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Depth before distance Float fishing over kelp Work the water column Spinning over reef What happens after the cast Bottom fishing over sand Read current, then line Wet-fly swing in a river
Float fishing over kelp conceptual cutaway Set the bait above cover and connect an underwater take with the float movement at the surface. A complete text storyboard follows the visual. surface current kelp and rock shallow mid bottom 1 Set the stop-knot 2 Let the rig settle 3 Drift the kelp edge 4 A wrasse turns to inspect 5 The surface cue arrives
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Step 1 of 5 Underwater event → angler cue
Below the surface Set the stop-knot The stop-knot fixes how far the float can slide, so the bait settles above rather than inside the weed.
What the angler notices Before casting, set the intended depth and leave a safety margin above the kelp.
Read the complete static storyboard Set the stop-knot The stop-knot fixes how far the float can slide, so the bait settles above rather than inside the weed.
What you notice: Before casting, set the intended depth and leave a safety margin above the kelp.
Let the rig settle Shot carries the bait down. The float remains upright while the trace straightens beneath it.
What you notice: Wait for the float to cock before deciding the rig is fishing at depth.
Drift the kelp edge Current bows the trace and moves the bait laterally. The float does not sit directly above the hook.
What you notice: Follow the float with the rod and avoid dragging the bait down into the weed.
A wrasse turns to inspect The fish makes a short, controlled movement away from cover. Correct presentation creates an opportunity; it does not promise a take.
What you notice: Stay ready, but do not strike at every small dip or sideways tremor.
The surface cue arrives When the bait is taken, tension transfers through the trace and the float dips. The visible cue follows the underwater event.
What you notice: Lift firmly only after a positive dip; a brief twitch can be current, weed or a fish investigating.
Evidence and limits Depth, current and fish paths are deliberately schematic and are not measurements from a Cork fishing mark.
Reviewed 2026-08-14.
Spinning over reef conceptual cutaway Connect retrieve choices with lure depth, line bow and the risk of dropping into rough ground. A complete text storyboard follows the visual. surface current rough reef shallow mid bottom 1 Count a controlled sink 2 Begin the retrieve 3 Hold a useful lane 4 Use a deliberate pause 5 A follow can become a take—or end
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Step 1 of 5 Underwater event → angler cue
Below the surface Count a controlled sink After splashdown, the lure sinks while current begins to curve the line. More waiting usually means more depth and more snag exposure.
What the angler notices Use a repeatable count rather than letting the lure fall indefinitely.
Read the complete static storyboard Count a controlled sink After splashdown, the lure sinks while current begins to curve the line. More waiting usually means more depth and more snag exposure.
What you notice: Use a repeatable count rather than letting the lure fall indefinitely.
Begin the retrieve The lure moves forward and can rise as line tension increases. The line still forms a curve through moving water.
What you notice: Start winding before the lure reaches the reef if the ground is rough.
Hold a useful lane A steady retrieve keeps the lure travelling above structure. A pollack can accelerate from cover to follow it.
What you notice: Keep enough contact to notice a knock without racing the lure straight to the surface.
Use a deliberate pause The lure loses forward speed and begins to drop. The change can hold attention, but it also narrows the clearance above rock and kelp.
What you notice: Keep pauses brief when the seabed is close or snaggy.
A follow can become a take—or end The fish closes the gap in this teaching sequence. In real water it may take, follow unseen or turn away.
What you notice: If the rod loads, keep winding into the weight before lifting; do not strike at the animation's timing.
Evidence and limits The lure has no brand-specific dive curve, and its depth is not calculated from line, weight, current or retrieve speed.
Reviewed 2026-08-14.
Bottom fishing over sand conceptual cutaway Understand why line angle, trace movement and a developing rod-tip pull matter after the lead has landed. A complete text storyboard follows the visual. surface current sand shallow mid bottom 1 The lead settles 2 The trace streams with the flow 3 A flatfish makes a short move 4 The bait is investigated 5 Tension reaches the rod tip
← Previous Play lesson Next → Restart Lesson timeline Step 1 of 5
Reduced motion is enabled. Use Previous, Next or the timeline to inspect each still frame.
Step 1 of 5 Underwater event → angler cue
Below the surface The lead settles The lead reaches the sand first. The trace and bait continue moving until drag and line tension settle the rig.
What the angler notices Let the lead find bottom, then take up slack without hauling it across the seabed.
