Learn how to be a better caster in order to catch more bass. The right presentation with a little flex and play will get the job done. Underhand casting demo with a spinnerbait.
Lilly pads, limbs, docks, ledges, and keeping your cast accurate with a soft presentation. KVD shows you how it’s done in this throwback 2005 footage from The Bass Pros!
Spinnerbaits are among my favorite offshore structure baits for catching big bass. Here are some techniques and tips that I’ve found incredibly effective for bass fishing:
Key Takeaways
- Use spinnerbaits with specific modifications to match fishing conditions.
- Make accurate, quiet casts with soft presentations to avoid spooking fish.
- Keep the bait in contact with cover and in the strike zone as long as possible.
- Adjust blade and skirt combinations to mimic local forage effectively.
- Fish parallel to edges and make the bait appear like easy prey to trigger strikes.
Using a Big Spinnerbait for Big Bass
A 3/4-ounce spinnerbait is a great tool for catching quality fish. To optimize its performance, I cut the wire shorter—by about a third—and use a single willow blade. This setup excels as a drop bait, especially for bass suspended off offshore structures.
When fishing over a pond dam or other underwater structures, cast the bait out and let it sink with tension on the line to feel the blade turning.
The bait will helicopter down horizontally. Once it hits the bottom, rip it up hard to mimic a shad trying to flee. Follow it back down with the rod tip.
Using a 7-foot rod, you can make the bait jump dramatically off the bottom before fluttering back down to trigger a reaction strike from inactive summer bass.
Slow-Rolling a Spinnerbait
When bass are less active, slow-rolling a spinnerbait can be incredibly effective. This technique involves a steady, slow retrieve while making contact with cover like timber, vegetation, or rocks.
The key is to let the bait graze the top of the cover and trigger strikes by reacting to contact:
- Timber: Speed up the retrieve when the bait touches a limb to crash into it and let it flutter down.
- Vegetation: Snap the bait out of the grass when it gets caught, allowing it to flutter back down.
- Precision Casting: Always fish parallel to the cover to keep the bait in the strike zone longer. This maximizes your chances of enticing a bass to strike.
Accurate Casting for Spinnerbait Success
Accurate casting is crucial for spinnerbait fishing. A soft presentation helps avoid spooking fish in shallow water. Use a shorter rod with a soft tip for maneuverability, and practice roll casting for precise, quiet entries under limbs or into tight spots.
This technique helps maintain control and keeps the bait in the strike zone longer.
Adjusting Spinnerbait Setups for Specific Scenarios
- Tandem Willow Blades: Ideal for grass and horizontal retrieves, offering less lift and running deeper.
- Single Blades: Better for vertical presentations like yo-yo-ing around deep timber, allowing the bait to flutter effectively on the fall.
- Blade and Skirt Selection: Match your setup to local forage. For shad-heavy waters, a pearl white or white skirt with a Willow-Colorado blade combination works well.
Fishing Spinnerbaits Around Lily Pads
Fishing around isolated pad clumps or cattails with a spinnerbait requires short, accurate casts. Target the stems and root systems where bass often ambush prey.
Let the bait bounce off the stems to trigger reaction strikes. Use a sturdy rod and heavy line to effectively navigate through dense cover and control the bait.
Keeping the Bait in the Strike Zone
Position the boat parallel to edges, whether it’s pads, weed lines, or drop-offs. Short casts down the edges keep the bait in the strike zone longer, increasing the likelihood of multiple strikes.
When fishing stained water, adjust your skirt color and blade size to match the forage, maximizing your presentation’s appeal.
