1. The diameter of braided line is much smaller than that of monofilament. If using braid, it is important to wrap the line around the shaft of the cork’s snaps two or three times on both the top and the bottom of the cork.
2) Pay attention to how much you do or don’t pop the cork. Sometimes they want it more aggressive; sometimes more erratic; sometimes pop it once and let it sit. Once you get the pattern, give it to them the same way every time.
3) Work plastics more aggressively than live bait. Audibert almost religiously works plastic harder.
4) Water temperature in the mid-50s and higher is best. It can be below 50 degrees if the temperature just dropped. But if it is below the mid-50s for an extended period of time, fishing with a cork won’t work as well.
5) Corks work best if the boat is set up with the wind behind where you want to cast. Trying to cast into the wind kills distance and causes tangles.
6) Spinning reels work better than casting reels for casting corks, especially in windy conditions. With bait-casters, it is easy to get the helicopter effect of the bait and the cork spinning around each other.
7) Turn spinning reels sideways for the entire cast when using a cork and live bait. If the reel is held vertical, the shrimp and the cork will tumble end-over-end.
