Tag: Weekly Fishing Motivation

Good morning brothers.

This past weekend I went fishing with my son for the first time.

Not the first time ever, mind you, but the first time this year.

Last season we only fished together a few times, and while editing some videos of us casting a blown out creek, I realized two things:

1. I am a grump and terrible at patiently explaining things.
2. He loves to fish in spite of my grumpiness.

Talk about a gut punch.

I do not deserve his unconditional love – but, the great thing about realizing you’ve screwed up, is that it gives you an opportunity to make a change.

Discover something wrong? Droppin’ the ball, Dad? Fix it.

And so, the rigs were rigged. The snacks were packed. The plans were made. The hope, was that this year we could turn the page, we could start to fish together in a way that really focused on him. After all, when you’re fishing with kids, the focus has to be on them no matter what – if you try to multi-task (which never works in any capacity) you will quickly get annoyed with their questions and snags and tangles and break-offs… instead of using every single event as a teaching moment.

But… you can still make some casts… if you’re smart. (And no, up until now I have not been smart. Shocker.) In fact, when you’re fishing with kids, it’s a great opportunity to work a bait or practice techniques that require no maintenance.

What is a “No Maintenance” Bait?

Great question.

A hardbait of some sort.

Take your pick: topwater, buzzbait, crankbait, jerkbait, spinnerbait, chopper, chugger, chigger (wait that’s not a bait)… but nothing with any sort of soft plastic that can tear & steal your attention. This means that swimbaits, swim jigs, jigworms, Texas, California, Carolina and Condoleezza Rigs are not an option!

I opted for this crank and a jerkbait. Nothing else.

The kids, however, should get something that is going to get all sorts of bites. I started my son off with a simple jigworm rig, but after a while, made strike detection even easier by putting a 4″ Strike King Ocho on a black o-ring and light wire wacky hook underneath a slip-float. This was paired with 8lb Seaguar Invizx – giving him invisibility and enough power to lift most fish straight up onto the bank.

A bobber rig will give them the chance for a big bass, but also give them something to watch. Something to do. If you instruct your child to cast – let it sit for 5 seconds – then lift the rod tip to pull the bobber in about 5 feet and let the stickbait pendulum back down underneath the float – then repeat – it gives them “an active presentation” that is relatively snag-free and delivers enough activity to keep them happy and occupied. Most bass near the bank are going to strike or pass as soon as they see this little stickbait. There is no need to wait too long.

(Sidenote: does anyone know why some largemouth bass, like the one he caught above, can have red eyes like that?! They’re barely visible in the video, and look black in the photo – but trust me, they were red, like a smallmouth!)

Remember: if they are happy & occupied... you can make casts yourself, so long as you are constantly paying attention them them, their needs and their body language.

If the bite slows... SNACKS!
Body language turns negative... SNACKS!!
Hungry? SNACKS YOU FOOL!!!

It was a good day.

Warm weather.
75 minutes.
7 fish for him.
A few for me.
No yelling.
Burger, fries & a vanilla milkshake on the way home.

Nailed it.

Brothers - THE METAVERSE IS LOOMING - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS HERE - there is no time like the present. Take your kids outside. Do better than I used to do. Be patient. Be kind. Give them room to explore and grow - but teach them to love the outdoors now. Start today. Show them the real world, one that doesn't get spoon-fed to them through that little demonic glowing rectangle.

Sons & daughters. Stop scrolling. Start living.

Now this coming weekend... I'll take his older brother and try for a repeat... I hope you do the same!

Progress. Getcha' sum.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers - and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Tap… tap tap tap… tap tap tap TAPTAPTAPTAP…

My leg is about to bounce right through this desk.

I’m jittery.

Sitting here in the office, cold wind blowing hard outside the window. Thinking about my mess. Thinking about shortcomings… but hopeful about changes that will materialize this fishing season.

As you can see from these recent photos, the garage is not minimized in any sense of the word – not even close to “fishin’ ready.”

This is a problem – but it’s also ok – because minimizing is a process, not a destination. I fail constantly, and the good news is that it’s never too late to get back on the horse.

So today… well.. we’re getting back on the dang horse. It’s time to set some goals and make a plan for the season!

What Fishing Goals Are You Working Towards This Year?

If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.

Actually no.

Stop.

Let talk about the importance of setting goals… that almost got weird.

Goals are necessary if you want to grow in any area. I don’t care if it’s business, health, or fishing – you need to set goals and track your progress or you’ll always be guessing whether you’re moving forward, or just treading water. Goals give you something to shoot for, and tracking lets you see how far you’ve progressed.

I have 8 big, aggressive goals for the year. Do any of these sound like something you want for yourself? Then steal them. Several. Work towards ’em. Let me know how it goes!

Do any of the goals below sound like things that YOU want?

Goal #1: Build New Rods the are Technique-Specific

Last year, one of the things that I really started to notice was the difference in feel and action when certain rods & reels were paired with certain line types and techniques.

Like most skills, this is simply the result of time. Experience. Getting in your reps. The longer you work at something, the more you start to notice the nuances that you missed when you were starting out. I know that building a few rods tailored to the way that I now fish will make a big difference.

It's been about 2 years since I worked on a rod build, and I miss the process. The last project was actually a rod repair... but this year, I want a custom ultralight rod for micro-swimbaits, a beefy spinning rod for jerkbaiting & jigging creek smallmouth, and a big 'ol beefcake for largemouth bass in the muck.

Better start buildin'!

Goal #2: Post 50 Fishing Videos

There are two YouTube channels I'm working on: The Minimalist Fisherman (3,100 subs / focuses on projects like the one above, bait reviews & fishing strategies) and Stars & Bars Fishing (85 subs / a straight up in-the-field fishing vlog that tests the techniques & concepts discussed here).

I'd like to get the channels to 5,000 and 500 subs respectively, however - I can't control the results. I can only control my effort and output. This year, that output will increase as behaviors are refined. Hopefully the results will follow. If you've ever subbed or shared, thank you very much for the assist! Latest video just went live yesterday...

Goal #3: Find New, REMOTE Fishing Areas!

As much as I love fishing city lakes... it just isn't the same as hiking in a creek all by yourself (like in the video above) or navigating the steep, winding shoreline of an old, clear quarry lake. I have a few new spots marked on the map to explore, quite a ways off the beaten path. This should mean less pressured fish that are more willing to bite, better scenery... plus, it's just way easier to have a conversation with God when you aren't surrounded by the majestic sound of lawnmowers...

Are suburban lakes cool? Absolutely... but c'mon man... compare that scenery & ambiance to this...

This is the goal and it's going to happen - even though finding new fishing locations in Illinois can be challenging. (Not that long ago I was told to leave or enjoy some lead poisoning by a landowner.) Our slogan is "Welcome to Illinois: The Land of Lincoln", but it should be...

Welcome to Illinois
"Get off my Lawn!"

Goal #4: Post 125 Fishing Articles

I love writing, and the feedback, questions and stories that all of you email me after something here speaks to you. Thanks for getting in touch! This year I plan to write more, engage with you more, and be a better source of information & entertainment while I continue to learn myself. If you've ever come across anything helpful here, please share it with a friend and let me know!

Goal #5: Write Guest Posts for 3 Other Websites

It would be really awesome if the work I did here opened a few doors to new opportunities, and I was able to contribute to a few other fishing websites and spark some valuable conversations. I'm not sure how to go about making this happen... so the plan is simply to continue to work as hard as possible, here, to be ready for any opportunity that comes along.

Better to prepare ahead of time, than scramble and react.

Goal #6: Catch Over 400 Bass

Last year I ended up with 337. The year before that, 389. The year before that, 193... but the year before that??

9

Not joking.

Yes, I keep a spreadsheet and log everything.

