The Secrets to Sightcasting
The hardest part of my job as a shallow water fishing guide, is teaching people how to see fish in the water. Sightcasting is a learned technique but it’s also an advanced angler skill. Fishermen new to the sport of sightcasting are usually surprised at how guides and seasoned anglers can “see” fish when they can’t. There are a few secrets to teaching your eyes to recognize the signs of a fish in the water. The Basics The essential tool for a beginner sightcaster is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. If you can afford it, buy a pair of glasses that have the best quality lenses on the market such as Costa Del Mar, Maui Jim, and others. The price range for a pair of these polarized sunglasses is $100 to near $200. These glasses should be considered every bit as important as a good rod, the right lure or fly or new line on your reel. They are a tool that can give you the edge in “seeing” fish under the water. Cheap glasses, while still polarized, do not have the quality lenses that these top market brands do. The color of your lens is also very important. If you can afford the luxury of owning more than one pair of sunglasses, then you will have every color necessary for the appropriate contrast based on the time of the day.
Advanced Sightcasting to Redfish
Let’s set the scene. It’s a cool sunny day with a slight wind on your back as you drift through Nine-Mile Hole. The water is gin clear, and the reds seem to be a little spookier than the day before. You know that today you’ll need to utilize all the skills you’ve learned as a master angler. All three anglers on the boat are standing perfectly still with nothing moving except their eyes. Sunglasses are spot-less, drags are set, and your knots are ready for the testing. “2 o’clock, forty feet, moving left” and then the next thing you hear is the slight spinning of a single baitcaster. The other two anglers are watching and standing at the ready. As soon as both determine that the cast is short, they send their lures flying. One hits behind as the other hits a perfect two feet past and two feet in front of where the big red is swimming. He’s on and then gone. What happened? Well, no one knows for sure. What is known is that the whole thing unfolded in less than a quick six seconds. This scenario will most likely be repeated many times within the next few hours hopefully with better results. Though this took only six seconds to complete, it took many hours of preparation and practice by the anglers involved. One must pay close attention to detail when learning the art of sightcasting. Details such as what an angler should wear cannot be overlooked. For an angler to achieve maximum visibility one must wear a high quality pair of polarized sunglasses with amber lenses. Your clothing should be taken into consideration as well. Clothes should be cool, lightweight and preferably offer some sort of protection against the sun’s damaging UV rays.
