A lesson well learned Old timers and seasoned anglers sometimes get the idea they know everything about everything especially when it comes to fishing. Well guess what folks that is not always true. They have the boat, tackle and plenty of experience but as for knowing; everything about fishing there is plenty of room for improvement. Knowledge is to the mind what exercise is to the body and those professing to know everything are only fooling themselves.
Anglers, outdoorsmen, tournament anglers and Joe Average with a passion for their pastime whatever it is often underestimate or fail to accept their capacity to think, learn, determine and shape their own futures. Unfortunately, some still determine their lives by chance and circumstance. Living in democratic society, we have the ability to make our own choices. Consequently, we must accept responsibility for our lives, achievements, and failures. We are free to choose our own direction and must believe that our futures are within our own hands. Dedication, determination, and perseverance, not fate or luck determines our success in life and business. Whether a seasoned angler or just Mr. or Miss Average, failure to spend time researching, reading and learning new skills, techniques or ways to improve ourselves or our pastimes shows up first in personal achievements and then in our business success.
An old Chinese Proverb once said, "A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study, so make time to learn something new.
Reflecting, back on an experience with a stranger that started negative, ended positive, this conversation was worth gold, and something remembered forever.
Fishing in Clearwater last winter the clients caught several nice trout and a couple of redfish. Returning to the dock, we took them to the cleaning station. As we approached an old man, maybe in his 80's was cleaning a sheephead. Wearing an old denim shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and floppy straw hat, his skin looked like leather under his patchy gray beard. Approaching the table I said, "How you doing." Never looking up he replied, "Do you really care"? Taken back momentarily by his curt answer I responded, No, not really, was just being friendly."
Not easily intimidated, I continued, "Looks like you really got on them today." Seeming to warm a degree or two and realizing that I was not going away, he replied, "Fish only for Sheep's this time of year, and do ok".
Thinking to myself, I got him going now I continued pressing the conversation in hopes of picking up a tip or two about catching whoppers like those in his bucket. "Never target Sheephead, I said. Most of my clients are interested in Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, or Trout." Knowing I was about to venture onto some soft ground I asked, "Got any tips on catching nice ones like those in the bucket.
For the first time in the conversation, he looked in my direction with a slight grin saying, "You're a guide you should know everything." Smiling back, I said, "Yea sure." "I have a good understanding about catching fish but it looks like you got me skunked on Sheephead." Continuing his task of cleaning fish, he did not reply.
Finishing up, and at a seemingly loss for something else to say, I turned toward my clients, handed them their dinner and thanked them for their business. As we started walking away, I heard him say, "Boy," you got some time, stick around I'll tell you how I do it." Not believing my ears, I replied. "That would be great I would appreciate anything you can teach me."
By the time the boat was loaded and ready to travel, the old man was finishing up. Grabbing a couple of cokes and some boiled peanuts from the cooler, I walked toward him introducing myself, he replied, "names Gus, let's sit here on the bench my legs get tired of standing." Sitting down, I handed him a coke and offered some peanuts. For almost an hour, we sat there drinking coke, eating boiled nuts him talking and me listening like a school, boy.
"These little bait stealers are great eating. hard to clean but great eating never the less. They got fins that's, hard as nails and sharp as tacks so careful they can really do some damage if you're not careful. Sneaky and quick they nibble away cleaning your hook without ever moving your float." He explained.
"The secrets in the bait, you need something hard to get off the hook. Lots, of folks use fiddler crabs and shrimp others use mussels and oysters. They all catch fish but you spend a lot of the time baiting your hook." "So what do you use?" I wanted to know. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he handed me a piece of cheesecloth about 3 inches square. "Take this, and wrap a couple oysters or mussels inside then put it on the hook. When they start nibbling, they only get the flavor. Getting aggravated, they soon inhale the entire thing." "Now you got em." He smiled.
"What tackle do you use?" I asked. "I got a couple of cheap spinning rods and reels with braid line. These new braided lines are great stuff for feeling em bite." I use about a foot of thirty-pound leader, a #1 hook and a sliding sinker. Not too heavy on that sinker, he emphasized, only enough to hold against the current."
"I use a float and small shot weight around shallow-water oyster bars, pot holes, and rock piles, "he said. "Keep an eye on that float the slightest movement is a bite. Sometimes it goes down just a little or moves to one side. When it does set the hook, if you feel him set it again they got hard mouths." "That's about all there is too it, hope it helps." Oh, he said, "Just one more thing, no matter what you're trying to catch, remember slack line is not your friend, you can't hook em if you can't feel em so keep that line tight."
"Thanks for the coke, son." he said. With that, he slowly walked off toward the parking lot, got into an old red Chevy pickup with a small boat in tow and disappeared down the road. I have never seen Gus since that day and often wonder what he is up to and if he is ok.
For several minutes sitting in my vehicle I reflected on how it all started. That old man probably forgot more about fishing than I will ever know, I thought. Makes you wish you could pour his years of knowledge into your brain before he departs for a better fishing hole.
Since that day, Sheephead are on my list of fish to catch. In addition, my encounter with an old man named Gus, taught me well and I am catching plenty of nice Sheepies, as he called them. Clients seem to enjoy something out of the ordinary often remarking, "These fish really fight."
Looking for some new angling excitement and think sight fishing for Reds is tough, try testing your sight fishing skills against open water Sheephead but only if you think you are good enough.
In closing, "Never pass up the opportunity to learn something new. When a conversation starts out negative, make it your challenge to turn it around. Always remember, the best rule in any conversation is; Never say anything, you later wish was left, unsaid.
If you are interested in using my charter service you can reach me by calling Capt. Woody Gore at my cell 813-477-3814 or home 813-982-2034. You can also email me at wgore@ix.netcom.com. Please visit my website at www.captainwoodygore.com.