A guide to success in a place you’ve never fished before
One of the questions that I’m frequently asked is, “How do you approach a lake you’ve never been to before?”
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96C6 2C6 2 76H <6J E9:?8D E92E 96=A >6 >2<6 2? 65F42E65 564:D:@? @? 9@H E@ DE2CE] u:CDE[ x ?665 E@ <?@H H92E EJA6 @7 H2E6C 3@5J x’> 7:D9:?8] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 x H6C6 E6==:?8 2 7:D9:?8 7C:6?5 7C@> @FE @7 E@H? 23@FE {2<6 |2CE:?[ x H@F=5 7:CDE E6== 9:> E92E :E’D >@C6 =:<6 2 9:89=2?5 =2<6] w6 H@F=5 >@DE =:<6=J <?@H 7C@> E92E 56D4C:AE:@? E@ 6IA64E 566A[ 4=62C H2E6C[ 7:CDE 2?5 7@C6>@DE[ 2?5 :7 96 H2?E65 E@ 7:?5 H2E6C H:E9 D@>6 4@=@C[ 96 H@F=5 92G6 E@ >@G6 :?E@ E96 4C66<D @C FAC:G6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$:?46 >@DE 9:89=2?5 C6D6CG@:CD 2C6 :?96C6?E=J 566A 2?5 92G6 2 =@E @7 4=62C H2E6C[ E96J 2C6 A@AF=2C A=246D 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 3F:=5 9@>6D] (:E9 E9@D6 9@>6D 4@>6 3@2E 5@4<D E92E 2C6 8C62E 4@G6C 7@C 7:D9 :? 4=62C H2E6C 3642FD6 @7 E96 2>@F?E @7 D9256 E96J @776C] w:89=2?5 C6D6CG@:CD @7E6? 92G6 =6DD 4@G6C[ DF49 2D DF3>6C865 G686E2E:@?[ 2?5 =:<6 {2<6 |2CE:?[ E96J 2C6 @=5 6?@F89 E92E >@DE @7 E96 ?2EFC2= 4@G6C E92E H2D 2G2:=23=6 H96? E96 =2<6 H2D :>A@F?565 92D 3C@<6? 5@H?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|@DE @7 E96 “=2<6D” :? p=232>2 2C6 ?@E ?2EFC2= =2<6D[ 3FE >2?\>256 C6D6CG@:CD :?DE625] $@>6 @7 E96 @E96C 42E68@C:6D E92E x 42? E9:?< @7 BF:4<=J WE96D6 2C6 7:D9:?8 E6C>DX E92E 42? 5:DE:?8F:D9 2 7:D96CJ 2C6 C:G6CD[ 8C2DD =2<6D WDF3>6C865 G686E2E:@?X[ ?2EFC2= D@FE96C? =2<6D W4@>>@? :? u=@C:52X[ 9J5C@A@H6C C6D6CG@:CD WD4965F=65 C6=62D6DX[ E:52= H2E6CD 2?5 ?2EFC2= ?@CE96C? =2<6D W4@>>@? :? E96 }@CE962DEX] z?@H:?8 9@H 2 7:D96CJ :D 4=2DD:7:65 :? 7:D9:?8 E6C>D E6==D >6 BF:4<=J H92E x >:89E 6IA64E[ 2D H6== 2D D@>6 86?6C2= 32:ED 2?5 E649?:BF6D E92E 4@F=5 36 AC@>:D:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 @E96C <6J A2CE @7 E96 6BF2E:@? :D E96 D62D@?2= A2EE6C?] %9:D 42? 36 ?2CC@H65 5@H? :?E@ 2 76H 42E68@C:6D E92E[ 7@C >6[ :?4=F56 AC6\DA2H?[ DA2H?[ A@DE\DA2H?[ DF>>6C[ 72== 2?5 H:?E6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$AC:?8 :D 3C@<6? 5@H? 3J A92D6D @7 E96 DA2H?] %9:D :D E96 E:>6 @7 J62C H96? 7:D9:?8 42? 492?86 E96 >@DE :? 2 D9@CE 2>@F?E @7 E:>6[ D@ :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ <?@H @C AC65:4E H92E A92D6 E96 7:D9 H:== 36 :?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%9:D 42? 