As always, great info. I read it all twice at first to let it sink in and then come back some time later.

Two questions:

1- what are you looking at on WU for fronts? Swings in pressure, changes in cloud cover, etc? I know what a storm front is and how to read it in other places, but what are you looking at on WU?

2- Have you tried a war eagle screaming eagle? I have the SK burners and bottom dwellers, MB spinnerbaits, etc. If burning one in 6’ or less and bringing it back as quick as possibly is your goal, the screaming eagle fishes faster for the same depth as the same weight burner. I was fishing both the past month and both have their place, but man you can really burn that 3/4 oz eagle. The only downside for you might be the hook shank. Because of the weight on the shank you would have to really cut down a blade minnow to get it on there to look right.

@A-Jay Thanks for the update!

11 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

As always, great info. I read it all twice at first to let it sink in and then come back some time later.

Two questions:

1- what are you looking at on WU for fronts? Swings in pressure, changes in cloud cover, etc? I know what a storm front is and how to read it in other places, but what are you looking at on WU?

2- Have you tried a war eagle screaming eagle? I have the SK burners and bottom dwellers, MB spinnerbaits, etc. If burning one in 6’ or less and bringing it back as quick as possibly is your goal, the screaming eagle fishes faster for the same depth as the same weight burner. I was fishing both the past month and both have their place, but man you can really burn that 3/4 oz eagle. The only downside for you might be the hook shank. Because of the weight on the shank you would have to really cut down a blade minnow to get it on there to look right.

Thanks ~

Question 1 ~ answer:

When I'm checking the wx forecast  (Chapter XIII)

(something my bass fishing lives by and I do several times a day)

I'm always looking for what I like to call (and Hope) are 'good big fish days'.

Several factors go into it.

Wind speed, direction, and duration; sunshine or clouds; and air temperature trends up, down, or stable. Wind speed and direction as well as the 'fetch' (distance the wind can blow and how waves build) plays a role on each lake & the structure I plan to fish on that lake. One set off conditions might set up great for one lake but be a total blow out on another.

And as it relates to boating traffic, and not necessarily anglers, just the days of the week—certainly there are peaks and valleys on this one - I prefer the valleys both before & especially during my time on the water.

As noted, Pre-frontal opportunities are almost always pretty decent, especially this time of year here. 

But a version of this (with different air temps) can be a winner any time during open water. This one was from September.

That Thursday afternoon, Friday and perhaps even the Saturday conditions

caught my eye.

Question 2~ Answer: I have not tried the War Eagle offering.

I could be persuaded to check a couple out, thanks.

A-Jay

On 5/24/2026 at 6:00 PM, A-Jay said:

On the Bottom

Aside from working the bladed jig low and slow, my main dirt-dawg presentation is a Strike King Rage Bug on a ½ oz swing head (or a paddle tail) with a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG.

The Rig: 7’ MH Fast graphite rod, 6.6:1 casting reel, and 15 lb Tatsu.

The Tactic: I use a stop-and-go retrieve and fish the bait entirely with the reel, leaving the rod in the optimal hook-setting position. Be ready to reel fast on the strike—big smallies will often feel the steel and rocket straight at the boat. If you aren't picking up slack instantly, they'll win the race.

 

Fantastic write up, thank you for sharing. I'll keep coming back to it.

I'm quoting this particular section because this is my most encountered conditions for decent smallies in lake Michigan and this spring led me to a different tool. I would do well with the swinghead in terms of bass, but the chunk rock I was reeling into ate up my heavy heads and I wasn't able to keep bottom contact with lighter heads. A 5/8oz Decoy DS8 weighted jika rig is my new ticket to one of the best bites in bass fishing. A free swinging rock banger is back on the menu. A couple 5+ from a mid-May evening.

scott

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

Fantastic write up, thank you for sharing. I'll keep coming back to it.

I'm quoting this particular section because this is my most encountered conditions for decent smallies in lake Michigan and this spring led me to a different tool. I would do well with the swinghead in terms of bass, but the chunk rock I was reeling into ate up my heavy heads and I wasn't able to keep bottom contact with lighter heads. A 5/8oz Decoy DS8 weighted jika rig is my new ticket to one of the best bites in bass fishing. A free swinging rock banger is back on the menu. A couple 5+ from a mid-May evening.

scott

Thanks.

Lake Menderchuck has very little rock and the few spots I get on that do never see a swing head. They will see action on sand. Especially when these just a few isolated areas of light soft cover. Eel grass is money. I have not tried that jika rig but it looks like an effective option.

A-Jay