What are some of your.....

[Geezer77]

Fish don't have hands, set the hook.

[everettvet]

The two most important things that I learned in 2010 were

1. ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET WHEN THE GAS MOTOR IS RUNNING!!

2. Always make sure the driver of the boat has the kill switch attached.

I am pretty sure that number 2 either saved my life or saved me from serious injury this past summer. By the way, I did have a life jacket on at the time.

Other things that I learned in 2010:
A rod tip will break as you are trying get a lure unhung from rip rap

If I slow down, I will catch more fish with a carolina rig

People in pleasure boats will cut between you and the bank even if you are only 50 feet from the bank

You can share a spot with another boat in a tournament if the ego's of everyone involved is left at the dock and it is discussed prior to the start of the event

Don't forget the bump board, even if you think the other guy will have one. Measuring fish off of a plano box and saying "I think it will keep" is not good in a tournament

[tim4081]

What I learned in 2010....
1. Braid can indeed cut deeply
2. Northern pike have a lot of sharp teeth even when they're flopping around in the boat...the scar on my shin is proof of this
3. Backlashes caused when your back cast catches your fishing partner's clothes can not be picked out
4. Jet skiers in no wake zones are absolute idiots who can not read signs
5. The chances of losing a new crank bait on the first day of use go up proportionately to its costs

[HarveysMinnow]

What a fine collection of entertaining observations! Here's a couple more...better late than never I guess.


If you are bank fishing in a small lake or river, the guy on the opposite bank will usually be catching more than you are.

The more perfect you try to be regarding licenses, permits, and safety equipment, the harder the game warden is going to look for violations.

/

[BigBurlyBass]

ALWAYS make shure your drag is tight enough, cause your gonna miss that HAWG

Don't let your expensive lures sink to the bottom, and then have to have you uncle come and take the paddle boat out, When it PITCH BLACK outside and go and get your lure back.

Never stand on a bank trying to get a backlash out, without making making shure that there are no dogs around

Never set the hook on a topwater fish until you feel the wait of the fish.

ALWAYS bring a stringer WHENEVER YOU FISHING no matter for how little of time you go.


If you go fishing in a boat YOUR BOAT WILL GET CLUTTERED AND MESSY
Always have someone help you bring your rods up from the basement. (or they just might fall down the stairs )

[coachpurdy]

Lures are like sunglasses, the more you spend on them the faster you lose them.

[Old Hooker]

Biggest lesson I learned last year? Buy a map of the lake and look to see if there is a big underwater island two feet under the surface in the middle of the lake BEFORE you take off WOT. I only knocked a small dent in the front of the skeg, but chewed he!! out of the prop. Oh well, I wanted a new stainless prop anyway.

[di$TOrTed]

Living 10 minutes from BPS and 6 minutes from a Gander Mtn. AND a local tackle shop is terrible. I spent so much more money than I can really afford on fishing equipment.

Not having a boat sucks

It's a good feeling when you are on the bank and catching more/bigger fish than the guy in the kayak on the pond

I feel awful when gut-hooking a fish

I don't have the patience for cold-weather fishing

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by keithdog

What are some of the things you would consider to be among the MOST important fishing lessons you learned in 2010?

Get a boat. Fishing from a canoe just doesn't work well. - resolution resolved as of a week ago, got a 14ft alum. jon boat (1436).

Originally Posted by di$TOrTed

I don't have the patience for cold-weather fishing

I do, we went camping 2 weekends ago and I had a line in the water for almost 2 full days, only caught one 9" redear/bluegill.