Bass Fishing Techniques and How To's

[MotherNature]

Make your technique posts here. I will go first...

Texas Rig,

I like to use an improved clinch knot when I fish a texas rig. It seems to hlod much better than anyother knot that I know how to tie. Usually I use 17 pound test green Excel. Now that is here in louisiana and I really think that the line test depends on the fish you intend to catch and the water color as well as teh structure and cover that you are fishing. In deep clear water I would fish a lighter line. In theory it is so that the fish don't see it and they are not acred away by it. I like to think that the lighter the line the better I can feel the bite when
I get on.

You can use a texas rig in any water clarity or depth. The temperature seems to determine weather the bite will be agressive or slow. I think that my favorite cover to fish is the cypress trees. There are an infinite number of casts that can be made and the bass can hide deep down in the twisted roots of the trees. I am not the best with my aim so I have found that casting just past the base of the tree and pulling the bait up to the strike zone is the best way to get a bite. There are days when the bite will come almost at once and then on others they will only take it after a few minutes of sitting still.

The best rod that I have found to suit my fishing style is a 6'6" Medium Heavy rod. This gives me the ability to have a quick and strong hook set without the worry of how strong my arms are. The stiffer tip gives me the edge I need to hook the fish. I really don't think that the season is important and the texas rig isn't a seasonal bait like topwater or buzzbaits. It will work year around with an adjustment of color and weight.

Color is such a wide area. My favorite (go to) color is dirt. It just has somthing that seems to make the bass strike. There are times when you need a light color, when the sky is clear and there are no clouds is a good time to use blue or purple even possibly a green, it is also dependant on the water color as well. When there are clouds and the light is dim or the water is muddy you want to use a darker color. My largest bass on a texas rig is about 5 pounds, caught in California on the Oroville Afterbay.

Mother Nature

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Points for post - 10
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water depth, water color, structure, rod, season, color, biggest bass
Points not earned for: picture
Mike Noble
10/01/04
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[Mike]

Buzz Baits Oh YEAH!!!! Gotta love that heart stopping explosion or that quiet but deep swirl, both are just amazing to the adrenaline system of a body. I like throwing buzz baits anytime the water temp is above about 60 degrees, then all threw the summer and will quit throwing them when bass quit bitting them in the fall; usually around the 60 degree mark again. I like to rig it on a longer rod at least 6 1/2 ft with a lot of tip action, so that there is some give when a fish strikes helping to preventing a hook set that is too quick from pulling the bait away from the fish.  I always use a very heavy line with 17 pound being about the lightest I will go, and my favorite not is the NO KNOT (It's called that because if you miss one of the actions required to tie the not it will just fall apart and never cinch down, that way you always know it worked). I know several fisherman that will only use braided line when fishing a buzz bait but I disagree with that as there is no give in the line and that defeats the purpuse of the fast action tip on the rod. Thier rebuttle is that if you do not let the fish alarm you into setting the hook too soon you will get more penetration with your hook when you do set the hook.

I love to fish buzz baits around any (I do many any) type of cover, I probably have to favorite types though. I love to run a buzz bait over submerged hydrilla making sure to bring it over holes in the sub surface vegetation. I also love to fish standing timber, either pole timber or cypress trees. Cast past the timber and bring your buzz bait beside it close enough to cause the bait to hit the side of the timber. Sometimes even a slight pause when you contact the timber will produce the best strikes.

Favorite Season? Anytime the water is warm enough for them to like it. But the fall is by far the most productive, expecially after the shad have migrated to the backs of the coves and tributaries. At this time I like a white or chart and white skirt, but if I notice they are feeding on brim I will not hesitate to put on a green or purple skirt. I have played with blade color some but no definate results yet.

The biggest bass I have caught on a buzz bait is right about 5 pounds, I have personally netted fish larger than that and have heard numberous stories of bigger fish. A buzz bait is considered by most pro's as a big fish bait and they will use it to put a kicker fish in there sack. Don't be afraid to fish a buzz bait in the heat of the summer during the middle of the day, when you do this though make sure you are pulling your bait threw any shade pockets that you can find.

