retrieve lures against current

Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:45 pm

I always retrieve lures with the current in an estuary . Just wondering whether any of you find it better to work the lure against the current?? I do find some spinners hit the bottom pretty quick with the current.

Re: retrieve lures against current

Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:09 pm

I always fish across the current usually 50 to 60degree angles in light current in close right up to 90/100 degree at distance working my way up .Ill usually try several different lures and spinners on the same stretch just to cover the depths

Re: retrieve lures against current

Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:47 pm

if im fishing spot that has abit of current i normally fish againist the current,think the lures work that bit better & you can slow down the retrieve abit by doing so too :|

Re: retrieve lures against current

Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:00 pm

no hard and fast rules on it so, I'll mix it up a bit in the future so. I find if I use the likes of those Viva Parade lures, they go straight to the bottom and I have to spin very fast to take it in without snagging up

Re: retrieve lures against current

Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:41 pm

Have found that i've got less takes coming up against the current both on estuary channels and fishing salmon on the river. Dont think the lure is behaving like the small fish its supposed to imitate when the predator sees it moving against a strong current. Have had plenty of hits though when allowing bait to swing around and down, imitating a struggling small fish trying to deal with the current.

In saying that though it will depend on the strength of your downstream current, if its only light then retrieving against the current should also succeed. Found tobies and tas devils are bit easier to bring against the current.

Re: retrieve lures against current

Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:53 pm

Bear in mind guy that fishing with traditional 'spoons' like tobies etc against the current will place the lure higher in the water as the current increases, either slow your retrieve or change lure or position. As mentioned in the post above a gentle current should be ok but as it increases in speed fish will often hold closer to the bottom, with the increase in speed on a rising tide there will be an increase in depth too.

In effect fish could be moving further away from your lure as they feed, sometimes they may not swim 'up' to intercept it. You could be passing over their heads with each cast. Depth and speed of water is important.

Fishing against a current is not a bad thing unless you are not catching fish, try lures that swim deeper as the current increases, and then try baits 'bounced' or 'trotted' on the bottom for when its moving really fast if the other two dont work

Re: retrieve lures against current

Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:32 pm

Lots of great advice there. Thanks. Bring on the summer!