Everybody loves feeling that bend in the rod and hearing the drag scream and who doesn’t want to catch a true lunker for some bragging rights. Likewise, almost everyone has a story about the one that got away. True trophy-size fish are a special thing that for some lucky anglers are only a once-in-a-lifetime catch while others have successfully cracked the code and can catch bigger fish consistently. Public awareness and cooperation in catch-and-release fishing assure that large fish will be around for the next generation of fishermen. Here are a few tips I hope will land you the fish of your dreams.
Timing is everything. You need to keep track of water and weather conditions so that you’re sitting in the right spot at the right time. Scan through the In-fisherman annual big fish issue, the dates locations, and moon phases are all listed and should give you a good idea of when and where the lunkers bite throughout North America. Keep an eye on water temps and when fish spawn.
Whether it’s big browns in the fall, spring steelhead, winter gator pike on a tip-up, or full moon walleyes, there are certain times of the year when the coffee shops are empty and the old timers are out early, that’s when you want to go. I keep a calendar and write the days I fish, where and what was caught, as a journal, it’s been about 8 years now and many patterns have been established as to what bodies of water are hot at what time of year.
Start locally.
Whether there are big catfish off the local pier or a great fall salmon run in a nearby town, hone your skills in local waters and you’ll find that many different species can be caught using similar techniques.
If traveling, be flexible. If you’re traveling on a big fish hunt set a good 3-4 days aside for success. The first day or two may be exploratory or you may have bad weather, but by setting a good chunk of time aside, hopefully, you will be there when the bite is on and won’t be wasting all your money to fish in the rain all weekend. Likewise, if you are traveling any distance get fresh reports and have backup plans. The internet usually has some forums with local recent reports and bait shops should know what’s going on at the time. It helps to have a backup such as another lake nearby to fish in bad weather or line up a couple of free weekends that you can return if something catastrophic happens one weekend, so hopefully, you can go the next weekend.
Easy isn’t always better. Some of the best bites require the most work, after all, that’s what sets the men aside from the boys. Here in northeast Minnesota, we have the boundary waters canoe area wilderness. There are no motors allowed and it’s proven time and time again that the further into the wilderness you paddle, the better the fishing opportunities get. Get away from the crowds where there is less pressure and your odds of catching a trophy are greatly increased. With the proper gear and planning, you can go bushwhacking to get off the beaten path and explore some remote areas or stay out in rough weather and/or the big waves after everyone has left for the taverns.
“Be flexible and willing to fish in adverse conditions because sometime the best bites are before/during a storm.”
Likewise, late fall offers some of the best fishing around, the weather is usually freezing cold and many other outdoorsmen are busy hunting, so you can have the lakes to yourselves. On populated spots try to fish on weekdays or at night when the crowds are gone and you’ll usually get choice spots.
Do your homework. The internet makes the research a breeze.
Read up on where you’re fishing and study the lake maps. Make a few calls to local bait shops and resorts and ask how the fish are biting and what’s working. Talk up guys at the landing while they are leaving and find out what worked or didn’t work for them, some anglers will be tightlipped but I’m sure you find that a friendly smile and conversation can yield some valuable information. Pick a few choice locations you want to fish and work them. If you’re not finding what you’re looking for then start working on backup spots, remember to keep wind direction in mind. Big fish and small fish are not necessarily in the same spots. Different size fish means different size food sources. Big fish get big for a reason and can be wary; they usually need deep water nearby for safety.
If you really want to increase the learning curve hire a guide on the first day of your trip, some local knowledge will give you a big advantage for the correct baits, colors, and locations to fish. (This will eliminate a lot of guesswork and the following days your own will be more productive.)
Patience. After catching many eater size fish, I prefer to hunt big fish whenever possible. It’s tough because you usually use baits too large for little fish to chase and often go days waiting for that one big bite. When you finally get that bite there isn’t much room for mistakes so make sure you’re awake and sober enough to take care of business.
Big bait for big fish.
My grandpa always said it and every year when we went to Canada he would cast a giant daredevil for pike, he often went days without a bite and we harassed him about it as we’d reel in little walleyes but time and time again gramps would catch that one pike he’d been waiting for. It’s that kind of mentality that I hope has rubbed off on me. Now I try to catch my own minnows to get the big ones that never make the bait shops or will drive many miles for that secret bait if that’s what it takes.
