When Switching Lures Catches More Bass

So you've tied on your lucky crankbait, cast to your favorite spot, and...nothing. Minutes turn to hours, and the only thing tugging on your line is frustration. Sound familiar?

Here's the secret weapon you might be overlooking: adaptability.

Bass, like all creatures, are fickle. Their preferences shift throughout the day, influenced by changing light, water temperature, and even the mood of the moment. Sticking to one bait, no matter how "hot" it is, can leave you stuck in a bite-less rut.

There aren't to many anglers who have spent more time on the water chasing bass than TV bass fishing celebrity Jimmy Houston. Take a few minutes and watch as Jimmy explains his approach to changing baits throughout the day and put more bass in the boat...

Rigging Poop Style Baits

Poop style baits, also known as heavy baits or gravity baits, are a new and innovative category of bass fishing lures that have quickly gained popularity in recent years. 

These baits are designed to fall quickly through the water column and mimic the natural movement of crayfish, baitfish, and other small prey that bass love to eat.

There are a few different ways to rig poop style baits for bass fishing, but the most common and effective method is a weightless rig using a heavy duty EWG (extra wide gap) hook. EWG hooks are designed to penetrate the hard mouths of bass more easily, and they also provide a wider gap to accommodate the thicker bodies of poop style baits.

To rig a poop style bait weightless on an EWG hook, start by threading the hook through the lure's nose. Then, run the hook point out through the bottom of the bait, leaving about 1/4 inch of the hook shank exposed. Finally, bend the hook point back slightly to create a small barb.

Once your bait is rigged, you can fish it in a variety of ways. One popular method is to simply cast it out and let it fall to the bottom. Then, give it a few gentle shakes or twitches to get the attention of nearby bass. 

You can also rig a poop style bait on a jig head, which will allow you to swim it through the water column or hop it along the bottom, especially when fishing a crawfish bite.

A third way to fish a poop style bait is to use a technique called the "free rig." When you cast out a free rig, the weight will sink to the bottom first, followed by the bait. The bait will then float freely above the weight, which gives it a very natural and erratic movement. The free rig is a great way to fish poop style baits in areas with heavy cover, such as weed beds and fallen trees.

Want more details on these rigging methods and when to use them? 

Take a few minutes and watch the following video from the folks at Missile Baits on rigging their Bomba dense plastic bait…

Key Hack When Skipping Big Swimbaits Under Cover

You've heard the saying, "big baits, big bass" and there are many times when that definitely holds true. 

Over the last several years, more and more anglers are fishing big, pre-rigged swimbaits in hopes that they'll help prove out that very statement and one of the most popular pre-rigged swimbaits is Megabass' Magdraft...

Though often fished over grass covered flats and in areas with scattered cover, a simple hack can help turn the Magdraft into a deadly skipping bait for overhanging cover; definitely big bass territory!

Take a couple minutes and watch as bass pro Patrick Walters explains his simple Magdraft alteration that increases its effectiveness as a skipping tool when fishing docks and other overhanging cover...

Spoon Feeding Bass

One of the most popular lures used for fishing is the spoon and at times they are highly effective for catching bass too. Spoons come in different shapes and sizes, each designed to mimic different prey, work for specific presentations, and trigger strikes under different fishing situations. 

Below we explore the different types of spoons used for bass fishing and how to present them effectively.

Open Water Casting Spoons

Casting spoons are the most common type of spoon and are used to cover large areas fairly quickly. These spoons are often shaped like a teardrop or an oval with a cupped face and come in various sizes, colors, and weights. 

The cupped face of the spoon creates a wobbling action as it moves through the water mimicking a fleeing baitfish. The weight and compact design of the spoon enables long-distance casting and helps it sink to the desired depth quickly. 

Casting spoons work best in open water or around scattered cover like docks, rocks, weed lines, and drop-offs. They are also effective when fishing for suspended fish at varying depths in the water column by using the countdown method to get the spoon to the desired depth.

When using a casting spoon to fish for bass, it's important to select a spoon that matches the size of the baitfish in the area. A good rule of thumb is to choose a spoon that is around the same size as the baitfish the bass are feeding on especially when small baitfish are prevalent during the summer and early fall.

Once you have selected a spoon for current conditions, cast it out into the water, let it sink to desired depth, and start retrieving. This will create a wobbling action in the water that will attract the attention of bass. Use a steady, rhythmic motion to start the retrieve, varying the speed and action (twitching, pause n go, yo-yo) to imitate the movement of a baitfish.

