Lures for Spotted Bass
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
The spotted bass is a great game fish
that lives in many areas of the country. This is the small cousin to
the black
bass and it lives in deep waters most of it's life. Even though the
spotted bass is much smaller than the black bass, this fish is a great
fighter
and a real challenge to anglers. There are some basic lures to use
for the spotted bass.
This fish takes smaller lures than the black bass.
Scaling down tackle will produce better results from the lures
to the rods, reels
and lures.
Spring time means top water fishing. And the Rapala's in the #5 to
the #7 sizes in silver and black or blue backs will draw a spotted bass.
Use light
line and 8 pound test works very well on a spinning reel.
Small crank baits
in the #5 and #7 Shad Raps and the small 3/8 ounce Rat L Traps are good
choices. Colors that work very well are shad, baby bass and silver and
blue combinations.
In line spinners and curly tail grubs imitate the small forage the spotted
bass
feed on. The 1/4 and 3/8 ounce Rooster Tails in a variety of colors will
attract the spots. A 1/8 ounce lead head with a two and a half inch curly
tail grub
is an easy lure to use. Colors range from all pearl or white to silver
and chartreuse
glitter. Cast these baits and reel them back.
Spinner baits will get a
spotted bass to bite. Sizes that work best are from the 3/8 to 1/2
ounce. A local
favorite is a single #5 Colorado all white blade and all white head and
skirts. Reef
markers and sand pockets are good places to cast the spinner bait.
Plastic
worms in the
4 inch size is the favorite bait for the spotted bass. The colors can
be a bright as the rainbow. Several years ago all chartreuse worms
took a
lot of
spotted
bass. Local anglers choose colors is shades of greens, sand and silvers.
Worms can also have a variety of metal flake inside the worms to attract
spotted
bass. Use the Texas rigged worm the hooks for the spotted bass rig
use small sizes.
The Owner size 1 and size 1/0 and great for this small rig. Slip sinkers
should be no larger than 3/16 of an ounce. Small soft plastic imitations
of the crawfish
work on this fish. Creepy crawlers and the jig and pig are commonly
used but keep them to smaller sizes.
