Pro Tips

Fine Tuning Crank Baits

I love to use crank baits year round when fishing for bass, so I have a few tips that definitely help with my bite to catch ratio. 

I always use a light wire hook. Hooks that are extremely light will penetrate with the slightest amount of pressure. When possible, I rotate the hooks with a pair of pliers about 30 degrees (all in the same direction). This exposes the super-sharp point and will help land the fish that swat or swing on the bait rather than inhales it.

Try these simple tips and I’m sure you’ll land more fish.

Small Crankbaits for Fall Fishing

In the fall I try to keep bait selection really simple. I use baits that closely mimic the size of the bait fish I’m following around. If the bait fish are a couple of inches long, and they usually are, this is a great time for small crankbaits.

In clear shallow water situations I use a Wally “G” crankbait in the Mouse or Wally Jr. series.  When fishing deeper water I’ll opt to through a C Flash crankbait in the 22 caliber series.

The above baits displace a lot of water with their wide wobble. The displaced water helps the bass locate the bait easier. They also have a really unique action, which allows anglers to throw the bait right into and around heavy cover such as lay-downs and stump areas.

Remember during the fall large fish stage in heavy cover in order to ambush their prey.

Hot New Trends

One of the hottest new successful trends on the Tour today is using swim baits as trailers. Brett Hite set the stage in Kissimmee FL this spring by using swim bait trailers on his chatter baits to absolutely blow the away the field in the first FLW Tour event. To say the least, the trend caught on fast.

Since then Tour anglers have been scrambling to try to figure out all of the different ways to use swim baits. I’m no different from the rest of the field, and have my own tricks of the trade. Reactions Innovations Little Dipper swim bait makes a perfect buzz bait trailer, so on my Lunker Lure buzz baits I rig a 3-inch swim bait trailer. This allows me to slow the bait down and do some amazing things with it. It also adds bulk for the bigger bite. Occasionally I use a 3-inch or larger swim bait trailer on my spinner baits.

Give it a try. I think you’ll be amazed with the results.

Check Out Power-Pole

As a new owner of the Power-Pole shallow water anchoring system I’m still experimenting with all the different benefits this system offers. Several aspects that I have found to be invaluable under all conditions are the systems flexibility, and ease of pinpoint boat positioning. I can find a key area, lower the pole, and spend more time focused on fishing instead fighting boat position with the trolling motor which is extremely important under windy conditions.

I use the Power-Pole not only to stop and stabilize my boat at the desired location, but to also slow the speed of my boat when fishing with the wind on windy days.

I can say without a doubt that this system has proved to be one of the most important pieces of equipment on my boat. I don’t know how I fished without it.

Fishing Jigs in Vegetation

Try to move away from traditional weedless baits and lighten-up. I often use a Lunker Lure
¼-oz Bodyloc finesse jig with a Fenwick Elite Tech-Strokin’ Special rod and 15-20-lb 100% fluorocarbon Trilene line. For maximum buoyancy, I’ll tip the jig with a large Sweet Beaver trailer.

Using a jig in vegetation is a great option because it normally reaches places that other baits can’t. The jig is obviously very weedless, which also allows for long casts into vegetation.

I retrieve my jig by bouncing it across the top of lily pads or weed mats. I use the rod tip to move the bait by “swimming” it back to the boat. If you get a blow-up or a missed bite, drop the jig into the nearest hole and hang-on for dear life!

Tips for Tough Bites

One thing is for sure, when the bite gets tough it really causes anglers to bear down and sharpen their mental skills and think outside the box. Under tough conditions anglers receive fewer bites, so refining techniques and equipment is an absolute must.

When I fish in tough conditions I become a perfectionist at what I’m doing. It’s absolute essential that the right line is matched with the correct rod and that the right hooks are used for the job. So many bites are missed, or fish are not landed, do to anglers not pairing the correct equipment together. It’s vital in tough conditions to always evaluate your equipment and make sure everything is operating in top notch condition.

Slowing down and scaling down is also very beneficial when the bite gets tough. Whether fishing a finesse worm on a Shaky Head with 6-lb line, or flipping a finesse jig into heavy cover with 100% fluorocarbon line, have everything dialed-in. Make sure that if given the opportunity fish are not lost. Instead, be prepared and capitalize on the situation.

It takes practice to slowdown and scale down, but it’s worth the rewards.

Baits Colors for Water Clarity

There are so many colors and color combinations on the market today that it’s hard to choose the right one for every water clarity situation.

Try to remember to buy baits that the fish will be able to detect. In clear water situations I use softer more natural tones such as watermelon, watermelon red, shad and green pumpkin. These colors look very natural, and they will not spook the fish like a bright color might.

In stained water I try several different colors, but I usually start by using green pumpkin. I also experiment with white and chartreuse when throwing spinner baits and crank baits.

In muddy water situations I move directly to white, chartreuse, red, red-orange and black blue colors. I also increase the size of my bait so I have more water displacement. This allows the fish to locate the bait by using its lateral lines and its sight.

Remember to use these basic guidelines for selecting bait color, but pay close attention when a strike occurs so that you can duplicate the area and the presentation

Confidence Baits

The most popular question that I get asked is, “what is your favorite bait or technique?” Over the years my answer has changed because I’ve come to realize that my favorite bait is the one that is working best for me on that particular day. The bait that is working best for me could be completely different for other anglers on the lake.

This has become my newfound philosophy because it is extremely important to fish confidence baits, and to be comfortable in the presentation and manner in which the bait is fished. All anglers have their favorite lures or “go to” baits as well as their favorite ways to present them. I’m not saying don’t experiment with new baits or techniques, but there is a time and place for fishing what you’re confident in.

A lot of factors play into confidence baits such as skill level and tackle assortment. The one thing that most successful anglers have in common is their proficiency with one or two particular baits because they enjoy fishing them, and have confidence in their effectiveness. For me it would have to be a Lunker Lure Triple Rattleback Jig and a Fenwick flipping stick.

So when an opportunity arises to spend the day fishing, and things aren’t going your way, don’t get all tied up or confused with baits and presentations, tie on your confidence bait and just go fishing.

Sometimes it’s best to prop your feet up, drag out your favorite lure and make the best of the day. It will help keep the stress level low, which is what the outdoor experience is intended to do.

Save a few dollars and practice line management.

With the price of line continuing to raise it’s critical to practice line management. The first thing I do after spooling fresh line is to document the pound test by adding a small piece of tape to the rod link. Carrying several different rods it’s easy to get confused and lose track of what is spooled on. This will help eliminate the problem of second guessing and unnecessary line waste.

To make your line last longer I highly recommend investing in line conditioner. While spooling fresh line add a little to the reel and continue to add it periodically while it’s on. Kevin VanDam’s line conditioner is awesome and it doesn’t compromise the line, but it does relax the line allowing for longer casts and longer usage.

Another little trick I use to help manage my line is to stretch it in the mornings before fishing. I hook the lure to my truck or boat cleat then back off about two cast distances. By applying straight line pressure and holding it for a few seconds the majority of kinks and coils will start to disappear. I repeat the process of reeling up and walking back at least three or four times. I know it takes time, but it will definitely help in the long run with casting accurately and line management in general.

Remember it is always important to practice conservation and not throw old line into the water, or leave it where wildlife can become tangled and possibly suffer and die. Be pro active and recycle line by finding a recycling center in your community, or sending it to Berkley Recycling Collection Center, 1900 18th Street, Spirit Lake, IA 51360-1099