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Points for post - 9
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water temperature, structure, type of rod, season, color, size of biggest bass.
Points not earned - water depth, picture
Mike Noble
10/01/04
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[FisherMOM]

Fishing a Popper..

My favorite time of day to fish a popper is dusk.  The light is dim and the frogs are out in numbers... along with the mosquitos!  The water has always been clear and pretty warm, maybe 70ish.  I'm talking late summer.. pushing fall.  When the pond waters have warmed right up and life is good!

My best luck with a popper is in a semi weedy pond.  I like to pick an open spot in the weeds, and cast my popper there. The water at this point is usually the deepest at about, anywhere's from eight to ten feet. I let it sit until all of the ripples are gone from the water.  Then I give it a pop, then wait 10 seconds.  I give it another pop, and wait 10 more seconds.  Then I give it three pops and stop.  Usually I will get a bite after the first pop, but sometimes they need to be enticed.

Last summer I tied my poppers on with a IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT.  But this summer I didn't get the chance to fish with a popper.  If I did, I'd have used a PALOMAR KNOT.  I always used a 6.5 foot medium Ugly Stick with 8 pound test mono on it with great results!

As far as a popper color.... green.  The more it looks like a frog, the happier the bass seem.  My best fish was caught on a Pop-R, it was about 15 inches long and weight over 3 pounds.  Sounds like a fish tale right?  Well, I have a picture, and I did measure the fish.  Even measuring the fish using lengths of things in the picture... it still measures out to under 15 inches long..  and here she is, my most favorite - bucketmouth Bass!!!



I left the weeds on her to prove to my husband that you can catch bass in the weeds!

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Points for post - 11
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water depth, water color or temp, structure, rod, season, color of bait,
         biggest bass caught on bait, and picture.
Maximum points earned for this post.
Mike Noble
10/05/04
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[FisherMOM]

Fishing a Storm Wild Eye Shad... Spinnerbait Style.

The bass in my infamous pond, described above, just weren't biting.  The first time I used it was in the late afternoon to see if I could stir them up a bit.

I had my trusty medium weight Ugly Stick spooled with 8 pound test.  The weather outside was in the crisp 60's and the water was still warm... high 60's, pushing 70.  You could tell because the fish were warm when you pulled them from the pond.  The poor things had a tendency to wrap their fins around their bellies and shiver, until I put them back.  (OK, that part I made up!)

I took a Wild eye swim shad and attached it to a spinnerbait clip that came with one of my kids fishing rod sets.  I did this because the shad would snag all of the weeds as I tried to reel it in.  I figured this might solve that issue, and I was right.
Using the IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT that I had mastered over the summer, I tied it on!

I'd cast it as far as I could, close to the other side of the pond and let it sink into the clear water about 5 feet, then I'd start my retrieve with small jerks along the way.  If a bass didn't hit it on the way down, I usually got a bite before I had the lure back in my hands.  Sometimes I wouldn't even jerk it, I'd just rip it in about 3 feet under the surface.  Many times I could see the flash of the hit, and that always got me pumped up.  The bass that were in this pond weren't very big... with the exception of that behemoth of a bucketmouth I caught one time.

The biggest bass that I ever caught on this storm shad was 11.5 inches long.
My average bass in this pond was about 11.5 inches long, so I felt this was a nice testimony to these swim shads.  They are such a cool lure to watch in the water.



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Points for post - 8
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water depth, water color or temp, rod, biggest bass caught on bait,
          picture
Points not earned: structure, season, color of bait
Mike Noble
10/05/04
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[FisherMOM]

I discovered the best time to use a GULP! grub this year.  I was fishing in late June.  The water levels had dropped quite a bit due to lack of sufficient rains and the water was clear, but the weeds were everywhere.  The water temperature was about 60 degrees and 4 feet deep in the pond.  The bass were hiding out in the hydrilla.

