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John's Journal... Entry 200, Day 2

FIVE SECRETS FOR CATCHING SMALLMOUTH BASS

Bet On The Wild Shiner

EDITOR'S NOTE: Larry Nixon has fished competitively for more than 27 years. He's won the Angler-of-the-Year title on the BASS Circuit twice and the BASS Master's Classic in 1983. He's appeared at 24 BASS Masters Classics. He's also won four MegaBucks tournaments.

QUESTION: Is there another bait you use to lure smallmouth?
ANSWER: Yes, the chrome blue back Wild Shiner jerkbait is deadly on smallmouth. In most places that I fish, that flashy color really seems to attract the smallmouth. Once again, I'll fish this bait fast. I'll jerk the bait two or three times, pause it for about one second and then start jerking it again. If you're going to catch smallmouth, you've really got to keep that jerkbait moving.

QUESTION: Where do you like to fish the jerkbait?
ANSWER: Weed lines and points and any place else I can find shallow water and break lines is where I'll be fishing that jerkbait. Idealistically, I want a break line where the bottom drops off from 3 to 10 feet. Many times you'll find a break line like this just fishing down the shore. You may be casting into really-shallow water near the bank, and as the Wild Shiner passes from the shallow water to the deep water, there will be one of those break lines in-between the bank and the boat. The two things that smallmouth like the best are edges and rocks. Anywhere you find those edges and rocks, you'll also locate smallmouth.

QUESTION: Do you set up your jerkbait in a special way?
ANSWER: I'll be casting the Wild Shiner on 10-pound-test line. Light line like 10-pound test gives the Wild Shiner more action and more depth than heavier line does. Now the key to remember when fishing the jerkbait for smallmouth is if the water is in the warming stages, I like a floating Wild Shiner. If the water is cool, I like the suspending Wild Shiner. In cold water I want to be able to suspend that jerkbait in the 6 to 8-foot depth.

TOMORROW: THE TUBE = MR. CONSISTENCY

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about FIVE SECRETS FOR CATCHING SMALLMOUTH BASS ...

Day 1 - Use a Spinner Bait
Day 2 - Bet On The Wild Shiner
Day 3 - The Tube = Mr. Consistency
Day 4 - Bet on the Carolina Rig
Day 5 - Diamonds for Smallmouth


John's Journal