Refine Your Presentation

When the fish get hard to come by we find it is time to refine our presentation. By this we mean putting the bait or lure on target in the right spot with maybe an accurate cast. The refined presentation also means using the right lure and lure retrieve to get best action to achieve best success.
We are sure you too have had those days when you caught fish in most any spot on most any bait. This happens since fish are most active around or during the major periods shown in our Fishing Calendar.
However, if you plan a return fishing trip the following week during the same time, you will find things to be different and the fish less aggressive. There may have been a weather frontal passage that has fish holding tight to cover and the major time period for fish activity is about 5 hours later.
This is when the right presentation becomes important to catching fish and the best way to refine your presentation is to:
- Improve casting accuracy by hitting your target with a lure. The angler who can place a bait closest to an object or in the strike zone will catch more fish.
- Make your bait or lure appear more realistic and natural looking. This may require a swimming type or a slower retrieve.
- Improve ability to use your electronics to locate offshore structures, fish and bait fish.
We see very few anglers who pay attention to their presentation. They fish way to fast along breaks or through stump fields and just figure if a fish does not chase their lure or bait, they just are not there. Many seem to just have one speed of fishing and as a result miss out on a lot of strikes.
This is when being aware of the strike or bite zone and putting the bait where the fish are and live will get you fish. Remember that predator fish will conceal themselves around weeds, stump and other objects of cover waiting for prey to get close. Most important is to know the strike zone can be fairly big most of the time, but as conditions get tougher such as cold fronts, bright sunlight or muddy water, the smaller that strike zone gets.
What may seem like a perfect presentation to us may not be for you, but here are a few things to consider while refining your presentation:
- When targeting fish that like to conceal themselves like Bass, key in on areas of cover that offer shade.
- If you find a likely spot, fish that area efficiently on all sides.
- If fish are spooked easily, cast with a silent entry past your target enough so the lure will pendulum down and be on target.
- If you find schooling fish, determine direction they are moving, try to stay up with them and cast slightly ahead of them.
We are sure the bigger and more mature the fish, the less likely we will catch them with a sloppy presentation. As fishing pressure has increased over the past years, so has the need for the right presentation. We hope this article helps you to refine your presentation and to catch more fish this year.
As for putting your lure on target there is no better way then vertical fishing as we have talked about in the past. We have been field testing the T.N.T. Shad Slabs (Jigging Spoons) by Trolling Nolan’s Tackle Company and find them to be made from quality components with an awesome finish and halo-graphics. I like the realistic shape and the red hooks and found the 1 oz slab to work will for Bass, WhiteBass and Walleye along breaks off flats and along ledges. These T.N.T. Slabs would be great for Stripers and one day I found shad being pushed up to a bluff and casting a 3/4oz slab I hooked a nice Walleye. Check Bryon Nolan’s website for other slabs items, ordering info, tips for using and current specials offered at www.trollingnolanstackle.com or call 580-477-1391 and watch our website for further test results of these shad slabs or for tips on using jigging spoons.
Visit our WebSite for Larry's Fishing Hole at www.larrysfishnghole.com for current Lake Reports, tips, other Product Test Results and how to get your Fishing Calendar with coupons & more.
Till Next Time GOD BLESS & GOOD FISHING !