I had been trying to fish using a Texas Rigged Senko, but it would just stay on top of the weeds.  If I weighted it, then it got stuck.  While throwing this worm, I did manage to find out where a nice bass was hiding, but after a missed shot with the worm, it had no interest any more.  That is when I decided to try a 3 inch chartruese Gulp! grub.

Because the weeds were so thick, I was using my 6.5 ft baitcaster spooled with 6lb. test Power Pro line.  I put the grub on a size 4 hook tied on with an improved clinch knot, and casted to the hole where this fish layed.  Now at the time, I wasn't sure if it was a carp or a bass because I was suprised I didn't hook up with the bass with the Senko.

The Bass took the grub seconds after it settled on the bottom of the pond.  I set the hook and fought the weeds to bring it in.  I managed to bring in a nice 16 inch bucketmouth bass.  Gotta love those BUCKETMOUTHS!



here is another angle of the same fish!!!




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Points for post - 11
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, rod, water depth, water color or temp, season, color of bait, structure, biggest bass, and picture
Maximum points earned for post
Mike Noble
10/05/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Spinnerbaits On all my baits I use a Palomar knot. Most of my spinnerbait fishing is done in 6' of water or less. Most recently I started waking a spinnerbait. For this you want clear - stained water and a trailer hook is a must. I've been using it instead of a buzzbait in the mornings, gives the fish a little something different and my hook to land ratio is better with a spinnerbait than a buzzbait. Summer through Fall is the best seasonal time. 20# line is my preference and Gambler Wakin' Bacon is my bait, 6.2 to 1 reel is definitely needed. Mostly its a early morning or late evening technique but if its windy and/or overcast, you can use it all day

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Points for post - 6
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water depth, water color or temperature, season
Points not earned for: rod, structure, color of bait, biggest bass on bait, picture
Mike Noble
10/09/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Tube Jigs I like the insert tube jigs by Hookerz in the 1/8 oz with the rattle built into the head. Put a Black Widow tube on it in colors Killer GP or Melon Berry, and you have a lethal combo. I use 8# Trilene XT(1000 yd) spool, I say the spool size since I use this on a spinning rod - it doesn't have much memory. I use a Kistler Wacky Worm Rod and a Quantum reel. My best fish on this rig is about 3 lbs.(bass that is, I caught a 10# channel cat on it- -don't count This rig is best fished around scattered cover and docks.

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Points for post: 6
Points earned for: participation, line, rod, structure, color of bait, biggest bass on bait
Points not earned for: knot, water depth, water color or temp, season, picture
Mike Noble
10/09/04
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[papa]

Well I really enjoy fishing a Frog. Lots of reasons first being that it is definitely a big Bass bait, second because of the obvious rush when a Bass disintegrates the cover around it to destroy the Bait, and perhaps because it is a very real opportunity to catch a large Bass in the middle of the day. Some structure and cover I like to fish are Grass beds, lily pads, brush tops and maybe my favorite are the little patches of grass Or any kind of cover around the edge of Cypress trees. Lots of times Bass will hang just under the edge of small patches of grass or pads around Cypress trees. I think most fishermen use a worm or jig to reach these fish and perhaps a spinner bait or even a Buzzbait, but I have found that dropping a Frog right on their heads will sometimes get that lethargic fish to explode out of anger or surprise. I don't worry too much about color so I just use a light color if the sun is shining and a dark color if it is overcast. Some may disagree with my line selection because of the theory that you need to give them a little leeway when you set the hook, but I use 80lb. braided line for all my frogs. Also some say that you need to feel the fish before you set the hook and I really hope that anyone fishing a Frog against me uses that method. I have found out that a Bass does not always pull against your line he MAY COME TOWARD YOU. I believe and I have proved to myself that you simply drop your rod gather slack and rip him, this takes all the guesswork out of the hook set. I also ALWAYS use a trailer hook yeah yeah I know the answer to that, but it fouls and just makes it hard to fish. well if you will use a SINGLE hook frog it does not create any problem, actually I use a trailer even if I am using a double hook frog but I do not mind a little fouling heck I am going to get fouled anyway , I am fishing slop. My Frog rod of choice is the Castaway East Texas Grass Rake, a 7 ft. pool cue, which with the 80 lb. braid will allow you to set the hook through the grass or pads and help you HOSS him out. Almost anytime is Frog time for me I have often caught bass in water around 50 degrees, I caught an 8 lber. on a frog in March a few years ago off of a bed, and my personal Big Bass a 10.3 was caught in 2 feet  on a 100 degree day at 2:00 p. m. but  of course it just gets better as the water warms and deep into the Fall. Water color is only marginally important, it does seem that clear to slightly stained water is more productive although I have caught Bass in dirt.
I use only the palomar knot for all of my fishing as I know that it will not slip and has double line through the hook eye and that gives me confidence. depth is not hard and fast as I have caught Bass as shallow as 12 inches and as deep as ten or more feet, I believe that if the structure and cover is there that a Frog will catch fish. When working a Frog over cover it all depends on how aggressive the fish are as to how you fish it , sometimes you have to keep it moving at a fast clip and sometimes You have to twitch and stop, twitch and stop it, I  let the bite tell me what cadence I need to use.

