Summer 2022
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a soft tip, but strong backbone allows the topwater action. This same type of rod will give when the bass hits, so the hooks won’t pull out. My topwater gear for includes a Witch Doctor Tackle Shaman 7’, medium-heavy Popping Blank, as this rod is feather light, so I can cast all day with it and not get fatigued. I’ll pair it with a Wright & McGill Victory II Reel, spooled with 40-pound Seaguar Smackdown Braid.
SLOW DRAG
Once I’ve identified a sweet spot along that current seam, I slow down and drag a bait along the bottom to mimic crawfish that are moving along the bottom. I like
to use the All-Terrain Tackle Swing Head Rock jig, as I can select the weight head I want. When I know the weight I want, I rig up the exact Lazer TroKar hook, both style and size depending on the plastic bait. I want to use the lightest size head possible as it will keep from getting hung up, but I still want to be able to keep in contact with the bottom.
What is great about fishing this type of bait is I can change up my soft plastic on the jig from a Zoom Bait Z-Craw or Super Speed Craw when the bass are eating crawfish to a Magnum Finesse Worm if the bass are wanting or more compact, finesse presentation.
Casting around a wacky-rigged soft plastic stickbait is dynamite around the current. I just cast it out and let it
Photo: Tyler Mohr
Photo: Chad Eddings
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