INNOVATIVE ANGLERS HAVE DEVELOPED several tactics and techniques to effectively present offerings deep below the surface. Popular options include planers and trolling weights. However, these devices come with a bit of guesswork in regard to their exact depth of deployment. Downriggers are much more accurate and also provide anglers with the opportunity to fish with lighter outfits.
Though presenting a single live bait from a downrigger is highly effective, the most successful anglers add depth to their spread by stacking clips. And when dual downrigger baits are deployed in correlation to what you see on the sonar, anglers can present offerings throughout the water column with surgeon-like precision.
During the course of the day, often relating to the moon phase, game fish actively feed at various levels of the water column. This is especially true during the coming months when surface water temperatures skyrocket and the heat index approaches triple digits. One scenario where deep baits are highly effective is during periods of poor weather when the wind and seas are stacked and live offerings fished on the surface could be difficult for fish to locate amid turbulent wave action. On the other end of the spectrum, when calm conditions prevail and the afternoon sun produces a strong glare, your surface-swimming baitfish can be hard for game fish to key in on against the harsh contrast. No matter the prevalent conditions, it pays big dividends to cover the depths by presenting offerings throughout the water column.
This story is from the Florida Sport Fishing edition of Florida Sport Fishing.
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This story is from the Florida Sport Fishing edition of Florida Sport Fishing.
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