"Post-spawn" means "the rest of the summer." So the spicy time of year is done and now it's all about either coverin' water 'n grindin', or bein' laser-focused on your screens and droppin', strokin' or windin'. Really whatever you want to do because ANY bait will work! (For some of us anyway...apparently not includin' me...).
So here's you just a sample of some post-spawn good stuff, most of which is made by the good folks who bring you the BB but not all...because of Brett Hite and Morizo Shimizu and a giant EverGreen tree they call Fred. Maybe.
Part 2 comin' this weekend!
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Can I get a "Duh!" Man if you somehow either never fished a Spook or have forgotten about 'em cuz of the newer sexier baits (I get it!), pull one outta the box again! Cover/no cover, spawning baitfish/no spawn, points/flats, creeks/main lake, shallow/deep – works!
At the Lake Fork Elite several guys were throwing a Super Spook because there's big bass and big shad there. If your forage is smaller, step down to a One Knocker Spook (okie shad ^ is Jason Christie's fave color) or the Super Spook Jr.
Here's Stetson Blaylock talkin' why you need a Spook tied on all summer – he likes that color too:
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Every walking bait is based on Spook genetics, but they're all different fo different reasons. The J-Walker is different because:
- It's a different shape
- It casts different
- It's a different length (4.75" and 4" vs the Spook's 5" and 3.5")
- Sounds different
- Different colors ("sexy back" ^)
- No matter how normal Justin Lucas looks, he's seriously abnormal about topwaters...and had a big hand in helping design all the Berkley topwater hard baits.
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PSA: If the water surface is calm and you want a more subtle walking bait, the Berkley Drift Walker is made for that and in my experience does exactly what it says it'll do. Flip side is don't use it when the water's not calm because it'll get lost (my experience too, ymmv).
3. Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil Popper
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That's the "clear" color – here's Elitist ginger Brandon Cobb:
> After the bass spawn there is always some type of forage spawn starting, such as shad or herring. I first look for the areas where these baitfish are starting to spawn. Usually happens around shallow points or some type of shoreline cover. It is usually easy to identify because the baitfish will be actively spawning and popping around the cover.
> The Pencil Popper casts a mile and can be worked aggressively to set it apart from all those baitfish. I like to work it very fast with aggressive twitches to cause a reaction strike within the bait school.
Here's MLF BPT pro Zack Birge givin' a full rig rundown on it – he also fishes it on 30-lb Superbraid:
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The old Rebel P70 Pop-R is one of those eBay baits, but now you don't have to chase one of those down. The P71 ("bluegill" ^) is supposed to be the exact same – lip, how it sits, etc – except it comes in different colors AND Gammy trebles.
5. War Eagle Buzzbait
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War Eagle Buzzbaits = great sound, great colors, great track record = no-brainer. That color's "white" – notice the read head, the same color combo Gerald Swindle just used to finish high at Neely Henry.
Tip: When paralleling banks you can bend the wire to run right beside the bank without the bait straying off to the opposite direction.
Topwater Honorable Mentionings
5. Deps NZ Crawler Topwater Walking Bait – Someone swore to me that at times smallmouths will kill this thing. I haven't bought one yet but I haven't forgotten! (I don't think I was supposed to keep that a secret?)
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Can you make a living fishing jigs? Yep, we've all seen it done. Can you catch 'em anywhere, anytime with a jig? Yep. Plus that fish thump is so great! So here we go – regular jigs 'n the bladed ones....
1. The JackHammer
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THE JackHammer ("sprayed grass" ^). Yes you're crazy if you don't fish it...OR you might like a different one better or just as much, like some pros do (I ask!). Anyhow, there's nothing to say about this bait that you don't already know other than Brett said Morizo got inspired to make it after he saw the blades in the Pacific Rim movie:
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Different type of bladed jig for sure. Works anywhere but the Melee ("may-lay") is designed to be effective in wood, stays down on the retrieve and real good colors ("summer gill" ^). Here's a little more about it, plus it shows underwater how different trailers create different actions:
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3. GameChanger Lures Trashmaster Jig
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A Catch Co brand, the GameChanger stuff is designed by the one 'n only Steve Parks, same guy who designed all Strike King's Rage baits among others. The TrashMaster ("Okee craw" ^) is specifically designed for junk-fishing – not sure if that's been done before except in Gerald Swindle's garage? TrashMaster Jig tiddy-bits:
-> Pointy head for gettin' in and gettin' out of cover.
-> Screw lock for rigging soft-plastics to make the jig weedless.
-> Shorter skirt = no trimming.
-> Hand-tied wire collar skirt (not banded).
Heeeeeere's Googaner Jonny B talkin' 'bout how he rigs 'n throws it:
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5. Jig 'n bladed jig trailers
Soooo many but here's a few that either keep coming up in derbs or I like fwiw:
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2. Yamamoto Zako – The only one Brett Hite uses with the JackHammer...or at least that's what he says...
6. If you're in FL and don't have Gambler stuff, that might be a mistake....
Jig Honorable Mentionings
3. Lotta good jigs out there but for sure any jigs from: Dirty Jigs (except for the Matt Herren one...just kiddin' Matt!), Strike King and Jewel Baits. Jewel ➡️ Gayle Julian is a jigs genius AND makes jigs that can catch 'em no matter what the conditions (many are finesse or semi-finesse). Here's the 7/16-oz Jewel Tactical Pro Spider HD Jig in "bass whacker:"
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...that didn't fit in the above categories or the ones comin' this weekend so here you go:
1. Jewel Gem Blade
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Mentioned this deal before – one way to think of the Gem Blade is if you a) want a different bait than everyone's been throwing, b) love spinnerbaits, c) love swimbaits and d) understand that Gayle Julian is a fishing genius beyond just jigs, then this might be the deal for you. Good vid from Jewel's Jordan Cecil, couple highlights:
- Can slow-roll it and burn it
- Uses ii with a 3.3., 3.8 and even a 4.8 around the big gizzards
- He prefers 6' 10" MH rod and 15-, 17- or 20-lb fluoro
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No-brainer, the YUM Dinger ("Elder's magic" ^) and other stick worms might be the king of the post-spawn plastics....
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Neko-riggin' with Brandon Palaniuk
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Is it "neeko," "niko" or "nayko"? Option c, apparently. Either way, here's Brandon Palaniuk talkin' 'bout it. Gear-wise he talks about it all, but will mention here the 15-lb Smackdown Flash Green braid (so he can watch the line and) to an 8- or 10-lb Seaguar Gold Label fluoro leader. He says both lines are high strength and small diameter. VMC Weedless Neko Hook, Daiwa reel, 7' M Alpha Angler Wrench Rod:
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best and funniest (sometimes worst) stuff in bassin', picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
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