5 Sources For Gathering Intel On New Fishing Locations

If you fish enough, you’ve probably experienced a period where for whatever reason; you lack the desire to get out there on the water. Slumps happen, and it’s usually the result of being stuck in a rut. It can be hard to motivate yourself when you always fish the same patterns on the same lakes. It’s also hard to change it up. For some reason, anglers have a general unwillingness to fail, which makes it difficult to forsake what you know and have had success doing in the past for the unknown. As hard as changing it up might be, finding a new fishing location is one of the best ways to jump start your success and get you motivated again to get back out there on the water. Of course it helps when you’ve got some inside information, like a tip, directions, or advice on what’s working somewhere else. But where do you find such information? Here are 5 places to look:

1. Friends and family

Obviously, you spend the majority of your time with friends and family, so they are an obvious first choice to probe for information. Maybe you’ve got a couple buddies that fish, give them a call and offer to trade information on where you’ve been catching them for some ideas on new places to try. Even if it’s on the same lake, every angler approaches the water differently, so talking to buddies and family members that fish can give you ideas for new places to try or new ways to approach your usual haunts.

2. Local tackle shops

No matter where you live, there’s more than likely a halfway decent tackle shop in the area. Stop in early in the morning and chat up the regulars to dig up other places where the fish are biting. Tackle shops are often congregating spots for retired anglers, so their staff is usually well versed on all the local gossip. Just remember, information isn’t free – make sure to support your local shop whenever possible and don’t be afraid to give some information of your own.

3. Fishidy.com

These last three are online resources, and of them all Fishidy.com is the king. Fishidy is essentially an online community dedicated to helping anglers catch more fish. Once signed up, you can read fishing reports, look at lake maps and fishing trip results, and interact with other anglers that frequent the same lakes you do. Want to see how other folks are catching them, it’s probably on there. Fishidy also allows you to log your own trips and record catch information, which may help you figure out which patterns are working best and which need to be set aside.

4. Message Boards

Before the dawn of social media, internet message boards were the number one source of information and tips online. There are still several going strong and they can be an excellent source of information for anglers looking to break through a rut. Try sites like Bassboat Central, the Bass Fishing Home Page, and Walleye Central. There are also a few great regional websites that provide excellent information like Lake Link (Midwest), Texas Fishing Forum (Texas), and others.

5. Social media

As mentioned, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become the dominant force in online information sharing. If you want to know where the fish are biting, spend a little time perusing local anglers Facebook pages. Everyone’s hot to brag up their latest catch, so you can often get a ton of really good information just by reading. There are also regional Facebook groups dedicated to angling that will help you branch out and find other anglers looking to get on the water.