Spotted Bass

[Deebass18]

I've been fishing pretty hardcore for bass for a little over a year now. I live in the middle eastern part of Alabama in Auburn (war eagle) so I fish a lot of spotted bass lakes. I was wondering if anyone could help me out with some good rigs to catch some spots? Trust me if you say shakey head with watermelon seed worm I've heard it before. Thanks guys!

[Big C]

Shakey head with pumpkin seed worm.

 

Honestly, I would try a hair jig or "Preacher" jig.

[gulfcaptain]

What about  a Robo Worm in Morning Dawn or Margrita Mutilator on a shakeyhead or on a dropshot? Or possibly underspins with a fluke or A nail weighted wacky rigged Senko.  I'm from the West Coast, so I'd think out of the box and try a 168 S Weaver or some 4" size swimbaits as well (Kietech Swing Impact FAT 3.8 / 4.3 sizes) 

[Bluebasser86]

We don't have many spots in KS but I fish for them at Table Rock and other Ozark lakes often. A Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4oz head with a steady retrieve and a topwater walking bait are 2 of my favorite ways to catch them. 

[lo n slo]

5" (not 6") Zoom Lizard, Green Pumpkin/Chartreuse

Zoom Shakey Tail Worm also in GP/C

6" Zoom U Tail Worm GP/C

I fish alot of Spotted Bass waters myself but the spots we are used to are probably a littlle smaller than those in Alabama. BPS carries the 5" Zoom lizards but for some odd reason they cost more than the 6" 'ers. I have had to switch to a Watermelon Seed in clearer water. Oops!

[scaleface]

I have limited experience with spots because I have to drive so far to catch them. Only fished for them about a dozen times . Six inch  Texas rigged jelly Worms  are awful good .At Table Rock lake one September  day  [and this was only one time  , I dont know if I could ever repeat it again ] I caught several spots and my pb around 4 lbs by slowly retrieving a Black Pico Pop right under the surface in standing timber . At the correct speed the lure would push a big old bulge in front and delicately wiggle at the same time . 

[WRB]

Spotted bass are very aggressive feeders similar to smallmouth bass and roam a lot. Finding spots is the key to catching them. Spits usually prefer contrasting highlites in soft plastics, brighter colors contrasting to natural color; chartreuse or orange tail tips on green with Chartreuse and cinnamon with orange are good.

Underspins like a Swarming Hornet with Shad color baby flukes work good.

Spots also like to be around deep water with granite rock.

Tom

[Deebass18]

Thanks guys. Any reccomedations on the colors for the kitech swim baits? I know that bluegill flash is pretty popular. And is the 5 inch lizard the same as like the mini zoom lizard? And bps is a pretty long haul for me considering I live in auburn and the nearest one is in prattville. Does twh have them?

[WRB]

KISS; Roboworm 6" straight tail in morning dawn hologram (chartreuse tail) and salt pepper chartreuse tail.

Split shot, drop shot or 1/8 oz dart head (Owner Ultra Inshore white).

Tom

PS, use a saftey razer blade and split the tail about 3/4".

[lo n slo]

The Zoom Mini's are just too small. The 5" is obviously longer and considerably fatter. They have a tendancy to tear up on you though. I try to buy in bulk when BPS holds their annual March Madness sale. You can purchase them online if the drive is too far. I dont remember being able to find the 5" at TWH.

I know one inch either way does'nt seem like it would make a difference but for some reason it does. Texas rigged with a 3/16 bullet/3.0 Gamakatsu Offset or EWG on 12 lb fluoro is a very dependable, no nonsense method, shallow or deep, pre spawn or fall. It will catch big fish as well as the little guys too.

We went over to Badin Lake (a noted big bass lake around here)one day this past spring only to find bass boats everywhere, pre-fishing a Fishers of Men tourney. Big blades and Bubba jigs hit the water like hail stones in a storm. Nobody was catching a thing. "On the beds", "Spawned out" they were saying. We busted out our 5" "greenies" and it was on! Those little lizards were working on those fat pre-spawn largemouth's too.

[WRB]

The Zoom Mini's are just too small. The 5" is obviously longer and considerably fatter. They have a tendancy to tear up on you though. I try to buy in bulk when BPS holds their annual March Madness sale. You can purchase them online if the drive is too far. I dont remember being able to find the 5" at TWH.

I know one inch either way does'nt seem like it would make a difference but for some reason it does. Texas rigged with a 3/16 bullet/3.0 Gamakatsu Offset or EWG on 12 lb fluoro is a very dependable, no nonsense method, shallow or deep, pre spawn or fall. It will catch big fish as well as the little guys too.

We went over to Badin Lake (a noted big bass lake around here)one day this past spring only to find bass boats everywhere, pre-fishing a Fishers of Men tourney. Big blades and Bubba jigs hit the water like hail stones in a storm. Nobody was catching a thing. "On the beds", "Spawned out" they were saying. We busted out our 5" "greenies" and it was on! Those little lizards were working on those fat pre-spawn largemouth's too.

It's Sept (fall) ,pre spawn is about 4 to 5 months away.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks guys. Any reccomedations on the colors for the kitech swim baits? I know that bluegill flash is pretty popular. And is the 5 inch lizard the same as like the mini zoom lizard? And bps is a pretty long haul for me considering I live in auburn and the nearest one is in prattville. Does twh have them?

I like the Electric Shad color Keitechs. 

 

Zoom doesn't make a 5" lizard that I'm aware of. They have the 4" Mini, 6" standard size, and 8" magnum. TWH carries both but you can get the Zoom lizards at Wal-Mart if need be. 

[gardnerjigman]

We don't have many spots in KS but I fish for them at Table Rock and other Ozark lakes often. A Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4oz head with a steady retrieve and a topwater walking bait are 2 of my favorite ways to catch them. 

 

X2 on the walking baits. I've also had great luck on a pearl fluke with a nail weight in the nose. They are mean little critters!

[Wprich]

I like the Electric Shad color Keitechs.

Zoom doesn't make a 5" lizard that I'm aware of. They have the 4" Mini, 6" standard size, and 8" magnum. TWH carries both but you can get the Zoom lizards at Wal-Mart if need be.

Just bought some of the 5 inchers from basspro 2 weeks ago, don't seem to have as many colors as they do the 6 inchers but they do make them.

[Catt]

Big Bite Baits 4" Craw Worm Green Pumpkin Texas Red; Texas Rig it!

[Deebass18]

I was absolutely killing them with a 3/8 oz chatter bait in white but I think the kicker was my trailer a zoom super fluke in baitfish color. Try this out. Also a bandit 300 in pearl black back around rocky points has always been good to me. My dad believes in it so much that he can't put it down which is quite a pain when I'm trying to float a drop shot off the boat when he's burning crank baits and running the motor.

[lo n slo]

It's Sept (fall) ,pre spawn is about 4 to 5 months away.

Tom

That's obvious

[lo n slo]

n/m

[WRB]

That's obvious

Your post #10 was about lizards during the spawn cycle, ie; my reply is about the fall period when lizards are not nearly as effective.

Big spots are like big bass everywhere, they eat crawdads no baitfish the majority of the time.

Tom

[Catt]

Big Spots are like any bass any where; they don't know they aint supposed to eat lizard in the fall!