Flats Fishing 101: POINT YOUR ROD!!

A common flats fishing pic..  What is this guy doing??

He is probably going to catch a fish..

The number one thing that costs more fish photos. is not spotting the fish soon enough.. 

Our flats fishing window of opportunity came slam close rapidly.. A lot of times spotting the fish in 2 seconds instead of 10 seconds  is the difference between hero and zero.. It is not like a trout stream, were the same fish, stays in the same spot continually sipping may flies.. 

Here it could be a school of  bonefish, permit or tarpon approaching over a turtle grass bottom on a cloudy day..  Yes, tough to see..  That is were your guide comes in..  We have the visual advantage from the poling platform..  As a rule the higher you are the better you can see into the water... that is the reason for the poling and the casting platform. 

Here in the Florida Keys we use the "Clock " system..  12 O'clock is straight ahead off the bow,  9 O'clock is to your left (Port), 3 O'Clock is to your right(starboard).

I fished for 4 days with a guide in Belize that would just yell...  THERE!!  THERE!!! 

Was not very effective and missed a lot of chances because I had to look back at him to see were he was looking..  I heard he is not guiding any more..

When your guide says bonefish 60 feet at 10 O' Clock..  If you can not spot the fish, immediately point your rod at 10 O' Clock..  Your guide can then direct you to the fish by saying left or right..  Your 10 can be different then his 10..  For example if you are standing at an angle to the bow and in the excitement of the moment, you don't realize it..  

OK this is very basic stuff...  If you have done any flats fishing at all you are probably wondering why I am wasting your time with this....  Well the title is Flats Fishing 101 and it is the main reason anglers new to flats fishing miss a lot of opportunities..

He is a typical scenario.........

Bill! Bonefish coming in at 70 feet, 9 O Clock!!.....  Bill do you see them??  Bill can you see them 50 feet at your 9... Bill point your rod! they are 40 feet now at 10 o'clock... Bill point your rod like we talked about,,, left, left, left,  gottem??...  they are 20  feet off your rod tip....   No problem Bill we will find more...  

In this scenario we could have spotted the fish before they bounced off the boat.. 

Yes, I have been the guy on the bow and can't see the fish my buddy is trying to get me on...  (hate it,, feel like Ray Charles)   But flats fishing is team work..  Don't be bashful about letting your guide know you can't see the fish...  Remember it is a team effort.  He is on your side and wants you to boat fish more then you do..