When you think of springtime bass fishing lures, there is a long list of proven favorites. The moving baits and pitching lures always dominate when bass are shallow around the spawn, but there are always a few sleepers that not everyone is throwing. This year, Major League Fishing pro Jacob Wheeler has been leaning heavily on three specific baits. He shares them here:
#1 Tokyo Rig
While the Tokyo Rig is gaining popularity as a flipping and pitching rig, Wheeler has been experimenting with it heavily in slightly deeper water.
“The Tokyo Rig is super-versatile and you can do so much with it. It gives the fish a new look and your bait is sitting there right off of the bottom,” Wheeler stated. “I have been using it a bunch this spring offshore in the same situations where I would normally throw a wobble head or swing head.”
Wheeler will utilize the Googan Baits Bandito Bug or Trench Hawg creature baits but has also had success with a standard straight tail worm.
“I’ll go down the bank and just reel it along. The Tokyo Rig keeps it right there on the bottom,” Wheeler shared. “Your hookup percentage is great because the bait is right there in the face of bass and they eat the whole bait. I like to keep the trolling motor on high and cover water; it is an effective way to fish.”
He utilizes the VMC Tungsten Slider Weights in varying sizes to attach to the rig and says he will use up to a one-ounce weight depending on how deep he is fishing and how fast he is reeling it that day.
READ RELATED: How the Tokyo Rig is Changing how Seth Feider Fishes
#2 Finesse Squarebill
This time of year, everyone is throwing a squarebill crankbait and Wheeler is among that group. But, one sleeper he has found is the Rapala BX Brat.
“Everyone uses the same old 1.5 size baits and the fish get used to seeing those. When I see that happening, I will either upsize or downsize to a different bait,” he shared. “The BX Brat is a sleeper because it has a smaller profile but still has the right action you want. It is a finesse squarebill, in my opinion.”
The bait is built with a balsa body encompassed in a unique plastic shell; Wheeler says this is the best of both worlds.
“It has the nice buoyancy of balsa and great action, but it is very durable for banging into cover,” he said.
One change he will make is to adjust the hooks to short shank #4 hooks.
“The bait is small and you have to be careful with hook modifications, so it doesn’t mess up the action. It is like the Shad Rap, you want smaller hooks to keep it running right,” said the Major League Fishing pro.
READ RELATED: Up and Coming from Rapala
#3 Wake Bait
When the conditions line up for it, a wake bait can be an excellent way to catch big bass. Most of the time, this is the pre-spawn, according to Wheeler, but it has its moments other times of the year as well.
“When the bass are just starting to pull in to the shallows when the water temps are in the low to upper 50’s, I start thinking about a wake bait like the Rapala BX Waking Minnow,” he said of the bait that is similar to the BX Brat in that it is balsa with a plastic shell.
He will fish it with a straight retrieve and just cast and retrieve it back to the boat. Wheeler prefers a seven-foot medium casting rod and will fish it on a 30-pound Sufix 832 braided line.
“Most minnow-shaped wake baits like that are really light and you have to use spinning gear, but the BX Waking Minnow is heavy enough to get away with casting gear. It casts great, just like topwater baits,” he said.
For the most part, Wheeler likes to focus on likely staging areas and adds that baitfish activity, or at least presence, is vital. While most wake bait fishing occurs in clear water, he believes it is not a requirement.
“I look to the backs and creeks and places near spawning areas where they are feeding on baitfish before they spawn. While really clear water is the best situation, I’ve been catching them on it this year in slightly stained water around home,” he added. “You still want a little visibility, though. It is ok if the water is a little green and not brown and muddy.”
There are some lures that everyone is throwing and then there are the sleepers. Those are the lures that will put some more fish in the boat when you need to get a bite. Wheeler says these three have been consistent producers for him all year long.
Advertising