Fishing is like reading a book. The difference is this is a living book. Like a book, you start out by looking at the cover. Only, when youre fishing the cover is the weather conditions. You look at the wind, sun, tide, humidity, and the temperature of both the air and the water. With this knowledge, you can make the decision about how you will be fishing - by boat, kayak, or wading, using light tackle or fly. Then you can choose where you want to fish and what you are going to fish for. Once on the water it is time to do more andquot;readingandquot;. 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 are another great fishing indicator, especially when they are feeding. My favorites to follow are the blue heron, pelicans and gulls. All of this wildlife activity is useful if you know how to read it. Not only can it help to find fish but also give clues as to what they are feeding on.
Learning to read the structure of your fishing site is another way to catch those elusive fish. Look for drains. Those are gaps in the islands that allow water to flow in or off the flats into deeper water. I call these areas bait highways, and if the bait fish are traveling them, the predator fish are not far behind. Set up to the sides of these highways, especially at peak tidal changes.
I use a bone topwater lure to recon the area. Once fish are located by a strike or a blow-up, I switch to a soft plastic either weightless or not, but always weedless. Then I start working the area probing for that big bite. I section the drain area and work each one with maybe 3 or 4 casts before moving on.
My lure of choice is a Brown Lure Devil Eye or Sea Devil. There are tons of colors to choose from, and we each have our own favorite. My favorite is Little Pinky (pink with silver hologram). It has been a proven color for me in clear to muddy water for over a year. This method of fishing works well, and I use it whether fishing for fun, with clients, or in tournaments.
Learning to read this andquot;living bookandquot; 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!

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Article Submitted By: SteveUtley
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