Why Is It That.....

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Why is it that so often when I'm concentrating real hard, paying complete attention to everything I'm doing while fishing that the bites come so infrequently, BUT, when I start to casually drift off in my thoughts and start day dreaming WHAMMO! There's the strike!

Anyone else experience this? It happens more often than not to me. And then on the contrary, when I try to reproduce the day dreaming fishing action nothing happens of course.

Oh well, I still catch fish even when I concentrate but I just noticed this happens a lot.

What are your thoughts?

[flyfisher]

Probably because when you are day dreaming your fishing slows down without you realizing it.  I always take those situations as a note to slow down whatever presentation i am doing.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

You know what, that makes a lot of sense. Note taken! Thank you

[Shewillbemine]

A watched pot (or lure) never boils. 

 

I know exactly what you mean--it is usually what happens to me as well.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Right, so I've been trying to somehow balance not watching the pot (bait) yet be ready for the cues that the fish has taken the bait.

It's a tough balance I'll tell you. Meanwhile my buddy is at the front of the boat slammin slobs which makes it even harder to figure out cause now you KNOW there are fish there.

[jbsoonerfan]

I hate to admit this, but I fished a touney last year and I spent way to much time in the Casino the night before and didn't make it to the lodge till about 3:00 am. I was so hungover the next morning I was throwing up over the side of the boat. I didn't even fish the first hour because I couldn't even see. Conditions were TERRIBLE. Wind was blowing 20 - 30mph and it was raining. I finally was able to cast a lure about 7:30. I would thow it out and just sit there and hold my rod. I was throwing a Jumbo Chigger Craw on a T-rig. I would actually fall asleep and let it sit there and not move it. I caught 4 fish that morning and they were all during my drunken stooper. My buddy fished his butt off all day and he blanked. I am not proud of my showing that morning, but I think I did learn that it is sometimes best to slow down.

[Lunker7]

IMO, when you daydream, time seems to pass a lot quicker (5 minutes could feel like 1 minute) so even though you may feel like you're catching a lot of fish in a short amount if time, you're probably catching the same amount of fish as if you were concentrating, it just feels like a short amount of time. (Sort of like the phrase, "time flies when you're having fun") Just my opinion.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Jbsoonerfan, that's just an awesome story!

[wademaster1]

Happens to me all the time, answer a call, daydream, look off in the woods, bam! Bite every time. I personally don't think you can fish too slow, but too fast? Yes

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

That's funny, that reminds me of when my wife called me when I was on my kayak and I set the hook right then. I was basically holding the phone with one hand, holding the rod with the other and trying to reel the fish with my leg while holding a conversation. Totally awkward!

[*Hootie]

 (Sort of like the phrase, "time flies when you're having fun") Just my opinion.

 

or as Kermit the frog says, "time is fun when you're having flies".

 

Hootie

[RyneB]

I hate to admit this, but I fished a touney last year and I spent way to much time in the Casino the night before and didn't make it to the lodge till about 3:00 am. I was so hungover the next morning I was throwing up over the side of the boat. I didn't even fish the first hour because I couldn't even see. Conditions were TERRIBLE. Wind was blowing 20 - 30mph and it was raining. I finally was able to cast a lure about 7:30. I would thow it out and just sit there and hold my rod. I was throwing a Jumbo Chigger Craw on a T-rig. I would actually fall asleep and let it sit there and not move it. I caught 4 fish that morning and they were all during my drunken stooper. My buddy fished his butt off all day and he blanked. I am not proud of my showing that morning, but I think I did learn that it is sometimes best to slow down.

 

Fishing with a brutal hangover is really hard. Especially when its really hot out and they arent biting and waves from other boats keep you a rockin. Not to mention you have stuff coming out of both ends. Not fun at all

[flyfisher]

That's funny, that reminds me of when my wife called me when I was on my kayak and I set the hook right then. I was basically holding the phone with one hand, holding the rod with the other and trying to reel the fish with my leg while holding a conversation. Totally awkward!

That's the exact reason i went to using my iPhone for music and then can answer and talk hands free if needed

[Nitrofreak]

It's tough mentally to hold your concentration for long periods of time, thats what causes us to daydream or loose focus on what we are trying to get accomplished, just like if you are pitching to a target, your focused in on hitting your mark, once you hit that mark, you have a tendency to relax and start focusing on other tasks, even the simple task of switching hands, or clicking the spool lever by turning the crank handle, those simple things are done by second nature and becomes so natural that we don't even think about it at all, it just gets done automatically, so slowing down or holding your concentration is something you have to condition your mind for just like the simple tasks we take for granted, the longer you can hold your concentration, the more conditioned your mind becomes to performing that task.

