7 Ways to Have Even More Fun While Fishing!

These tips can help somebody who is trying to find an interest in fishing and just can't quite get it. Regardless of your sex, you should read Advice for Women Who Want To Fish to see if you are not interested in fishing for the right reasons. (Click here for the article.)

If you are a woman, no matter how girly you are... you can enjoy fishing! In fact, you should definitely learn How to Enjoy Fishing Without Risking Your Femininity (by reading this article) to see how you can take a man's hobby and womanize it!

However, these tips are made for those who already enjoy fishing. It is always better to increase pleasure in an already enjoyable activity!

Join a fishing derby or tournament.

Throughout the summer, there are a number of local areas... no matter where you live... that are having fishing derbies and tournaments. These are usually held as a fund raiser, for a fire department or other non-profit organization. There will be an entry fee to enter the tournament, and you will want to be there early because it usually starts at sun-rise.

You will spend all day fishing if you are in a tournament, but you are competing with other fishers for a prize. Wether the prizes are awarded in a drawing (every fish gets a chance) or based on size... the prizes are usually motivating. For example... in a few weeks I plan to attend two seperate tournaments.

The first is a catfish tournament, and the grand prize is a brand new bass boat, fully loaded. The next day I will be competing in a carp derby, where every carp is entered into a drawing for various cash prizes. In the catfish tournament the first catfish caught is an automatic $50 reward. In the carp derby, the smallest carp will win $20.

Ask other fishers, local bait & tackle shops, and other fishing/hunting related retail stores for information regarding fishing derbies or tournaments near you!

For bigger, more national fishing tournaments check out Exciting Fishing Tournaments in the US by clicking here.

Have a personal contest with friends.

You can be just as competitive without having to pay an entry fee. Set the terms... whether your group is competing to catch the most fish, the largest fish, the first fish... etc. It is possible to compete for a prize as simple as bragging rights.

Still, for the gambler in you... you can throw money on it anyways. Maybe your chances of winning will be increased... seeing how it is just you and some friends. Let's say there's 10 of you, and you all throw in $10. Right off the bat there is $100 at stake. The first fish... that's good for $10, maybe more. The most fish... that should win at least $20. And the largest fish takes the grand prize. However you want to do it... it's all fun and games.

What's great is that while fishing tournaments and derbies are all for specific fish... fishing competitively with friends can cover any fish caught... even a little blue gill.

Make small talk with other fishers.

Forget what you learned as a child about not talking to strangers. As you get older, and under the right circumstances, you learn that some strangers can be the most interesting people to talk to.

You may learn something new, or you may be bored to tears by your 'fishing neighbor'... but if you decide this fisher is absolutely weird you can always move to a different spot. (Note: You will often get tips on what bait is working if you talk to a fisher who has a bucket full of fish.)

While fishing, be sure to follow the Proper Etiquette for Summer Activities (by clicking here), especially if you are a boat owner!

Fish for specific fish.

If you are the type who fishes just to fish... even if you always catch and release and never intend to keep anything for dinner... you can still make things more challenging by fishing specifically for one certain type of fish.

This will mean you have to put more focus into what type of bait and lures you may be using, where you are casting, etc. Yet when you do catch that fish, it will be more rewarding than simply catching any fish!

Travel to different fishing areas.

Occassionally, plan a weekend fishing trip. Drive an hour or more to a location you've never been. Consider it a 'day vacation' and pack accordingly. While in an area foreign to you, take advantage of making small talk with other fishers!

Also, check out Tips for Fishing an Unfamiliar Lake before you try a new place. (Click here to read it.)

Use more than one fishing pole.

I don't know exactly how to explain this one... but it is obviously more fun than using just one fishing pole. You can throw some blood bait on one pole with a few sinkers and tightline for some cat-fish, maybe even double hook it and throw a worm higher up your line to increase your odds of getting hits if you don't feel like being picky.

While you are waiting, you can also throw some spinner bait onto another pole and walk a few yards along the coast line.

You can use as many poles as you wish... just be reasonable. What will you do if you have two hits at the same time?

Make random, quick, fishing pit stops.

All too often we plan on going fishing. Why not stop spontaneously and throw a line out in the water for 15 minutes or maybe even a half hour? Not only is it nice to go fishing, but fishing can be a great stress relieving break in your day when you need it... or even if you don't!