Westernbass Magazine - FREE Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Summer 2015, Page 32

Westernbass Magazine - FREE Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Summer 2015, Page 32

Dan O’Sullivan Hooked Up

7.1 Lew’s Tournament Pro Reel

the same water, but have an advantage over a spinnerbait, especially in super shallow water and in vegetation.

CHOOSING TRAILERS

The angler can adjust the action of their swim jigs based on the type of trailer that they choose to thread on it. The selection of a flapping craw, a swimbait or a grub can give the jig a completely different attitude in the water; which can appeal to aggressive or negative bass.

If bass are really turned off, then a chunk trailer works well, slightly more upbeat, and a grub style, swimming trailer works well, highly aggressive fish respond well to a flapping craw style trailer like a Strike King Rage Craw or Menace Grub and then a swimbait like a Missile Baits Shockwave or Strike King Swimming Caffeine Shad or an Optimum Double Diamond is great when bass are keyed on shad or bluegill.

SWIM JIG COLORS

This area of the country is much different when choosing colors, so I am learning to keep things

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much more simple. While in California, I would often hand make skirts on jigs by counting the different numbers of strands that each color would have in it. Here, because I am choosing by water clarity primarily, I can get away with three or four colors of jigs.

When the water is stained and the fish are eating baitfish, I go with a white color jig. It can have some other strands of color in it, but the primary jig color is white. When the bass are guarding fry, or the bluegill are spawning, then I want a bream colored jig like green pumpkin or a warmouth color. If the water is really dirty, then a black and blue jig is the best choice.

I would probably get a little more picky about my colors if I were fishing around the California waterways, but the basic color options would largely be the same; shad colors, bluegill options and one for dirtier water.

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