Someone please school me on hair jigs and spoons. I’m starting to fish offshore more and trying to implement new ledge techniques. There’s a gravel shoal that bass school up and chase shad on which I think would be an awesome spot for these techniques to mix in with a crankbait and bottom bait.

 

Any recommendations on baits and techniques? 

Last few days, I just drift and and troll down the middle of the lake looking for activity.  Then I throw a 5" spoon in that direction. I let it drop on semi-slack line maybe 15 feet, then swim it up about 8 feet, drop a little, swim a bit....  This morning, they were hitting it when I'd star swimming it.  Some days, they choke it on the drop.   This morning:

I also like it on ledges, but most of my favorite ledges have a lot of wood.  Spoons work, but can get hung quite a bit.

We have huge differences in water fished, so take it as is; Mid-summer my bass will sit on these large 20-30' flats avoiding all the pleasure boat chaos, fishing pressure, and probably most importantly following bait.  My most successful hair jigs are big daddy's hair jig in 3/4oz in gizzard and 3/4oz northland tackle chicken jig in bluegill.  I like a 7'6 MH/H to bomb casts, cover water, and be able to set the hook at distance on what are usually good sized fish.  So bomb, let it fall vertical to the bottom, then I reel rip it 2-4 handle turns off the bottom and tightline back down.  How many reel turns, if I give it a double jump, and how long I let it rest on the bottom are the only successful options in my bag right now.  I'm sure there's more, especially for suspended bass.  I haven't been able to crack that code.  I need fish willing to follow it down.  I fish the 5-8" flutter spoons the same way.  In a way they are an either/or day or a way to hit a successful area with a different look.  

 

Our shad don't seem to approach these profiles, so my bass are probably crappie, perch, bream eaters, but this is a guess.  When they are suspended on shad, I'm in the 2-4" profile size and work mid column.  I start with a long cast, tightline to the bottom while counting down, hopefully getting a bite and remembering the depth and if not doing the math to figure out rof to get to my depth of any flasher marks.  Then I usually work that depth and shallower with a yo-yo approach.  Straight retrieves have historically been less effective.

 

scott

 

ps - Ben Parker and mafia larry are the big spoons that I've done best with.

Now that you mention reel burn them instead of pulling up on rod tip like you would stroke a jig I recall seeing a pro do that. My natural reaction would have been to work the bait with the rod

 

 

26 minutes ago, GReb said:

Now that you mention reel burn them instead of pulling up on rod tip like you would stroke a jig I recall seeing a pro do that. My natural reaction would have been to work the bait with the rod

 

 

I play with that sometimes, but haven't ever hit on it.  The suddenness of the reel rip seems to be the trigger in my experience.  I mean it's been fast or fastest on a 7:1 reel.  Nothing really subtle about it.

 

scott

I mostly use the Nichols 3/4oz spoon. Letting it fall on semi slack line is the key.  Too tight and it falls like a rock.  Too loose and you will miss the strike.   
 

sometimes I lift slow and drop, other times I rip it as hard as I can off the bottom.  I will also shake it in place on the bottom.  Lots of bass will pick it up from the bottom like a jig.  
 

I like a moderate or mod fast rod for spoons.  It is hard to explain but I feel like it sling shots to spoon off the bottom in a controlled way. A fast rod seems to pull it too abruptly if that makes sense.   
 

Be sure to add a good swivel and a stinger hook to the line tie split ring. 30% of my fish are hooked on the stinger.