Stop Making This Common Retrieve Mistake [Calm Water Edition]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
My least favorite conditions for big seatrout and redfish on shallow flats USED to be calm water.
When the wind drops and the surface turns to glass, those fish can get extremely spooky.
I’d often see them… get a lure near them… but struggle to get the bite.
For a long time, I thought it was just the conditions.
But it turns out I was making a mistake with my retrieve that was actually alerting the fish to danger before they ever even had a chance to bite.
Featured Gear:
- Rod: Slot Machine – 7’6″ Medium
- Reel: Otis 2500
- Lure: Polk County Tweaker – Black Silver
- Rigging: 3/0 Hoss Helix 1/16th oz
- Mainline: 8 lb J-Braid 8 Grand
- Leader: 12 lb Ande mono with 20 lb Ande mono bite tippet
Spot Finding Software:
- Smart Fishing Spots (by far the best mapping system for finding great fishing spots)
Final Thoughts
Calm water conditions can be excellent for catching big seatrout and redfish up in shallow water as long as we are very careful to minimize vibrations in the water.
This must include the vibrations of the line going through the water because just 1 twitch of the rod tip when a lure is 100 ft away can be enough to spook a lot of fish, even when using very thin line.
As long as we aren’t alerting the fish to danger, they’ll gladly eat, making for some exciting sight fishing opportunities.
I used to cringe when I saw wind forecasts under 5 mph. But now I just get my light tackle low vibration gear ready, knowing that there will be high odds of success in spite of the very calm conditions.
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).
Good info.
thanks
Our pleasure!
Thanks for the great info Luke! Like the new black and silver tweeker. Have you thought about doing a gold color with gold flakes maybe call it the golden retriever? Lol
Great idea on the color and name!
This retrieve also works for bass in fresh water. I, too, have to force myself to retrieve slowly. I really want to give an occasional jerk or twitch.
Thanks for sharing the helpful intel
Thats great info to have. Never thought of it that way.
We’re glad to see that you enjoyed this lesson.
Great intel, thanks Luke!
Our pleasure J.D.
Great information! Thank you
Our pleasure Lex.
Great information! I had no idea that was a problem in calm water. Can’t wait to try it out! Thanks
We’re glad to see that you enjoyed this video
Thank you Luke. Great information. Love the video
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Jesse!
Love the video. It reminds me of videos where, for baby tarpon, people pinch off the tail of a paddletail and use a straight retrieve.
Thanks Charles!