Summer 2023
®
True Center Stick. Also, the slow
Photo: Chad Eddings Photography to 3/4-ounce if I need the added
fall rate of the wacky-rigged,
weight to get through thicker
soft plastic stick bait will cater
vegetation. On my AT Jig, I like one
to the bass that are positioned
of two soft plastic trailers, either
higher in the water column.
the smaller sized Adrenaline Craw
These are ones that are feeding
(3.5”), or a traditional plastic chunk.
on the schooling bluegills, or it
If the cover is sparser, the I’ll slide
will sink down and be in front of
a chunk on the jig, whereas in the
one of the bass lurking waiting
denser cover I like the compact
for a bigger meal.
Craw.
If the coontail is thicker, or if
Go-To Fishing Set Up: Witch
the wind is blowing, I’ll fish a jig
Doctor Tackle Oracle 7’6” Rod,
worm. This is just a worm, either
High-Speed Casting Reel (7.3:1 or
dedicated bait like the Z-Bomb,
higher), and 22-pound Seaguar
a four- or five-inch soft plastic
TATSU Fluorocarbon.
stickbait, or the classic seven-inch
ribbon tail worm threaded up a jig, like the All-Terrain Mighty
EEL GRASS – Many times when an angler hears that
Jig 1/8-ounce. I can cast this bait into the weeds, or along the
there is eel grass in a body of water, it is likely they are on a
edge and let it pendulum into the coontail.
body of water that is part of a river system. The long stringy
Go-To Fishing Set Up: Witch Doctor Tackle Shaman 7’2” like grass, which when in water and has current flowing
M Spinning Rod, Spinning Reel (4000 size), and 30-pound
through it, looks like…you guessed it an eel.
Seaguar SmackDown Braid High Viz Green connected to a
Bass will flock to eel grass in a river system because
10 lb Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon leader.
most of the time it will grow in harder bottom areas, which
bass like. Also, the eel grass will act as a filter, and the
MILFOIL – Milfoil is a type of weed that can grow in a
water that is around and below the eel grass is likely much
variety of depths of water, ranging from the shallows, where cleaner than the river water around it. It is quite common
it can be mixed in with lily pads, to the mid depth range
to look down when fishing eel grass and the water clarity
across a flat, to underwater points and break lines extending is three plus feet, and you can see bait fish, bluegills, perch,
in to 12- to 15-feet of water.
walleye and yes, BASS!
As the milfoil grows up, it will top off and create a
I like to fish a Texas-rigged soft plastic swimbait, as it
canopy that bass can hide under and wait to ambush
looks very natural in water and depending on the color and
bluegills and bait fish as they swim by. Or in our preferred
size of the bait you use, it can mimic baitfish or a bluegill, it just
situation, a jig or Texas-rigged soft plastic bait!
depends as to what the bass are eating. Rigging a four- or
The key to fishing milfoil is twofold, one to locate key
five-inch paddletail swimbait on a 5/0 TroKar TK120 Magworm
underwater subtle differences that will congregate the bass.
Extra Wide Gap gives the bait the ability to slide up the shaft of
Whether that is a rock, gravel, piece of wood, or simply where
the hook when you set the hook.
the milfoil makes a point or turn. The second is to use your
Go-To Fishing Set Up: Witch Doctor Tackle Kahuna 7’4”
eyes to look for the open water pockets in the milfoil. This is
Casting Rod, High-Speed
where for some reason there is an opening, thus giving you a
Casting Reel (7.3:1 or
free lane to drop your bait to where the bass are living.
higher), and 17-pound
For milfoil growing in less than five-feet of water,
Seaguar Inviz X
I like to use a Texas-rigged Magnum Speed Craw, or X
Fluorocarbon.
Zone Adrenaline Craw rigged on a Lazer TroKar TK133 Pro
V Flippin’ Hook in a 5/0 size, with a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce
PONDWEED
tungsten weight.
– Depending on
Once that milfoil gets in the six-feet or deeper water, I’ll
the body of water
switch up to a 1/2-ounce All-Terrain Tackle AT Jig or will go up
you are fishing,
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Pond Weed Photo: All-Terrain
Tackle / Blackfish Gear