10 Reasons Why You Don’t Catch Fish

10 Reasons Why You Don’t Catch Fish

By Todd Reed

No matter your skill level, from successful tournament angler to an aspiring elementary kid, we all have days that we can’t catch any fish. There are many reasons why boys and girls, men and women struggle to catch fish at times. Some days it seems like no matter what you throw in the water you get bites and the day was a huge success, while other days you could try 20 different types and styles of baits and still no bites. So what gives? Why are some days better than others, and why do some anglers “strike out” while others have enough for a nice meal? I have compiled a list of 10 reasons why anglers DON’T catch fish. If you find yourself, or a friend not paying attention to these reasons, try to change your ways to make each and every trip a successful one.

Reason #1 Your hooks are too big.
I see many anglers around the state fishing for panfish with hooks that are three or four times the size they need to be. Bluegills, crappies, perch, sunfish, yellow bass are all curious creatures. They will look at your bait and peck at it, if your hook is too big it never gets in their mouth, and you will never catch it. The old stand-by for a panfish hook is the #8 Aberdeen.

Reason #2 Your line is too big.
If you are in search of catfish, northern or muskies, then there is no such thing as too big of line, however if you are after bass or panfish you need to pay attention. Panfish only require 6# test line, maybe 8# max if you are around a lot of snags. Most bass angling can be done with 10# test line, or if you are throwing jigs or Texas-rigged plastics, 15# test would be about the maximum amount. The smaller the line diameter the more bites you will detect, and the better cast you will be able to make. If you prefer spincast or spinning reels, the smaller line will also help you to keep the “coiling” out of the line a little better. Less coils, means getting more bites. There are exceptions to this rule, such as fishing near weeds or using hollow-body frogs, then the “no line is too big rule applies”.

Reason #3 Your hooks are dull.
Hooks, even if you haven’t caught many fish will get dull over time. Anglers need to check the sharpness of their hook often, you would be amazed at how many anglers have never sharpened their hooks before…not even once. They come sharp in the first place for a reason and should stay that way. When you get snagged, after you catch a fish and before you cast your bait for the first time of the day, you should check your hooks. A simple way to do this is to rub the hook against your thumbprint. If the hook sticks easily, then it is sharp, if it glides along your skin, it is time to sharpen it with a file or tie on a new hook.

Reason #4 You’re using the wrong rod.
A few months ago I tackled this common problem of anglers in this very magazine.   Each and every rod on the market has a specific action and rod tip.  When fishing for panfish, a medium, medium/light, or light action rod is what you need to get the job the done.  These rods will give you ample power to set the hook and then battle the panfish to the end, allowing your rod to take the impact of the runs the fish may take.  If bass are what you are after then medium to heavy power rods is what you will want to maximize your efficiency.  Medium action rods would be for topwater, crankbaits and spinnerbaits, while the heavier action rods, the ones with the most backbone are built for jigs and Texas-rigged baits.  When selecting a rod, choose a company that makes various models like Quantum.  Companies that use high quality products to assemble their rods will be your best choice and give you the most options to match the type of fishing you want to do.

Reason #5 It’s the wrong time of day.
This one is not set in stone, as fish can be caught every minute of the day. However, maximizing the times of the day during the correct season will maximize your catches. Spring and late fall are the time periods where you will want to concentrate your time on the water during the middle of the day. This is when the water will be at its warmest and the fish activity should be at its fullest. During the hot summer months, you will want to see the sunrise and watch the sunset to bring in your fair share of fish.

Reason #6 Location, location, location.
Yes, your neighborhood is key when buying and selling a house…as well as finding fish too. Another old saying is; “90% of fish live in 10% of the water you fish”. This can be true, so selecting key areas to fish will no doubt up your catches. Study lake/river maps, think about seasonal patterns of the species of fish you are after and try those areas with a variety of baits.

Reason #7 You aren’t “seeing” the bite.
Most anglers will always refer to feeling a bite when fishing with jigs for walleyes, panfish and bass. However, there are many days that I have fished and only “felt” a bite a few times while jigging, and caught dozens of fish “seeing” them bite. Often times the fish are biting so lightly, that you must “see” the bite, because on tough days like this you won’t actually feel it while jigging. When jigging a bait you must be in direct contact with the jig to feel any bite, and with so many variables (wind, lure size, bottom content, and boat movement) you may not be feeling those bites. If you become a line-watcher you will catch more fish while using the popular jigging technique for fish.

Reason #8 Seasons matter.
Spring, Summer, Fall, they each have their own way of telling fish what to eat and where to be in the ecosystem. All fish must eat year-round, however some seasons allow you to catch more of some species than others. Walleyes for example take off in the early spring and come alive once again in the fall. Those are the best times to focus on walleyes. Bass love the months of May and June, as well as bluegills. Catfish aren’t real fussy, but warm water gets them feeding up in the river systems around the state. Crappies love the month of May as well, but finding them in deeper sections of rivers and lakes isn’t too difficult in the hot summer months either. Again, any species can be caught in all 12 months, but some do have key fishing times throughout the year.

Reason #9 You’re too stubborn.
I fall into this category once in awhile. I get in my head that I should be able to catch fish using a particular bait…and I stick with it far too long. Stubbornness is not good when you are out looking for fish. There are literally 1000’s of baits/lures to use when fishing and too often anglers just stick to what they think is best, or what worked the last time they went fishing. Think outside the box and try different things, it might just become your next favorite bait to use…and you may find more fish.

Reason #10 Mother Nature.
There are times when Mother Nature throws us too many curve balls, and we simply can’t keep up. Clear blue skies, no wind, high pressure, all of these are signs of Mother Nature telling us we don’t need to catch any fish. Tough weather conditions like those mentioned can put the fish on vacation for the day. Some days no matter what rod, bait, location, lake, river, time of day or season you are in, it simply doesn’t matter, Mother Nature wins. She may hold us back for a day or so, but not for long, get back out there and give it another try. The weather conditions will change and the fish will be all ours once again.
Much more information can be found at www.fishingwithtoddreed.com