Westernbass Magazine - Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Summer 2013, Page 35

Westernbass Magazine - Bass Fishing Tips And Techniques - Summer 2013, Page 35

light conditions, but i have found that sometimes the hotter it gets, the hotter the bite is. especially on lakes like lake Mead, you can throw it all day and catch them,” shares Hawk. He believes that anytime the bass are keying on baitfish they will work.

Many top pros are beginning to use braid to a fluorocarbon leader on their spinning setups. Hawk has taken that to the next level and is now using braided line with a monofilament leader for all of his topwater needs. “i like to use 50lb Seaguar Kanzen braid and use a 15-20lb leader of Seaguar Senshi monofilament. With the braid you cast must farther and you get much better hooksets,” says Hawk. to combine the two types of line he relies on the Modified albright knot. another tip he shared has to do with the leader length, “i like to use only about eight inches of leader, just enough so the fish don’t see the braid as they come close to the bait. i do not want my knot to go through the guides when i am casting,” adds the former Forrest Wood Cup Champion.

LINE AND KNOT CHOICES

additionally, Hawk will adjust his knot choice based on the lure he is using. When tying directly to a walking bait, he prefers a palamor tied to the bait, without using a split ring. He feels that the action of the bait is not affected. if he is using a popper style, he will type a rapala knot, which is a small looped knot. this allows the popper to have a little more action and freedom to move side to side.

Kevin Hawk’s preferred rod for topwater is an irod air Series 703 model. He likes this rod because of how light it is, but also the fact that it works well with braided line. “The rod is very light and easy to use all day. it’s a medium heavy action and with braid, it has a little more forgiveness to balance the no stretch of the braid,” mentions Hawk. His reel of choice is an abu Garcia revo SX in the 7.1:1 gear ratio. “i like the faster reel because i can take up line very quickly,” adds the alabama pro.

There are several good quality walking baits on the market, but Hawk prefers to use a lure by dUo called the realis Pencil 110. “it is really a perfect size,

ROD AND REEL

WALKING BAITS

summer 2013

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