Current Casting (Soft Plastic Baits or Jigging Spoons)

Equipment:
Rod                 6 or 6 1/2 Foot Spinning Rod, Medium-Heavy Action, Fast or Extra Fast Tip, 1/4 - 1 Ounce Lures
Reel             2500 Series Spinning Reel
Line                14# Test Berkley FireLine or 30# PowerPro
Leader          6' - 20# Test Premium Fluorocarbon Line
Hardware     None
Knots            See Line & Knots

This technique uses the current to move and give the lure action. When using this technique the most productive lures are soft plastic baits fished on a jighead or jigging spoons.  After deciding the depth (water column) you want the lure to run two factors must be taken into consideration when sizing the lure; 1) current speed, and 2) weight of the jighead or spoon.

EXAMPLE:  Used during this explanation of this technique a 6" soft plastic bait fished on a 1/2 ounce jighead OR a 3/4 ounce jigging spoon, in medium fast current, will run approximately 8 to 10 feet deep. 

Cast the lure up and across current.  Strip line off swiftly to ensure the lure will run at the selected depth.  To accomplish this leave the bail open after the cast, put the rod tip on the water, and lift the rod to 12 o’clock in one swift movement.  Do this twice. 
NOTE:  The lure will be sinking and moving down current naturally once the lure hits the water. 

After all line is stripped off, close the bail, move and keep the rod tip to 10 o'clock and take up all slack line.  Move the rod in sink and in line with the lure as it moves down current.

Jig the lure every now and then, by moving the rod tip swiftly from 10 to 11 o'clock.  This is best done by snapping the wrist, NOT by moving the entire arm.  Take up the slack as you drop the rod tip back to 10 o'clock to jig the lure again.

Watch the line closely, if it stops, set the hook.  If this doesn't happen follow the line until it's out of the swift current or directly behind the boat.  Jig it back in and start the technique again.

This can be a very productive technique when fishing bridge pilings.