When Your Game Plan Fails: How To Adjust And Still Catch Fish
- By: Pat Ogletree
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Fishing Reports, Artifical Lure Tips
We’ve all been there… you study the tides, check the wind, and build the perfect game plan… but once you hit the water, the fish have other ideas.
That’s exactly what happened to me on this trip. What started as a dialed-in plan at daybreak quickly turned into a lesson in “adapting on the fly.”
Moments like this are why I share these trips, to show what really happens on the water and how small adjustments can help you fish smarter.
Watch below to see how a few small changes made all the difference.
Featured Gear:
- Rod: Slot Machine (Medium)
- Reel: Daiwa Saltist 2500
- Lures: Moonwalker, Mulligan 4″, Flea Flicker
Key Takeaways:
- Before you give up on a spot, ask yourself, did you really show the fish everything you could?
- When the bite disappears, something changed. The question is… what did they switch to?
- The fish will tell you what’s working if you’re paying attention; the plan you made last night might not matter once you’re on the water.
Final Thoughts
Some days the fish just don’t follow the script, but that’s what makes it interesting. Every adjustment, every cast, gets you closer to figuring it out. That’s the real fun of fishing, solving the puzzle as it changes.
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Very good video Pat with good catches and information.. Thanks
Great intel, thanks Pat!
Very helpful!!!
Thanks Mark!
Lots of good advice in that video Pat, thanks!
Glad you liked it James!
What was bad on your flea flicker hooks that warranted a change?
I hadn’t rinsed it off and let the hooks get rusty. Instead of taking the time to swap the hooks out I tied another one on. Now I have to remember to change them out before the next trip!
Good presentation Pat I always like your videos. But c’mon, 10 minutes and all you do is tease us with the spoon thing. What spoon? Size? Presentation?
Barry, that was a 1/4 oz Johnsons Silver Minnow in a color I painted myself. Just a steady roll right off the bottom was what they wanted that day.
Well pat in all my 56 years of fishing (been doing it since I was 5 you do the math) I have found sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do sometimes you just don’t catch squat but thats why they call it fishing and not catching 🤔 and not to be sarcastic just telling it like i know you know it is in fact the last time I went fishing it was a strange day saw bait activity high solonar score day water temps were in the low to mid 70s which is a perfect range for any gamefish light wind overcast skies a day that looked to be perfect but not only the only1 fish I caught but the only hit I got as well I was working a grassline and heard a big splash to the right of me about 30 yards out so I threw my spinnerbait just about 5 years past it and after about 3 seconds just after the first crank of the reel handle a bull red at 50 inches roughly 25 to 30lbs slammed it and after almost spooling me twice and about 10min later I was able to get half her in the net and putting my rod down grabbing her just behind the tail lifting her and getting her in the boat took a picture and measured her at just 50 inches after swishing her a couple times back and forth to get the oxygen flowing through her gills she jerked a little and I knew it was time and I let her go what a fight she litterally towed my 17ft carolina skiff twice for about 3 min each time before I could gain line on her a very powerful fish indeed I have caught 3 bull reds in my life all in this location and all on different artificials the first on a power mullet colored soft jerkbait wich went 57 inches my biggest then another on a chasebaits flick prawn plastic shrimp that went about 48 inches and then my second biggest the one I just talked about on a spinnerbait at 50 inches this area mill cove close to the damespoint bridge i in jax fl s known for big reds but unlike you I love fresh fish and I keep my limit and let go the rest I spend alot on gas for my truck and boat and equipment to just release alot of great eating fish that costs a fortune in fish markets plus fish is good for you and it saves me on groceries but thats me I always believe in getting a return on my investments in whatever I do but like I said that’s me and I only speak for myself what you or anyone else does is you guys and gals buissness thanks for the info and all you do
Wow! Congrats on the catch! That one was truly a trophy but a 57 is a legit monster! If you’re only going to get one hit, that’s the one you want
Great video. I have lures I love too much and stick with too long – when fish don’t love ‘em back time to change. Also been applying other SS advice to quit scaring fish – like if nothing is in the livewell – keep it off; use anchor pin vs trolling motor anchor mode; don’t let bait cooler lid slam or make other unnecessary noise. I also don’t listen to music anymore when fishing inshore (although buddies tell me fish are attracted to country 🙂
Any noise you can eliminate or reduce will help you out tremendously, especially in highly pressured waters. As far as music goes, I think your friend is looking for an excuse to keep the music on!
Nice fish. What kind of net were you using? Make and model?
Thanks Jeffery! That was an Ego Genesis S1 Guide Series. I love that net, a bit pricey but worth it in my eyes. In fact when I lost my original on a trail while toting my kayak, I replaced it with the exact same thing. We have a discount code for them if you’re interested in going that way
Thanks for sharing info that can be a day saver Pat !!!
Tanks George!