Wil Wegman

Question:

Hi Wil I have a question about times for using what lures if you dont mind. I have not been use too using top water and spinner baits yet and do not know how too use them right. First is jitter bugs and poppers. I have tryed them and have not had any confidence with them. With the jitter bug I do a walk the dog with a pause, and the popper I do a few pop's and a pauses. Most times it is in 3-5' and sometimes in deeper water. I really do not know how to use them right. Second is spinners. HOW DO YOU USE THEM and what is the right time and water type to use them?

I hear that working spinnerbaits over weed beds and pulling them around 1' - 2' under the surface works yet when I try them with no luck for a short time, I soon resort back to drop shots and senco's. I am still VERY new and trying to learn to use what for what times and be a more diverse bass angler.

Thanks again Wil
Stephen

Answer:

Hi Steve,

Learning how, when and where to use artificial baits for bass is typically not something that you can become proficient or confident in overnight.  Typically, anglers find it difficult to know just when and where to use the multitude of lures available to them.  Think of lures as tools- categorizing them into what function they play for the task at hand. So, let’s start on top with you topwater question.  First off – I haven’t thrown a Jitterbug in over a decade – I, and so many other seasoned veterans ... just seem to think of them as yesterdays news and not as effective as some of the other proven baits.   However, I’m sure they still work.  

The premise of the jitterbug is similar to other topwaters whose purpose is to cover water rather quickly with a predominantly steady retrieve. The jitterbug does this ... but so does a buzzbait.   I find a ½-3/8 oz Terminator Buzzbait can be cast further than the jitterbug and is far more weedless – allowing me to reach places and fish cover that the old jitterbug can’t.   The trick here is to use stout baitcasting equipment with at least 14 lb line – I like the Suffix Floro.   For topwaters, however I almost always use regular mono- cause it floats, whereas Floro sinks.   For buzzbaits, though- it doesn’t matter as much as you cast out and immediately left your rod up to begin the retrieve.   They’re best used on expansive flats when you want to cover water in a hurry.  

A general rule of thumb for them and all topwaters is to throw them under low light conditions – so early morning is when they get the most use.... and again as dusk approaches.  Another general rules is that topwaters- especially buzzbaits are best in shallow water conditions- say 10 feet or less.  This is especially true of largemouth- whereas with smallies, you can throw poppers in water twice that depth and still get them to come up and smash it.   So- that brings us to poppers.  I have two favorites- the Rapala Skitter Pop and the Storm Chug Bug.  I use 12 pound mono and a medium 6 ½ foot Rapala Magnum rod.   I am a firm believe the further you can cast these and other topwaters, the better.   After the bait hits, let it rest a few sections than pop it a couple of times.   The key is not to real this bait in- pop, pop, reel in slack line, then keep popping ½-3/4 way to the boat, real in quickly than pop again.   These two topwaters are great for largemouth or smallmouth in areas where you confident fish reside – ie near shoals, along weedlines next to rocks, etc.  I love having a very light chop on the water with any topwaters to help break up the sunlight ... and always have one tied on that I may throw throughout the day when cloud suddenly moves in – or the place just screams that I throw a topwater bait.

Next up are your spinners- so I assume you mean spinnerbaits, not the inline spinners like Mepps or Blue Fox.  The latter have more limited use within the bass anglers tackle box – but can still be effective for bass in relatively weed-free, shallow water.  Spinnerbaits are much more versatile.  I try and keep my choice simple yet have a variety on hand to suit the conditions.   I like Terminator brand in ¼- to 1 full ounce.   If I’m in tight quarters- shallow water, I use the lighter spinnerbaits.   Colorado blades push more water and send more vibration, so I chose these for murky water.   With all the clear water we fish here in southern Ontario though – most of the time, the choice is willow leafs- possibly coupled with a small Indiana blade.   And- most of the time, throwing the bait a country mile is key- so I like the heavier models.  

Spinnerbaits can be use in relatively heavy cover- be it weed or wood or rocks and still not get hung up.   This is where bass love to hide but sometimes there is so much of it that if you threw nothing but soft, slower moving baits like senko’s- it would take you forever to cover the water.   Instead- if I find I have optimal spinnerbait conditions- like when the wind picks up- or it’s raining – than I begin chucking and winding to locate aggressive fish.   There’s almost always some around and they help you determine if more fish can be present to allow you to work an area more thoroughly with your soft baits.  I like spinnerbaits in water ranging from one foot to about 12 – as a general rule.   Sometimes I allow them to ride just below the surface, others to intentionally swim closer to bottom.   Near the surface in shallow water for aggressive fish, a little deeper – and slower retrieve if it’s say middle of the day and fish are a little less aggressive.

Lastly - the best time to use soft baits like drop shot and Senkos is when you are confident fish are around.   Drop shots typically were created for deeper water when you saw fish below the boat on your sonar.  Now however, the more versatile angler is casting them to much shallower water ... and they work great. I always have one rigged.   Same deal with senko-type baits ... although my preference are the Trigger X variety.   I rig these on  Gamakatsu hooks – large and wide gap with a screw in to rig Texas style for real heavy cover and smaller Finesse wide gap 3/0 hooks for wacky rigging.  Typically- these are baits used mostly in shallower water – for large or smallmouth bass. 

A basic rule of thumb for artificials is that calm conditions, mid day, bright sun, little wind - when things are slowing down – then soft baits worked slowly excel.  When there’s overcast, wind, low light conditions fish are more active and a faster moving bait can be the best choice.  Of course there are many examples when bass break the rules ... and that’s what keeps us all on our toes and ready to adapt and learn with every outing.

Anyway ... I hope this has helped Steve and that throughout the season you develop more confidence in the artificial lures you throw.  To read more and perhaps gain a few extra tips – check out another article I wrote for the 2011 Sun Newspapers across Canada in their national Fishing Week section.   The link for that is http://virtual.torontosun.com/doc/torontosun/catchfishing/2011070401/#0

Thanks and tight lines Stephen,

Wil