The Secret of my Success

By: Will Whitehead – aka "The Fishin' Gypsy"

I am often asked… "What is the number one secret to your fishing success?" I can sum-up the answer to that question with one word… "PREPARATION!" It is important to know "which" lures to fish, "when" to fish them and "where" to fish them. But… If you are "prepared" for the results of those actions, your chances for success in landing that BIG fish are much better.

Ever hear the old saying "If things can go wrong… they WILL"? Nothing could ever be MORE applicable than this "law", when it is applied to fishing. There are dozens of "things" that can go wrong, from the moment you leave home, until you slip the net under that "once in a lifetime" trophy fish. The more "things" you can eliminate, by preparation, the better off you will be, and the better the odds of landing that trophy fish.

Your Vehicle

Let's start with our tow vehicle. Changed the oil lately? Are the tires properly inflated and in good condition, with plenty of tread? Are the brakes, exhaust system and shocks in good working order and condition? Is the gas tank full? Have you replaced the battery in this lifetime? Is the hitch and trailer wiring in good condition and working order? Nothing can ruin a fishing trip like having vehicle trouble on the road. And the further away from home you are, the worse, and more expensive, that trouble can become. Preventive maintenance is the dearest form of "Preparation".

Your Trailer

Next, is your boats' trailer. The same "law" applies here too, as preventive maintenance is the cornerstone of trouble free fishing. When was the last time you replaced, repacked or even lubed the bearings? Are the tires properly inflated and in good serviceable condition? Have you EVER had them balanced? Are all of the nuts and bolts in place and securely tightened? Are the springs in good condition? Are the hitch coupler, safety chains, winch, winch strap and boat safety chain in place, in good condition and being used? Are the lights, turn signals and brake lights working? Are they working properly? Are the tie-down straps in place and tight? I am AMAZED at the number of supposedly "smart" anglers who tow their boat all over the country with the tie-down straps not being used. This is NOT a GOOD thing! Even if you are towing your boat in your local home area, the damage that can result from the boat bouncing around on the trailer, can be severe.

I am sure the roads in your area aren't any better than the ones I drive on. An EXCELLENT tip for boat tower's, is to carry your spare tire on a spare spindle, with bearings and races included. In the event of a flat tire, you can quickly replace the whole unit. If you burn out a bearing, you'll have a spare. Either way, you're a winner. Carry a "boat trailer" jack and grease gun too. And make SURE you carry a lug wrench that will FIT your trailers' lug nuts or spindle nut properly. Last, but surely not least, keep your trailer well painted and rust free.

Your Boat

Regularly inspect the hull for stress cracks and loose rivets, screws and bolts. Pay particular attention to the transom and the boltholes on the motor mountings. Repair or replace broken hinges or latches on compartment covers. Check and lube the steering arm on the motor. Check and adjust throttle and shift cables. Check lower unit oil frequently, and replace semi-annually. Keep battery terminals clean and coat them with some sort of anti-corrosion paste. Keeping batteries covered is even better. Make sure they are properly and fully charged. Make sure you have ALL of the necessary and REQUIRED safety gear aboard, and that it is in serviceable condition. Keep your decks clean and uncluttered. I fished a tournament once, with one of the "Top" pros and "Classic" winners. It was like fishing from a floating pigsty! You don't have to be rich to be neat! Make certain all of the livewell and bilge pump fittings are secure. I've seen boats sink for cracked or disconnected hoses. Make sure your bilge pump(s) is working properly, and if you don't have a bilge pump…… GET ONE!

It's always a good idea to carry at LEAST the basic tools and spare parts. Pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, needle-nose pliers, spare fuses and bulbs, spare prop with thrust washer and prop nut, spare trolling motor prop and nut, duck tape, electrical tape, wire ties and some electrical wire are all important items. Make up a small tool kit and keep it in a dry compartment. An extra DRAIN PLUG is ALWAYS a good idea too.

