The Pieces of the Puzzle

Tim Zdrazil

(Note this was May 2015)

I knew when I switched to running my own ride in the FLW/BFL ranks 1 1/2 years ago, that I was going to be challenged most by finding fish and more importantly defining the pattern(s) that would give me a shot at winning. This has been part of my challenge in 2015. In 2014 (my 1st year up front), I did really well overall. This year I have.... well.... not done well... at all... literally worse than I could imagine including my first zero's in FLW competition as a boater.  Don't get me wrong, I have also done some really good things. I have had some shining moments that make me proud of my progress. But man it stings. Really really stings. I put a lot of what I am into these events, and when the pieces don't all fall into place the damage inflicted on my spirit and drive is heavy. However the drive that... well... drives me, is a deep reservoir and is not daunted easily and will never ever quit. Here is just how close I came to having all the pieces fall just right, and how one piece of equipment may have been the only thing I could have done differently.

In the fall of 2014 as I was scanning the schedules for all of the FLW events in the area, I saw a chance to do two things. I could fish my first BFL on Lake Seminole (a home lake of sorts for me). This was also two weeks out from a FLW Rayovac event on Lake Seminole.  Both of these events were perfect for my schedule which is very complicated because of my oldest son's disability. I try to fish events that have the lowest impact on my rather large and crazy household. This was a great chance for me to step up to the Rayovac level for the first time as a boater, on water very close to home, and hopefully have a strong showing. I fished the entire southeast division in 2010 as a co-angler. This would be my first shot at an $85,000 prize package. Just typing that freaks me out a little bit, but I was ready to do it.

My plan was pretty simple. I already knew the Flint River, Spring Creek, and the main lake pretty well. I had a bunch of history to help me figure it out, so I gave myself 3 days to practice and fish the BFL 1 day event prior to the much bigger Rayovac. This should get me dialed in pretty well.

The conditions were miserable. I took off on Day 1 of my practice from Jack Wingates which is close to mid lake. Day 1 was going to be all about checking my favorite spots and finding new ones in the mid lake area all the way to the dam, but with special attention paid to the Spring Creek area.  I found out quickly that reports I had heard were very much correct. They were dropping the bottom out of Lake Seminole. Add to that zero wind and even as the sun was barely up the temperatures were sky rocketing. The main lake was chocolate milk and it was obviously lower than I had last been on the lake. Over a foot and a half by my guess and dropping fast. The main lake buoys confirmed it further. The deep 'V' lines behind the buoys that were straining to go to the dam said that it was wide open. Ridiculous optimist that I am, I told myself that the current would help, but I was going to have to find clean water. That meant creeks and hydrilla. I poked around some of my favorite spots catching decent keepers within minutes of pulling up on each spot, but I couldn't catch a second fish at any of them. This was not a good start.
 
On the way out of one of my favorite pockets I was graphing and hoping for a big school. Bingo!

This is just a small slice picture of the school. It went on for about 100 yards just like this. In the picture you can just see the way points I was dropping like bombs all down that 100 yards. I quickly turned around and started firing a rattle trap back towards the school. On the very first cast I hooked up. Unfortunately it was a hybrid, but I knew that bass and hybrids swim together all the time and if the hybrids were here the bait was most definitely here.  Again like most of my practice, I caught a large mouth a few casts later, but in an odd way. I had caught several hybrids and was about to give up, but the larger arcs kept telling me there were large mouth down there. I had already cycled through all of my standards. So I picked the rattle trap up again, and started jigging it. I would cast it out let it sink all the way to the bottom (dicey with so many stumps) then pump it up and let it fall while retrieving a bit of line each time. I call this yo-yo'ing, but not sure if there is a more technical term for it. Finally got a large mouth to hit it on the fall after one of my hops.

Unfortunately that guy was the only taker. This bothered me quite a bit. I knew the summer conditions were in full affect and the bite was probably going to be tough, but a school this size not firing up even a little bothered me. The yo-yo bite told me reaction only. The largemouth were suspended in that school but not really eating. However, I was more optimistic at least. This was a large concentration of fish in exactly the kind of spot they are supposed to be in during summer patterns. I had a lot of hope as I sped off to find some main lake hydrilla.

I ended up at the dam itself fishing hydrilla in 5-6 feet of water. Yet again within a very few casts I caught a nice keeper on a Lockjaw Jigs 3D eye jig with a Mister Twister trailer slathered in Liquid Mayhem garlic minnow (my favorite).

Again this was the only taker. However I felt a little better after this guy because he flew out of the grass to nail the jig, so I felt like at least that was a feeding bite. I was swimming and bumping it through the scattered hydrilla at a slow but steady rate.  It was still trouble though because I couldn't depend on jumping all over this big body of water all day hoping for five one off fish. Because the opportunity was literally right in front of me down by the damn. I fished a retaining wall, scattered laydowns, and a few little 'bowls' I graphed down in that area. No luck on any of them.

I had already burned half the day, but was still desperate to find something more promising. I ran way up the Chatahooche river searching some back waters that would hold cleaner water and some fish. I found miltiple spots in backwaters that were very promising, but couldn't even get a nibble. I still had 1 more full day of practice and the 1 day BFL, so I was optimistic. I packed it up for the day, and headed for home.

Day 2 of practice I put in at the Boat Basin in Bainbridge, GA where the launch would be. I wanted to spend a lot of time on the river, and I needed to remind myself things like how much gas and time did it take to make the long run down the Flint river to the main lake. I also wanted to check one more big grassy area I noticed the day before but hadn't fished yet. I ran all the way down the river which takes about 25 minutes on average took the cut through to Spring Creek across from Wingates, and dropped the trolling motor as soon as I left the cut thru. This costs about 9 mins of idle time, but it saves about 20 minutes of time if you go down and around thru the timber cuts to get to this area at the mouth of Spring Creek. I was happy almost immediately. There were bait fish everywhere, lots of fish chasing movement, and a perfect area chock full of hydrilla. The depths ranged from 3 to 15 feet with scattered to thick and matted hydrilla. There was also a decent mix of other vegetation in the area. Only problem is that after casting 10 different baits for a full hour, I didn't have a fish to show for it. However, I liked this area a lot! It was perfect for the Timmy Z grass fishing methods. There was definitely going to be some traffic though. There were a bunch of local boats and what looked like several other tournament guys practicing in this area, but like all of my favorite areas, it was huge.

