“Because so many lakes are used for power generation which translates to current, I like to throw these crankbaits on points and shellbeds on ledges where schools of bass have grouped up. They are great lures for triggering strikes as the lure quickly scoots through the school, banging on the bottom all the way. I throw a chartreuse and blue color because the water can be stained with so much current, and I throw them on 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon to get maximum depth and action.”
“A great companion to the deep diving crankbait is a big worm, and I designed the 10-inch Federale worm to be the best swimming tailed big worm on the market. I really like to rig a plum colored Federale with a 4/0 TK110 Eagle Claw TroKar hook and a 1/2-ounce Eagle Claw Tungsten Weight on 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. I throw this to the same area I was getting crankbait bites after they slowdown on the crankbait and hop and swim drag it along the bottom.”
“Another great offshore lure this time of the year is a heavy football jig. I like to use this jig to trigger strikes again after bites have slowed on reaction baits. I choose a green pumpkin or brown and purple jig and match it with a watermelon candy Berkley Havoc Rocket Craw to try to mimic a bluegill which bass love to eat in summer. I throw this on my Football Jig/Big Worm rod from Wright & McGill Co. with a 7.0:1 Victory reel and 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon and stroke the jig high off the bottom and let it fall quickly.”
“There are days that the bite just gets really tough, and I need to do something to get a bite. The green pumpkin colored Berkley Havoc Bottom hopper on a drop shot rig will get me bites everywhere I fish. I use 12-pound-test Berkley Nanofil with an 8-pound-test Trilene 100% Leader, a 1/0 TroKar TK110 hook and a 3/16-ounce Eagle Claw Tungsten Round Drop Shot Weight, and drag it along the bottom. If I feel some cover on the bottom, I pause and then shake the worm in place to trigger bites.”
“You never know when a school of Shamus are going to blow up on the surface boiling on baitfish this time of the year. I always have the Gunfish 95 or 115 ready; depending on the size of the baitfish, so that I can pick it up and try to make one of them strike. I throw them on my jerkbait topwater rod from Wright & McGill Co. and a 7.0:1 Victory reel spooled with 30-pound-test Spiderwire Ultracast braid. If the water is clear, I go with a Ghost Minnow color, but if it is stained then I choose Chartreuse Shad. This is one of the best casting, easiest walking baits on the market, and it really gets bit.”
