Recently, I was on a fishing outing where an angling partner did something minor that led to a big catch. We were fishing bass by casting various moving baits over the tops of emerging weeds. We had caught several fish when I “missed” a couple fish in a row. When my partner missed a fish, he quickly took out a hook sharpener and touched up the treble hooks on his crankbait and hooked his next bite.

Most anglers, this one included, dream of catching trophy-sized fish. Some believe that big fish are the result of luck. Good fortune can play a part in fishing successes at times. Anglers can, however, do several things to tilt the odds of landing big fish in our favor.

For many of us, the 2026 open water fishing season is in full swing. As in previous open water seasons, some anglers are promising themselves that they’re going to add a technique to their fishing in an effort to catch more fish. Versatility is a quality the most successful anglers possess.