Here is a shot from the cut leading into the area. You can just see the beginnings of the matted hydrilla on the left hand side of this shot.

I spent the rest of the day searching for flipping spots in the river working my way back up towards the launch site in Bainbridge. This was not easy because the water level was dropping so fast. I did find some really good flipping stuff, but got two bites all day doing it. Both times they took the claws right off of my Mister Twister Pocit Craws. This was again very disheartening. I thought for sure I could get bit flipping junk up and down the river and small backwaters that are all over the system.

So I had now spent the better part of two whole days trying to dial in what I needed for the BFL. I had found a giant school in deep timber, a huge grass flat with tons of bait and activity, and a few promising flipping and casting spots, but nothing like what I needed. I still had the BFL the next day which in my mind was really my last practice day prior to the Rayovac event. I would focus and do my best and see what the fish had to say once I buckled down in an area and went to work.

Despite the spotty practice, I was pumped. It was tournament morning and I had finalized my decision to fish the big hydrilla flat first thing if not all day. I knew it was the single best chance at catching some decent fish and had enough varieties of depth and grass combinations that I could dial this thing in. I like big areas. I don't like individual spots. This area was huge and I had all day to work it. The 25 minute burn down the river and the 9 minute idle thru the cut to Spring Creek flew by and we (me and my co-angler) were casting. And casting... And casting... Three hours later still casting with nothing to show for it. The conditions were horrible. Slick calm and a billion degrees. I was obviously frustrated, but I had one of those co-anglers who just screams happy and peaceful. He had zero doubt and loved the area. We made a quick run (mostly for moving air frankly) to my big school spot close by just to do something different. Couldn't get a bit there either. I only used an hour there and with a late check in time I wanted to use the last 3 hours back on the flat, but this time I was going old school.

The grass on the flat was thick almost everywhere, so I pulled out a medium heavy worm rod with a heavier weight 5/8 put on a Mister Twister Comida(stick bait-Junebug color), rubbed it generously with Liquid Mayhem and went to work. Very Very Very slow work. Dead sticking is not for the faint of heart. In fact it will kill most anglers, but in Florida especially on slow bite days, you have to have this trick in your arsenal. Once I figured out what I was targeting, I caught 2 very quality fish over the next 2 hours. Those two fish beat half the field. I came in 45th place with two fish. My co-angler also caught two fish and jumped over 20 spots in the overall standings, almost guaranteeing him a spot at the Regional Championship.

So the lesson of the BFL and practice was simple enough. Slow down and fish the typical summer patterns. I salvaged a decent finish for me and my co-angler, and now had a very good plan for the Rayovac event coming up.

The Rayovac event dawned with a complete change in conditions which has fast become the story of this 2015 season. The lake was no longer being drained and was coming back up. The water was clearing up, and the wind decided to take a turn at ruining all of my well laid plans.  I had a late boat number on Day 1 and was boat 9 on Day 2.

The plan worked perfectly. It worked perfectly for my co-anglers to be clear. The quality fish were still in the area, but the wind made fishing this way extremely difficult for me. This flat had deep sections with very scattered hydrilla and very shallow sections with hydrilla so thick you can't move in it. The fish were in the deeper sections around the scattered grass. While I fought to keep the boat in the deeper water in very strong winds, my co-anglers went to work. My Day 1 co-angler caught over 13lbs. My Day 2 co-angler caught over 14lbs.  My Day 1 co went on to win 3rd place overall and a check for $4,000. My day 2 co went on to finish 15th overall and won a check for $1,000. Once again I had found the perfect pattern for a co-angler who could concentrate on fishing while I was having a hard time even getting a line in the water.

The primary problem was there was no way to peg myself down in the shallow water with my 6ft Talon and still fish the deeper pockets with the wind and boat traffic. The only thing that would have worked is having 10 or 12 foot Talons. I know I did everything I could do in those conditions to fish. I caught two small keepers on Day 1 and zeroed day 2.

I have to feel good about how well I put together a plan. I had found quality fish as proven by my co-anglers. The wind is a variable on most of my tournament lakes, but usually I am in much shallower water. I would love to add two 12 foot Talons, but that is an expense I just can't afford right now. I will continue to learn and grow and adjust as I live this dream. Peace.

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Swim Jig Fishing 201 Part 2 - Lily Pads and Water Hyacinth

By now I'm sure a lot of you have read my Swim Jig Fishing 101 and also Swim Jig Fishing 201 Part 1 - Lay Down Timber articles.  For those of you haven't here are the links - Swim Jig Fishing 101 and Swim Jig Fishing 201 Part 1. In this part of the series I'll be covering fishing your swim jig in Lily Pads and Water Hyacinth.  To find out more about these two types of  Aquatic Vegetation there is a great article by Reece Lindgren here on this blog.  It gives you all sorts of information you need to know about the different types of vegetation you can encounter while fishing and how bass relate to them.  Here is a link to that article Aquatic Vegetation in Relation to Bass Fishing.

I decided to do Lily Pads and Water Hyacinth together as I tend to fish them basically in the same manner.  Pads and Hyacinth both are surface cover type vegetation that give bass dark shady places to hide and a cool place to escape the sun in the hotter months of the year.  The shade will also attract the bait fish that bass feed on so that is a second big reason to target these plants.  Some may argue with me but I think a Swim Jig is the perfect way to catch bass and I mean big bass around Pads and Hyacinth.   I'm not saying it is the only way, but it is my preferred method. Because bass are hanging under the vegetation waiting for bait fish to swim by, there isn't any better bait than a swim jig.  Swim jigs are weedless and can be fished close and even in these plants and if you matched the hatch, like explained in Swim Jig Fishing 101, swim jigs look like the food the bass are eating.

Like I said above, my basic approach to fishing Pads and Hyacinth is pretty much the same as they have a lot in common. There are a few differences that I'll explain but they don't really affect the manner in which I approach fishing these plants, but they are good to know. Lily Pads have a stem or root that goes from the plant's pad on the surface down to the bottom.  Lily Pads are basically a stationary plant that you can come back to and fish trip after trip. Their stems really limit the type of baits you can throw as you need something that is weedless.  The biggest difference Lily Pads and Water Hyacinth is the Hyacinths are floating plants that don't have a root or stem that goes down to the bottom.  They tend to move about, floating with water currents and winds.  So the Water Hyacinth you fish on one day might not be in the same location on your next trip.  For Hyacinth I like to fish the formations that are also associated with other structure like points, coves, lay down or standing and even formations that are against or over rocks like dams.  You can fish less weedless baits around Hyacinth, but I still find it easier to fish something that is weedless.  Even after all these years on longer casts I still get one or two off target.  If you miscue on a cast with something that isn't weedless and your bait lands on the plants you will be dragging them to the boat.  This can mess up your fishing as those plants you are pulling out of the formation might just have been where that bass of a lifetime was hiding and now you have spooked her.

