a Slender Pointer Minnow, which has lively action in water less than 5-feet deep. Crankbaits are also deadly, especially the LV-500 and LV-100. These weapons permit high speed searching and excel at locating bass. They are filled with high tech shot comprised of tungsten, brass, and glass, which make for long casts and terrorizing noise. Both crankbaits and jerkbaits should be employed with a stop-and-go retrieve. Erratic movement interrupted with disabling pauses deceives lethargic bass into thinking they will capture an easy meal. Be sure to use a fiberglass rod like the Lamiglas Excel 705 Glass, or the Certified Pro SR 765R, to maximize both your casting distance and your landing success. The parabolic bend provided by these weapons keep bass from getting slack line which could allow them to escape the fight.
Once these tactics intercept patrols of bass, slow down and utilize sniper tactics with soft plastics on dropshot and shakey-head rigs. A Basstrix Flashtrix or Panic Minnow DropSwim minnow nose-hooked on a dropshot rig with 1/8 oz or 3/16th oz QuickDrops weight will pick off every bass in the area. Another good weapon is a 6 inch floating worm on a shakey-head.
Course of Action #2: Jungle Warfare is employed for areas of cover and concealment. Bass are entrenched, so weapons that penetrate cover and are capable of extracting the enemy are required. To locate
the enemy, employ Hildebrandt Spinnerbaits and deep cover weapons like Yakima Bait Timber Tigers or Lee Sisson Woody Divers. Cast into heavy cover and around obstructions to expose the hiding spots of bass. During the retrieve, attempt to bump the cover, and after contact let your weapon fall briefly to trigger an ambush from enemy forces. Upon attack you must strike back with force, and use heavy tackle to facilitate extraction. Allowing the enemy to think about the situation will result in escape and evasion. Vary the depth of your weapons until you find the zone of activity marshaling the greatest concentration. More often than not in the spring, you attack close to a hard bottom with a slow retrieve, punctuated with occasional pauses.
Like COA #1, once you locate the enemy mess hall, pick them off one by one with a jig and plastic trailer. Deploying a weedless jig sporting a Yamamoto Twin Tail grub or Flappin’ Hawg is likely to invoke a massive attack, especially when you hit the target on the head. Use quality line like 20-pound McCoy Fluorocarbon when you enter into hand-to-hand combat and get the bass on the deck ASAP.
Course of Action #3: When the mission calls for
capture of key individuals like Mama Pesce,
employment of Special Forces
are indicated. Regardless of
terrain, the weapon of choice
for highly-prized leadership-
I have attached a picture of myself, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Marc Marcantonio, with Major Scott nelson of Lacey, WA. This was MAJ nelson’s first-ever smallmouth bass; a 5.2 pound Columbia river smallmouth caught while Marc was teaching him to dropshot after the FLW tournament. Washington national Guard members helped as tournament Staff.
Issue 1 April 2011
27