Many of us were lucky enough to have some early fishing experiences. Yet, as Robert Frost reminded us, “knowing how way leads on to way” we get sidetracked with “little things.” Little things like getting an education, working, falling in love and having a family. You know, the type of things that can seriously distract you from having more of those great fishing experiences.

Often it’s years later when you have an epiphany. You see a terrific fishing rig at a yard sale or perhaps you see some photos on Facebook, maybe an old chum posing with a great fish—a striped bass or perhaps a jumbo pickerel. You think, “Gee, I enjoyed fishing with good Ol’ Uncle Josh when I was a kid. Why don’t I do it now?”

“How tricky can trout or freshwater bass be?” you ask yourself. After all, you’ve caught lots of fish trolling the ocean. Well, starting again on new waters can be a challenge. Catching a trout isn’t like catching a flounder and catching a largemouth isn’t like catching a striper (rockfish). The codes for most fish are not usually the same.

It isn’t about one kind of fishing being better than another. It so happens that I like all types of fishing, blue water trolling for giant quarry or casting a wee fly for sipping trout, flats fishing for bonefish, or working a popper on a bass lake. It’s all good. When a fish strikes, I experience a thrill, and it’s nearly the same for a tiny brookie as it is for a triple-digit tarpon. The “take” is always magical.

These experiences have another common denominator beyond the thrill of the take. It is that each type of fishing usually requires the angler to put some time into learning about and studying the habits of each particular species.

None of this is rocket science. After all, we are just trying to outwit a cold-blooded creature with a brain the size of a pea. But each and every species has its own feeding characteristics. Different lures and techniques are necessary to trigger that strike unless you are fishing for pan fish with a worm and cork bobber. Truly, there are thousands of different lures available today and countless techniques, and all work at times. Discovering which one works the very best is the key. It is the art to unlocking the code.

Take lake fishing for bass as an example. Believe it or not, things to consider might include water temperature: is the lake bath-water warm, are there springs in the lake, is it calm or windy, what is the barometer doing and is it changing, what depth are you fishing over (the thinner the water column, the greater stealth required), what phase is the moon (check SolunarTables), is there cloud cover, what’s the vegetation, what’s the fishing pressure and/or other use nearby, and, of course, what time would it be best to fish? There are other factors too, lots of them.

The fastest way to speed this “educational” process along is to fish with or interact with experienced fishers who are successful. So I recommend that you find a mentor or guide who will accelerate your learning curve for any fishing disciple. There are also organizations that can lead you to someone to help; think Trout Unlimited, B.A.S.S., Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, or local clubs such as 1stBassmasters of Sullivan County NY, or Highland Hookers. And don’t forget your local tackle shop.

On the other hand, you can simply call up Ol‘ Uncle Josh and invite him to go fishing. I am sure he will be glad to hear from you after all these years.