Always Learning Even When It's a Grind w/ Brett McComas | JMO Fishing 414

Brett McComas, founder of Target Walleye, reveals how the grind of fishing—especially during a brutally cold, slow start to the season—has become his greatest teacher. Far from being a chore, the struggle to catch fish in tough conditions forces him to innovate, experiment, and learn at a deeper level than easy days ever could. He shares how his job as a content creator has turned him into a better angler: every email he writes is a deep dive into real-time fishing data, often leading to breakthroughs on the water. One pivotal moment came when he ignored his own instincts and fished shallow sand in 59-degree water—just after reading about shiner spawning patterns—only to catch his first walleye there in years. Now, he’s obsessed with subtle details: long pauses on jerkbaits, dragging jigs on the bottom, and even homemade 'fuzzy dice' baits. What makes this episode powerful isn’t just the tactics—it’s the mindset. Brett admits he’s not just chasing fish; he’s chasing mastery through relentless learning, and he’s convinced that the most valuable lessons come not from success, but from being 'kicked in the teeth' and forced to adapt.