My approach to fishing both of these is simple as I'm looking for irregularities in their formations.  If the plants themselves form a point or have a deep gap in them or even a cut or break in the formation that is what I'm going to target.  I will point my boat so that I can make multiple casts at any of these irregularities.  If it is Lily Pads then I want my jig to be hitting their stems under water.  When my jig hits a stem then I pause for a second before continuing my retrieve.  Just like when you are fishing any type of structure with a Swim Jig you have to continually change your retrieve until you find just what the bass are liking that day.  Once you find out what the want then it is game on, however remember if they stop biting then it is time to play with your retrieve again.  Now I also position my boat so that I can make long casts parallel to the outer edges of the plants.  I want my jig to run as close to the covering shade as possible.  Bass will be hanging just on the outer edge of the plants waiting for something to swim by for them to eat.  Your job is to give them something that appeals to their hunger.  Another key element in deciding what type of retrieve is to watch the bait fishing in the area if you see any.  This works wonderful from time to time when you can see them and how they are swimming.  This will get your swim jigs action close to what looks natural and what the bass are expecting from something they are looking to eat.  Watching for bait fish in the area also lets you better "Match the Hatch" and select the color and size of your jig and trailer.

Now as you are fishing these plants you want to cast to everything in their formation that you feel a bass might be using as a ambush point.   Also if there is a smaller group of plants off from the main body then be sure to make multiple cast around the small group.  I've found over the years that these smaller formations away from the main group of plants will hold the bigger bass.  I'm not quite sure why this is other than maybe the big girls want a place of their own to hunt.  It seems to be like that on a lot of structure come to think.  When catching schoolie size bass you can catch multiple fish off of one piece of structure but if they are 5 pound plus bass you might only catch one or maybe two.  After they get in the 8 pound range you will rarely catch more than one fish off of that piece of structure, however you will know what type of structure and technique to use for the big girls.

Now lets get back to the subject at hand.  The one tactic I will use that is really effective on these plants is to make casts so I can actually get under the Pads or Hyacinth.  Here is a picture that might help to see as I try and explain how I go about getting my swim jig under the plants.

Basically what I do is make a long cast into a gap or opening and let my swim jig settle to the bottom.  Then I put rod tip near the water and swing it around so it pulls my line under the plants.  After making this swing with my rod I start my retrieve and my swim jig will come under the plants and at an angle that bass likely will never see a lure.  This works even better on those small groups that are off the main body and if there is a big bass under there I can bet she is going to hammer my jig as I pull it by her.  Now as you retrieve your swim jig under the pads you will feel it hitting the stems so remember to pause when it does.  If fishing Hyacinth they don't have stems for your jig to hit, but if they happen to be floating over brush, lay down or standing timber all the better.  Use the same pause technique when your jig hits this other structure under the Hyacinth.  This is why I like to look for Hyacinth that have formed up over other types of structure.  Just remember the one thing you must always be ready for when fishing like this is a crushing strike that tries to take your rod out of your hands.  Be sure to give them a crushing hookset right back so your hook gets buried good an deep.

I hope that this information will help you the next time you are out and see some Lily Pads or Water Hyacinth.  Remember your swim jigs are very versatile baits that can catch bass off of any type of structure.  I'll continue you this series in the near future with Part 3 - Cattails, Bulrushes and Grass.

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
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Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
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Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel

Swim Jig Fishing 201 Part 1 - Lay Down Timber

If you read my Swim Jigs 101 article you will know that the first thing necessary in becoming a swim jig fisherman is to learn to "Match the Hatch".  Here is a link to the first article as I recommend you give it a read also if you haven't - Swim Jig Fishing 101  There are so many different tactics and  different types of structure you can fish with a Swim Jig that I can't effective cover them all in one article. So I'm going to break Swim Jig Fishing 201 into multiple parts so I can cover each in some detail to better help you catch bass.  In this part I'm going to cover some of the basic tactics for fishing Lay Down Timber.   What exactly is Lay Down Timber some might ask, well it is trees or branches that have falling from the bank into the water.  These give the bass great ambush points and also give you a good place to catch these bass. There are a lot of effective methods to fish these but the trick is to get the bigger bass staging on these Lay Downs to hit.  I've found nothing better than the good ole swim jig to draw a strike from these bigger bass.

Now the trick to Lay Down Timber is to not just make one or two casts and then move on.  No you need to make many casts and use different speeds and types of retrieves on a single Lay Down.  Now like I said in the first article the bass are a moody bunch so what they want might change during the course of the day or even from one Lay Down to the next, so you have to be flexible and change with them.  No matter how you start working your jig you need to hit the Lay Down at many different angles.  Here are a couple pictures to show you how I start working a Lay Down.

As you can see from the picture I start casting at the Lay Down by really casting past it as far as possible and getting my jig as close to the bank as possible.  I make at least 3-4 cast in the first position at different speeds and at slightly different angles.  The first cast I like a steady slow retrieve and make sure my jigs hits as many of the branches on the Lay Down as possible.  If I don't get a strike on the first cast I speed up my retrieve some on the next cast, but I still want to hit those branches with my jig.  When you hit a branch with your jig it causes it to dart up somewhat and gives it an action bass just can't refuse.  This is especially true when fishing the Santone Lures Rayburn Swim Jigs as the flat edge in their head design really gives this jig a special action when it hits one of those branches.  The faster you retrieve the more the jig will dart when it makes contact with the branch.

If I don't get a strike after 3-4 casts at this angle I move my boat forward and change the angle some.  I then repeat the process of 3-4 casts.  Don't give up on a Lay Down too fast thinking there aren't any fish on it.  Most will hold bass but in some cases those bass might not be actively feeding.  This is when you have to get a reaction strike and there isn't a better bait than a good swim jig to draw that reaction strike.  Now even if I catch a bass I don't just move on to the next Lay Down.   A lot of these Lay Downs will hold more than one bass on them, so keep at it until you are sure you have fully covered all parts of the Lay Down and hit most of the branches with your jig.

