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 tools.
Because the 2023 match season drew to an in depth, some people within the fishing neighborhood argued that forward-facing sonar was ruining bass fishing, giving us the power to take a look at your entire water column and 100 ft or extra out in entrance of the boat, revealing fish we by no means knew have been there previously. Throughout competitors, professional anglers may be seen with their heads down, their screens for hours.
Throughout practically each outing this final season, I considered how I wouldn’t have caught that fish if I didn’t have Humminbird’s Mega Stay working 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 prime selections for throwing at bass I see on forward-facing sonar.
The minnow
When: A gentle plastic jerkbait rigged on a jig head is my best choice for bass which are targeted on consuming baitfish. This is similar bait that I used for the moping method that I’ve had success with at a couple of 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 connect a four-inch gentle plastic bait. Make 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 should additionally twist your line. If I’m fishing shallower water or the fish are within the prime of the water column I’ll use a lighter jig.
fish it: Watch your bait on the sonar. Solid it out and when it begins to fall, begin reeling slowly to maintain it a couple of ft 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 preserve 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 ft, 1 ⁄4 ounce for 10- to 20-foot water, and 3⁄8 ounce for water over 20 ft. I would like 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.
fish it: Strive to not drop the bait proper on prime of fish. As an alternative, land it a couple of ft away. One factor that you just be taught from utilizing this know-how is that bass can see your bait from lots 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. Usually the fish will swim over, take a look, and chew. In case you don’t get their consideration, snap your Ned rig off the underside, then let it fall again. This could set off bites.
The drop-shot
When: It really works nice wherever 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 chew is actually powerful, the drop-shot is my go-to rig to pitch to fish on the display. 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.
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 massivegest mistake anglers make when fishing a drop-shot is that they transfer and shake their rod an excessive amount of.
Generally imparting no motion is healthier than making the bait dance crazily.
Do you want forward-facing sonar to get out and catch a couple of fish? Completely not, however it can assist you set your bait in entrance of extra fish and see how they react to it. You be taught that you just gained’t catch them all, however you’ll determine new methods to trick a couple of into biting.
Initially printed in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ Fishing Annual 2024
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