You’ll be able to watch nearly any bait all through the retrieve with forward-facing sonar. I’ve watched bass strike jerkbaits, umbrella rigs, flutter spoons, and even topwaters, however I principally depend on three finesse rigs that I exploit on spinning gear.
Because the 2023 match season drew to a detailed, some of us within the fishing neighborhood argued that forward-facing sonar was ruining bass fishing, giving us the power to have a look at all the water column and 100 toes or extra out in entrance of the boat, revealing fish we by no means knew have been there previously. Throughout competitors, professional anglers could be seen with their heads down, taking a look at their screens for hours.
Throughout practically each outing this final season, I thought of how I wouldn’t have caught that fish if I didn’t have Humminbird’s Mega Reside operating on the bow. I see boulders, logs, weed clumps, and fish holding cowl. I can spot particular person fish swimming alongside and sometimes, even suspended fish that simply appear to come out of nowhere.
These are my high selections for throwing at bass I see on forward-facing sonar.
The minnow
When: A delicate plastic jerkbait rigged on a jig head is my best choice for bass which can be targeted on consuming baitfish. This is similar bait that I used for the moping method that I’ve had success with at just a few US tournaments in recent times. It’s the right minnow imitator. Rig it to match the scale of baitfish in your physique of water.
Often, I’ll tie on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jig and fix a four-inch delicate plastic bait. Be sure that the bait is rigged up completely straight on the jog head. If the bait is bent or twisted, it gained’t swim correctly and can look unnatural. It’s going to additionally twist your line. If I’m fishing shallower water or the fish are within the high of the water column I’ll use a lighter jig.
Easy methods to fish it: Watch your bait on the sonar. Forged it out and when it begins to fall, begin reeling slowly to maintain it just a few toes above the fish. You need to get bass to swim and take a run at your bait. It’s tempting to need to put the bait proper in entrance of them however all the time maintain it above them and reel it sluggish and regular.
The Ned
When: It’s my best choice when focusing on bass that I really feel are feeding down on crayfish or gobies. The Ned rig consists of a jig head with a brief piece of plastic worm threaded on to it. I’ll go together with a 3⁄16-ounce jig head for water lower than 10 toes, 1 ⁄4 ounce for 10- to 20-foot water, and 3⁄8 ounce for water over 20 toes. I need the bait to get to the underside rapidly, the place the fish can discover it. While you’re utilizing forward-facing sonar, the advantage of the heavier jig head is it’s simpler to see.
Easy methods to fish it: Strive to not drop the bait proper on high of fish. As a substitute, land it just a few toes away. One factor that you just study from utilizing this expertise is that bass can see your bait from quite a bit farther away than you suppose they will and touchdown the bait on their heads dangers spooking them.
While you drop your Ned rig close to a fish or fish-holding piece of canopy like a boulder, let it hit the underside after which shake it in place. Typically the fish will swim over, take a look, and chunk. In case you don’t get their consideration, snap your Ned rig off the underside, then let it fall again. This may set off bites.
The drop-shot
When: It really works nice anyplace bass swim, in any respect depths. This rig shines in clear water and round snaggy areas (significantly zebra mussels) as a result of the rig naturally retains the bait off the underside. When the chunk is actually robust, the drop-shot is my go-to rig to pitch to fish on the display screen. It’s the most finesse presentation in my boat. I’ll drop it to fish I see beneath the boat, and naturally anytime I’m fishing actually snaggy areas, it saves some jigs.
Easy methods to fish it: Just like the Ned rig, put the dropshot subsequent to fish or cowl you see on the sonar and then let it naturally float and do its factor. The largegest mistake anglers make when fishing a drop-shot is that they transfer and shake their rod an excessive amount of.
Typically imparting no motion is best than making the bait dance crazily.
Do you want forward-facing sonar to get out and catch just a few fish? Completely not, however it’ll assist you place your bait in entrance of extra fish and see how they react to it. You study that you just gained’t catch them all, however you’ll work out new methods to trick just a few into biting.
Initially revealed in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ Fishing Annual 2024
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