36 5:77:4F=E :7 J@F’G6 ?6G6C 366? E@ E96 7:D96CJ[ 3FE :E’D A@DD:3=6 E@ 92G6 2? :562[ 32D65 @? 2?J D@FC46D E92E AC@G:56 J@F H:E9 H2E6C E6>A6C2EFC6] r@FA=65 H:E9 6IE6?565 H62E96C 7@C642DED[ J@F 42? >2<6 2 AC65:4E:@? @7 H96E96C E96 7:D9 H:== 36 >@G:?8 :? E@ DA2H?[ 24E:G6=J DA2H?:?8 @C @? E96:C H2J @FE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 ?6IE 492C24E6C:DE:4 J@F’== H2?E E@ 4@?D:56C H96? 7:D9:?8 2 ?6H H2E6C 3@5J :D H92E EJA6D @7 4@G6C 2C6 2G2:=23=6] x7 :E’D 2 8C2DD =2<6[ :E 42? 6G6? 96=A E@ <?@H E96 EJA6D @7 G686E2E:@? E92E J@F 4@F=5 6?4@F?E6C] u@C 6I2>A=6[ {2<6 |2CE:? H@F=5 2AA62C E@ 92G6 G6CJ =:EE=6 4@G6C E@ 2 A6CD@? FD65 E@ @?=J 7:D9:?8 {2<6 vF?E6CDG:==6[ 3FE 2 D62D@?65 9:89=2?5 =2<6D 2?8=6C H@F=5 BF:4<=J ?@E:46 E96 ?F>36C @7 5@4<D[ C@4<D 2?5 DEF>AD 2?5 H@F=5 AC6DF>6 E92E E96C6 H@F=5 36 D@>6 >2?\>256 3CFD9 A:=6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp?@E96C <6J G2C:23=6 E@ 4@?D:56C :D E96 EJA6 @7 7@C286 E96 7:D9 92G6 E@ 62E] |@DE @7 @FC =2<6D :? p=232>2 2C6 5@>:?2E65 3J D925 DA64:6D[ 3C62> DA64:6D 2?5 4C2J7:D9] %9:D 42? 96=A :? 32:E D6=64E:@?[ 2D 2? 2?8=6C EC:6D E@ >2E49 H92E6G6C 7@C286 E96 7:D9 4@F=5 36 7665:?8 @?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(2E6C 4=2C:EJ 567:?:E6=J 27764ED 9@H x D6E FA E24<=6 7@C 2 ?6H =2<6] x? E96 H:?E6C 2?5 62C=J DAC:?8[ 6G6? 9:89=2?5 =2<6D 42? 86E 72:C=J 5:CEJ] %96 2G6C286 H2E6C 4=2C:EJ :? E96 p=232>2 #:G6C :D DE2:?65 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 r@@D2 #:G6C :>A@F?5>6?ED H96C6 :E’D D=:89E=J DE2:?65 2?5 {2<6 |2CE:? H96C6 :E’D 86?6C2==J 4=62C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmyFDE 23@FE 2?J @7 E96 7:D96C:6D :? @FC 2C62 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 86E DE2:?65 2?5 6G6? >F55J 2E 2?J 8:G6? E:>6 3FE 6DA64:2==J 5FC:?8 E96 H:?E6C 2?5 62C=J DAC:?8] w62GJ 7C@?E2= DJDE6>D 3C:?8 56=F86D H:E9 962GJ CF?@77 E92E 42? 5F>A D65:>6?E :?E@ 2 4C66< @C C:G6C 2?5 >F55J E9:?8D FA @G6C?:89E] q6:?8 23=6 E@ AC65:4E H2E6C 4@=@C 42? E6== >@C6 23@FE H92E 4@=@CD H:== 36 >@DE 67764E:G6 2?5 9@H 566A x >2J 92G6 E@ 7:D9]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmz?@H:?8 E96 4FCC6?E H2E6C =6G6= 2?5 H96E96C :E’D C:D:?8 @C 72==:?8 42? >2<6 2 5:776C6?46 :? E96 >@@5 @7 E96 7:D9] pD J@F >:89E 6IA64E[ E9:D :D >@C6 4C:E:42= E96 D92==@H6C E96 7:D9 >2J 36]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96C6 2C6 FDF2==J 2 76H 7:D9:?8 C6A@CED 2?5 G:56@D E92E 42? AC@G:56 96=A7F= :?D:89E] q2D:4 C6A@CED 42? 