Summer 2019
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electronics, because you don’t need it. That sound is bouncing off the bottom and can spook the fish.
PUNCHING
When he’s looking for a big bite under those canopies, Hurtado focuses mostly on the north end, where he uses a 3/4- to 1 1/4-ounce weight with a green pumpkin Rage Craw and punch skirt to tempt big’ns chilling in the shadows.
Pretty much any canopy with decent depth could be in play, but time of day determines fish position:
Early morning, they’ll be closer to the top, so Hurtado punches through and then pulls his bait closer to mat’s underside for bass feeding on crawfish clinging to the underside. Later, when the day grow hotter, he’ll yo-yo his bait through the water column to find the preferred depth.
In addition to these productive techniques, Hurtado encourages anglers to keep multiple options on their deck. If the bite is tough, you can’t go wrong with a Margarita Mutilator Roboworm on a dropshot or a Neko-rigged Senko or a shaky head like the Frenzy Nail with a stick bait or Zoom Trick Worm that Hurtado favors.
TIP: “The key this time of year is move fast,” he said. “These fish are moving and looking to feed, so don’t sit still
and soak a worm. Cover lots of water
and pay attention to where you
get bit. Try to determine a pattern,
because when you find one, you
usually find many.” •
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