Ask 10 bass fisherman how they feel about the use of trailers on spinnerbaits and you're likely to get almost as many answers.
After reading an article by Kevin VanDam recently discussing his approach to the use of spinnerbait trailers, I was surprised to find his views on using spinnerbait trailers were much like mine.
Generally speaking when fishing during the warmer periods of the year in either clear or slightly stained water neither KVD nor myself use trailers on spinnerbaits. When encountering conditions where the water is significantly colder (during the late fall, throughout the winter or early spring) or when the water is dirty we both agree it's time to break-out the plastic and add a trailer to our spinnerbaits.
Great short instructional video providing an honest plus some of my tips providing little different view of fishing the drops shot rig for largemouth and smallmouth bass.
The host (Skeet Reese) details information about the basics of the drop shot rig including hooks, sinkers, leader material and how to tie the rig.
Next Skeet covers the different types baits and conditions to use on a drop shot rig.
Although he covers the standard approach to fishing for bass with a drop-shot rig, there are two things you want to keep in mind:
Over the last few months, I have run across several posts on different bass fishing forums discussing a desire by many anglers to return to smaller boats and motors in tournaments.
When I think back to my early days of organized bass fishing, I can still visualize the line-up of boats on the shore ... mostly 17 feet in length or shorter and a 115-HP outboard would be the largest in the lot.
Even the boat provided by B.A.S.S. for the first Classic on Lake Mead, NV in 1971 was the Rebel Fastback and it was only powered by a 90-HP I/O motor. Times have changed, however, since most Classic boats this year were > 20 feet in length and powered by 250-HP outboards.
Are Big, Expensive Bass Boats Required for Bass Tournaments?
From my personal experience in both club and local money tournaments, the answer is definitely no!
Several of my friends and I all fish from relatively small boats (< 17 feet and outboards < 100-HP (well under in my case)) and still manage to hold our own at the tournaments we fish.
About a year ago, there was even one pro angler who spoke out about successfully fishing from smaller boats.
Keeping true to that message, Rick Clunn (still with more Bassmaster Classic wins (four) than anyone else) talked about fishing from an 18 foot Tracker aluminum boat during the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
He explains his reasons in the video below ...
Considering the rising price of both bass fishing rigs and the fuel to power them, perhaps it's time to re-think the standard for bass boats and motors?
What do you think?
Is it time for "Retro-Bass" :)
Flash-forward to 2021 and it turns out a growing number of bass pros are trending back to aluminum boats though they still tend to be 20'+ with 200+ hp outboards. Still more fuel efficient I guess :D
The original Rapala “Floating Minnow” was one of the first lures introduced to the fishing world by Rapala in 1936. Shortly thereafter, the company added jointed and sinking (Countdown) versions of the popular bait.
Constructed of balsa wood, the floating minnow series comes in seven different sizes and 22 possible color choices. The three sizes I use in most bass fishing situations fall in the middle of the size range, namely the F07 (1/8 oz. & 2.75”), F09 (3/16 oz. & 3.5”) and F11 (3/16 oz. & 4.28”) mostly in silver, gold and perch color patterns.
Though the F11 can be fished with standard spinning or light casting gear, I typically fish either the F07 or F09 on a 6 to 6.5’ medium-light spinning rod with matching rod and 6 or 8 lb test monofilament line.
Bass & Fish Catching Magic
Rapala’s original floating minnow is one of the “go-to” baits in my tackle collection and it should be in yours too!
Why?
Simply because the floating minnow’s basic action on a straight retrieve mimics a wounded baitfish and the slow rise and quiver action imparted when using a stop and go retrieve can be deadly on bass. It also works as a great topwater lure for those early morning outings when the lake surface is like a sheet of glass!
Years ago I also discovered a “secret” presentation technique putting bass in the boat when other presentations failed. Though not complicated, one subtle change in a normal surface presentation seems to excite neutral fish and entice them to rise to the surface and slurp the minnow right off the surface!
Still surface water conditions are a must and they are even better if in the afternoon under a bright, sunny summer day.
Enter – The Quivering Dead-Stick Minnow
This presentation method starts with either the F07 (one I use most often) or F09 (if larger forage is present) tied to the line with either an Improved Clinch or Palomar knot rather than the Rapala knot used on normal cast and retrieve presentations. The reason for the solid contact between the bait, line and rod will become apparent shortly.
After casting the floating minnow to the structure I am fishing, I let the minnow remain perfectly still until all rings from the initial impact have dissipated.
Next I start gently shaking the rod tip with slack in the line since I am not trying to move the lure towards me just impart vibrations causing it to quiver on the surface for several seconds. When done correctly, the minnow appears to be shaking feverishly on the surface like a struggling baitfish and bass (plus other fish in the area) can’t resist taking advantage of this easy morsel.
The quivering dead-stick minnow presentation is absolutely deadly on those summer days when the afternoon wind quits and fish are selectively feeding on small insects and baitfish off the surface.
Tale a look at the following video from the folks at Rapala to see the floating minnow in action with a little more insight on fishing methods…
Today, the pressure from both tournament anglers and weekend bass fishermen can quickly add up and result in damaging consequences to the bass stocks in many water bodies.
With increasing emphasis on intelligent harvest and catch and release practices, the savvy bass angler is always on the look-out for tools and tips that help preserve this precious resource.
Conservation-minded bass anglers wishing to optimize the number of bass they catch and release alive, have found using circle-type hooks for techniques like the split shot a true gem.
So take a moment and watch the video to learn how this split shot technique (modified) catches more fish in the jaw, not in the gullet and helps conserve our bass populations …
You will be glad you did! …
We hope you enjoyed the video.
Watch for more tutorial videos from the Dave in future posts!
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