We all know a little luck plays a part in most of our fishing but how much? When you first start out you can go days or weeks without catch anything and over time you start to figure out what do, when and where, but even the professional angler still has to rely on a little good fortune now and again. I think I have river trout fishing nearly sussed and would say that it is down to 85/90% skill and the rest is down to luck but Salmon fishing for me is at the opposite end of the spectrum I know where the fish are and how to fish for them but can I land one? Well no not yet.
What part does luck play in your fishing and what type of fishing do think depends on having bags of it? Jon

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http://www.fishleven.co.uk/
http://www.edenangling.co.uk/

Yes I agree luck may be involved, but there again pre-knowledge helps. Some anglers may have "beginners luck", but deep down it's more to do with confidence in the equipment and flies the angler uses than just luck.

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The scenery in the Grand Coulee area of eastern Washington was worth the air fare on its own!

There is certainly something about it... Luck, maybe.

There is also the intuitive angler. This would appear to be lucky but is probably more down to unseen environmental factors for which the angler and onlookers are completely unaware of on a conscious level.

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

Well i have a good old saying for this one and it's the more you get out on the water the luckier you become.... take from that what you want, but in my book good and bad fortune play a big part in every anglers day that's for sure.


Wilkie

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" TRUE CHAMPION'S DO NOT GET JUDGED ON HOW THEY FALL......... BUT HOW THEY RISE".

got to agree with wilkie... the more i practice the luckier i get!!!

Stevie

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if it was that easy they'd call it catching!

If you want to catch lots of fish.go to a well stocked water.if you want to catch a big fish go to waters that have big fish.If you want to catch a salmon,make sure the water you fish has salmon in it.Seems so simple but if you follow those guidelines you will reduce the luck factor considerably..

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I believe other factors such as local knowledge can be more important than luck, it has happened to me more than once.

I spent a morning fishing through a nice run that i knew salmon should be running through on the River Forth.

I fished through it for a while then took a break, a local lad then appeared, and i had a chat with him (as you do) about fishing fortunes/misfortunes, i couldn't help but notice he had the exact same setup i was using, after a short chat he bade me farewell while looking at his watch and saying I'm going to try this run first, as they'll to be coming up through the run very shortly, and sure enough he took two salmon from it, because he knew the exact time they would be entering the run on their way up the system.

In my humble opinion practice, preparation, and knowledge will outshine luck.

Best regards
Jim

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Tanta Stultitia Mortalium Est

Think luck has something to do with when we first start learning to fish,then practise knowledge and experience on the water take over.But saying that most if not all of us still get that lucky fish once in a while

Neil

The old adage of fish where the fish are, then presentation (equipment plays a part), then factors that influence if the fish takes or not after several well conceived presentations - perhaps the 'luck' bit is whether the fish brain says take or pass? Interesting question, quite how you apportion luck throughout the process is one to ponder ... I'll knock up an Excel spreadsheet.

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If I'm catching it's down to skill, If anyone else is it's pure luck!