Lessons You've Learned The Hard Way!

[BassmanDan]

Lesson One: Don't remove your lure while holding a big bass over the side of the boat.

 

Followed by Lesson Two: Never underestimate the strength of a big bass in your hand when she starts to head shake.

 

DOH!!

[fishva]

Always make sure your tackle box is latched before you pick it up.

 

I lifted an un-latched box once in my garage. I had bare feet, and it took a LONG time to get those all those treble hooks out of my foot.

[deadadrift89]

Never push on dead trees in lake!! I learned this the hard way a couple of winters ago by taking a cold swim.

[Stork]

When the bolts holding your seat in place start to rust out, change them. o.O

[TheBassinBarber]

The biggest lesson i have learned about fishing is to not be lazy. I lost many nice fish by being too lazy to retie, or too lazy to make sure my drag is set correctly resulting in break offs. It only takes a minute to retie and just a few seconds to adjust your drag. Lesson learned!

[Ratherbfishing]

Before you spend the day freezing your keester off in a cold rain because you forgot your rain parka, check under the boat deck.

[Scott F]

If you must take your i-phone with you when fishing, keep it in a plastic bag and store in somewhere other than your pocket.  I had to buy two new ones within a year after falling overboard with my phone in my pocket.  Yes, I learn from my mistakes.  I just need to make the same one more than once.

 

If you keep your phone in a plastic zip lock bag and fall overboard, you'll probably learn another lesson. A zip lock bag will not protect your phone very well. Another lesson learned the hard way. Get a REAL waterproof container for your iPhone,

[donk]

Don't trust the weatherman no matter what ! I don't care if they are calling for bluebird skies my raingear is always with me. I learned that lesson many years ago on an early spring fishing trip. Cold and rain makes for a miserable outing even if they are biting. Actually, if the winds blowing and the lake is rough, I will be suited up anyways do to the spray while running the lake. Now sometimes in the heat of the summer a good soaking is refreshing.

[Hooked_On_Bass]

Don't leave your cellphone (or worse, your wife's) on the top of your tackle bag/box while in the boat.

[livetofish28]

Make sure your trim fluid is topped off all the time so your trim doesn't quit at 50 mph

Tight lines

Andrew

[ClackerBuzz]

Never push on dead trees in lake!! I learned this the hard way a couple of winters ago by taking a cold swim.

and never step on decayed logs while hiking down a steep bank. you could quite possibly hear the crunch of the log ripping in half, the buzzing swarm of angry bees and the yelling of an angler getting stung over a dozen times ​ 

[FlipnLimits]

and never step on decayed logs while hiking down a steep bank. you could quite possibly hear the crunch of the log ripping in half, the buzzing swarm of angry bees and the yelling of an angler getting stung over a dozen times ​ 

ouch!   I stepped on a nest in the ground, ran like heck!!!

 

On a similar note.  It's been a while but I like some small ponds around my area where boat access isn't allowed so a hike is mandatory.  One such pond is in a field with tall grass around it and while walking and casting, I found a large Banana Spider staring me in the face at chest height.  Being not particularly scared of spiders I continued to fish in the tall grass pond.  Saw another spider then another, I look around and realize I'm in a field where they must make their colony a home.  One or two spiders, fine, but a field full?  I left the pond that day.  Haven't walked around a lake or pond in a couple years now but I'll only return to this one in Spring when the grass is short.  Incidentally, one can learn aplenty from walking the shore.

[Cast_And_Blast]

I found a large Banana Spider staring me in the face at chest height.

Let's just pause here. At that point I vacate that area immediately.

 

Being petrified by the little freaks, 

Fixed that for you!

 

 Saw another spider then another

At that point I'm out of there. I'm gone!

 

 realize I'm in a field where they must make their colony a home.

Can we get the gasoline and matches please?

 

 

 

[Swampstud]

Find a women that doesnt mind all of your hours on a lake, and doesnt get mad when boxes show up with gear.

First g/f of 4+ years got sick of my fishing and hunting. Was like pulling teeth tryin to get her to do something i liked doing. Bye bye she took off

Present g/f grew up with a dad that took off for days up to aweek long fishin trips and spent money like he had a million in the bank.

So she understands when gear shows up or i go buy stuff at wallyworld. This year she didnt complain at all even after finding out we have our 2nd child on the way. Even paid $200 on my layaway for an ice shanty n frabill ice suit. I am thankful to be blessed thats for sure.

[FATYAKKER]

Here is an oldie but a goood one, Im 27 now but when I was around 7 I was fishing with my dad at a small pond. Classic worm and bobber style. Well as any 7 year old does I lost interest and set the pole on the bank and wondered off playing with weeds,dirt, etc. The next time I looked over at that pole it was being dragged into the pond at a high rate of speed. I learned a valuable lesson that day and have never set my pole down again. We were able to get the pole back from hooking on to the line under the bobber but moby dick was looooong gone.

[FlipnLimits]

 

Let's just pause here. At that point I vacate that area immediately.

 

Fixed that for you!

 

At that point I'm out of there. I'm gone!

 

Can we get the gasoline and matches please?

 

 

 

 

Obviously you like spiders, lol. 

[daiwaguy]

Hard lesson #1 for me is asking an unexperienced fisherman to do anything. Sounds harsh but isnt meant to be. I took a friend fishing one time and hooked into a hawg. I got it to the boat and I know it was beigger than my current PB. It had to be right at or over 10#. When I yelled get the net he looked down, got excited and grabbed the line and pulled. Fish was gone. Needless to say I told him our day was over and headed towards the truck and started loading up gear. On my way back to the boat to grab the tackle bags he shut the tailgate and I heard something rattle. When I turned around I believe there were 5 tips from my rods dangling on the fishing line. Longest ride home over!