This project, "The Minimalist Fisherman", was started in 2019. At that time, I had only ever caught smallmouth bass in Wisconsin, and I had never really targeted the largemouth bass of Illinois. Didn't even think we had much in the way of fishing in this state. Sure I fished the pits as a kid, spent many morning and afternoons sneaking into the rock quarries after trudging through the timber and along the railroad tracks - but the bite was always super-tough. Dinks. Maybe some bluegill. A tiny channel catfish here & there. I made the mistake of assuming that the bass weren't around, at least not like they were in the other states nearby...

The bass is always greener on the other side.

In 2019, after becoming a father for the third time, I decided it was time to give it another shot. Much to my surprise - I started to find a few spots that held quality largemouth bass, and soon realized the problem was not my surroundings, the problem was me.

My assumptions. My approach. My clutter.

And so the count went from zero... to 9... to just under 400... but we have yet to break that mark.

This year... we crush it... it's my last full season in Illinois, after all...

Goal #7: Get the House Listed FOR SALE

Mentioned this last year when I started the Stars & Bars Fishing channel - my time in Illinois is coming to a close. We're moving to Arkansas. The listing date is set for early next year. My folks are close to retirement, and they already have a place near Bull Shoals. I've been there to fish it. It's incredible, and The White River looks amazing as well! I've marked creeks and other nearby rivers that anglers and guides are known to wade... it's flippin' ON.

This will be much, much different than what I am used to fishing. BIG water. DEEP water. WARM winters. Crazy! So this needs to be my best year fishing in Illinois, because it will be my last... it's a bit scary after living here my entire life, but I am so excited to move south, fish new waters, explore new areas and meet new people.

For that to happen, this house needs to be finished up, completely prepped & listed "FOR SALE" in what will probably be a terrible housing market.

... 'gonna be a busy year...

Goal #8: The Most Important Goal of All...

As important as all of the first 7 goals are, the most important goal is this:

Be a better husband. Be a better father. Be a better servant.

This comes first, and everything else must follow.

While I plan to work hard this year to improve as a fisherman, obtain new knowledge and experience and then share it with my family - to put them on better fish, so they can create new memories - that all comes after being better here at home.

So, to all my fellow dads out there - let's keep this in mind:

Fishing is fun. Fishing is a passion. An obsession. Maybe a hobby. It's challenging. It's calming. It's stressful. It's peaceful.

Fishing is MANY things... but it's not the most IMPORTANT thing...

Let's go have one hell of a year.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers - and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Happy Monday, Brothers.

This will be a short entry. Something popped out at me yesterday while editing another video for the fishing vlog.

My son was excited to go fishing last spring, and so… we made time. We went. 110% of my attention was focused on what we would use, where we would go, how we would zero in on our catch – you know, all of the things that get (and deserve) your attention on a fishing trip.

Long story short, when we arrived at the creek, it did NOT go as planned.

The water was very high. Flowing fast. You’ve probably experienced this: there is a point when wading through flowing water that the pressure lets you know… “Hey… it’s time to turn around… don’t mess with me… you will not win…“

We tried to push ahead, but quickly realized that not only was the fishing going to be terrible, things were getting dangerous and I was setting a very bad example for my son.

As fathers, we can’t do that.

We left. Went to another location. Still made a day out of it. Got McDonalds. He had fun.

It was good… but… I missed some things…

When I went back to edit the video, there was no pressure. The stress of putting the child on fish was gone, worrying about the knots and the baits and the locations and the conditions – these things were all in the past.

Watching the trip, sitting in front of a computer monitor in the office with a piping hot cup of coffee, I started to hear things I’d missed…

I heard the silly questions my son was asking me while we were walking to the creek.

(They weren’t all that silly.)

I head the wind rustling the leaves in small, sporadic bursts.

(Building from nothing to what seemed like a million tiny rattles.)

I heard the twigs snapping underfoot.

(So did the squirrels, and they noisily scampered away.)

I heard the birds.

(The birds were singing.)

Not cackling. Not screeching. Not honking.

Singing.

And it was beautiful.

The wind was beautiful.

The hike was beautiful.

The silly questions were beautiful.

Hmmm…

Didn’t notice any of this when I was in the middle of it. Just worried about “the next thing.”

Life is like that, too.

Most of us miss a lot from day to day… but maybe if we’re a bit more mindful, we’ll start to notice all of the little “in between” moments.

Yeah.

That sounds like a good goal to me.

Next time you’re out… make an effort to listen to the birds.

You’ll probably hear much, much more.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Good morning brothers – it’s Monday.

Still cold here in Illinois.

Freezing, but just barely.

This week I’ll be headed south – but not for fishing… at least, not in the traditional sense…

I play in a group called Todd Anthony Joos & The Revelators. We do prison ministry.

What does that mean?

It means we go into prisons, set up the big boom-boom, make a bunch of very loud noise – and then we talk to the men about making better decisions. We talk about starting to develop a relationship with Christ. Starting to look for guidance and direction in different places – places other than the ones that led them here.

Locked up.

Alone.

Paying the price for bad decisions.

What does that look like? Sometimes, it looks like this…

Other times, it’s much smaller.

Smaller rooms. Smaller groups.

You never know… but it’s always productive.

It’s also a TON of work.

I wish I had more examples, pictures and video… but the sad fact is that they don’t allow us to capture anything for liability reasons. The few pictures we do have are the ones quickly snapped by a warden or a C/O, sent to us after the fact in a brief email or text.

Illinois is especially strict. Tennessee is a bit more relaxed – and that’s where we’re headed this week.

If you think of it, please say a prayer for us.

Please pray for safe travel (24 hours of windshield time in 2 days with back-to-back 2 hour concerts and all of the loading & unloading – no budget means no road crew – we’ll be dead tired when we get home).

Please pray that we might do good work, and soften hearts or inspire bold action.

Please pray that we can afford gas and lodging to continue to do this, that our gear holds up and lasts for years and years – because there is no paycheck headed our way.

Well… I suppose the “pay” is knowing that we’re doing what we can to make a positive impact in the world, with our small circle of influence.

It’s enough.

The public typically doesn’t like to think about men that are locked up, but the truth of the matter is that most are going to get out.

We want to see them take a different path, so they don’t end up back in here, and they can instead become productive members of society and help build the Kingdom.

One of these days, one of the men who has seen us play and heard us speak will be at a gas pump next to your wife, he’ll be in the store with your daughter, on a bus with your son – and our hope is that by scattering seed, he will have taken his time in the clink to make a positive change. Took this message and started to think deeply, to read more… to turn his life around.

It’s never too late.

That is the hope… and these days, hope is something that I think we could all use a little bit more of.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Happy New Year, Patriots!

I hope you had a great time ringing in 2023 with family and friends!

Maybe you partied hard…

Or… maybe you did what we did… put the kids to bed, fell asleep by 9:30, and then got up the next day and worked like dogs.

Not complaining.

Complaining never works… see below…

Whatever you did, however you celebrate… the reality is: today is the 2nd and January is in full effect… so… now what?

What Are You Working on This Year?

I spend a lot of time every week consulting large and small business owners.

There are many parallels between fishing & business building.

Setting goals is a good practice in either area, and I’ve set quite a few over the past few years. Get better at fishing a jerkbait. Learn to fish clear water. Find more smallmouth bass nearby. Monetize a YouTube channel. Build a blog and make a few bucks while meeting new friends in the process.

(Hey… if you’re wanting to get better at jerkbait fishing… start with a few of these. Husky Jerks have been solid producers for me – and they won’t break the bank!)

Some of these goals have been partially realized, which is something we were reflecting on around Christmas.

But… the work continues.

This ties in with a message I was typing up for a consulting client yesterday that I wanted to share with all of you, my fellow fishermen.

