| To say that fishing from the shore is like going to | | | | than the hard plastic ones. |
| the beach and not swimming, is an | | | | The trick is using a lure that is smooth and flat |
| understatement. However, some of my earliest | | | | enough to contact the water properly for skipping. |
| and most memorable fishing experiences involve | | | | Just like when you were a kid looking for rocks to |
| being on the bank. | | | | skip, finding a lure that skips has the same |
| Obviously, fishing from a boat is a better and | | | | principles involved. |
| more preferred method, just for the simple fact | | | | I have found that the Gulp series, |
| that you can cast to the bank and not from it. | | | | watermelon-green frog by the brand Berkley is |
| However, if you can find the perfect spot, you | | | | the best. I don't think the color makes a |
| can still "walk" away with an enjoyable experience. | | | | difference in skipping however, as far as catching |
| Part of that, comes from knowing were and | | | | a good sized lunker, color makes a big difference. |
| sometimes how to cast. | | | | This particular soft-plastic frog skips extremely |
| Telling you how to cast can get you started, but | | | | well. I'm talkin' three or four skips, sometimes a |
| you must get past the fear and feeling of loss | | | | full ten feet or more. |
| that comes with losing a lure or a rig. It happens, | | | | Finding a small cove on foot is much the same as |
| get over it and cast. If you think you're spending | | | | finding a dock on a small cove. Being able to cast |
| too much on tackle, then I would suggest finding | | | | to the other bank is what gets me to stop and |
| someone to show you a few casting tips and | | | | throw my favorite lure. (Or what happens to be |
| tricks. Get out and do it, or limit yourself to just | | | | on my line at the time) |
| reading about fishing. | | | | In this situation, I would have a minnow type lure; |
| I understand the fear of losing that 4, 5, 6 dollar | | | | hard plastic lipped or soft plastic weed-less, or a |
| and up lure or the rig you spent an hour rigging | | | | frog or "creature" rig. When I say "creature", I'm |
| up, that is why I suggest finding someone who | | | | talking about lizards, skirted tubes and crawfish or |
| can show you, in person, a few things to get you | | | | crayfish depending on where you're from. |
| over that fear of losing a 15 dollar lure. Just | | | | Your goal is to cast or skip the lure across the |
| remember, sometimes you are going to loose a | | | | water, under the tree limbs to the bank, or as |
| lure, no matter how hard you try not to. And | | | | close to the bank as you can get. Then reel in |
| yes, there are some lures that cost that much | | | | slow and steady, sometimes stopping to let the |
| and more. | | | | lure drop to the bottom a few feet from the |
| I will try to expand on casting in another article. | | | | shore, this can produce amazing results. |
| Please allow me to return to the task at hand. | | | | Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the lure |
| Locating a dock that's in a relatively small cove is | | | | is only going to skip one or two times and a very |
| like heaven, especially if it's at the end of that | | | | short distance at that. This is where casting |
| cove. The dock is a structure, fish are drawn to | | | | accuracy comes into play. One quick tip, try a |
| structures. It gives them a reference point, plus | | | | side-arm cast to get the trajectory low and flat. |
| cover and shelter. And fish generally stay in one | | | | But enough about trajectory, this isn't rocket |
| cove, moving in patterns around that cove. | | | | science, or is it? |
| The key to catching a nice sized bass or even a | | | | When I approach a lake on foot, I also try to |
| decent sized bluegill or crappie is being able to cast | | | | "sneak up" on the lake. I know it sounds funny |
| to the bank, not from it. Casting and retrieving | | | | however, the less noise you make approaching |
| parallel to the bank, on the outskirts of a | | | | the bank, the better your chance of not scaring |
| weed-bed is another crucial factor. | | | | away a nice big fish. The older and bigger fish are |
| Don't get me wrong, casting straight out into the | | | | older and bigger for a reason. |
| water from the bank works also, just not as well. | | | | Fish can see you on the bank. The ones that |
| If you're using a hook and bobber, this can be the | | | | have been caught and released will flee if they |
| preferred method. Large-mouth bass have been | | | | see you coming with your pole and tackle box, |
| known to take a worm on a hook, although | | | | crashing through the brush and making the noises |
| rarely. | | | | associated with being caught. Have fun, but try |
| Getting your lure under those overhanging tree | | | | not to make a party out of it. Other anglers may |
| limbs is the trick, which can be a hurdle in itself. I | | | | thank you for it also. |
| mentioned, in an earlier article, that you can skip | | | | And as always, keep happy thoughts and good |
| some lures across the water like a stone. | | | | fishing to you. |
| However, the soft plastic lures usually skip better | | | | |