[cchobot]

There's nothing like the self-perpetuating cycle of getting skunked and losing your confidence to set the neophyte angler on a miserable and often-times fishless road. One can begin thinking there isn't a fish within 500miles of the end of their line. Let's call this guy "Angler C" for sake of discussion.

Conversely, the best anglers seem to believe that a quality fish looms at the end of each cast and there's a distinct probability they're going to catch it. This is the angler that seems to catch fish, be it many or just a few, each and every time they go out. We can call him "Bob" for example.

How large of a role do you all feel confidence plays in catching fish? Any tips on how to keep your confidence level high? Any stories to tell regarding the subject? Pitfalls to avoid? Please chime in with your thoughts on this week's beginner's tips thread.