Having confidence in your tackle box

HOOD OUTDOORS

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.

There are a variety of baits and presentations, but there is one thing you cannot buy at the store … confidence.  This may be a better subject for a motivational speaker, but can be the best fish-catching tool that you can have.

Confidence is a driving factor for success in most everything we do.  Knowledge and experience is power.  If you believe and you trust your abilities, you will succeed.  If you go out there with the attitude that “I never do any good” you will probably not do any good.

Many pro anglers are known for presenting certain baits.  From years back, Denny Brauer and jig fishing, Jimmy Houston and spinner baits — and Kevin VanDam is known for his jerkbait fishing. Mark Davis and crankbaits go hand in hand.  All of these anglers are proficient with many different kinds of baits, but they have one presentation that they are best known for.      

Confidence generally does not come immediately. Confidence is built over time, with experience and practice. Repeat performances help to build confidence. When it comes to fishing, this definitely applies. In my case, I really believe that if I locate fish I will eventually get them to bite. Sometimes the bite will be off, but more often than not if I locate the fish I believe I can put them in the boat.

When the fish are real active, most anyone can catch fish on a variety of baits. However, when the fishing is slower, this is when confidence makes the difference.  Many folks will give up too early if the bite is slow.  A little intensity and belief in your presentation will eventually put fish in the boat.

So how can you build confidence in fishing for your species of choice? It goes without saying that you need to fish, fish and fish some more.  I personally believe that fishing within an organization of some type will help you to build confidence on different techniques on different bodies of water.  You will learn by fishing with others.  There are many bass, striped bass, and crappie type clubs across the state that one can join. I was involved with a striped bass club many years ago, and it was fun fishing tournaments on different lakes with my sons. 

Fishing tournaments can boost your knowledge at an accelerated rate.  You can initially gain the knowledge of many fishing in one tournament.  Another way to gain confidence on a body of water and to learn different techniques is to hire a guide. A good guide will impart his confidence in his presentations that you can take with you and build on. You will still need to practice to build your own confidence, but you will get there much quicker.

With confidence in your abilities, your patience when they are not biting will increase because you know that what you are using will eventually work. Over time you will develop confidence in several types of baits and presentations that will make you a more versatile angler.

Another confidence builder is understanding the movements of the species you seek and the baitfish they feed on.  This is knowledge of your surroundings.  As the old saying goes “you become one with your environment.”  This is true, as you will develop that sixth sense.  When your choices on the water continue to put fish in the boat, your confidence will increase. You will have a setback or two, but if you keep at it you will get better at it for sure.

HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT

Water temperatures continue to rise with the mild winter we are having. Temperatures are close to the middle 50s and even warmer in the sloughs.  Fishing continues to be excellent right now for many species on Lake Granbury.  Two new records have been submitted this past week for blue catfish (49 pounds) and yellow catfish (53 pounds).  Striped bass to 15 pounds are being caught mid-lake and above the railroad bridge. Numbers of striped bass continue to be caught on the lower ends in 40 feet of water.  Largemouth bass numbers are good on crankbaits and soft plastics on the warmer days as they move up with the baitfish. Some good sand bass reports are coming in near Tin Top. Good crappies catches continue on small jigs near deeper docks and standing timber.  The big catfish are good on cut bait fished on shallow flats adjacent to the creek/river channels.

OTHER AREAS

Comanche Creek reservoir continues to be one of the most popular winter fishing spots in the state.  Channel catfish limits are common on this power plant lake on cut bait and prepared baits.  Largemouth bass limits are also common on most any shad imitation baits. I do not have a report on the tilapia.      

On other area lakes, Lake Whitney continues to boast on limits of striped bass on swimbaits and jerk baits fished on the main lake near McCown Valley and in the river near Plowman Creek. Good crappie catches are being reported near Kimball bend.   

michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855