Bass Fishing: Lures That Worked in 2016

Video of a Crazy Catch

Review of Strike King Bitsy Tube

When most people think of tubes, they think of Arkie tubes.  Those are geared to catch crappie.  They also catch bass.  They're a great product.

That said, the bass you will catch on a smaller tube aren't usually huge.  Another downside is that you'll hook up with a lot of sunfish.  If bass are the target, this gets frustrating.

The simple solution is to upgrade to the Bitsy tube by Strike King.  They are large enough to eliminate hookups with all but the biggest sunfish.  They attract bigger bass as well.

I have it rigged on a 1/4 oz jig head.  There's enough weight to cast and retrieve or to jig.  It's a very versatile setup.

The results speak for themselves.

They also work at night.

Here are some nice bass I've landed with them.

If you're going to hook up with a shell cracker on one of these, it's going to be big!

These tubes generate bites, even in hot weather.  They get five out of five stars from me!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All fish pictured were released unharmed.  Tight lines!!

Berkley Power Bait Chigger Craw Review

First, I'll give you a look at the weapon.  And yes, I said WEAPON.  That's really the only way to describe a lure that works THIS WELL!

The bass hit these quickly and FURIOUSLY!!  Here's the photo evidence.

Even the sunfish like it!  Lol!

Here are some more bass we caught with it.

As you saw in the very first pic, the setup on these is very simple.  I use a 2/0 offset worm hook and rig them Texas style.  All fish were released unharmed.

Tight lines!!

How to Catch Bass at Night

Bass are known for their excellent sight and for using that sight as the basis for predatory activities.  So a lot of people overlook the possibility that they can be caught at night.  Do this, and you'll miss good fishing opportunities.

Much like people, bass rely on more than one sense.  When visualizing a target is not an option, predatory fish rely on two things:  location and water displacement.

Let's look at location first.  At night, bass put the odds in their favor by pushing baitfish up against objects.  Retaining walls are a favorite.

Once you find a retaining wall (the marina probably has one), I recommend using a swim bait with a bullet weight.

I'm particularly fond of the three inch Berkley Swim Shad because they have a vibrating tail.  That displaces water and gets the bass' attention.  As you can see from the pics above and below, there are many design options.

Once you have your retaining wall, let the lure drop to the bottom at arm's length from the wall.  Then lift the lure just off the bottom.  Now you will simply want to walk along the retaining wall (which will be a sidewalk if you're in front of the marina), and pull the lure along.

I call this "walking the dog."  It will cause the swimbait to swim horizontally and parallel to the wall.  Remember, the bass can't see anything.  BUT - it can feel something about the same shape and size of a three inch Shad swimming along the retaining wall.  In this pitch black world, the bass registers a cornered shad.

The results speak for themselves.

Check out these shots with the lure still in!

One last tip for bass at night.  Hit the crappie house at least once.  The crappie house lighting tends to attract some fish.

That said, concrete retaining walls where bass can corner baitfish are absolutely PRIME nighttime locations.  All fish pictured were released unharmed.

Tight lines!!

Best Place to Catch Bass in Hot Weather

Bass have more in common with us than we might think.  When it's hot, they look for shade.  Thus, covered and shaded areas are where you want to fish.

In the picture above, you want to throw under the bridge, right into those holes.  Do that, and you'll end up with this.

One other thing.  When it's hot, use a jig.

The fish in the picture was released.  Tight lines!

How to Jig a Dam for Bass and Crappie

How to Catch a Panfish

Will Catfish Bite a Lure?

The answer is yes.  A picture's worth a thousand words.

Tight lines!

Best Places to Use a Crappie Jig

Crappie jigs are awesome!  You can catch crappie, bass, and even catfish with them.  The key is to know where to use them.

Crappie jigs are best used in deep water around structure.  There are three main types of structure that fit the bill:  docks, bridges, and dams.

A set of docs in close proximity, such as the one pictured below, is ideal.

Here's the proof.

When it comes to bridges, nothing is more ideal than a pedestrian bridge such as the one pictured below.

Last but not least, there's the dam.  Some dams on smaller lakes, such as the one below, can simply be walked as you jig.

Yes, that's a catfish that hit a crappie jig.  I also caught a bass and a crappie with the same lure!

So keep a crappie jig tied on one of your poles.  When you see a doc, a bridge, or a dam, hit it up!

Tight lines!

Best Crappie Jig

I'm not sure what it is about this color, but it works!

Here are the crappie!

Guess what?  It works on bass too!

Keep in mind that our water in this area is very stained.  All fish were released.  Tight lines!

Crappie Jigging for Bass!

So you're out at the lake bass fishing.  You've thrown every lure imaginable.  The kitchen sink, or your pole, just might be next.

Don't give up.  Just start crappie jigging! Granted, the bass you catch probably won't be trophy-sized.  But the fact is that bass hit a crappie jigs.  Plus you can catch some crappie, which are fun too!

All fish were released unharmed.  Tight lines!

Bass Fishing: Finish Your Retrieve!

