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Making the most of your
by Peter Mueller Once you decide on the area to fish, start compiling information. This can be done from related books (not just fishing books), articles (ie. Fisherman, On the Water), and speaking with other fisherman first hand. The first two are easy, find the subject matter and read. The second is a little more difficult, but with some planning, you will be surprised who may be willing to speak to you about an area. You may find folks more approachable in the off season. Fishing shows can be a place to see presentations and speak to guides from the area. These guides may be willing to share information with you "if you are customer". Booking a trip will not only increase the odds in your favor, but more information on where to go the rest of the week will be helpful. Specific lures or colors of lures may work that would seem odd to use on your home turf. An example of this is the "white deceiver" used on Martha's Vineyard on any night, and any moon. Compile your information and do not be afraid to take notes. Go to the area in the off season and check things out. Compare what the author's have written to what you see on the water. Use at least two types of maps: marine charts and local road maps. The charts can help you understand why an area may fish well on a certain tide or a particular wind pattern. It will give you specific water depths, tidal height and time differences, structure, safety hazards, and navigation information. Street maps are a necessity . Writing down access points, fishy spots, notes, and documenting changes that may have occurred over the years. I'll take notes while reading articles and put them right on the chart/map. After a period of time your map with notes will get everyone's attention. Like a bible. Don't be afraid to speak to tackle shops. This may sound silly but for years the shops on the Cape had a reputation of not giving any information out at all. These shops have an interest in you catching fish, its that simple. Some shops have a specialty letting customers know the "spots". Other's will tell where you should be fishing and why, even if they have not been there to fish recently. An example of this would be catching the Cape after a northeast wind in the spring, one shop referred me to fishing the flats of an upper bay area where I might find warmer water. This theory held true. Although there may be a temptation to stay at a rental on the water, you may do better renting a house that is a little more inland. This will enable you to fish a number of area's from a more central location. The vineyard is a perfect example of this. Staying on one side of the island can really cut into your fishing time. If you have boats or kayaks, access to an outside water spicket is a necessity for washing down reels, yaks or flushing moters. Develop a network of local friends that are fishing that area. Travel with a number of fisherman that you can compare the days catch. This can also help with lowering the weeks expenses. If your traveling with your family, research things for the wife and kids also. A great day with the kids is worth a night on the beach . If a really bad wind comes in, blow fishing off and spend more time with your family. (did I say that???) Utilizing all these tools can help maximize your experience to a fishing destination.
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