It is not uncommon for one to know his or her I.Q. these days, as there are many tests available to assess this.   Whether this information has any value is another question because the number apparently has little bearing on your success in life. There are as many geniuses, or genii (usage determined by which Mensa chapter you belong), super-sizing fast food as there are slow thinkers carrying oversized money bags to the bank.

When it comes to fishing, you are less likely to find a test to determine your Angling Quotient (A.Q.). However, for those who love fishing, this test may far outweigh the traditional I.Q. in importance. Your A.Q. helps define your overall understanding of the type of fishing you enjoy and to identify ways to improve your skills and knowledge.

Since there is no record of a written test ever existing, let’s consider the best way to establish a measure of angling skills.  There are three key considerations: knowledge, experience, and passion. The first two (knowledge and experience) are in some ways interchangeable. You can have an overwhelming knowledge of fishing and little experience, and still be as proficient as the angler who has years of experience, but never bothered to learn why he was catching fish. Obviously, a balance of knowledge and experience is preferred for the angler looking to master the fishing art.

 

Measuring one’s passion for fishing is like rating an engine’s horsepower. It is the drive that allows some people to enjoy a fishing trip if the opportunity happens to arise, or to dread each day that isn’t spent with a rod in hand. Your knowledge and experience is the measure of your skill, and the passion is the multiplier. Knowing your angling quotient allows you to assess you weaknesses and strengths and focus on the areas you feel need improving. The fact that you are reading this article suggests that your passion for fishing is above normal. So based on that assumption, let¹s look at ways to raise your A.Q.

Acquiring new knowledge is the easiest way to improve. You can find hundreds of books, tapes, and DVDs in stores. There are online web sites dedicated to fishing, fishing techniques and fishing locations. Many associations like the CCA offer fishing seminars. In addition, fishing clubs are on the rise and gaining in popularity. There are numerous ways anyone with an interest in fishing can find a wealth of information.

 

Experience takes a little more effort. Even something as simple as casting in the backyard or tying knots in front of the television can help to broaden your experience.   Ideally, getting out on a bank or on a boat is preferable, and finding a “hot spot” is the best kind of experience. Whether you learn an area gradually, or hire a guide to show you around, the feeling is the same when you get a bite, set the hook, master the fight, and land the fish.

 

The amount of thought you dedicate to fishing, the priority it takes in your life, the amount of time you actually spend fishing - all of these are directly related to the level of passion you have for fishing.  Your passion is the driving force. For some the urge is almost uncontrollable; for others it’s just a good feeling about fishing.

 

So why is all this important, and how can you use it to improve your experience on the water. The primary advantage of knowing your A.Q. is to identify what you expect out of a fishing trip and to focus on achieving that expectation. Fishing for each of us is like a fingerprint. We all have different expectations even before we step on the boat or leave the dock.

 

For some, fishing isn’t about fishing at all. It is the boat ride, the sun, the day out of the house or office. For others, a single fish is a bounty, and a day with the kids a gift. Of course, there are also those who are focused on limits and trophies. These anglers feel that if the ice chest isn’t packed, the day has been wasted. I have had guests who believed that hiring a charter captain meant we would limit out on every potential species inhabiting coastal Louisiana. This may have been a bit ambitious, but we tried.

 

You see, if you know what you want in a day of fishing, it is a lot easier to:

A. Find others who share your expectations

B. Work towards developing the abilities to reach those goals

C. Look back on the adventure with a keener perspective

D. Iimprove you knowledge and experience

 

Two friends who loved fishing, who we’ll call Bob and George, always went and always came back with horror stories about their adventure. After some time talking, I realized Bob could care less about the fishing; he just wanted a reason to drive his boat, while George loved to fish. The two would come to a spot, make two casts, and Bob would start fidgeting, ready to run to a new spot. George would be frustrated that the fish didn¹t have a chance to find their bait, much less bite it. To this day, the men will leave the Breton Sound Marina happy and come back chewing each other out, like gnats on a nutria on a no wind afternoon.

 

Dads who love to fish often lower their A.Q. when taking children fishing. In an effort to show a child what the experience means to him, a dad will often miss the opportunity for the child to create his/her own experience. I see dads fuss while kids play in the bait bucket, or ice chest. They often repeat demands to come hold a rod, while the child is clearly more interested in holding the boat’s steering wheel. A high A.Q. dad would realize how important this opportunity is to let the child create an individual experience and define what a fishing trip means to them on their own terms.

 

Fishing is meant to be fun. Taking a moment to define that fun for yourself will mean a better experience on the water with people who share a similar passion level. As with the I.Q., I can’t promise a high A.Q. will catch you more fish or make you rich, but it should make a day of fishing a little more fun and a little more productive.