Confidence: There Is No Subtitute

If You’re Confident In Your Abilities, Your Baits And Your Waters, Your Catches Will Surely Soar

- Erik Jacobson

It has been said that luck is when pre-paredness meets opportunity. As much as I believe in that statement, I can’t help but think about how many times I’ve heard of someone catching a big musky their first time out. Or the first time on a water they’ve never before fished, which is a little easier. Congratulations are in order for sure.

Not to lessen such catches by any means, but I would venture to guess that the “lucky” anglers were most likely fishing with someone who had some musky experience, or experience on that lake or stream. So, they were probably pretty confident: “I’m going fishing with so-and-so and they’ve caught some.”

Either way, I smile and chuckle every time I hear those stories. In reality, musky fishing is difficult and a lot of work, and usually has a learning curve that takes time to figure out. But that’s also what makes musky fishing challenging and fun.

My point is that the anglers who are consistent in their catches are experienced in the methods they choose to fish and are confident in what they’re doing. This goes way beyond fishing and crosses over into every part of our lives. People who are best at what they do are experienced and most likely confident in their abilities. Another thing they have in common is they’re not afraid to admit it when they don’t know something. When you can do that, it opens up a whole new world of discovery and doesn’t limit you like the person who seems to have an answer for everything. When applying this to fishing, keeping an open mind, and always trying to learn something when you’re on the water, will pay dividends in your future successes.