The top 10 fishing mistakes—and how to avoid them!

#7 BELIEVE THE DOCK TALK

I will never forget interviewing Kevin VanDam, the most successful angler in bass-fishing history, immediately before one of his four Bassmaster Classic victories. He had sequestered himself at his brother-in-law’s house, far away from the tournament venue. When I asked him why, he said, “To avoid the dock talk.”

With social media so prevalent these days, it’s easy to get caught up in the hysteria associated with a hot lake or new bait. Some folks even post the waypoints of popular fishing spots. But if you know about the hottest tip, so do a lot of other anglers. Relying on reliable, guarded, insider information from one or two trusted friends is a good thing, but avoid second-, third- and fourth-hand accounts at all costs. Why? As VanDam says, “It messes with your head.”