Fishing Lure Tip: Try The Change-Up

Baseball season is here. However, even at my kids’ practices, my mind rarely strays far from fishing. Surprisingly, fishing and baseball have a few things in common. For example, just as a pitcher cannot get away with throwing the same pitch every time, fishermen should be ready to cast something very different.

Two Major Fishing Techniques

Most of the time, tournament anglers’ techniques are broken down into two schools of thought: “power,” and “finesse.” Power fishing refers to covering a great deal of water quickly to locate fish, while finesse fishing is a slow and patient presentation when fish are discovered. Many times anglers will feel a strike or hit with a seeking lure, but fail to score. Have another rod rigged and ready to follow up with another type of presentation.

Fun for Fishing with Kids

I use this technique when fishing with my kids. I will cover water quickly to find fish, then with the first bump or swirl, I’ll instruct the kids to cast their alternative fishing lure or bait. Professional bass angler Dave Wolak employs this strategy in tournaments. He likes to follow up a missed fish with “something that sinks and looks as if it may be injured by the first strike.”

Here are a few change up possibilities:
 

1. Crankbait/soft plastic worm.
2. Spinnerbait/jig
3. Buzzbait/topwater frog

When fishing with someone else, unless completely dialed in to the bite, you should be casting something at least a little bit different. Many times a fishing lure will get bumped or followed. A repeated cast, changing the speed may get a hit, but other times you will have success if you can immediately show a very different lure. However, be sure not to cast so close that you spook the fish. Just let the lure land in the immediate vicinity, in case that fish is still in an eating mood.

By working a change up into your fishing “game” you can keep everyone on your team scoring. Visit our site for more on fishing with families.