Gear

Gussy’s 5 favorite spotted bass baits

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Since venturing south from the Great White North, Canadian pro Jeff Gustafson has come to appreciate many aspects of U.S. life; not the least of which is the presence of spotted bass. While none of the 2020 Elite events stand out as strong spotted bass fisheries, he maintains his personal fascination with this spunky species.
Since venturing south from the Great White North, Canadian pro Jeff Gustafson has come to appreciate many aspects of U.S. life; not the least of which is the presence of spotted bass. While none of the 2020 Elite events stand out as strong spotted bass fisheries, he maintains his personal fascination with this spunky species.
“We don’t have spotted bass up in Canada where I’m at, so growing up, I never caught a spotted bass until I started to fish professionally,” said the second-year Elite from Keewatin, Can. who spent six years on the FLW Tour. “Over the last few years, I’ve gotten to go to some of the best spotted bass lakes in the country — Smith Lake, Lanier, Hartwell. If I have the opportunity to fish for the big ones, I almost always will.
“We don’t have spotted bass up in Canada where I’m at, so growing up, I never caught a spotted bass until I started to fish professionally,” said the second-year Elite from Keewatin, Can. who spent six years on the FLW Tour. “Over the last few years, I’ve gotten to go to some of the best spotted bass lakes in the country — Smith Lake, Lanier, Hartwell. If I have the opportunity to fish for the big ones, I almost always will.
“It’s something I really enjoy, I have a lot of confidence in (spotted bass fishing) and there are a lot of similarities between fishing for smallmouth up north and fishing for spotted bass.” <BR><BR> Summarizing the parallels between spots and smallies, Gustafson points to his deep water electronics proficiency — a skill set that serves him well, no matter what he’s hunting.
“It’s something I really enjoy, I have a lot of confidence in (spotted bass fishing) and there are a lot of similarities between fishing for smallmouth up north and fishing for spotted bass.”

Summarizing the parallels between spots and smallies, Gustafson points to his deep water electronics proficiency — a skill set that serves him well, no matter what he’s hunting.

“When I go to a Elite event, if I can go offshore and utilize my electronics, that’s going to be my first (preference),” he said. “With spotted bass, whether it’s deep structure, deeper brush piles, suspended fish; the nature of these spotted bass is that there are always some (offshore).”
“When I go to a Elite event, if I can go offshore and utilize my electronics, that’s going to be my first (preference),” he said. “With spotted bass, whether it’s deep structure, deeper brush piles, suspended fish; the nature of these spotted bass is that there are always some (offshore).”
And when he dials in his spotted bass abodes, Gustafson turns to a strategic arsenal of proven bite-getters. His starting lineup comprises:
And when he dials in his spotted bass abodes, Gustafson turns to a strategic arsenal of proven bite-getters. His starting lineup comprises:
<B>1. Ned Rig</b> — Preferring the Z-Man Hula StickZ for its tantalizing tentacles, Gustafson fits a green pumpkin or mudbug color bait on a 1/6-ounce Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ jighead. His go-to spot bait fits just about any scenario he encounters. <BR><BR> “This is the most universal spotted bass bait there is; you can catch them from 4 feet to 60 feet,” Gustafson said. “I like the 1/6-ounce jig head because it gets to the bottom quickly.” <BR><BR> Noting that efficiency is key, especially in the deeper spots, Gustafson uses 8-pound bright yellow Power Pro braided main line, topped with an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. The latter prevents spooking the sharp-eyed spots, but the braid provides an invaluable benefit. <BR><BR> “That bright color allows you to see your line better,” Gustafson said. “You can see a bite on the fall and you can see when you bait hits the bottom. That helps prevent snags and allows you to start fishing sooner. If you use a darker color, you’ll get a headache trying to watch your line.”
1. Ned Rig — Preferring the Z-Man Hula StickZ for its tantalizing tentacles, Gustafson fits a green pumpkin or mudbug color bait on a 1/6-ounce Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ jighead. His go-to spot bait fits just about any scenario he encounters.

“This is the most universal spotted bass bait there is; you can catch them from 4 feet to 60 feet,” Gustafson said. “I like the 1/6-ounce jig head because it gets to the bottom quickly.”

Noting that efficiency is key, especially in the deeper spots, Gustafson uses 8-pound bright yellow Power Pro braided main line, topped with an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. The latter prevents spooking the sharp-eyed spots, but the braid provides an invaluable benefit.

“That bright color allows you to see your line better,” Gustafson said. “You can see a bite on the fall and you can see when you bait hits the bottom. That helps prevent snags and allows you to start fishing sooner. If you use a darker color, you’ll get a headache trying to watch your line.”