Continue to move your boat to change your angle on the Lay Down.  If you have caught a bass you know what speed and type of retrieve they want.  Changing the angle of your casts on the Lay Down will allow your jig to past by more bass and hit more branches.  I've made as many as 20-25 casts on a single Lay Down and have caught as many as 5-6 bass off of one.   Now it is more likely you will only catch 1 or 2 bass, but don't give up too quickly.  That one big fish you need to anchor your stringer just might be on this Lay Down but you just haven't brought your jig past her at the right angle.  Sometimes it is the second cast in the same spot at the same angle that will draw the strike.   The first cast got the fish's attention or woke her up so to speak and the second cast she attacks your jig viciously. 

Now one of the most effective retrieves I've found for working Lay Downs is to let your swim jig fall to the bottom once it hits the water on the initial cast.  Then using a medium fast retrieve bring it to where it hits that first branch and jumps over, then stop and let it fall.  You don't have to let it fall all the way to the bottom, but the deeper the water the longer you let it fall.  Then give it a twitch or two before starting your medium fast retrieve to the next branch.  However remember this isn't full proof method.  You may have to change it some until you find what the bass want on any given day, or any given hour in some cases.   I've even had to change from Lay Down to Lay Down as the bass on one Lay Down liked the medium fast retrieve I just described but on the next Lay Down they wanted my jig at a very slow steady retrieve.   The key here is to be flexible and not get locked into the one size fits all scenario.

I'll start work on Part 2 of this series in the next few days or so that will cover working a swim jig in vegetation.  As there are many types of vegetation you might encounter I have to recommend that you read the article on my blog by Reece Lindgren.  Reece did an excellent job as this article is packed with great information on all types of Aquatic Vegetation and will give you a head start.  Here is a link to this article - A Guide to Aquatic Vegetation

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
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FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
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Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel

New Ideas for the Carolina Rig

I know most if not all of you have heard of the tried and trued Carolina rig.  It has been around for many years now and has effectively been catching bass all those years.   Most tough days on the water will find a lot of fishermen going to this rig because it seems to get hits even when everything else fails.  It is a great deep water tool, but let me tell you it also works in shallow water too.  In fact it will work on light weight rigs as well, so don't be scared to use it on your Drop-shot rod.  That is the point to this article, don't get caught in a rut when fishing the Carolina Rig.  The same ole rig with a worm, slow fished deep can be a much better fishing tool if you use your imagination.

At one time I was like a lot of you and fished everything just like the Pros said to in magazines or on TV shows.   Then I realized that if we all fished the same way all the time the bass would get wise to us and so I started to use my imagination and experiment.  I didn't just always fish a worm when I went to the Carolina Rig, I did some things that some folks would call crazy, but I caught fish.  Sure you will catch fish using just a worm on the Carolina Rig, in fact my go to is an 8 inch Scoundrel Worm from Creme Lures.  I know I will catch some bass and some big bass using a Scoundrel, but are there even more bass that will bite if I did something a little different?  So I started to fish creature baits like the Creme Lures ST Beaver and guess what they worked great on the Carolina.  However something that seems to get me bites when nothing else works is going Wacky on the Carolina.  That's right, using a Creme Lures ST Wacky Stick has turned a bad day into an awesome day in just a few casts.   I actually rig the wacky sticks two (2) ways when fishing them Carolina.  The first is to rig them on a worm hook just like a worm and the second is to go with a wacky rig.  I like to use a heavy sinker with a 24-36 inch leader when rigging wacky.  Now I generally only go to the wacky rig when fishing deep rocks or rip raps like along dams.  When you make a cast with this rig be ready as you will get a lot of hits on the initial fall.  There is some thing about that wacky rigged stick coming down really fast on that heavy sinker and then stopping a couple feet off the bottom that make even the biggest bass go nuts.

One of the other things I've done to my Carolina Rigs is I've been making some pre-rigged sinker and bead setups.  I find that I lose too much contact with my bait when rigging the standard old fashion way.  If your sinker can slide down the line too far you can lose contact with your bait and miss hits or even worse have a bass that takes your bait too deep.  If you are using a fish attractant like Liquid Mayhem, the bass will not think twice about swallowing your offering all the way down.  Using these pre-rigs you won't lose contact as much.  Sure there will always be some loss of contact from time to time, but it will give you a better than 50% improvement.   Here is a pic of some of my pre-rigs.

 

I know some of you might think, hey I can buy those at the tackle shop.  This is true, but where is the fun in that?  This gives you something to do on rainy days or evenings to get ready for the next big trip.  Besides you can't buy your own custom setups that no one else has and that just might be the ticket for filling a limit.  I get some of my beads at craft stores, Walmart and some at tackle shops.  As you can see I make them with different size sinkers and use a mix of brass and plastic beads of different size and shape. Each of these combinations has a different sound to them and that sound must might be the difference.  Basically all I do to make these rigs is get some steel leader wire.  I like it to be 80-100lb test leader wire as that size doesn't cut into your leader as bad.  You can use lighter wire but only if you re-tie your knots, both sides, about every 10-15 casts.  You also want to re-tie after every bass you catch because a fighting bass will  really cause them to cut into your knots.  Even with the bigger wire you will want to re-tie or at least check your knots regularly.  Also when making these it is very important to leave enough room between the two eyes so your sinker and beads can move and make that all important "clicking" sound.  I like to have at least an inch of movement available.

One of the other ruts that a lot of folks get into is working the Carolina Rig the same way every time they use it.  Sure some days that old tried and trued method of long hop, wait, long hop works like a dream.  However if you are in a spot where you know there are bass, but you are not getting hits or a lot of hits play with your technique.   Use short quick hops with little or no wait in between hops or something completely different.  Again use your imagination and come up with some technique that someone else may have never thought of using.  One of the techniques I love to use in down timber is to just make a long cast, let it settle to the bottom then drag the sinker back to me.  When I feel the sinker come over a branch or stump then I let it fall and wait before continuing my retrieve.  The point is don't settle for the same old rut, again use your imagination.  If you have fished an area and caught some bass using one retrieve and then they stop biting, don't leave before you change up your retrieve some.  You might be surprised and catch even more bass with the new retrieve.

The bottom line here folks is don't get stuck in the rut of always doing the same thing.   I know even today after I preach about not doing it, I will find myself stuck in a rut from time to time.  When something has worked in the past it is hard to change, but you have to remember that bass are a moody sort and what works one day or even one hour might not continue to work.  Be flexible and you will be surprised how many more bass you can put in the boat!!

