Last Technique

[Robert Riley]

So this summer I decided to pick two techniques to "master" of the course of spring -> summer.

 

I'm looking for one that I might be able to focus on this fall -> winter. I primarily fish from the shore and every now and then from a boat (probably 3 more boat trips this year).

 

I'd rather y'all just throw stuff out here instead of me listing off what I know.

 

I'm thinking dragging football heads, carolina rigs or jerkbaits?  

[Bluebasser86]

If I'm bank fishing a pond in the winter a suspending jerkbait is what I fish 90% of the time. A big reason for that is so many ponds around here are covered with weeds or dead leaves on the bottom so it becomes the only real option. 

[Robert Riley]

That would make sense, a lot of leaves just fell in the last week, so the water is covered in them now. 

[Bluebasser86]

They're a huge pain both when they're floating on the top and when they're cluttering up the bottom. Long pauses and small twitches will catch fish as long as the water is soft enough to fish them. A very lightly weighted or even weightless soft plastic is about the only other thing I fish in the dead of winter at ponds. If you get a good warm stretch a slow rolled, single Colorado bladed spinnerbait will catch some pigs. 

[gardnerjigman]

I like to add just a touch of weight right under the nose of the jerkbait, or on the front hook to make it suspend nose down also.

[papajoe222]

A suspending or slow rising crank will both cover water and elicit reaction strikes, just choose one that will run shallower than the depth you're fishing.  If you can find one without rattles, all the better. Crank it down and pump your rod tip to move it, or pause it regularly during your retrieve. Swimming a jig with a curly tailed grub like a Kalin's Lunker Grub is another option, but fishing from shore makes it difficult to NOT make bottom contact during your retrieve. Lastly, don't overlook a lipless crank. Even if you occasionally tick the bottom, a sharp jerk of the rod tip will normally clear the hooks and get it back up off the bottom. Hang on, because that sudden burst of speed and change of direction can trigger some aggressive strikes.

[Robert Riley]

A suspending or slow rising crank will both cover water and elicit reaction strikes, just choose one that will run shallower than the depth you're fishing.  If you can find one without rattles, all the better. Crank it down and pump your rod tip to move it, or pause it regularly during your retrieve. Swimming a jig with a curly tailed grub like a Kalin's Lunker Grub is another option, but fishing from shore makes it difficult to NOT make bottom contact during your retrieve. Lastly, don't overlook a lipless crank. Even if you occasionally tick the bottom, a sharp jerk of the rod tip will normally clear the hooks and get it back up off the bottom. Hang on, because that sudden burst of speed and change of direction can trigger some aggressive strikes.

 

I'm actually planning on taking a lipless and a football out there this weekend. I'm afraid of catching a log or some branches with the lipless though. 

[Ozark_Basser]

Silent flat sided squarebills, living rubber finesse jigs with a pork trailer, jerkbaits (if the water's clear enough), and pitching baits multiple times to the same visible targets, especially if those targets are wood.  Also, big swimbaits.  SLOW.  This is all I throw in the winter.  It's also good to find spots with access to deep water.  

[Robert Riley]

Glad you said swimbaits. I recently fished swimbaits this summer, kind of want to try it some more. 

 

Could you expand on what you do?

[Ozark_Basser]

Glad you said swimbaits. I recently fished swimbaits this summer, kind of want to try it some more. 

 

Could you expand on what you do?

Throw huddlestons on an extremely slow steady retrieve anywhere I think there is fish.  Hudds seem better in the winter because they don't have as much action as boot style swimbaits.  You have to have the gear to throw them though.  

[Robert Riley]

Gear? I'd probably throw it on a Med Mod Glass rod now, but a swimbait rod is in my future. 

 

These are soft plastic swimbaits right? Toss them with a weighted hook texposed or what?

[Ozark_Basser]

Gear? I'd probably throw it on a Med Mod Glass rod now, but a swimbait rod is in my future. 

 

These are soft plastic swimbaits right? Toss them with a weighted hook texposed or what?

ehhhh not so much.  They are BIG swimbaits.  They weigh around 4 oz for the 8 inch.  You got to have the gear.  You can get away with a low profile reel but not the rod.  Okuma makes a good swimbait rod for cheap.

[Ozark_Basser]

Look up Huddleston Swimbaits.  I'd start with the 6 inch ~ 2 oz

[Robert Riley]

Would a musky rod suffice? I gather you are talking about the "Big Bait Rod"

[Ozark_Basser]

I think I recall hearing about using that rod for SB fishing.  Is it the bass pro one?

