Reading water · 2 min read
Read the shade before the glare
Read the shade before the glare. This bank job is about the shaded bank in the middle of the day. Do it while you can still see what your hands are doing.
Do it in order
The sequence is short. Fish the shade first and keep your shadow off the water. Leave the rest of the kit closed. A second method, started halfway, turns one check into a tangle.
The usual miss
The miss is standing so your shadow covers the spot. When that shows up, stop and go back to the first step. Do not pile another knot or another lure on a step you skipped.
You are done when the spot you want is still in shade when you cast. If that is not true, the fish is not the problem yet.
Next time you set up the shaded bank in the middle of the day, repeat the same sequence instead of improving it from memory. A "Reading water" note stays useful when it is smaller than the tackle box.
A bank note, not a forecast or a rule sheet. Check the local regulations before you fish.