Roxanne’s Advice on Bass Fishing Lures
This is Rox’ answer to a question on bass lures from Petru, a kayak fisherman from Ontario:
Petru,
Here is a couple of pictures of the lures and hooks I use, and have had great success with.
The Yum Dinger, shown in both pictures, range from 6″ to 3″, and the 1/4 oz Jigs are in the top row of the picture.
As you see, I am also a Big Fan of the Chatter Bait.
Petru, Maybe you’re fishing your jigs too fast.
You have to make sure they reach bottom, remember the 1/4oz jig takes a little longer getting to the bottom. Your lure has not reached bottom till you see your line go slack.
Then make short hops, and long pauses, with a twitch here and there.
And always keep contact with bottom, your line and jig.
You can pop it hard, just follow it back to the bottom with your tip, and be ready to set that hook!
Any kind of line movement, could be a strike, when in doubt, set that hook.
Most strikes will happen on the Fall, so always keep a close eye on your line as it sinks to the bottom.
A Bass can grab and spit that bad boy out before you even realize you missed a strike!
The Yum Dinger, can be fished many ways, as a jerk bait, finess, whacky rigged, placed on a ball jig, chatter bait (killer pike bait), or Dead sticking it.
Same as the jig, you must reach bottom, always watching that line for any signs of a strike on the fall, most will happen then.
But when the fish are in a negative mode, let it hit bottom, with long pauses between a pop, pop, pop, reel your slack line, and repeat all the way back to shore or
boat.
You can also add a small finish nail, or small screw to the butt of the dingers.
This will increase the fall rate, but not hurt the action.
Toss the dinger in 3′ of water and count it down till you reach bottom, then in deeper water you’ll have a better idea when it will reach the depth you want to fish.
Hope this helps Petru.
Good Luck and Tight Lines.
Rox
Tags: bass, bass lures, chatter bait, connecticut, dinger, fish hooks, fishing lures, kayak fishing, kayak fishing tackle, large mouth bass, smallmouth bass, Yum Dinger
September 8th, 2009 at
Nicely put together Rox. One of the things we tell folks on using any bait that can sit is to give the fish time to read the menu. Under most conditions they are fishing too fast. There are places for speed but most of the time there is a need to slow down. In all cases it’s proper speed and depth control that puts fish on the hook. Once we find them of course.
September 8th, 2009 at
That’s a good piece Roxanne – clear and instructive.
Mike
September 8th, 2009 at
Rox, I enjoyed reading your new article
Marco
September 8th, 2009 at
Thank you Roxanne.
Your guide it is very instructive.
You have a big arsenal, fishing so many lure and hooks show that you are in bussiness for a while.
Thank you again for your time and such fine details.
Regards,
Petru, Toronto, Canada
September 13th, 2009 at
Rox,
Beautiful lure display, but I’m still confused: Which is the Yum Dinger?
Can you describe it physically?
Thanks!
John Z
September 14th, 2009 at
JohnZ, the yum dinger is pictured at the top of both soft plastic lures pictures.
It’s a senko knock off, but IMO, they are better. They don’t tear up on the first strike like the senko’s do.
The worms come in 3″, 4″, 5″ and in all colors.
Do a search on Yum Baits and you’ll see them up close.
Tight lines
Rox