Just start.

Clearly define what you want to get better at this year.

Start.

Don’t wait for some “magical date”, like so many that wait for New Year’s Day.

Don’t wait until you’re sure you’ll do the thing perfectly.

You won’t.

You’re going to suck for a while.

Embrace it.

You will embarrass yourself over and over again.

Who cares?

Most people won’t see your failures – and the people that matter, won’t belittle you.

They’ll be proud of you for pushing ahead.

The haters will hate, even if you do something perfectly.

Their jeers are a reflection on themselves.

Their self-loathing.

Their inaction.

Their lack of courage.

Seeing you do something with your life makes them feel bad about themselves.

Instead of building, all they can do is destroy.

Tear down.

Let ’em.

They’re toxic, and they will congregate to wallow amongst themselves.

Let miserable people be miserable… but don’t join them.

Be a builder.

Whatever it is that you want, start moving towards it.

Today.

We have a lot more work to do this year, boys – whether that means becoming better fishermen, better business builders, better fathers, better grandfathers, uncles and husbands. Learning to exercise more, or how to eat better… or all of the above.

Whatever it is that you feel is important – start today.

I’m rooting for you.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Merry Christmas a bit early, Patriots!

What a year it’s been!

So much to be thankful for. I’ve been reflecting on the good, the bad, the true and the beautiful lately – taking some time off from writing and fishing to focus on faith, family and business.

… even spending slightly more time on Twitter, watching the meltdowns and chaos…

It’s hilarious… far more entertaining than anything on Netflix…

Let’s take a look at some of the stats from this year, and talk a bit more about what I’m really, really thankful for.

I’m thankful this website grew.

This year we saw just south of 70,000 views. Not too shabby for a little fishing site! We might surpass the 70k mark before the end of the year, based on current activity levels. That’s awesome – thanks for reading!

Hundreds of people signed up for the weekly emails, which was also encouraging. Some of the most popular articles were surprising as well:

I was especially excited to see articles on motivation and blessings elevated this year.

I’m thankful for new friends.

Several people contacted me directly via email. Some kept it short, asked questions, offered words of encouragement or said thanks for the tips – others wrote me their life story – and all of it was appreciated. A handful of new friends have sprung up as a result.

I love hearing from you guys. This has been really, really fun for me.

I’m thankful the YouTube channel grew.

Subscribers are up, watch time is up, views are up – this is a lot of fun to work on.

If you shared a video, clicked “like”, subscribed, or just watched stuff – thanks!

I’m thankful tough conditions led to new lakes.

This year was weird. At first, I sat around and complained. When that didn’t make me feel better (shocker), I looked for new areas to fish. Tried baits I had zero confidence in. Failed again and again. Screamed at the heavens. Even though the conditions were tough for MANY reasons, it forced me to grow as an angler, and put me in some beautiful situations.

I’m thankful for all the fish.

We ended the year with 337 bass. Not too shabby for someone with two businesses and 4 kids that take up the bulk of their time!

Refining what it means to be a Minimalist Fisherman has made a huge difference.

I’m thankful my business grew.

At The Hauser Design Group, we took on many new customers even though the economy & inflation have hit a lot of businesses hard. Saw this firsthand. Talked to business owners that had to shut their doors, fire employees, make tough decisions… I’m thankful we weathered the storm.

Created new relationships and started to work with some really cool businesses, like Jocko’s:

I’m thankful my consulting business grew, too.

Fix My Site saw growth as well, landing new accounts and scheduling several one-on-one consulting calls with new customers.

We’ve grown enough that it now makes sense to invest some serious time and effort in a complete redesign, and expand our service offerings.

I’m thankful y’all helped me save for a new battery.

Halfway there. Really appreciate all of the donations!

Before you say:

“Wait a second, what do you need donations for with two businesses?!”

Because the businesses pays the bills. 4 kids eat a lot, we burn through gas like it’s going out of style between school and sports, and add in paying for healthcare out of pocket… trust me when I say there ain’t much $$ leftover for fishing…

Y’all are appreciated!

I’m thankful my family is healthy.

I’m thankful we have food on the table, a roof over our heads… and a lot of love & laughter in between the hectic day-to-day screaming and fighting.

I mean really… what else could a guy ask for?

Merry Christmas to you & yours a bit early my friends.

God Bless, Tight Lines, and Godspeed, Patriots!

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

I’m working on our Christmas card photo today.

Sitting in my office here in Illinois.

Inside.

A nasty chill is seeping off the windows, fighting the heat. It makes the floor cold. Too cold for bare feet. I was up this morning well before the sun, and the sons. I started the day by reading through all of the articles & updates that went live throughout my last Political Detox session.

I need a refresher. After the confusing midterm results, I’m frustrated. Cold. Discouraged. Run down… and here comes winter.

I hate this time of year.

The weather, combined with an overall feeling of “what the crap is going on in this country?!” will do that to a man.

The news always seems bad. The country (and our countrymen) are always in some sort of conflict.

24/7 drama.

It’s exhausting.

You might feel the same.

From time to time it’s nice to get a little reminder about happiness.

Earlier, as I was forcing myself to work a bit and clean my email inbox, an article came through from a new site that I am following called All Pro Dad. (I recently subscribed to their daily emails because I’m a firm believer that it never hurts to consider suggestions from other parents.)

The title of the article?

5 Subtle Lies You’re Telling Your Child About Happiness

It’s a short read, and a good one. To paraphrase, the author reminds us that we need to be careful our children don’t think that happiness is controlled by other people, or that it comes from money. We need to teach them that happiness is in fact essential, and for many it’s not something that they find, but something that comes as a result of what they do.

All good points worth thinking about, instead of grumbling about the cold weather, amongst other things…

*sheepish grin*

Something struck me though… the final point was that [It’s a lie to think that happiness is] acquired by acquiring.

Ah! How very minimalist of you!

It’s a good reminder to pause and make sure I don’t allow myself to fall back into the old winter habit of buying every fishing product I can get my hands on in an attempt to take my mind off of the fact that I’m bummed out and stuck inside.

To fill the void.

That won’t make me happy, and it sure won’t make me a better fisherman.

Make Sure You Don’t Go Back to Collecting STUFF

You’re thinking, “but AJ, your most recent article REVOLVED around stuff!“

Ay, it did. It also served as a warning to readers (don’t mimic my mistakes) and was meant to be a means to an end: I need to upgrade the batteries that power the jon boat before I get stranded or hurt.

(A YUGE special thanks to all of you that donated! We are well on our way to upgrading the compromised batteries…)

A Minimalist Fisherman is still a Fisherman.

Fishing requires equipment, and that equipment needs to be maintained, upgraded, replaced… but not collected.

Never collected.

Never piled up “just in case”.

Items without a purpose must be avoided, or let go.

There is a balance.

Make space, so you can think clearly.
Make space, so you can focus on technique.
Make space, so you can learn more about the behavior of your prey.

The happiness is in the doing. The improvement. The successes, and yes – even the failures.

Lord… if you’ve visited this site more than once, you know there have been failures… they’re not hidden away. That’s by design. They’re public, and a big part of the process.

This morning, I was failing. Focusing on what couldn’t be done. Feeling sorry for myself, and feeling like I was going to slip backwards into old habits…

During the summer months, fishing makes me happy. It’s a good way to escape the craziness of everyday life. A calm lake surrounded by birdsong in the morning. A cool, shady creek with water running past your shins in the afternoon… it doesn’t get much better than that… but it isn’t the ultimate source of happiness.

What is?

Yeah.

My faith, and my family… OH! – that Christmas card photo… I better get back to working on that…

We all have something to be grateful for, no matter what is going on around us.

Find it.

