Tips & Techniques
The small things that add up to more fish in the net — retrieves, reads, and rigging.
The Pause That Gets Bit
More fish are caught on the pause than on the retrieve. Whether it's a swimbait, a crankbait, or a suspending jerkbait, the strike almost always comes when the bait stops — or just as it starts moving again. Build a pause into every retrieve, and make it longer than you think it should be.
Stop to Eat
The Pause
The strike comes when the bait stops — or just as it starts moving again.
Build It In
Add a deliberate pause to every retrieve. Three to five seconds is a starting point.
Longer Than You Think
Make the pause longer than feels right. The fish will tell you when it's enough.
Reading Current Seams
A seam is the line where fast water meets slow water. It's the single most important feature on a river, because it's where fish hold to eat without working hard. Find the seam, find the fish. Fish the slow side of the seam, right on the line — that's where the fish are, facing upstream into the current, waiting for food to drift past.
Find the Line
The Seam
The line where fast water meets slow water. Trout hold here to eat without working hard.
Fish the Slow Side
Right on the line, facing upstream into the current, waiting for food to drift past.
Where to Look
Below riffles, inside bends, behind boulders, where side channels meet the main flow.
Wind: Your Friend, Not Your Enemy
Wind pushes plankton and baitfish, which pushes the predators. A windy bank is almost always a better bank than a calm one. Don't run from the wind — fish it, with a bait you can control in the chop. The chop also breaks up your outline and makes the fish less wary.
Fish the Chop
Wind Pushes Bait
Plankton to baitfish to predators — wind creates a feeding chain on the windy bank.
Windy Bank
Almost always a better bank than a calm one. Don't run from the wind.
Chop Breaks Outline
Surface chop breaks up your silhouette and makes the fish less wary of your presence.
Knots Worth Trusting
You don't need a dozen knots. You need two, tied perfectly every time. A Palomar for braid and fluoro, and an improved clinch or uni knot for everything else. Wet the line before you tighten, seat the knot slowly, and test it with a firm pull before you cast. A knot that slips once is a knot that will fail on the fish of your life.
Tied Perfectly Every Time
Palomar
For braid and fluoro — strong, simple, and reliable for almost every application.
Improved Clinch / Uni
For everything else — versatile, proven, and easy to tie on the water.
Wet the Line
Before you tighten — seat the knot slowly to avoid friction damage.
Test It
Firm pull before you cast. A knot that slips once will fail on the fish of your life.
When to Downsize
When the bite is tough, the answer is almost always smaller and slower. Drop a size on your bait, lighten your line, and slow your retrieve. Big baits catch big fish, but small baits catch fish — and a day of small fish is infinitely better than a day of no fish.
Smaller and Slower
Drop a Size
Smaller bait when the bite is tough — fewer refusals, more commits.
Lighten Line
Thinner line is less visible — drop a pound or two of test in clear water.
Slow Down
Slower retrieve and longer pauses — let them eat it instead of chasing it.
The Last Hour
The last hour of light is worth the other ten. Plan your day so you're on your best water at last light, not driving to it. The fish know the day is ending. They feed. Be there, with a bait already tied on, and don't leave until you can't see your bait anymore.
Worth the Other Ten
Plan for Last Light
Be on your best water at dusk, not driving to it. The last hour is the best hour.
Bait Ready
Already tied on — don't waste the bite window re-rigging or changing baits.
Stay Until Dark
Don't leave until you can't see your bait anymore. The fish feed until the light is gone.