I don't believe serious fishermen ever quit trying to learn more about how to catch more fish. With that thought in mind, what tip whether you figured it out yourself, read it somewhere and tried it, or told to you as a kid were some of the best that you still use today?

Can't say enough about how much I have learned on the Texas Fishing Forum, lots of great tips, links to tips, and personal posts that I've come across. I read them all, in all the different sections from cat fishing to crappie, from fresh water to salt, from newbies to old timers, and everything else to do with fishing.

"You never catch a fish by mistake" ... I think I saw/heard that one in a video last year, believe one of the bass pros said it. To me that is a powerful statement and I repeat it to myself often after catching my first fish of the day. Lots of questions to ask yourself with that first fish in hand.

What did I catch it on? What color was I using? What depth was I fishing? What part of the water column was it caught? What type retrieve was I using? Was it a hard strike or did my line just get heavy? What time was it? Was the sun out or was it cloudy? Was the wind blowing? From what direction? Was there any current? Anything sticking out of its mouth as far as forage bait? What type cover or structure was it in or over?

If I don't have all the answers, especially my retrieve cadence, I'll try to duplicate as many of the other factors I do have the answers to and focus on those I don't for the next bite.

What are some of the best tips that you have received? I'm all ears.

90% of the fish are in 10% of the water.
In other words, plan your trip, know the where
bouts and seasonal habits of the species your targeting.

Tie on whatever Louis is throwing.

What about lake lavon. That is close to my house but really have truck out on that lake.

Well, other than the creek when they are releasing, just that they have not released in such a long time

Start deadsticking a spinnerbait!!!



Too bad I wasn't able to actually make the pattern work Louis LOL!!!

Best tip I've heard recently was to get a "soft-tip" rod and a spinnerbait. Then work that spinnerbait like a jig in the grass moving it about 1 ft a minute...

Be open minded about what they want. I get hard headed about this sometimes like when it comes to square bills and drop shots.
Also with colors.

"Learn to cast, and you'll need less weight."

"Use enough weight to get deep when you have too."

"You don't need half that [censored]."

^THIS^ I think should be #1


My main tip: SLOW DOWN

^^

I think I catch all my fish by accident these days. And I tried the lconn spinner bait trick this past winter

Tie on a small white topwater on an ultralight setup and go float the buffalo national river

You got bit as we were talking! You should of been more focused Tom!

My tip is don't get jealous when your wife catches a bigger fish on her first cast a foul cast at that in 3ft of water. When you have been casting & didn't catch squat for 2 hrs.