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If you are not catching as much fish as your buddy, it might be time to pay attention to your weight. No, not your waistline. That is someone else's column.
I'm talking about how much weight you are using on your line. The wrong weight equals the wrong presentation equals less fish caught.
It's a good bet you already know what too little weight means. Without enough weight, you can't cast properly. Without enough weight, you can't penetrate the deep cover. Without enough weight, your lure will take too long to reach the bottom. Without enough weight, your lure will be swept by the current. You get the picture.
For these reasons, and many others, some anglers choose to go with the bigger-is-better theory. But, too much weight can be equally devastating. Too much weight can cause a lure to drop too fast, missing the critical strike zone.
Too much weight can put unnecessary strain on your leader, knots, and rod tip, and it can prevent your lure from acting naturally. It can prevent you from adding the finesse needed to tempt a weary target.
Unlike watching your waistline, the key to fishing is finding the sweet spot. The curve comes from learning how to tell what that sweet spot is. There are several areas you need to consider:
• Casting distance -- when equipment is properly paired, you should not need excessive weight to achieve proper distance. Keep in mind that every piece of gear has its limit; adding weight does not change that.
• Current -- if fishing in current, especially with bait, it is important to use enough weight to keep your rig from being swept away -- put just enough. Too much will make it hard to detect the bottom, bites, and changes in position.
• Cover -- penetrating thick cover will require more weight than fishing the same lure in open water; only experience will teach you how much is enough and how much is too little.
• Lure action -- as stated earlier, too much weight affects a lure's action. Too much weight, or weight too close to the lure, causes a rapid, straight dive to the bottom. A lighter weight allows the lure to drop but also flutter and dart, just like a live fleeing fish.
As you can see, the weight you use is about more than getting your lure deep. It's just like picking the right footwear. Sneakers protect your feet, but that doesn't make them the best choice for every scenario. So you have boots for hunting, dress shoes for work and flip-flops for the beach.
Each serves a purpose in a specific situation.