ASPIRIN-HEAD HAIR JIG
• Water temperature : 32-52 degrees
• Setup : 7-foot , 6-inch Yank-Um Custom Tackle medium-light spinning rod , Lew ’ s MC spinning reel , 5-pound-test K9 Crappie Braid to a 10-foot leader of 6-pound-test K9 Clear Fluorocarbon tied to a 3 / 16- ounce Yank-Um Custom Tackle Aspirin Head Jig
• Presentation : Winter is usually a time for subtle presentations , but even cold bass sometimes need to be forced into biting .
That ’ s where the aspirin head comes in .
While the floating fly targets fish that are suspended or willing to come up off the bottom to eat something , the aspirin head is designed to be fished on the bottom for fish too cold and lethargic to even suspend .
Fortunately , this jig is slightly heavier than the floating fly , but after casting it out , you ’ ll still want to watch your line to see when it goes limp , indicating it ’ s on the bottom . From there , the retrieve is actually more aggressive than you might think .
“ It ’ s a double-pop retrieve ,” Kilpatrick instructs . “ You do a quick , short pop followed with a longer pop-pull before letting it fall back to the bottom on a tight line . They ’ ll usually eat it on the fall , and when they do , you ’ ll know . You won ’ t just see your line jump . They ’ ll make your whole rod jump in your hands sometimes .” As for colors , even Kilpatrick laughs . “ Bright yellow ,” he says . “ It doesn ’ t resemble anything , and if it ’ s warmer than 52 degrees they won ’ t touch it , but as soon as it gets to be 52 degrees or colder , they fire on it .”
Yank-Um Custom Tackle Micro Hair Jig
Yank-Um Custom Tackle Aspirin-Head Hair Jig
MICRO HAIR JIG
• Water temperature : 32-45 degrees
• Setup : 7-foot , 6-inch Yank-Um Custom Tackle mediumlight spinning rod , Lew ’ s MC spinning reel , 5-pound-test K9 Crappie Braid to a 10-foot leader of 6-pound-test K9 Clear Fluorocarbon tied to a 1 / 16-ounce Yank-Um Custom Tackle Crappie Hair Jig
• Presentation : Take everything you do with the aspirinhead jig and apply it to the micro jig , with one key caveat .
“ When the fishing is so tough they won ’ t eat the aspirin head , especially when it gets really cold , that ’ s when this micro jig shines ,” Kilpatrick says .
Where the aspirin-head may be 2 3 / 4 inches long , this micro jig is 3 / 8 to 1 / 2 inch in length . Which brings back the “ buzzing gnat ” aspect of the floating fly , but in a more aggressive presentation that can still elicit reaction strikes .
Two things to note with this presentation are that because the jig is so tiny and light , both Hollowell and Kilpatrick admit it takes a lot of practice to be efficient , especially with cold hands in winter .
Still , if you can get it down , don ’ t let the small presentation fool you . Hollowell says he can ’ t count how many 5-pounders he ’ s caught on it , and Kilpatrick has seen smallmouth in excess of 7 pounds fall victim to the itty-bitty offering .
That said , neither it nor the other two techniques mentioned here are ones you ’ ll load the boat with . Sure , there are days you ’ ll catch more than 20 fish in a day , but all of them tend to be more about catching quality over quantity .
Just don ’ t tell Kilpatrick it won ’ t work .
DECEMBER-JANUARY 2022 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 59