the day. Early morning and late evening are often the best times to fish since that’s when fish are most active.

Match the Hatch

One of the best fishing secrets known to pros is mimicking the natural prey of the fish you’re targeting. This technique is also called “matching the hatch”. Which means selecting bait or lures that look, move, or behave like the prey your target fish are feeding on. Fish are more likely to strike at something they recognize as food. If you can imitate what’s already in the water, you’re much more likely to get a bite.

Pro Tips: Research the local forage in the area where you’re fishing. If the fish are feeding on small minnows, use lures that imitate them. If they’re after insects, fly fishing might be the best option. Also, hook your bait in a way that allows it to move naturally in the water. For worms, hook them through the collar or tail. For minnows, hook them through the back or lips to keep them swimming.

Bonus Tip: Keep an eye on the season. Fish tend to switch their diets based on what’s available, so adjust your bait accordingly.

Becoming a professional angler doesn’t happen overnight. It requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to learn. By mastering these techniques and constantly refining your approach, you’ll improve your success rate and elevate your fishing game to the next level. With the right knowledge and consistent effort, anyone can become a pro at fishing. Now get out there, practice these skills, and enjoy the thrill of the catch.