Gear

Christie’s springtime tacklebox

Jason Christie's top lure choices for springtime in one all-around tacklebox.

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Photography by
Craig Lamb
In the bass world, what’s so great about spring is the spawning cycle makes the move one direction, which is toward the bank. Successfully intercepting bass on the move along transition routes takes the right baits. Bassmaster Elite Series pro and world champion Jason Christie is a master at both. 
“This is a universal tacklebox that I keep in my boat during the spawning cycle,” he said. “I will use one or more of these baits anywhere we travel on tour.”
Christie has won a lot of money — including a Bassmaster Classic — on these baits that work on highland and lowland lakes, rivers and in any water clarity. What are you waiting for? Stock up now and make a box you can use to catch more and bigger bass this spring. 
1/2-ounce BOOYAH Mobster Swim Jig, Green Pumpkin
Christie adds a YUM Craw Chunk for added strike appeal.
“It’s best when you swim it around grass, brushpiles and anywhere the bass might be spawning,” Christie said. “It’s weedless, and I’ll switch to this jig when the water gets too clear for a spinnerbait.”
War Eagle JIU-JIGSU, Green Pumpkin Orange
Christie uses a YUM Craw Chunk as a jig trailer. The package is his go-to for flipping heavy cover from docks and bushes to thick vegetation.
“This is my heavy combat weapon of choice,” Christie said. 
1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Double Colorado Spinnerbait (gold/silver blades), Chartreuse/White
A key add-on is the 4-inch YUM FF Sonar Minnow.
“It adds a lot of lure action when the bait vibrates on retrieve,” Christie said. “It’s a search bait I use to cover a lot of water.” Stained water is preferred, with bushes, rock, wood and other visible cover as the lure targets. 
Norman Speed N Jr. Crankbait
Christies prefers this shallow-running squarebill model for stained water. Migratory transition areas like stumps, rock, riprap and more are lure targets. “With 12-pound line I can touch bottom up to 10-feet deep,” Christie said.
You get one bait that can work a wide range of strike zones in cold or warming water. The bait’s wide wobble makes it ideal for those conditions, and especially when making bottom contact on rock. 
3.75-inch YUM Spine Craw, Green Pumpkin/Blue Flake
Christie switches from the jig to this bait when the spawn is underway and largemouth are on the beds. “It’s a more subtle bait that won’t run off spooky fish,” he said. “The profile and action represent danger to the fish, and they’ll attack it.”
Christie also favors the Spine Craw as a universal trailer. 
5-inch YUM Dinger
When all else fails, Christie goes to the tried-and-true YUM Dinger. Rig it Texas style for flipping, Carolina rigged, wacky rigged or for casting. 
A closer look at the bait’s detailing.
4- and 5-inch YUM FF Sonar Minnow
The newest addition to the YUM FF Sonar Minnow lineup are these upsized versions.
“On lakes with bigger bait in stained water, the bass will search for and eat this size of minnow.” Christie said. “It all goes under the application of using Garmin’s LiveScope.”
Pair the bait up with the YUM FF Sonar Jig Head to complete the package. (Available in different hook sizes and weights from 1/8-ounce No. 1 hook to 3/8-ounce with 3/0 hook.) 

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