Summer 2024
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to 1/4-ounce tungsten weight from my normal 3/8- to 7/16-ounce weight.
Lure: Behind that weight, I’ll scale down my plastic bait offering, going from a full-size plastic creature bait to a smaller, junior-sized plastic creature bait. By doing this, I can still present the same bulk and appearance to the bass, but just in a compact tasty morsel for them to indulge in.
Presentation: One of my favorite ways to target bass that have seen their fair share of lures along weedlines is a Neko rig. If I’m fishing this around heavy cover, I’ll use Seaguar Smackdown, a braided line as my main line, but then use an 8- to 10-pound-test Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon line as my leader.
This combination gives me the strength and confidence to fish around heavy cover, while keeping a stealth-like approach. My Neko rig is most likely a five-inch, soft plastic stickbait like a Yamamoto Senko or Zoom Zlinky, rigged on a size 2, Lazer TroKar TK137 Pro-V Finesse Hook.
Cast, Retrieve And
Action: Heavily pressured
fish may need to see a bait
a few times before they bite.
Multiple casts to the key
areas of structure can be
what is needed.
As I’m fishing a boat
dock, laydown, or a section
of vegetation, I’ll approach
the cover quietly and under
control using the new Minn
Kota Ultrex Quest and then
once I get near that cover,
I’ll drop my dual Raptor’s, or
engage my SpotLock if I’m
fishing offshore. By doing
this I won’t disturb the cover by getting too close to it, along with less noise in the water from running my trolling motor.
When making multiple casts to a target, the casts need to come from different angles. This is because the angle a bass sees your bait will influence when they bite. The angle relates to the cover, current and shade.
Be aware of when the fish have been pressured. When fishing in this condition, slow down, downsize and be methodical with your presentations and you can continue to have success on the water. •
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Photo: Chad Eddings Photography