Seek happiness, but remember: happiness is not acquired by acquiring.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

“This is my jerkbait. There are many like it but this one is mine. My jerkbait is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my jerkbait is useless. Without my jerkbait, I am useless… I must fire my jerkbait true…”

It’s easy to get attached to our favorite lures, favorite locations or favorite fishing patterns. So much so, that parting ways with a certain bait – or a certain lake – seems unfathomable.

We go with what we know.

If you take a look at the recent TV spot for Minn Kota Trolling Motors with iPilot & Spot Lock – what do they keep repeating?

“This is MY SPOT. I ain’t going NOWHERE.”

It’s the same with confidence baits. While they are (very) important, if we don’t break away from “the usual”, we never grow as anglers.

… so… what do you do when YOUR SPOT ain’t producing fish? What happens when YOUR CONFIDENCE BAIT gets ignored?

YOU PIVOT – because sticking with the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

It’s time to fish something different!

I bank fish often. Love it. Usually, it’s a successful way to target largemouth bass… but lately, the bank-bite has been off.

Way off.

I’m talkin’ non-existent at my favorite lakes. We touched on setting up scouting missions when times are tough – which is exactly what I’ve been doing – fishing new, challenging water with presentations I’ve never tried before. (Some old favorites have produced as well…)

Take a look at a few recent fish and presentations that have worked. See if one of these suggestions sparks your curiosity – then get out there and give it a shot!

How about you? Any lures or locations you’ve been experimenting with? Let me know!

It ain't rocket surgery - if you want to grow as an angler, it's never too late - but you need to push yourself. Grab something new, go somewhere strange, and start casting.

I'll be doing the same.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers - and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Less than 24 hours ago, my family sat side-by-side.

We were in church. The very first pew.

Risky move with 4 boys.

It was muggy.

The windows and doors were all wide open (as church doors should be) with several small circular fans whirring and rattling around the exits. Some were white, others yellow-brown. The same color as the old fridge we had in my home growing up, with slick orange and brown buttons to boot. Relics from a bygone era, still spinning away.

Probably outlast the new ones.

They struggled to move the thick air throughout the congregation.

Children were grumpy. Squirmed about. Old-timers fidgeted. Some of the sweaty fathers were clearly anxious to leave. To get home so they could plop in the ‘ol recliner and put sportball or racing cars on the tube, even though these institutions now hate them and everything they stand for.

… or claim to stand for…

Talk is cheap.

The music – while excellent – wasn’t appreciated. You could literally feel the internal groans as the third verse of a song began, when we could have stopped after two…

My wife sat to my left, along with 3 boys. My 4th son sat alone on my right. He’s boisterous. A 5-year old with no fear. No filter. Tough as nails. We nurture his exuberance, which will serve him well as a man… but in church… he needs my attention.

The homily had started. Bits and pieces landed with me between gentle reprimands to keep the wild one in check. The dots didn’t seem to connect, but then suddenly – through all of the distractions – I heard the priest say:

“We all feel like we’re just too busy these days. Busier that we’ve ever been… busier than anyone has even been. We have all these tools and connections that are supposed to make our lives simpler… yet they don’t. Even children say they feel stressed out all the time. Just too busy to do anything.”

Isn’t it amazing that sometimes God has a way of cutting through everything, so that you hear what you’re supposed to hear?

Are we busier than we’ve ever been?

Perhaps… but even if we are…

Nobody HAS Time

This idea of “having time” is a trap we often fall into.

Myself included.

“I can’t complete task XYZ because I just don’t have the time.”
“I’ll learn to fish with an XYZ when I have the time.”
“I’ll start to work on my new project when I have the time.”

Step back.

Look at that.

Do you lack time, or do you choose to spend the time you have on the wrong things?

Unimportant things?

Every day we make decisions regarding how we spend what time we have. We’re individuals, with different jobs, responsibilities, and countless other factors unique to our personal situation. The amount we can “spend” is different.

BUT – we are all free to make choices, and our choices have consequences.

Confirm the choices you’re making are leading you to what you want – and if they’re not – make a change.

Let’s Start Today. Right Now.

I made time for church yesterday. It’s important. After returning home, I was inspired and asked a simple question:

What else do I need to MAKE time for?

What do I need to accomplish?

Well… the first thing? Get the new electronics installed on the jon boat. (That link goes to the unit, but here’s a link to the actual setup, if you want to see it.) The last two weeks I’ve been having terrible luck fishing from shore, and keep repeating what isn’t working, expecting different results (insanity) instead of getting OUT and exploring. This year I just haven’t had the time to install the new unit.

Bullocks.

It’s done.

What else?

Well… I need to make time for my wife and put some siding put back on the house that a storm knocked off. Last year.

Done.

She also needs a baby gate put up in the hall so our toddler can toddle.

Done.

We need to paint some pumpkins; they are props for the family Halloween costume she’s working on.

Done.

I need to make time to fish this week, and get ready to try a new approach. Set up new rigs with light line, plan to make long casts to go after pressured fish in clear quarry water.

Done.

I’ll be going for an ultra-natural finesse look, using…

Last week I landed a few dinks, and spotted some BIG bass… but they ignored my clunky offerings. The plan is to downsize everything. Line, weight, bait, make longer casts and try to sneak up on some spooky largemouth.

We’re not giving up. We’re going back. I’m making time for this trip. Getting up earlier. Planning now, ahead of time. Working late every night so my tasks are done well before it’s time to go.

A little extra work, a few better choices, and just like that, time has been spent on my faith, my family, and my fishing.

That’s a win.

What About You?

What’s something that matters to you – something that you have been putting off, or avoiding by wasting time on things that don’t really make your life better, or make you happy?

What’s something you KNOW you need to work on?

DO IT.

Spend just ONE HOUR on that thing this week.

One. Hour.

See how it makes you feel.

See if you miss whatever you decide to lay aside so you can make the time.

(If you're not sure what you could cut, try this.)

It worked for me.

It can work for you.

It's a new behavior.

It's only the beginning.

Whatever you decide to cut, I promise you, consciously making the decision to move the needle in an area that you care about - whether it's faith, family or fishing - will make you happier. Stop with the excuses. Make deliberate decisions. Feel more accomplished. Sleep better. Know you've made use of the day - of your time - instead of wasting it on things that simply don't matter.

You'll make progress in a meaningful way.

It's right there.

Waiting for you.

All it takes is a simple choice.

So brothers... choose.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers - and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

You don’t want to look in my fishing journal.

The last several pages include me. Rambling. Being mad. Being discouraged. Making excuses. Whining.

Pathetic.

It’s taken me a few days to process this. As an angler that fishes from the bank most of the time, I’m perplexed. We know that it’s not uncommon for largemouth bass to move offshore in the summer months. However, this year… they have been missing for an extended period of time.

I’m talking from late July to mid-September… with a few lucky days mixed in; the bass decided to come in close enough for me to reach them with a long cast.

I keep thinking it will turn around, they’ll come in close, along the rip-rap shorelines I love to crank…but so far… no such luck.

The smallmouth bass have all but left my creeks as well! Water has been very low, and when it does rain it blows everything out so bad that by the time it settles back down to where I can fish it – they’re just… not there.

A few days ago I decided it was time to bring ‘Ol Jonnie Boy out of the garage…

He’s been in there all year. Not because I don’t want to fish from him, but because with every trip, we need to make decisions about how we plan to maximize our limited time on the water. For the last few years, bank fishing has been… well… awesome.

This is the first time that conditions have changed enough to really put me in a bind.

To date, fishing offshore in Illinois and marking bass deep was something I did for fun.

To mix it up a bit.

Now… now it’s a necessity.

Time to Scout New Lakes and Find Fish

When things change and stop going your way – it’s the perfect time to go explore a location you’re not very familiar with.

Just make sure your expectations are realistic.

