No matter your experience level, every angler is going to encounter many different scenarios while out fishing. And sooner or later, you are going to end up having to get your lure or bait in a tight spot or perform a perfect retrieve in order to get a strike. Luckily, there are plenty of different rod tricks that can help you out no matter the situation, and help you catch a lot more fish!
If you have ever watched a veteran angler fishing, you will notice that they spend a lot of time making shorter casts around structures like docks, trees, stumps, weeds, etc. This is because fish, regardless of species, love places that give them cover from other fish and shades them from sunlight.
More often than not, you can reach these areas with shorter casts. Other times, you might find that getting your lure under a dock, around a submerged log, or other hard to reach area can be almost impossible. This is where a few simple rod tricks can help.
Expert Angler Tips
One easy trick is called “pitching” a lure. To do this, you simply pull a length of fishing line off of the reel and pinch it between your fingers. The length of the line that you pull will depend on the desired length of the pitch, but an arm’s length of the line is a good starting point. Either lock the reel or keep your thumb on the reel to stop more line from coming off. Now swing your rod forward and let the line out of your non-casting hand. This short “pitch” is perfect for getting underbrush or docks, and hitting hard to get to areas that require a lot of precision.
Another trick that you will often see from veterans is called “walking the dog.” This is a simple retrieval method that gives your lures a very lifelike movement in the water. This will only work on topwater lures and works great when paired with things like a frog and plug patterns.
To use this trick, first, make a normal cast and leave a small amount of slack in the line. Give your rod a short jerk and then reel up some of the line (again leaving a small amount of slack afterward). Now jerk the rod again in the same direction. The key here is to be fast and make sure you leave sufficient slack in the water after each short retrieve. You will know when you have it down because you will see your lure darting from side to side like a bass’ wounded prey!
Final Thoughts
Lastly, don’t forget about reliable rod tricks like the bow cast. This cast is made by grabbing your lure, pulling it back, and flinging it towards your targets like shooting a bow and arrow. This is an extremely accurate cast that can be made for most areas, and while it does not have a lot of range, it can help hit those perfect spots that hold fish.
Whether you are a beginner or experienced angler, everyone should know and practice these rod tricks in order to help bring more success to their fishing trips! Don’t forget to read up on Bradley’s Fishing and Hunting tips & tricks all year round!
