Bass fishing has so many variables; it’s a wonder that we can keep up with them all. Variables like what presentation, what color, and the thousand things in-between. Lets add yet another variable. One thing I hear in almost every interview, with professional bass fishing anglers, is casting angles. “Make sure you explore the casting angles before you abandon an area.” So, I thought I’d cover a little bit as to what casting angles mean to me.
Many of us think of casting angles associated with visible cover. Casting to each side of it, maybe across the front of it or even through the cover. However, what about casting angles for structure that you can’t see. I’m sure you have read, or witnessed, professional bass fisherman trying to keep their boat in one specific location while they cast to another location. When this happens they have lined up a cast that puts their bait at the proper depth and location to contact structure at a specific point.
In a recent interview with Cody Meyer, he talked about using his GPS to mark two spots for each fishing area. The first spot was where he needed to position his boat; the second spot would be the location of his target structure. He makes casts past his target so that he can bring his baits through or contact the structure. Back to his first GPS location, this will be set up to give him a specific cast angle on the structure. This location can be determined from previous experience, the way the bait fish may travel the area, or to maximize current flow in the area.
Casting angles can be basic or very specific. The most basic would be the down current side of a point. Nothing special, but fish will stack up on the down current side of a point to hide from current and wait for bait fish to come by. Another basic cast angle would be to the shade created by a bluff wall.
Current can also create the most specific of casting angles. Let’s say you have a point and has scattered stumps on it. The current washes over the point. Aimlessly casting at the point my trigger a strike once in a while; however, when you bring your bait past the down current side of those stumps you get a strike every time. With a little time, you can feel out the point and know where the stumps are. Once you do this, you can fish the point effectively in just a few casts. Making sure that you hit the correct angles on each stump.
Does this seem like a lot of work? It does to me. However, if you want to fish with the Professionals of Bass Fishing, casting angles are a must. They cut down on non productive casts. Knowing the proper casting angles can also allow you to present several different offerings quickly. If you know where a bass is sitting, you can cast two or three different baits to the exact location. More than likely, a bass will eat if presented the correct bait, in the correct location. Once you have your casting angles, now all you need to do is find the correct bait!
Get the Net it’s a Hawg
Mike Cork
Ultimate Bass
Ultimate Bass
Legend Boats
Mercury Marine
Dobyn’s Rods
Power Pole
Elite Tungsten
