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Study Nature To Catch Fish

by Kevin Patton

Those expecting to hear Babe Winkelman talk about crankbait colors, types of spinner blades, or styles of plastic baits would have been disappointed when he spoke at the Illinois Fish and Feather Expo Jan. 26 in Bloomington.

Instead, Winkelman talked about the biology and behavior of fish in their environment and provided a valuable lesson about becoming a more successful fisherman.

Babe Winkelman has spent more than half a century fishing all around the world. He gave his seminar audience valuable insight in the nature of fish and their environment.

"In nature it is survival of the fittest, not survival," said Winkelman.

"If you want to better understand the nature of your quarry," he added, "you need to think in terms of being a predator."

Fishing is about you the predator learning about your prey. Winkelman says that we need to ask "why was this fish here" when we catch one.

Finding out "where a fish goes and why" will increase our fishing success because other fish are going to be doing the same thing in other areas of the lake.

Part of being a better predator for Winkelman is learning about your prey and realizing that we don't need to "outsmart" fish since they have a small brain.

He outlined seven areas to study in order to learn how they affect fish and thus increase our fishing success.

The Kind of Fish You Are After

You must understand the fish you are after since the various species of fish have different behaviors. Spawning areas, temperatures, and times vary among species, as do many other factors.

Most fishermen think that only springtime is when fish spawn, but Winkelman noted several exceptions to that belief.

Season and Water Temperature

Another factor to study is the affect each season has on fish and their environment. The time of year that you are fishing affects water temperature, availability of prey, and other things that alter fish behavior.

"Our calendar doesn't apply to fish behavior," he maintains. "We think in terms of comfort, but that doesn't enter into fish behavior."

He noted that fish can be perfectly "comfortable" in a great range of water temperatures since they are cold-blooded.

The Shape of the Fish World

"All critters use edges. Fish move around within the whole place they live, often near edges," said Winkelman.

He urged fishermen to use their depth finders and GPS units to learn the structure of a lake, including changes in bottom composition. Fish follow edges to and from their spawning and feeding areas and bottom type is important to those activities.

"The big fish take over the best spots," is a good reason why he says that fishermen should study the structure in a lake.

Cover

Winkelman describes cover as "anything that sits on structure or the bottom."

Cover forms edges just as structure does to make fishing spots "good, better, or best" spots.

He reminded the audience that there can be several edges on cover such as weeds, which have shallow and deep edges, as well as the edge on top of the weeds and the lake bottom below the weeds.

What's For Dinner Today

"You have to study the cycle of life and food in water to know where to look for fish."

This includes understanding the relationship of all elements of the food chain, including the phytoplankton that is eaten by zooplankton, and on up the food chain. For instance, right after ice-out, Winkelman looks for fish in the back of boat canals where plankton is first created by the heat of the sun.

Knowing what types of prey fish seek is another key to catching fish. Bass prefer shorter, fatter prey than the long, slender food that walleyes normally eat.

"The size bait to use is often dictated by the season," said Winkelman.

He noted that early in the year, new hatches create small prey, while fall is the best time to use big baits because the prey is larger.

One bait that Winkelman advised all fishermen to learn to use is a jig because it catches about anything that swims.

Weather

"Critters know what's going to happen before it happens. They can do things and know things that we can't comprehend."

He doesn't believe there is a "best" weather in which to fish and suggests the we need to learn to fish in all kinds of weather.

"The fish mood changes, they move, and you must follow them. They don't always do the same thing all day."

Winkelman uses an aggressive presentation when he sees aggressive fish. If a fish slams a jig, he puts it down and picks a more active bait to use, such as a crankbait.

Presence of Man

Man makes things that are unnatural in the environment of fish, such as locks and dams. Fish can do some amazing things to overcome our obstacles, but Winkelman advises that we should always be mindful of our affect on their environment.

Conclusion

Even more important than studying these seven factors, fishermen should enjoy and appreciate all that nature has to offer us.

"Everything in nature is exciting and that's why it's so cool. The splendor of the outdoors gives us a chance to understand who we are by getting us back to nature."

Indeed it does.

To learn more about fishing and Babe Winkelman, visit his web site at:  www.winkelman.com

The Illinois Fish & Feather Expo is held annually, usually in January, at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. Visit their web site at:  www.illinoisfishandfeather.com