Read the complete static storyboard The lead settles The lead reaches the sand first. The trace and bait continue moving until drag and line tension settle the rig.
What you notice: Let the lead find bottom, then take up slack without hauling it across the seabed.
The trace streams with the flow Even when the lead holds, the hook trace can lift, flutter or lie down-current rather than remaining rigid.
What you notice: A steady rod tip suggests the lead is holding; repeated dragging suggests it is not.
A flatfish makes a short move A bottom-resting fish can use a brief body undulation to move across the sand toward a presentation.
What you notice: Small taps can be investigation; keep the line controlled and watch for a developing pull.
The bait is investigated The fish closes the final distance along the seabed. The rig still moves slightly in the current.
What you notice: Avoid reacting to a single tap; wait for a positive sequence appropriate to the rig and species.
Tension reaches the rod tip As the fish moves against the trace, the underwater tension becomes a more sustained movement at the rod tip.
What you notice: Respond to a firm pull rather than assuming every tap is a hooked fish.
Evidence and limits The trace, scent and fish paths are conceptual; seabed, tide, lead hold and fish behaviour vary by mark and conditions.
Reviewed 2026-08-14.
Wet-fly swing in a river conceptual cutaway Connect the cast, line belly and controlled swing with movement at the line and rod. A complete text storyboard follows the visual. surface current river stones shallow mid bottom 1 Place the fly across the flow 2 See the line belly form 3 Mend the line, not the fly 4 Let the fly swing through the lane 5 A change reaches the line and rod
← Previous Play lesson Next → Restart Lesson timeline Step 1 of 5
Reduced motion is enabled. Use Previous, Next or the timeline to inspect each still frame.
Step 1 of 5 Underwater event → angler cue
Below the surface Place the fly across the flow A wet fly lands across and slightly downstream in this example. The line, leader and fly meet different parts of the current.
What the angler notices Notice where the fly, leader and thicker fly line land; presentation begins before any retrieve.
Read the complete static storyboard Place the fly across the flow A wet fly lands across and slightly downstream in this example. The line, leader and fly meet different parts of the current.
What you notice: Notice where the fly, leader and thicker fly line land; presentation begins before any retrieve.
See the line belly form Surface lanes push sections of fly line at different rates, so the line can curve before the fly crosses the useful water.
What you notice: A growing curve in the line shows the current beginning to control the presentation.
Mend the line, not the fly Lifting and repositioning part of the line can reduce drag. The mend shown here is deliberately simplified.
What you notice: Move only the line needed, then let the fly resume its path through the current.
Let the fly swing through the lane With controlled line tension, current carries the fly across and downstream. A fish may hold, follow or ignore it.
What you notice: Keep contact while allowing the current to move the fly instead of pulling it straight back.
A change reaches the line and rod In this teaching sequence the fish closes the final gap and line tension changes. A correct swing still does not guarantee a take.
What you notice: Watch the end of the fly line and feel for a developing pull; do not copy the animation's timing.
Evidence and limits Flow lanes, line shape, fly depth and fish positions are schematic; they are not measurements or instructions for a particular river.
Reviewed 2026-08-14.
Movement guide
Why different fish move differently Animation families, not speed measurements Reef manoeuvrer Short, precise movements and turns around structure rather than a constant fast cruise.
Shown close to kelp and rock with room to retreat into cover.
ballan wrasse
Movement source ↗ Tail-driven predator Visible thrust builds toward the rear body and tail, allowing a controlled cruise followed by acceleration.
Shown moving out from reef or through open water; no exact pursuit distance is implied.
pollack coalfish bass
Movement source ↗ Bottom-resting flatfish Rests against the seabed, then moves in short body waves and can settle or bury again.
Shown on sand because substrate is central to the teaching scene.
flounder dab plaice
Movement source ↗ Pectoral-fin glider Travelling waves pass along the broad pectoral fins to generate thrust.
Shown low over the seabed without claiming a fixed swimming height.
thornback ray
Movement source ↗ River body-and-tail swimmer A body wave becomes more visible toward the rear body and tail; no tail-beat rate is implied.
Shown in moving water as a teaching example, without claiming one precise holding position.
brown trout atlantic salmon sea trout
Movement source ↗ Use it well Take the mental model to the water—not the exact picture Observe Look for the surface or rod-tip cue that follows the hidden event.
Adjust one thing Change depth, retrieve or position deliberately rather than guessing at everything at once.
Expect variation Current, seabed, tackle and fish behaviour vary. The scene is a model, not a promise.