36 96=A7F= :7 E96J AC@G:56 H2E6C E6>A6C2EFC6[ H2E6C 4=2C:EJ 2?5 H2E6C =6G6=] ~E96C C6A@CED >2J 36 >@C6 DA64:7:4[ E6==:?8 2? 2?8=6C 9@H 566A E96 7:D9 92G6 366?j H92E EJA6D @7 4@G6Cj H92E EJA6D @7 32:ED[ 6E4]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 ?6IE DE6A :? 5@:?8 9@>6H@C< :D >2A DEF5J] x? >2A DEF5J[ x’> 8@:?8 E@ :?4=F56 D2E6==:E6 :>286CJ 3642FD6 :E’D 2D >F49 @C >@C6 :>A@CE2?E H96? 7:D9:?8 D92==@H H2E6C] w@A67F==J[ 3J E96 E:>6 J@F D:E 5@H? E@ DEF5J 2 A2A6C >2A @C E96 >2AD @? J@FC 6=64EC@?:4D[ J@F’== 92G6 2 8@@5 :562 @7 H92E EJA6 @7 7:D96CJ :E :D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$62D@?2= A2EE6C?D H:== 92G6 E96 >@DE :?7=F6?46 @? 9@H 566A E96 7:D9 H:== 36] {@@< 7@C D>2== 2C62D E92E 92G6 2 G2C:6EJ @7 566A 2?5 D92==@H H2E6C] %9:D 42? 2==@H J@F E@ 4964< 2C62D BF:4<=J H96? J@F DE2CE 7:D9:?8 2?5 :56?E:7J 2 >@C6 AC@5F4E:G6 56AE9 C2?86 E@ E2C86E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx =:<6 E@ D6E FA 2 762EFC6 @? >J v2C>:? F?:ED 42==65 56AE9 D925:?8] (:E9 5:776C6?E 56AE9 C2?86D 9:89=:89E65 :? 5:776C6?E 4@=@CD[ x 42? BF:4<=J =@@< 24C@DD >J >2A @7 E96 =2<6 2?5 7:?5 2C62D E92E @776C 2 8@@5 G2C:6EJ @7 56AE9 492?86D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(:E9 D2E6==:E6 :>286CJ =:<6 v@@8=6 t2CE9[ :E’D A@DD:3=6 E@ A:4< @FE 492C24E6C:DE:4D =:<6 G686E2E:@?[ 86?6C2= H2E6C 4=2C:EJ :? 5:776C6?E 2C62D[ DA64:7:4 4@G6C @AE:@?D[ 6E4] (:E9 D2E6==:E6 :>286CJ[ :E’D A@DD:3=6 E@ A:4< @FE D6G6C2= 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 2C62D E@ ECJ @? E96 7:CDE 52J @7 J@FC EC:A] $@@?[ 2 A2EE6C? >2J F?7@=5[ 2?5 E9C@F89 >2A DEF5J 2?5 D2E6==:E6 :>286CJ[ 2 A2EE6C? 42? 36 F?4@G6C65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmx? 86?6C2=[ E96 >@C6 :?E6= J@F 42? 82E96C @? 2 ?6H 7:D96CJ[ E96 36EE6C] r@FA=6 E9:D H:E9 2?J A2DE 6IA6C:6?46D J@F’G6 925 H:E9 D:>:=2C EJA6D @7 7:D96C:6D 2E D:>:=2C E:>6D @7 E96 J62C] %96D6 42? 36 8C62E DE2CE:?8 A@:?ED 2?5 8:G6 J@F 4@?7:56?46 :? E96 A2EE6C?D J@F 6IA64E E@ AC6G2:=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu:?2==J[ 92G6 2 AC@46DD @7 6=:>:?2E:@? :? >:?5 E92E 42? 96=A J@F E6DE 2 G2C:6EJ @7 A2EE6C?D :? D9@CE @C56C] %96 >@C6 BF:4<=J J@F 42? :56?E:7J 2 56A6?523=6 A2EE6C?[ E96 >@C6 E:>6 J@F’== 92G6 E@ C67:?6 :E] %9:D :D 6DA64:2==J G2=F23=6 :7 J@F 2C6 AC6\7:D9:?8 7@C 2 E@FC?2>6?E H96C6 :E’D 2== 23@FE 677:4:6?4J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmk6>mvC68 ':?D@? :D 2 7F==\E:>6 AC@76DD:@?2= 2?8=6C @? E96 q2DD>2DE6C t=:E6 $6C:6D 2?5 !!p E@FCD] w6 =:G6D :? (6EF>A<2 2?5 8C6H FA 7:D9:?8 @? {2<6 |2CE:?]k^6>mk^DA2?mk^Am
