Last night I got a phone call from my brother, an avid bowhunter of whitetail deer, and he was amped. Rumors had filtered down, like they typically do, through the long-standing network of hunters, archery shop employees, taxidermists and others, that a first-time Minnesota bow hunter had recently bagged a record-book buck. While he was obviously excited, he was also understandably perplexed. How does an amateur get so lucky?
This morning NAFC Online Editor, Jim Edlund, who chases whitetails himself (though he skipped opening day this year to go bass fishing), sent me a link to the news story, which once again proves that a good personal network usually outpaces any media channel by 12 to 24 hours.
Turns out that the young man borrowed a 29-year-old bow from a friend, bought $11 worth of arrows and broadheads, spent four days teaching himself how to shoot, then hunted for 20 minutes before crossing paths at 20 yards with the 183.5-inch whitetail. If you are unfamiliar with the scoring system with which antlers are measured, just know that 183.5 inches is really, really big—13-pound bass big!
While I’m thrilled for the hunter, his achievement reminded me of a story Larry Dahlberg (perhaps the most cerebral angler I know) wrote for North American Fisherman about 15 years ago. We asked him to focus his brainpower on what makes fishing such a wonderful and challenging sport. Among the many gems he offered were “Dahlberg’s Laws of Fishing,” which always stuck with me—especially the First Law:
The odds of catching a trophy-class fish are inversely proportional to how much you deserve to catch one.
In simple terms, he was saying, “Beginner’s Luck usually trumps everything else.”
I’ve come to believe it. And in more than just an offhand “Yeah, that’s beginner’s luck for you” sort of way. I think it’s a true Law of Nature, and can site cases to prove it.
Case 1
I was about 8 years old and on my first genuine fishing trip with my dad and his partners. Sure, we’d fished for bluegills and bullheads hundreds of times before on local waters. But this trip was the real deal, just the guys at a cabin on a lake 7 hours from home. I caught a 9-pound walleye, which doubled the old record.
Case 2
At 4 years of age, my son (a college senior now) caught a 40-inch muskie—when we were fishing bass and bluegills, for cryin’ out loud! I had to hold him by the britches to keep the fish from yanking him overboard.
Case 3
I was working a weedline some years back and came upon a family in a rented pontoon pulling panfish from the milfoil. As I steered the bow-mount around their spot, I could see that all but the high-school-age daughter was having a great time. She looked like she wanted to be somewhere else—anywhere else, really. Before I got too far away, a loud splash and excited shouts coming from her father and brother got my attention. The young lady boated a largemouth that I swore might have tipped 7 pounds. That she was so unimpressed with the catch reinforced the notion that she didn’t deserve it.
Beginner’s Luck real? You bet! At least in my book.
If you have an example that proves the point, I’d like to hear it. Or, I’d like to know why you think it’s hogwash. Comment here, or jump onto the
North American Fishing Club Facebook page and leave your thoughts. Let me know if I’m the only one who believes in Beginner’s Luck.