While posting off-topic and humorous drivel on the boards I've also read. A lot. And from doing that one action I've learned. A lot. I've learned that on the Columbia a silver and charteuse Kwikfish (K12-13 in clear water and bigger in murky water) wrapped with herring (David Johnson showed me how on the Hot Tamale Outdoor Show ). I learned that a person can use colored hot glue to make a deadly egg cluster for steelies.

I've learned a ton more, too. I've learned that a bunch of different anglers can catch the same fish with various different "secret riggings" because they presented it to the right fish the right way at the right time because they've fished it that way hundreds of times. I've learned that any river that is home waters to fish can have zipperlip holes. I've learned not to scratch my ballsack before I bait a hook because man-scent, while it may get you women, doesn't appeal to fish (or something like that). Don't do it after, too, because Borax could give you a rash. Bet you won't see THAT tip on the HTOS, even though it's on cable access.

I've learned that these forums aren't the best place to discover how to catch fish. They're a great place to BS about fishing and meet people that are far more successful at catching fish than I am and then learning from there. Without Mike's help (real names used to protect the innocent) I would never have landed those barnacle-covered rocks or that crab successfully, and without Jim's help that steelhead would still be heading back to the Pacific.

Think of it like those "How to Get More (and Better!) Women" books. They could tell you all the techniques that are proven successful FOR THAT PERSON, IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, AT THAT TIME, WITH THAT WOMAN, but in the end you could still find out that it just takes time, practice, and confidence. Same as fishing.