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Merwin: Lucky vs. Good
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July 31, 2009
Merwin: Lucky vs. Good
By John Merwin
When it comes to fishing, is it better to be lucky or to be good?
That’s an age-old question, of course, but worth talking about once in a while.
I think the young kid who catches a 7-pound largemouth off the family dock at high noon is probably just lucky. This kind of thing does happen, but not very often. On the other hand, take the guy who has been fishing for a long time, has studied and learned about bass and their habits, mastered a few techniques, and who pulls a 7-pounder out of the same weed beds he’s fished for years. He’s probably more good than lucky, but maybe a little lucky, too.
There’s always some element of chance in fishing. Sometimes you get the right roll of the dice. Sometimes you don’t. Being unpredictable is part of what makes fishing fun. But the more you know, and the more skills you master through practice over time, the more often the dice will roll in your direction.
This isn’t just a matter of being an old, experienced angler. I know some young people who are excellent fishermen. They’ve worked hard to get there. That’s the key, I think. Work. There really aren’t any shortcuts. With time and effort in fishing, as in life, you can mostly make your own luck.
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Comments (14)
If you catch one 7lb bass then you are lucky. If you catch two 7lb bass then your good.
You need both, some days being good will land many fish, but other days it does not matter how good of a fisherman you are then just might not bite. That is when it pays off to be lucky.
They say you create your own luck ... part of that is in just showing up.
Luck is the force that operates for good, and is found when hard work,knowledge and wisdom meet at the cross roads of opportunity.
I wouldn't call it work, but yes, a lot of practice. Like anything you have to put your time in. I fish a tough lake and go home skunked more times than I like, but I keep going back. I figure if I can get skilled enough to consistently catch fish there, I can nail them anywhere.
The longer you fish and the more techniques you learn the better your chances of catching a trophy size fish, but there is always a luck factor involved. The right place at the right time has a lot to do with catching a trophy size fish.
your right on guys. you need both skill and luck. you can be the best fisherman in the world but if the new guy is in the right spot at the right time he will catch the trophy.
I think hte harder you work the luckier you are going to get.
If your good you catch lots of fish all the time. If your lucky you catch the big ones all the time.
I've only caught a handgfull of bass over 5 lbs in my life with a couple of 7 LBs. But a guy that I have taken under my wing & showed a few tips and how to read water & the bank, Has almost caught as many 5 lbs as I have in just a couple of years. So I would say it is a combo of both. Being in the right place at the right time ,with the right bait!
Got to agree with some of the above comments. You can know what your doin and be good at fishing, but it takes luck for a big fish to bite.
I have become a firm believer that there is no such thing as luck. Just opportunities and choices.
That said, my son literally caught a 6# largemouth off the family dock several years ago. He had on his "killer lure" which was a knockoff copy of a fat rap bought from a bargain bin. It was deadly on bass till it finally broke.
The fish was released and the busted lure is hanging on the wall of the camp.
Everytime I think I am good, luck comes outta nowhere and reminds me that I'm not as good as I think. Luck serves to keep you humble.
Luck has everything to do with fishing... being at the right place at the right time, rigging the right bait, using the right action, making the right cast... but this can all become better by practicing and working at it. Which in turn... increases your luck.
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If your good you catch lots of fish all the time. If your lucky you catch the big ones all the time.
If you catch one 7lb bass then you are lucky. If you catch two 7lb bass then your good.
I think hte harder you work the luckier you are going to get.
I've only caught a handgfull of bass over 5 lbs in my life with a couple of 7 LBs. But a guy that I have taken under my wing & showed a few tips and how to read water & the bank, Has almost caught as many 5 lbs as I have in just a couple of years. So I would say it is a combo of both. Being in the right place at the right time ,with the right bait!
I have become a firm believer that there is no such thing as luck. Just opportunities and choices.
That said, my son literally caught a 6# largemouth off the family dock several years ago. He had on his "killer lure" which was a knockoff copy of a fat rap bought from a bargain bin. It was deadly on bass till it finally broke.
The fish was released and the busted lure is hanging on the wall of the camp.
You need both, some days being good will land many fish, but other days it does not matter how good of a fisherman you are then just might not bite. That is when it pays off to be lucky.
They say you create your own luck ... part of that is in just showing up.
Luck is the force that operates for good, and is found when hard work,knowledge and wisdom meet at the cross roads of opportunity.
I wouldn't call it work, but yes, a lot of practice. Like anything you have to put your time in. I fish a tough lake and go home skunked more times than I like, but I keep going back. I figure if I can get skilled enough to consistently catch fish there, I can nail them anywhere.
The longer you fish and the more techniques you learn the better your chances of catching a trophy size fish, but there is always a luck factor involved. The right place at the right time has a lot to do with catching a trophy size fish.
your right on guys. you need both skill and luck. you can be the best fisherman in the world but if the new guy is in the right spot at the right time he will catch the trophy.
Got to agree with some of the above comments. You can know what your doin and be good at fishing, but it takes luck for a big fish to bite.
Everytime I think I am good, luck comes outta nowhere and reminds me that I'm not as good as I think. Luck serves to keep you humble.
Luck has everything to do with fishing... being at the right place at the right time, rigging the right bait, using the right action, making the right cast... but this can all become better by practicing and working at it. Which in turn... increases your luck.
Post a Comment