Cold Weather Bass Tips - Tying Hair Jigs for Bass

One of the most basic and effective fishing lures ever developed is a simple hair jig. 

Even though it is a very basic lure design, hair jigs are highly effective baits since they mimic the forage base of virtually all game fish including our favorites - largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass! Depending on the methods used to tie the hair jig, it can be designed to imitate common fish forage such as minnows, crayfish and even leeches.  Coupling the correct design with the proper fishing techniques (subject of a future post), jigs will produce quality and quantities of fish when many other techniques falter. 

Most jigs can be tied using basic materials consisting of a vice, bobbin, jighead, thread, different types of animal hair or fur (bucktail, rabbit hair, etc.) as well as newer synthetic materials such as mylar and flash-a-boo.

In this video, Al Daher of Micky's Bait & Tackle (North Syracuse, NY) demonstrates the secrets to successfully tying hair jigs that catch fish ... 

 Enjoy and learn ..

Need components to modify baits or tie your own jigs? 

Check out the wide variety of bait making and modifying items available at Lure Parts Online by clicking on the following image!

Tricking Out Your Swim Jig

Some of the best tips are those providing a simple approach for creating innovative solutions to problems...

This video on "tricking out your swim jig" shows a very interesting method to modify a standard swim jig using the same technique we do when adding trailer hooks to spinnerbaits and buzzbaits but...

Rather than just adding a hook however, a blade and swivel is added letting you create your own spin jig from materials you have in your box...

Now that you have seen how to make your own swim jig spinner rig, you can adapt it to any jig or even a spinnerbait or chatterbait for that matter ;)

Fishing Grass Through the Seasons

When fishing a lake with significant amounts of aquatic vegetation, one question often springs to mind...

Are there certain seasons to concentrate on the grass and abandon them for other cover during other seasons?

While on some lakes that may be the case

Locating Bass from Spring Through Fall

Changing water temperatures and sunlight intensity/duration strongly influence environmental conditions present in all water bodies throughout the year. Since bass as well other game-fish are cold-blooded creatures, evolving environments result in changes to the habitats game-fish and their forage in response to the surrounding environment...

Just think about the changes occurring in your local fishing holes throughout the season. Vegetation growth explodes from spring until late summer then dies off as water temperature and sunlight steadily decreases as winter approaches...

Knowing how game-fish such as bass respond

Can You Power Fish With Jigs?

Lots of new anglers get confused when they hear terms thrown about; terms like finesse versus power fishing…

In reality these two approaches are polar opposites requiring different lures and presentations to be successful…

In the following video, B.A.S.S. Elite Series Pro, Mike “Ike” Iaconelli talks about the difference between the two and the types of presentations used by power fishermen…

Fast moving baits like big spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits are often associated with power fishing.

Ike also describes how big, heavy jigs can also be effective due to the fall rate and disturbance when ripped along the bottom!

According to Ike, I guess jigs are for power fishing too!

Catch More Bass Using Suspending Jerkbaits

Many bass fishermen have been throwing minnow baits for instance Rogues and XPS Minnows since their first days of bass fishing. Though initially designed as either a floating or sinking bass bait, many savvy angler almost instantly figured out a little adjustment to these jerkbaits produces a bait that can be more effectively fished at intervening depths.

Once tweaked, the enhanced jerkbaits would then either ascend much more slowly or sometimes suspend at depth (if they were fortunate enough to get the weight balance in-tune).

Even though the alteration gave an answer to the intervening depth suspension issue, it was less than a perfect solution. The modification process was conducted by trial and error. Often times the jerkbait was destroyed during adjustment. Usually a costly undertaking in time and money!

Are Suspending Minnow Baits That Special?

Tips on Casting From a Kayak

Fishing from a kayak offers all bass anglers a multitude of advantages over other types of fishing. It allows us to first get on the water, even onto water bodies larger rigs can’t get into. Fishing from low profile boats like kayaks, canoes, float tubes, etc., also allows us a stealthy approach to sensitive areas often enabling us to catch bass others miss…

Even with all the advantages kayak fishing provides, there is one area that becomes more difficult when either sitting or even standing in kayak (not to mention other small boats)… casting!

Considering the change to casting mechanics from the sitting position or potential interference issues from gear placement (tackle crates, other rods, etc.), casting from a kayak (or many other small boats) definitely takes some getting used too!

