Fishing, as we all know, is the sport of catching fish, typically with rod, line and hook. Like hunting, fishing first originated as a means of finding food for survival. Earlier fishermen of even the 18th century often used simple sticks that they might cut from a tree with a line and crude hook tied on the limber end and they used a common worm or other types of insects such as a grasshopper or cricket for bait. He then would typically station himself as strategically as he knew how around some type of cover or at some type of break feature such as a deep spot on the bank and he would catch fish.

Fishing, no doubt, evolved much since those earlier times, but even today modern day anglers still have exactly the same problems as those of his earliest ancestor: Where to Find Fish, How to Approach Fish, and What Sort of Bait Presentation to Use to Catch Fish.

Why Pattern Fishing Equals More Bites.

How is it that certain anglers manage to fish in a totally unfamiliar lake or different area of the same lake and figure out the fishing secrets in a day or two and always seem to catch fish— fish that somehow avoid the hooks of hundreds of other anglers? Why does it seem like certain anglers prefer to travel several miles from the boat ramp up or down the lake at certain times of the year and at other times, suddenly seem very content to sit over another area on the same lake very near the boat ramp for several days or even weeks in a row—and still catch fish? How can weekend fishermen with far less experience and hardly ever catch fish make the most of their time on the water by fishing those areas with the greatest potential to produce fish? Is it possible?

Morrow’s Crappie Academy – A ‘speck-tacular lesson plan for big winter crappie.

“I started out bluegill fishing when I was 3 years old. My dad took me, and when I began to catch fish, I was hooked for life, I just wanted to keep on fishing and not stop!”

Those words come from Dakota Morgan, who on the eve of her 12^th birthday was joining professional guide, Barry Morrow for a trip on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma.

At her young age, Dakota Morgan is already an experienced bass angler. She has some club tournament wins under her belt and a lot of experience working at some of the professional circuit bass fishing weigh-ins, where she helps with live release among other things.

If there were ever any questions as to whether girls can fish, Dakota is the perfect answer. But she had never really fished for crappie, and she was excited to get the chance to do it with a true crappie professional.

The weather man missed the mark, and what was supposed to be a warmer, sunny December day just didn’t pan out.