®
Winter 2024
page 40
presentation. Now I am not talking about traditional drag or shake the bottom stuff. We are still going to try and trigger a bite with reaction.
This is a technique I call spiraling. Before we go into details, let us ask ourselves a few questions. How many times have we been bit on a shakey head or darthead before it gets to the bottom? This means they ate it on the fall. Or, how many times do we drag it for minutes then burn it to make another cast and get bit reeling up? This means that they ate it on the rise.
So, with the technique of spiraling we must chose a presentation that spirals on the fall. My three favorites are a shakey head beaver, darthead and a tube. Generally, 1/4oz. to 1/2-oz seem to work best. With this technique we are basically fishing the fall then the rise, and repeat. I will plunge the bait to the bottom directly below the boat or with a short pitch.
Once it settles, I will
burn it 5-feet off
the bottom then
quickly flip my
bail and throw
slack at it. Back
to the bottom
and burn 10-
feet. Then, flip the bail and back to the bottom. Repeat the process in varying increments until you trigger a bite.
This may sound like a crazy technique, but it works and triggers bites from fish they will not respond to anything else. From a fish- eyed view, the bait spirals past them in a dying manor. Then shoots from the depths in a fleeing manor. It is only a matter of time before they decide that they cannot take anymore.
After some practice you will understand the rate of fall (ROF). And if you burn up 15-ft and it only falls three, set the hook!
HEAVY, LONG, WACKY
The last trick is a deep wacky dropshot. This technique is done with heavy weight and a long leader. I will usually use a 4- to 7-ft leader from the hook to the weight. We all know the effectiveness of a wacky-rigged presentation. But how often is it seen in the winter in deep water?
With this technique we will once again plunge to the bottom. Once the weight settles the soft plastic will have four to seven more feet to fall weightless (depending on the leader length you have chosen). Then lift the rod until you feel the weight, shake it, flip the bail, and let the wacky rig fall back to the bottom again. This yo-yo-ing
effect will surely
trigger a reaction
strike.
Once again it
can be a fun and
interesting way to
trigger a reaction
strike from a
wintertime bass.
These are three
great ways to get
more bites. But
one thing I wanted
to mention is take
advantage once
you have excited
the school. There
are many times
there are hundreds
of fish below not
willing to bite.
However, once
one eats…. they
all want to eat.
Work fast and keep
dropping before the
entire school cools
off.
By doing this,
you might have
some of the hottest
fishing during the
coldest months of
the year. •