So why not take a moment to watch this video as kayak fishing pro, Chad Hoover provides some great tips to help solve any casting issues you may encounter on your next trip…

A Detailed Guide to Crankbait Fishing For Bass

A Detailed Guide to Crankbait Fishing For Bass
By Steven Vonbrandt

When it comes to fishing crankbaits, there are always a million questions, with just about as many answers. Some of the common questions of what kind, what colors, when and where to use them, are going to be answered in this guide. There will always be new products and new ideas that may or may not work, but hopefully the following guide will give you the answers to most of the questions that are constantly being asked by the beginner to the advanced angler.

“WHAT ARE CRANKBAITS?”

There are as many manufacturers of crankbaits as there are colors. Some of the more popular makers of crankbaits are Luhr Jensen, Mann’s,Bomber, Storm, Berkley, Bill Lewis, Rapala, Lucky Craft and Rebel. There are of course, many more, including hundreds of custom made crankbaits by individuals and smaller companies.

Crankbaits are minnow imitating lures, that float and/or

Fishing Transition Areas Using Swim Jigs

Anytime bass are moving from deep water to the shallows, they will stop at key transition areas like secondary points, rock piles or any type of wood along their path to feed…

Since these transitional bass are actively feeding during

In-Line Spinners for Smallmouth Bass

Do inline spinners still catch bass?

Watch how the InFishermanTV crew crush river smallmouth bass using an “oldie but goody”, the in-line spinner…

KVD On Springtime Jerkbait Retrieves

Anyone who knows anything about the World’s best bass angler, Mr. Kevin VanDam (the real KVD) knows the man loves to fish a jerkbait…

In this video, KVD provides tips on how to best work a jerkbait for early season, springtime bass…

Definitely some great pointers and well worth the time to watch!

Given the man's reputation with a jerkbait, I guess we should all pay attention!

How To Power Fish Swim Jigs

If a straight retrieve isn’t working when fishing a swim jig, think about this approach!

MLF Pro Randy Howell explains a different method for swimming jigs… power swimming!

Several great tips from Mr. Howell!

So... straight or pumping/pulsed retrieve when fishing a swim jigs?

That is the question 😌

Learning to Read Lake Maps

Just getting started bass fishing and confused about how to interpet lake contour maps (bathymetry maps)?

Looking for a few pointers to help decipher points from bars, points vs. secondary points or identify subsurface flats?

Take a moment and watch this short video by Matt Allen of Tactical Bassin' with many of those pointers...

Great intro-style video about how to read bottom features and pick out structures on a contoured lake map…

Don't you think?

Springtime is Soft Stickbait Time

Spring is coming and it will soon be time to start throwing one of my favorite baits, the soft stick bait!

To me, the versatility in rigging methods and retrieves used with the soft stickbait makes it one of the most effective baits throughout the season starting in early spring 🙂

As spring progresses, bass move shallower and shallower in search of the perfect mating spot often in close proximity to cover. The soft stickbait especially shines around cover since the bait can be rigged snagless and dropped right in front of their sometimes finicky noses…

Take a moment and watch how former Classic champ, Randy Howell uses the grand-daddy of all soft stickbaits, the Senko, to lure bass from their shallow-water haunts in this short video…

Do you have your soft stickbaits ready for the spring bite?

I know I do! 😎

Thoughts on Fishing Shoreline Lay-downs

Most bass anglers search the shoreline regions of the waterway being fished for prime surface cover potentially harboring the biggest bass in an area…

Personally, I get very excited each time I find a tree that has crashed from its former place on the bank sending the trunk and radiating array of branches into the depths creating a myriad of bass-holding ambush points beneath the surface!

Recently I came across a video from a well-known bass fishing celebrity, Bill Dance offering his approach for fishing fallen trees he finds in his favorite honey-holes.

Take a moment and watch this short video from BD and hear what he has to say…

Like Mr. Dance says, in our excitement to get hooked up quickly, we often fire our baits into the heart of the lay-down and probably miss many more bass catching opportunities around the outer edges and unseen deeper branches…

Targeting Big Bass in Small Waters

There are probably been more big bass taken from small bodies of water across the nation each year than most major reservoirs.

Though fishing principles are basically the same, there are several tips that can help target big bass in small waters as highlighted in the following video from Angling Edge…

So next time you head out to your favorite pond remember to consider the main forage bass and how bass position themselves to take advantage of their prey…

Adjusting your presentation accordingly will not only result in catching more bass, but bigger fish as well!

Fish the Neko Rig for Transitioning Spring Bass

One of the newest soft plastic bait rigs hitting the bass fishing scene like a storm is the Neko Rig!

Though many bass anglers consider the Neko Rig a deep-water presentation most suitable to summertime fishing situations, truth be old it's also very deadly during the winter to spring transition period!

