| > | | | | do not approach too closely. Unless you’re |
| | | | very certain of the direction of drift, stop at least a |
| Learn some of the important techniques for success in | | | | quarter mile away and let the boat drift so you know |
| drift fishing for Bass. | | | | what direction it will be going, this will allow you to |
| Both Rhode Island and Block Island waters contain | | | | approach and properly position the boat to drift over |
| many areas of structure that will hold bass, and there | | | | the structure. Do not get closer that 100ft to the |
| are many types of structure that attract them. Drift | | | | structure under power. Use your GPS track to see |
| fishing is a technique used to fish structure. The key | | | | how you drift and to avoid motoring back over that |
| point to remember about any structure is what makes | | | | area. If you have the track turned off, you should |
| it useful to stripers. While bass can be very | | | | turn it on and leave it on. If it gets too cluttered, you |
| aggressive predators and chase bait across the | | | | can always erase the current track. |
| surface for miles, they prefer in most cases to | | | | What you use to fish an area of structure |
| ambush prey, relying on their ability to make short | | | | depends on the current hatch and how deep the area |
| bursts of speed which allow them to catch many | | | | is. The current hatch means use something |
| types of baitfish. Structure alone is not always | | | | which resembles the bait they are currently feeding |
| enough, it is usually tidal current running past the | | | | on. Depths under 20’ can be fished with plugs |
| structure that makes it a good ambush point. To | | | | and soft plastic baits. Over 20’ can usually |
| translate, if you have an area that has some large | | | | only be fished with soft plastic baits using lead |
| boulders on the bottom and a strong outgoing tide | | | | jigheads. When retrieving a plug, you should vary |
| running past it, this can be an excellent spot to fish for | | | | your retrieve speed, as prey species cannot keep up |
| bass. The current will eddie as it passes over and | | | | a fast swimming speed at all times, they pulse, |
| around these boulders, areas which can cause small | | | | going fast then slow then fast in alternation, and |
| bait fish to tumble out of control. This is the situation | | | | predators like striped bass expect this behaviour and |
| which a striper is looking for. | | | | will strike during the slowdown. Reeling 4 turns fast |
| When you drift fish a spot, it is important not to | | | | — 4 turns slow and continuing to alternate can |
| motor over the top of the area of structure where the | | | | emulate this behaviour. When using soft plastics, you |
| fish are holding, much like the many fishing charters | | | | need to allow them to sink to the level where tha bass |
| which frequent RI waters. No matter how quiet your | | | | may be holding. For a ¾oz to 1oz jighead, this is 1 |
| engine might be, it will spook some if not all of the | | | | second for every 2 feet of depth. So if you are |
| fish. I have always noticed that even in deeper water | | | | working in 18 feet of water, no more than a nine-count |
| (but still under 30’) you can troll a few times | | | | before you close up the bail and begin your retrieve. |
| over a spot but then usually the bite will die off as fish | | | | As with the plugs, it is necessary to provide a retrieve |
| are spooked by the motor noise. Some spots at | | | | which pulses the bait. This is achieved by jigging the |
| Block Island and along the RI south shore are so | | | | rod upward, then moving it down slowly, reeling as you |
| sensitive that one pass over the top will ruin the | | | | go to keep the line tight. If slack is allowed in the line |
| fishing. So when you go back up-drift, do not motor | | | | then you will never feel the hit, as they prefer to hit the |
| directly back over your drift path. I cannot emphasis | | | | bait when it is falling. |
| this point enough, I have seen too many anglers ruin | | | | Drift fishing has three important aspects that you |
| good fishing by motoring over the top of the fish. I | | | | need to understand if you want to master it. Most |
| especially don’t sppreciate it when they motor | | | | important is boat positioning, this one is the hardest to |
| over the spot I’m personally fishing. You | | | | get right. The next is bait presentation, which is just |
| should make it a practice to steer well away from | | | | as important. The last is proper timing: you want to |
| someone who is fishing a spot unless you have a very | | | | fish the spot when the fish are there and the tide is |
| exact idea of what that person is doing and where the | | | | cooperating to give you the right conditions for the fish |
| fish are hanging, and how to approach fishing it. In | | | | to feed. Keep these in mind and you will be able to |
| any event, you should never get too close to | | | | catch more fish on your excursions around Rhode |
| someone else while bass fishing. | | | | Island and Block Island. |
| When approaching a spot you intend to drift fish, | | | | |