In Fishing, The Angle Is Everything

Presentation. After you’ve determined the correct location, how you present your bait becomes the next most important factor in getting results. Color is important, size matters, and type of lure are all keys. However, once you settled on a bait, presenting it at the correct speed and angle is usually the difference in having some, or a lot, of success.

It’s especially so in spring when fish are set up on shallow cover. It matters little if you’re fishing for bass or crappie, the angle of your cast and retrieve makes all the difference. If there’s current present, remember fish will position themselves facing into that current. In most cases, usually they’ll set up behind a rock, stump, or a dock. Anything that creates a current break has the potential to hold fish. When fish are shallow in lakes were current isn’t a factor be sure to position yourself so that your cast and retrieve parallels the bank. A cast and retrieve made directly at the bank keeps your bait in the strike zone for a limited time. A cast made at an angle along the bank keeps your bait in front of the fish increasing your odds of getting bit. Pay close attention to your line size and weight of your lure. With both, use the lightest possible to keep your lure moving as slowly and naturally as possible.

Your next time out make sure every cast, the first to the last, has the proper direction and speed. Most importantly pay close attention to angle. It really is everything.