If you want to catch fish then you need to understand the life of a fish
You’ll know it when you get there. Until then, happy hunting. But in the meantime, I’m totally open to giving you a few tips to help make your experience successful.
As far as eating fish I pay attention to the health benefits/risks and sustainability of the fishery. I haven’t found conclusive studies that provide information on mercury levels on all fish. Rather, they tend to give generalities. I limit my intake if for no other reason than I don’t get a chance to fish very often. But I will say that over the years, with regard to my harvest of fishing or hunting, I have become much more selective in what I decide to take home.
I have a sense for the population density of my quarry, and act accordingly. If I see a great deal of trout in the river, I might keep a few more than I would otherwise. On the other hand, if the action is sparse, then I’ll probably let most or all of them go. I’m just as content to spend time in the water as I am to line a stringer full of fish. But that might be because I’ve lined plenty of stringers in my younger years. Do what you think works for you. Just remain intimately aware of the balance we help play with nature. And most certainly, do not waste. If you harvest what you catch, enjoy it to it’s fullest.
I’m not going to give you all my favorite secret fishing spots. Just ask my good buddies about that. You know the saying, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you... Well, things that take years to discover aren’t likely to be given away on a whim. Besides, it’s the journey you are after. If a 10 pound brown trout were handed to you on a platter you wouldn’t really appreciate it anyway.
No, you need to discover your own water. There is more excitement in finding someplace special than there is in landing a huge fish.