You might catch a 5-pounder… but… chances are you won’t. That’s not a big deal though if your goal is to find fish, explore a body of water to better understand it, learn a bit more about the baitfish, bottom composition and available cover.

You know, stuff that bass care about.

If this is your aim, you will come away smarter, better equipped to dissect that body of water the next time you visit, and have much better luck locating and catching some fish.

There are some deep borrow pit lakes about an hour from here, and I know there are big largemouth bass in there. I’ve seen them. Moving out from little feeder creeks, dropping deep – well underneath my boat. This lake has been avoided this year, because I can’t fish it from shore and the drive is substantial… but with the shore bite completely turned off everywhere else, perhaps this is the promised land?

I’ll start exploring it tomorrow morning – with realistic expectations.

Scouting Presentations for Largemouth Bass

The jon boat will come out next week. Still need to get the new electronics installed. I’ll share a couple of tricks I plan to employ when I’m with ‘Ol Jonnie… but tomorrow, it’s going to be a yak attack. This means we’ll be limited to 1 pole, and a small bag with simple presentations – much like fishing a creek.

Minimalist.

Good.

Here’s the plan:

I’ll start to explore close to shore and about 15 feet out with a Pop ‘n Drop. See if I can call any bass up, or if they’re tucked in close for some reason. I’ll use one of these two combinations – not sure which one yet:

This will allow me to pull a small stickbait behind a popper. Probably a 4″ Strike King Ocho, which has been a top producer for me the last few years. (That’s why it’s in my Top 4 Stickbaits for Largemouth Bass.) I’ll hit it with some Dr. Juice Bass Attractant, and I have been playing around with the idea of adding some small floats next to my popper so it can carry more weight – if this works (and it isn’t another Pop ‘n Drop Failure) I’ll be able to pull a Zoom Zlinky around… which would be awesome! My line? No question, fluorocarbon is the way to go. This lake is deep and clear.

It’s going to be challenging.

After this, depending on what happens, we’ll go deep. The shoreline is steep, and this is an old pit – I’m thinking some variation of shaky head with a worm will bring up the rear… but I haven’t decided which one yet.

What is your favorite shaky head plastic?

This afternoon - after work - I'll dedicate some time to getting ready.

Instead of sticking with what I know - with what isn't working - we'll pivot.

We'll make better use of our limited time.

We'll scout.

Learn more about a body of water that requires more of an investment to fish.

It's going to take some extra effort and additional windshield time... but we will find bass. I can feel it. So yeah... it'll be tough, but... if it was easy... everyone would do it.

They ain't.

We should.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers - and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

It’s Labor Day.

I shouldn’t be working right now.

I don’t want to be working right now.

I want to be in bed. Sawing logs. Dreaming about babes. Fishing babes. No… fishing babes that don’t talk. They just fish – not for compliments – but for actual fish. Then they get selfies. Fishing babes holding fish up for pictures – fish that they definitely caught themselves!

Right???

Can you see it??

Just look at all the… hang on… the winds have shifted… hear that? Feel that? A great disturbance in the force…

Look over there! In the waves – it’s my wife! But… is it really her!? No… it’s Amphitrite, the goddess of the sea, wife of the god Poseidon. All the giggling and jiggling stops, and Mrs. Poseidon hurls a fish with malicious intent!

“EAT IT!“, she bellows, as the heavens shake and lightning rips the sky asunder!

“Away with you, fishing wench!!!”

The violence is unsettling, but the fish… they were biting…

I turn back towards the water, and suddenly we’re standing on a green grassy bank. The sun is out. It’s gently kissing my wife’s alabaster cheeks.

My wife! She looks like my wife again!

With eyes the size of dinner plates, I sputter “You seriously just clocked that chick!!“

The response is a sideways, “not-amused” glance… but then, we’re consumed by uncontrollable laughter.

She picks up a pole. Grabs a stickbait. Still laughing, we embrace. We fish.

My wife can fish, y’all…

Me and her. Her and me. No Instagram thots. She’s my one and only. She knows it. My fishing babe.

Also, in this dream I’m a T-Rex.

Dude it’s my dream. Don’t judge.

Benadryl-induced hallucinations aside, I don’t want to work today.

But it doesn’t matter what I want, what matters is what needs to be done.

I’m not feeling motivated.

Fine.

That’s why drive is more important than motivation, anyway.

Drive engaged. Coffee consumed. I’m working on this website after I work on this article. I’ll play with colors, styling, adjust pop-up messages and try to get a few more people to subscribe. Try to get a few more people to share. To laugh. Try to get a few more guys to email this silly story about my wife blasting thots in the face with fish to their buddies.

Why?

Because I’m working towards something.

What?

I don’t know exactly.

Huh?

As I’ve told Mrs. Poseidon many times, all I know is that I am preparing for an opportunity. I write so I can improve. I edit video so I can improve. I fish so I can improve. At some point, one of these things is going to lead me to some sort of opportunity… and I plan to be ready. To pounce on it. To beat it into submission. To dominate it.

This is my aim. What’s yours?

It’s a serious question – what are you working towards at this point in your life?

Where are you headed?

Who do you listen to or read for inspiration?

Tell me.

Jordan Peterson is someone that I look to for guidance. I have a quote saved that automatically gets emailed to me at the start of every week:

Aiming at something is the opposite of "just existing".

The opposite of coming home after work, plopping down on the couch, cracking a beer or 12, wolfing down a few bags of Doritos while watching reality shows, woke sports and 24-hour "news" channels.

"But AJ - that's not very body positive!"

Spare me.

There is nothing wrong with beer, TV, chips or silly wastes of time in moderation, but if you have an aim - if you're working with your sights set on a target - you'll notice the waste... and it will bother you. You will grab some beef jerky for protein instead of empty carbs, you'll curb the beer consumption so that spare tire shrinks a bit - you'll even turn off the TV so you can work on something that matters.

Break apart the word aimlessly:

Aim: Target

Less: Without

So we're pushing ahead, day to day, moving through life... without a target?

... are we really moving, then?

No.

We tend to imagine we're at least treading water - but that's not true. If we're not gaining ground, we're losing it.

Talk about depressing.

It's the same in fishing.

Aimlessly casting. Wandering. Floating. Selecting baits without thinking.

These lead to inferior results, which can be discouraging.

We're better served by seeking out cover, structure, areas with fish-holding power, especially those that other anglers can't see with the naked eye. The areas that aren't hammered by the weekend warriors. The guys that want to do things "the easy way".

Identify targets. Look for patterns.

At times this can be hard, even intimidating, especially if we don't have much experience.

Doesn't matter; the truth is that we need to do it. We need to be willing to fail if we intend to master a skill, and we need to be able to ask the hard questions, even if it's going to make us look foolish.

If we get an answer, we only have to look foolish once.

That's a price we must be willing to pay for knowledge.

So nut-up and go for it.

Don't just exist. Aim. Ask dumb questions. Improve. Fail. Try again. Fail better. Repeat. Engage your drive. Don't rely on motivation. Aim at something, because working towards your target and making progress is where the true payoff lies - in terms of fishing, and in life.

So let's not waste the day. It's time to work... and brothers... enjoy the grind.

Happy Labor Day.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers - and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

What’s wrong little buddy? Not performing?

Hey… listen… it happens to all of us once in a while…

Well… not to me, but… you know… it happens to other losers all the time…

HA! Just bustin’ ‘yer chops! Happy Monday my dudes! Crack a smile and grab a coffee; come sit with me for a moment and let’s discuss Fishing Slumps.

They happen to all of us.

They’re freakin’ terrible.

They’re also temporary.

That third part… that’s the tricky part to remember, right?

Temporary.

What does that mean, exactly? Well, it means that this too shall pass. I read that somewhere once, in a good book.

