tAckle
shoP bob
On fishing, work, relationships and more...
Q: With my busy work schedule, I get really
busy and can’t fish in the mornings or afternoon.
I think night fishing is all that’s left, but I dunno
if I’ll catch anything?
–Seth | Santa Fe, NM
A: Unless you’re scared of the dark, there’s
nothing about night fishing you should be
afraid of... lucky for you this is the best time
of year for nighttime bass fishing. There’s
something about the beautiful night sky
and seeing the stars that make fishing all
the more relaxing after dawn. I like using
Topwater baits, they’re perfect for summer
night fishing because of you can still see the
bait on the surface while throwing something
the bass will hit. I specifically like poppers and
wobblers. Make sure you don’t give up quick,
keep casting and retrieving so you get fewer
missed strikes. Still scared... bring a night light
and your favorite blanky.
I recently purchased a jig with the weed guard.
I’ve been catching fish on them, but I just
haven’t been able to set the hook properly.
Anything I could do?
-Nick | Ojai, Ca
The weed guard should not have anything
to do with your hookset. Like my dating life
before I met Mrs. Tackleshop, learning a good
hooksetting technique is a matter of trial and
error. If you notice you are missing more fish
than you should, try to practice a brief pause
before you set. During that magical moment
a bass grabs your bait, think to yourself about
the adjustments required to the force for
an effective hookset. Rather than a wack, go
for a graceful sweep up like you’re wielding a
samurai sword. Tight lines grasshopper!
My question for you is, what is the best type of
line (braid, fluoro, mono, etc.) for jig fishing for
bass in heavy vegetation? Also, line weight and
rod/reel combination. Thank you in advance for
your advice.
-Keith | Jacksonville, FL
One of my favorite techniques of fishing
consists of flipping a jig a short distance into
heavy cover. 20 lb. test is about average. In
lighter cover, you may be able to get by with
15, but for the biggest bass in the heaviest
of cover you’re safer with 25 lb. Rods that
are made specifically for this technique,
are typically 7’6”-8’ and stout. You can use
the same reels you use everyday for other
techniques but they should be high speed,
around 6:1, to pick up the line quickly when
a fish inhales your bait. Some popular reels
come with a flipping switch, which when
engaged, does not allow the thumb bar to l