Keep your boats' gas tank FULL. This will help to keep condensation to a minimum. Also, if you put your boat away for the winter, fill the gas tank and ad a fuel stabilizer to the tank. Speaking of which, if you put your boat in storage for the winter, make sure a competent mechanic winterizes your rig, if you don't know how to do it PROPERLY. And keep the hull clean and well waxed. You will be surprised what that will do for performance and ease of cleaning.

Your Tackle

Your truck may not start, or it might break down on the way to the lake. The outboard may not crank, or start, or might break down too. BUT… if you can GET to the lake, you can't fish without tackle. And poorly maintained tackle is just slightly WORSE than NO tackle at all. Purchase the BEST tackle that you can AFFORD. You don't have to spend more money than you have, to enjoy fishing.

RODS: Keep your fishing rods in top condition. Clean your rods with mild soap and water, then rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. Clean cork handles with Johnson's Baby Shampoo and a soft toothbrush, or sand lightly with very fine sandpaper. Clean foam and rubber grips with mild soap and water.

Check the guides by pulling a piece of nylon pantyhose through them. This will snag on any cracked guide rings, burrs or other guide problems. Check the outer guide ring, guide braces and guide feet and wrappings. Replace any damaged guides or tip tops.

NEVER…. EVER….. Lean your rods against the wall or in a corner, or leave tension on them, when they are not in use. Build or purchase a rod "rack" and store your rods properly. If they are stored in a bent or bowed position, they can retain that "set" and ruin an otherwise good rod.

REELS: Regardless of the type of reel you prefer, be it "Spinning", "Baitcasting" or "Spin Casting", keeping your reels clean and in good working order is VERY important to your fishing success. A reel is MUCH MORE than just a place to store the line. It is the tool, in combination with the rod and line, with which you will subdue your trophy catch.

A GOOD drag system is ultra-important, and the better, more expensive reels will tend to have better drag systems. I personally feel that a good drag system is more important than how many "bearings" a reel has. NEVER… EVER… store your reels with the drag tightened down. When I remove the rods from my boat, to place them in the vehicle or in the garage rod rack, I back the drags of COMPLETELY. This will keep the drag from "freezing" or developing a "set". You can easily re-adjust the drag on your next outing, and your drags will give you years of trouble free service, and NOT fail you when they are most needed with a BIG trophy fish.

During the winter months, when getting out on the water is difficult in my part of the country, I will spend countless hours working with and cleaning ALL of my tackle. Most of this task is easy and relatively "idiot proof", but taking apart, cleaning and reassembling reels, on the other hand, is a little more complicated. If you don't know how to do this job properly, take or send your reels to someone who does.

LINE: It NEVER ceases to amaze me, how many anglers will purchase very good rods and reels, and then try to save a couple of bucks by purchasing cheap monofilament line. OR… they will leave the same line on a reel for 12 years, and then wonder why a big fish breaks off, or why they have so many backlashes or birds' nests. I use ONLY top quality "Super Silver Thread" or "Silver Thread Excalibur" line by PRADCO. AND… I change the line on my reels OFTEN. About every two weeks, regardless of how many, or how few, times I have gone fishing with that line. The line is the most important, and weakest, link between you and the fish you are catching. Buy line in "bulk" spools to save money, and NEVER store your line where it is exposed to direct sunlight or heat. Choose a line that will give you limpness, strength to diameter, knot strength, sensitivity and abrasion resistance.

KNOTS: Learn to tie proper knots in monofilament line. The knot is the weakest link in your line, and an improper knot will weaken the lines' strength substantially. Tie an improper knot, in say 12# Test line, and it will break, in the knot, at 4# or 6# test. The most versatile knot I use is the Palomar Knot. There are a variety of knots that will give 100% "knot strength" when tied properly. Like the Palomar Knot, some are used for general purpose. But, there are a few "Special Purpose" knots, like the "No Name" knot, and others, that you should learn to tie properly, and when to use them.