papa


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Points for post - 10
Points earned for: Participation, Knot, Line, Depth, color/temp, structure/cover, rod, Season, productive color, biggest bass
Points not earned for: photo
Mother Nature
10/12/04
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[FisherMOM]

Smallmouth Bass on a Panther Martin


I have only caught one smallmouth bass in my time.
It was on accident and on a size 2 black and gold Panther Martin in-line spinner.
The only knot that I knew at the time was the improved clinch knot.  That is definitely the most versatile knot that I know.

I was fishing the Ischua Creek in New York after a big rain.  The creek water was stained, yet in some places it was shallow and clear enough to see the carp feeding.  The water temperature had dropped a little because of the rains, to be at about 60 degrees.  The air was crisp and I remember wearing my flannel shirt over my tshirt.  For July, that's pretty cold.

I was carp/trout fishing on this particular summer morning in July and had given up on catching anything. It was about 9 am and I was teasing a big carp with a panther martin lure and my 4.5 foot ultralight spinning rod spooled with 4 pound test.  I was thinking, I need some excitement, maybe I can coax this carp into hitting that lure.  They say that actually carp eat the same things as trout. 

On my next cast into the creek, I was way off target.  The carp was in the shallows, but my lure had gone into the water that was now about 5 feet deep and a coffee color.  I was standing next to a HUGE tree that had fallen into the water and created  a calm area right next to a high current area.  My lure had landed in the current and I wanted it near the carp, so.... I started ripping the lure back to me so I could cast it out again and WHAM!  I thought that a huge trout had come from the bottom of the creek to slam my lure.  As it got closer I was confused as to what kind of a short stocky looking trout it was to be putting up such a fight.

I still had no clue what it was until I got it out of the water.  I was shocked!   I had no idea that smallies were in this water.
I think it was wandering because of the rising creek waters....
Best I remember, it was 9 inches long and full of spunk!  I kissed it and let it go after the picture.  It was the first fish of "new fish" on my "list of fish to catch this year".




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Points for post - 11
Points earned for: Participation, Knot, Line, Depth, color/temp, structure/cover, rod, Season, productive color, biggest bass, photo
Mother Nature
10/12/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Buzzbaits! I like the Accent B-1 in chart/wht 3/8 oz. For my depth, I like 5' or less with some type of emergent cover(grass,bushes,wood,rock) something for the blade to contact. I use a 6' med/heavy Kistler spinnerbait rod, Quantum 600 reel and 20# test with a palomar knot. I like to have a little wind and at least 55 degree water temp. Late spring thru late fall. My biggest fish on this bait is a 7 lber that I have mounted on my mantle. Extra tip: if the fish are seeing "a lot" of buzzbaits or you extremely clear water, take off the skirt and replace it with a tube(covering head and all). Always use a trailer hook!


