Bass Fishing Aug - Sept 2016 | Page 48

GEAR 3/16-ounce Coolbaits Down Under 12. Under-Spin 3-inch Basstrix Flash Trix Rigging tip: Be prepared to upsize or downsize the under-spin and bait based on the size of the forage that bass are chasing. Where to use it: 2015 Costa FLW Series Championship co-angler winner Todd Kline uses the under-spin anytime fish are feeding on shad. He’ll target any areas where bass are chasing baitfish. How to fish it: Kline will burn the bait quickly if fish are near the top of the water column. If bass are deeper or not as active, he’ll slow-roll the bait at various depths until he connects. 3/O Hayabusa WRM951 Wide Gap Hook Bruiser Baits Rad Shad 13. Single Soft-Jerkbait Rig Rigging tip: This rig works for fishing in shallow water or near the surface, but in deeper water Scott Canterbury will switch to a weighted hook. Where to use it: Canterbury prefers the soft-plastic jerkbait when fish are schooling. He also uses it frequently whenever smallmouths are present. How to fish it: Canterbury usually fishes the rig with a stop-and-go retrieve; quick jerks followed by pauses to let the bait fall. When fishing current, he will cast and allow the bait to flow naturally with the current. 14. Weedless Tube Jig Rig Rigging tip: According to Todd Hollowell, the jighead must have an extra- wide-gap hook with the hook point pointing to the hook eye. Texas-rig the tube onto the jighead. Where to use it: Hollowell skips the rig deep under docks and overhang- ing trees. Because of the way it’s rigged, it’s virtually weedless and skips better than a standard Texas rig with a worm weight. How to fish it: The rig is great for eliciting reaction strikes from both feeding and inactive fish. Hollowell says the majority of bass that hit it will do so almost immedi- ately after it lands. If not, lift-drop it a couple times, and then skip it again. River Rat Tackle Northern Series Tube 4.0 3/16-ounce River Rat Tackle Tube Jig 46 FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016