Take a moment and watch this short video from the folks at Lucky Tackle Box detailing the ins and outs of Neko rig fishing for early spring bass...

This is definitely a presentation to try this spring when our favorite finny friends are making their ways to the shallows!

What do you think?

A Few Boat Dock Fishing Tips

Head to any developed lake in your area and one of the most common types of bass-holding cover you'll find... boat docks!

Each season I catch numerous bass of all sizes off boat docks and there are a few tips to keep in mind that helps identify the best biss hiding spots around many docks...

So take a moment and listen as long-time bass pro Denny Brauer explain how he identifies the "spot on the spot" when fishing boat docks!

Remember ... make note of the depth bass are using around each dock and look for visual clues on the dock for fish-holding cover like subsurface brush piles...

You'll be glad you did!

Fishing Spybaits for Bass

There are several times each season (post-spawn, summer, winter) when bass will gravitate to open water, suspend and enter a neutral to negative mood...

Sometimes swimming jigs, grubs, or small swimbaits through these lethargic bass will trigger strikes but other times standard presentations get ignored. In the past, Japanese bass anglers developed a new type of presentation using a slow-sinking dual prop baits with a very enticing motion when faced with tough conditions or highly pressured fish.

What's the technique you ask?

Spybaiting!

Take a moment and listen to pro angler Jacob Wheeler provide a detailed overview of the method and gear needed to effectively employ it...

A few take-aways...

• Use the appropriate type of rod, reel and line combo;
• Though a spybait may look like a topwater prop bait, it's slow sinking and meant to be worked on a slow steady retrieve most of the time;
• Remember to pick colors that "match the hatch" for the prevalent baitfish in your waters; &
• Don't be afraid to experiment with the bait in other situations (such as employing a faster retrieve across shallow flats.

Get ready and try fishing spybaits for bass this coming season to combat days when the bass are being excessively finicky!

Bottom Bouncing with Chatterbaits

Chatterbaits, A.K.A. bladed swim jigs, are probably best known as a cool water bait or one that is most effective when fishing around submerged vegetation…

When used around soft forms of cover, many if not most bass anglers employ a straight or pulsed retrieve in the upper to middle part of the water column. More sophisticated chatterbait anglers may also use a “slow-rolling” retrieve to work the bait through bottom cover…

But did you realize that fluttering or bottom bouncing a chatterbait off the bottom can be highly effective too?

Take a moment and listen to FLW pro Brian Latimer explain why a bottom fluttering retrieve is rapidly becoming one of his favorite presentations when fishing a chatterbait...

Definitely a new chatterbait presentation I will use the next time I am on the water … how about you?

Chatterbait or Spinnerbait?

Chatterbait or spinnerbait… That is the Question!

Take a moment and listen to Elite Series Pro Mike "Ike" Iaconelli's thoughts on the question...

In Ike's opinion it comes down to vibration or flash I guess...

Much of the time I have both tied on (or at least close at hand) and let the bass tell me the answer for that day and body of water!

Just saying... ;)

Tricking Out Your Soft Stickbait

I recently came across this video and decided to add it here for those who missed it when originally shared…

Take a moment as Mr. JD shows a method to “trick out” a Senko (though it could be used on any soft plastic stick bait)…

Definitely a pretty cool method to change-up a popular bait style bass see a lot of in most areas!

Oh and you might want to try doing both ends and rigging it wacky (my experience is that it works too ;) )

Buzzbait Tweaks When Bass Are Chasing Bait

Buzzbaits can be a great power fishing tool both for searching and catching bass throughout most of the year…

Though a few basic tweaks to the blade can often help catch more bass, there are a couple of specific tricks you can use to make your buzzbait more enticing when they are up chasing schools of baitfish!

Check out this short video by Mark Menendez and see how to apply these subtle changes to your buzzbaits…

Swimbaits, flukes, buzzing frogs, double-tail grubs and beavers are all excellent skirt replacements, dont you agree? :)

Using Jigs When Skipping Docks

Ask twenty bass anglers what their favorite baits are for any given situation and you’ll get thirty different answers

It’s no different when jawing about the best baits to skip under docks and other over-hangs…

In this video, Bass Pro Andy Montgomery describes his two favorite dock skipping baits…

I agree jigs are pretty good choices but I always have a soft, salted stickbaits rigged Texas-style as one of my top skipping baits…

How about you?

