Rip
Baits Combine Subtle Action With Power For Success
The
black bass is still solid, for those fishing reaction baits on
mid river humps and grass lines. Lucky
Craft Pointer minnow accounted for over 20 fish to 7 pounds
on one trip earlier this week. Yep, rippin’
pointer minnows on points and flat edges are scoring plenty
of black bass. Occasionally, one of those stripers will also jump
all over the rip
bait a exciting battle.
The
Rip
Bait is one of the oldest tools in the Bass Fisherman’s
arsenal but quite possibly one of the most under-utilized on the
Delta in the fall. The
Rogues have been catching fish since 1947 when Jack K. Smithwick
began making artificial lures. Both baits come in a variety of
sizes, colors and actions to accommodate the pickiest of bass
and anglers. In more recent years,. Suspending baits like the
Lucky
Craft baits have allowed anglers to become more precise with
there presentation keeping the bait in the strike zone longer
triggering more strikes. Ghost minnow and American shad patterns
are the best all around color choices for the Lucky
Craft Bait. Leading the way with innovation in these baits
for the years ahead is the new Live
Pointer 95SP from Lucky Craft! Many anglers like the realistic
movements of this new model and an increased hooking ratio when
bass strike due to its flexible design. This amazing bait even
absorbs the resistance when a fish attempts to escape, giving
the best opportunity to keep the hooks set.
The
bass are starting to feel the seasons too. As the water temps
cool the bass become more 
lethargic
and hold in there deepwater wood hideaways. While the season cooler
temperature may slow the bite they will still eat. The bass will
come up and eat these minnow imitations on the edges of weed flats
close to deep water. Pointer
Minnows, used in the fall are super enticing to slower moving
bass. This relatively new breed of minnow imitation lure that
shimmer and shake enticingly for a few feet, then suspend perfectly
in place or rise ever so slowly when you pause the retrieve. The
bass can’t resist as the hit often comes when the bait pauses
and suspends, adding a slight shivering motion to the rod tip
during the pause can induce more strikes at times. It's a game
of Here I am, Here I am, as you move the bait quickly, then stopping
the bait give the bass the sales pitch that gets the strike. As
the bait stops, the bait will continue to quiver a moment as it
suspends in place, hang on it is the pause that counts most.
Try different approaches, to find the most productive
rhythm. Sometimes a subtle difference in retrieve can fill a live
well. After the initial jerk, you might try adding a couple slight
twitches to give the bait a more natural appearance, like an exhausted
baitfish or try jerking twice between pauses. I have found that
often a subtle "twitch" rather than a "jerk"
to keep the bait in the strike zone longer and catch more fish
on cold fall days. Remember bass don't want to use any more energy
than necessary to eat this offering. Some anglers will pause as
long as a minute, but 20 to 40 second pauses are the most common.
Typically, bites come while the bait is suspended motionless--during
the pauses. Ferocious bites rarely happen. Normally as you start
to jerk, the lure feels heavy or mushy. Set the hook!
Get
out and try different retrieve patterns, experiment using these
techniques around key structure and you will likely find plenty
of action, even in the cool temperatures of late fall. The key
to catching fish on the Lucky
Crafts or Smithwick
Rogue is to be patient. A typical run and gun approach is
simply too fast. When the water is cool, slow down. When you think
you are fishing slowly enough, slow down some more. Remember,
the fisherman that masters the art of jerking one of these baits
will catch fish when most live wells stay dry.
As
far as equipment goes, The Kistler Reaction Bait special is the
right tool for the job giving you enough rod to make those long
cast and deal with an occasional striper. As far as line, most
anglers will use as light line as possible, here on the river
I’ll sacrifice that for the power to get my 15 dollar lure
back and fish 15
pound Trilene.
Please
be careful out there as there is starting to be more debris in
the water and the fog can be thick at time. Dropping water temperatures
can be deadly to, if you fall in hypothermia will set in quickly
so be sure to wear your life jacket!
Enjoy!
Dan
Mathisen
FishDelta.com
- All Species, All Delta
The
Ultimate Resource For California Delta Fishing
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