Breaking Down Shallow Cover

Imagine if you will...

You are out on a quick late afternoon fishing trip; pull into a good looking cove that is loaded with shallow water cover.

Big question... how do you breakdown the different types of cover to increase your efficiency and start catching bass quickly?

Take a moment a watch as bass pro Patrick Walters explains his approach when fishing an area rich in shallow water cover...

Looking for cover elements that are unique such as points & cuts, isolated weed patches, bushes, stumps; docks with other types of cover all makes sense and great things to keep in mind during your next trip!

Different Frogs for Different Conditions

Just about every bass angler loves the thrill they get when seeing a bass rise from the depths and explode on a hollow bellied frog being worked over and through grass and pad fields. 

Although the thought of picking up the frog rod is instantaneous when fishing vegetation, there are other situations where hollow bodied frogs will work as well.

Many lure manufacturer's have developed a variety of hollow bodied frog styles to optimize success depending on the conditions encountered throughout a day on the water.

The folks from American Baitworks have created and enhanced their Scum Frog line-up to meet the needs of frog fishing enthusiasts everywhere as they explain in the following video:

The Scum Frog line-up has some pretty interesting choices including kicking frogs, specialized colored frogs and even weight-enhanced frogs for extra casting distance.

Want to see more?

Click on the following link to see the different hollow body bait options available in the Scum Frog line-up:

Scum Frog Choices

Drop-Shotting for Post Spawn Bass

A favorite bass fishing tip for post spawn bass is to use a rig many anglers overlook, drop-shotting soft plastics along edge of drop-offs. 

Drop-shot rigs are far more versatile than many bass fishermen believe but drop-shotting the shallow to deep water transition edges will produce quality post spawn females looking for an easy meal.

In the following video, Angling Edge’s Al Lindner describes just how and where to use this style of presentation when searching for a post spawn sow …

Heat Shrink Tubing Wacky Rig Hack

There is little doubt that wacky rigs are one of the more popular presentations for soft stickbaits like the Yamamoto Senko in the recent past. Typically when setting up the wacky rig, the hook is placed through bait around the mid-point of the worm such that it is perpendicular to its length.

One problem with rigging the hook directly through the bait; the hook and line (since the bait tends to ride up the line on the hook set) tears through the bait when reeling the fish in. Far to often this means we only catch one or two fish per bait which can get costly on a good day of catching!

Over the years, several hacks have been developed to help extend the life of the bait when wacky rigging including the use of o-rings and silicone tubing in the area of the bait where the hook penetrates.

Recently I found an interesting wacky rig hack by bass pro Jacob Wall where he uses heat shrink tubing to catch more fish/bait in a rather unique way which he describes in the following video...

Looks interesting and it might be time to check out these kits at my local Harbor Freight store 😎

If interested you can check the kit out via the following link:

Harbor Freight Heat Shrink Tubing Kit Link

Have fun and good luck!

Waking Up Bass

Did you ever encounter a day on the water and you felt like it was time to "wake up" the bass? 

Now I don't mean those days when it seems the bass need an alarm clock to get them going but situations where the bass are holding in submerged cover (grass, brush, etc.) and show signs of surface activity!

Though there are a number of different topwaters that may work, retrieving a wake bait with its wide wobbling motion and clicking of internal and external hardware is often the key to drawing bass up from their submerged haunts to explode on the bait...

Want to learn more about drawing bass to the surface to slam a wake bait? 

Take a moment to watch this short tutorial video on fishing wake baits over shallow, submerged cover:

In the previous video they demonstrate wake baiting using a fat-body crankbait style of lure. 

In addition, there are several different body styles available to bass anglers today including one of oldest, the Arbogast Jitterbug, shad shaped wake baits like the 6th Sense Speed Wake and rat-shaped versions like the Bull Shad Bull Rat!

Check out these and other wake bait options by clicking on the link if interested in seeing more!

Wake Bait Selection

Tips for Fishing Hollow-belly Frogs in the Wind

Every bass angler loves the action when a big ole bass explodes on top to engulf a frog. There are fewer bass strikes that get the blood flowing and excitement rising as quickly as a frog bite.

Though most of us love fishing frogs, we're all faced with a big challenge anytime the winds blows since a majority of hollow-belly frogs tend to ride high on top of the water and can be knocked around by sudden wind gusts.

One way to overcome this issue... add a little weight to your frog to help it ride lower in the water and make casting into the wind easier. 

Take a moment and watch as the folks from W2F provide a pretty cool method for adding weight to frogs using a nail weight and heat shrink wrap...

Pretty cool but it seems a little piece of electrical tape might work as well.

Need to add a few frogs to your arsenal? 

Check out this variety if you do!

