Spring 2022
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FLIPPIN’
Flipping a jig or Texas-rigged soft plastic allows you to target bass that are holding near a wide variety of cover. I like to flip a jig around hard cover, such as stumps, laydowns, and rip rap. A Texas-rigged soft plastic is my choice when flipping around vegetation. Early in the year, this likely is emerging lily pads, or dead reeds from last season.
Since I’m targeting bass in six-feet of water or less, I’ll go between a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce jig, with the later size being used most of the time. That size has enough weight
VIBRATING JIG
From bass holding at that six-foot depth, to bass up ultra-shallow, when it is springtime, a vibrating jig is a lure that bass will chase down. If you are fishing a barren flat that the bass are using a transitional highway, or if the bass are holding in emerging grass, or tight to laydowns, you can use the vibrating jig to target these bass.
The vibrating jig does exceptionally well when the water you are fishing is stained, as the vibration from the blade will be picked up by the bass’s lateral line and they’ll absolutely crush it. If the bass are more lethargic and holding closer to the bottom, I’ll use a 1/2-ounce bait, where if the bass are up in the water column or tight to shallow cover, I’ll use a 3/8-ounce version. My color selections will range from black/blue, green pumpkin, or a white if the bass’s forage is shad based. My preferred vibrating jig is a Z-Man Jackhammer 3/8-ounce with Zoom Z-Craw Jr trailer.
Photo: Chad Eddings Photography
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to make longer flips and it has a quicker fall in the water column. If the water is stained or muddy, a black/blue jig with a matching trailer is my choice, and if the water is cleaner, a green pumpkin jig and trailer gets rigged up. I like to throw an All-Terrain Tackle AT Jig 1/2-ounce with a Zoom Super Chunk.
The reason I like flipping a Texas-rigged soft plastic around the vegetation, especially around dead reeds is how it can slide easily through them. I stick to the same basic color section based on the water clarity, and I primarily use one size tungsten weight, 7/16-ounce, as it has the right weight to make long flips, while still a compact profile for flipping into water that is a foot or less. My first choice in a Texas-rig is a Z-Craw on a 5/0 TroKar Pro V Flippin Hook (TK133) with a 7/16-ounce tungsten weight.
When I’m flipping in the spring, I’m fishing cover that is less dense. This coupled with the cooler water, allows me to keep the pound-test of my line down in size. So, for me, I really like flipping with 17-pound Seaguar TATSU, as its Double Structured properties deliver a highly abrasion resistant line, that is ultra-sensitive to feel light bites.
Photo: Chad Eddings Photography
What is great about the vibrating jig is that you can alter your retrieve based on the depth of water, cover, and bass’ activity level. This means you can rig one lure up and not have to worry about retying constantly. You just need to play the game and give the bass what they want.
As you begin to gear up and plan your spring fishing trips, take these five lures into consideration as they’ll allow you to cater your presentation and retrieve to the bass depending on their activity level, water clarity and forage selection. •