Winter 2018
®
Photo by Dan O’Sullivan
page 22
then followed up with a slow crawl moving bait as a mop up.
He goes with the finesse application first, because he is more likely to get response from bass.
“I like a slender profile that time of the year, because bass respond more readily,” he said. “It’s not necessarily going to get me a big bite, but it will help me feel the bottom, and let me know if bass are around.”
That primary presentation is a 3/6-ounce Hardhead matched with a 6-inch TattleTail Worm by Gene Larew Lures. To throw the lure, he uses a 7’ medium- action Team Lew’s Custom Pro spinning
Photo by Dan O’Sullivan
rod paired with a size 300 Team Lew’s Pro spinning reel, spooled with 10-pound-test braided line tipped with an 8-pound-test fluorocarbon leader.
He fishes that setup much like a Shaky Head.
“I work it subtly along the bottom looking to come into contact with structure,” he said. “Once I bump into a rock or stump, or feel gravel on the bottom, I slow down and really work the area thoroughly.”
If he catches a few fish in the area, he focuses his attention on bigger fish by turning to a ½-ounce Nichols Football Jig with a Gene Larew Hammer