Tips
 
Many times over the years I have done really well on a tournament and have gone back
the next week, to only squeak out a limit. I know you can’t throw the same stuff. I
have however expected to do nearly as well. That is opposite of fishing a tournament
the same time of year the next year. Things are usually the same. You can throw the
same baits in the same places. The weights may very a little. Boyden Lake is a
perfect example. A year ago last spring, I fished Boyden and came in with 17.60lbs.
This year, the tourney was at all most the same time of year. My partner (Richard
Trader) and I came in with 22.66lbs. Both tournaments were 5 fish limits. The baits
were the same and the presentation was only slightly modified. The modification was a compilation of what different people had success with over
the past years. These are fishermen that do the same thing all the time. That is the
clue that puts it in that special category. I then have to figure out what it means
to me.

 I got information from my son Peter Jr. He fishes a club in Western Maine .
He likes to talk to all the different people he fishes with. He has come up with
some very good tips. I put everything I hear into a category by itself. I can’t
remember what I did yesterday, but I can remember all those little tips. There are
times that I can pull up a tip and try it during a tournament. I will be
concentrating on my line and the feel of the bottom. I don’t know where it comes
from; it just jumps up and slaps me.  I will not be thinking about it. I didn’t
think my brain was anywhere but on the moment.

I try to watch as many fishing shows as I can. There is about 10 seconds of
worthwhile info from any of the better shows. I usually don’t even pay attention to
what they are saying. I watch the rods and what they do with them. All the stuff
they talk about, about their sponsors is worth very little. Brands are dime a dozen.
Use what is close and you can do as well and save money. I do however think
crankbaits have specific sounds that relate well to the personal presentation. I
have said before that I prefer Flits compared to similar styled crankbaits. I
believe that the line, rod and reel combinations make the Flit work well for me.
Rick is a friend that can use a Smithwick at any time and catch fish. Everybody can
use a crankbait. The problem is that most people don’t use them long enough to
figure out, what to do with them, and when.

I have cut what I put in my boat, by about half or more. I go in other boats from
time to time. I can’t take everything with me. That has made me realize that I don’t
need that much in the boat. There is very little that I don’t feel very confident
using.

The fishing Downeast has shown some improvement over last years weights. All the
rain or better fishermen, I guess you will have to guess.
 
 
Peter Kjenstad
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207-255-4081
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