Crankbait Adjustments For Big Bass

Though today’s artificial baits are equipped with quality hardware, the hooks on most crankbaits can be upgraded to increase hook-up percentages…

In this video, B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Greg Vinson, gives the low down on how important it can be to swap out crankbait trebles when targeting big bass…

Upgrading hardware such as up-sizing plus switching the style of the hooks along with changing to heavier-duty split rings can make all the difference when battling big bass on a crankbaits!

Slow Rolling Spinnerbaits for Inactive Bass

Spinnerbaits can be one of the most versatile fishing lures in your tacklebox...

You can...

• Use them as a search bait on long casts using a medium to fast retrieve...
• Burn them with the blades periodically breaking the surface for schooling bass...
• Pitch them into cover using any retrieve appropriate for conditions...
• Use a yo-yo retrieve for suspending fish... and even
• Slow roll the bait working it along the bottom for lethargic or bass rooting the depths for a meal...

Though slow rolling is usually thought of as a winter or early spring presentation, truth is it can be effective whenever the fish are relating to bottom cover and structure...

In the following video, Bassmaster Elite Pro, Casey Ashley talks about his favorite approach to slow rolling spinnerbaits using a modified tandem blade bait;

One that is a tad different than mine since I typically use a single Colorado or Mag Willow for my slow roll lures...

Just something to think about :)

Think Squarebills for Shallow Bass

There is a school of thought in the bass fishing world stating that a decent percentage of the bass population in most waters lives around cover in shallow water. I know from extensive personal experience that most of the bass I catch from ice-out until ice-in were enticed from cover in less than 5 or 6 feet of water!

Though there are many baits used to fish shallow water cover, one of the best is the squarebill crankbait...

Unlike other shallow cranks with rounded lips, the design of the squarebill's lip allows it to contact different types of cover like rocks and branches and still deflect away from it rather than hanging. A definite advantage since many anglers will opt for other types of baits like spinnerbaits, weedless-rigged soft plastics and jigs. This means shallow bass hanging around those types of cover do not see as many crankbaits and maybe less gun shy when your bait suddenly bounces by...

Take a moment and watch the following short video where B.A.S.S. Elite Series pro, Randall Tharp discusses the basics of fishing squarebills around shallow cover...

A Unique Bass Fishing Vessel?

Ask many bass angler's about their feelings regarding jet-skis (A.K.A. personal watercraft or PWC) and the response is often less than favorable.

Though most PWC operators may be respectful of anglers, those that prefer to ride "too close" to our boats or fishing areas are the ones that tend to stick in our minds...

There is also a certain population of anglers that own/operate jet-skis for the enjoyment they get buzzing them across the waves! But what if there is an up-grade to your PWC that would allow you to take advantage of a hot bass bite while out running the waves on it?

It just so happens there is as pointed out via this great infographic presented by the folks at Fix.com!

Source: Fix.com Blog

Admittedly this isn't for everyone but if it "floats your boat", why not give it a try? :)

Winter to Spring Transitions of River Smallmouths

Many bass anglers living in the northern half of the country are starting to see the first signs of waning ice, mostly on rivers and streams. Since many of these water courses are smaller rivers, streams and creeks, they afford the small boat bass angler the perfect opportunity to get in the earliest shot at open water bassin’ for the new year.

Once on the river, the target species .. the feisty smallmouth bass!

Wintering smallies usually congregate in the deeper pools in their area, striving to find the calmest waters available. Once the winter to spring transition kicks into gear, those bass move to specific funnel points to feed in prep for the forthcoming spawn…

In this video, river smallie angler Jeff Little of Blue Ridge Kayak Fishingdescribes how smallmiouths respond to the transition taking positions to “put on the feed bag” before the spawning ritual takes hold…

Getting anxious to prep the boat and hit the water? I know I am

Quickly Make a Jig N Spin

Most bass anglers have a myriad of different jig-types in our tackle bags; one for almost every mood the bass might be in on any given day...

But there are times when bass get pretty finicky and want something entirely different from your normal jig presentation.

One off-beat presentation bass rarely see involves either working a swim jig or football jig through their respective depth zone with a jig n’ spinner combo… At times this can be a deadly presentation, especially on highly pressured waters or in colder months!

Trouble is, most bass anglers do not have a jig n’ spin in their jig arsenal but follow the tips in the following video and that situation can be remedied even before your buddy makes his next cast ;)

Enjoy!

Definitely a great mod to any jig but especially swim jigs...

IMHO at least!

Need jigs, blades, swivels or tubing to make your own jig spinners? 

Check out the wide variety of bait making and modifying items available at Lure Parts Online by clicking on the following image!