How To Fish A New Area

TOM ROWLAND PODCAST

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“You can’t be afraid to fail, you can’t be afraid to make mistakes.”

PODCAST SYNOPSIS

Moving to a new area can be a challenge, even if you are an avid fisherman, you could be put in a place that is out of your element. Maybe you are a great saltwater fishermen but you move to an area where you are freshwater fishing (or visa versa). Well here are some things that you could do to get comfortable in a new area and learn how to fish there.

Maybe you’ve never fished before and you are wanting to get started where you live. Maybe you are a fisherman but you don’t know anyone in the area where you are moving. These tips will work in either situation:

Explore

Understand/Research Laws and Limitations

Tackle Shops Offer Great Information

Watch People Who Know What They Are Doing

Join A Fishing Club

Find A Mentor Through Exploring And Trying New Things

Get A Guide (Learn How To Communicate With Your Guide)

EXPLORE

You need to be comfortable exploring new areas. It can be intimidating but in this process you will meet people and be exposed enough to be comfortable in that new area. During this time you can’t be afraid to fail, and you can’t be afraid to make mistakes. You are going to fail and you are going to make mistakes, but it is going to help you learn to fish better and understand the area better.

Understand/Research Laws and Limitations

This is very important; understanding the trespassing laws and the limitations on the fish you are fishing for will help you explore in a safe and legal manner. Laws will vary from state to state, an example of this is the
”High Water Law” in Montana that is non-existent in Wyoming.

Tackle Shops Offer Great Information

This is a great resource to have and can be really any tackle shop. If you continually give them business they will provide you with better and better insights into the area. They won’t just give you the best spots right away, but if you develop a friendship with them, then they will learn to trust you more and more. They also will offer classes on techniques and if you stay up to date with the shop then you can attend the classes and learn lots of cool information.

Watch People Who Know What They Are Doing

Obviously don’t be creepy, but if you are exploring a new area and other people are there, see how they are fishing the location and imitate them if they are successful in their techniques. By exploring you are going to run into all kinds of people and if you are friendly they will offer to advice and tips on the area.

Join A Fishing Club

These are a great way to explore new areas and meet people who might be able to help you outside of the club as well. You can find out about fishing clubs through the tackle shops and the people that you meet while you are exploring.

Find A Mentor Through Exploring And Trying New Things

As you explore, fail and make mistakes you will likely meet someone who is older that has the time and knowledge to help you out. You want to let them help you and learn from them. They might end up being a great person to mentor you in the new area and new fishing tactics. They may even become a great friend in the future.

Get A Guide (Learn How To Communicate With Your Guide)

This is a great way to learn the area, but it is a delicate situation. You need to approach the guide and tell them that you are looking to learn how to fish for yourself. They may not trust you, or they might not want to show you that. But if you stay around and become close with them, and let them see your intentions, they’ll come around.

See you on the water,

Tom Rowland

Check out the show notes:

00:00 - How to get into fishing when you are in a new area, how would you get started?

00:55 - You need to be able to explore and don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes

01:25 - Understand the laws and limits are in your area. Know the trespassing laws and the laws around the fish you are fishing for.

02:14 - In Montana they have the “High Water Law” but in Wyoming the law is slightly different and there is no “High Water Mark”

04:46 - The people in the tackle shop are your resource. Give them business and they will give you information.

06:10 - You can watch people who are fishing and see what they are doing and how they are fishing

06:45 - Join a Fishing Club

07:32 - You will run across someone (if you do all these things) who will be able to have the time to help you and mentor you

08:10 - A guide is a great way to learn a new area, but you need to know how to Communicate With Your Guide and tell them that you want to learn how to explore and fish the area

09:51 - Email me with questions or concerns: podcast@saltwaterexperience.com