outdoors

There are two reasons why I would change or modify a lure; one, to change the presentation by changing the color or action of the lure, and two, to correct a manufacturer's defect. By changing the color, action, or sound a lure makes, one is able to take a standard lure and change it to fit their needs and applications. With regards to correcting a manufacturer's defect, I am talking about fixing a bait so it will run true with the correct "wobble" or action. Most baits are just fine out of the box, but sometimes they need a little "tweaking" in order for them to perform most effectively.

Below are a few examples of some basic lure modifications that I use to modify my lure presentations.

1.) Trimming the skirt and weedguard on my jigs. I typically thin out the standard weedguard by cutting about half of the guard off. There is still protection left to ward off weeds, and the thin guard allows for better hooksets in my opinion. I will also shorten the skirt to about even with the bottom of the hook. This will create a smaller profile so when the fish attacks the bait, they will most likely strike the hook instead of the excess skirt.

2.) Add a rattle inside a floating frog. When I bring a frog across an area thick with lily pads, I sometimes like to add a rattle to add more sound so the fish can locate the frog easier. I will use a small rattle that can be bought at a tackle shop and insert it into the frog where the hooks pertrude.

3.) Use dye to add color to my plastics, jig skirts, and crankbaits. Sometimes just adding a bit of color to the tail or end of the skirt will entice more bites. There are many different ways to apply color. There are dyes that worms and skirts can be dipped in, paint to be used with a brush, or markers that will work just as well.

These are just a few simples modifications to try. It is said that bass can become conditioned to the same lures being thrown over and over, so trying a few easy changes can potentially put more bass in your boat and a more enjoyable time on the water.

A hot summer day is one of my favorite times to be out on the lake. The bass can be somewhat predictable as they feel the heat and search out areas of the lake to provide them a break from the heat. I love fishing lilypads and docks, so these areas are where I begin my search.

When I pull up to a dock, I like to start on the shady side of the dock. I typically will start with a fast moving lure such as a spinnerbait, and then move to such baits as a jig or a wacky-rigged worm as I figure out the most effective presentation. I want to be as efficient as possible, so if I find fish on the shady side of a dock, I will only fish the shady side of the next dock, and so on. I like to focus on the dock posts, as these are potential ambush areas for the bass. I also try to put my bait in the hardest to reach place under a dock using a "skip' cast. Typically, these hard to reach places will hold the fish that the other anglers cannot reach or didn't attempt to reach. If this means I might get hung up a little bit, so be it, as I know I will eventually catch that hiding lunker. The best docks or rows of docks are those adjacent to deeper water. The fish will migrate from deeper weedlines to shallow water throughout the day, so find a few docks that have deeper water nearby.

When I head to the lilypads, my go-to bait is a frog. Fishing a frog can be some of the most exciting fishing around. I typically try to make my frog seem as real as possible. I hop him from pad to pad and I will stop him and shake him a bit in the open water between pads. My suggestion is to use braided line. I typically use 50 pound braid so I can rip the bass through the vegetation. The key to catching a bass on a frog is to wait about 2 seconds once the fish takes the frog down from the surface. This will allow the fish to get the frog in its mouth and ready for a strong hookset. Two seconds can feel like a long time when you see a bass explode on your bait, but trust me, taking a pause will increase your hookup ratios dramatically. If a bass misses your frog and it is left there on the surface, I follow up with either a repeat cast with the frog or I try throwing some sort of jig to penetrate beneath the pads. Often the bass will not have moved far and will strike again with that follow up cast.

The next time you are out on the water during one of these hot summer days, head to areas on the lake that will provide shade for those lunker bass. As the sun rises and moves in the sky, check back on the docks you hit and cast towards the new shaded area. Good luck and bring lots of water and sunscreen!

Last weekend officially opened bass fishing for the entire state of Minnesota. Since the seasons change so rapidly in Minnesota and the water warms so quickly, the bass have a narrow window in which the water temperature is ideal for spawning. I was lucky enough last weekend in Aitkin County to experience the large females preparing for their spawn. I was able to find their spawning beds, or nests, in 3-5 feet of water using my polarized sunglasses to see below the water's surface. I caught the majority of my fish on a salamander soft plastic bait utilizing the Texas rig set up. It was exciting fishing and all fish were released so they could return to their spawing beds.

This past weekend I traveled to a north metro lake in hopes of finding similar fishing conditions. The first detail I look for to determine my fishing strategy is water temperature. I notice that the water was around 64-65 degrees, up a few degrees from the previous weekend. I started looking for fish in the shallow water in hopes of spotting bass hanging around their beds. Unfortunately, all I observed were empty beds with fry bass and sunfish cruising around. This led me to believe that the bass may be in postspawn mode, which typically can be one of the most difficult times to fish.

During the postspawn, the bass are trying to recoup and re-energize after the spawning event. This is often a period of very difficult fishing, as the fish do not have the energy to chase bait and aggressive presentations. Often, the bass will retreat to deeper waters in search of deep weedlines to use as cover. During this period, I have found that using subtle techniques and a precise presentation can still land many fish for an enjoyable outing. Here are a few tips to help in your postspawn search...

1. Once you have found a deserted spawning ground, head to deeper water adjacent to this area. Often the bass will still be relatively close, as they don't have much energy to do extensive traveling.

2. Once fish are located, try downsizing your lures and presentations. Fish will still bite during this period, but their strike zone is small, so getting the bait in their face is key as well as a bait that can be easily eaten. 

3. Try many different colors and mix up your lures. Sometimes these finicky times call for using a variety of baits until a pattern is found. Don't be afraid to use that hot pink plastic or that impulse lure buy you purchased 2 years ago. Who knows, it might make your outing. 

4. Have patience. Fishing can be tough this time of year, but with patience and practice, many fish can still be caught, and you will have a sense of pride once you figure them out. 

5. Have Fun! Heck, your still fishing and time on the water is still fun! If you bring your kids along and the bass are not cooperating, try fishing for panfish as they are cruising the shallows now.