Popular casting spoon models include Eppinger's Daredevle, Blue Fox Classic, Thomas Bouyant and Mepps Little Wolf plus many more!

Weedless Spoons

Weedless spoons are designed to be fished in and around vegetation without getting snagged. They often have a single hook that is protected by a weed guard or a wire arm that extends out from the lure. Weedless spoons are effective in areas with heavy cover and can be used to target bass hiding in weed beds like lily pad patches or around woody cover.

When fishing with a weedless spoon, cast it out into the vegetation and retrieve it back slowly, making sure to bump it along the edges of the weeds. You can also try pausing the retrieve periodically to allow the spoon to flutter down into any openings in the weeds, which can entice nearby bass to strike.

Popular weedless spoon models include Eppinger's Weedless Daredevle, Northland's Jaw Breaker, Heddon Moss Boss, Mepps Timber Doodle and the Johnson Silver Minnow...

Jigging Spoons

Keep the Bass Looking Up

Anytime you're fishing for pods of bass relating to deeper structure or cover, it's often important to present your lure in a manner that imitates their natural forage.

Unless the bass are actively feeding on a school of baitfish, they are usually positioned beneath the forage and will rise to the bait to feed. Therefore, if you keep your lure above the bass holding on deep cover, your success at triggering strikes usually increases significantly.

Take a few minutes and watch this short video from from the folks at Yum Baits where bass pro Jason Christie explains how and why he "keeps the bait over their heads" when fishing for bass holding in deeper water...

Using Soft Plastic Hellgrammite Baits for Bass

Soft plastic hellgrammite lures are a great choice for bass fishing since they mimic a natural prey of bass in many bodies of water. 

These lures are designed to look like the larval stage of a dobsonfly, a common insect found in many ponds, rivers and streams.

Several bait companies produce a version of soft plastic hellgrammites designed to mimic the appearance and movement of real hellgrammites.

Crazy Hick Peach Bugs

Some popular brands of soft plastic hellgrammite-like baits include:

• Crazy Hick Bait Peach Bug
• Case Plastics Hellgrammite
• Berkley Gulp Hellgrammite
• Nikko Hellgrammite
• Mister Twister TwisterMite
• Lunker City Hellgie
• Bass Pro Shops Hellgrammite

One of the benefits of using soft plastic hellgrammite lures is rigging versatility. Hellgrammite baits can be set-up on a variety of rigs, including on a Ned jighead, split shot, drop shot, finesse Neko rig, Carolina rig, or Texas rig. They can also be rigged as a trailer on a finesse jig allowing you to fish them in and around heavier cover where bass may be lurking.

Fishing Glide Baits for Spring Bass

A glide bait is a type of fishing lure that is designed to imitate the movement of a swimming baitfish. It typically has a long, slender body and a jointed construction that allows it to move in a side-to-side or "gliding" motion when retrieved.

Fishing glide baits effectively requires the right rod and reel combo. A 7-ft plus medium-heavy to heavy baitcasting rod paired with a matching baitcasting reel spooled with 12-20 lb test fluorocarbon line is recommended for fishing with glide baits of various sizes.

To fish a glide bait for bass in the spring, you'll want to focus on areas where bass are likely to be holding, such as near deep to shallow structure breaklines or around shallow cover. Start by casting the lure out and letting it sink to the desired depth, then begin a slow, steady retrieve.

As you retrieve the lure, use a combination of rod twitches and pauses to create an erratic, gliding action that mimics the movement of a wounded baitfish. This can often draw bass out from cover to show their location and even trigger strikes from hungry bass at times.

It's important to note that fishing a glide bait requires practice and patience, as it can take some time to get the right rhythm and timing down to pique a bass' interest. But with a bit of experimentation, you can often find great success using glide baits throughout the spring.

Bass pro Patrick Walter's relies on glide baits to produce some of the biggest bass he catches each spring. Take a moment and listen as Patrick discusses his techniques when fishing glide baits...

If you are new to glide baits and want to check out the different types of gear available for fishing glide and other large swimbaits, click on the following link to see the variety of hard-body swimbait gear available at Omnia Fishing:

Omnia's Hard-body Glide & Swimbait Gear Selection

Ultra-light Bass Fishing Fun

Ultra-light tackle is a popular choice for anglers who enjoy the challenge of light line bass fishing. 

