low 40s ,” Dobson said . “ I fish them as slow as I can through the rocks , just keeping that paddletail barely moving .”
Blade baits like the Silver Buddy are a deadly second choice . He also likes a downsized jig / craw combo .
“ A compact finesse jig with a mini craw trailer like the NetBait Tiny Paca Chunk ( 2.25-inch ) – green pumpkin with a little chartreuse in it – can be phenomenal ,” he added .
As water warms to around the 45- degree mark , bass become more active .
“ That ’ s when I can get them on a suspending jerkbait ,” Dobson said . “ That ’ s a lot of fun .”
EARLY SEASON TIP : Live sonar and side-scan sonar technology offer anglers fishing rock a huge advantage . Dobson favors Lowrance ’ s ActiveTarget Live Sonar technology in “ Scout ” mode , which enables him to see an ultra-wide , 180-degree overhead view of structure and fish actively moving on structure .
Riprap
“ Riprap is a special rock situation ,” said Miles Burghoff , Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro with nearly $ 300,000 in career earnings . “ It ’ s manmade rock structure , placed there to stop erosion in key areas such as roadways , causeways , bridges and near housing or industrial developments .”
Riprap facilitates bass movement vertically and horizontally and provides easy access to deep water . The rock absorbs heat and provides a diverse menu – aquatic insects , crawfish , fry , baitfish and more .
“ Riprap areas have depth and , especially around bridges in rivers or bays or creek arms , they create chokepoints or funnels for fish moving in or out to feed or spawn or
“ When it comes to smallmouth bass , spring is the season . And rock is the reason .”
whatever the intent of their migration ,” Burghoff said . It is a four-season fish magnet , too . “ Fish are generally there all the time because of the depth , the condensed current and the presence of baitfish yearround ,” he added . “ If you ’ re having trouble finding a pattern , a causeway with riprap will usually produce some bites .”
Burghoff opts for a jerkbait when bass are high in the water column or working a mid-depth zone . His second choice is a crankbait , a squarebill or a medium diver like a Rapala DT6 or Bandit 200 .
“ Slow-rolling a spinnerbait like the Z-Man SlingBladeZ can be very effective , too ” he added .
More often than not , he parallels the structure . The steeper the slope , the tighter he holds the boat to the rock . If he encounters a more gradual slope , he moves farther from the rock and launches quartering casts .
The regularity of riprap can be deceiving . Causeway rock is rarely as uniform beneath the surface as it is above . Burghoff looks for extended rock fingers where construction operators dumped extra rock . Navionics maps sometimes enhance his search for this hidden structure .
“ For those areas , I may pick up a slow-moving bait like a shaky head worm ,” he said . “ One of my favorite rigs is a 3 / 16-ounce shaky head with a Z-Man Big TRD .”
Another favorite is a Z-Man Cross- Eye football jig paired with a Z-Man Hella CrawZ trailer . The craw ’ s buoyant ElazTech material enhances the action .
“ As it crawls along , the claws lift up in a defensive position ,” said Burghoff , who favors a lighter 1 / 2-ounce jig in the snag-filled terrain .
RIPRAP TIPS : Often overlooked are the “ trenched out ” areas at the bottom of riprap – prime bait- and fish-holding structure .
“ Make sure your jerkbait hooks are sharp ,” advised Burghoff . “ If you ’ re cranking riprap all day , you ’ ll be surprised how often hook points lodge in rock and wear down . I change the stock hooks out on my jerkbaits with premium Hayabusa treble hooks and sometimes change out dulled hooks three or four times during the day .”
Bluff banks
Bluff banks hold bass throughout the season , but they become bass havens in winter .
“ Bass are looking for a place to move vertically , to move up and down easily in winter ,” said Dakota Ebare , who notched a third-place finish at MLF ’ s Toyota Series event on Sam Rayburn in February . “ With weather conditions changing , bluff walls are definitely places to do that . They provide a readily available food source and crevices for crawfish , bluegill and small baitfish to hide . They offer bass good opportunities for ambush , too .”
Bluff walls marking channel swings are prime locations . Current and structure funnel baitfish toward the wall face .
Ebare ’ s first choice is a crawfish imitation , a “ low-profile compact jig .” He usually starts with a 7 / 16- or 1 / 2- ounce skirted jig trailed with a Strike King Baby Rodent .
“ I don ’ t want a trailer with a lot of action in winter ,” he explained . “ A Rodent or beaver-style bait gives the combination a little bit of bulk , but it ’ s still a compact target .”
Depth influences his jig adjustment . He favors a 1 / 4-ounce jig on a shallow slope , a 5 / 8-ounce or heavier jig with a deeper drop .
“ It depends on the day ,” he added . “ I ’ ll fish a heavier jig with a little bit faster fall if the fish are reacting that
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