Hollow-belly Frog Options

Sight Fishing with Soft Stickbaits

Ever since the Senko was introduced by Gary Yamamoto many years ago, bass anglers quickly learned that it may be one of the bet bass catching baits of all times.

Combining the seductive nature of its descent through the water column with the many ways it can be rigged and fished, the Senko (as well as many other soft stickbait knock-offs) has become a staple in almost every bass angler's tackle box.

Personally, I have a Senko or other soft stickbait rigged from the time the ice leaves our waters until they freeze again in the late fall. They really are that good!

Beyond its year-round versatility, the Senko also makes a great bait when sight fishing for bass as bass pro Kelly Jordan describes in this informative fishing video...

Do you need to restock or add more Senkos or other soft stickbaits to your stash?

Check out the variety of Senkos and other soft stickbaits available from the folks at Omnia fishing by clicking on the following text link!

Soft Stickbaits @ Omnia Fishing

Tight lines and full live-wells!

Fishing the Shaky Head for Spawning Bass

There are many bait options when fishing for spawning bass but one of the simplest and often productive is a simple shaky head jig.

There's little doubt that the old jig n worm works for bedding bass especially when using some of the tips Zman pro Brian Latimer provides in this W2F video...

Working Laydowns with Swim Jigs

Shoreline laydowns offed fish of all types not only a place of refuge but also points of ambush especially for gamefish like bass.

Though many lures can be used to fish laydowns, a swim jig can be a highly effective tool since it imitates different types of forage, is extremely snag-proof and can be fished with a variety of retrieves including dead-sticking when necessary.

Want to learn more about fishing a swim jig in laydowns?

Watch this video from the W2F folks and learn why swim jigs are such effective tools when fishing laydowns

Does Bed Fishing Impact Bass?

Here we are, smack dab in the heart of the spring bass fishing season and many are getting ready to face a sometimes highly debated question:

Does bed fishing for bass impact populations and survival?

Ask 100 bass anglers this question and you’ll likely get an equal number of respondents with either a Yes or No viewpoint.

Though many anglers are eager to express their opinion, truth be known, most have no scientific basis to support their position.

Based on a recent study by fisheries researchers at the FWRI, the answer may very well be … no it does not … well at least in Florida anyway.  During their study the FWRI research group found no evidence that catching bass during the spawn depleted bass populations. Another group from the University of Florida summarized several recent studies that indicate more mixed results via their report; Bed Fishing for Florida Bass.

Admitting there may be cases in more vulnerable waters where different results may be experienced, the Florida group is teaming with another research group at the Illinois Natural History Survey to expand the study.  During the next phase of the study, bass will be caught from two lakes in Florida and four Canadian Shield lakes to assess possible impacts.

If the results are the same on waters in both areas (one where high growth rates exist (Florida) and the other far more sensitive (shorter growing seasons, etc.) this may cause many regulatory officials to rethink their positions on fishing during the spawn …

We may finally have scientific data to answer the question.

Does bed fishing impact bass population?

What the Heck Is an Inurig?

One of the most hyped plastic worm rigs in the recent past is yet another rigging technique/presentation from overseas... the Inurig!

Touted as being the most life-like plastic worm presentation around, I decided to check it out and see what I thought.

Here's a video from bass pro Matt Stefan describing his experience with the Inurig...

After watching Matt's video as well as a few other "in the water" presentations as well, I admit it does a pretty good job of mimicking a nightcrawler as it sinks in through the water column...

That said, is it really worth all the extra rigging hassle especially since most of the time when presenting plastic worms we're not even trying to imitate a worm?

I'm not so sure about that and doubt I would ever use it on a regular basis but...

I guess you never say never 😏

Best Fishing Spots When Bite Is Tough

You finally have a chance to get out on the water and a major cold front has passed. 

Bright, blue skies, blustery winds all indicating the bite is likely to be a tough one.

What types of cover or structure likely hold the most cooperative bass?

Take a moment and listen to what the bass pros target when they face tough bite conditions...

Intro to Fishing Deep Crankbaits

As the bass spawn winds down in your area, many bass begin their transitions back to their deep-water homes such as ledges, deep ends of points, deep weed beds, rock piles, etc. 

When these structure-oriented bass are active and feeding on either schools of baitfish or bottom-scurrying crawfish, power fishing deep water crankbaits is often a great presentation for triggering these green denizens of the deep into striking.

Take a moment and listen to Spro bass pro John Crews' tutorial on the basics of deep water cranking regarding this potentially deadly bass-catching technique:

And remember what John mentions during the video, the information he presents can be applied when deep cranking a variety of different depth ranges or to different companies deep crankbait models!

What Is the Tiny Child Rig?

When I first heard the term "tiny child rig" I envisioned a snoopy closed face combo with a bobber, hook and nightcrawler not a finesse bassin' rig that looks more like an upside-down Ned or screwed up Neko rig!

