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Spinner baits
-There is no need to have 2 dozen spinner baits, just buy 6 - 10 of different sizes and then stock up on blade colors and sizes. Skirt colors also can be interchanged. White and white/chartreuse are the best colors. Blue and chartreuse and soft silvers also work well. With changing the blade and the skirts you can find a combination that works best for that day.
When using spinner baits, try fishing them all different speeds. Burning them under the surface or so slow that the blades barely spin on the bottom (my favorite). On a steady retrieve, stop the bait every so often. A lot of bites will come when the bait is falling. Always let the bait fall after crossing over wood.
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Flippin' or
Pitchin' Jigs - Bullet shaped heads are better around wood and weeds. Wider jig heads are used for rock and open water drop offs. I trim weed guards on new jigs, the length and the thickness of the guard to make it easier to stick fish. You will lose more jigs this way but you will get better hook sets. You must be able to feel bottom. Drag it 12 inches at a time and then pause a second. Practice this with your eyes closed and your sense of feel will become greater. Black/Blue or Brown/Orange are the best colors. The size I use most often is 1/2 oz. Start there and then change sizes depending on the wind and depth. Always fish in the heart of the cover for example wood, brush, rock piles, or base of stumps. Shaking or hopping a jig is also good.
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Worming - I fish a worm the same way I fish jigs. Always throw tight to cover with a Texas Rig. I drag a worm on the bottom when most people lift the bait and let it fall. Use heavy weights so you can feel bottom, then adjust for the wind or depth. Black, green pumpkin, watermelon, purple, and pumpkin seed are my favorite colors. I normally use 4" and 7" worms, but I will use 10" worms when I fish deep water in the summer. It is all about the feel.
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Top water - Buzz baits, frogs, poppers, and walking baits are all a good choice but the key is to not fish them fast. When fish are chasing schooling shad, this is a great time to fish top water. Throw right in the school and make a couple of quick jerks and wait. In clear water the fish will travel from 30 feet deep to hit a top water bait. Fishing over the top of flooded timber or parallel to the bank is a good way to fish these baits. White, white/chartreuse, chrome, or any shad patterns work the best.
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Crankbaits - The key to catching fish on crankbaits is to bang structure. Bounce them off rock, wood, boat docks, or any thing else you fish. Square bills work the best for this but any crankbait can be used. When you feel the bait getting tight, slow the bait down until it hits the object, then pause and let the bait float up a little bit. Repeat. This should trigger more strikes. I use smaller crankbaits in spring and summer and larger in the fall. Blue/chartreuse and black/chartreuse are the best colors. In the early season use light greens, brown crawdads, and
firetiger. White and shad colored bait work all year long but work better in the fall when shad are schooling. Flourocarbon works well to achieve true crankbait depth. |
Tips
for catching more fish - When catching many
fish in an area, keep fishing but change baits. If
you catch fish on a brush pile switch to a senko or
follow up with a crankbait. Don't give up on the
area because the bite slows down, just switch baits.
When you miss a fish on top water, follow up with a
senko or worm with a slow fall. 9 our of 10 times
you will catch that fish. When fishing crankbaits,
use a bait that runs deeper than the water depth.
When the crankbait digs up the bottom it triggers more
bites. Remember when you bump structure always
stop the bait. Fish will hit it on the pause.
Nothing will replace time on the water as you can try
new things.
Good Luck,
Great Fishing !
Rick Eyman |
