YAMAMOTO 5 ” SENKO COLOR : WATERMELON RED AND GREEN
The lesser-known free rig gives baits a different look , and subtle differences often result in bites when the bass are pressured .
FREE RIG
The free rig is a recent innovation with “ old school ” familiarity . It consists of a free-sliding drop-shot or bell-style sinker with a rounded eye ( a must !) ahead of a hooked plastic bait . Whether it was conceived first in Japan , Korea , or by some anonymous old timer who preferred to fish his Texas rig without pegging the sinker to the hook depends on who you ask . It shares traits with the Texas Rig , Carolina Rig and drop-shot .
The use of a round , bell or dropshot sinker with a wide and rounded eye is what puts the “ free ” in the rig . The
“ Half my catch at the BPT event on the St . Lawrence River came on the free rig and a Senko .”
weight drops quickly to the bottom , but the lure itself trails at a slower rate , made variable by weight , bait and presentation . Allowing it to fall on a slack line is a must to present the fish a tantalizing , slow-trailing plastic .
Shin Fukae , a Japanese angler noted for employing a broad array of finesse techniques , is arguably the most accomplished with the technique among MLF pros . But its reputation is spreading .
“ Half my catch at the BPT event on the St . Lawrence River came on the free rig and a Senko ,” Murray says . “ The weight hits bottom first , yet the Senko still has a chance to do its thing . It gives the fish a different look than a Texas-rigged or drop-shot bait .”
Murray , who studies the movement and fall rate of different free rig combinations in a swimming pool , has tested the rig with both sinking and buoyant plastic bait options .
“ I ’ d say a third of my fish on the free rig hit on the fall ,” he says .
Status : The free rig doesn ’ t get a lot of attention , yet it has clearly sparked interest , even among admittedly “ old school ” pros like Davis .
“ I haven ’ t fished it a lot yet , but I can absolutely see how it can be an effective tool ,” he says . “ It ’ s a technique that requires just the right lure – a bait that hovers a bit – but it ’ s coming on . I think tournaments will be won with it .”
SWING HEAD JIG
Developed and popularized by Tommy Biffle , the swing head jig enables an angler to present plastic baits to bass in an uncharacteristically aggressive , erratic manner .
Featuring a jighead attached via split ring to a free-swinging hook , the swing head invites baits ranging from cigar-style worms to creature baits to do different dance steps on a lake bottom . It enjoyed a huge rush in popularity after a well-publicized introduction .
“ It ’ s very effective ,” says Klein , who created a swinging jig for Berkley featuring an arrow-shaped , football-style jighead . “ It allows an angler to cover a lot of water efficiently and put a lot of different ( plastic ) bodies into play .”
Murray regards it as a rig occupying “ that middle ground between a jig and a crankbait .” He fishes swimbaits , worms , crawfish imitations and other plastics on heavy 3 / 4- to 1-ounce swing heads . “ You can cover water and create strikes as you bounce it off objects ,” he says .
Status : Klein calls swing head fishing “ one of the most overlooked techniques in fishing today , … phenomenal for largemouth , smallmouth and spots , too .”
Murray agrees . “ Everyone has the swing head in his boat today ,” he says . “ When fish are on it , it ’ s tremendous . When they are not , you ’ re hauling water .”
BERKLEY POWERBAIT MAXSCENT CHIGGER CRAW COLOR : GREEN PUMPKIN
BERKLEY FUSION19 SWING JIGHEAD COLOR : GREEN PUMPKIN
A fast-moving technique , the swing head jig covers a lot of water quickly with an erratic action that provokes a reaction bite from bass .
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2024 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 33