The question is… how can we make it pass faster?

By working a simple plan.

So here ya go. This is a Simple 4-Step Plan that will destroy the fishing slump you’re currently in… so you can get back to peak performance! You can do it. I believe in you, big guy!

Step 1: When

Identify when you can go.

We all have limited time. Fishing is a hobby & passion for many of us – not a job. Myself included. This means that time on the lake needs to fit in around faith, family and work. Pop open your calendar and identify a few times that you could get out to fish this week. Right now. Do it. They can be early. They can be late. They can be “bad solunar times”, it doesn’t matter – the simple act of identifying times that you could fish will give you a target to aim for.

Identify when you can go, then promise yourself that you will make it happen.

Step 2: Where

Decide where you’re headed.

I love to fish creeks, small lakes, larger lakes, rivers, strip pits (or borrow pits as they are sometimes called here in Illinois) and everything in between. Seen swammers in that puddle? I’ll fish it.

Spray & pray won’t help us get out of a slump, though. We need surgical precision.

Based on the current conditions: weather patterns, time of year, local water level(s) and any other information you have, what is your best guess in terms of where you might find fish? Make a selection or two, then decide when you’ll visit each location based on your time slots from Step 1.

Step 3: What

Pick your target species, and select your confidence baits.

ONLY confidence baits. Downsize ’em. This is not the time to try something new or go after trophy fish, we need to generate some results to fix our mindset. Confidence is surprisingly important when it comes to fishing, and a few bad trips can really do a number on our ego.

Example:

I want to fish for any species of bass in the area. I only have shore access, and a few spots where the kayak could get dropped. Small lakes, and a creek or two. That’s all I’ll have time for this week. I do not know what the water clarity will be, but I do know that I need two confidence baits. One needs to cover water, the other needs to fish slow. For me… that’s going to be:

1 Moving Bait

1 Finesse Bait

Why the Minimalist Approach?

Because the NetBait Little Spanky Swimbait is going to allow us to cover water, and fish at multiple depths. If I rig it weedless on a weighted swimbait hook, I can fish around smallmouth bass in creeks, or largemouth bass in thick muck. Probably use a 1/0 hook, maybe a 2/0 with the 3.25″ Little Spanky, because if my hook is too big, it means too much shank in the plastic, which will kill the action of the bait! I need that action, because if the water clarity is poor, the tail will kick off thump and fire that lateral line. They’ll feel ‘er comin’, even if they can’t see ‘er. Plus, everything will eat a swimbait, and I need a bite!

The Strike King Ocho is one of my all-time best producers. The impregnated salt & coffee scent means I can fish it weightless, without adding extra scent, straight on a weedless wacky hook. The 4″ size will appeal to both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The fluorocarbon weedguard on those Berkley Fusion19 Wacky Hooks will let me fish almost anywhere while using lighter line – I’m thinking I’ll stick with Seaguar Invizx Fluorocarbon, because it is invisible, abrasion resistant, and it doesn’t pick up stains and off-colors in the water like cheap fluorocarbon does. I can fish it in muck, timber, sandy bottom creeks, even rocks – and honestly – that’s why the wacky rig won out over one of my other favorites: the jigworm. A wacky rig will work better around rip-rap shorelines and stay outta them crevices better.

Focus. We don’t have time for crevice jokes.

These are my top two selections, but there are a lot of other great options that you could pick from. If you need a few more bait ideas, I’ve listed several of my personal favorites in this article where we break down some timber.

Step 4: Execute

Prepare accordingly & get after it.

Now that we’ve gone through Steps 1, 2 and 3 without even touching a bait or a pole, it’s time to get after it. Rig up in advance, set aside the confidence baits you selected, and be ready. When your window of opportunity arrives – you can grab your gear and go!

Remember… bad days happen to all of us. When you’re putting in reps, it’s never a waste. You are learning, you are evolving, and you are doing work so that when you have others with you, you can put them on fish.

Don’t quit.

We don’t quit. Ever.

Failure is not an ending, just an obstacle.

Defeat it.

The Plan Above is Real

I should let you know… this isn’t a hypothetical for me; I’m currently in the middle of a very discouraging fishing slump myself. So tallywhacker jokes aside… it’s not fun. I’m deflated (oops, there’s another one…) and this article broke away from our Political Detox series a bit because it was a thought exercise for me – one that I wanted to share with you.

I’m not just writing fluff, folks. These aren’t the equivalent of inspirational cat posters. I’m living these situations, just like you. Trying to improve as an angler. As a man. As a human. They’re all connected. When I say motivation is worthless, I mean it. It is so important that we develop our drive, because our drive is what stands firm when motivation fades.

Time to grind.

I’ll let you know how it goes this week…

Edit: Results from Day 1 Slump Bustin’ are in…

Got any thoughts about getting out of a fishing slump? I want to hear ’em! Help me out and leave a comment!

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

There’s a soft breeze tonight, enveloping everything. Crisp. It’s rustling the leaves, keeping the bugs at bay. The sound? The sound is that of a hundred lazy rattlesnakes slowly moving their tail segments out of time with one another. It’s the leaves of course – millions and millions of them. The soft strums on a no-name acoustic guitar resonate deeply into the dark woods.

The notes seem to fly off the deck, and I wonder just exactly who, or what, is listening out there.

“D minor, G major… E… minor again? That’s kind of neat sounding…”

A fire would be nice tonight, but I’m the only one awake. The other 6 are inside. Napping. Even though it’s well past the standard “naptime.” Three straight days of staying up way too late, talking way too loud, laughing way too much, and indulging in enough food & drink to feed a small army… it’s definitely taken a toll.

We’ll head back to Illinois tomorrow morning.

This is the 9th year that we have set out for our annual “BroTrip“. My close friend James Brown (yes that really is his name) and I started the tradition, agreeing that even if it was just the two of us, there needed to be a yearly trip to get away & recharge, no matter what. Since that first trip, the accompanying cast & crew has changed. The fellas do what they can, when they can, but it’s hard to coordinate several schedules – especially with kids and dogs and jobs and… well, life.

It’s really hard, but it’s worth the effort.

Let me tell you what we did this year, and why you need to seriously consider setting up a BroTrip of your own.

An Aggressive Itinerary

We’ll plan to get to the cabin near Iron River late on Thursday night, then hit the sack and have 3 full days for different events. Pack the kayaks, coolers and get supplies in advance to save time & money. Kayaking can take place Sunday, after I get back from mass at St. Peter’s – an awesome little church with a rich history and a beautiful shrine out front, made from field stones brought by the locals many years ago. There’s a boat that we can fish from Saturday too, if we tow it to the Pike Chain with my truck. We’ll ask Josh Teigen for some extra poles, pick them up Friday night after we visit the VFW, and ask where the smallmouth bass are setting up. Actually if the VFW has their fish fry we’ll support that, but after we go to Tri Lake Timbers to have one of those amazing bloody marys with a Leinenkugel’s chaser. Wait – cheese curds! We gotta get to Benoit Cheese to pick up some curds, and look for some meat snacks as well. Food this trip will be heavy. Good. Diets can restart next week. Actually, we should cook burgers and brats out on the deck in the dark, so we better stop at MarketPlace Foods Grocery Store in Hayward on the way in. Don’t get too much food though, because we also need to run over to The Delta Diner for lunch, probably hit the Tap Shack the following day. That place is surprisingly good, and we can play bags while we enjoy a pint from Earth Rider Brewery. One night we better take the ferry to Madeline Island out of Bayfield. We can grab food at The Beach Club – actually no, a beer and some fish tacos! More curds, too. With ranch. Then run over to Tom’s Burned Down Café for a few more drinks while we talk to locals and laugh out loud at the misguided liberal propaganda plastered all over the “walls”. Then we’ll make our way back to the ferry to cross Lake Superior at night. If we’re lucky, the sky will be clear, and we’ll see satellites and shooting stars and planets and galaxies and EVERYTHING. Maybe we’ll stop at Frosty’s Outpost on the way back and play some pool, then see how many deer from “the Ino herd” we can count along the edges of the road. We’ll talk about music and life and kids and wives and girlfriends and jobs and existence and creation. All of it. The continuous conversation will chug forward like a freight train, from one day to the next, morning ’til night, without a break until the 7 of us decide it’s time to take a pause – as men do – and breathe in everything that is happening all around us. A pause that may last 30 seconds, or 30 minutes, without a word being spoken, and nobody asking “what’s wrong?” or “why are you so quiet?“

Because we’ll all just know.

