Fishing Is Like A Book - Fishing Tips From Steve Utley

Just like a book, fishing can depend a lot on your ability to read. Instead of reading through pages, you are observing everything around you. Pay attention to the weather conditions like wind, tidal movement, surface and water temparature. All of these factors can help make a decision on how to fish, whether that is by boat, kayak, wading or using light tackle.

Once on the water it is time to do more "reading". Pay close attention to all of the early morning activity around you, especially bait fish. There are usually schools of mullet jumping around, and small shrimp popping out of the water if you are looking for them. If you notice bait fish fleeing an area try casting in that direction. Usually this means something is chasing them, so that is a good place to start. Look down into the water for smaller creatures like crabs that may also be running away from larger game fish.

Birds may be the most important wildlife to follow on the water. They always seem to know where the fish are, especially blue herons, pelicans and gulls. They will give you clues on where fish are and what they are feeding on. Learning to read these clues can help you catch way more fish, it just takes a little bit of observation.

Structures are the next most important thing to pay attention to. The physical layout of the area you are fishing can control the movement of baitfish and predators alike. I tend to focus on drains, which are gaps between islands and sand bars where water flows from shallow to deep areas. When there is a lot of tidal movement these areas have a TON of bait fish passing through, with some nice speckled trout and redfish sure to follow.

Once I am settled into an area, I generally start off with a topwater to check things out. This will draw some agressive strikes pretty quickly if there are any game fish in the area. Once the fish are found try switching to a soft plastic fishing lure, possibly weedless depending on your situation. This will help you get that big fish. A few casts in each area of the drain should be enough to scope it out before moving on.

The lure I use most often is the Sea Devil by Brown Lures. Usually the Pink Hologram color works best for me, but they have a bunch of different colors for any situation. This color works well for me whether the water is dark or clear. This is pretty much my go-to plan in almost any situation.

Learning to read this "living book" can give you a real advantage the next time that you go fishing. As always, pay attention to the weather, wildlife and structure to get the most out of your day. Time and practice will teach you what all of these clues mean, so go out and test it for yourself. Good Luck Fishing!