No matter what anyone tells you, you don’t need years of experience to catch more fish. In fact, all you need is a rod and reel, some bait or lures, and these tips for increasing your odds. Oh, and a body of water… you’ll definitely need that.

1. Choose the best time of the day

Fish are more active in low-light conditions, when they feel less threatened by predators. This means you’ll have more luck in the early-to-mid morning, as well as the early-afternoon to evening hours. That said, if the only opening in your schedule means casting under the noonday sun, don’t pass on the opportunity. Instead, look for shaded water, take advantage of cloudy skies, and remember that fish don’t always do what we expect.

2. Choose the best spot

Fish like to hide under overhanging banks, around submerged rocks and trees, and in broken water, which helps them blend into their surroundings. These features offer your best bet for a strike, so seek them out and start casting.

3. Cast Past

Once you’ve chosen your favorite spot (or, better yet, actually seen a fish), try to place your cast just beyond it, and reel into the zone, rather than dropping your bait directly on top of your prey. Otherwise, the fish will startle, and a scared fish is generally not a hungry fish. Plus, most lures take a few cranks of the reel to find their natural rhythm, which is key to getting a fish interested.

4. Wear polarized sunglasses

Not only do polarized glasses protect your peepers, they also allow you to see through the glare on the water so you can scope the submerged features that increase your odds of success. Polarized sunglasses might even help you spot the very fish you’re about to get on your line.

5. Steady does it

If you see a fish chasing your lure, it’s ok to get excited… just don’t stop reeling! In fact, don’t even change your rhythm too drastically; it’ll only alert the fish to the fact that something’s not quite right. And if you’re worried that your fish isn’t fast enough to catch your bait, don’t be: You might be fast, but you’re not fast enough to out-reel a hungry fish.

More Fishing Tips from Ryan and Janice

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