Predator blanks: diagnose presentation and coverage gaps
Course pack: Blank-session troubleshooting worksheet. Coach Willy, our virtual AI coach, can explain each step, set you a practice task and check your understanding.
Who it's for
You've done the basics and want to tighten things up.
Where and when
Done on the bank. Best in: all.
What you'll work through
- 1Record what was actually tried
- 2Review access conditions and coverage
- 3Choose one presentation or location adjustment
- 4Plan a repeat visit and reflect
Step 1: Record what was actually tried
Alright mate, let's get stuck into predator blanks: diagnose presentation and coverage gaps. I'll walk you through what to look for, what to try and how to tell whether it helped. We'll start with record what was actually tried, then work through a proper practice job at each step. Take it at your own pace and keep a few notes so you've got a useful plan for next time.
By the end of this step
Have a go at: record what was actually tried.
Willy’s take
When a session produces nothing, the most useful first step is recording honestly what you actually did, not what you meant to do or usually do. Write down lures or baits used, depths covered, retrieve styles, locations fished and roughly how long at each, along with weather and water conditions on the day.
This isn't about blame, it's building an accurate picture to diagnose from, since vague memories a week later rarely reveal the real gaps. A detailed, honest record of a blank session is genuinely more useful for learning than a vague memory of a good one.
Kit I'd start with
- No special kit is strictly needed to troubleshoot a run of blank predator sessions, but it helps to bring a small notebook or use your phone to genuinely record what you tried, since memory alone rarely captures enough detail afterwards.
- Keep your usual kit for whichever method you're reviewing, and if you're adjusting presentation, carry a wider-than-usual range of lure weights or trace options so you can actually test a change on the day rather than being limited by what's in the bag.
- If pike are a possibility on the water you're troubleshooting, keep a bite-resistant wire trace with you regardless of your main target, since blank sessions are exactly when anglers are tempted to simplify tackle and accidentally drop safety gear.
- For lure practice, a 7-8ft rod with a stated 5-20g casting range is an example for small lures in open water, not for casting heavy deadbaits. Count the head and plastic together; step up the outfit for larger lures and likely bycatch, within maker guidance.
On the bank
Worked example
Imagine this: You've had a frustrating blank session and are trying to remember exactly what you tried across four hours on the bank. What safe starting choice would you make here, and what would you watch before changing it?
Your turn: Record what was actually tried
- 1
Write down exactly what was tried, not just intentions
- 2
Record depths, locations, retrieves and timing honestly
That's the free sample — this is where it stops
The full step keeps going with the rest of the practice job, common mistakes and fixes, a check-your-understanding quiz and your Blank-session troubleshooting worksheet. Then 3 more steps, each with its own task, and Coach Willy on hand to talk it through.
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