Removing the curse of the rookie fisherman

If you're new to fishing for northern pike and walleye, then take a close look at the image to the right. Visualize every detail. Sear it into your memory so vividly that you can think of nothing else when you come fishing next summer.
Then when you do get to camp and are shown which boat is yours for the week, face the sun, place your hand over your heart and take the following oath:
"I (insert your name here) solemnly swear, that no matter how easy it seems to be, even if it 'feels right,' even if I'm tired or frustrated by the wind, even if my partner encourages me to do so or I see other people doing it, I will never, NEVER, use the anchor!"
Then, while your buddy films the whole episode for YouTube, untie the rope, pick up the anchor and with a bowed head take the device to the altar of the fish gods, otherwise known as the fish cleaning shack and leave it there for the remainder of the week.
Congratulations! You just removed the curse of the rookie fisherman -- anchoring to fish.
Your chances to catch lots of fish just improved by the boatload.
"But," you say, perplexed, "how am I going to stay in one spot?"
That's just it. YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY IN ONE SPOT!
You are a rookie; you don't know where "the spot" is. And the lake is full of "spots" that are not good. Your chances of hitting "the spot" with the anchor is like winning a mega lottery, twice, in the same day. Furthermore, the "spot" on big lakes, like Red Lake, keeps moving. It might be in the back of the west-facing cove during a west wind, and then moves to the east-facing cove with an east wind. It might be just off the weedline in the morning and then just off the point in the afternoon.
Anchoring every time you want to fish is like riding a hobbled horse: you're sitting on the back of the horse alright, but you aren't getting anywhere.
You need to find the fish, and they keep moving; so, you need to keep moving too.
Fortunately, this just happens naturally when you are in an untethered boat. The wind, or the outboard or even the waves, keep moving you along. GOOD! You're exploring new waters, discovering new places and encountering new fish.
"But what about Old Joe?" you ask. "He has been fishing here all his life and I see him using an anchor sometimes."
Again, you've hit the nail right on the head, with the anchor! Old Joe is an expert. It took him years to learn how and when to anchor.
Just wait; your time will come.
Fishing is all about patience.
Click to go back to our website
Click to see the latest on the blog