When I go fishing I usually know,
What fish I want and where to go.
I gather equipment to fish for those fish,
That will help me put some fish in my dish.

Then I go to the lake or river and flail
Trying to catch some fish for my pail.
I cast my bait where fish ought to be,
But the fish don't always cooperate with me.

I don't catch fish in the spot I have chosen,
Could it be that their jaws here are frozen?
I switch my bait from one color to another,
But they think the same of that color as the other.

I then have to go and find another spot,
Hoping the fishing there will be hot.
If the fishing there is also no good,
Maybe to have stayed home was what I should.

When I get home with my tale of woe,
Will hearts and flowers loud and long flow?
Maybe next time I'll catch some fish
To put in my pail and then in my dish.

I could catch fish, it could happen you know,
It just depends on where the bait you do throw.
If the fish are ready and they are willing,
That's what makes a day of fishing so thrilling.

Fishing From Both Ends of the Line
Grandpa Fish Catcher

Where my line should be when fishing will depend on the type of fish I am seeking to catch. The area where I am fishing, whether on a large lake, small lake, pond, river, or stream will be a determining factor in where my line should be in order to be where the fish are. In early days of fishing, the depth to fish your line so that the bait would be accessible to the fish was determined by slowly moving your line up or down. The depth of the water was always there to be considered and in earlier days that was mainly a guessing game. Today, as technology has been developed, there are depth finders that are electronically controlled so that the water depth can be known and scanned as a boat moves around on a lake or river. There are also electronic fish locators that tell you at what levels the fish are and how big the fish are that you have located. This allows the ability to fish at the same level the fish are suspended in the water.

With all the technology that has been developed over the years there is still no guarantee that fish will be caught. There are people who tell stories of always getting their limit whenever they go fishing. We just have to remember everyone at one time or another has memory loss and people who fish are not exempt from experiencing these times.

Always remember that fish aren't always in the same place or at the same depth so be flexible and patient and most times you will be successful. Always check your fishing tackle and make sure you have the right equipment for the type of fish you are going to try to catch and good luck.

There is one kind of fish that can use a phone, and that is the sucker who has bought all the latest 'never fail' lures that guarantee to catch fish every time. That guarantee is held up when the person who sees and purchases the lure bites on the advertising campaign and buys the lure. Thus the lure has caught a sucker, even though the sucker is a land-locked sucker that can't live in the water. The lure may never catch a real water-living fish but it has done what the advertisement said it would, it has caught at least one sucker.

When you go fishing there are no signs saying where the fish are. Fish don't advertise and brag like people do as to where they are or where they are going. Fish just go from place to place seeking food or cover depending on the situation they are in. When they are hungry, they search for some kind of food to eat and they are usually willing to eat the food they find. They are not like people who have many choices when it comes to food. Fish feed on worms, minnows, bugs, and crayfish. Sometimes they seem to have a preference of one over another so most people who fish try to carry more than one kind of bait or lure, always hoping that one of them will catch fish. There is no way of anyone having pre-knowledge of whether the fish are going to bite the day they go fishing. If that were so you wouldn't have people telling you, "You should have been here yesterday, they were really biting." All the fancy equipment that tells you when fish are in the area and at what depth they are in the water can't make the fish bite. They will only bite when they are ready. Remember these fish are not in a tank of water where they have limited access to food.

Even with all the things that could be going on, the fish might just be biting today. Don't stay home just because all the reports and weather conditions point to a fishless day. Remember, the fish can't read, they don't have phones or radios, and their TVs get poor reception under water. They only have cameras hanging down in the water from the fishing boat overhead. So get out and give fishing a try. You may find you really enjoy the sport.

It is important to know the fishing regulations on the lake or river you will be fishing on as there are different regulations for different bodies of water. The regulations for trout lakes and streams are different than for lakes and streams that have no trout. Fishing laws will tell you where you can fish and when you can fish for each species. As we prepare for another spring, summer, and fall of fishing let us use common sense and courtesy toward others. Our lakes and rivers are here for us to enjoy, they don't belong to any one person. Everyone should operate their boats according to boating laws and respect for others. We have a great and blessed country. Let us all enjoy it together and show our children and grandchildren how to fish and share the woods and waters of our great country. There is nothing greater than knowing how blessed we are in this great country of ours. God Bless America.