When to use what for Bass

[Griggs]

I'm just wondering what everyone thinks about general guidelines for line.

From what I know it seems like you pretty much use Mono with plastics and jigging and a no stretch superbraid like Fireline with hard baits, like cranks, spinners and buzzers. With the exception being if your in really thick stuff, then maybe switch to a superbraid instead of mono? Ie. Lillypads, heavy cover?

Does that sound accurate? I'm just trying to get it all figured out.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Griggs, its really a whatever works for you...

I use mono on all crankbaits!!! only exception is rat-l-traps in the fall.

Mono on all dropshot rods!

Mono on many jig worm rods, but do have 1 with braid for when fishing heavier weeds.. helps rip the weeds off...

Braid for flipping and pitching'

braid for dock rods.

braid for slop rods...

Mono for buzzbaits, unless its in very heavy cover!

[Griggs]

Yea that sounds pretty good. Whats the reason behind mono for cranks? I was kinda thinking braid because it makes it easier to tear through the weeds.

What about casting vs spinning in those same situations?

[delmuts]

if dealing with weeds , then you may want to go to a braid. but then you may want to think about also adding a flouro leader . i use pp on my cranking rod.( this rig is used for 1/4 oz cranks and spinner baits) but am going to to try a leader with hopes i'll catch more fish. for the smaller cranks , i do use a spining rod and mono. some of the guys( including deitz!!) are strong proponants of flouro line. (something i plan to give a serious try this year!!) it stills boils down to what you are comfortable with . but do keep an open mind and don't be afraid to try something new !

[Deitz Dittrich]

Griggs, what a lot of bass anglers do not understand is, why they loose so many fish on crankbaits. Many people think, this bait has 2 treble hooks, there is no way a fish can get off. Yet, many fish are lost. either by the fish jumping, or just pulling off underwater. The angler then blames the crankbait, which is usually false! Its the rods and lines fault.

When a fish hits a crankbait you are usually pulling the bait back to the boat, so you are already putting pressure on the rod and bait as it pulls against the water. When a fish strikes the bait it usually inhales very quickly trying to pull the bait into its mouth. If your rod is already loaded because you are pulling the bait, the lure doesn't move much and you end up with a fish hooed very lightly in the tip of the lips.

IF you are using a mono line and a lighter action rod, when the fish inhales, the line will stretch some, and the rod will give more and you end up with a fish that is hooked better. It will also play a fish better and hold fish better on jumps.

Braid has no shock help at all.. it doesnt stretch!!!

The only time I use braid on cranks is if I am pourposfully getting my cranks stuck in the weeds and ripping it out.

[Ray Esboldt]

And, let me just emphasize Deitz's point, "Do not use braid for cranks!"

The more forgiveness you can build into your cranking system, the more fish you will land. Yes, it's harder to bust the bait loose in grass, but it all don't matter when the fish spits the bait half way back.

Deitz throws quite a few cranks, I only crank out of neccesity. If we're both making this recommendation, there is truth in it.

I like braids for heavy applications like docks and slop, but it really is not a good solution for open water applications. Braided lines are application specific lines, not mono substitues.

[Slyster]

Good info. Does a nylon or steel leader detract from the numbers? I use braid and can't imaging using a crank on mono with all the northerns I nab while trying for bass.

[Ray Esboldt]

I don't use leaders, so I can't really give you any good stats on how much it affects success. I don't use them because I feel they will affect your success. I also know a leader (or even a large clip) can mess up the action of some cranks causing them to spin or run way off to one side.

I don't lose that many billed crankbaits to pike. Rat-L-Traps I lose. Seems that having the line tie on top of the bait makes it a little more vunuerable.

[Deitz Dittrich]

As Ray stated... a leader WILL affect the action and thus give you sell bites. Will you get bit off.... yes.. maybe not as many times as you think. but enough to make you mad some days. You need to weigh your options and decide if you are willing to get less bites but not loose any baits to pike or, be willing to loose a few baits and catch more fish.

I seldome use a leader.. and never if I am targeting bass...

[JPSavage]

Dietz........As silly and cheap as it might sound, I sometimes use a composite whip tip rod and braid that allows for no stretch in the line but plenty of give in the rod tip.........I don't set the hook to speak of until I FEEL the fish on.....Works for me!

[Griggs]

Good points.

I was wondering about my other question. Same situations... cranks, spinners, buzzers, flipping, pitching etc.. Casting or Spinning?

[Deitz Dittrich]

JP-That is not silly or cheep at all.. if it works for you.. go with it!!! Nothing is silly or cheep if it works!

Griggs- I generally use a baitcaster if I can, and only go with spinning gear when needed. A baitcaster will have more power, it will hold heavier line better, and cast more accuratly.

[Captain B.R.K]

Then what # test are you using when throwing cranks?!? What would you recommend for size and makes?