This type of tackle set-up consists of 5.5 ft to 7 ft ultra-light power spinning rods and matching reels spooled with a 2 lb to 5 lb line and small baits for the ultimate in finesse presentations. 

Here are some of the reasons why using ultra-light tackle for bass fishing is a great option for bass anglers wanting to increase their versatility and skill level:

Increased sensitivity: Ultra-light tackle is designed to be lightweight and extremely sensitive, allowing anglers to feel even the lightest bite when fishing with timy baits. This increased sensitivity can be especially useful when fishing in highly pressured waters, where bass are very finicky and often extremely spooky.

Improved finesse: Ultra-light tackle provides anglers with more control and finesse when presenting very small baits. This allows for more precise tiny bait presentations, making it easier to imitate natural prey and trigger a strike from wary fish.

Natural presentation: By using ultra-light gear, anglers can present their bait or lure in a more natural manner. The small size and light weight of the tackle allows for a delicate presentations and subtle retrieves, which can imitate the movements of local forage, making it more attractive to bass.

More enjoyable fishing experience: Fishing with ultra-light tackle can be a more enjoyable experience for anglers. Because of the light weight and sensitivity of the gear, anglers are able to feel more connected to the fish and the water. This can result in a more relaxing and fulfilling fishing trip, especially on waters where smaller bass and panfish are plentiful.

Better opportunities for catch-and-release: By using ultra-light gear, anglers tend to handle the fish more carefully and minimize the stress on the fish during the catch-and-release process. This not only benefits the individual fish, but it can also help to preserve the overall health of the fishery for future generations of anglers.

Popular ultra light lures (1/32 oz to 3/16 oz weights) that are commonly used for bass fishing:

Rapala Ultra Light Minnow: This lure is a classic and is well-suited for bass fishing in clear or shallow water.

Panther Martin Spinner: This popular in-line spinner comes in a variety of sizes and is effective for catching a variety of fish, including bass.

Strike King Bitsy Minnow: The Bitsy Minnow is a small, but effective lure that is great for catching bass in shallow water.

Rebel Wee & Teeny Crawfish: These 1/5 to 1/10 oz lures mimic the appearance and movement of a crawfish, making it a great choice for bass fishing in streams and rivers.

Mepps Aglia Ultra Lite Spinner: This small spinner is perfect for ultra light fishing in streams and rivers. Its blade creates a flash that attracts fish, and its small size makes it perfect for catching bass and other panfish.

Heddon Teeny and Tiny Torpedo: Two great topwater lures that create a lot of surface commotion, which can attract bass that are feeding on the surface.

3"  & 4" Yamamoto Senko: This soft plastic bait is a popular choice for bass fishing because it is incredibly versatile and can be rigged in a variety of ways.

Johnson Beetle Spin: This lure is great for catching bass and other fish in shallow water. It features a bright spinner blade that attracts fish and a soft plastic grub that mimics a natural bait.

2" Mister Twister Grub: This lure combines the action of a jig with the appeal of a soft plastic bait, making it a great choice for bass fishing in deeper water.

Ultra-light tackle is a great option for those looking to improve their bass fishing experience. Combining increased tiny bait sensitivity, improved subtle presentations, longer battles, and more fun, it's no wonder that more and more anglers are making the switch to ultra-light tackle.

A Different Approah to Fishing Alabama Rigs

Have you ever seen a person on the water and it looked as if they were fishng a chandelier with swimbaits and blades hanging all over the place? 

Welcome to the world of fishing the castable umbrella rig, also known as an Alabama or A-rig!

My personal experience with this type of bait started decades ago when trolling a similar type of weighted, multi-baited wire-form rig (referred to as an umbrella rig) off the northeast coast for striped bass and bluefish.

Many years later, folks in the southland adapted a lighter, more easily castable version of of this rig (then referred to as the Alabama rig or A-rig) with paddletail swimbaits or grubs for all species of black bass. 

Most bass anglers use long rods with heavy action and high test braided line to offset the bulky nature of the rig.

On the other hand, bass aficionado Jimmy Houston has a simpler approach to fishing the Alabama rig that many new A-rig anglers might find beneficial!

Take a few minutes and watch as Jimmy explains his set-ups and basic approach to casting and fishing the A-rig for bass...

