HOW TO: COVER A SWIM...

To give you a perspective on how I cover a swim quickly I’ve broken it down into a process I use when fishing new areas. On the river I target deeper holes and areas of slack water – they aren’t usually very big – but despite their size, I still give them the full treatment.

Which lures I try will very much depend on the water clarity and temperature, but follow your instincts. Use what you have confidence with first.

1

I start with a small search bait in a natural colour and cast to the furthest point of slack water, back upstream towards the flow. I feel the lure down to judge the depth and then start fishing. I usually fish with a ‘ lift and fall’ retrieve. I do this all the way to the bank – quite often you get takes under your feet – at a fast pace, medium pace and slow pace.

2

If the slack water will allow, try going lighter with your jighead and making one or two casts to see what you can get away with. My preference is to start as light as I dare. If the flow isn’t affecting your bait too much, stay light. If it is, go heavier. Usually 3g- 5g is enough for slack areas, but in deeper spots you might need 8g- 10g.

3

Now I’ll experiment a little more with the retrieve. I might have a cast just hopping the lure back erratically and twitching the rod tip. I’ll also try higher lifts, short sharp lifts, or double lifts with the rod tip to work my lure.

4

At this point I’ll consider changing colours, so I’ll usually switch lures at the same time to see if the profile or vibration is playing a part. Step 1 works best with a paddle- tail lure, but can be equally effective with pin- tail and worm set- ups. Repeat steps 1 and 3 with your new lure.

5

By this time your gut instinct may guide you to a new lure. Most shads in my box fish differently, so I’ll change to one that offers a new dynamic. I’ll repeat steps 1, 3 and 4.

6

Now it’s time to assess any feedback. Did you feel any attacks on your lure? If you did, try a different colour as it may spark a more confident bite. Also, try different speeds on the retrieve style that triggered the attack.

7

Did you notice anything else on the retrieve, like a submerged snag or change in depth that’s worth paying further attention to? Often the retrieval of your lure alongside a certain piece of structure can bring rewards. I have a few spots that are tackle graveyards, but it’s always where the perch like to be.

8

In most cases, you can move on. You may return to the spot for another try and more experimentation, or you may stumble across a formula elsewhere that you can take back to an earlier spot.

9

It’s tempting after a few casts to disappear to another hole, but perch are so fussy and may not be feeding right away. You need to hustle a bite some days – but what works when they aren’t in the mood can be deadly when they are.

10

Keep a note of bite times and set- ups that produce.

They will serve you well in similar conditions in the future and help cut out a number of the steps listed here. This is just my methodical approach – but it’s still fairly fluid. There’s nothing wrong with experimenting your way to success.