Baits such as the Senko, Slug-Go, and Fluke can be fished almost anywhere - on, over, around, and even through most forms of cover and even open water. They're incredibly productive during the spring and fall when bass move shallow and feed heavily on shad and other baitfish. They're an eye contact bait meaning the bass has to see it to hit it. Therefore they produce best in clear water.
Equipment
A fast action rod that is seven feet or longer is best, simply because it allows better line and lure control and helps tremendously in obtaining powerful hooksets and control over big fish. Use offset shank 4/0 or 5/0 extra wide gap hooks for better action and hook penetration. Tie the hooks on using a heavy-weight line. This will eliminate line stretch, have more strength, and be more abrasion resistant.
Tips
- Fish slowly, providing better action and enabling the fish to have ample eye contact.
- When fishing vegetation, fish high-percentage areas -- points, pockets, holes, dips, cuts, and any other irregular features.
- Lighter-colored lures work best.
- If a fish swims up under it but won't take it, switch to a floating worm.
- Always be observant, have patience, and concentrate on your presentation.
- When rigging a Slug-Go, insert the hook just below the tip on the seam. It makes the nose stick up a little, rising to the surface when you twitch it.
- A finish nail inserted in the body will change the lure's action.
- Try adding rattles to give bass a different look.
- Be aware of the boat's position. It's common in and around cover areas for a bass to follow the action above and blast a lure after it clears the cover in open water. If you're too close, you'll spook cacheable bass.
- Concentrate on fishing cover close to deeper water areas.
- Strike a fish by feel rather than by sight.
- Check your knot for weakness and hook for sharpness periodically.
- On cool summer days, fish a shad-colored finesse worm as a jerkbait. Cast it to some cover, twitch, let it fall, and then repeat. Works great. -- Ty
- Wow! Try a white mouse on river banks. Work it as slowly as possible around tree tops and stump beds, and hold on!
- When fishing plastic jerkbaits, find vegetation with thick green moss behind the weeds. Make sure the Fluke or whatever you use is completely weedless. If it's not, you'll surely get hung up. Drag your lure across the moss, like a rat or frog. When you get to the edge of the weeds, jerk it once, then let fall for about 4 or 5 seconds. When you retrieve, jerk like you're setting the hook. If any bass are in the area of your presentation, I guarantee they will EXPLODE on it like dynamite. Works well in 69-72 degree shallow water.
- Take a silver or gold swivel and place it about a foot or two ahead of the bait. It's kind of a Carolina rig with no weight or bead. This prevents twist and makes it look like your bait is a fish chasing a bug or another smaller fish (your swivel). THE SWIVEL DOES NOT AFFECT THE ACTION IN A BAD WAY.... in fact, your bait has no difference in the action what so ever.
