Rank yourself!

[Spinner1]

Apparantly improvement is needed. I know this because I still have to make my own boat payment.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I'd rank myself a three maybe three and a half out of 10. I can go out and catch the species Im targeting most trips but I know Im still pretty young and have tons of room for imporvements. When I think of a people who are 9s or 10s Im thinking of people such as Al Lindner. That guy could fish a tournament for any species in the US and have a chance at placing top 10!

[tonyjor]

I would grade myself a B alone and a D when someone is with. I don't know what it is but whenever I'm trying to put us on fish, it's one thing after another with minimal success, if any. Alone is a whole different story....

[Mr.Perch]

A- when fishing perch B- fishing bass C- for Walleys except when on Big Winne then B+ for walleye. D- flyfishing but I love it. A half a grade increase anytime I am taking some youngster. It always improves my fishing luck and day. This summer will mark my 45 plus years fishing I have learned the best thing you can do fishing is take a newcomer fishing the best age to take someone fishing is somewhere between 3 and 83 years young Share the sport of fishing with someone and you will have a lifetime of great memories.

[Seeker of Clayface]

Quote:

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I would grade myself a B alone and a D when someone is with. I don't know what it is but whenever I'm trying to put us on fish, it's one thing after another with minimal success, if any. Alone is a whole different story....

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I can relate. It seems like I have more success when fishing alone. I guess I probably pay more attention when I'm solo, and a bit more patient than my usual partners.

[slick814]

Ok... I'll join in on the fun with this one...

After much thought and brain cramping, I give myself an INC - as in incomplete... I'm solid on multiple techniques, but still learning others, some stuff I've never tried, and some species are better than others. Working on getting that up to at least a B, A is the goal, but for now, I'm an INC

[schr0563]

Here is a good question - Is your rank as a fisherman solely dependent on the number of fish you put in the boat? Another way to ask this is, is it your ability to locate and catch a targeted species that makes you good? In both situations, the body of water you choose to fish on becomes the number one factor in being able to "rank" yourself positively.

Case in point - I know someone who fishes Mille Lacs religiously for walleyes and smallmouth. Weekend after weekend he brings in his limit of walleye and releases many monster smallmouth. My home lake on the other hand is Minnetonka. Each time out I can usually find at least 1 walleye, along with the ever present bass and northerns. Now, who is the better fisherman? I catch fewer fish on a lake with less potential. He catches more, but so do most of the people that head out on Mille Lacs.

So say that we disregard what you catch and consider time on the water, ability to use different techniques, adaptability, and understanding of fish patterns and behavior. If this were the criteria, I would guess that many of you who have already posted would give yourself a higher ranking.

Final thought - there is a reason why the famous TV "pro" fisherman consistently put fish in the boat, it is because they make a point to fish bodies of water where the fish are biting and there is a proven pattern. The show wouldn't be very entertaining if they picked a lake at random and tried to figure things out on their own, which is what the majority of us end up doing. So go ahead and give yourselves a little more credit guys.

[The Grebe]

Overall, considering all the fish species that I target, which are Sunfish, Crappie, Walleye, Trout, Muskie, LM Bass, and winter Mille Lacs Perch, I would say I would come in at about a c+ to a b-? I also know how to fish cats, and rough fish.

I fish summer and winter and I'am not afraid to try different lakes. I can read lakemaps and I know how to use my electronics, I'm not stuck on one type of presentation and I can use different tackle effectively. I know how to clean what I catch and how to prepare it. Yup, I can pretty much put some fresh fish on the table when the need arises. Definately a c+ to b-.

[Northlander]

Overall fishing ability I give myself a C. If its eyes I may step up to a C+ or B-. Im learning every day. One thing Im trying to do is get in the boat with guys that know more than I do and fish in other ways then Im used to doing. Just watching some guys do the "Little Things" has taught me a lot and added some new tricks to my game. No matter how good you are there is always someone who can teach ya something.

[ScottND]

A d+ for catching but an A+ for lying about the size and how many. cuz I catch and release.

[knoppers]

A+ for crappies and bluegills, only becuase they are soo easy to catch on my lake.

B for northerns, it could be higher, but too many little ones

C for bass, again not enough biggun's.

D for walleyes, only been out two times, but not the numbers I should have caught

I incomplete for trout, since I have not been out for dem yet. I will go to summer school thou to catch some.

[Captain B.R.K]

I'm kind of a garbage fisherman and tackle pretty much everything. A little walleye, a little bass, a little panfish. With all things being considered, I would give myself a B- average for my overall knowledge of catching fish. The knowledge part of fishing the different species I'd bring that up to a solid B.

[united jigsticker]

Crappies....A

Bluegills...C-

Walleyes....F-

Pike........D+

[ocf]

I'm a plastics guy and i can catch bass with plastics really well on a kind of productive lake but still i need a boat to get a lot better and still got lot's of years to learn so im doin pretty good i would say.

[Quickstrike]

I enjoy too many different types of fishing to consider myself a master at any certain species or technique. I consider myself a good steelhead/trout/salmon fisherman both through the ice and open water although I learn more every year. I also feel I have a pretty good feel when it comes to fishing most warm water species except for muskie. I am starting to learn more about trolling the big lake but have a long way to go. Overall I would say that I am off to a good start, but as soon as you think you've got it all figured out, you're no longer trying hard enough. Although I believe it's impossible to "grade" one's fishing ability, I would give myself an B for effort and dedication and an A for being able to find enjoyment in the sport no matter how many fish you may catch. After all, thats whats important, isn't it?