I can’t wait to get my hands on the new Tawagoto XP-9987 Series Z Ultra-Ultra-Ultra-Long-Distance NHN-Z Tournament Rod, which I will review soon. It’s not cheap, at ¥600,000 (around £2,766.88, plus £275 delivery, £300 import taxes and £150 insurance), but for a proper casting rod that gives you a real edge against other anglers, I’m it will prove to be worth every penny. So, in the eight months that will take to arrive from Japan, I thought I’d try something different and offer my own take on the best way to get the most out of your fishing and gain a real edge over other anglers.
Of course, the first and most important rule is always to use the most technologically up-to-date fishing tackle and equipment you can possibly get your hands on – whatever the cost. People who say that fish haven’t changed for millennia and that tried-and-tested methods and techniques are the best are wrong – I guarantee that a £60 lure will outfish a so-called reliable spinner costing around £3, every single time (and give you a real edge over other anglers). And I feel embarrassed for people using fishing rods and reels that collectively cost a few hundred pounds from so-called fishing tackle companies such as Daiwa, Abu Garcia and Shakespeare – I always source the latest rods straight from Japan, and if I have never heard of the company that makes it before, that is all the better!
Anyway, this article is not about the actual fishing tackle and equipment. This is about preparation which will give you a real edge over other anglers. It is easy to just turn up to your favourite venue and cast out a line and hope you get a bite. But what if I told you that you could seriously increase your results by simply considering a few factors before making that first cast? A little thought and preparation can make a huge change to results.
Luckily, for all anglers across the UK, my patented (1) method does just this, and it is easily remembered by the catchy acronym: WANC.
WANC stands for:
W – Watch. Look around before you start fishing. Is there anyone else there? If there is, you must be in the right place, as people have come there to catch fish. But then if no one is there, maybe you are ahead of the crowd, and you are going to be catching fish while everyone else is in the wrong place? It really just depends on the situation.
A – Analyse. Look at the sea conditions. Are there waves? If so, they may be fish swimming underneath them, but on the other hand, the waves and rough seas may have sent the fish offshore. How is the weather? If it is raining, you should have brought waterproofs. What is the seabed like? Sand, shingle and rock can all hold fish. Are there snags about? If so and you use lures as expensive as mine, you may be in for an expensive session.
N – Never Go Fishing Without Bait or Lures. You really need one (or both) of these things.
C – Cast. Finally, cast out. This is really important as you almost always need to cast out to get your bait in the water. A rare exception is when you are on a pier or rock mark and can just drop the bait/lure straight down. But then I would argue that this is in itself a form of casting, so I am therefore right, and the WANC principle holds.
Armed with this information, you are likely to make any fishing session much more effective and productive than you would without using the WANC method. It’s a proven fish-catcher, match-winner, personal best breaker and record setter (2). All the top UK sea anglers agree and extensively use the WANC method themselves (3).
Indeed, I am so wedded to this method that I often shout “WANC” as I am casting out, and repeat the acronym loudly at all times when I am fishing, so the WANC principle is always present in my mind. This did once lead to a threat of prosecution under the Public Order Act 1986 while I was on my local pier, but after a brief explanation to a police officer and a somewhat offended family (who had several young children with them), I was allowed to go with a verbal warning.
Remember, before you start a sea fishing session, pause, consider the venue and then make sure you WANC.
Dr Alex Tekunorosakana is a professional fishing tackle reviewer and lure fishing expert. He has a PhD in innovative angling lure hydro-dynamics from the University of Söndersvöll in Sweden.
1. Not actually patented.
2. None of these things are in any way guaranteed, implied, promised or assured by using the WANC method.
3. Not actually endorsed by any top UK sea anglers.