Line Control

I have spent many days on Devils Lake, ND, fishing for whatever wants to bite in the shallow bays, and I think line control is something that everyone can improve on. This will help put a few more fish in the boat. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind while pitching cranks or jigs in the shallows.

One of the most important factors to catching fish anywhere is line control. What I mean by line control is always having contact with your lure and always being able to feel every little detail of what is going on with your lure. Now, this sounds very basic and simple, but it can be challenging at times if you are not set up just right. First, go with the lightest line that you dare to use. Light, thin diameter line will help you detect the lightest bite. Also, it will allow you to cast farther and keep your crank or jig in the water longer. When I am pitching jigs, I prefer Fireline 6-2. When I am pitching cranks, I like 14-6 or 10-3.

Second, make sure you pitch your lure in front of wherever you are fishing. You want to have your lure run perpendicular back to the boat. If you end up having your lure run back behind the boat and you are in the front, you will decrease your feel and not recognize that light bite. The only exception to having your bait come back to the back of the boat is if you are sitting in the back of the boat and can keep your line tight the entire time.

Next, have your rod in a position where you can set the hook if you do have a bite. So often we forget to do this. When I am pitching jigs, I always keep my rod tip up and I always have my line tight. I cannot tell you how important this is to do. I can feel every weed, rock, branch, and most importantly every bite. When I am working cranks back to the boat I like to keep my rod down and to my side. I always want my rod in a position where I can set the hook. People often think that when fishing cranks the fish will automatically smack the bait. There are many times when they just bump it or they need more enticing. Keys to enticing walleyes are making longer casts and varying retrieves. I like to keep a rhythm going when I am working the cranks back. Always keep your line tight with pauses, jerks, speeding up, slowing down, and so on. Once you figure out what presentation the fish want, repeat and keep that retrieve going.

Lastly, slow down your boat. Most days it is smart to work areas that have some wind (notice I say most, because there is never just one place to fish and fish can be caught in calm water as well). When the water gets stirred up, this will often create a feeding frenzy and you want to be there. If you blow through a spot too fast you will not catch as many fish as if you go in with control. Throw out the drift sock and use your trolling motor to slow you down. It is amazing how much boat control you encounter by throwing out a drift sock and they are really very easy to use and not a bit of a hassle. Also, when I am pitching jigs, I use a 3/8 ounce jig. Now, this probably sounds too heavy, but you want to be able to work your jig effectively. If you go too light it gets very difficult to keep that line control and it is also more difficult to get it to the bottom where most of the fish will be. I know that the people in my boat that have good line control put more fish in the boat than those that don’t.

Lastly, once you have set the hook on a fish, it is still very important to keep both good rod and line control. If you are bouncing your rod back and forth as you reel in your fish, you are creating slack in the line and this is usually when you will lose your fish. Hopefully, some of these tips for better line control will help you put a few more fish in the boat.

Editors Note:  Mark Bry has spent nearly every moment of his life in the outdoors and when he’s not in the outdoors…he’s talking about the outdoors. As a teacher, Mark has gone above the normal requirements of teaching young minds by offering them an opportunity to get involved in the outdoors. This same passion for the outdoors also is presented through his successful guiding business.