Reading water · 2 min read
Two seams are a choice
Two seams are a choice. This bank job is about the seam closest to your bank. Do it while you can still see what your hands are doing.
Do it in order
The sequence is short. Fish the near seam before you wade to the far one. Leave the rest of the kit closed. A second method, started halfway, turns one check into a tangle.
The usual miss
The miss is crossing the creek to reach water you have not looked at. 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 near seam has been fished or honestly passed. If that is not true, the fish is not the problem yet.
Next time you set up the seam closest to your bank, 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.