Gotta throw this one in to the mix, and it may appear cheesy. Here are my tips with an example.

Make sure you keep your eyes, mind and ears open when you fish. It seems easier said than done, but how many times do you go to a river and fish with the same old tried and true methods, strike out, then go home, and say there were no fish to be caught. Here are a few things that I would give a whirl.

1. What is everyone else using. If it's big gaudy stuff, try going 100% the opposite direction, and down size the color and size of your gear. Vice Versa is also true.

2. Change your leader lengths constantly. You never know where fish are going to be in the water column. Modify your weight when drift fishing. I have had great success by sometimes fishing a little faster, or a little slower than actual current speed.

3. Try fishing water that others pass up. A prime example is the rolling water near sweepers, on inside corners. We had great luck fishing this stuff last year in Alaska for steelheads. Guys were rowing right by this stuff, and we whacked fish all day long for a week straight, because they hadn't had anything put in front of them yet.

4. Watch what other guys are doing that are more succesful than you. My Dad used to tell me if the guy is standing on one foot and chewin gum, copy exactly what he's doin. How many times have you ever gone to the river, and just watched succesful fisherman catch fish. There is a reason for it.

5. Be mobile. Sometimes there is a night and day difference between staying in the honey hole, and heading for new water. Don't be afraid to experiment with new spots.

6. Explore new water when the fishing is great. In know the old addage is "don't leave fish, to find fish". Unfortunately the best time to find new areas that hold fish, is when the fishing is great in the old honey hole. You are more likely to hook up in new spots, and gain confidence to have another spot for a rainy day.

7. If you are drift fishing, be very aware of the water you are covering. A foot further upstream, to the center, or downstream, allows you to cover totally different water. Break the hole down like a grid, and cover every square foot of it. If you ever sight fish steelies in ultra clear water, you'll see how they react to your gear. This is why being persistent, and having an organized means of covering the water is so important.

8. If your spot turns ice cold, you may be better off by sitting on the bank for 30 minutes, and resting the hole. Can't tell you how many times we thought the hole was fished out. Sat on the bank for a half hour, ate a sandwich, touched up my hook, put on new leader, then step in the hole and whack another handful of fish.

I think we could all do a lot better by just slowing down a little bit, and keeping our senses tuned in to what is going on around us. Keep an open mind, experiment a little bit, and try to show them something they don't see from other guys. Good luck and good fishin.