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Points for post - 10
Points earned for: Participation, Knot, Line, Depth, color/temp, structure/cover, rod, Season, productive color, biggest bass
Points not earned for: photo
Mother Nature
10/12/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Floating worm - I like the Gambler Floating Worm in Bubble Gum/ Yellow on a 2/0 Hookerz J-Bend hook. I throw it with 15# mono(Berkley Big Game) Quantum 6.2 to 1 reel and a Med./Heavy Kistler rod. The heavier line tends to help keep the bait up and you tend to get hard strikes and big fish! I throw this mostly in the spring in clear water. This technique works well in water 5' or less for depth and really excels when worked thru grass(emergent to almost emergent). I usually use a twitch, twitch pause cadence but some times a steady cadence works better. I use a palomar knot and my best fish with this was a 6 lber



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Points for post - 10
Points earned for: Participation, Knot, Line, Depth, color/temp, structure/cover, rod, Season, productive color, biggest bass
Points not earned for: photo
Mother Nature
10/13/04
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[FisherMOM]

Fishing a Texas Rigged Soft Plastic Worm

My favorite way to fish a soft plastic worm in the spring is Texas Rigged.  There are a few ways you can rig them up.  My favorite way is weightless.

If I am fishing in clear water and a lot of weeds, I find I need strong line. I have lost quite a few nice bass as they break off in the muck and pond gunk that floats next to shore.  My preference is 20 pound test.  Right now I have 20 lb. test with 6 lb. diameter Power Pro on my 6.5 ft spinning rod, but Power Pro works better on a baitcaster.  To tie Power Pro on, the best knot to use is the Polomar Knot.

When Texas rigging a worm, I use either a #3 or a #2 hook.  It depends on the size of the worm.  After the hook is attached to the line, insert it into the flattest end of the worm about 1/8 inch and bring it back out the side.  Now flip the hook so it faces the worm and pull it to the eye.  The bend should just pop back out perfect but not pull back out of the worm.  now push the hook back into the worm, ususally, but not always, to the smooth area.  This makes it weedless.

I am an instant gratification worm fisher.  Everyone says says to fish worms S...l...o...w......  and I believe them.  The way I fish them is to throw them to where I have seen or suspect a bass or two to be, and let it sink to the bottom.
I wait a minute.. maybe.. and just reel it back in and try again!  THAT is how I fish them, but for the best, topnotch results, you are supposed to reel them in slow... slower than a snail crawls.   oh man, I just can't do it.

But I do catch bass MY WAY!!!  I'd probably catch even catch more if I fished them slow, but, well, I just can't 

these pics probably don't count, but here are many of my worm bass this season...
they always shake the worm off it seems because these worm bass have been great jumpers and shakers this season!




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Points for post: 7
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, season, color/temp of water, structure, rod
Points not earned for: water depth, color of bait, biggest bass on bait, picture
Mike Noble
10/13/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Rat-l-Traps On these I like a 6'6" Kistler Med. Action rod and a 6.2 to 1 Quantum reel. 15# Trilene Big Game and a palomar knot. I also take of the split ring that you usually tie to, as I always use Norman Speed Clips. Some other modifications that I use- up size the front treble(make it a red one.)and in the summer replace the rear treble with a feather treble. I like chrome/blue(most of the time), red in the spring and firetiger or chart if the sky is cloudy or the water is stained. For retrieves, I burn it "a lot" in the summer and tick the grass, I yo-yo it in deeper water ripping it out of the grass. Slow roll it in spring, ticking rock and grass. Its a good bait in spring, summer and fall. If the fish are seeing "a lot" of traps', throw a 3/4oz. If the fish are running smaller in size, throw a 1/4 oz(also works in real shallow water. But most of the time, 1/2 oz. Best fish 3 1/2 lbs. 8)Good luck!!

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Points for post - 9
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water color/temp, rod, structure, season, color of bait, biggest bass on bait
Points not earned for: water depth, picture
Mike Noble
10/17/04
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[FisherMOM]

FISHING A BUZZBAIT!

