| This bank and
many like it have a lot of brush in the water. You can't
see it unless you have a locator that returns an image
such as the partial screenshot at the right. The image
at the right shows a rocky bank on the left and a 3D
sonar return on the right. You can clearly see stumps,
logs, and brush scattered about the bottom. Note that
the sonar image is slightly out of perspective because
the boat was moving very slowly when the screen shot
was captured.
|
 |
| So how do you
fish something you can't see? First you have to find
it. Sure, an expensive locator helps, but without one
you can still learn the bottom with a little patience
and concentration. Start by using a quality fishing
rod. This will help transmit vibrations into your hands.
Second, use line that has little or no stretch. This
will allow you to "feel" the bottom when dragging a
plastic worm, tube, or even a crank bait along the bottom.
Once you determine what is down there, fish it appropriately.
If there is brush and the water is fairly deep, try
larger plastic worms. Rocks, try tubes or crank baits
first and don't be afraid to switch if something isn't
working. Instead of casting the banks, try looking for
structure you can't see. In many cases, the bigger fish
will be out away from the bank relating to a piece of
structure you can't see.
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