Professional  Bass Angler

It’s hard to argue with the numbers, over the past 8 years, I've caught more bass of 5 plus pounds or better with a jig-and-pig than with all other lures combined. Most of these fish have come in the Spring of the year, when the water temperature ranges from the low 40’s to the mid 50 degree range. Crayfish are the favorite meal for bass, and once they become active in early spring, bass get more aggressive. When a jig and pig combo is dangled in their area, it resembles the backward darting movement of a crawfish and gets the attention of bass.
Since many spawning bass go into very shallow water to spawn, they become easy targets for most anglers. I have found that shallower bass, that get pestered by anglers, become skittish and more difficult to catch. When this happens, I change my strategy and move to slightly deeper on the same structure in search of untouched spawners. Not all bass spawn in the very shallow depths. When bass make beds in deeper water, they are more difficult to see, and this is a benefit for me. Since other anglers overlook these fish, they are less bothered and are often more responsive to my presentations.
The biggest challenge in catching deeper spawners is spotting the fish. Typically, you'll see them best on clear days during midday, when sunlight penetrates farthest beneath the surface. Purchasing quality polarized sunglasses is critical to success. Many pros count on SolarBat sunglasses (www.solarbat.com) with amber-colored lenses to get the job done right. In additions, many anglers fail to see deep spawners because they are looking to see a whole bass. The key is to look for a slight movement of their tail ! Train yourself to look for this subtle movement and with a little practice, you be able to see beds in 6 to 8 feet, in clear water.
If you can't, try retrieving a soft-plastic swimbait, like the new 5 inch Berkley Hollow Body (www.berkleyfishing.com), near the surface in spawning areas like protected north-west coves . If a bedding bass only flashes at this lure without striking, simply mark the spot with your Lowrance GPS unit (www.lowrance.com). After a few minutes, come back to that spot and try to locate that fish and its bed.
I will often prefer a bucktail hair jig in low 40 degree water. Several years ago my fishing partner Tom Marrs shared with me how the subtle action of hair jigs along with their more compact profile, in cold water, can be the “ticket” for enticing bass to strike.
I’ll choose real pork trailers in waters below 52 degrees, because at this temperature they are livelier than plastic. However, in warmer water I will go with plastic trailers like Strike King's 3X Denny Brauer Chunk (www.strikeking.com) or Yum's new Terry Scroggins Big Show Craw (www.yumbaits.com). Both of these are awesome baits ! Denny’s 3x Chunk is a trailer, while Terry’s Big Show Craw can be used as a trailer or by itself as a flipping’ bait. These trailers come in many colors, so match them to the crawfish in the water you are fishing, and always match the color of your jig to the color or your trailer.
The presentation itself is pretty straightforward. I will often stay back off the bank or try to position my boat over the deep side of a flat’s drop off. I can then make casts up into the shallower water and slowly hop or “stroke” the jig over the flat and then down over the ledge. Remember that most strikes are going to occur when the jig is falling, so keep your eyes focused on your line, while keeping your finger in contact with the line as well. Big fish often strike very gently, so pay close attention.