If I Had To “Start Over” Inshore Fishing in 2026, I’d Do These 3 Things Differently
- By: Pat Ogletree
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Artifical Lure Tips
If I had to forget everything I know about inshore fishing and start over in 2026, I wouldn’t begin by buying more gear or chasing new spots blindly.
Not because gear and spots don’t matter, but because without a clear plan, they don’t actually help you learn faster.
Most anglers already have everything they need to catch fish, yet they still finish the day unsure why things worked or didn’t.
So I created this video to break down the three things I’d do differently if I were starting from scratch in 2026, plus one thing I’d absolutely keep doing, to learn inshore fishing faster, build confidence, and get more out of the tools you already have.
Featured Software:
Key Takeaways
- Most anglers slow their own progress without realizing it
- Small changes in how you approach each trip can dramatically speed up learning
- Consistency matters more than variety when you are trying to improve
- Understanding why something worked is more valuable than a single good day
- Confidence comes from clarity, not more options
- The right tools only shine when you know how and when to apply them
Final Thoughts
Learning inshore fishing faster is not about owning less or ignoring good tools. It is about knowing when and why to use them. When you understand fish behavior, dial in your home waters, and review each trip with intention, your lures become more effective and your spots start to make more sense.
Question for you: If you had to start over inshore fishing tomorrow, which one of these would you fix first, and why?
IMPORTANT REMINDER
The 2 core benefits we promise to Insider Club members is to be able to find and catch fish easier than ever before while saving money on fishing equipment.
So I am including links to the quickest ways to achieve each:
1) Finding Fish System
2) Insider Club’s Group Discounts
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Hands down, Pat, that is one of the best, if not the best, video you have ever published as far as good, solid information that everyone that fishes can use. Those of us who have been fishing for a lifetime (65 years for me) can use a reminder to go back to the basics and implement the KISS theory. Too often we get G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and can’t seem to see the forest for all the trees. Well done, Pat …
Good stuff! Thanks Pat!
Thanks Pat. I’m guilty of not knowing why I caught fish sometimes. I just think that they were there and in a feeding mode. After all these years I still just cast and grind till. I get my limit.
Hi Pat, I would focus on where the fish are, and mastering one lure at a time
Thanks, Pat! Excellent tutorial, Coach! For me, I’m working on taking much less tackle than I have been and focus on the trends from previous trips to dictate what I do take! I also rig 3-4 rod and reels with different proven setups!
Thanks Pat. Great as always. I’ve been following you and your advice since I signed up. I’m not catching the biggest fish but I’ve been catching instead of the skunk.
Great video! The one thing I would absolutely do if I was a brand new fisherman is to take one nice rod (not necessarily expensive) with one paddle tail and learn how to use that very very well.
The one thing I would not do if starting over is outfit, the whole family with three complete set ups. We could each use that money to buy one nicer set up each and learn how to work those well in all conditions. After we were all proficient, we could expand to start buying more specialized or additional equipment if needed.
Thanks for a great coaching video!
Would do: I will plan more
Not do: Take a huge tackle box full of different lures!
Thanks Pat
thanks a lot will try