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Twilight Zone Versus Strike Zone

(By: Jerry Carlson)

photo of jerry carlson

We have all been there. We have all seen situations where the fish have total lock jaw. We have all experienced the humility of not being able to buy a fish at moments when it counted the most. We have all spent our time fishing the "Twilight Zone."

The twilight zone is not a great place to fish. Anglers prefer to fish the "strike zone." That is where the action is! But what exactly is the strike zone? To put it plain and simple, that is the distance in which a fish is willing to travel to chase food. And just how big is this area that fish are willing to travel to catch food? That depends on many different factors.

One of the factors that determines the size of the strike zone is the weather. Weather plays a huge role in determining the mood of fish. That is why two of the most feared words of anglers are "cold fronts." There is a reason for this.

Without a doubt fish do not like rapid changes in weather. Fronts make them moody. You can probably compare it to a little kid pouting because they didn't get their way. When fish get moody they are simply not very willing to bite. Their strike zone shrinks because of it.

It is important to understand that a shrunken strike zone does not mean it is impossible to catch fish. It simply means that you must get your bait presentation closer to the fish to get into the strike zone. It is possible that some fish will have no strike zone and be totally uninterested in eating anything, no matter how tempting. However, there are fish willing to eat if you can find them.

The trick that most anglers would like to know is what to do to enlarge a small strike zone. There are some things that will help, at least some of the time.

It is important to remember that fish have the same senses that we do. This means that they smell, see, hear, taste, and feel. Because of the water environment, these senses are not identical to ours that function in an air environment.

What this does mean is that in order to increase the strike zone of a fish, regardless of the weather, we should appeal to as many senses as possible. This fact is not new to the fishing world, it is just not thought through as carefully as it should be nor utilized often enough.

For example, in a water environment that has murky water and creates poor visibility fish are not able to see very far. This fact has a big impact on the fish as to what senses they must use to find food. If sight is limited, they must depend on other senses like feeling with their lateral line.

As bait fish move they displace water with their bodies. This displacement sends out little impulses that can be felt by other fish. Predators know that bait fish are around them even though they cannot see them. They can feel them. This "feeling sensation" allows predators to move in until sight contact is made and the feeding begins.

Let's put this in terms of artificials. By using proven baits like Shad Raps and Rattlin' Raps that throw off attractive vibrations or make rattling noises you will get the attention of fish that are too far away from the lure or bait to see it. If interested, these predators will move in to take a closer look at this potential food that has gotten their attention. By doing this you have increased the strike zone and reduced the twilight zone.

This concept will also work with live bait. By adding a spinner you will send out vibrations that are picked up at great distances. The right combination will induce a strike.

The same can be done with scent. By using live bait you automatically appeal to the scent of a fish. Live bait smells like the real thing. I have also had success at times by adding a drop of Dr. Juice to my artificials to help leave a scent trail.

There is no magic cure for fishing on days when the twilight zone has taken over the strike zone, but there are four things to try. Fish live bait, and I mean the best live bait that you can get. Fish slower. Give the fish more time to look at how great your offering is. Fish smaller. Use smaller and lighter tackle than normal. Finally, remember to appeal to as many senses as you can.

Fishing the twilight zone is an experience that we will never totally avoid, but by being versatile and adapting to the conditions that are present we can spend more of our time in the strike zone.