Bass Fishing Feb - Mar 2017 | Page 54

Flipping and Punching Rigs — Shallow Water When the fish are aggressive and willing to bite, your fall rate is not as important, according to Forrest Wood Cup champion John Cox. When they’re not aggressive, he will adjust the fall rate based on weather conditions and fishing pressure. During a cold front or other instances where fish are in a negative mood, Cox prefers a fast fall, accomplished by decreasing line size and/or increasing the weight. “these are times when you want your bait to drop quickly underneath a mat or in a big tree,” he says. “this will trigger a reaction from the fish, and that is often the only reason that they will bite it, because they are not thinking about feeding.” In situations when the fishing pressure increases and bass are seeing many soft-plastic lures, Cox prefers for his bait to have a slower fall. “In this case you want a slower fall so the fish grab the bait as it is falling and you can set the hook before they feel the weight,” he explains. heavier line and a lighter weight help slow it down. the soft-plastic bait will also play a role in the fall rate. Cox categorizes baits as either having a controlled or erratic fall. “baits that fall and go straight to the bottom are the controlled baits, and this is what I prefer during cold fronts. these are baits with ‘kicking’ appendages or curly tails, and they will not spiral as they fall,” he says. “the other group would be baits with an erratic fall. beaver- style baits and those with a straight tail will ‘glide’ down before they hit the bottom no matter how heavy your weight is, and this is what I’ll use when fishing pressure increases.” “Kicking” appendages on creature baits help stabilize the fall so that they travel straight down. Cox likes this style during a cold front. John Cox Beaver-style baits with flat tails and bodies tend to glide on the fall. Cox prefers this style when fishing pressure is high. ADD A PUNCH SKIRT A punch skirt can really slow down the fall rate of a texas-rigged soft plastic. All the extra surface area of the skirt creates a lot more “drag.” In some instances, adding a punch skirt is the best way to slow down a presentation. however, there’s a trade- off. punch skirts greatly increase the profile of a lure. If it’s a small, compact profile you want, you’ll need to consider the other options outlined here. 52 FLWFISHING.COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017