What to do after you paddle up to a bridge?

[akozols]

I'm by no means an expert at fishing from a bridge, but I found a system that works for me. I usually stand on the incoming side of the bridge and cast out. I let my lure(grub on jighead) drift into the shadowline and that's usually where I get my hits.

Now that I'm fishing from the yak, I have to learn how to fish the bridge from down below. So the question is.....How do you fish a bridge from a yak?

thanks,
Al

[barrell]

If your paddling its a little different then if your peddling. We peddlers can sit 10 yards from the shadow line and hold our position in the current. We can troll along the shadow line while jigging in and out of the light. We can also go to the other side of the bridge and hold our position into the current and yo-yo the jig behind us. The Hobie also allows you to move sideways along the shadow line while holding an exact distance from the shadow.
Now when you are paddling you might get 2 or 3 casts into the shadow brfore the current pulls you to far away and you have to paddle back to the bridge. When I used to old-school it I would start on the uppcurrent side and drift through fishing both shadow lines so I didnt have to paddle back so often. Paddlers become very good at picking out the dead spots around bridges where the current is slower or can even run in reverse so they dont have to paddle back as often. Eelball is an expert and finding theese dead spots in the current. I used to and still do in my Hobie carry an old shark hook on a short piece of cord tied off to the yak. I can lay the hook against a piling and let the current tighten up on it and sit at one spot until I want to move. If I hook up and need to get free I only need to slap the hook off the piling and Im free.

[LBI striper searcher]

Great idea with the hook, thanks. I'll have to give that a try.

[Clamboni]

I've been using a big hook also since I saw Barrell's, works very well. Don't only concentrate on the shadow lines though, Lots of fish to be had back underneath the bridge and on the down current side. Don't forget about the eddies caused by the pilings.

[Rick..still casting]

I like that hook idea also,, now I'll go back and take my ten penny nails out.. ahh just kidding
Barrell,,how do you hold your position sideways in your hobie,when in my outback peddling, invariably when I get sideways the current takes over and I can't hold my position.I tried aiming rudder away from current direction and start doing a slow pirouette. What would be nice is to see somebody make a video of the in/outs of maneuvering while in various conditions,fishing etc etc. Yes, I understand put in the time,experiment- but some guidence would be appreciated.I'm on the slow learning curve.
Also do you ever use an anchor system? Thankyou

[Clamboni]

Turn the rudder toward the upcurrent side, so you're trying to turn the bow upstream. Balance the right pedal speed and the right amount of rudder turn to stay at the right angle and not get pushed by the current.

[CSStriper]

Start casting:thumbsup::razz::wave:

[akozols]

Thanks, guys. I made a hook line using a large hook, but haven't used it yet. The bridge that I normally go to has cement pilings. I'm going to have to practice finding the eddies.