By Alberto Knie
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to fishing moving water.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you asked me this critical question some 40 years ago, my answer would have been no because I really didn’t think it was an important factor. Back then, it was mostly a guessing game. I always wondered why I caught fish on certain days, and on other ones I couldn’t buy a bite. I often wound up frustrated and puzzled, consoling myself with the notion that what I was doing was simply validating why we call it fishing and not catching. I soon realized there was much to learn.
Tides are of crucial consideration.
Curiosity definitely got the best of me, and as I logged more and more hours on the water, I began to research and evaluate why and when I caught fish. My logbooks were vital in helping to decipher the fish-catching puzzle, and eventually it became evident that the stage of the tide played a pivotal role in my successful days.
FISH SMARTER
This revelation quickly changed the way I fish and eliminated all of the guesswork and non-productive time. These days, I fish much smarter. If you ask me if there is a wrong tide, the answer would be a profound yes. Let’s just say that I depend on a tide chart and it helps me be productive on the water. At this stage of my life, my time is limited and I always plan my days accordingly. In essence, I fish less hours and catch more fish. It may sound contradictory, but once you understand the need to concentrate your efforts on the most productive stages of the tide, it all makes sense. But before I break it down and get into the specifics, you have to ask yourself: How important is fishing the “right” tide?
Prior to writing this article, I asked a few novice fishermen this important question and surprisingly, their responses were all the same. Most people don’t have the time (or the know-how) to understand it, and they simply want to enjoy the outdoors, or just fish whenever their schedule permits. For the most part, they seem to rely on pure luck and just enjoy their day off.
