TAKEOFF
IN SEASON
Seasonal tips and tricks
other odds and ends
By Paul Strege
CHAD MORGENTHALER:
Go shalloW in suMMeR
Why shallow: during periods of hot, sta-
ble weather, vegetation and wind produce
oxygen in higher concentrations in summer-
time shallows – often 2 feet or less.
Where to look: on larger waters lacking
natural current, Morgenthaler prefers main-
lake shallows over pockets and coves, even
when water temps soar past the mid-80s.
What to throw: topwater frogs and
buzzbaits are top lure choices. When the sun peaks on the horizon, he flips a 3/4-
ounce Missile Baits jig or punches a Missile Baits d Bomb.
How to dial in: “pay attention to the intricacies of the pattern,” says Morgenthaler.
“are the fish holding in heavier clumps, on points or off riprap, or relating to a partic-
ular bottom type? that will help you find the better fish.”
THIS OR THAT:
LambeRt’S LeDGe LUReS
PRO’S CHOICE:
DOCK-FISHING
BAITS
1. Koby Kreiger
5-inch V&M Chopstick
“i fish it wacky-rigged weight-
less on 10-pound-test braid
with a 10-pound-test fluoro-
carbon leader. it catches a
bunch of fish for me. Black
and blue or green pumpkin
works almost anywhere.”
here are ledge-fishing expert Jason lambert’s favorite baits when he heads off-
shore, and when he likes to use them.
6TH SENSE CLOUD 9
C25 CRANKBAIT
GENE LAREW 8-INCH
TATTLETAIL WORM
2. Bradley Hallman
Zoom Brush Hog
“i can do a lot with it. i can
flip it to the poles and swim
it around the dock. i like it
texas-rigged with a 3/8-
ounce weight, and really
don’t stray far from the
green pumpkin colors for
most of the waters we fish.”
CASTAIC JERKY J WITH SCROUNGER HEAD
LEDGE LURE
6th Sense
Cloud 9 C25
Crankbait
Castaic Jerky J
with
Scrounger
Head
20
Gene Larew
8-inch TattleTail
Worm with
5/8-ounce
shaky head
LAMBERT SAYS
it’s his favorite ledge
lure, but landing fish can
be tough with treble
hooks and a big plug. BEST FOR
active schools of
fish, any time of
day BEST COLORS
shad patterns
a substitute for a
crankbait when
activity slows down shad patterns
it’s a “magnum” finesse
technique that’s better
than swimbaits and
crankbaits for landing
fish. when the bite is at
its slowest redbug lite and
green pumpkin
it works best at slightly
slower retrieve speeds
and has a better landing
ratio than crankbaits.
3. Christopher Brasher
6th Sense Crush 50X
square-bill crankbait
“it is exceptional at deflect-
ing off cover and creating
vicious reaction bites. i have
two favorite colors: char-
treuse/black back for stained
to muddy water, and copper
green shad for better water
clarities.”
FLWFISHING.COM I JULY 2018