I guess my biggest concern has always been the $$$ factor when I see those pesky pike scissor a nice new crankbait off

I spooled up my crankbait rod/reel with heavy power pro. Are you sayin' I should pull that off and go with mono? The power pro is about 2 years old now- but hardly touched over those years because I just got into bassin' last fall.

[Ray Esboldt]

To be honest with you B.R.K., pike rip through braid almost as well as mono. I have observed no noticable difference.

If the braid works for you while throwing cranks, stick with it. It just hasn't worked for me. I use 12 lb. mono for all cranks almost all the time. However, I will occassionally throw lipless cranks or ultra shallow divers on 14 lb. when I'm around heavy cover.

I know. I hate throwing the money away on them snicker bar size pike. But I like my chances better with 12 lb. mono, a fiberglass rod, and no leader.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm with ray on this one.. I have lost plenty a lure to pike with 50 lb braid.. they cut that just as easy!

My crank rods are spooled with 10 lb p-line premium. And as ray stated, I will throw traps on heavier line... Usually 15lb mono.

BRK-like I stated before, you will loose baits, and yes it hurts the checkbook.. but I get crabby when I think I could be catching more fish.. So I deal with the lost baits!

As for lure makes.. I have a lot of Bandits, Poes are my top 2.. then I have quite a few Fat free shads, and normans as well..

[delmuts]

if your braid is still good to go; put it on a spar spool or something to save it for one of your other rods.

[Captain B.R.K]

Thanks Ray, Dietz and Delmuts for the info......my buddy had told me the same stuff as you guys did, but because I had spent the money on the power pro, I was reluctant to change--a little bullheaded if you will--about changing.

[Griggs]

Great info guys, thanks.

What do you use for jiggin plastics for bass in the deeper weed edges? Line and Casting vs Spinning.

[st.crioxfishin]

I like to throw t-rigged plastic worms on 17lb XT on the weed edges. The reason I go a little heavier is because usually I'm fishing about 10-15ft inside the weed line where its thicker and then brining it out past the edge(I also use this rod sometimes for shallow weeds and docks too).

However, you could probably get away with a little lighter line if you were fishing the definate egde.

P.S. this is one of my favorite ways to catch some real nice ones in the middle of those calm hot summer days!

[Griggs]

Thanks. This is actually what I'm trying to learn to do. I've never caught a bass on a T-rig simply because I don't use it. Seems like some of the lakes in the metro don't have a definate weed edge, so I'm kind of lost out there. I picked up some Gulp! Lizards last night, I also have Sinking Minnows and some other Power Worms, so I'm still tryin to figure out how to fish in that deeper water.

Do you use a baitcaster in this situation as well? I currently have 17 lbs XL on my baitcastor for this situation.

[Ray Esboldt]

Griggs,

I would encourage you to take an exposed jig rig (jigworm) approach to the weedlines. A Texas rig is a great weedline bait. But, if you're trying to learn to fish plastics on the weedlines, a jigworm is much easier to get the hang of.

A jigworm consists of a 1/8th oz. or 3/16th oz. mushroom head jig (substitute a ball head jig if necessary) and just about any piece of plastic you want to impale on it. I'd start with a 4" worm. It's a pretty simple technique. Cast it out, let it sink to the bottom, and hop it back maintaining intermintent bottom contact. That's about it. If you snag on a weed, just give the rod a sharp jerk and it will usually break free clean.

The best outfit for this is a 6.5 or 7 foot spinning rod with 8 lb. test. Not only are jigworms about the most effective bass rigs around, they are one of the easiest to fish.

[Griggs]

How do you go about finding good locations? Find the first sharp break from shore and work that? Like I said, I haven't seem many distinct weed edges in the south metro lakes that I fish.

[riverrat56]

Would you need to use a worm for this, or would a 4 inch twister tail work? I'm mostly a walleye guy, but i break out the top waters from time to time as well as floating raps and spinner baits, those are the extent of my bass gear though... But fishing a jigworm sounds basically like my walleye tatics except casting and is deeper water. Also weedlines would be good as you said, but what about bottom composition changes, mud to gravel or what not, or am I thinking to walleye guy like again?

[Ray Esboldt]

Location! Yep, that's part of succesful jigworm fishing. It's a big part of any type of fishing. I know the types of lakes you speak of, there's no definitive weedline. But, I bet they have some points with weeds. And, if the points have no weeds, I bet they're covered with gravel, clay, or rocks. Those are perfect situations for a jigworm. Drag the thing along keeping constant bottom contact. The bait looks just like crayfish rooting along on the bottom. And if there's heavy weed cover on top, fish the sides. If there's hard bottom on the sides, active fish are going to be cruising out there.

Inside weedlines are another good deal if you can get 3 feet or better out of them. Though, some of those south metro lakes lack an inside edge and are basically a mat of weeds right to shore. But, I'll tell you the inside edge has been awfully productive for me the last couple days.

And, sure a twister will produce fish. But, to be honest with you, twisters seem to be great producers early in the year and then again late in the year. I have no reason as to why that is, but it's been my experience. However, a twister on a jig is always good on a river.