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Size Does Matter
by John Kruse, March 12, 2004
SIZE DOES MATTER
(AND SOMETIMES……….SMALLER IS BETTER!)
By John Kruse
Many bass fishermen subscribe to the old saw of "A bigger lure means a bigger fish."
That’s why we are often found beating the surface of the water with a five inch plug, a large buzz bait, or a weighted, seven-inch plastic worm. While these lures work, I’d be willing to wager that the average fisherman would not only catch more fish, but bigger fish on a regular basis, by downsizing their tackle.
It’s a lesson I learned by accident. Fishing a small lake near my home for panfish on a hot summer day, I hooked into a five pound bass using a 1/16 oz. tube jig. It wasn’t the first such instance either. On several occasions that spring, I’d caught two to four pound bass using a 1/8 oz. Beetlespin or a four-inch Berkley Power Worm. I also caught bluegill and crappie over a pound in size that summer using these lures or small plugs and on a memorable October evening my fishing partner caught a fine six-pound walleye casting a ¼ oz. Rattletrap from shore. Over time, we found that by using smaller and lighter tackle, we could routinely out-fish (both in size and numbers) the local competition. In addition, we would often find ourselves catching good size panfish or other, incidental species that made the day that much more enjoyable.
Next time you are out bass fishing, try the following:
A light to medium light rod with 6 to 8-lb. test line casts small lures further than stout rods with heavy line. The decreased diameter of the line also makes your line less visible to cautious fish.
A four-inch plastic worm with no weight, thrown into the shallows or close to structure, makes a deadly offering. The quiet presentation of this slow sinking lure, coupled with its sensitivity, is often irresistible for even the most wary bass.
A small (1/8 to 1/4 oz.) shallow running plug can be a great way to catch bass outside of weed lines and in the flats during summer mornings and evenings. Large crappie or bluegill will also hit these lures with abandon. In the fall and spring, try a small Rattletrap lure at a moderate retrieve for similar results.
Down size your tackle to meet more bass up close and personal.
Small spinnerbaits (1/4 ounce) or Beetlespins can also be highly effective for bass. Try using a Beetlespin off of points or in the flats in the spring for bass and other fish. A slow rolled spinnerbait in the spring and fall can be particularly effective for big fish. In the summer, use a fast retrieve and buzz the spinnerbait on the surface in the shallows or outside of weed lines at sunrise or sunset to entice bass to strike.
1/16 oz. or smaller jigs, cast near fallen trees, docks or other structures, can be deadly for bass, crappie, bluegill, perch, and many other game fish. Watch the lure as it slowly sinks in the water. If a fish doesn’t take it on the initial fall, try a slow, steady retrieve or a bottom bouncing retrieve to entice a strike.
Don’t forget your fly fishing gear either. A small rabbit hair streamer, bait fish, or crawfish imitation, while small compared to hardware, can be very effective when cast towards structure, allowed to sink, and stripped back at various speeds. Don’t forget tried but true poppers for fast and furious action for bass and other panfish on summer evenings.
It all seems so easy, and it really is. Think light, and small, next time you go fishing. You might be surprised by how much heavier your take will be by the end of the day!
Bob Rau caught this huge bluegill on a small tube jig.