COLUMN : TACTICAL BASSIN
River2Sea S-Waver
Nichols Flutter Spoon
Blade Runner Spoon
In depths of less than 20 feet , a soft jerkbait can be replaced by a deep-diving hard jerkbait . A Megabass Ito Vision 110 + 2 can probe the depths and trigger a feed response , even in a school that has momentarily calmed down . The key with the jerkbait is getting down deep and suspending in place . If your bait is rising on the pause , you ’ ll never get the depth you need to consistently fish for these deeper bass .
Our underspin selection remains largely unchanged in deep water : a Blade Runner Spintrix in 1 / 2 or 3 / 4 ounce to take our 4- to 5-inch swimbaits to the bottom . A steady , slow roll along the bottom below the baitfish is the best presentation .
Our final move when targeting deepwater schools is a deep-diving crankbait , which has been a killer in recent years with the advent of “ speed cranking .” Depth of the baitfish matters because there are limits to how deep you can get your crankbait , but if they ’ re in less than 25 feet , speed cranking is the silver bullet . In 2019 , we released the Tactical DD 75 crankbait in collaboration with River2Sea , a bait specifically designed for speed cranking in fall and winter . Other great options for this presentation are the Megabass Deep-X 300 and Deep Six .
As the name suggests , the key to this presentation is speed . Forget that 5:1
Blade Runner Spintrix with Keitech Swing Impact FAT
reel you ’ ve always used for cranking and turn instead to 7:1 or 8:1 gear ratio reels . Pair your bait with the lightest line you ’ re comfortable with to get maximum depth and begin burning that reel handle directly through the middle of the baitfish schools . Once you ’ ve reached maximum depth , stop the bait , pause for just a fraction of a second and burn again . This stop-andgo retrieve draws the most violent strikes we ’ ve ever seen from bass , and best of all , bottom contact isn ’ t necessary . You can use this method to catch fish out from under the school or suspending under the baitfish in open water alike .
Underspin with Storm Largo Shad
Regardless of your preferred methods , get out of your comfort zone this fall . Baitfish often roam open water before bass corral them , so don ’ t get caught fishing your same old haunts . The schooling phenomena can happen anywhere on the lake at any time of day , so keep your eyes peeled and a rod in your hands . This is the time of year to cover water , explore new areas and have fun doing it . Winter will be here before you know it .
36 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2021