Have you ever wondered why one of your fishing pals is much more successful at catching their limit? You have the same fishing rig, electronics, tackle, and lures—but they get all the bites.
The secret may boil down to one simple thing. While easy to understand, it does take a little time on the water, as well as some prep time, to get it right.
Learn To Focus
There are some variations to this, but one needs to understand the 90/10 rule, also known as a variation of the Covey Principle or Pareto’s Law. The concept is that, in business and in life, 10% of one’s efforts will produce 90% of the benefits. While the actual numbers may vary, it is the general principle that matters: Of all the things we do, only a small number produces the greatest benefits. We just need to know how to concentrate on the most productive efforts.
For the fishing world, this means that 10% of whatever water body will generally produce 90% of whatever fish one is after. Some might even turn this around a little and say that 10% of the anglers who understand this principle will catch 90% of the fish. We all want to be in that 10%. By understanding this rule, you can transition from random “fishing” to deliberate “catching” by focusing only on high-percentage areas.
Understanding How Fish Behave
Fish are not randomly scattered. They are biological organisms driven by three primary needs: survival, energy conservation, and food.
For survival, fish seek cover (like weed beds or reefs) to hide from predators or larger fish. Where there is flowing water, they prefer current breaks like eddies, bridge pilings, or rock piles, where they can conserve energy and wait for food without fighting heavy currents. The larger fish that we like to target are looking for food, so they tend to congregate where baitfish are naturally funneled by tides, wind, and/or underwater topography or structure.
Identifying Productive Spots
For me, the primary element to understand is underwater structure, and the second is underwater topography. If you are fishing a 10,000-acre lake, you might find the 1,000 acres of productive water over time. But one of the best and quickest ways to narrow down the territory you have to cover is to get a detailed map of the lake. Then look for the bottom structure, because you want to eliminate unproductive water.
As you begin to fish the structure, understand if there is current being created by stream, river inflow, wind push, or tidal current. Focus on the downcurrent side of the structure. Bait fish are there to avoid the current, and the target fish are there for the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Another area to focus on is any channel edge or drop-off area. Bigger fish tend to cruise along an edge to intercept bait fish, whether they’re heading from one protective area to another or moving with the current.
In saltwater, look for structures such as oyster beds, as these will attract a host of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. Reefs and rock ledges also attract bigger fish. And don’t skip manmade structures, which can also be fish magnets.
Covering Area and Depth
When you first start working a potentially productive area, make sure to cover it all—that means not only the area but also the depth. Fish are opportunistic predators for sure, but they can focus on a certain bait in a specific area. Once you find the hotspot or honey hole, remember the combination that works, as you’ll likely find success with it again. And what works on that structure will likely work in similar areas where you’re fishing, too.
The folks who are certainly in the very top of the 10% with the most success—those fishing in both the fresh- and saltwater tournament circuits—use this fish-hunting method. When they’re pre-fishing an area before a tournament, they’re searching for where the fish are and what they’re eating. And when they find those kinds of areas, they skip everything else.
Can the conditions change and send the fish looking for baitfish in other areas? Yes, they can and they do. But in general, conditions are more likely to change seasonally rather than abruptly. When big weather events throw a wrench in the normal pattern, things usually return with more normal conditions.
Learning how to find and fish the productive 10% can take a little work but when you get your share of the 90%, it will be worth all the effort.
