Barret Duncan Blog

Why casting at visible surface targets keeps you catching small fish, and how understanding underwater terrain changes your game. If you walk along the bank of any lake or watch weekend boaters work down a shoreline, you will notice almost everyone doing the exact same thing: they pull up within casting distance of a visible laydown tree, a wooden dock, or a patch of surface lily pads, throw three casts, and move on. There is nothing wrong with fishing wood and weed edges—plenty of fish live there. But if you talk to experienced tournament anglers or guys who have spent thirty years targeting quality fish, you will hear them use two words constantly: Structure and Cover . A lot of guys use those terms interchangeably. That is a fundamental mistake. Understanding the difference between structure and cover is the single biggest milestone in transitioning from a casual caster to a consistent fisherman. 1. Structure Is the Land Underneath Structure is the physical topography and contour o...

If you walk along the bank of any lake or watch weekend boaters work down a shoreline, you will notice almost everyone doing the exact same thing: they pull up within casting distance of a visible laydown tree, a wooden dock, or a patch of surface lily pads, throw three casts, and move on. There is nothing wrong with fishing wood and weed edges—plenty of fish live there. But if you talk to experienced tournament anglers or guys who have spent thirty years targeting quality fish, you will hear them use two words constantly: Structure and Cover . A lot of guys use those terms interchangeably. That is a fundamental mistake. Understanding the difference between structure and cover is the single biggest milestone in transitioning from a casual caster to a consistent fisherman. 1. Structure Is the Land Underneath Structure is the physical topography and contour of the bottom of the body of water. It is permanent, geological, and completely independent of vegetation or artificial objects. Ex...