Jeff Ritter’s Stats:
Keys:
Hometown: prairie du chien, Wis.
Top 10s: 32
Winnings: $149,056
• use the frog to narrow down productive stretches of mats.
• the best mats will have clean, well-defined edges.
• Fish usually concentrate into precise parts of large grass beds.
• thoroughly saturate an area that holds fish before moving on.
Rig Specifics:
ritter uses a 7-foot, 7-inch irod air 775c Xh flip-
ping stick paired to a fast reel spooled with 50-
pound-test braid. his primary punching rig is a 3/4- to 1
1/2-ounce pegged tungsten sinker, a 4/0 Gamakatsu superline
eWG hook and a reaction innovations sweet Beaver in black and
red or green pumpkin – depending on water clarity.
backwater area
early mat with
defined outer edge
edge along
backwater ditch
back channel
looking for activity
68
As he’s dissecting large grassy areas, Ritter focuses on those
areas that exhibit lots of bird and fish activity.
“I’m not sure why, but it seems that when you find areas where
there is activity from other animals, there will also be active bass. I
look for any activity, whether it be birds such as herons or seagulls,
pads popping, or bluegills dimpling the surface. If you pay attention
to that stuff, you’re much more likely to find productive areas.”
FLWFISHING.COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2017