To say that fishing from the shore is like going to the beach and not swimming, is an understatement. However, some of my earliest and most memorable fishing experiences involve being on the bank.
Obviously, fishing from a boat is a better and more preferred method, just for the simple fact that you can cast to the bank and not from it. However, if you can find the perfect spot, you can still “walk” away with an enjoyable experience. Part of that, comes from knowing were and sometimes how to cast.
Telling you how to cast can get you started, but you must get past the fear and feeling of loss that comes with losing a lure or a rig. It happens, get over it and cast. If you think you’re spending too much on tackle, then I would suggest finding someone to show you a few casting tips and tricks. Get out and do it, or limit yourself to just reading about fishing.
I understand the fear of losing that 4, 5, 6 dollar and up lure or the rig you spent an hour rigging up, that is why I suggest finding someone who can show you, in person, a few things to get you over that fear of losing a 15 dollar lure. Just remember, sometimes you are going to loose a lure, no matter how hard you try not to. And yes, there are some lures that cost that much and more.
I will try to expand on casting in another article. Please allow me to return to the task at hand.
Locating a dock that’s in a relatively small cove is like heaven, especially if it’s at the end of that cove. The dock is a structure, fish are drawn to structures. It gives them a reference point, plus cover and shelter. And fish generally stay in one cove, moving in patterns around that cove.
The key to catching a nice sized bass or even a decent sized bluegill or crappie is being able to cast to the bank, not from it. Casting and retrieving parallel to the bank, on the outskirts of a weed-bed is another crucial factor.
Don’t get me wrong, casting straight out into the water from the bank works also, just not as well. If you’re using a hook and bobber, this can be the preferred method. Large-mouth bass have been known to take a worm on a hook, although rarely.
Getting your lure under those overhanging tree limbs is the trick, which can be a hurdle in itself. I mentioned, in an earlier article, that you can skip some lures across the water like a stone. However, the soft plastic lures usually skip better than the hard plastic ones.
The trick is using a lure that is smooth and flat enough to contact the water properly for skipping. Just like when you were a kid looking for rocks to skip, finding a lure that skips has the same principles involved.
I have found that the Gulp series, watermelon-green frog by the brand Berkley is the best. I don’t think the color makes a difference in skipping however, as far as catching a good sized lunker, color makes a big difference. This particular soft-plastic frog skips extremely well. I’m talkin’ three or four skips, sometimes a full ten feet or more.
Finding a small cove on foot is much the same as finding a dock on a small cove. Being able to cast to the other bank is what gets me to stop and throw my favorite lure. (Or what happens to be on my line at the time)
In this situation, I would have a minnow type lure; hard plastic lipped or soft plastic weed-less, or a frog or “creature” rig. When I say “creature”, I’m talking about lizards, skirted tubes and crawfish or crayfish depending on where you’re from.
Your goal is to cast or skip the lure across the water, under the tree limbs to the bank, or as close to the bank as you can get. Then reel in slow and steady, sometimes stopping to let the lure drop to the bottom a few feet from the shore, this can produce amazing results.
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the lure is only going to skip one or two times and a very short distance at that. This is where casting accuracy comes into play. One quick tip, try a side-arm cast to get the trajectory low and flat. But enough about trajectory, this isn’t rocket science, or is it?
When I approach a lake on foot, I also try to “sneak up” on the lake. I know it sounds funny however, the less noise you make approaching the bank, the better your chance of not scaring away a nice big fish. The older and bigger fish are older and bigger for a reason.
Fish can see you on the bank. The ones that have been caught and released will flee if they see you coming with your pole and tackle box, crashing through the brush and making the noises associated with being caught. Have fun, but try not to make a party out of it. Other anglers may thank you for it also.
And as always, keep happy thoughts and good fishing to you.
Obviously, fishing from a boat is a better and more preferred method, just for the simple fact that you can cast to the bank and not from it. However, if you can find the perfect spot, you can still “walk” away with an enjoyable experience. Part of that, comes from knowing were and sometimes how to cast.
Telling you how to cast can get you started, but you must get past the fear and feeling of loss that comes with losing a lure or a rig. It happens, get over it and cast. If you think you’re spending too much on tackle, then I would suggest finding someone to show you a few casting tips and tricks. Get out and do it, or limit yourself to just reading about fishing.
I understand the fear of losing that 4, 5, 6 dollar and up lure or the rig you spent an hour rigging up, that is why I suggest finding someone who can show you, in person, a few things to get you over that fear of losing a 15 dollar lure. Just remember, sometimes you are going to loose a lure, no matter how hard you try not to. And yes, there are some lures that cost that much and more.
I will try to expand on casting in another article. Please allow me to return to the task at hand.
Locating a dock that’s in a relatively small cove is like heaven, especially if it’s at the end of that cove. The dock is a structure, fish are drawn to structures. It gives them a reference point, plus cover and shelter. And fish generally stay in one cove, moving in patterns around that cove.
The key to catching a nice sized bass or even a decent sized bluegill or crappie is being able to cast to the bank, not from it. Casting and retrieving parallel to the bank, on the outskirts of a weed-bed is another crucial factor.
Don’t get me wrong, casting straight out into the water from the bank works also, just not as well. If you’re using a hook and bobber, this can be the preferred method. Large-mouth bass have been known to take a worm on a hook, although rarely.
Getting your lure under those overhanging tree limbs is the trick, which can be a hurdle in itself. I mentioned, in an earlier article, that you can skip some lures across the water like a stone. However, the soft plastic lures usually skip better than the hard plastic ones.
The trick is using a lure that is smooth and flat enough to contact the water properly for skipping. Just like when you were a kid looking for rocks to skip, finding a lure that skips has the same principles involved.
I have found that the Gulp series, watermelon-green frog by the brand Berkley is the best. I don’t think the color makes a difference in skipping however, as far as catching a good sized lunker, color makes a big difference. This particular soft-plastic frog skips extremely well. I’m talkin’ three or four skips, sometimes a full ten feet or more.
Finding a small cove on foot is much the same as finding a dock on a small cove. Being able to cast to the other bank is what gets me to stop and throw my favorite lure. (Or what happens to be on my line at the time)
In this situation, I would have a minnow type lure; hard plastic lipped or soft plastic weed-less, or a frog or “creature” rig. When I say “creature”, I’m talking about lizards, skirted tubes and crawfish or crayfish depending on where you’re from.
Your goal is to cast or skip the lure across the water, under the tree limbs to the bank, or as close to the bank as you can get. Then reel in slow and steady, sometimes stopping to let the lure drop to the bottom a few feet from the shore, this can produce amazing results.
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the lure is only going to skip one or two times and a very short distance at that. This is where casting accuracy comes into play. One quick tip, try a side-arm cast to get the trajectory low and flat. But enough about trajectory, this isn’t rocket science, or is it?
When I approach a lake on foot, I also try to “sneak up” on the lake. I know it sounds funny however, the less noise you make approaching the bank, the better your chance of not scaring away a nice big fish. The older and bigger fish are older and bigger for a reason.
Fish can see you on the bank. The ones that have been caught and released will flee if they see you coming with your pole and tackle box, crashing through the brush and making the noises associated with being caught. Have fun, but try not to make a party out of it. Other anglers may thank you for it also.
And as always, keep happy thoughts and good fishing to you.
Chris lives in Nashville, IN. with his dog, Piranah. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Curley |  |