A lot of the information I've read has suggested a cautious approach to the edge of the pond or lake so as not to scare away any bass that may be on the perimeter.  I've even seen suggestions to wear camo or at least darker-colored clothing so as not to frighten away any bass near shore.  I understand the premise, but I think you have to take into account the clarity of the water (or lack of it).  Here in West Texas, our water is very stained.  You literally can't see more than an inch deep.

Another thing you have to take into account is the environment.  I do a lot of urban fishing right in the middle of a city of 250,000, people.  Most of the local lakes are incorporated into parks, so there is constant noise from cars, bicycle riders, runners, dogs, etc.

When you combine heavily-stained water with constant noise, guess what you get?  You get bass that don't spook easily.  To a degree, they're used to people.  So unless you walk up throwing rocks in, the fish might stay right at the bank.

I say all of that to make this point.  Finish your retrieve.  It can be tempting, especially if you're frustrated and coming up empty, to raise your pole up and thereby raise your bait out of the water before you swim it all the way to the bank.  Don't make that mistake, especially in heavily-stained water.

Here's the bass I caught today.

Here's the bait.

This is where I was fishing.  

See that first little clump of cattails just a couple of feet off the bank?  I hooked the fish in that area!  I didn't even have to reel!  When my pole slammed down, I raised the fish up out of the water and swung it onto shore in one motion.

So I say again, set your frustration aside and finish that retrieve.  Swim it all the way to the bank.  Don't lift your lure out of the water prematurely.

The bass was released unharmed.  Tight lines!

Bass Fishing: Wacky-Rigged Zoom Worm

I think it's fair to say that most fishermen are familiar with Texas rigging.  It's the go-to setup for many plastics.  That's especially true with plastic worms.

However, bass fishing requires some analysis.  When you're fishing familiar waters, you know the bass are there.  If they're not biting, you have to be willing to change your approach.

Plastic worms are no exception.  Hence the wacky rig.

The name fits.  It looks silly, stupid ... downright weird.  But the premise is simple.  When the worm hits the water, both sides flutter as it descends.  This closely mimics the action of a distressed live worm on your hook.

The result in undeniable.

When you're bass fishing, don't be afraid to think outside the box!  The fish pictured was, of course, released.  Tight lines!

 

Video on How to Use a Spinning Reel

https://youtu.be/CqQksLnRAS4

Why Snagging Shad Is a Good Thing

If you've been bass fishing long, chances are good that you've snagged a shad.  There are several different types of shad. The most common in my area is the gizzard shad, which has a grey color.

Shad range from the size of your finger all the way up to the size of your foot.  See below.

One thing is true about shad.  You'll always catch them by snag.  They're filter feeders.  They constantly inhale water and feed off of microscopic plankton and organisms.

Don't get me wrong, you may hook one in the mouth area, like this.

That's not because the shad decided to strike.  It simply got close enough to the lure to inhale the business end of the hook.  Of course, this begs the question of why.

The answer is simple.  Be it a shad crank bait or a shad swim bait, your lure looked real enough to fool the actual shad into schooling up with it.  If it can trick a shad into doing that, the lure can definitely trick a bass into striking.  So if you have a lure that seems to snag a lot of shad, KEEP THROWING IT!

Plus there's one other thing.  Shad make fantastic catfish bait.  The shad pictured here were released unharmed because I didn't have my catfishing pole at the time.

Tight lines!

Best Way to Identify Crappie

Crappie, bluegill, and sunfish are all included in a group of called panfish. They have a lot of similarities in appearance, but it's important to know when you have a crappie versus another type of panfish.

This is especially true here in Texas, where crappie are considered game fish but bluegill and sunfish are not.  Bluegill and sunfish are good cut bait for catfish.  It is absolutely illegal to use crappie as bait.

Let's start with comparing a crappie and a sunfish.  In the photo below, the crappie is on top and the sunfish is on bottom.

Now let's compare a crappie and a bluegill.  Again, the crappie is on top.

Notice that in the case of sunfish and bluegill, there is a distinctive black spot on the bottom rear corner of the dorsal fin that the crappie does not have.  I'll let you study the pictures to note other differences.  Now you can catch panfish with confidence!

The fish pictured were released.  Tight lines!

Turtle Fight!

https://youtu.be/WVW8nHCoLok

Five Best Bass Lures

Bass fishing can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be.  Especially for those new to the sport, lure choices can leave you feeling overwhelmed.  Visit a Bass Pro or a Cabella's, and you might end up in the corner in a fetal position due to choice overload.

The truth is that you only need a handful of those lures to be off to a good start.  The first and absolutely most important, in my opinion, is a crankbait.  Go with natural colors for clearer water, and go with darker colors or red colors for more stained water.

Next up, you need a swim bait.  Don't forget to rig it with a slip sinker aka bullet weight.  I have a separate post that will go into more detail.

The number three spot goes to a spinner bait.  The same color rule for crank baits applies to spinners.

Next up, have a jig and a good trailer.  You can't go wrong putting a craw trailer on a jig.  Again, the same color rule for cranks and spinners applies to jigs.

Last but by no means least, get yourself a Rattle-L-Trap.  Sometimes bass prefer the tight action of a trap to the more eradic action of a crank.

Tight lines in 2016!