I have only had luck fishing a buzzbait in clear water that's about 70 degrees or warmer during the summer.  The best time for me to get a bass to strike has been either the morning or late afternoon to dusk.  When the sun is up high and hot, I swear bass tend to just relax.

WIth my 6.5 ft Ugly stick in hand I would head to the pond.  I'd tie on a black 1/8 oz. buzzbait with an improved clinch knot using 8 pound test.  That may be why the bass that I have caught were always small, but they were biting.

I like to stand at the pond, almost on a corner... (it's rectangle shaped pond)
and cast 45 degrees from where I am standing so that the buzzbait starts NEAR shore.  Usually I get a strike when it's about 5 feet out, sometimes sooner.
I also like to cast it towards the middle as well, on the edge of the hydrilla, so I can lure the bass from the weeds.  I tend to just tear it on in.  BUT, if the bass don't seem very interested, I wil let it sink about a foot under water, and then bring it in, gradually reeling faster so as to bring it back up to the surface.  Sometimes I like to add a red grub to the hook for a trailer.

I'd say my biggest bass with this technique was in the 10 inch range.  This pond didn't hold huge bass.. and the average bass was about 11 inches, but FAT!

here is a picture of a 10 inch bass with my famous
BLACK BUZZBAIT in it's mouth!



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Points for post - 10
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, water color/temp, rod, structure, season, color of bait, biggest bass on bait, picture
Points not earned for: water depth
Mike Noble
10/17/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Crankbaits The great search bait  8)For most of my crankin' , I like a 6' Kistler medium action, 12# line and a palomar knot. I also attach my cranks to the line with a Norman Speed Clip. I like this rig down to 8-9' then the only thing I change,for deeper water, is to 10# line and a 7' rod. I usually change the hooks on the baits, go up one size on the front(red). Try to contact whatever cover you are fishing, if there is none,throw a pause into your retrieve every three or four turns of the handle. Another tip: keep your rod tip to the side, if you miss a fish- you'll be less likely to have anything pierced Cranks are probably my favorite bait to fish and my best fish on one weighed 5.14lbs(in a tournament no less )Tight lines

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Points for post - 6
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, rod, water depth, biggest bass
Points not earned for: water color/temp, season, structure, color of bait, picture
Mike Noble
10/19/04
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[FisherMOM]

Fishing a Scum frog or mouse

Fishing a frog or mouse on TOP of the weeds or lily pads is quite a challenge, but when you DO catch a bass this way, it is very rewarding.  A bass will hit this type of presentation with no mercy what so ever!

You need to find a spot where the duckweed sits or it can even be a place that the hydrilla is so thick that it comes to the surface and your frog can scooch across the top of them.  The water in these areas can range from 2 feet to about 5 feet deep.

Bass will see the movement of the lure from underneath their cover and assume it is easy prey.  I prefer to go with a heavier line because of the muck you tend to get tangled in trying to haul your catch out.  I use my 6.5 ft medium ugly stick spooled with 12 pound test.  If I feel that the weeds are super heavy..I will string up some 20 pound test Power Pro.  I use a Polomar knot to secure a green weedless frog on.

The water temp is about 65 - 70 degrees during late summer and clear. The more shallow and still the water is though, the warmer it will tend to be.

Now we are ready to try to catch a bass.  Take the lure and cast it to the end of the mat... towards the middle of the pond (in my case).  JUMP the lure onto the mat and animate it.  jump it slowly back to you.  Sometimes, you can see the bass coming towards it because the mat move.  And sometimes, it's just a HUGE EXPLOSION that come from no where when it strikes.

This is the tricky part. Do NOT set the hook UNTIL you feel the WEIGHT of the fish.  Then reel that baby in.  Don't be alarmed by the way that you are shaking and by the speed of your heartbeat.  You will settle down in due time!

As far as my biggest basscaught  like this goes... um, well, I haven't been able to get the timing down to set the hook.  I always get so startled when a bass explodes that I rip it up too fast.  This year I never got the chance to fish a weedless frog.  Now it's getting too cold to fish them, so I will have to try again next year.