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel

Swim Jig Fishing 101

I remember the day when there wasn't a bait called a Swim Jig.  Not that bass weren't being caught by swimming a standard jig, but most of the time it was by accident.  It was by accident because we weren't really fishing the jig at the time of the strike, we were just quickly retrieving it to make the next cast.  I'm sure you have all caught a bass here and there when you really didn't think you should catch one for one reason or another.  Like when your crank bait got tangled in the line and was just helicoptering back to the boat and a big bass comes up and engulfs it.  Well to tell the truth that is exactly how the Swim Jig was born.   Most of us older fishermen started to see a pattern form when we were getting strike after strike while quickly retrieving our jigs back to make another cast.  In fact, some of us started fishing that pattern when it was working.  As with all new techniques this one has been refined over the years to where it is today.  Many jig companies now have their own swim jig lines that are designed to swim through cover better than those standard jigs we used years ago.

One thing that I've found out over the years a Swim Jig is one of the most versatile baits you can have in your tackle box.  They can be fished in so many different ways using so many different trailers and color combination.  In fact they can be affect at all times of the year and at many different depths and on many different types of structure.  If there was only one bait I could carry fishing then I would have to carry Swim Jigs.  Now for them to be most effective you have to match the hatch.  This means to match your swim jig color and trailer type to what the bass are feeding on in the area you are fishing.   If they are feeding on Shad then you would want to use a swim jig and trailer combo that resembled a shad in size and color.  Same goes if they are feeding on bream or other baitfish, match the color and size.  Now when the bass are eating bait fish I really want my swim jig to have some well defined eyes as I think that is key a lot of time in drawing strikes.  I will also trim my skirts to match what the bass are feeding on.  Cutting the skirt shorter will make it flare more when it is stopped or paused and I've found that when they are feeding on bream this is very effective.  I would have to write a novel to tell you all the different ways I've setup Swim Jigs to catch bass.  So for this article I'll say use your imagination and think about what the different types of bait fish look like when they are in the water swimming or better yet, when they are running away from a bass. This should get you started down the path of coming up with your own setups, which can be fun in itself.

Now what technique is best when retrieving your swim jig?  The answer depends on the bass that day and the type of structure you are fishing.  I've seen days fishing grass where you couldn't retrieve it fast enough to kept the bass from hammering your bait.  Then there have been times where a more slow steady retrieve gets the job done.  So basically you will have to keep working your jig with different types of retrieves until you find what the bass want.  Now don't be fooled when you catch your first bass though.  What I mean by this is one bass doesn't always set the pattern.  Sure when you catch that first one you want to continue to use that retrieve, but if a second bass doesn't hit soon then you will want to tweak the retrieve some.  Make small changes until you are getting strike after strike.  Now I don't mean you will get a hit on every cast, but you will know when you get the right retrieve locked in.  Also remember that the bass may change during the course of the day or from one type of structure to another so you will have to tweak your retrieve from time to time and on some days hour to hour.

Now one of the question I always get is which Swim Jig is the best.  Like I said there are a lot of swim jigs on the market and most all of them will catch bass on any given day.  However for me the best Swim Jig ever made is the Rayburn Swim Jig from Santone Lures.  It is my personal choice and the choice of a lot of tournament fishermen.  What makes the Rayburn Swim Jig so much better is it's head design, plus the hooks that Santone Lures use are far better than a lot of the other jigs manufactures.  Hey a picture is worth a thousand words so here are a few that point out the major aspects that make the Rayburn Swim Jig stand out in my book.

As you can see from these pictures the Rayburn Swim Jig has everything I look for in a really good swim jig.  On top of that the head design even gives the bait a wobble or swimming action that triggers bass to strike like no other swim jig I've ever used.

So remember to fish a good swim jig but also the most important element is to "Match the Hatch".  Make sure you jig resembles the bait fish the bass are eating.   Play with your retrieve until you find one that triggers strikes and then you will be catching bass like the Pros!!!  Also check out Swim Jig Fishing-201 Part-1 Laydown Timber and Part-2 Lily Pads and Water Hyacinth for even more information.

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel

Guide To Aquatic Vegetation

It's a beautiful, sunny afternoon and you're out on your boat for a great day of bass fishing after work. It's the first time you've been on this new lake, and you're excited to see what it holds. You read on the internet that people have been catching them deep recently. You fish ledges with a deep diving crankbait for a while with no luck and you're ready to make a change. You run to the other end of the lake and find a large patch of emergent vegetation. Immediately you tie on a punch rig and start flipping the vegetation. You find them stacked up in the vegetation by flipping your favorite creature bait. The only problem is, you have no idea what kind of vegetation it is or the properties of it. Many fishermen, including myself, have had this problem at one point. A lot of people refer to most vegetation as just "weeds," but there's a lot more to it than that. Once you learn the properties of certain aquatic plants, you can better understand why and how bass relate to those certain plants. Knowing properties of the "weeds" you're fishing can help you understand why the bass were there, and in turn, can help you replicate your results.

General Information on Aquatic Vegetation

Aquatic vegetation always plays a factor when bass fishing. If there's any type of aquatic plant in a lake, and there's bass in that lake, I guarantee you there is a population of bass there almost year round. As a rule of thumb, target the greenest vegetation possible. Healthy, green plants produce a lot of oxygen. In turn, the bass find that patch of green vegetation and stay there because of the high amounts of oxygen. In high oxygen areas, bass tend to be much more aggressive and in higher abundance. Another reason bass like vegetation is the ease of ambushing prey such as bluegill, sunfish, and shad. They can hide in the vegetation and wait for a bait fish to pass by. These principles apply most to largemouth because they relate to cover more and would rather let prey come to them, but smallmouth and spotted bass can also be found in vegetation.

Water Hyacinth is an emergent, floating aquatic plant that is native to the Amazon Basin. It has since been introduced to the United States and is a highly invasive plant. Water hyacinth is most commonly found in Florida and California, but can be found elsewhere as well.

Water hyacinth looks like something you might see in your mother's garden. It has very green, curved leaves with strong stems. During the certain times of the year, water hyacinth can develop bright, pinkish-purple flowers above its leaves. This can become an easy way to decipher if a plant is hyacinth or not.

