Bass Fishing May - Jun 2018 | Page 74

Target Fishing
birge­also­targets­“whip-in-and-
out”­places­where­he­can­pull­in,­tar-
get­cast­at­any­obvious­cover­and
then­slip­back­out.­
“it’d­be­somewhere­around­a
bunch­of­docks,­or­even­maybe
some­bushes,”­he­says.­“i­would­be
more­apt­to­throw­a­War­Eagle
Finesse­spinnerbait,­which­is­like­a
shrunk-down­version­with­a­turtle
and­indiana­blade,­or­a­1/4-ounce
regular­spinnerbait.”
the­more­compact­offering­is­bet-
ter­suited­for­fishing­around­cover.
“i’m­going­to­try­to­hit­it­off­any
limb­i­can­swim­it­by.­i­might­hit­the
corner­of­some­docks­for­a­reaction
bite.­going­down­a­rocky­bank­i’ll­just
chunk­it­and­wind­it.­and­if­i­see­a
laydown­i’ll­try­to­hit­it­and­will­make
multiple­casts­if­necessary.”
War Eagle double willow with painted blades
72
War Eagle Finesse
Color Selection
Patterns­that­resemble­shad­and
other­baitfish­get­most­of­the­work
from­birge.­Favorites­include­white,
grey/shad,­sexy­shad,­and­various
combinations­of­translucent/white­or
white­with­chartreuse.­
he­also­suggests­experimenting
with­painted­blades,­particularly­in
dirty­water.­
“i­fished­a­tournament­on­ross
barnett­recently­and­caught­basically
all­my­fish­the­second­day­on­a
white­and­chartreuse­spinnerbait
with­a­white­painted­blade­and­a
chartreuse­blade.­i­was­burning­it,
and­it­was­getting­a­lot­of­good­bites
for­me.
“you­have­to­experiment­a­little
bit­with­it,”­he­adds.­“really,­there­are
only­three­or­four­options­that­are
popular­and­seem­to­work­the­most:
cole­slaw­[white­with­green­and­red],
white­and­chartreuse,­straight­white
and­som e­combinations­of­orange,
white,­red­and­even­half-painted.”
FLWFISHING.COM I MAY-JUNE 2018