Exact Science or Trial and Error

The Internet and various social media platform posts would have us believe that x + y = z, and that by using this bait and that hook, fish will be caught. If only it worked that way...

In another example from a recent 60 Minutes episode about the newest technologies, someone will eventually figure out how to use "deep fakes" to produce photographs of fish without actually catching any.

Fishing, in its true sense, relies on randomness and trial and error for the most part.

Baking a delicious cake relies on a recipe with various items like:

• Flour
• Eggs
• Baking Powder
• Oil
• Vanilla

Recipes are developed over time by adding ingredients in various quantities and then tasting (i.e. testing) the results.

• Does it need more or less of various combinations of these items? 
• Is it missing something vital? 
• Should it cook more? 
• Cook less? 
• Higher temperature? 
• Lower temperature?

Fishing works similarly.

You can search Google for tips regarding best fishing hooks, best fishing line, best baits, best places to fish, or even best moon phases; but then you put those ingredients together to form a fishing strategy. 

A strategy that hasn't been implemented remains a dream. 

The experience of fishing actually hones skills and knowledge to a level that improves fishing results to the point of changing strategies based on season, water temperature, location, etc.

You may have a goal to catch fish, but at some point leaving the keyboard and comfort of the living room couch to actually "go fishing" is a precursor to actually catching them.

Sometimes the fish just aren't biting our baits. It could be the bait, it's presentation, or a host of other things. No matter if we use all the right ingredients, the fish must be in front of our rods to catch them. So, perhaps more important than science, trial, error, luck, equipment or anything else - finding the fish location in a particular body of water is step one.

People brand new to fishing, or new to carp fishing, are often frustrated that more experienced fishermen sometimes resist sharing their secret "spots". This reminds me of the rivalries that sometimes occur between wives and mother-in-laws over the "secret family recipe" for their specialty dishes (noodles, spaghetti, meatballs, etc. in my own family). And between husbands and father-in-laws for barbecue rib spice rubs, smoking woods, or bbq sauces (not a problem for me because my father-in-law doesn't like to cook).

Lots of trial and error, blood, sweat and tears go into finding a productive fishing location and the "recipe", so there is hesitation to "give it up for free". The solution is to share information and collaborate on your efforts so that when something is given there is also something gained.