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EFFICIENT:
This means, at the bottom line, no wasted actions. It requires that the
proper lures be used
in the proper manner at the proper location/time, and with the proper
presentation equipment. No lure
presentations are wasted, while we try to make as many as possible in
the allotted time. 'Efficient' is the
application of skills.
DELIBERATE:
For our purposes, this term implies that EVERYTHING we do during the
course of the fishing
day has a very specific purpose. From the structure we might choose to
fish, to the manner in which we
present the lure, each motion is fully understood and is 'deliberate' in
nature. 'Deliberate' is the application of
knowledge.
Another way to look at the relationships
of the above expressions is to consider 'efficient' as 'how' we fish,
and 'deliberate' as 'why' we are doing so.
I vividly recall my first real
introduction to deliberate structure fishing. Quite possibly, you have
had the same
experience.
We were gliding smoothly across the
Nutbush Creek area of Buggs Island Lake on the Virginia/North
Carolina state line. I had visions of crank plugs in the submerged
willow bushes and plastic worms on red
clay banks. The depth finder was reading a steady 60 feet when Bobby
Brickman, suddenly, dropped off
speed and let the big Ranger settle to a slow idle. As he guided the
boat in small circles, very attentive to the
glowing signal of the flasher unit, I noted we were at least half a mile
in any direction from the beloved willows
and banks. After tossing a couple of marker buoys over the side, Bobby
killed the big engine, dropped the
trolling motor down and proclaimed that we were ready to fish. Quite
honestly, I was totally lost at that point.
Our target was a submerged roadbed,
coming off a far bank and connecting with an underwater island. At a
depth of 15 feet and surrounded by the deeper waters, these structures
were ideal locations for schools of
bass. And, during the next hour, my whole concept of bass fishing was
completely changed.
Brickman was probably the most deliberate
and efficient bass angler I have ever known. I never knew him to
run a shoreline looking for single bass or strays, and I cannot recall
that he ever made a single haphazard
cast. Every location he fished was purposely chosen, either by past
experience on it or by fully examining it
before ever tossing out a lure. If it was a new, previously unknown
structure, he studied his topographical
map and the signal from the depth finder very closely. The structure had
to be adjacent to deep water, be of
a hard composition, and have either brush, stumps or a rough, irregular
surface. If current flow came up
against it, so much the better.
Lures were deliberately chosen, based on
depth, speed and size, in that priority. A crank plug had to lightly
clip the bottom as it ran along, whether with a fast retrieve in warm
weather or a slow one during the colder
months. A worm or jig was selected primarily by weight, in that the rate
of fall of those type lures was
Brickman's 'speed' factor. Most bass hit a worm or jig on the drop, if
it is close enough to them. In cold
weather, bass are sluggish and a slower lure will take them more readily
than a heavy one flashing by.
Size was relevant to the colder months, primarily, in that smaller lures
are more effective then.
Watching Brickman select a lure, and the
accompanying explanations as to why, were both fascinating and
quite logical.
Lure presentation was also a deliberately
thought-out process, resulting in an efficient and rapid coverage of
the area. Determination was made as to the most likely place on the
structure that the bass would be.
Usually that was near the sharpest breakline into deep water. Once the
exact presentation target was
selected, even more factors were brought into play. The direction of the
retrieve was considered and this
further led to proper boat positioning. I was told that bass, holding on
a breakline, nearly always face in
towards the structure, watching for forage. The exception was in an area
of current flow, where the fish
will be found facing into the flow to hold themselves in place.
From this bit of 'history', certain very
important lessons should now be making impressions on the reader's
fishing mind.
Whether you are a tournament angler or a
weekend semi-pro, fishing time is valuable. There simply is not
enough of it. Accordingly, we must make the most of what precious little
we have.
To do that, we must be very deliberate
and efficient in our actions.
The following are the prime ingredients
to do so:
- Learn how to isolate potentially
good structure.
Gain the knowledge of what its
characteristics must be, how deep water and current flow effect it, and
the
anticipated effects of weather, season and water conditions. Remember,
catching bass is easy; finding
them is the hard part.
- Take the structure study one step
further and evaluate 'sub-structure'. That is to say, pay attention
to the specific features of the chosen structure. Where are the
stumps, brush, rocks, sharpest drops, and deepest adjacent water?
That tells us where to start fishing. If we were picking apples, we
certainly would go to the limbs, rather than the trunk of the tree.
- Study the bass's movement patterns
in regards to seasonal conditions. Recognize that, in the Summer and
Winter, he will be found predominately in schools on structure. And,
the majority of the fish will be deeper during the Winter than at
any other time of year. Take note that, for Spring spawning, he will
move up the channels of feeder tributaries searching for warmer
water and shallow nesting areas. In the Fall, he will again use the
tributaries (and also the main river channels) for movement to
large, shallow cover zones for a pre-Winter feeding spree.
- Pay strict attention to lure
selection. Brand names and colors mean so little that they can be
disregarded. Depth is, overwhelmingly, the first consideration. If
the lure doesn't get down to the bass, it is worthless. Speed of
retrieve and lure size are seasonal aspects and must be considered,
but only with depth as the primary ingredient.
- Discipline yourself towards the
goal of never fishing a location that doesn't have utmost potential.
Further, never make a cast that isn't deliberately towards a
specifically selected target. Random casts catch random bass. Wasted
casts are wasted time.
Every cast is a potential trophy bass and
the odds of catching her can be greatly swayed in your favor by
being very deliberate and very efficient.
Strive to make the most of your time on the water and your
success rate will improve dramatically.
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