With
each passing day one of my favorite and most productive times of the
year, fall, is slowly fading into another great
memory. This is not necessarily bad news. While the total number of
bass and other species we have been catching with comparative ease
will decline,
the lures, tactics and techniques we’ll turn to now will produce some of
the largest fish of the year.
As water temperatures steadily drop toward
sixty degrees and below, we put away the topwaters, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits
that were so successful for us all year. We'll replace them in the
storage compartment of the boat with jigs and either pork or plastic
trailers and
Craw Worms. It’s time to slow down the presentation and work a variety
of structure diametrically opposed to hat we were targeting just a few
short weeks ago.
At first, all of this may sound like the selection
is relatively simple compared to deciding between colors and sizes
of spinnerbaits,
crankbaits or topwater lures. Well, you would be wrong. There are many
varieties of jigs in varying quality. Personally, I want a jig made
with the best components. As far size, a lot will depend on the body
of water
you’ll be fishing most. Is the water on your favorite lake normally stained,
or clear? Is it a deep, rocky, highland-type reservoir or more of a shallow
run lake with grass, stump fields? Is the rock solid or very silty? All
of this must be taken into consideration and here are a few tips that you
might find helpful when you stop by the tackle shop before you head out
to the lake.
In clear water situations like some of the lakes in
my area, conventional wisdom dictates smaller lures and different colors
than you
would use in shallow, darker water. For example, in a deep canyon reservoir
my preference would be one of the Terminator Finesse Jigs. These come
in the ideal sizes for clear water; 1/8, 3/16 and ¼ oz. and a rainbow of colors.
In the clear, cool or cold water in winter the primary
forage of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass is a 2 or 3 inch
crawfish.
Therefore, I’m going to select a jig with some brown or pumpkin and match it
up with a pork trailer. I start with the lightest jig I can get away with, depending
on the depth of the structure I’m working. Generally, a 3/16 oz. jig fits most
situations because it has a relatively slow fall and small profile to imitate
a crawfish realistically.
On the other hand, if I find myself on a river-run
lake where the
water is slightly stained, I prefer to "bulk up" working a lot of brushpiles,
stumps, rip rap and ledges in comparatively shallow water of say 8 to 14 feet.
Here, my choices would be expanded.
I’m going to increase the size of the jig and will have two or three different
colors tied on and laying on the deck until the bass tell me what their preference
is that day. In stained water, I like rattles on my jig as an attractant and
trigger that will hopefully aggravate a big bass enough to inhale the lure. In
this instance, my choice
would be a Pro’s Secret Jig also produced by Terminator Lures. The titanium trailer
keeper holds a 3 inch Craw Worm firmly in place and
that’s important to prevent the trailer from sliding down and possibly covering
the hook point on the bite or hookset. As for colors, the standard has always
been black & blue, but here again I always let the fish tell me what they prefer
on any given day on the water. It may be a pumpkin, black with red fleck or watermelon.
So I always go with a box full of varying sizes and colors as well as trailers
that I might need.
I have clients and even occasionally a fisherman I
consider to be well versed admit they have difficulty with, and little
confidence in jigs.
It really isn’t the confidence in the jig. It’s the lack of confidence that individual
has in him or herself to work it properly. Well ladies and gentlemen, jig fishing
is not rocket science. Get well acquainted with them because they will definately
increase your productivity on the water. This winter, leave everything else at
home and hit the lake with nothing but jigs and trailers. Work rock ledges, stumps
and tight to vertical or horizontal timber.
Just keep pitching and winding. Work
slowly. The old adage “when you
think you’re fishing slow, slow down some more” really does apply when you fish
in fifty-something degree water. Bass are just not going to move far, or exert
much energy to eat anything. Therefore, the slowest approach is the best. Remember
to keep the lure in constant contact with some type of structure and on the bottom!
After all, how
many crawfish have you ever seen swimming? They don’t. They scoot across
the bottom and that is where you should keep your lure.
For additional tips
on
techniques or to book a guided trip in south-central Texas contact
us at JR'S GUIDE SERVICE
www.jrguideservice.com at (830) 833-5688 or
email jimfish@moment.net
