I know there are a lot of guys and gals roaming the forum that are new to our sport. So I was thinking it would be cool to start a post just for them. If you could give someone one tip to help them out with getting started, what would it be?

Mine? Stay positive. I promise you'll catch more fish with a strong, positive attitude.

Don't pull 50' in front of another boat and start fishing.

Same thing I tell people that start playing golf, quit while you still have a chance.

Turn your headlights off at the boat ramp after dark

I was also going to suggest learning about boating safety and 'common courtesy' on the water. We really need a list of rules to give new boaters.

1. As grout-scout said - don't cut in front of someone working their way down a bank.
2. Idle past other people fishing and give them as much room as possible. No one likes getting hit with a 3ft wake while they're trying to fish.
3. Have your boat completely ready to launch BEFORE you get on the ramp. (plug in, lights installed, transom saver removed, tie down straps removed, etc...)
4. Turn off your headlights when you're backing down the ramp.

I'm sure there are many more things I'm just not thinking about right now. This isn't meant to be negative. Yes, there are some jerks on the water but there are also people that just don't know what to do.

Feel free to add to my list.

Try to keep it simple with a few of good proven lures, don't need a tackle store in your garage to catch fish. I wish I can start back over again all the money I spent,and only use a fraction of my tackle.

This! I launched sunday morning and some guy was down at the bottom of the ramp with his brights on, I couldn't see a thing

X2

Don't pull up on a boat that has been fishing a hump for hours and sit right on top of where the other boat is casting then act incredulous that the boat keeps casting to their spot and challenge them to make one more cast or say your gonna call all your buddies to come take care of the issue you started. Also don't do circles around a boat to mark what they are fishing. Just take note and come back later. Don't move off a spot or move several hundred yards away and be upset that someone drives up or moves to the spot and come back to tell them you were already fishing there. A little courtesy and friendly conversation can go a long way. AND get all your stuff ready before backing down on the ramp and don't block a crowded ramp. If you need help just ask, someone will help to keep things going smooth. Don't use the other guys trailer to unload your partner while the guy that you don't know is trying to put his boat on the trailer to load up. Don't scream at and cuss your wife who has no clue how to drive the boat and is telling you that, while you let her run the boat up on a shell bar. Then dont ask the guys watching while wade fishing to help push you off the sand bar as your wife gets out and walks to the beach........that was the greatest! And then he yelled at us for not helping because he had to get wet to push it off!!! Couple of the guys with me tried to console her but she was too far gone. Lol. Maybe that's why he got so mad. Hmmm

Always have tp in the boat! It will save your life.

Lighter line works. I promise. It seems like everyone wants to power fish with 20 lb flouro and 65 lb braid, like the pros. A quality spinning rod and reel, 8 lb test mono, and 1 or 2 Plano boxes are more than enough to catch fish on most bodies of water, whether beating the bank or on a boat. Learn the basics, then buy a pet bait monkey lol.

Definitely find a few lures you have confidence in and fish em hard. Slow down and fish thoroughly. Stick to basic colors. I used to have one bag of 40 different colors of trick worms when I really needed 20 bags of green pumpkin, 20 of watermelon red, and one bag of watermelon magic. Buy the Navionics app. Extremely beneficial.

Always learn something from every outing!

I carry wipes.... You can close them up.... They last for a long time and like GMan every now and then you just need to freshen up lol

If it ain't tied down, you're going to lose it. I don't care what it is.

If you go to Squaw Creek, just kick your boat off the trailer and get off the ramp. Can't believe nobody added this yet, guess it's still a little early in the year lol.