By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
I have mentioned that the mental approach to fishing fascinates me. Good sticks are good because they have learned a system of thinking that puts them in the right place at the right time, fishing in the right manner. Yes, technology can make things easier, but the best tool any angler can have is the one between their ears.
Some fishing is more mentally taxing than others. Muskies are said to be the fish of 10,000 casts. If you are going to catch one you better be right in the head.
Or, not. . . .
Thought I would jot down some of the randomness that meanders through my mind waiting for that next muskie strike. . . .
Yes, I talk to myself. Most of the time I believe that is silently, in my head. However, recently, on the water, I heard my son saying out loud some of the same things to himself that I often say. Maybe I am not keeping it inside my head? He wasn’t.
Day 1
Hour 00:00, Cast 1
Finally here!!!! Jittery with excitement. Fumbled around getting rods, reels, leaders, baits, knots, etc. ready. At last it is time to cast!
Check the hooks–“Hooks Go!”
Check the drag– “Drag Go!”
Check the net–“Net Go!”
Check the hook removal tools–“Tools Go!”
“All systems go for launch!”
Cast. Just know I am going to get a fish on the first cast!
Hour 00:01, End of retrieve, Cast 1
Concentrate! Pull the bait past, swing into an “L” turn. Anything following?
Darn, no.
Hour 00:02, Cast 2
Cast. Water is cold, don’t fish too fast.
Hour 00:30, Cast 32
This shoreline looks good. Cover every inch of it. Going to pick up a fish somewhere along here!
Hour 00:54, Cast 47
Weather conditions should be right. Cannot remember when the charts said the major or minor periods were supposed to be.
Don’t mean nothing, keep casting. Gonna be a fish up that wants to eat!
Hour 01:24, Cast 103
That bait looks great. If I were a muskie I would eat it! Keep putting it right where they should be. Only a matter of time.
Watch, anything following? One of these casts there is going to be a shadow, a very large, menacing shadow, right behind my bait!
Hour 02:11, Cast 175
“Eat it!” “Come on, I know you are out there, eat it!”
Hour 04:03, Cast 488
Hey look, an eagle. That should bring good luck!
Hour 05:13, Cast 520
Time to try another spot. This one should be good. Bet there is a fish here, bet I hook up in the next dozen casts!
Hour 05:58, Cast 561
Still nothing. Have not even seen a fish. Time to switch up baits, fish deeper water.
Hour 06:25, Cast 597
Cannot believe I have not seen anything. Going to call it for today. Just five more casts to the high percentage spots. Maybe a hungry fish has moved in behind me?
Hour 06:40, Cast 612
Stink! Nothing. Next session I will catch one!
Day 2
Hour 06:41, Cast 613
Big weather change today. COLD! And of course, windy. Who knows, weather change, different wind, should get some fish up. Today is the day!
Hour 08:16, Cast 722
Thought it was cold and windy before? Ha, It is getting worse.
Oh well, this just means I am the only one out here! Any muskie that wants to eat, I am going to get her!
Hour 08:35, Cast 743
Now it is snowing. Put up the hood, zip up tight. Stay warm, keep casting.
Any cast now!
Hour 09:02, Cast 770
Water is freezing in my rod guides.
Hour 09:10, Cast 781
Finish retrieve, swish rod in water to clear ice from guides.
Hour 10:01, Cast 867
Cast, retrieve, cast, retrieve, cast, retrieve.
Keep your head in the game. One of these casts it is going to happen!
Hour 10:47, Cast 900
Hey look a muskrat! I am not alone! Muskrats are good luck!
“Morning, Mr. Muskrat.” “Staying warm?”
“I would not be swimming there if I were you.”
“Somewhere out there is a toothy monster big enough to inhale you!”
(Yes, I not only talk to myself, I talk to the animals. Sometimes they talk back.)
Hour 12:38, Cast 1033
Hey, was that a flash behind my bait???!!!!
Hour 12:39, Casts 1034-1040
Nah, must have been seeing things.
Hour 13:29, Cast 1133
Where does the white go when the snow melts?
Hour 14:12, Cast 1197
Remember that time you fished with Gramps, Dad, and Uncle Ivan over there on that shoreline? Man, it was stinkin’ wet and miserable that day too.
We forgot any utensils to eat our lunch. Ring baloney, canned beans and tater chips never tasted so good! Tater chips ARE utensils.
“You wanna lot of chips or a few chips?”
Did not catch nothing that day either, but oh how I hated to quit fishing.
Still do. Keep casting
Hour 14:46, Cast 1222
“Come on you stinkin’ ‘skies! I know you are out there! BITE!“
Hour 15:14, Cast 1250
Much as I hate to quit, I am hungry. Time to take a break, get something hot to eat. Stay fresh. Tomorrow will be THE day!
Eat, Sleep, Fish, Repeat.
Day 3
Hour 15:15, Cast 1251
Check knots, re-tie, make sure the hooks are sharp!
Hour 15:20, Cast 1255
Hey look, a pair of buffleheads! Buffleheads are good luck, aren’t they?
Hour 16:52, Cast 1398
Saw a carp jump way out in the lake. Suppose carp jump when there is ice on the lake? Then they hit their heads on the ice?
Stupid carp.
Hour 17:44, Cast 1448
Typical Nebraska weather, wind is blowing from a different direction again today.
At least you can count on the wind to be howling.
Hour 19:23, Cast 1579
I need to change things up. With this wind I ought to try out that new spot I have a hunch about.
Hour 19:40, Cast 1580
Looks great, has to be a fish here. Stay sharp, any cast now.
Hour 20:01, Cast 1646
Hey look, western grebes. Western grebes are good luck, aren’t they?
Hour 20:50, Cast 1717
Switch it up, throw a different bait, try a little deeper again.
Hour 20:55, Cast 1720
Bait looks great. Cannot believe a big ‘lunge hasn’t eaten it yet. Any cast now!
Hour 21:13, Cast 1733, Mid-retrieve
THUMP!
Hour 21:20, Casting paused at 1733
Hallelujah Chorus playing in my head. Grinning so much my face hurts.
Bet I will get another one on the next cast! . . .