No matter what it looks like, most bass anglers who fish the tiny child rig agree it can be a fish catching machine especially on highly pressured lakes.

Take a few moments as bass fishing enthusiast Steve Rogers describes the tiny child rig and when to fish it...

Plan Your Strategy For Spawning Bass

It’s springtime (or so the calendar says  )…

That time of year for bass and other gamefish to move shallow as the prepare to re-produce…

Though staging bass can often be fairly easy to catch, spawning fish, especially largemouths often present a challenge to the bed fisherman…

Even though some bedding bass maybe stubborn, understanding the signals they provide as they cruise around the nest area and the lure presentations required to make them strike is key to success…

In the following video, the folks at Lake Fork Tackle provide some really great insight into deciphering the spawning bass’ attitude and lures to help invoke the strike…

Best Baits for Spawning Bass

The bass spawn...

A time when bass anglers can be rewarded with their biggest catch of the year or a time of extreme frustration when trying to decipher how to get the bass to strike.

Though the word spawn my trigger visions of big bass sitting on their beds, in reality many of the bass are still fairly mobile and can often be caught on a variety of presentations. 

Take a moment and listen as bass pro Greg Hackney discusses in this video giving his thoughts on the best bass spawn baits!

Though several of his selections aren't surprising, a few definitely were to me 😎

Subtle Presentation for Post Spawn Bass

Once bass finish spawning, they'll often move to dense shoreline cover to recoup and gear-up for the post spawn feed. Give the wary nature of post spawn bass, even the slightest change in the environment will send them into deep funk and they become very lethargic.

It often takes a slow, subtle presentation to get the attention of funky post spawners and a weedless swimbait with a twist maybe just the trigger need to coax these stubborn fish into striking...

Take a moment and watch how the guys from W2F trigger strikes from funky post spawn bass holding in dense shoreline cover...

Use a Creme Scoundrel for Shallow Bass

Still looking for new approaches to catch shallow bass during the spring?  Here is another technique to help put reluctant bass into the boat!

The method involves using an “oldie but goodie” bass bait that many bedding bass find irresistible … Creme Lure’s Scoundrel plastic worm in their “Live Color” pattern. Creme’s Scoundrel worm has been on the market since 1949 and still produces fish when other baits fail.

As a matter of fact, the “Live Color” Scoundrel was one of the first plastic worms I fished dating back to … well let’s just say more than a couple of years  …

Though I often switched between this worm and Mann’s Jelly Worms, I almost always fished the Scoundrel when fishing for bass in the shallows throughout the spring.

Most of the time, I opted for the 6″ Scoundrel in the “Live Color” pattern rigging it one of five different ways depending on the mood of the bass:

1. A weightless Texas Rig
2. A weightless Wacky Rig
3. Texas Rig with a 1/16 oz. or 1/32 oz. bullet weight
4. A light (1/16 oz. or 1/32 oz.) jighead or
5. A split shot rig.

Once the rig was selected, the two weightless rigs along with the weighted Texas rig were fished slowly, sometimes literally dragging the bait across the shallow flats and the split shot and jighead rigs were usually fished somewhat faster.  

Always remember, experimenting with the retrieve helps identify the presentation preferred by the bass under prevailing conditions.

So the next time you hear out during the spring, be sure you pack a few “Live Color” Creme Scoundrels to help entice those reluctant bedding largemouths …

Time for Big Bass: May’s Moon Phases, Spawn and Astro Tables

It’s the time of year when many fishermen will seek big bass as all members of the bass family move to the banks to spawn around the major moon phases during May.  

The astute bass angler will pay close attention to the major and minor activity periods by studying the alignment of celestial bodies compiled on astro charts or solunar tables for bass fishing.

In the following video, Doug Hannon, ESPN’s Bass Professor, (R.I.P. sir) explains the importance of the moon phases on fish and wildlife activity levels, especially big bass:

Next I have listed several links to solunar-based fishing time sites for your reference …

Bassmaster Fishing Calendars

InFisherman Best Fishing Times

US Primetimes Solunar Charts

Fish & Game Forecast by Yamaha

Good luck and have a great big bass season this year!

Tips for Fishing Finesse Jerkbaits

When the water is chilled and a cold front passes, even the reliable 110 size jerkbait can stop triggering bass into striking. 

It's not that the bass won't hit a jerkbait under those conditions, it just takes a few adjustments to entice chilled bass back into the biting mood.

Take a moment and watch as the guys from W2F explain their tips when fishing jerkbaits for lethargic, post front bass...

So the next time you're faced with chilled, lethargic bass try downsizing the bait, using more natural color patterns, slow the cadence and match the rod combo to the size bait you're throwing!