 

Most everything we do in life only takes seconds to perform, our minds become conditioned to short periods of time, if you want to hold your concentration on longer periods of time you have to train your mind to do so, try staring at a glass of water and time yourself as to how long you can hold your attention to that glass of water without thinking of something else, it's the same as if you were watching your line, then try putting a lure in that same glass of water, see how long you can focus on the lure in that glass of water, you will find that you can hold your thoughts a little longer even though it may only be for a few seconds longer, your mind is expecting a reaction from the object and will hold it's thought process until it knows there are no more tasks to be performed, in short it's learning something new.

 

Slowing down is something you have to condition yourself to do, it's not a repetitive act we perform on a daily basis. 

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Reply to nitrofreak.

Yeah I've noticed that those times when my concentration is razor sharp that you get mentally fatigued after awhile. You're right. It is difficult to maintain focus and willfully slow down.

[Nitrofreak]

During those times when it becomes tough to focus, I find that taking a short break, such as sitting down, taking a deep breath or two and grabbing a quick snack, like a piece of jerky or a cracker seems to help a lot, when you are new to trying to mentally perform a task as slowing down it's mentally tough and exhausting for the ol' gray matter, it wants to do what it's been conditioned to do, the one thing that will help the most is sleep, get plenty of rest prior to the night before your trip, we all know how excited we get before the big day of fishing, the more relaxed you are the less stress you have on yourself and your mind, rest is key to being and staying razor sharp when it counts the most. 

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

That's good advice nitro. Yeah I definitely get way excited, so much so that I completely forgot my paddle for my kayak back at the house once. Can't get far without that!

[strikequeentiff]

Do you remember the quote from CaddyShack...

 

"I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball." - Ty Webb

 

BE THE FISH!!!!!!! If you were a fish, what would you bite?????? 

 

It doesn't mean put a piece of steak on the bait either... However, if you put a piece of steak on the bait, I'd SO bite! You know that's true! 

[iceman11]

My personal favorite is whenever I go "okay last cast" reel it in and nothing. Then throw it one more time and bam! Hit! I have had that happen like 10 or so times. 

[islandbass]

You are not alone! I am in the same boat.  Sometimes though, that focused in the zone mode (which costs a lot of mental energy) can pay off.

 

I remember one time taking some seniors trout fishing, I tossed my rig out, put my rod in a holder and noted the position of my line as I had my attention now turned on juggling, undoing tangled lines and rebaiting their hooks with power bait.

 

After I got done getting everyone rebaited and untangled, I noticed my line was in a completely different position and there was no wind so I knew it had to be a fishing on.  Inattention, nonetheless had paid off.  I know that if were sitting there paying attention to my line with a hawk's eye, nothing would have happened on the other end of the line, lol.

[jhoffman]

You are not alone! I am in the same boat.  Sometimes though, that focused in the zone mode (which costs a lot of mental energy) can pay off.

 

I remember one time taking some seniors trout fishing, I tossed my rig out, put my rod in a holder and noted the position of my line as I had my attention now turned on juggling, undoing tangled lines and rebaiting their hooks with power bait.

 

After I got done getting everyone rebaited and untangled, I noticed my line was in a completely different position and there was no wind so I knew it had to be a fishing on.  Inattention, nonetheless had paid off.  I know that if were sitting there paying attention to my line with a hawk's eye, nothing would have happened on the other end of the line, lol.

 

 

I have a similar story, only mine involved a brand new rod and reel. I had the reciept in my pocket, turned around to help a girl I was dating and that rod took off like a rocket ship. I was JACKED but at the same time had to laugh. I shouldve framed that reciept. I litterally owned that entire rod setup for a half an hour.

[Darren.]

That's funny, that reminds me of when my wife called me when I was on my kayak and I set the hook right then. I was basically holding the phone with one hand, holding the rod with the other and trying to reel the fish with my leg while holding a conversation. Totally awkward!

 

This has happened to me a few times. Wife calls, kids call, fish on. Bruise on leg where I slammed it into the reel to attempt to keep line tight.

 

Distractions take your mind off the task at hand and slow you down.

[roadwarrior]

My personal favorite is whenever I go "okay last cast" reel it in and nothing. Then throw it one more time and bam! Hit! I have had that happen like 10 or so times. 

 

Always speak up to announce "This is my last cast."  Then wait a minute or two and cast again...The fish think you're gone!

 

 

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Always speak up to announce "This is my last cast."  Then wait a minute or two and cast again...The fish think you're gone!

 

 

 

LOL! I think I might actually try this!

[naynayshimer]

all so true! i'm fine with it, as long as i dont miss the strike!! 

 

i think that fish have somewhat of a 6th sense, (7th if you count the lateral line), that allows them to do this. it's just one of those little things that make fishing so enjoyable!