Beyond the Bait

When the bass are pressured or being selective or just don’t want to hit a larger bait, it’s time to go with a finesse tactic. Charlie Brewer had that in mind more than 50 years ago when he developed an early finesse-fishing technique that used a small soft-plastic worm fished on a light jig head and light line, which would become known as the slider rig. kwfishing

Heavy fishing pressure and clear water is a combination that often requires a subtle presentation. Sometimes the fish want a “dead” bait, a bait that has almost no motion at all other than a slow descent. The free rig, which was developed by Japanese anglers for their home waters that receive intense fishing pressure, is one way to reach fish and coax them into biting with a slowly sinking bait.

Anglers often think of jigs as bottom-bouncing baits—and they usually are. But the swim jig is a different case. This type of jig is designed for a steady horizontal retrieve, and it can produce big bites from fish lurking around cover without touching the bottom at all. Guiding a swim jig through bushes, brush piles, laydowns and other shallow woody cover is a fun power-fishing technique that can

They may not imitate any type of forage closely, but stick-style worm baits are proven bass catchers. There is just something about their profile and wiggly, lifelike action in the water that the fish can’t resist. Several rigging techniques have been developed to play up this action, and the Neko rig is one that’s especially effective at finessing bass from both shallow and deep water.

When bass move offshore after the spawn and as the water temperature rises, they go deep or suspend along humps or other bottom contours. They often target schools of baitfish such as shad. In this situation, one lure that excels at both matching the forage and reaching the bass is the blade bait.

When most anglers think of a crankbait, they picture a hard lure with a plastic lip at the front that enables the bait to dive to a certain depth in the water. But some crankbaits don’t need a lip to get down into the water column and draw strikes from bass. These lipless crankbaits offer key advantages in some situations, making them more versatile than their conventional counterparts.

Most plastic worms used for bass fall in the 6- to 8-inch range. But in some cases, bigger is better. And by bigger, we’re talking worms that are a full 12 inches or even longer. These are mega-size worms, and fishing them can result in mega-size bass.

Soft-plastic swimbaits catch bass for two main reasons: They cover water, and they imitate baitfish well enough that bass want to eat them. But if you want to take your swimbait presentations to the next level, consider some of the ultra-realistic versions now available to anglers.

When considering a kayak for bass fishing, keep these five things in mind: size, propulsion system, safety, gear organization and comfort. Learn how each of these features makes a difference so you’re prepared to choose the best kayak for your needs.

Learn about the benefits of fishing from a kayak, including transport, storage, cost savings and, above all, stealth. These advantages can get you on more bass and help you catch them efficiently.

No boat, no problem. While many bass fishing techniques center on presentations made from a boat, savvy anglers can have success while fishing from the bank, too. In this episode, we explore tactics and tackle to help bank anglers get more hookups.

In the summer and on pressured waters, the best time to fish may even be after dark. Fishing before sunrise and after sunset requires a carefully thought-out approach to techniques, and it’s always a good idea to limit after-dark excursions to water that you’ve fished in daylight and already know well. Another requirement: Make sure you carry quality lights, whether they be handheld flashlights or