On the final morning we’ll wake up and clean. Strip beds, sweep floors, grab perishables and load up. We’ll shake hands and hug in the driveway, make a few more jokes about hangovers and try to land some parting jabs on one another – again, as men do – then laugh at ourselves.

You have to be able to laugh at yourself.

No egos allowed.

No loose cannons. No sensitive types, easily “offended” by colorful language or incorrect pronouns.

Those men are not welcome.

Those are not men.

The ones we invite will have already proven they are of a certain quality.

Why waste time on anyone else?

Life is short.

The drive home will be long.

As we return to Illinois, we’ll feel the heat creep up bit by bit as we travel further and further south. The air will quite literally thicken. The hills will disappear and give way to the flatlands.

Corn. Corn everywhere.

We’ll return to “real life.”

We’ll get home and hug our wives, our kids, unpack and shower up. Then it’s time to figure out how we get back to work and chores and responsibilities… and start to plan for next year.

Maybe we can do even more?

It’s a good goal – and one thing’s for sure: absence has yet again made our hearts, and the hearts of our families, grow fonder.

It’s good to be home.

As you fish this week, consider this:

Planning a BroTrip (or whatever you decide to call it) takes work… and you need to do it. You. Specifically. YOU need to plan the trip, and the first one you plan will be the hardest. Convincing a handful of friends that they can make the time to go will be difficult.

Once.

After that first trip, you can repeat. You’ll remember lodging options, restaurants you hit, locations you visited. If you repeat a few times, not only does it become easier and easier to plan – it becomes more than a trip – it becomes a new tradition. It is much easier to get wives and bosses and co-workers and kids and everyone else on board when you are talking about a yearly tradition.

So make one.

Every year, when I talk to clients about my upcoming email hiatus, I hear the same response:

“Must be nice. I wish I had the time and money for a vacation. I never get to go.”

Boo-hoo.

Don’t be like this. Nobody feels sorry for you. Just stop.

NONE of us just happen to have free time. None of us have time for vacation, most of us don’t have extra money sitting around either – we make time for the things that are important to us. We save money for the things we want to do.

It takes discipline. Self-control. A certain amount of personal drive – but you can do it. You can make this happen, and if you do, I assure you, you will be very glad you did.

The following photos are from our 9th trip – and even though I just rolled back into town yesterday, the planning for trip #10 is already underway…

But of course it is.

Because after all… it’s a tradition.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

Many of the topics that we cover here sprout from personal development. They’re lessons learned in business and life that get turned towards this activity we all love. This activity called fishing. In fact, this article will be categorized as Weekly Fishing Motivation, but it’s meant to be more than that… it’s meant to spark something in your soul. To give you something to chew on this week. To challenge you.

We all want to become better fishermen, but we should strive to become better men as well. Better fathers, better husbands, brothers, uncles, neighbors.

Better humans.

At the literal level, “fishing” is described as “the act of catching fish for sport or food.”

Fair enough, but let’s go deeper.

What is fishing to people?

For some, it’s a leisurely activity.

To others, it’s a means of survival. Food.

There are anglers that love the chase. The adrenaline. The pursuit of that next big bite, fight & release.

This is boring to certain fishermen though, they need skin in the game. Competition.

Fishing guides have the stones to compete as well – with Mother Nature – knowing full well if they don’t put their client on fish, they might not get paid.

Professionals take competition to the max and make their living – or lack thereof – catching fish.

All of these fishermen seek something different, but they have one thing in common.

The desire to improve.

The leisurely fisherman wants to have more fun.

The hungry fisherman needs to eat consistently.

The adrenaline junkie needs his fix.

The competitive fisherman needs to win.

The fishing guide needs good reviews.

The professional fisherman needs sponsors and endorsements.

All of these happen as a result of improving.

So every week, as we talk about Fishing Motivation, I would hope that it stirs something in you. Stokes that desire to improve. Makes you set a new goal for yourself, or causes you to reflect on an idea while you’re on the water… but keep this in mind…

Motivation by itself is WORTHLESS.

A motivational speaker with a microphone can surely tickle the flesh. A well written article can rouse us from complacency. An inspirational video with powerful music can have the same effect – but that feeling fades. Quickly. What we really need to develop if we desire to improve, is drive.

Drive is what helps us get out of bed on a dark, dreary morning when the covers are just so comfortable. It helps us push through tough conditions. To do the work when the bite is tough. It gives us the courage to try new things. To put ourselves out there. To risk looking silly to others. To stay on the water when everyone else calls it quits.

It is our drive that stands firm when motivation fades.

And brother… it will fade…

When we talk about becoming a Minimalist Fisherman, the very first aspect relates to behaviors.

Minimalist Fishing is the careful accumulation of quality fishing behaviors, knowledge, skill, technique and gear.

Taken from: What is Minimalist Fishing?

This is intentional.

Behaviors are habits without the negative connotation.

These are the things that we do, even when we don’t want to do them. They are the actions, activities and rituals that need to be completed in order for us to achieve a desired outcome. A goal.

You have a goal… right?

If not, that’s a topic for another day…

Behaviors and drive are interchangeable.

They are far more important than motivation, and it is critical we define these differences so we can set our sights on targets that will truly help us become better anglers.

Think about that this week.

If you come across something on this site that motivates you, please tell me. That makes me happy.

But if you’re able to connect the dots and identify the behaviors that stand between where you are at, and where you really want to go as an angler, as a man, and as a human… then I will know I’ve really made a difference.

That’s one of my goals.

Develop your drive brothers.

Be aware of what that is, and don’t ever let a temporary lack of motivation slow you down.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

One of my favorite quotes comes from the great Jordan Peterson:

Don’t compare yourself with other people; compare yourself with who you were yesterday.

Jordan Peterson

I like this. It applies to everything.

A common mistake is to cherry-pick someone that it already doing well, and to compare yourself to them.

Let’s say you want to get into shape, so you look up Instagramers posting gym selfies. Dang, they look awesome. It’s so inspiring. Absolutely ripped. Veins popping. Tan. Just incredible. You say to yourself “yeah man, I want that!“

But shortly after you follow them, you start to get discouraged. It seems like they are constantly posting gym selfies – complete with perfect posing, perfect hair, perfect lighting – and these images start to discourage you. You start to feel like you’re never going to get there… so you quit.

TIME OUT.

You don’t know what it took that person to get there. You don’t know what sacrifices they made. How long they’ve been working at it. 1 year? 3 years? 10 years? 6 lifts a week with one-on-one help from a professional nutritionist?

Here’s a better path: develop your own nutrition plan and workout routine. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to be consistent. Log calories. Add lean protein. Work out 3 or 4 times a week. Then, take a picture on Monday, every week, for 8 weeks.

Tracking calories, creating workout routines, implementing them – these are all skills that you will start to develop.

Focus on you, and look at the changes you can make in your own life.