At this point, you're probably wondering when I'll start talking about how bass relate to water hyacinth. In that case, here it is...bass love canopy-like vegetation. It gives them a sense of safety and can be a key factor when they're spawning. Since water hyacinth is floating and emergent, bass love sitting under that canopy and waiting for bait fish to swim past. Your best bet is to use a punch rig or punching jig with a heavy weight (my favorite is the Santone Lures Rattle Hog) to get through the hyacinth to where the bass are. You can also use other lures such as a frog, buzzbait, swimbait, or chatterbait to fish the edge of the hyacinth and cover more water.

Patch of Water Hyacinth (bhelas.co.uk)

Lily Pads are definitely the most commonly-known aquatic plant of them all. I believe this is because they are visible and have a distinct shape. Although there are many different species of lily pad, they all look very similar.

A lily pad is a floating, flowering aquatic plant with a long stem that hangs from the bottom. Lily pads are round in shape and fairly thin. They provide an excellent canopy with added cover underwater from the stems.

Although we all know what a lily pad is, it's still a very interesting plant. The canopy it creates is a magnet to the bass especially during the spring or summer months. The stem that hangs down can create cover and oxygen for the bass. When fishing around emergent vegetation that covers the surface such as lily pads, you don't need to be as worried about spooking the fish by sight. What you do need to remember, however, is that bumping a clump of pads with your boat could spook fish nearby. There is really no wrong way to fish pads. A hollow body frog is the most common way to fish them. One thing to keep in mind is when your frog is sitting on a pad, all the bass see is a slight silhouette. It's better to pause your frog when between pads, so the bass can see it easier. You can fish reaction baits such as spinnerbaits or chatterbaits in between pads, you can punch thicker clumps of pads, or drag and hop a craw bait under the pads. There are really endless options for fishing pads, so knock yourself out with your bait selection!

Awesome Picture of Lily Pads (tampabay.com)

Matted grass is not necessarily one plant, but a combination of many types. Matted grass is formed when vegetation such as hydrilla, milfoil, and tules (information below) die or detach from the ground. This causes them to float up and clump together, which forms a thick layer of plant above the surface. Algae often combines with these plants to create a heavy pile of slop.

Matted grass can look different depending on which species of plant form it. Typically it will just look like a bunch of vegetation mashed together-simple enough. Since the mat is floating, it can move pretty easily when the wind is blowing. Matted grass provides a layer of shade and protection above the water.

Since bass like protection and canopy-like vegetation, matted grass often holds an abundance of bass-especially when they are looking for shade in the hot summer months. When fishing matted grass, you have to take into account the properties of it. If the grass is still fresh and stiff, it will be easy to get through the mat with a texas/ punch rig with a heavy weight. If it's sloppy and dead, don't count it out, but turn to a weedless topwater lure like a frog to fish the mat. This is your best bet to catch bass out of a sloppy mat.

Great Example of a Grass Mat (advancedangler.com)

Cattails, Bulrush, and Tules are all names for a tall, grass-like aquatic plant. This plant is native to the United States, and is one of the most common aquatic plants of all. Most bodies of water have some sort of cattail-like plant in or around them.

All the names I listed describe a general group of plants. All of these plants have a couple things in common. They are all fairly tall, and they grow from the ground (they are not floating plants). Cattails and bulrush typically describe a plant that grows a corn dog-looking flower around the top part of the stem of the plant. Tules, also known as "California bulrushes," have the same stem structure as a cattail, but do not have the corn dog-looking flower around them. Most tules don't flower at all, but some have small (typically beige colored) flowers at the top of the stem. The reasons I don't put these plants into separate categories are the names can be used interchangeably, and they are all fished exactly the same because they provide the same cover underwater.

These plants are not floating like the previous types of vegetation. They provide thick cover for bass to disappear in. These types of aquatic plant can produce very well, and are at their best, during the spawn, spring, or the fall. They can also produce very well on a cloudy summer day. The method to fish these types of plants really depends on how abundant they are. If they are extremely thick (such as in the picture below), your only options may be a punch rig/ jig. Granted you can use other lures, but you'll be able to fish vegetation like this much more efficiently with those lures. If it is very sparse vegetation, you can get almost any lure through it efficiently as long as it doesn't have an overly exposed hook or treble hooks.

Large Area Packed with Tules (coastalanglermag.com)

Milfoil, Hydrilla, and Coontail...although these are all different species of aquatic plant, they all act the same. These three types of plant are all invasive aquatic plants. They are commonly sprayed out and removed from ecosystems for multiple reasons. New ways to remove this plant are always being invented. The most recent method for destroying it is the "Milfoil Weevil." This bug slowly eats away at plants such as milfoil and removes a large amount for the size of the bug.

The only way I can explain to you what these plants look like without a diagram or picture is "soft pine needles." This may sound ridiculous, but it's probably the best description of the appearance of these types of plants. They are all green, non-floating, non-flowering aquatic plants that rarely emerge above water surface unless they are detached or matted. The differences between milfoil and coontail are subtle, but distinguishable. Milfoil is thicker and softer, while coontail tends to be much stiffer and a brighter green color. Hydrilla is longer and less mushy than the other two. Hydrilla is the most dominant species of the three. Milfoil is more common up north and hydrilla can be found more down south.

These plants spread rapidly and (unlike tules and cattails) produce a lot of oxygen underwater. This is the main reason tules and cattails don't produce as well in the summer months. In the summer, bass are aggressive and require a lot of oxygen to stay active. Milfoil, hydrilla, and coontail produce the oxygen to keep them active and healthy. The best way to fish around these plants depends on the depth of the water. If you can fit a reaction-style lure between the surface and top of the plants, that is probably the best way to fish it. In deeper water, you can use crankbaits to barely tick the tops of the plants to produce a reaction strike from a fish.

From Left to Right: Milfoil, Coontail, Hydrilla
(fishinglakeguntersville.com)

In conclusion, one thing to always keep in mind when fishing in or around aquatic vegetation is to look for changes in the vegetation. Say there are many clumps of hyacinth, but one clump has tules mixed in with the hyacinth. That clump is more likely to be holding bass in it. Also, when it comes to aquatic plants, the greener the better. I tried to mention this as much as possible, but high oxygen areas = more active and abundant bass. Greener plants produce much more oxygen, which is why bass relate to them more often.

