Independent field notes
Fishing tips, tackle talk, and stories about the ones that got away.
Caleb MercerHi I’m Caleb, a recreational angler who would rather spend a quiet morning by the water than just about anywhere else. I write about practical fishing techniques, dependable gear, and the lessons I’ve learned through years of tangled lines, missed strikes, and the occasional fish worth bragging about.
A practical guide for intermediate Northeast surf anglers on recognizing when striped bass have followed bait away from the beach and adjusting range, lure choice, retrieve, and timing accordingly.
Read articleA practical guide to building a more useful fishing log by recording the on-the-water details that explain why fish did—or didn’t—bite.
Read articleResponsible options for storing, returning, disposing of, or transporting unused bait without introducing species or pathogens to new water.
Read articleA practical checklist for confirming fishing rules, access, transport requirements, and fish-consumption guidance before you keep a catch from a remote mountain lake.
Read articleHow to adjust location, leader visibility, lure size, and retrieve speed as a river transitions from stained to clear water.
Read articleA practical checklist of essential safety gear for beginner anglers running small fishing boats in the United States, including flotation, communication, signaling, first aid, lighting, weather awareness, and an emergency plan.
Read articleA practical framework for deciding when rising water creates new feeding lanes and when it makes wading and fishing unsafe or unproductive.
Read articleA practical small-boat and kayak guide to staging gear, landing fish, removing hooks, taking quick photos, and releasing fish with less stress and injury.
Read articleA practical guide to choosing breathable wading pants for warm-weather trout fishing, including fit, fabrics, pockets, belts, durability, and when waist-high waders are the right choice.
Read articleA practical lesson on avoiding rushed net jobs by preparing early, using drag correctly, and keeping a strong fish under control through the final approach.
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