Fishing Techniques & Styles

Topwater

Fishing surface lures that create commotion to trigger explosive strikes. The most adrenaline-producing technique in bass fishing.

• Frog Fishing
• Buzzbait
• Walk the Dog

Trolling

Dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat. Covers large areas of water to locate fish. The backbone of offshore and Great Lakes fishing.

• Downrigger Trolling
• Flat-Line Trolling
• Planer Board Trolling

Jigging

Fishing a weighted lure with a vertical or swimming motion. One of the most versatile techniques — works in fresh and saltwater at any depth.

• Vertical Jigging
• Swim Jigging

Live Bait Fishing

Fishing with live baitfish, shrimp, or crabs. Nothing triggers a predator's instinct like the real thing. Works across all water types.

• Live Lining
• Kite Fishing

Finesse Fishing

Light line, small baits, subtle presentations. The counter-play when fish are pressured or conditions are tough.

• Drop Shot
• Ned Rig
• Wacky Rig

Soft Plastic Fishing

Fishing with flexible, lifelike plastic lures rigged on weighted hooks. The workhorse of bass fishing — versatile across all conditions.

• Texas Rig
• Carolina Rig
• Shaky Head

Crankbait Fishing

Fishing hard-bodied diving lures with a consistent retrieve. Crankbaits deflect off cover and trigger reaction strikes.

• Lipless Crankbait
• Deep Diving Crankbait

Ice Fishing

Fishing through holes drilled in frozen lakes and rivers. A unique winter pursuit with its own gear, culture, and community.

• Tip-Ups
• Dead Sticking
• Ice Jigging

Baitcasting

Using a baitcasting reel for precision casting of heavier lures. The preferred setup for experienced bass anglers — more control, more power.

Shore Fishing

Fishing from the bank, dock, or pier without a boat. The most accessible way to fish — no gear required beyond a rod and tackle.

• Surf Casting
• Pier Fishing

Catfishing

Targeting catfish with stink bait, cut bait, or live bait on the bottom. A laid-back, social style of fishing popular across the South and Midwest.

• Jug Fishing

Nymphing

Fishing subsurface flies that imitate aquatic insect larvae. The most productive fly fishing method — nymphs account for the majority of a trout's diet.

• Euro Nymphing
• Czech Nymphing
• Indicator Nymphing
• High-Stick Nymphing

Dry Fly

Fishing floating flies on the surface to imitate adult insects. The most visual and exciting form of fly fishing — you see the fish eat.

• Match the Hatch
• Terrestrials
• Emergers

Streamer

Fishing large, actively retrieved flies that imitate baitfish, crayfish, or leeches. Targets the biggest, most aggressive fish.

• Swinging
• Stripping

Wet Fly

Traditional subsurface flies fished on a swing or dead drift. The oldest form of fly fishing, still deadly for trout and panfish.

Tenkara

Japanese fixed-line fly fishing — no reel, just a long rod, line, and fly. Minimalist, effective, and perfect for small mountain streams.

Spey Casting

Two-handed fly casting that uses the water's surface tension to load the rod. Essential for big rivers where back-cast room is limited.

• Single-Hand Spey
• Two-Hand Spey

Dry-Dropper

A dry fly on top with a nymph trailing below. Covers two feeding zones at once — the dry acts as both a fish catcher and a strike indicator.

Flats Fishing

Sight fishing on shallow sand or grass flats from a poling skiff. Targets bonefish, permit, redfish, and tarpon. Requires stealth and precision casting.

• Sight Casting

Drift Boat Fishing

Fishing from a guided drift boat on rivers. The guide rows while anglers cast from bow and stern. Covers miles of water in a day.

Trolling

Dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat. Covers large areas of water to locate fish. The backbone of offshore and Great Lakes fishing.

• Downrigger Trolling
• Flat-Line Trolling
• Planer Board Trolling

Bottom Fishing

Dropping weighted rigs to the seafloor to target reef and structure-dwelling species. Grouper, snapper, and sea bass are the primary targets.

• Deep Dropping
• Anchor Fishing

Jigging

Fishing a weighted lure with a vertical or swimming motion. One of the most versatile techniques — works in fresh and saltwater at any depth.

• Vertical Jigging
• Swim Jigging

Live Bait Fishing

Fishing with live baitfish, shrimp, or crabs. Nothing triggers a predator's instinct like the real thing. Works across all water types.

• Live Lining
• Kite Fishing

Inshore Fishing

Fishing shallow coastal waters — bays, flats, mangroves, marshes. Targets redfish, snook, speckled trout, and flounder.

• Popping Cork

Wreck Fishing

Targeting shipwrecks and artificial reefs that concentrate fish. Produces grouper, snapper, amberjack, and cobia.

Chumming

Dispersing ground-up bait to create a scent trail that attracts fish to the boat. Used in combination with other techniques.

Flats Fishing

Sight fishing on shallow sand or grass flats from a poling skiff. Targets bonefish, permit, redfish, and tarpon. Requires stealth and precision casting.

• Sight Casting