Make sure your gear is 100%. Test all your gear out on home waters before traveling long distances. Recently there have been big advances in fishing technology which can up your odds markedly. Buy quality equipment capable of handling your prey. A quality flasher makes ice fishing exciting and advancements in portable houses allow better access to winter spots and assure a comfortable experience to allow you to fish longer when it really matters. Quality electronics such as color graphs and underwater cameras help differentiate the fish species as well as size, so you’re not wasting hours fishing a school of rock bass while looking for big walleyes. Advancements in fishing lines have helped revolutionize fishing today. The smaller diameter super lines allow crankbaits to be fished deeper and cast further. Superlines can also eliminate the need for wire leaders because they can be tied directly to your line and will usually withstand sharp pike teeth, this alone will increase opportunities for catching a variety of trophy species without having to switch lines. Fluorocarbons are virtually invisible and are great for line shy fish such as walleyes and trout. I have slowly changed over to almost all super lines and use fluorocarbon when a low visibility leader is necessary. Make sure you use a tough knot, like the Palomar, for all your knots, and avoid subpar snaps and swivels that can be pulled apart by big fish. Buy quality reels with multiple ball bearings and tough drags to assure smooth reeling and the ability to tire your fish out. Make sure you test the drag frequently and have it set before you hook the fish, not in the middle of the fight; too many fish have been lost due to poor drag usage. Put a new line on all of your reels and check your knots frequently so that when you do set the hook that fish is coming in the boat. A quality rod is worth its weight in gold, advances in graphite make rods sensitive enough to feel your bait wiggle on the other end and yet strong enough to handle the biggest bruiser.
Make sure you have had your boat on the water and everything works because you don’t want to drive halfway across the state and then deal with motor issues. Likewise, make sure you have a spare trailer tire and that your wheel bearings are packed, a grease gun and an extra set may also save the day, especially if you’re stuck out in the boondocks.
Attitude is everything! There is nothing more valuable than a quality fishing partner, likewise, there is nothing worse than someone in the boat who doesn’t share the same game plan. Sometimes, the best bites happen in the middle of the night or before the sun comes up. Make sure you have enough coffee and snacks to stay out for the duration and/or can wake up before the sun to get the jump on the fish as well as another fisherman. So make sure everyone is on board with lunker hunting and that you have a plan ready for when you do catch the one.
“Be ready. Some days it happens faster than you might think and other days it happens when you least expect it.”
If you get a hot tip from a friend leave immediately, big fish don’t hang around that long. The first time I went steelhead fishing a friend told me about a hot run so I went the next day and caught six that day. That was almost 10 years ago and I haven’t been on a steelhead that hot since. If you have a big fish on and it’s taking your line under the boat or around a log, be ready to walk to the front or back of the boat and move your rod tip around any obstacle such as the motor or anchor line. Avoid letting the line rub on any sharp edges that may cause the line to fray. A typical fight with a fish may last only seconds and many novice anglers get over-excited and try to horse the fish in, instead slow down and enjoy the fight. This will not only tire the fish out but allow your partner to get the net ready. Big fish often make several runs and will sometimes spook when they see the boat or the net, take your time and with a properly set drag you can work the fish in without stressing your gear. Make sure you net the fish head first and a quick dip of the net will keep the fish from spooking when he sees it. Musky hunters will tell you that a clean organized boat is key because a big thrashing fish will require you to move around the boat during a fight and you don’t want a fish thrashing into any gear after you catch it. Have cameras, tape measure, hook removal pliers, and jaw spreaders easily accessible to minimize damage to the fish. I like to use a large rubberized net, after I net the fish I leave it in the net in the water to act as a live well. This allows me to unhook the fish and get the lure out of the way while my crew can dig out the cameras and get ready for a picture worth framing. Please practice catch and release so that your trophy catch can be caught again even bigger in the future. If the fish is hooked deeply, cut your line and release the fish, odds are it will survive better than if you perform amateur surgery.
Preserve the moment.
If you want a mount, take several pictures and measure the length and girth to have a replica of your catch made. Replicas look better, the fish gets to swim away and allows the thrifty angler time to save up enough money to mount a fish rather than have a fish shrink up and get freezer burned in someone’s freezer. You may not catch a bigger fish, ever, so make sure you are smiling for the camera, turn the boat so the sun isn’t at your back, and if possible get some decent scenery in the background. Have the anglers in the background smiling for the picture as well. Hold the fish out towards the camera, many times the way you are holding the fish or the size placement of the angler and hands make the fish look small and consequently you hear; it looked bigger at the time and I guess you had to be there, B.S. it’s your trophy make it look like a trophy, scan through some magazines and see what poses get the nod for publication.
Loose lips sink ships. If you get into a great bite make sure you keep it under your hat. With cell phones and internet sites word travels fast these days and if you want a spot all to yourself you better keep it that way. Big fish take a long time to grow, and trophy populations can get crushed pretty quickly with heavy fishing pressure.
There is a difference between luck and skill. Skillful anglers catch lunkers frequently, lucky anglers once in a lifetime. Eliminate any bad luck by making sure you wash bug dope, sunscreen, and gas smell off your hands with some fisherman’s soap. Leave the bananas at home and keep your game face on. Life is short, go big or go home. Happy hunting!