Skipping Tubes

Like many bass anglers, I love fishing shallow anytime I can successfully catch the bass living there. Since most shallow water bass are cover oriented, bass anglers often target bass hanging around docks, laydowns, anchored boats and overhanging brush. 

Whenever the available cover creates a canopy (docks, overhanging brush, pontoon boats, etc.) bass hide beneath, the ability to skip a bait back under that canopy is key to consistently catching bass living there. 

Though there are a number of baits and rigging methods that can be skipped under overhanging cover, a simple 3" to 4" tube is a great skipping bait that many bass living in those areas seldom see.

How Would You Approach This Fishing Situation?

I’m one of those people who not only loves to bass fish but is also thinking about it when I am not…

Anytime I pass a water body or see an image of one, I instantly start to think about the types of bass-holding cover and how I would go about fishing it…

I also like to prompt other land-locked anglers into analyzing potential fishing opportunities by sharing images of different cover situations by posting images of “fishy spots” via my Twitter feed.

Recently I posted the following image of a pad-field, dock and shoreline brush in fairly shallow water ( < 5 feet) with the question…

What would you be throwing?

Several of my Twitter followers decided to chime in and here’s a look at the baits and presentations they suggested…

Ryan @clark300… swimbait on the edges and in thinner veg, Koppers Livetarget frog on the rest.

chance weaver @GHdreamweaver… flip a horny toad or a Spro frog with about 30 pound braid

Belmonte Bassin @BelmonteBassin… I’d flip a rage tail hawg with a slither jig weight and skirt

thomas jordan @bigmumbles52… I would throw a frog with thirty pound braid

Caden August @Caden_16… top water

Alvin Hatley @rebalal98… pic.twitter.com/lqKkz0XbEY (image of soft-body popping frog) & but in a brite pink, yellow, or orange pic.twitter.com/WlEjesOFPA (wacky rigged stick bait)

Mr Cricket @mund… without a doubt a Spro frog…

bryan stuart @BASHEM1… a buzz frog in the edge and Texas rigged plastic or jig in the heavy stuff

Mike @gtrmke… frogs!!!

Mark Easterling @lapbass … Big topwaters into openings and along edges!

Fish Catchmore @Catch_more_fish… KVD hollow body frog, white belly.

Tyler Crawford @NotoriousMTC… Stanley ribbit, spinnerbait, or a rage tail eeliminator

Looks like the most popular bait named was some type of frog with jigs coming in second…

Given the dominance of pads in the image I guess that’s not surprise 

How would I approach the area you ask?

• Wacky & Texas-rigged weightless stick bait (casting edges, openings and skipping)
• Chatterbait w/ swimbait trailer (casting edges, openings and pitching)
• Texas-rigged tube (casting edges, openings and pitching)
• Buzzbait (casting edges and openings)
• Shallow running crankbait (casting edges and openings)

Each to their own I guess 

Are Plopping-Style Topwaters Just Summertime Baits?

Ever since the introduction of River2Sea's Whopper Plopper, the popularity of plopping style topwaters skyrocketed. 

Though nothing is more exciting than a bass exploding on a topwater, the action of plopping topwaters draws some of the most eruptive blow-ups many anglers experience elevating the thrill to new heights!

One issue many anglers have with this type of topwater is the misbelief that they are only effective during the warmest months of the year. 

Truth be told, if the bass are up in the shallows searching for something to eat, plopping topwaters like the WP or Berkley Choppo can still trigger some fantastic topwater action throughout the year.

Take a moment and listen as MLF pro Gary Klein describes how he fishes the Choppo for year-round bass catching success:

Looking to add a few plopping or prop baits to your topwater arsenal?

Check out the variety offered by the folks at Omnia Fishing by clicking on the following link:

Great Plopping & Prop Bait Selection

Best Bass Baits When Fishing Dirty Water

During each fishing season, bass anglers encounter bass relating to shallow cover when the water is dark and heavily stained. 

The question is what baits do you rig up to draw strikes from bass under these conditions?

Take a few moments and listen as MLF bass pro Cliff Crochet talks about his favorite baits when trying to trick bass holding in shallow, dirty water...

Two additional topwater baits I would add to Cliff's favorites are a buzzbait and a plopper-style topwater such as the Whopper Plopper (#110) or similar sized Berkley Choppo. 

I always love the shot at a great topwater strike no matter what the water color...

