Fishing School
Positioning
This lesson will show you how position yourself to make sure you’ll be getting into some fun fish catching action even if you’re fishing tough weather conditions (high winds and/or currents).
Topics Discussed
- Shorelines of Bays
- Open grass flats
- Rivers & creeks
- Marsh systems
On The Water Examples
- Fishing shallow grass flats for big trout and upper slot redfish
- How to target marsh systems at different tide levels
Well done. That was very helpful.
Terrific information, Luke Thanks!
Great topic like to see more
Glad to see that you enjoyed this lesson… if you haven’t yet done so, make sure to watch the Positioning lesson in the Advanced section of this course.
Great information on how to position and on windy days. Need to use it next time out.
Enjoyed it. But last week I was fishing a strong outgoing tide (going east) and had 20mph winds from the east. Casting was impossible. The flats were bad too! So I tried a lateral cast and let my bait go with the current. Not many bites. Any ideas or is it time to trailer-up and head for a McFish sandwich?
Thanks I really enjoyed this this video
We’re so glad to see that you enjoyed this video!
Question: Assuming no “boat slap” while using a drift sock, do you think a drift sock spooks the fish? Thanks
As long as it’s not bumping the bottom, a drift sock along shouldn’t spook fish.
So what joyed the video and definitely understand the theory but, since it’s heavily based on current flow… how do you look at the aerial photo and know which way the current flows? Particular in a marsh system? Is there a current layer I haven’t found in the SmartFish app?
The easiest way to determine current flow from an online map is to simply trace the path of least resistance for the water at any point to flow out towards the Atlantic/Gulf… once that’s determined, then we automatically know that the current flow will be going towards the Atlantic/Gulf during outgoing current period, and then the opposite on incoming.
There will be some instances where it’s not clear from a regular map, and those spots can require actually going there to know for sure.
Awesome content, thanks
Hey Luke – great content as always. In terms of the positioning video, how do you position yourself on an island depending on the winds? I know you mentioned that you want the wind to your back to increase casting distance, but will fish usually hold on the side of an island where the wind is hitting or the protected side? I suppose this also depends on time of year and water temps, but would love to know the feedback on which side of an island to approach first, given wind conditions in terms of the 90/10 rule.
During the summer, I pretty much always position on the up-wind side of an island so I can cast with the wind to cover the side where most of the action is most likely going to be (most fish will prefer the up-wind side since it has some wave activity which increased DO2 levels. In the winter, I’ll start on the up-wind side but will often spend most of the time on the down-wind side since many fish will prefer the water that is less churned up.