FISH STORIES

Recording Tips and Tricks

Sitting down to record with your phone or recorder gives you a free pass to ask questions that you might not otherwise. Whether you will be recording your own story, or sitting down for a conversation with an awesome angler, these tips & tricks can help you get the best result for future listening.

Tips & Tricks

It’s not hard to enjoy great conversations about fishing, no matter what is happening around you. But these tips can help make for a very enjoyable listening experience many years down the road.

Download our handy recording guide or follow the steps below

Step 1: Find your Story

Whether recording your own story or interviewing an angler you care about, this is where your fish story begins

Step 2: Find a quiet place and get cozy

Avoid wood floor, high ceilings, high traffic areas, noisy appliances, furnaces, etc. Carpeted areas with low ceilings and drapes covering windows is the best place to record sound. If doing an interview, sit together on a couch or pull two chairs together so they are touching. Avoid chairs that make a lot of noise or roll. Don’t forget to put your device on airplane mode. You don’t want it making noise during the interview

Step 3: Find some great questions

Have them at the ready or jot down the ones you’ll want to ask or answer. You can find a list of great questions here

Step 4: Introductions

Start by introducing yourself and anyone else in the discussion. Hi, my name is ______. I’m ______ years old and I’m here with _____, my _______. I am a ______ or I have a story about _______. Give a few more details about the date, where you are talking or where you are from. Get the conversation going with open ended questions: "Tell me about that time..." or "What was it like in..." Anglers take that bait every time!

Step 5: Go Trail Blazing

Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions and branch out on the conversation. You never know where it will go.

Step 6: Give good details

Remember to set up your story, or help the teller give more details that the listener might not know ahead of time. "Tell us more about Fish hook Frank"..."Why did that fishing spot mean so much to you?"..."What did that old cabin smell like?"

Step 7: Reflect

Advise, wisdom, regrets, what they’ve learned. All of this can open up a can of great conversation with a fisherman. “What wisdom would you share with the next generation of anglers?” “What was the most important thing you learned while guiding?”

Step 8: Mic placement is key

Make sure the phone and/or microphone is about 10” away from the talker at all times. If you are having a conversation, pass the phone back and forth, or just have one person in charge of holding it. Do not set the phone on a desk in between two anglers. The audio will not be very good.

Step 9: Enjoy the conversation

This is your chance to share experiences, wisdom and advise with people you care about. Once you start to talk about fishing, you’ll have a lot of fun doing it.

Great Questions

Download the PDF to
the left or check out
the list below.

For Everyone

Who has been the most influential fish person in your life?
Can you tell me about him or her?
What has been the happiest moment of your fishing career? The saddest?
What lessons did you learn from fishing that you want to pass on to future generations?
What is your earliest fishing memory?
What is your favorite memory of me?
Do you have any funny fishing stories?
What are you most proud of?
What are your greatest regrets as a angler?
What is your most cherished fishing memory?
What challenges have you faced?
What legacy do you want to leave as a fishing enthusiast?
How do you want to be remembered?
What are your hopes for what the future holds for fishing? Are you optimistic?
Do you have any secrets that you’ve never told anyone?
For anyone listening to this years from now: is there any wisdom you’d want to pass on to them?
What would you want them to know?
Do you feel like you have been a successful angler?
Who is someone you believe has been successful?

For Grandparents

Where did you grow up?
What was your childhood like?
How did you and grandpa/grandma meet?
What is/was your favorite fish to catch?
Who were your favorite fishermen/women when you were growing up?
What is your first fishing memory? Can you describe that moment?
Do you remember the first time we fished together?
What is your favorite fishing story?
What do you miss most about fishing?
How has fishing changed during your lifetime?
What was I like growing up?
Did you take your kids fishing a lot?
What is the worst thing that ever happened to you while fishing? What happened?
What were your parents like?
Was there someone in your life who had a big influence on you? Can you tell me about them?
Is there anything you would like to ask _______ if they were here today?
How would you like to be remembered?
What makes life worth living?
As you grew older, what made you say, “I wish I would have...”
What are your biggest regrets?
What do you hope the future holds for me?
What advice would you have for me and anyone else listening?
When your great grandchildren listen to this many years from now, what would you like them to know about you?
What wisdom would you pass on?
Are you proud of me?

For Parents

How did you get into fishing?
What is your earliest fishing memory?
How did you meet mom/dad?
What did you think when you became a father/mother?
Did you try to get me/us into fishing?
Why do you/did you enjoy fishing?
What was I like as a baby? As a young child?
What is your favorite fishing memory of us?
What were the hardest parts about being a parent?
If you could do everything again, would you raise me differently?
What advice would you give me?
What are your dreams for me?
Do you have any regrets?
How would you like us to remember you?
What makes life worth living?
As you grew older, what made you say, “I wish I would have...”
If you could tell future generations one thing, what would it be?
Are you proud of me?

For Fishing Buddies

How long have we been fishing buddies?
What is your earliest memory of you and I?
What did you think of me when we first met? What do you think of me now?
What makes us such good friends?
What is your favorite fishing memory of us?
Was there a time when you didn’t like me very much?
Who is the most influential person in your life?
What lessons have you learned during your fishing career?
Where do you think the two of us will be in 10 years?
Is there anything that you’ve always wanted to tell me but haven’t?
What advice would you give to other fishing friends out there?

For Military

In what branch of the military did you serve?
Did you go to war? How has that changed you?
Do you have any good memories from your service days?
What have you learned from life in the military?
What was the worst part of serving in the military?
Are there misconceptions that people have about the military that you would like to help clear up?
When did you begin fishing?
What does fishing do for you now?
Why do you fish?
What advice would you have for anyone listening?

For Fishing Industry

What do you do for a living?
How did you get into that line of work?
How long have you been doing this kind of work?
Do you like it? Love it? What is your favorite thing about being a _____?
Is this something you wanted to do when you were growing up?
What have you learned working as a _____?
What life lessons can you pass on to listeners?
If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? Why?
Do you ever think about retiring? How does that make you feel?
Do you have a favorite fishing story from your work?

Serious Illness

Can you tell me about your illness?
Do you think about dying? Are you scared?
Do you believe in an after-life?
What did fishing bring to your life?
What will you miss most about fishing?
What are your hopes for the future of fishing?
Do you have any requests for your friends/family?
What advice would you give to your family, friends, or strangers listening?
How would you like to be remembered?

Remembering a Loved one

Tell me about _____
How did you know each other?
What is your earliest memory of _____?
What is your favorite thing about _____?
What was the best fishing trip you both were a part of?
What kind of person was _____ to you?
Are you comfortable/ can you talk about _____’s death? How did _____ die?
What has been the hardest thing about not having _____ in your life?
What would you ask _____ if _____ were here today?
What do you miss most about _____?
How do you want people to remember _____?
Were there any challenges that _____ faced during their life?
Can you talk about them?
Was there anything you and _____ disagreed about, fought over, or experienced some conflict around?
What memory of _____ puts a smile on your face?
Did you and _____ see eye-to-eye when it came to fishing?
Who was the better fisherman/woman?
What was your relationship like?
Did you and _____ have any inside jokes?
Would you like to share your favorite stories about _____?
Is there something about _____ that others might not know, or would be surprised about?
How have you changed since _____ passed away?
What is the image of _____ that persists in your mind?
Do you have any traditions to honor _____?