Make Your Livewell Work Better

As a tournament fisherman keeping fish alive is as important as catching them in the first place.  No one wants to show up to the weigh-in with dead fish.  Not only do dead fish give you deductions in weight they are also very embarrassing.  Besides all of us ethical fishermen want to release our catch as healthy as possible so they can be caught again.  Plus those big girls will reproduce so that there are even more fish for us to catch.  So how can we make our livewells better to help ensure our fish stay healthy?  Well you could spend a lot of money on one of those expensive oxygen systems that pump oxygen into the water in your livewell.  They are very expensive to install and then you have to keep buying oxygen for the system.  Also oxygen is dangerous from a fire stand point so who needs the hassle.  So what is a good solutions the average fisherman can afford and once installed it keeps working without having any upkeep or continuous costs?  The answer to that question is the V-T2 vents from New Pro Products.

The V-T2 vents install in the lids of your livewell.  The installation is very easy and yes I think even the average non-mechanical guys/gals can do this if they follow the instructions provided.   They sit really flush on the lid so they don't get in the way or induce a tripping hazard.  The big plus is what they do for you in helping to keep your fish alive.  

There are many factors in the standard livewell that is not good for your fish.  The aeration system even helps to cause the first of these issues.  As your pumps work they actually get hot and that heat is transferred to the water they are pumping.  This isn't a huge issue if you are pumping fresh water into your tanks but if you have switched to recirculate the heat can build up really fast.  There is no place for the heat to go as most livewells aren't vented so the heat will actually start to cook your fish.  It is bad enough when the weather is nice outside but down here during the summer in Texas it will get bad very fast.  Sometimes the fresh water we are pumping into the tank is 85-95 degrees and add pump heat and no where for that heat to excape, what you get is dead fish.   Well the V-T2 vents gives that heat somewhere to go and we all know that heat rises and with these vents in your lids, out it goes.   At the same time as the heat is leaving, cooler air is being pulled into tank to help cool things down and help keep your fish alive.

The next issue we have with our livewells is a reduction in oxygen.  Again our livewells don't come with vents for oxygen to get into the tank.  You could put one of those oxygen pumping systems in at great cost, but you don't need too.  The V-T2s have you covered again.  Remember with the heat problem the V-T2s let the heat out and as it escapes cooler air is being pulled into the tank, well that cooler air also contains fresh oxygen.  That fresh oxygen is then used by your aeration system and put into the water. So now you don't have an oxygen reduction issue anymore helping to keep your fish alive.

Now last but far from least of your problems is a build up of Metabolic Gases.  These gases are byproducts of the fish's natural functions as well as bacterial organism and other living microbes in the water.  Every living thing will produce these gases but even though they are naturally produced a build up of them in your tank is not healthy for your fish.  Well yes I'm sure you have guessed by now that the V-T2s will also take care of these gases.  You are right as these gases are generally lighter than oxygen and become even lighter when heated so the same process that removes the heat from your tank will also remove a lot of these gases helping to keep your fish alive.

So by now you are saying hey these V-T2s sound great but do they really work?  Well I can tell you they do work and I was able to find out just how good they work this past weekend.   Before I tell you that story I have a question to ask; How many saltwater boats have you seen with livewells?   The answer is very few saltwater boats have livewells.  Why don't they have livewells, well that is a very easy answer, saltwater fish are very hard to keep alive.  Most of the saltwater tournaments are either not catch and release or the fishermen spend a lot of extra money to have livewells with those oxygen pumps installed.  For the most part saltwater fishermen take coolers with ice to put their catch in to keep until they get to the weigh-in or where the fish will be cleaned.  I told you this because this past weekend my son and I made a run down the bayou to where the water gets pretty salty so that we could catch some flounder.  My wife had asked for some to eat so my son and I delivered.  However being a bass fisherman first and foremost I forgot to take a cooler with ice for our catch.  So when the first flounder hit the deck I didn't have any option but to crank up the livewell and put him in.  Once we were finished fishing and the boat was on the trailer I switched my system to recirculation and we headed home.  Now I should mention that it was the end of July in Texas and the heat index that day was 105 degrees.  I really expected to have dead flounder when we got home after an hours drive, but I was in for a surprise.  Not only were all the flounder alive, they were so feisty I had to drain the tanks so I could get them out.  I also had to wait a while before cleaning them as they were just too lively to try and clean.  This proved to me once and for all that the V-T2s are a huge asset and I'll be recommending them to everyone I know!!!  For more information or to order your own V-T2s here is the link New Pro Products.

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
 

An Awesome Rod Holder!

I received and tested out the Stealth QR-1 rod holder recently and wanted to pass along what I've learned.  The bottom line is this is the best rod holder I've ever used, hands down!  The QR-1 is packed with features that other rod holders don't have or just can't measure up too.  For starters it has a mounting bracket that can be installed in multiple ways, which means you can put the rod holder where you need it.  The holder itself can be removed from the mount and stowed out of the way when it is not in use.  When you need it then you can position it in the mounting bracket for how you need it that day.  This is not one of those rod holders that once installed it is always in the same position all the time.

The mounting bracket and multiple positioning is not what I consider the best features of the QR-1.  Its best feature is the means it uses to secure your rod.  Let me tell you it secures your rod so you do not have any fear of a fish pulling your rod overboard.  I fish with some very top end Dunimas Rods custom built rods and I don't trust these beauties to just any old rod hold and that is especially true when there is a chance of a Redfish hitting my bait.  I'm not sure if all of you have had the good fortune of fishing for and catching Redfish and for those of you that haven't let me tell you they are a "Mack Truck" from initial hit until you are able to get them in the net.  Pound for Pound they are one of the strongest fighting fish that swim in water.  Now I could try and explain all the features of the QR-1 to you in writing but I think you will get a better understand of these features from a video.  So here is a short video.

I'm sure after watching that video many of you will agree with me, the QR-1 is one Awesome Rod Holder.  I plan on installing more on my boat for use in the future.  Sure I'm a bass fisherman first and foremost, but there are times I like to fish for something other than bass.  These rod holders will come in very handy when I take a day to go catfish, crappie, and redfish fishing along with many others.  My bottom line to all you folks is; Throw out all those other rod holders you have and get yourself some Stealth QR-1 holders, you will be glad you did!  You can get more information on the Stealth QR-1 on their website at this link: Stealth QR-1.  Hey and the good news is Stealth offers free shipping in the good ole U.S.A so get your orders in now!!

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants

Ready to Fish Anytime!!!

