If We Only Had 5 Minutes With Most Anglers, We’d FIX This
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
If we only had five minutes with most anglers, we wouldn’t start by asking what lure they’re throwing.
We wouldn’t start with their spots either.
We’d look at one part of their game first, because it reveals a whole lot more than most people realize.
Key Takeaways:
- The biggest thing holding many anglers back usually isn’t what they think it is.
- A simple practice setup away from the water can reveal weaknesses fast.
- Small equipment details can have a much bigger impact than most anglers realize.
- The difference between average and consistent anglers often shows up before the fish ever eat.
- A few overlooked adjustments can help you make far more of every opportunity on the water.
Featured Gear:
- Rod: Slot Machine
- Reel: Otis 2500
- Lure: Mulligan 4″ Paddletail
- Rigging: Hoss Helix Hook
- Remove twistlock from the hook instead of using casting weights
- Line: Daiwa J-Braid
Final Thoughts
This is one of those topics that seems small until you see how much it affects everything else.
It impacts efficiency, confidence, and what happens in those short windows when you only get one good shot.
If this part of your game is a little off, it can hold you back all day long.
Watch the video, see if you recognize any of it in your own fishing, and then start making a few reps count.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
The 2 core benefits we promise to Insider Club members is to be able to find and catch fish easier than ever before while saving money on fishing equipment.
So I am including links to the quickest ways to achieve each:
1) Finding Fish System
2) Insider Club’s Group Discounts
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
This was very helpful, along with the casting mastery course which I was inspired to look at. Bad habits develop over time, particularly when most inshore fishing is done from a kayak. With just a little backyard practice, my casting was noticeably better, especially accuracy. Distance is still a work in progress since I haven’t gotten my timing right consistently. Part of that is that I use 4 rods of different weight and power to throw different lures, but I’m sure it will come soon.
With the exact setup you used for this vidio what would you say is the maximum distance I should be looking at so I know when I got it right.
I never measured the distance with a raw lure like this. But in general, a lure with a full weight of just .25 oz (without wind-catching extremities) should ideally go ~100 ft… that distance of course goes up once adding a jighead.
Great stuff, thanks guys!
Great discussion
Going to start some yard training!
Great video. I’ve been fishing for 65 years and I’m probably one of those who thinks I can cast better than I really can. After joining Salt Strong I learned about and started to let the rod do more of the work in my casting. I’m going to start using the tips in this video to improve my casting. After watching this I realize that I’m putting too much arch in my casts and I’m going to train myself to use the dart casts.
I know that a jig head isn’t good for skipping, but how about the weighted hooks?
Thanks
Great tips. Thanks for breaking that down. I’ll start practicing more. Another suggestion is to lower your garage door where it’s about 1 foot away from closing. This makes a great target for skipping.
Great video, Luke! Totally agree!! I need to practice more!! Two questions – 1. How much line between the rod tip and lure is best? and 2. I have mostly use a side-arm lob cast because I always thought the dart cast made the lure hit the water too hard and scared the fish. How do I avoid that? Also using two hands on a light rod was a revelation! I’m still in awe of that cast you made off the balcony that caught the snook!!
Great questions. 1) I typically have about 14 inches of line out when I’m casting for accuracy… if open water fishing, I’ll have about 24 inches out since the longer length seems to help generate distance more easily. 2) To lessen splash, just feather the line (or close the bail) before the lure hits the water to slow it’s forward momentum down right before it hits.
Thanks Luke!! I’ll work on it!!
Great info, I broke my dominant hand little finger this past year, and it’s really affected my whole hand, not been fun. These ideas will help getting better with my right hand and hopefully my dominant hand will get with the program. Thanks Guys !!
Something I need to start doing more of!
Good info guys! My dad made us practice in the yard when we were kids. Accuracy makes a huge difference.