The challenges of fishing a variety of bay systems will help anglers hone their on-the-water skills.
Story and Photography by Nate Skinner

Why do we fish? This question engages the grinding of gears inside anglers’ brains. Maybe it’s for an escape from reality or just to relax in the outdoors. Possibly it is due to an obsession driven by the will to constantly improve. Perhaps it’s because of a combination of these things, fueled by the never-ending hope for success.
Sportsmen and women are the epitome of eternal optimists. Even in the midst of failure, the passion to fool piscatorial creatures swimming beneath the surface keeps us casting and reeling. We always return to the water for more because it is what we do.
The challenges of becoming a well-rounded, knowledgeable angler are what make successful outings on the water that much satisfying. If the sport were easy, everyone would be a pro. And if the fish were always biting, then what lessons would ever really be learned?
Analyzing the results of decisions made on the water is where skill building begins, and there is no room for complacency within a fine tuned angler’s bag of tricks. Fishing the same areas within a single bay system, weekend after weekend and year after year, results in a routine with limited opportunities to improve. Rather than being forced to try alternative strategies and learn from the experience, anglers that limit themselves to a particular stretch of water continually fall into the monotonous habit of using the same techniques.

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