under a dock and not getting hung up is what gets these guys those few extra bites each day. Making a soft presentation in shallow water will result in a few less spooked fish. How many times have you fished to the back of a creek in the spring and mess up that cast in the last 20 yards of bank only to see a big fish swimming out under your boat as you go get your wacky rigged Senko out of a willow bush?
When the ISE shows had the Casting Cove where the anglers would cast at a series of targets on a course with a set amount of time, many of these targets were under a makeshift boat dock or a downed log. The guys I remember doing very well on this course were ironically the same guys that do very well in tournaments. Guys like Skeet Reese, who won the Casting Cove contest at the Bassmasters Classic long before he ever fished in one, Mike Reynolds, Robert Lee, Bobby Barrack, Gary Dobyns, Jarrett Edwards and Zack Thompson are just a few of the guys I remember doing very well on the Casting Cove. Funny these are the same guys that have dominated tournaments for years.
We all keep an eye out for the newest in baits and tackle, rods and reels and even electronics but very few of us spend any time at all working on our casting ability, flippin or pitchin and even being able to cast accurately with a spinning rod. I can take some of the best flippers on the Delta and hand them a spinning rod with 6 pound test and a small worm and look out…. you might need a hard hat and some extra dartheads.
Here are a few tips that might help you. Start out by practicing with what you believe is your weakness (we all have them in fishing) and work on that. If you are pretty proficient with a flippin stick then work on tossing a spinnerbait around your practice course or maybe casting a jig. I never use the old yellow practice plugs that we all had as kids as they don’t fly like a lure that you will be using and most times they are way too light. This is a great use for those rusty hook jigs or old spinnerbaits and sinking frogs as they will be the baits you will likely be fishing.
Try to elevate yourself to simulate the height of your boat off the water and pick flat targets instead of buckets or planters that are elevated. Trying to put the bait into a raised target often causes bad habits and you will notice the next time you are on the water your bait entry is a bit harder. Don’t just cast to the same target over and over, set more than one target up at different distances to make it more like when
ISSUE 2 June 2011
you are actually fishing. Don’t forget some practice with a spinning rod as well.
You will go through some line doing this and you can use old line or buy some inexpensive line for your practice. Like every sport fishing, takes practice and setting some time aside to improve your mechanics will result in more fish and may even get you a few more top finishes.
The top anglers in the country each spend hundreds of days on the water each year but most of us will be lucky to spend 25-50 days on the water in a year. A little backyard practice will give you an edge on the water and the next time you see that tight spot behind a boat dock at Clear Lake or on a Delta tulle island you will be able to put that frog right in the perfect spot...
Grab a rod and get some practice in, the fish are biting this summer and you need to be ready for them.
See you on the water!
Kent Brown is the host of the Ultimate Bass Radio Show on Sports 1140 KHTK am every Saturday morning at 5am or you can “catch” the archive shows on the radio pages here on www.westernbass.com.
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