to be able to catch fish consistently then i would need to “listen to the fish”. all i could think was “What does that mean?” i was supposed to listen to what the fish are telling me during the day. This had to be one of the most mysterious sayings that i had ever heard. Then the next key tip i heard was that i had to “put together a pattern” to be consistent. i know these pro’s were trying to help; but they might as well have been talking in a foreign language when they said to “listen to the fish” and “put together a pattern.”
LISTENING TO THE FISH
let’s start with “listen to the fish”. each and every bite you get, whether you hook the bass or not, will “tell” you something about where the fish are located, how aggressive they are, if you are fishing with the right bait and if it’s the right color for the conditions. a good example would be a Booyah jig with a YUM Mighty Bug for a trailer. if you get a bite and don’t hook the fish; but one or both of the legs of the Mighty Bug are missing then you may be using the wrong color, because the bass just grabbed the Bug instead of taking the whole jig into its mouth allowing you to hook it. it could be the wrong color or it may be too heavy or light of a jig head. a heavy ¾-ounce jig head will fall
Issue 5
October 2012
fast and create a reaction bite and a ¼-ounce jig head will fall slower and be in the bass’ strike zone longer. You can also vary from the bulky skirted jig with a trailer to a YUM Gonzo Grub for a completely different look and feel in the water for a contrasting jig presentation. Change up the color of the Gonzo and the size of the football head to find the one that the fish want at the moment. different days need different presentations and all the various size heads can be the difference between only bites and having bass in the livewell. another example is if you are throwing a Booyah Spinnerbait - the bass will hit the bait; but you can’t get a hookup. The bass may be reacting to the bait, but just hitting the blades. You can change the vibration that is emitting from the bait by changing from single to double blades, Colorado to willow or tandem, which is a small Colorado and a larger willow blade or the skirt may be the wrong color. You can also put on an excalibur trailer hook and get those short strikes in the boat. The way the fish bites and how aggressive the reaction of the fish is “tells” you something about the bass’s mood. Pay very close attention to each bite you get and every fish you catch. Pay attention to things like speed, cadence, bait color, the depth where the bite came from and type of structure or bottom makeup where
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