[Robert Riley]

http://www.***.com/Okuma_Guide_Select_Series_Big_Bait_Casting_Rods/descpage-OGSBBR.html

 

There is actually one on the Flea Market now, i believe

[Ozark_Basser]

I owned the 7'11 XH.  I've never thrown with the 7'6".  It might be a bit light for the 8" hudd, but I'm not certain.  You can't always trust the lure weight ratings on swimbait rods. It would be a good rod to throw the 6" hudd and would be a good swimbait starter rod. Either way the price for the combo is a straight up steal.

[Robert Riley]

Oh, did you find it on the Flea Market? 

 

There is actually a Dobyns 806 Mike Long rod too. I'm a huge fan of Dobyns Rods (sponsorship)

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/145639-dobyns-806-and-powell-733/

[Ozark_Basser]

If you're willing to fork out the dough for the Dobyns then that is what I would get.  It'll handle a wider variety of big baits if you think you want to get into SB fishing.

[hatrix]

They're a huge pain both when they're floating on the top and when they're cluttering up the bottom. Long pauses and small twitches will catch fish as long as the water is soft enough to fish them. A very lightly weighted or even weightless soft plastic is about the only other thing I fish in the dead of winter at ponds. If you get a good warm stretch a slow rolled, single Colorado bladed spinnerbait will catch some pigs. 

 

I feel your pain. These northern lakes with muck bottoms that get all silted in made any thing on the bottom more difficult. Also the leaves that are floating now have been messing up a lot of my casts. One will get drug down somehow and hooked on a treble and I won't be able to rip it clean. Has been happening a tn to me lately. But that's just life I guess.

[WRB]

68 Hudd is what you need, 6" Huud with larger 8" Hudd tail, swims very well and the proper size for you.

You should also look into a 5" hard jointed bluegill swimbait like Matt lures or Black Dog shell cracker. Order these now and you may have it by spring!

The Okuma or Dobyn's mention will work for both.

Only you can answer your question, unless you plan on purchasing presentation/ lure specific tackle for each suggestion.

Drop shot is a good high percentage presentation.

Shaky head jig/worm is another.

Lipless crankbaits and jerk baits both are good to learn.

Pitching jigs require specific rods as does casting jigs 1/2 to 1 oz,

Deep diving crankbaits good to learn.

Tom

[Robert Riley]

By the look of it, it'll be jerkbaits, and considering I'm fishing a tournament down at Lake of the Ozarks this spring, it'll be needed. 

[WRB]

By the look of it, it'll be jerkbaits, and considering I'm fishing a tournament down at Lake of the Ozarks this spring, it'll be needed.

Invest in LC 115 Pointers and Megabass Vision 110 slow sinking jerk baits in shad colors.

Tom

[Munkin]

Suspending jerkbait if the water is clear and a swim jig are my two recommendations.

 

Allen

[Ozark_Basser]

68 Hudd is what you need, 6" Huud with larger 8" Hudd tail, swims very well and the proper size for you.

You should also look into a 5" hard jointed bluegill swimbait like Matt lures or Black Dog shell cracker. Order these now and you may have it by spring!

The Okuma or Dobyn's mention will work for both.

Only you can answer your question, unless you plan on purchasing presentation/ lure specific tackle for each suggestion.

Drop shot is a good high percentage presentation.

Shaky head jig/worm is another.

Lipless crankbaits and jerk baits both are good to learn.

Pitching jigs require specific rods as does casting jigs 1/2 to 1 oz,

Deep diving crankbaits good to learn.

Tom

^^^^^ this!  Also Savage Gear line thrus are a little cheaper and lighter I'm pretty sure, if that's what you're ultimately gonna be looking for.  

 

Only thing I want to say a little differently is that you can use the same rod for pitching and casting jigs.  In fact, for me it's easier to use a little shorter rod for skip-pitching lures.  I'll pitch jigs and skip-pitch baits with a seven foot rod all day without a problem. Only time the shorter rod wouldn't be as effective would be in really heavy cover because it wouldn't have as much leverage to pull them out of it.  

 

In addition, if you're going to the Lake of the Ozarks this spring, I'd definitely learn a thing or two about skipping jigs because that lake is loaded with docks.  Green pumpkin/Orange kills there.