<B>2. Neko Rig </b>— A Z-Man Bang StickZ in the mood ring color rigged on a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger Finesse Hook with a Z-Man Neko ShroomZ weight in the nose provides Gustafson a strategically diverse bait that falls fast and triggers bites. <BR><BR> “I’ll have it set up with a 1/6-ounce weight for dropping on fish that I see on my graph and then I’ll put a 1/10-ounce weight in it for skipping it around deep floating docks,” he said. <BR><BR> Gustafson offers two tips for Neko success: 1) When dropping to spots, don’t stop the bait above the fish, as you would with smallmouth. Let it zip past them and prompt the most aggressive fish to chase. 2) If you can see spotted bass suspending under docks, stay as far back as possible to avoid spooking them.
2. Neko Rig — A Z-Man Bang StickZ in the mood ring color rigged on a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger Finesse Hook with a Z-Man Neko ShroomZ weight in the nose provides Gustafson a strategically diverse bait that falls fast and triggers bites.

“I’ll have it set up with a 1/6-ounce weight for dropping on fish that I see on my graph and then I’ll put a 1/10-ounce weight in it for skipping it around deep floating docks,” he said.

Gustafson offers two tips for Neko success: 1) When dropping to spots, don’t stop the bait above the fish, as you would with smallmouth. Let it zip past them and prompt the most aggressive fish to chase. 2) If you can see spotted bass suspending under docks, stay as far back as possible to avoid spooking them.

<B>3. Jerkbait</b> — Gustafson likes the 3.2-inch Jackall DD Squirrel for its small profile and its ability to suspend over windblown points and deep brush piles. Vertical brush reaching from 20- to 25-foot depths to about 8 feet below the surface are spotted bass gold mines. A common scenario he’ll fish on Lanier and Hartwell, Gustafson said he’ll vary his cadence largely based on water temperature.
3. Jerkbait — Gustafson likes the 3.2-inch Jackall DD Squirrel for its small profile and its ability to suspend over windblown points and deep brush piles. Vertical brush reaching from 20- to 25-foot depths to about 8 feet below the surface are spotted bass gold mines. A common scenario he’ll fish on Lanier and Hartwell, Gustafson said he’ll vary his cadence largely based on water temperature.

“If the water is below 50 degrees, I’ll pause it more; but if it’s above 50, I’m going to keep it moving with a jerk, jerk, pause; jerk, jerk, pause,” he said.
“If the water is below 50 degrees, I’ll pause it more; but if it’s above 50, I’m going to keep it moving with a jerk, jerk, pause; jerk, jerk, pause,” he said.
<B>4. Small Swimbait</b> — For covering water on deeper flats, Gustafson rigs a 3-inch smelt color Z-Man MinnowZ on a 1/4-ounce ball head jig. He’ll keep this bait 2/3 the way down the water column so he can make contact with suspended fish, while also tempting and bottom-oriented spots to rise and bite. <BR><BR> “While I’m casting the swimbait, I’m always watching my graph for fish that I can drop on with a Ned rig, as well,” Gustafson said.
4. Small Swimbait — For covering water on deeper flats, Gustafson rigs a 3-inch smelt color Z-Man MinnowZ on a 1/4-ounce ball head jig. He’ll keep this bait 2/3 the way down the water column so he can make contact with suspended fish, while also tempting and bottom-oriented spots to rise and bite.

“While I’m casting the swimbait, I’m always watching my graph for fish that I can drop on with a Ned rig, as well,” Gustafson said.

<B>5. Underspin</b> — Adding a 4-inch smelt color Z-Man Jerk ShadZ gives Gustafson an alternative to the swimbait; something to vary his presentations to the same fish. The latter handles most of the work, but when he needs to fire up disinterested fish, that flashing blade does the trick. <BR><BR> “It’s just a slow and steady retrieve and finding that right section in the water column,” Gustafson said. “A lot of that is watching your graph throughout the day and if you’re seeing a lot of fish 12 feet down, make note of where you’re seeing them and keep your bait in that range.” <BR><BR> With this selection of spotted bass baits on his deck, Gustafson’s ready to engage the fish he’s come to appreciate through his U.S. competition: “I just love the aggressive nature of spotted bass and it’s something I’ve put quite a bit of time into. I feel pretty confident chasing them around.”
5. Underspin — Adding a 4-inch smelt color Z-Man Jerk ShadZ gives Gustafson an alternative to the swimbait; something to vary his presentations to the same fish. The latter handles most of the work, but when he needs to fire up disinterested fish, that flashing blade does the trick.

“It’s just a slow and steady retrieve and finding that right section in the water column,” Gustafson said. “A lot of that is watching your graph throughout the day and if you’re seeing a lot of fish 12 feet down, make note of where you’re seeing them and keep your bait in that range.”

With this selection of spotted bass baits on his deck, Gustafson’s ready to engage the fish he’s come to appreciate through his U.S. competition: “I just love the aggressive nature of spotted bass and it’s something I’ve put quite a bit of time into. I feel pretty confident chasing them around.”

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