Hook Sets Are Free

Forty-some years ago I had the pleasure to watch a documentary film created by legendary underwater videographer Glen Lau on the life cycle of the largemouth bass ... "Bigmouth". 

Though there were many informative clips throughout the film, one of the most memorable was watching another legend in the outdoor sports world, Homer Circle work his double treble hook crankbait by some logs holding huge bass and entice a strike...

Enticing a strike from a huge bass was cool but what happened next became etched in my mind since I first witnessed it as shown in this short video excerpt...

Tough Bite? Try Inline Spinners

 Thinking back to those early days when just starting to fish, I clearly remember the first two lures added to my fledgling bait collection in my single tray: a red and white Daredevil spoon and #2 Mepps in-line spinner.  Though both lures are fairly versatile, it was the in-line spinner that has remained a staple part of my angling repertoire ever since!

A Bass Fishing Standard Through the Years …

Dating back to the early part of the 20th Century, the Mepps version of the in-line spinner really grew into favor shortly after the end of World War II here in the U.S.

Comprised of a single French or willow-shaped blade that is attached by a clevis to a straight wire shaft with weighted brass bodies and plain or dressed treble, the in-line spinner comes in a variety of sizes and styles enhancing its versatility.

The four Mepps varieties typically found in my tackle box today include:

• Aglia with plain and dressed trebles in sizes #1 through #4;
• Aglia Long Minnow in sizes #1 through #3;
• Comet Minnow in sizes #2 and #3; and
• Black Fury in sizes #1 through #4.

My personal choice for rod, reel and line combination when fishing inline spinners include either 6 or 6.5 foot, medium-light action, spinning rod with a 2000/2500 series reel and fairly light monofilament line ranging from 4 to 8 pound test.

Rapala Original Floating Minnow: Simply Bass Catching Magic

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…

When to Use a Trailer Hook

Bass anglers love to use buzzbaits and spinnerbaits because the not only catch lots of bass but often times larger fish as well

One problem with wired-frame baits like these, bass frequently short strike the bait missing the hook thereby frustrating many buzzbait and spinnerbait anglers.

Is there a way to increase the hook-up ratio with these baits?

You betcha! 

By simply adding a trailer hook in a manner so not to impede any soft plastic trailer on the bait as bass pro James Niggemeyer explains in this how-to video...

What Is the Floating Free Rig?

The floating free rig? 

Heck what is the free rig?

The "free rig" is a soft bait presentation reportedly developed/used extensively on pressured waters in Japan or Korea and assembled using four components: hook, line, sinker and soft plastic bait:

A close look of the photo above shows how the line is threaded through the open, round eye of a specialized drop shot weight (or like you wound find on your run of the mill bass casting sinker), tied onto the hook and then whatever soft plastic bait is added. 

Though you may think ... why not just used a weighted Texas rig? 

This set-up actually allows the line to move more freely, with less resistance than when running through a bullet weight. Therefore the weight travels faster and more vertically to bottom giving the bait a unique way of descending through the water column.

So how does the floating free rig differ?

It involves a few more components giving the presentation even more unique twists as bass pro Mike "Ike" Iaconelli describes in this next "how to" video...

Think I'm going to try these little rigs this coming season!

Fading Bait Finishes for More Bass

Doesn't it feel great when you get a new bait, take it from the package and admire that nice, bright natural finish produced by the manufacturer.

Did you ever wonder if that nice bright finish actually works or times when it works against us catching bass?

Possibly, especially when the bass and bait they're following are in cold water, move shallow from deeper water or exist in muddy water conditions. Fish exposed to those conditions tend to have color and marking patterns washed out and muted.

I've known old timers that used to leave duplicates of baits on the dashboard of their vehicles for several days and let the Sun "fade out" the original bright manufactured finish to mimic that effect. 

On the other hand, bass pro Gerald "G-man" Swindle has a quicker method has he describes in the video below!

Bass Lure Selection Simplified

Every now and then I stumbled across a pretty cool article related to bass fishing tackle and gear and like to bookmark it for future reference.

Though I could just bookmark it in the browser, I thought this article was worth making available via the Bass Fishing Tips n Tales site so others could reference it as well...

 The article provides an overview of lure selection based on the position in the water column (top, mid, bottom)...

 Following are the graphic images from the article... Just click on any of them to re-direct back to the original publication...

Source: Fix.com