The word “adaptation” sounds like something coming from a sci-fi movie but it’s true meaning when relating to fishing means “change what you’re doing because what you’re doing, isn’t catching fish”. Ok, that’s simple enough but when using the term adaptation, aren’t we really just saying “when you're fishing you need to adapt to the things happening around you.”? This is exactly what I’m stating for the record. Most times when we go fishing, the little things that we take for granted, can be the deciding factor on whether we are coming home with some fish or not. You might refer to this as the “what if” factor of fishing.
I’ve had many trips that after I have gotten off the water for the day then looked back in retrospect of how my day might have gone better if I only changed the way I fished or recognized something around me may have been a better choice. Hindsight is usually a 20/20 affair and we usually learn a lesson or two from our experiences but “what if” you could recognize that changes in our environment, fishing techniques or other factors need to be taken when we are actually fishing? Would we be able to increase our catch ratio? I think the answer would be a definite “YES” but knowing when to make these decisions is really the important question to ask yourself.
I’m not a psychic so knowing “when” in my time fishing to make some key changes may not be readily known to me. Sure, you can say something like if I haven’t caught a fish in 30 minutes then it’s time to try something new. Maybe go to another area or try a different fishing technique but given all weather conditions, time of day, lure choices, angling pressure, moon phase, and probably many more factors involved in catching a fish, you as a mere human being and not a computer, would have to make these choices on the fly.
Maybe we should treat fishing like a poker game? Given the hand dealt, how many cards (things) do I need to change to get a better fishing hand? Those things being the items such as: change location where fishing, switch lures, fish deeper/shallower water, find moving current, where is the thermocline, change lure color, use lure with different action, stop fishing and take a break. I’m starting to like this idea. Every cast is considered a poker hand. Or every 5-10 minutes of fishing time is a round of poker. Did I Win the hand? (had a bite or caught a fish). The guy/gal with the most chips (fish) at the end of the day is declared the winner!
By using the art of adaptation to my fishing day, might help increase my chances of catching more fish. I guess it’s really how you look at the big picture and play the game (Poker/Fishing/Whatever) that will decide just how good your day of fishing might be. Next fishing trip why not survey your hand dealt, then make the “right” decisions or changes at short intervals until you start catching fish. Then continue to fine tune what you are doing right so you’re now catching fish and not wasting valuable time on the water or cutting into your fishing time without success.
Some of the lesser-known choices on the things to consider list that I have come to have known through the 20/20 theory are valuable but mostly only can be realized when your age becomes a factor. These might include:
1. I’m unable to fit into my kayak. So why did I bring it?
2. You now exceed the weight capacity of your float tube and size of your waders.
3. The more altitude, the more attitude you get.
4. Walking distances and time standing have a new meaning in your life.
5. The lighter the line the more your eye glass prescription increases.
6. One of the newer items on my list thanks to a good friend would be this gem. If you work HARDER to STAY ALIVE like wilderness camping and combining with a fishing vacation, then it’s not a vacation, IT’ S WORK. Vacations and work should not mix. Get a cabin or hotel! You shouldn’t need a vacation from your vacation.
7. Setting the hook swings are free. Reeling in with no bait costs you money. The (should have /could have /but didn’t), theory in effect here.
8. Your back and activity scale are united. More activity = more back pain.
9. The price of fish in the grocery store shouldn’t decide if you should go fishing. It’s not the cost of the catch but the journey to catching fish that decides whether the cost was worth it.
10. The worst day of fishing is still better than the best day at work.
Good Fishing and learn to adapt.
