100% convinced that it's accuracy that matters...

[chris_lemess]

A handy hint to all would-be-breamers just starting out. After a year or so of bream spinning, and learning a HELL of a lot in the process, probably the one single thing that catches the most fish for me is not a winning lure, nor is it a special retrieve. Getting the lure in the zone is probably the single most important aspect of bream spinning in structured country - not so important on the flats in good ol' gold 52/68 country, but certainly when fishing snags and pylons.

What spurred the post was another trip down to the Murray, casting into lethal looking snags, and knowing, and proving that there is pretty much an area to every snag in which if you don't get your lure, you're simply not going to get fish. Often this area's only a foot wide; any further out and your lure doesn't dive / your plastic doesn't sink, in time to nail the bream right on the head, which is truly what seems to spark the aggressive strikes we all love so much.

Casting is not something that can really be practised other than by fishing often, and fishing carefully - not just belting a lure out towards a snag hoping you'll score a free-swimming fish, because 99% of the time you won't. Make sure you have a rod that is tippy enough to flick lures out with a great deal of accuracy, not some cumbersome 3-6kg broomstick with the balls but no finesse.

Oh and finally, always remember those dark shady areas. These are PRIME targets and every effort should be made to get into them. Those who've fished with me may have noticed my continued (and often retarded) attempts at getting the same lure into the same snag, until I do it perfectly such that I'm 100% sure I'm covering as much available shade/snag as possible in a single retrieve. Perhaps the most successful way to get into these area is an underhand cast which, if possible, skims across the surface just as it hits the overhanging snag (far easier to achieve with a soft plastic on a jig). When you DO get a good cast in, remember also to make the most of the retrieve... do it carefully and be ready for any sudden whacks you do get.
Oh and always remember - you often only get one pass at a snag - make sure you get that cast in, make sure it's in the zone, and make sure you don't ever waste time in the strike-zone.

Thought this might be helpfull advice!

cheers

[pete s]

great advice chris. i think alot of people beleive their rod, reel and lures will catch them fish by itself, but its what you can do with it that really counts own. a $100 combo will outfish the best money can buy if its used better

[Craig_S]

Couldnt agree more with you there Chris. Where the cast lands is for mine the most critical aspect by a country mile.

[PANDA]

Chris,
Heading down to the Murray tomorrow. How you go?
Cheers
panda

[chris_lemess]

Pete - you said it. A $100 combo can catch more fish in the right hands than a Stella/BB for example. Note the "can"... I'm always a sucker for nice gear!

Panda - check out http://www.breammaster.com/forum/sho...&threadid=1361

[Richo]

Yeah I agree with that for sure Chris - especially in Mandurah. if your not in there real tight and deep, a fish aint coming out. You only have to be 2-ft from where you wanted to be and it was too far. Regardless of the value of your combo, if you can`t hit the spot or shade you won`t be getting the action your after.

cheers

I agree 100%. When I fished there with Spad's all our bream came on the best casts. Geoff even said to me that the best cast of the day by me, a hooter cast right in past a overhanging snag right up on the bank was the cast that got the best bream of the day.

[Ravin]

You hit the nail right on the head with this post & thats exactly what you need to do snag fishing. Got to be in there amongst it & close enough is NOT good enough around snags. Having said that theres no truth to the rumor a certain Hornet Wildfisher was seen in amongst snags this morning getting lures back from lousy casts. Well I figure if you don't snag up a few times your not in close enough