Nice_Bass

1) Reel in slack, use a firm sweeping motion to set, and reel down and set again. 2) I would use a fast reel to get in any slack from wind, long 7 ½ rod, fast tip, and graphite to pick up the slightest pickup. Base your line off of the cover you are fishing, rocks- #20 mono and retie often, etc. 3) I usually get a sublet bite, or just feel the weight. Depending on your reasons for fishing, a jig hooked bass is going for the surface, so don't let him, unless you want a fun fight of surface jumping.

I would think that if the fish are relating to the bottom for feeding to stick with fishing on the bottom. Start at the bank or as close to as you feel comfortable and cast out to deep water, drag the bait back to the boat and keep contact with the bottom on a tight line. Football jig and craw seems like a great option, however I am sure texas or Carolina would produce. If it truly is crystal clear water, then I am sure most boats are sitting on top of the fish over the deeper structure. Focus on inside turns as you cast out to a point. and note ledge depth if you start catching them.

Tap, tap.set the hook, drag pulls, and the fish hardly moves as you drive a tru-turn into it. Another moment I get excited about is when a plan comes to fruition. You study the lake map, circle a few saddles, points, rockbars, etc. that you are certain will hold fish, pick the right baits for the situation, and catch fish dusk till dawn.

fish early and late...Even at lake of the ozarks it still puts fish in the boat.

You can not beat the tex rigged powerbait bouncing across points...but, Senkos have been clearing them out tex rigged weightless around stumps, at all times of day. Been a lot of fun fishing them on a spinning rod as well, makes even the 15 inchers seem like 20's.

I usually burn them like a buzz bait in and out of thick cover. Also effective, is through standing timber, the slow decent on the pause around stumps, and trunks is irresistible with the flapping legs; the slower decent than a buzz or spinnerbait keeps it in the strike zone just a bit longer.

Agreed, easy to rig, fishes well. Only drawback I had was that fish did not tend to hold on long so it took a quick hookset which is also tough when they blow up on the top, rather they take it down a bit. Sorry, this was in regards to the YUM money hound...I am new to posting, not fishing. Cheers!

Agreed, easy to rig, fishes well. Only drawback I had was that fish did not tend to hold on long so it took a quick hookset which is also tough when they blow up on the top, rather they take it down a bit.