Mark's Tips

The Elimination Process

The elimination process holds the secret to most research. Instead of looking for something, you try to eliminate those places where it isn't or those things that won't work. That approach moves you toward the right answer rather than away from it.

Fishing is no different. The only thing on which you can count is some type of change. Conditions are never the same. One lure may have worked yesterday, you'll need a different one today. The hotspot last week turns out to be as cold as the ice in your cooler this week.

Veteran skippers and experienced anglers constantly work a system based on the elimination process. They'll start at the last known reference point or where they are told the fish should be. Then, they'll try different baits, a variety of lures, and even modify techniques until they discover the system that works at that moment. It might change again in an hour and they'll make further adjustments.

The key to catching fish on a consistent basis centers on one's ability to recognize change and work through the elimination process using experience and reason to produce educated guesses. Try it!

Tips Index