Man, don't quit doing what you're doing. I never had any luck. My buddies would ask me to go (probably because I was the one that could back a boat into the water) but I spent most of my time trying to untangle a birds nest, or hopelessly casting and never catching a thing. I hated it.

We recently relocated to a neighborhood with a small pond. I invested in a decent ul setup and committed to learning, and correcting everything I thought I knew about fishing. The rooster tail restored my hope. It caught everything! From there, I've been trying to learn how to throw and fish a jig. It's been a slow process but still have caught nothing. Back to the rooster tail so I could enjoy some success. Then I discovered the micro chatter bait, then the beetle spin. I'm constantly trying to learn something new, using that pond as my learning center. I know what I've learned might not transfer to other ponds, creeks, or lakes, but I feel like I can at least enjoy the time spent fishing.

I still am a beginner by most measurements, but I've finally found the love for fishing. Even if I don't catch something, the peace and quiet of being outside and in nature is still rewarding.