RECOMMENDED METHODS OF FISHING AND DEFINITION:

   Still fishing - positioning yourself in an area and using live bait.

   Casting - positioning yourself in an area and casting artificial or
             live bait or a combination using spinning or regular reels.
             Sometimes Bass fisherman like to "flip cast" which we
             describe as a short, accurate cast into cover openings to
             entice fish in the cover or other structure.  You
             could not get to this cover with a long cast.

   Trolling - using a moving boat to cover an area with live bait,
              artificials, or a combination.  This includes variants
              such as drift fishing, slipping, back trolling, etc..
              You may also use downriggers or other methods to get
              the bait to the depth you want.  

   Fly Fishing - using fly fishing rod and reel equipment and associated
                 lightweight flies, lures or live bait.


   We often recommend more than one fishing method since you can easily
   try different approaches.  More importantly we recommend a successful
   "pattern" for the conditions you specify.  We also give reasons
   for the choice and more explanation of the pattern on where to fish,
   depth, type of lure, bait, etc.

    THE VARIABLES AND THEIR POSSIBLE CHOICES ARE:

    Type of fish sought: largemouth bass, trout (rainbow, brook, brown),
                         walleye.
    Time of Day: morning, midday, afternoon, night. (night includes dawn
                 and dusk hours)
    Time of Year: spring, summer, autumn, winter (in future versions).
    Type of Water: lake (not the Great Lakes), river, stream.
    Water Clarity: clear, murky/muddy.
    Water Depth: shallow, medium, deep.
    Weather: sunny, overcast, light rain, medium rain, heavy rain.
    Wind: calm or light, medium, high.
    Spawn: pre-spawn, spawning, post-spawn.
    Weed conditions: surface, submerged.
    Water Temperature: cold (below 55 degrees), medium (56-70 degrees), 
                       warm (71 degrees and up).
    Water Bottom: sand, rock, mud.
    Pressure System: high, low coming in.

    ***NOTE: FROM EACH VARIABLE CLASS ANSWER YES TO ONLY ONE OF 
             CHOICES FOR THE VARIABLE.  THE QUESTIONS ASKED IN
             THE CONSULTATION MAY ASK YOU ABOUT MORE THAN ONE OF
             THE VARIABLE CHOICES.  WHEN YOU ANSWER YES TO ONE CHOICE
             THEN YOU MUST ANSWER NO TO THE REST FOR THAT VARIABLE
             FOR THE ANSWER TO HAVE MEANING.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A
             YES ANSWER FOR EVERY VARIABLE UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.

      For example, when you answer 'yes' to the question 'morning ?'
      answer no to the questions 'mid day ?', 'afternoon ?', and 'night',
      (if asked).  Similarly, yes to lake requires no to river, stream;
      yes to spring requires no to summer and autumn; etc.      
      
      We know the above rule may seem awkward at times but it allows us to
      keep the size of the data base workable.  Without it the data base
      could take up a whole hard drive!  We feel the present size makes
      optimum use of your computer and its resources and the program
      can run on many types of systems.

  ** For bass and walleye answering no to each season question (spring? 
     summer? autumn?) results in more generalized patterns for all the
     seasons.  For trout you must answer a yes to one season, but
     answering no to each time of day (morning, midday, afternoon, evening),
     gives some more general patterns.

  ** We treat some variables differently depending on the situation.
     Some of the variables above are independent and some are dependent.
     For example, we often make water depth to fish at dependent on other 
     variables.  We thus can make recommendations on depth to fish based on
     other items you input.  In other situations, we make water depth an 
     independent variable which you input and then make a recommendation for
     the water depth you chose to fish.
     
  ** You should also note that some variables relate directly to others.
     For example, as low pressure comes in, cloudy overcast sky, wind,
     (and then rain) often accompany it.  We recognize these relationships
     in the design of the program and data.  
     
  ** Often we refer to the terms structure, depth contour, breaks or
     breaklines.  You find many of these items on topographical maps,
     and we recommend planning your fishing trip with the fish expert
     and a topographic map.  Maps show structures, contour lines, sharp
     breaks in depth contour, etc..  You want to mark likely areas to
     fish on the map for different conditions.  A depth finder can
     help you find these areas on the lake although you can find many of
     them via landmarks, trolling, or visually. 

  ** Some trout spawn in spring (rainbow) and some in fall (brook,
     brown), so we do not consider spawning situations for trout; it's a
     pretty good time to fish if regulations permit.  We recommend you 
     practice 'catch and release' with egg laden females to help future
     fishing.
     
     BOAT CONTROL
     
     We also added expert advice on boat control.  Consideration of how
     to position your boat makes your actual fishing experience better 
     since you better prepare for conditions you find on the water.  
     Successful professionals realize boat control has great importance
     in catching fish.
               
     The FISH EXPERT gives tips for anchoring, drifting, back trolling, 
     and regular trolling under varying conditions (wind, river, cloud
     cover, and more). 
     
     Answering no to the type of fish sought (bass, trout, walleye) brings
     you to the boat control section of the FISH EXPERT.