MISTAKE NO. 3
Not Sure? Ask!
If you're not sure about anything, you've got to ask. I can assure you that you won't be the first one.

Too often, people feel embarrassed to say they don't know how to fish. But if you're not performing a technique correctly, you may be wasting your time.

For some reason, women seem to be eager to ask questions and listen when the guide is talking. Guys could learn a lot by watching their women fish.

MISTAKE NO. 4
Go Catching, Not Fishing
Unless you're embarked on a catch-and-release trip, be ready to take your catch home. Many times, clients don't bring coolers or coolers that are big enough.

Your fish is a prize; take care of it. Make sure to stop on the way home and buy some ice.

There are some places that fillet, process or even ship fish for you. If you're planning on keeping your catch for any amount of time, it's a good idea to have it vacuum-packed. This will make sure your fish remains as fresh as the day you caught it.

MISTAKE NO. 5
Slow Down, Andretti!
Getting into the fish is usually the easy part. But when using bait, hooking them can sometimes be difficult. While trolling, back-trolling or back-bouncing bait, the worst thing you can do is to set the hook the instant a fish starts biting.

This is my personal pet peeve. I tell my clients that no matter how hard the fish is hitting or how long it's been hitting, if the fish doesn't exert a steady pull down on the rod, there's a very good chance you won't get your fish. That fish just wants to eat the bait, so you might as well let it. The fish will usually end up giving you a solid hookup all by itself.

MISTAKE NO. 6
Tyson, You're Not
While fighting big fish, there are quite a few little mistakes you can make.

• High-sticking may cause a rod to break.

• Letting the fish get under the boat or into the motor will break it off.

• Horsing a fish and putting too much pressure can break it off or pull the hook out.

• Not enough pressure will cause the fish to spit the hook.