Find Your Pattern

Whether you realize it or not, ever single time you cast a line, you're searching for clues to a pattern, or pieces of a puzzle. Fill out enough of those puzzle pieces (be it from no fish, one fish or many), and you will find a way to be successful. It's never an easy task as there's so many considerations that need to be factored into every decision on the water: Water depth, the species you're after, water temp, structure, how the fish are hitting, sun, shade, boat traffic etc. It all plays into the pattern you need to find to catch the fish you're after. The problem with patterns is that you often need to find the fish before the pieces of the pattern can be put in the right place. You start your day with knowledge of the water temperature, weather, time of day, and you base your decisions on bait or lure and what area of the lake to start on from these factors. Some days you put enough pieces together to put a few fish in the boat, some days you manage to eliminate pieces all day but never get on the fish. You still learn from these days and apply that knowledge to the next time you're on the water. And some days the fish put the pieces together for you. One smallie caught shallow is a clue. A second smallie caught off a dock shows a few more pieces, and the school of smallies following it to the boat reveal even more pieces of the puzzle. Fish after fish falls to a Rapala X-rap Shad in the shadow of docks, and your puzzle is complete. Overcast skies, occasional rain showers, suspending crankbaits, slow retrieves, and docks over 3 to 5 feet of water. You're puzzle for today is complete, and you've had a dandy day of nailing pig smallies until your arms hurt. These days don't happen very often, but when they do they can make all those difficult days completely worthwhile.