ARE YOU GUILTY OF COMMITTING A FISHING FAUX PAS?
 On
any given angling adventure, there always seems to be someone onboard
that commits an embarrassing fishing faux pas. A mistake that instantly
draws the attention (and often the ire) of any nearby experienced
anglers. Maybe a column that helps the angler follow proper fishing
procedure and etiquette would reduce such occurrences. A "Dear Albie."
column, if you will. Such a column would certainly cover the following
"cardinal sins" of fishing.
Bass Ackwards
Spinning outfits
are designed to be used with the reel on the underside of the rod and
(guides pointed downward). Don't commit the angling sin of fishing with
a spinning reel on the "up side" of the rod and the guides facing upward.
If you prefer to crank with your right hand instead of your left, most
quality spinning reels feature convertible handles. Likewise, using
a conventional reel on the underside of a conventional rod instead of
on top where it belongs, is an equally offensive fishing faux pas. If
you see any anglers misusing their rods and reels in these ways, do
them a favor and point them in the right direction.
That's Your Line?
Many anglers neglect
to spool up with fresh line prior to a fishing trip. They invest all
kinds of money in the trip itself, tackle and the like, but forget about
the importance of line quality. Never fish with line that's been sitting
in your garage for extended periods of time and has consequently become
tightly coiled, dry and brittle. If you do, you can expect a day full
of poor casts, tangles and "break-offs." Equally important is using
a high quality brand of fishing line, such as Maxima or Ande. It doesn't
matter if you put new line on your reel, if you are using that "bargain
basement" blue stuff that costs $4.00 for a spool of a thousand yards.
Besides the quality and freshness of the line, using the right pound-test
for the angling application is key. Novice anglers will often use line
that is inappropriately light or heavy for the situation. Such a fishing
"foul" can be responsible for reduced bites (if the line is too heavy)
or broken lines and tangles (if the line is too light). Experienced
anglers know that proper line selection can mean the difference between
landing or losing the fish of a lifetime.
Ignoring the Rule of Thumb
Cast a conventional
rod without applying light thumb pressure and you’re bound to
experience a "bird’s nest" that shouts "clueless
angler here." Sure, even veteran fishermen experience a "professional
over-run" every once in a while, but if you find yourself spending
more time untangling backlash than fishing, it’s probably time
for a few casting lessons. While many reels have built in centrifugal
or magnetic casting control mechanisms that help reduce backlash, no
reel is "backlash-proof." It takes practice and an educated
thumb when casting to avoid problems. Making sure that line is cranked
onto the spool evenly upon retrieve, also helps to avoid casting catastrophes.
Crossing
the Line
The experienced
and courteous angler is typically careful about where he or she is casting,
and avoids crossing over the lines of other anglers. If you want to
make friends onboard instead of enemies, be conscious and courteous
when casting. Casting over other lines almost always results in tangles
that can cost a boat fish when hook ups occur. Prior to casting take
notice of where others around you have already casted. Then make your
cast to an area that's upcurrent to the lines of those anglers. If you
happen to accidentally cross someone else's line, it's better to reel
in and re-cast immediately, then to wait until someone hooks up and
a mess ensues.
Losing Your
Balance
To avoid being labeled
as "fishing impaired," be sure to select a reel and rod combination that is properly matched and balanced. Don’t
pair up a light action spinning reel with a heavy duty spinning rod, or combine a small baitcaster with a big game trolling rod. Use common sense and put together a matched and balanced outfit. And whatever you do, be sure not to use a conventional reel on a spinning rod or vice versa.
Get the Cement Out of Your Boots!
Most saltwater gamefish,
especially surface species, make runs that require the angler to "follow
the fish," or move laterally to keep the line perpendicular to the boat
during a fight. Experienced anglers know this and move with the fish
according to avoid problems. If you stand like you're stuck in quick
sand as a gamefish makes a run along the rail, you can expect your line
to be "sawed off" in seconds flat.
A Major
Gaffe
Want to really drive
a deckhand and skipper crazy? Just try to "bounce" a large
hooked fish aboard without the assistance of a gaff or net. There are
good reasons that all serious sportfishing boats have these important
tools onboard. If you have a big fish on the line, be sure to call for
some assistance from the crew. Don’t pull the fish’s head
out of the water or try to lift the fish aboard yourself. Wait until
help arrives or you’ll risk a broken line, rod and the loss of
a lunker. |