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Points for post - 9
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, rod, water depth, water color/temp, season, structure, color of bait
Points not earned for: biggest bass, picture
Mike Noble
10/19/04
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[HoosierAngler]

Drop Shot. For this technique , I like a 6'6" Kistler Wacky Worm rod and a Quantum PTi spinning reel spooled with 8# Trilene XT. 10'-30' water depth( summer time)I use an 1/8 oz drop shot weight down to 15' and 1/4 oz down to 30'. I like to use this on humps, ledges, bluff banks and points. For my baits, I've used Iovino worms 41/2" Fat Body in colors Oroville Special and Smallmouth Special. I nose hook the worms with a 1/0 Hookerz octopus hook. I drop it down, shake it a few times, move it a little and shake it again. To shake the bait without moving the weight, you must shake your rod tip with slack in your line, otherwise your moving the weight. My best fish on this is 2lbs.One more thing when you tie the hook on, make sure it faces up with a palomar knot.

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Points for post - 9
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, rod, water depth, season, structure, color of bait, biggest bass
Points not earned for: water color/temp, picture
Mike Noble
10/19/04
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[FisherMOM]

HOW TO FISH A PIG 'N JIG ~ MOM STYLE


I like to fish a pig 'n jig in the early fall when the bass are trying to find bigger meals to fatten up on.  The water is still usually about 65 degrees in the pond, as long as we have had a NORMAL summer.  I start out by tying on a 1/8 oz. chartruese jig to my 8 pound test line.  I have always used the improved clinch knot, but next time I will use a polomar knot.  The rod of choice is my 7 ft. Medium action Ugly Stick.

Now, I realize that they make pork baits that are easy to put on, but I have always used Uncle Josh® Pork Baits--Bait Frog in Green Pumpkin color.  Usually I use a small nail to pierce a hole through this mighty tough stuff.  If I make too much of a hole, then after I have the trailer attached to the jig, I use a small piece of plastic worm to keep it from falling off.

Once I am set up I look for a place in the pond where the water tends to be deepest, about 8 feet, slightly stained, and surrounded my hydrilla weeds making for a nice hole.  I cast my lure into the hole, yet close the the edge of the weeds.  Nine times out of ten, it get slammed on the way down.  But if not, I let it sit for 20 seconds or so then give it some gentle pops and let it fall back down.  I do this all through the hole.  They prefer to snatch it up while it is falling back down.  Sometimes it is only a tap - tap that you feel.  When you feel that, you need to set the hook.  Other times, it's as obvious as when they are hitting a spinnerbait.

The biggest bass that I ever caugh this way was the first bass that I ever caught this way.  It was a 12 inch Largemouth from a pond where 11 inches was average.

Here is the picture.. it's a bad picture, but you can see the rig...



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Points for post - 11
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, rod, water depth, water color/temp, season, structure, color of bait, biggest
     bass, picture
Maximum points for post
Mike Noble
10/19/04
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[bassguy2004]

I have to start this contest with a Jig and pig. I pitch it and flip it in to tulles and fish it around docks. If I know of under water structure such as humps or breaks I like to cast shallow and work the bait off the top of the break into deeper water. Shallow water meaning anywhere from the bank another words, cast on the bank and drag the jig into the  stained water like a crayfish would crawl into the water.
 I've had some great strikes in the springtime where the water temp was right around 60 degrees using that technique. I try to use a shade of green for the jig because the crayfish will be this color in the spring. Then working the bait slowly into deeper water, 10 to 15 foot range. After working the jig through rocks and stumps, I like to re-tie the 15lb low-vis line with a knot a friend of mine taught me which is the Crawford figure 8. I could fish jigs all day with the 6'6" medium heavy rod and the Quantum reel to back me up. The largest bass I caught with a jig has only been 4 lbs.

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Points for post - 10
Points earned for: participation, knot, line, rod, water depth, water color/temp, season, structure, color of bait, biggest bass
Points not earned for: picture
Mike Noble
10/19/04
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[bassguy2004]

Re: Bass Fishing Techniques and How To's