Adjusting to conditions is crucial when casting a lure into tight spaces. Complete the cast with your rod tip pointing directly at the target. (Photo by Lonny Garris / Shutterstock.com)
January 03, 2025
By Alex Suescun
In fishing, both in freshwater and the salt, versatility is a pillar of consistent success. However, despite mastering a number of different techniques and baits, many seasoned anglers remain one-trick ponies when it comes to casting. And constantly relying on the same overhead or side-arm delivery to present the lure du jour is a common error sure to limit one’s chances.
The most decorated tournament pros are creative problem solvers who understand that certain circumstances require specialized casts that differ from those we can execute with our eyes closed. Sometimes, for instance, it may be necessary to fit the bait into a tight space guarded by gnarly hazards. On other occasions, getting a bite may not hinge on casting farther or quicker but on subtly delivering our offering to a spot where the fish will run into it without spooking. The one constant requirement is accuracy, though it sometimes must come from maneuvering the lure into position rather than by landing it precisely on an imaginary X.
What follows are details for executing three out-of-the-ordinary casts bound to help you score more fish. Practice each enough to make them integral parts of your arsenal.
Land the lure a safe distance from your target. During the retrieve, subtly steer it with your rod into the strike zone. Make sure the angle creates the appearance of your lure scurrying from the laid-up or tailing fish. (Illustration by Peter Sucheski) 1. TIGHT-SQUEEZE CAST Lack of confidence in their own casting ability leads some anglers to think twice about attempting to cast into a small gap between two rocks or stumps, the narrow space between a boat and a dock or a slim opening between protruding roots on a mangrove-laden shoreline. To these anglers’ detriment, this means passing up high-percentage shots. Numerous gamefish relate closely to structure for both safety and forage, and hitting those nooks and crannies enables you take advantage of golden opportunities other anglers often forgo.
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Threading the needle, if you will, requires our full commitment. A timid approach when casting into tight windows tends to throw off our casting mechanics and often results in failure. So, adjust your aim to make up for the wind and boat drift. Then, let the lure or bait fly, putting some muscle behind it and making sure your rod tip ends up pointing precisely at the desired landing spot. If there’s a strong breeze blowing in your face or coming from either flank, consider a side-arm motion that’ll keep the rod tip low and maintain the trajectory of the cast close to the water, avoiding the full brunt of the wind.
If you are using spinning gear, bring the hand gripping the rod butt toward the reel once you launch the bait and feather the line as it comes off the spool to prevent overshooting your mark. If you opt for a baitcaster, simply apply timely thumb pressure on the spool to control the distance of your cast. Should you need to stop an errant delivery, just close the bail of the spinning reel or bring the baitcaster’s spool to a halt.
2. INFILTRATOR CAST Casting to laid-up fish sitting motionless out in the open or along a particular shoreline is a tough challenge. They may seem dormant, but they’re often waiting in ambush and well aware of their surroundings. Sometimes, there isn’t any structure in the way and their field of view remains unobstructed, making things all the more difficult.
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Stealth is critical, and the key to success lies in landing the lure with minimal splash in a strategic spot that lets you subtly retrieve your offering close enough for the fish to detect it without feeling threatened. If the fish ignores the bait, take a slightly different angle on the next cast so it will pass closer to the fish’s head during the retrieve. Should the fish show interest, steadily increase the speed of the retrieve as the predator closes in.
Some saltwater species, like redfish, bonefish, permit, black drum and others, are known to tail (pierce the surface with their caudal fin) when foraging in shallow water. Most tailers are feeding on or near the bottom, so their field of view is usually limited and the strike zone shrinks accordingly (often to a radius of 2 feet or less). Unless a lure or bait enters that reduced strike zone, it’s likely to remain undetected. But landing your offering that close to a fish in skinny water will likely cause the target to retreat in a panic.
Instead, try placing the lure a few feet away and then maneuvering it into the desired position by guiding it with the rod and cranking the reel. However, there’s a catch: The angle of the retrieve must make the bait or lure appear to be fleeing, not coming toward the fish. Predators know their prey isn’t supposed to attack them and won’t stick around to see what happens next.
Cast upwind and ahead of the fish. Keep the rod up and let line leave your reel for a few seconds after the lure hits the water. Then, crank slowly, letting the wind blow the slack line and swing your offering into the fish’s path. (Illustration by Peter Sucheski) 3. SPINNAKER CAST When the wind blows at a 45- to 120-degree angle (approximately) off your bow, you can harness its force to help you execute otherwise difficult presentations with relative ease. Instead of landing the bait or lure right in front of a fish coming straight at you or laid-up or tailing ahead of the boat, make it splash down a safe distance upwind and slightly ahead of the fish. Then, keep your rod tip high and let line continue to pay out of your reel for a few seconds after the lure hits the water. The idea is to create enough belly in your line to let the wind push it like a sail, pulling the artificial at a right angle as you retrieve it. You may be required to swing the rod to one side or the other, based on the wind direction, to broaden the loop of slack line suspended in midair.
This will produce a stealthy, intercepting presentation that minimizes the risk of spooking the fish. It works like a charm, even on notoriously skittish species. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that you must quickly take up the slack before setting the hook when a fish strikes. If you don’t come tight first, the result will be a swing and a miss every time.
With some practice, you’ll soon master this trio of nifty presentations and muscle memory will kick in whenever the situation calls for any of them. Once you’ve added them to your bag of tricks, situational awareness and a quick decision is all it will take to score more consistently, regardless of the circumstance.
This article was featured in the December/January issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
