True Beginner Question.

[walleye express]

Took this off another board.

Q:I am pretty new to Walleye fishing and would like to know the best ways to catch them. I have fished for them during the spawn before in some rivers and don't have much luck. Is there any tips you have to better my chances in this situation or any other situations.


My Answer:
To answer your question from scratch without any particulars, would be a monumental task. And this isn't trying to skirt your question either. My suggestion to true beginners is to take a charter or invest in a guide for a day in your immediate area. Try to get somebody who's gear and fishing style you want to immulate or will closely match with your own future gear, boat, and/or the places your interested in fishing. Something as simple as the wrong type and flex rod, the wrong type/style/weight jigs, the wrong drift angle/line or anchor angle of the boat or station on the bank, or the wrong lure choice for the conditions/type/depth water. All these things, if not fitted to the particular task, can make your day unproductive, and discourage you to the point of quitting all together. But an experienced Guide/Captain/Fishing Friend of Friend, could have you in the groove post haste. I've personally had people show up for a river trip with their favorite rod. When I tell them its no good for what we're doing, I've had some insist on using them anyway. After about the 3rd or 4th walleye their buddy or me catches while using my rods, the light comes on and they switch over. It can be that important.

Under the guidance of any professional paid by you to attended to your personal needs, will cut right to the chase and instill in you the basics. You'll have the whole day to observe, ask questions and get hands on training and advise that will start you on the right road. To start out raw with books, message board remedies/suggestions and seminars geared towards moderate or advanced anglers who know and understand all the variables involved, will for the most part only give the beginner vague/misunderstood answers to questions he has no real conception of, and will be a tougher more confusing puzzle for him to relate to and put together. And will be tougher to put into practice without the basic first hand understanding that just 1 day on the water with a good fishing teacher could give you. And As the other member mentioned, there will be days when cigarette butts could limit you out when just knowing how to cast is enough, but these days will be few and far between where most people fish believe me.

[The Whale]

I hope your "answer" does not sway this person from seeking and acquiring some very good knowledge from us "regular" fishing joes. The guidance one receives from a "paid professional" ("fishing" professional you sicko's :evil: ) is directly proportional to that particular "professionals" knowledge and willingness to share. Some are fantastic, very helpful and knowledgeable, some are not. They will typically try their hardest to get you into fish, but some may very well skirt questions, answer minimally and try to "keep the secrets" so to speak. Please do not under estimate one's knowledge of a sport (and their willingness to share) just because they choose not to become a "paid professional" !!! :fish2: :cool: :D

[walleye express]

I hope your "answer" does not sway this person from seeking and acquiring some very good knowledge from us "regular" fishing joes. The guidance one receives from a "paid professional" ("fishing" professional you sicko's :evil: ) is directly proportional to that particular "professionals" knowledge and willingness to share. Some are fantastic, very helpful and knowledgeable, some are not. They will typically try their hardest to get you into fish, but some may very well skirt questions, answer minimally and try to "keep the secrets" so to speak. Please do not under estimate one's knowledge of a sport (and their willingness to share) just because they choose not to become a "paid professional" !!! :fish2: :cool: :D


Whale.

I may at times blantantly advertise my wares here, but this truely wasn't an attempt at one of them times. You'll notice I added a Fishing friend of a friend in there as well. The rest I've never been accused of by clients. My jest was to get the person to attemp to go with somebody they could get hands on experience with, versus getting verbal or written knowledge to problems he's never seen or dealt with before. How does one really grasp the solution, if ones has never had the problem? :tdo12: :gaga:

Heres a response from another poster with a different view of what I answered.

dan,
i believe thats about as honest an answer as one could give. there is no better teacher than experience. if someone is going to start fishing for walleye on their own without guidance, they should expect to fail. only through trial and error will they learn the do's and dont's, rights and wrongs,where and when... of catching walleye. to avoid some of these, and get you on track, a GOOD experienced guide/friend is the best and logical answer to learnng the basics. simply said great answer dan!

[mkroulik]

Dan,
I don't think Whale was stating or implying that you were trying to drum up business for yourself or other guides. I think he just wanted to point out that many of us that aren't professionals can be helpful and knowledgable too. I do completly agree with your post, that there is no better way to learn than by first hand experience with someone that knows what their doing, and as important, why their doing it, be that a paid person or just someone willing to take the time to educate a beginner.

Mike

[walleye express]

Dan,
I don't think Whale was stating or implying that you were trying to drum up business for yourself or other guides. I think he just wanted to point out that many of us that aren't professionals can be helpful and knowledgable too. I do completly agree with your post, that there is no better way to learn than by first hand experience with someone that knows what their doing, and as important, why their doing it, be that a paid person or just someone willing to take the time to educate a beginner.

Mike



Must have read it wrong. Fact is (believe it or not) I'm not in love with the word Professional anyway, especially when it comes to fishing. Unlike other sports where one can condition the body or master the techniques, there is (IMHO) never any set rules or variables with fishing that one can assume in any given day and then procede to do good. And the thing people call practicing before tournaments, is nothing more than searching in my book. But there are such things as more knowledgable and seasoned anglers, who for interest and practice sake of the sport, grasp more concepts concerning the fishing game. And you don't have to be paid to aquire or share that knowledge thats for sure. ;)

[The Whale]

mkroulik you are correct, not aimed at Dan at all. Simply pointing out that there is a huge amount of knowledge to gain from everyday fishing person's such as ourselves, not just the paid Pro's. Dan is one who shares his knowledge and experience with most everyone, no compensation needed. (Does kinda make you wonder what a few bucks slipped to him would get you in the 'eye knowledge/experience though ! :D ) Mmmm. ;) :cool:

[walleye express]

[QUOTE=Dan is one who shares his knowledge and experience with most everyone, no compensation needed. (Does kinda make you wonder what a few bucks slipped to him would get you in the 'eye knowledge/experience though ! :D ) Mmmm. ;) :cool:[/QUOTE]

I've taken a few guys from this board out now on chaters, and I think what they would say about the experience, is that they learn a lot more from me about my personal perspective concerning fishing. Maybe some tricks on rigging or shortcuts time has taught me. And maybe some hands on stuff, you can't teach or explain properly here in the written word. But actually not that much more fishing info than I share here with everybody else. :D

[Flash]

First post here, and certainly qualified as a beginner. Have been doing the "other" route of books, Yahoo searches, forum questions (other sites) and find the advice given to use a "professional" sound, in my opinion. As with all teachers, one should select them carefully. However, absent having "grandpa" return from his grave, I believe hiring a professional guide may be in my angling future.

My limited experience was on lakes near Prescott (Cranberry, Huey, Skidway) while a youngster (early 60's), using cane poles and worms (with "grampa"). My newfound interest (40+ years later) is consuming vast amounts of time in reasearch and is fun in its own right. I do believe however, that a personal coach could do miracles in transitioning my book work into practical knowledge.:fish:

Flash

[The Whale]

Welcome to the best outdoors site on the web, Flash ! Just a suggestion, give us a bit more info in your profile (like where in MI you live) and you just may get more responses to questions you may post. Perhaps even a chance to hook up with members for a fishing excursion ! :woohoo1: to gain a bit more knowledge hopefully. Not that it takes anything special to trigger a fishing trip anyway ! :evil:

[chamookman]

I'm in ! Welcome to the site Flash. Bob

[Flash]

Thanks for the welcome. Will update the profile.:cool: