E-fish-N-C

The definition of efficiency; the ability to achieve an end goal with little to no waste, effort or energy.

Many years ago, I incorporated this logic into my fishing and outdoor approach. Arming myself with basic items and shied away from anything unnecessary. Often the addition of any accessory or equipment was viewed as a potential to fail so I stuck with a “bare bones” mentality. After guiding wilderness canoe trips for over two dozen seasons it became apparent that traveling light, equipping myself with a minimum of equipment and carrying items that offered redundancy was a challenge but paid off in, lighter weight, less confusion, no clutter and overall efficiency. Here’s a few tactics I use to stay efficient.
Seek out the smallest spots that best serve the fishes needs in compact areas – Basic needs of a bass (and other species) oxygen, food, cover and deep water close by. Find these places and navigation is minimized and productive water is only a few paddle, pedal strokes or casts away.

Stay in or around three to eight feet of water – Many of my documented catches of BIG fish come from these depths. Surprisingly this theory holds up under most weather and water conditions. If food sources and cover are near by fish have no reason to leave these places.

Edges are a key to the catch – Almost every wild creature incorporates the use and travel with some sort of edge. For land animals it’s fence lines, tree lines, roads, agricultural fields and creeks. For game fish it’s shoreline, creek channels, the surface (yep, that’s an edge) and the bottom. Fish will “push” food sources to edges to minimize the potential for their quarry to escape. Travel, resting, migration, staging and feeding are all function that incorporate edges.

Bait choices –

View your favorite fishing holes as having three water columns. Surface, mid-level or bottom. Having baits that will allow you to reach and work all the water columns positions you to cover the water effectively. A small assortment based off coverage is very achievable.

Learn and lean on two basic knots, YouTube if you must but the Palomar knot and the clinch knot are relatively simple and are the strongest knots for any type of lines. To connect a main line to a leader, add the blood knot. Properly tied a well tied Palomar delivers 95% knot strength. For a direct lure tie to braid (frogs, jigs) back up the Palomar with a clinch knot.

Rod set ups –

Minimally I carry two rods I max out a six and normally the deck of my Big Rig has four fishing rods staged strategically. Bait casting outfits #1 for jig/Texas rigs, second a crankbait dedicated outfit, #3 a spinnerbait/top water set up, #4 a medium action spinning combo and occasionally an ultralight spinning outfit for “fun” fishing. My gear varies by season an area.

Pockets of plastic –

I’m amused by watching tournament professionals search in storage compartments of their boats for a replacement soft plastic bait that’s producing fish. I keep what I’m using or likely to be using in my pockets to save time and eliminate the frustrating search. Two or three colors of plastic worms in one pocket and soft plastic craws in another.

Crankbait colors –

regardless of lip style and depth desired I lean on three basic colors of cranking baits. There’s literally dozens of colors, multiple shades and custom colors available. My basic baits are shad pattern, crawfish pattern and a brighter contrast color like fire tiger. The basis for my choices is water and sky color and consistent previous success. One major exception for me are the Evans Custom (Tony Evans) Joey Monteleone signature series of hard baits we developed in a pattern called “bloodshot”

When my wife Debbie and I are fishing initially we try to different styles of baits to see if we can determine what the best bait is for the that day, time and location. With both of us working different styles of lures we can determine in half the time which bait the bass favor at the time.

Keep necessary accessories close by –

I keep clippers and pliers in the front pockets of my life jacket. I also have two LineCutterz rings strategically placed in my kayak, no fumbling around when doing a bait switch or unhooking a well hooked fish.

The ultimate in efficiency is kayak propulsion –

I consciously use wind and current to minimize my physical exertion and employ the silent drift to “sneak up” on fish. Once I spot a desired area, I determine the best approach if possible, paddling into the wind and then using the natural power to work and area. Similar use of the current in moving waters save energy.
I have separate tackle boxes for various uses. A panfish box has tubes of various colors, leadheads of different weights and curlytail grubs also. I have a Texas rig box that is marked with slip sinker weight and hook size for easy access and the best choice for the specific bait.

Twice the presentations with half the casts –

I using an underhand pitch cast almost exclusively. With the short-range presentation, I maximize the time in what I view as the most productive strike zone with the shorter cast. Rather than a 60 foot cast I use about a 30 foot pitch to cover the most productive water in what amounts to half the time. Cranking baits, spinners and buzzers are the exception. Short range presentations allow for a better hook set and keep the hooked fish close to the boat to hopefully get it to my grip quicker.
For more time tested fishing tips be on the lookout for my book Strictly BIG bass scheduled to be published in September!
There’s a list of how we E-fish- N-C to catch more and bigger fish! *Life jackets, Please!