ADD ERRATIC ACTION TO YOUR SPINNER BAITS, DON'T JUST CAST &
RETRIEVE THEM. CRASH INTO ROCKS OR LOGS. TRY TWITCHING
YOUR ROD TIP FROM SIDE TO SIDE. OR VARY SPEED. STRIKES OFTEN
ARE TRIGGERED BY A SUDDEN CHANGE IN LURE DIRECTION AND SPEED.
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IN LAKES WITH LOTS OF SUBMERGED VEGETATION, AVOID THE BROWN OR DYING WEEDS, INSTEAD, FISH THE GREENER, HEALTHIER
GRASS. DETERIORATING GRASS USES UP OXYGEN, SO ITS NOT
POPULAR AMONG FORAGE FISH AND BASS. DEEP WATER WEEDS ARE
AMONG THE LAST TO DIE.
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BE ON THE ALERT FOR POCKETS OR SMALL OPENINGS IN THE GRASS BEDS THAT MAY INDICATE A SANDY SPOT, ROCKPILE, OR SCATTERED STUMPS. SUCH SO-CALLED "HARD SPOTS" OFTEN ATTRACT AMBUSH-MINDED BASS. PLUS, THEY ARE AMONG THE FAVORITE HAUNTS OF THE LAKE'S LARGEST BASS.
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"DEAD-STICK" SOFT-PLASTIC WORMS OR LIZARDS IN AREAS WHERE BASS ARE PRESENT BUT REFUSE TO TAKE YOUR BAIT.  CAST THE LURE INTO THE SPOT, LET IT HIT BOTTOM, AND KEEP A SLACK LINE FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THE NATURAL CURRENT OFTEN CREATES A SUBTLE ACTION BASS CAN'T RESIST.
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WIND AND CURRENT WILL POSITION BASS IN THE TOP AMBUSH AREAS OF JUST ABOUT ANY WATERWAY. BASS MOVE TO THE WINDY BANKS TO FEED. AND WHEN CURRENT IS PRESENT ON RESERVOIRS, BASS OFTEN CONGREGATE ON THE DOWNCURRENT SIDE OF MAIN LAKE POINTS AND BECOME ACTIVE FEEDERS.
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DIVING OR CIRCLING BIRDS INDICATE THAT BAITFISH MAY BE IN THE VICINITY, OFTEN MEANING THAT BASS ARE NEARBY. WHEN YOU SEE BIRDS WORKING THE SURFACE, GET QUICKLY TO THE AREA AND FAN-CAST LIPLESS CRANKBAITS, SPINNERBAITS, AND TOPWATER LURES OR DRAG A CAROLINA RIG.
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KEEP A BACK-UP BAIT RIGGED FOR BASS THAT STRIKE EXPLOSIVELY AT SURFACE LURES BUT DON'T GET HOOKED. WHEN FISHING WEEDLESS BAITS OVER MATTED GRASS, FOR EXAMPLE, TOSS A TEXAS-RIGGED WORM INTO THE HOLE. OR, WHEN FISHING OPEN WATER,
FOLLOW UP WITH A TUBE BAIT.
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CAST A FLOATING WORM BEYOND TARGETS SUCH AS LOGS, BRUSH-
PILES, AND WEED CLUMPS. OCCASIONALLY, TWITCH THE WORM
BENEATH THE SURFACE. COLORS GENERALLY ISN'T A FACTOR, SO CHOOSE BRIGHT- COLORED WORMS THAT YOU CAN SEE EASILY WHEN THE WORM GOES UNDERWATER.
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JERKBAITS ARE DEADLY FOR SLUGGISH, PRE-SPAWN BASS. ALTHOUGH THESE MINNOWLIKE PLUGS CAN BE TWITCHED ON THE SURFACE, THEY GENERALLY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN YANKED UNDER WATER WITH A JERK-PAUSE-JERK RETRIEVE. IF YOU FEEL WEIGHT, SET THE HOOK.
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LONG, SLENDER WILLOWLEAF SPINNERBAIT BLADES ARE THE MOST WEED-RESISTANT. THEY PRODUCE LESS VIBRATION THAN OTHER STYLES, HOWEVER, SO THEY'RE MORE EFFECTIVE IN CLEAR WATER. CHOOSE GOLD BLADES ON CLOUDY DAYS OR IF THE WATER IS SLIGHTLY MURKY.
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USE PORK TRAILERS RATHER THAN PLASTIC BAITS WHEN FISHING JIGS DURING COLD-WATER SEASONS. STICK WITH BASIC COLORS: BLUE, BLACK, AND BROWN. FISH THE LURE SLOWLY, ANTICIPATING SUBTLE STRIKES AS YOUR BAIT DESCENDS. BIGGER PORK FALLS SLOWER, SO