WHAT YOU NEED
• Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm 4.25 ”
• No . 1 hook w / 90-degree bend
• 1 / 32- to 3 / 32-ounce tungsten nail weight
HOVER STROLLING 101
No technique catches more fish on the fall than a wacky rig . One could argue punching / flipping might , but even then , the fish often eat a flipping bait or punch setup once it ’ s hit bottom – not to mention that those aren ’ t exactly finesse techniques intended to target sheer numbers like the wacky rig can do .
When it comes to finesse fishing , the fall is key . It ’ s what makes a wacky rig so deadly . That slow fall showcases an easy meal subtly quivering right in a fish ’ s face as it drops through the water column .
Now imagine being able to replicate that tantalizing , slow fall but with a side-to-side , lazy gliding motion ( which some might say looks more realistic to a bass ) and to be able to fish a bait with that action in even deeper water than a wacky rig . That ’ s what hover strolling can do , and it ’ s especially catching on as a bait to target suspended bass . But what exactly does a hover strolling setup look like ?
Glad you asked .
In essence , hover strolling is a unique way to rig and fish a finesse worm or small soft-plastic minnow ( though it can certainly be adapted to even bigger soft plastics if the situation calls for it ).
With the right rigging and setup , Stefan can use the lure in several different ways .
“ I can fish it vertically , but what I really like to do is cast it and let it fall to suspended fish ,” Stefan says . “ If you pick the right weight , it ’ ll have this slow , methodical fall the fish are not used to seeing . It just looks so natural because the weight is not solely in the head like if you used a jig head . The nail weight and the rigging allow it to actually swim .”
The key to a proper presentation is using the right weight so the bait doesn ’ t just sink straight down , and to engage the reel and tight-line / pendulum it down to the bottom without ever reeling . That combo creates the seductive fall bass are proving to find irresistible .
Once it does hit the bottom , a hover strolling rig takes on a new action . Stefan slowly reels it straight back along the bottom like he would a swimbait , with the subtle tail of a finesse worm like the Berkley Powerbait MaxScent Flat Worm quivering on the retrieve . What really makes it great , though , is that by keeping a little bit of the nail weight protruding out the front , the bait creates a clicking noise when it comes in contact with rocks or hard structure for an added attraction .
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Hover strolling allows anglers like Matt Stefan to mimic the action of a wacky rig in deeper water .
MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2022