Fishing is a skill

Like all skills, it’s more enjoyable when you’re good at it. But in order to become a master, you must be willing to be a fool. You have to embrace starting small, and instead of picking up the latest issue of Bassmaster to gawk at pro anglers with $95,000 bass boats, or picking out a YouTuber with 500,000 subscribers and a billion views – take a snapshot of where you are at right now.

The easiest way to do this is with a journal. It can be pen & paper, or a computer document, or even a blog – like this one.

Another method you might consider is starting a video journal. I use YouTube for this purpose. I tape, edit and post videos so that I can go back and look at where I was at and where I’m going. Stars & Bars Fishing is specifically set up to be a running log of my escapades in-the-field.

I am no master, but I was willing to be a fool.

Still am.

For example, this year I decided it was time to learn to use a jerkbait. Never done that before. I knew I was going to look like an idiot – and I knew if I taped it, people would see me looking like an idiot.

But I went for it. Made dumb mistakes. Fished it “wrong”. Just kept pushing ahead… and you know what happened?

Success.

If you want to get better at fishing, you just need to invest the time and energy required to develop your skills. Just like the gym example above, your fishing plan doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to be consistent.

So start something new. Today. Right now. Make the decision, and as you move ahead, compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

Keep learning. Keep pushing. Keep fishing.

From one fool to another…

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

“It’s too dang cold“, you grumble after a late start as you scramble to grab your breakfast, coffee and gear in one quick pass through the house – you just know you’re going to forget something on this chilly Monday morning.

“It rained last night, the bite is going to suck after all that thunder and I bet the water temps cooled, too. Look at all the fog out there! None of my poles are rigged up properly, gas is super expensive, I don’t want to pay for live bait but I’ll need it, the ramp is going to be too crowded, and I bet that moron that likes to ride his jet ski at the butt-crack of dawn is already out ruining the weedline bite… maybe I’d be better off just staying home…“

Meanwhile, across town…

“I don’t think I can pay my bills this month“, he grumbles after a late start as he scrambles to grab breakfast, coffee and all of his work files in one quick pass through the house. Seems fine, but he knows he forgot something and it’s going to ruin the week.

“I already missed the deadline for Tom, so we might lose him as a client. My boss is going to be super cheesed off about that – probably fire me – at the very least rip me a new one, and Megan isn’t even talking to me lately because of all the family stuff I’ve missed. The kids are mad at me too, obviously, and I feel like there is a massive wedge being pounded between us – but what the heck am I even supposed to do about it?! God, help me… maybe I’d be better off just staying home…“

Two different worlds. Similar feelings of despair.

As I was driving to the lake this morning, I was grumbling, similar to the first example above.

It’s Monday. I was headed to fish for largemouth bass. Planned to throw a Z-Man Pop Frog, then a little finesse Tokyo rig I’ve been playing with as a delivery method for some Strike King Super Finesse Worms.

When I hopped on the interstate, I was stuck behind a little white SUV.

My pity-party continued. WOE IS ME! Everything is working against me this morning even though I’m headed out to fish! They won’t bite! The storm was huge! Everything is messed up!

Then I realized something…

The fella in the SUV actually lives down the street. He was headed to work. He has 5 kids, the youngest plays baseball with my oldest, and he has a beautiful wife.

She has breast cancer.

They’ve been taking trips to Texas for treatment, and it seems like things are looking up, but I don’t know. I’m too terrified to ask.

He was driving in front of me, as I was complaining about all the awful, catastrophic things that were wrecking my morning of fishing…

Gut punch.

I felt silly, then ashamed. I was disgusted with myself. Why had I allowed my outlook on the morning to become so negative? I was going fishing – not going to work while my wife was resting at home fighting cancer!

In that moment, I made a note to share this story, and decided to immediately adjust how I was reacting to everything around me.

This week, consider this:

We all have our battles.

Battles that change constantly. Battles that are important to us (no matter how small).

Not all battles are as intense as breast cancer, thankfully, and it’s worth keeping this in mind as we go through our day. If we’re able to sneak out to the lake – even if it’s terrible – that is a simple blessing. It’s better than running a business, going to work, taking a child to the emergency room… it’s better than any number of things.

All of the inconveniences that pop up on any given morning allow us to grow as anglers. They help us get better. They toughen us up. If they are so resilient that we can’t overcome them, if they cause us to stumble – GOOD – we fail, but failure is not an ending, just an obstacle.

Regroup. Come back, and defeat whatever was holding you back. Be thankful for the opportunity to do so.

As fishermen, we are surrounded by simple blessings and vivid reminders of the Almighty. Pause for a second this week, and see how many you can identify. I promise you this simple act will improve your mood, your relationships – and yes – even your fishing.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate

For many anglers, fishing is a hobby. Or a passion. Or a lifestyle. Or an obsession.

It’s many things to many fishermen, yet, it doesn’t come without it’s fair share of frustration.

One day you have it all figured out… the next day… the fish remind you that you don’t know squat.

This can happen over the course of a year, a month, a week… and yes, even a single day.

The presentation or location that was productive in the morning can turn off as the sun shifts in the sky, as the weather changes, water temps cool or heat up… or as the snacks & beverages run dry…

Why does this happen?

Well, you see, the fish… they do what they want. We’re simply chasing them. Hunting them. We’re a step behind. We’re guests in their homes. It’s not the other way around.

So bad days, they happen. A skunk, days with no fish… yup. Happens. If it hasn’t happened to you lately, it will. It’s just a matter of time.

Accept it, but even more than that… embrace it.

If we didn’t have the bad days, the good days wouldn’t be special.

The days where you can throw anything at the water, make as much noise as you want, stomp around hooting and hollering with your wife or buddies or kids – those days would just be normal.

Normal isn’t memorable.

Normal is boring.

When you find yourself in the middle of a day where extraordinary things are happening, pause for just a second. Reflect. Drink it all up. Lock it in the memory bank.

These days don’t happen often, and they should be treasured.

This week, consider this:

1. The frustration of fishing will help you become a better angler, so you can help friends & family succeed.

Trial and error can be an extremely effective teacher.

When fishing, success and failure are in your hands to a certain extent – but not completely. There are many external factors that will have an impact on your day-to-day fishing trips.

In time, you will learn what many of these factors are. You will gain experience and knowledge that you can share.

If you have buddies, a spouse, or most importantly – children – it’s this knowledge that will help you put them on fish faster, which in turn allows you to guide them towards the cultivation of a true love for the sport.

So you do your reps ahead of time. You take your licks. You get knocked down, beat up, chewed on and spit out. Do this, and learn more so you can help others avoid similar heartbreak as much as possible, especially early on in their fishing journey.

In time, they will experience plenty of this frustration on their own… and they will also learn that frustration is good. But, to start, use your hard-earned knowledge to create happy memories that they will cherish (and hopefully chase) for the rest of their lives.

2. The frustration will show your children that failure is not an ending, just an obstacle.

We don’t quit. Ever.

Failure is not an ending, just an obstacle.

Defeat it.

As Dad, as Mom… if you don’t want to raise quitters, whiners, losers… you need to set the example. You need to show your kids that when things get tough, the answer is never submission. We don’t throw in the towel or look for something easier.

We work hard, make adjustments, and get better.

Sometimes this is simply a grind. Hard work.

Other times it’s strategic. An adjustment.

Brains & brawn. Both are important in fishing and in life. Angling provides us with multiple opportunities to teach our family & friends what it looks like to overcome obstacles through our actions – not just our words.

So… embrace the frustration.

Embrace it, then defeat it.

Defeat it, and grow.

This cycle will repeat. It is self-perpetuating. Just when you think you have it figured out, the fish will remind you that you don’t. We’re always learning… and learning leads to growth…

The growth of an angler.

Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

Subscribe

Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.

Email

Subscribe

Thank You For Your Support

Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!

Click to Donate