Summer 2022
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the first feel. Check your hooks often and replace them at the first sign of dullness.”
BUBBA SPIN
Bassmaster Opens angler Jamie Bruce lives in one of the most pristine parts of Canada, Sunset Country. Catching smallmouth hand over fist is expected, even with significant fishing pressure. The bigger fish have grown wise to the game, while limit fish are easy to come by.
Steep breaks, boulders, and bait that has moved offshore often call for swimbaits, but Bruce has learned that targeting quality smallmouth with underspin heads instead of regular swimbait heads is the deal.
When bass are feeding on bait, he utilizes forward- facing sonar to pattern their behavior and adjusts his retrieve and target depth accordingly. The technique is equally effective when targeting smallmouth that pulled off and suspended over deep structure.
Predominantly a clear water technique, when targeting fish in 20-feet of water, he favors a
3/8-ounce Bass Tactics Smeltinator head built on a 2/0 Gamakatsu hook.
For his plastic, Bruce feels a three-inch Z-Man Minnowz in natural baitfish colors works best.
When super-finesse tactics are called for, he’ll instead opt for the 1/4-ounce head with a 1/0 hook. A 7- to 7’4” medium-action parabolic spinning rod paired with a 3000 series spinning reel spooled with 10-pound Sufix 832 braided line and a long leader of 10-pound Sufix Advance fluorocarbon line is critical shear castability of the lighter baits.
When smallmouth key in on larger forage, he’ll upsize to a 1/4-ounce head, 4/0 hook to which he’ll thread on a 5” Z-Man Diezel minnow. Alternatively, he’ll employ a 13 Fishing Concept casting reel spooled with 12-pound fluorocarbon line paired with a 13 Fishing Envy 7’6” medium to medium-heavy rod.
Bruce benefits from using a parabolic rod when employing a hookset. To set, after the bite reel the slack out of the line until the rod loads, take a step back and sweep the rod to the side to drive the hook home. •
Background photo by Eva Elijas from Pexels
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