HOOKS: Hooks, whether they are on a lure, in a jig, or tied directly onto the line, are one of the MOST important items of tackle you will own. Purchase and use ONLY top quality, "Premium" hooks. I use Mustad hooks, in one shape, style, size and finish or another, almost exclusively. AND… Keep your hooks SHARP! Most are sharp enough, right out of the package, but with a little use, and a fish or two, it may become dull. Purchase a "Mill Bastard" file and learn how to use it, to properly sharpen your hooks. Replace worn, rusted, bent or damaged hooks on lures with new ones of top quality. If a hook point will not stick into your thumbnail, without sliding along, it isn't sharp enough.

My "Top Twenty" Tips for Fishing Success

1. Purchase the BEST tackle that you can afford. Don't try to fish every lure with one rod. You can play a round of golf with one club, but not very effectively. Crankbaits, Jigs, Top Water, Worms, etc., all have rods designed for THAT specific purpose. Use them!
2. Keep you tackle clean, organized and in top working condition.
3. Use ONLY top quality, "Premium" line. I use "Super Silver Thread" and "Silver Thread Excalibur", almost exclusively. The only exception is braided Dacron line, which I use for Musky, Peacock Bass, Catfish and some saltwater applications. They are WELL worth the investment.
4. Learn to tie the proper knots, for the job, with monofilament line. And re-tie your lure or hook often while fishing.
5. Change the line on your reels often.
6. Use ONLY top quality, "Premium" hooks, like Mustad or Excalibur.
7. Learn to sharpen hooks correctly, and KEEP them sharp.
8. Wear Polarized glasses while fishing… ALWAYS! Gray lenses on bright days and amber lenses on overcast and dark days.
9. While fishing, pay close attention to your surroundings and what is happening within those surroundings.
10. Wear light or neutral colored clothing while fishing.
11. Purchase and learn to use GOOD electronics, such as a Depth Finder.
12. Learn to read and understand topo maps of the waters you fish.
13. Keep a fishing log.
14. Take NOTHING that you see on TV or read in magazines as gospel. Learn what you can from them, and discard the rest. Remember… They ALL have something to sell you.
15. Don't waste you money on "Miracle Lures". Never been one! Never will be!
16. Choose a few GOOD lures and learn to fish them properly and effectively. Build good selections of size and colors.
17. Be versatile. If things aren't going the way you planned… change! Try different lures, different presentations, different lure colors, or different areas.
18. SLOW DOWN… BIG fish are a LOT like ME… old, fat and lazy!
19. Maintain confidence! Even the VERY BEST anglers have days when things don't go right, and even THEY don't catch fish. Just remember… even a BAD day fishing beats ANY day at work!
20. Confidence is a GOOD thing… but DON'T let it go to your head. NEVER adopt the idea that you "know everything"… You DON'T… I DON'T… NOBODY does… and NOBODY ever will. Keep an open mind at all times. I don't care WHO you are; you can always learn SOMETHING.

You can also hone your casting skills, pay close attention to water clarity and temperature, and treat EVERY strike as if it were that "fish of a lifetime". It could be!

This is a "quick" summary of my thoughts on "Preparation". I truly believe that this is one of the MOST important aspects of becoming a consistent and successful angler. If there are 10 things that could "go wrong" once you have hooked that fish of a lifetime, and you eliminated 8 (or preferably all 10) of those things before hand, your odds of landing that trophy are greatly increased. Like my Boy Scout master used to say… "Be prepared!"

And, while I am on the subject of "prepared"… ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET when boating or fishing. Especially while running the gas engine on your boat or wading. With the new, light, comfortable and approved inflatable vests on the market today, you have NO EXCUSE for NOT wearing one. Pay close attention to the weather, and head for the dock or other cover, at the FIRST sign of a storm.

Until next time… Safe boating, good fishing, keep your net wet and …………..

Tight Lines,

Will Whitehead
"The Fishin' Gypsy"