keys to deep water swimbaiting is a natural presentation and solid hookups

The drag retrieve is one of the best ways to mimic these shad as they fall to the bottom

Summer 2018

®

SDWEEIPMWBAATITER TACTICS

with Michael Neal

by Scott M. Petersen

page

10

W

e all know when it comes to targeting deep

water bass, crankbaits and football jigs

will each get some time on the end of your line; but have you ever tried to throw a swimbait at those

dwellers in the deeper water?

FLW pro Michael Neal has taken this tactic, fishing this

presentation on hard bottom areas, where bass are keying

on big shad. In the last few years, Michael has been putting

the pieces of the deep-water swimbait puzzle together.

Let’s take a closer look at just Neal has learned.

HANDCRAFTED AND PREMADE

Neal’s keys to deep water swimbaiting is a natural presentation and solid hookups that allow him to get the bass out of the targeted depths and into the boat.

For a few years, Neal played with getting his swimbait jig right, spending time to make sure the hook gap and angle of the eye was perfect to get the most action from the swimbaits he was using.