• When presenting the jig, you may get a strike on the drop or while working the jig. Cast the line and when it hits the bottom, hop the jig a few times and then swim the jig a good length before letting it rest again, then repeat the hop and swim pattern.

 

  • Getting the balance between your tackle and the line can be difficult for beginners. To match up the jig size to the line, try the following as a guideline: for 4 lb test, use 1/8 oz; 6 lb test, 1/8 to 1/4oz; and for 8-10 lb 1/4 to 5/8 oz.

 

  • To add more movement to your plastic worm to attract more strikes, cut a slit in the head area of the worm, just above the band. Inside the slit, place a piece of light material such as foam and seal the worm with a strong glue like crazy glue.

 

  • Some would recommend adding a piece of pork or a worm to a spinner that’s not performing well. This can be a good technique with pork. However using a plastic worm alone may be just as successful if not more when dealing with bass.

 

  • Spinnerbaits are plentiful with many colors and varieties. Instead of going into detail of which work in each situation, remember this general guideline. In clear water use a silver blade with a white skirt and in muddy waters, use gold blades with a yellow skirt.

 

  • Choose your spinner blade based on where you are fishing. By where we mean at what depth in the water you will be fishing. When fishing near the surface, use a slender, diamond-shaped blade. When deep or in muddy water use the rounded blade.

 

  • The purple and black worms are common favorites with many experienced anglers. However, when fishing in clear water consider the use of translucent colors and in dark waters, those colors that are grungy or darks.

 

  • Plastic worms are the most popular and common lure used to catch bass. Use a 6 inch worm for bass fishing and a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. 8 inch hooks work well for larger bass. Select a 3/0 or 4/0 hook for larger bass with the 8 inch hook.

 

  • Remove the rear hook from the end of a crankbait, add a split ring and then attach an 8 or 6 inch hook between 1/0 and 4/0 depending on the worm size. The barb should exit the near worm’s band, which separates the head from the body.

 

  • Adding pork rinds to a bait or lure is supposed to improve your chances of catching fish. However, don’t add too much as it will have the opposite effect. Keep the size and shape in keeping with your lure. Unused rinds can be stored in zip-lock bags.

 

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