Versatility = Successful Fishing

Ahhh, the fruits of modern technology! On my Ranger 518 DVX, I have a wealth of fancy gadgets. From a Garmin GPS 172C that can get me within feet of a specific target to my Garmin Fishfinder240 that shows me depth, bottom composition, thermoclines, as well as temperature and, oh yeah, fish symbols (if I really wanted to see them!). Yet with all these “new-fangled” conveniences, one thing remains the same… you still have to catch the fish!

On the tournament circuits, catching fish is the name of the game - at least if you want to be successful. With both natural pressures (weather conditions, water levels, etc.) and man-made pressures (an abundance of recreational boaters, over-fished waters, etc.) put on the fish, their activity levels can change from one day to the next. To be successful, it is important to be versatile with the techniques you use.

These days, an angler should be fairly well versed in a variety of techniques and presentations to be successful. If your bait of choice is a crankbait and the bass just aren’t hitting like they were last week (or even yesterday), its time to reach in the rod locker (or tackle box) for something different. Sometimes a vertical presentation works better at drawing strikes than a horizontal one.

Having both a vertical (worm, jig, etc.) and horizontal (crankbait, spinnerbait, etc.) “go to” bait can pay dividends when one of them doesn’t produce. Having a comfort level with a different technique could be money in the bank when the bite turns off (or never turns on), but getting comfortable requires time.

One of the best ways to get comfortable with a new bait or technique is to just use it. The next time you are out on a body of water you are familiar with, take out a bait your aren’t comfortable with, and fish with it. You have probably seen demonstrations or read articles on the mechanics of fishing that bait - so get it out and expand your fishing talents. You’ll be glad you did.

-Jeff Morton

HOME