I just received a Flip Reel by Squiddies and let me tell you my first reaction is Awesome with a capital A!!  You never have to be without a means of fishing anymore.  I mean how many times have you been out and see a spot that looks fishy but you don't have a rod along with you?  If you are anything like me then it happens a lot, but for me not anymore.   This thing will tuck easily out of the way in my truck.  Heck if I have to go on a business trip it will tuck in my carry on bag and should pass through TSA security with no problems.  I know I've stayed a lot of hotels that have ponds or lakes on the property and I'm stuck without a means to try my luck, well never again.  The back of the package points out a lot of the features that come on the Flip Reel and the side of the package contains some very clear and easy directions on how to cast the reel. 

Once I opened the package I was really impressed with the construction and even the feel of this reel.   I've done some hand fishing in the past and never had anything like this before.  Hey this would have been great in my schoolboy days when I ran around with a short stick in my pocket that had line, a bobber and a hook wrapped around it.   No more sticks for this guy and hey the package even includes a hook, sinker and swivel.

The reel itself is made from a hard plastic with an infused rubber outer bell that flips back to safely cover your line and tackle when not in use.   When you are ready to fish then you flip the rubber bell out and you have a very castable looking reel.  The directions does say to wet the bell before casting and I understand why as the rubber is very tacky.  That tacky rubber serves a good purpose as it will keep your reel from sliding all over the place and hey if you are fishing you shouldn't have problems wetting the reel, right.

Needless to say I'm a little impressed by this thing and I believe there are a lot of other folks out there that will be impressed also.  You can always have a reel to fish handy with the Flip Reel, so hey you backpackers and survivalist this thing is right up your alley.  It is actually right up the alley of anyone that wants a convenient and stow-able fishing capability.  I know you are asking if this little hand reel can really catch fish, well the answer is yes and it is pretty easy after you get use to using this reel.  In fact here is a video of me taking this reel to my favorite catfish hole for a field test.

 As you saw in the video this thing can really cast pretty good and I'm sure with a little more practice I'd be able to cast it even further.  I hope to get it out when the weather cools down her in Texas for a little bass fishing so there will be more videos to come.  Until then here is the link where you can get more information on the Flip Reel.  Squiddies Flip Reel

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
 

Halls Bayou Report 7/12/2015

My son-in-law and I decided to give Halls Bayou a shot Sunday morning.  It had been a while since our last attempt which yielded only one strike and we have grown tired of driving hours to fish for bass.  After 6 months of way above average rain fall in the Houston area all of the bayous looked more like the muddy Mississippi than Southeast Texas Bayous.   The water Sunday wasn't the normal greenish color we expect from the bayous but it was much better than the chocolate milk we had been seeing the past few months.  Even though the water had a little brownish stain it was very fishable and we knew from past experience there were a number of colors that work very well under these conditions.  Now the one note that I did make was that the water temps were in the upper 80s so I figured it was going to be a tough day.  Normally this time of year when the water temps get in that range you are lucky to get 4-5 bites all day.

We decided to head up the bayou to start with on this morning and see what the water looked like.  The further up the bayou we went the better the water looked.   We also noticed there were big schools of shad everywhere and also a lot of gar playing, including a couple gator gar in the 5 foot plus range.  I figured with that many shad in the bayou the bass just might be wanting a shad like bait so I tied on an Acid Perch Finesse Rayburn Swim Jig with a salt and pepper 4 inch curly tail trailer.  This time of the year a lot of bass will slap at your baits but won't take them, I wanted to make sure that wasn't the case so I applied some Liquid Mayhem Garlic Minnow to the end of the trailer. Not only does this attractant taste good once the bass get it in their mouths, but it also gets them to take the bait in their mouth.  I know using Liquid Mayhem on my favorite baits like the Rayburn Swim Jigs gives me an advantage over the bass and other fishermen.  Now our game plan was to fish different baits to start so we wouldn't be missing a potential bite.  My son-in-law decided to go with another Halls bayou favorite which is a spinner bait in the Cole Slaw color.  Cole Slaw is pretty close to the same color as the Acid Perch Rayburn Swim Jig.  

We went about 3/4 of a mile up the bayou from the FM 2004 bridge to a spot that looked like a good place to start fishing.We were working the shady areas next to structure along the banks of the bayou.  It didn't take too long for me to have the first bass in the boat.  It wasn't close to being a keeper but it was a bass and it proved the swim jig might the way to go for the day.  That the swim jig was the bait of the day was affirmed in not too many more casts as I had the second bass on and this one was a keeper for sure.  After my third bass it was time for my son-in-law to follow suit and put on a swim jig.   Now he didn't go with a Rayburn Swim Jig as him and his cousin have been playing around with making their own jigs.  They have some very good color combination I will have to say, but I'll be sticking with Santone Lures for all my jigs.  The Cole Slaw jig he tied on did make a difference in his catching well that and he also decided to put some Liquid Mayhem on his jig.  After this it was in short order his fish bass of the day was on the boat.  Though he started to put some fish in the boat I was still maintaining my 2 to 1 advantage with my old faithful Rayburn Swim Jigs.

From time to time we didn't try a few other baits and in fact for the course of the day I caught 2 bass on Creme Lures Scoundrel worms and one on a Santone Rattlin' Jig with a Creme Lures Same Thing Beaver trailer.  My son-in-law also added a bass on a Texas Rigged Same Thing Beaver.  However we both seem to get back to the swim jigs.   There was however the big ole Catfish that hammered my son-in-law's spinnerbait mid morning.   Heck that ole whiskers would have likely tipped the scales in the 8 pound ranges, he was huge and would have made a fine dinner, but he decide he was happier not being dinner and threw the hook.   I also lost a really good fish but we aren't sure what it was.  It hit the Rayburn Swim Jig and did not fight like a bass and it was big Redfish, Catfish or Gar is all I can say.  It was at about this point my son-in-law decided to switch to a black and red swim jig.  When he did this he closed the numbers gap really fast.  I didn't have a jig in that color so I couldn't match him, so I guess I'll be making an order to Santone Lures.   The rise of the sun into the midday sky is the only thing I think that stopped him from catching me in numbers.   He did catch the 2 best bass on the day though and the one was a really good bayou bass.

So in short, Halls Bayou is back and for mid July is hot not just in temperatures.  So if you folks want to have a good day on the bayou get yourselves some Finesse Rayburn Swim Jigs and some Garlic Minnow Liquid Mayhem.   Cast them into the shaded cover along the bank and work them out slowly at first but speed up your retrieve until you find out what the bass want that day.  Oh by the way the count ended up with me catching 9 and my son-in-law catching 6.

Until next time, Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Throw-n-Thunder
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants