Mega Bass

Fall Bass Fishing in the IE

on |

As the weather transitions from the sweltering days of summer to the crisp, clear days of fall, bass fishing traditionally picks up. At least, that's what I told myself as I drove to yet another fishing trip this Sunday.

However, after a few hours on the water, my efforts weren't exactly paying off. I had nailed two fish, one a total dink and the other a ~1 lb fella (pictured above), but I had been dreaming of non-stop bass action and this wasn't it. The better fish was caught on a Texas-rigged Gary Yamamoto Ika, a really ugly lure that catches a lot of fish for me.
Finally, as the sun set, I switched up to a Gene Larew Three-Legged topwater frog. I initially tried some Sizmic Toad Jr. frogs, but I after missing two blowups, I decided to change lures. Finally, as I was casting near some reeds, I heard the tell-tale sounds of a large fish hitting surface forage nearby. I flipped the frog out, and three seconds later- BAM! Hooked this big largemouth bass, 4 lb category, 17.5''. One of the best fighters I've had the pleasure of encountering on my fishing trips in the last few months. Definitely an epic memory. Video quality above isn't the greatest, but it sort of shows off how big this fish was. Tight lines!

Heavy Duty Punch Jigs ~ Punch through Thick Cover

on |

Because sometimes you just need a jig!

Cast Industries manufactures, centrifugal spincast molds and paints these jig heads. Cast Industries is the largest U.S. manufacturer of jig heads for over 20 years with over 300 customers, including many of the most popular regional, national and worldwide brands of jigs. Even though the brand name on the packaging may be different, it is Cast Industries that actually produces many of the best made jigs on the market

These have the ideal bullet nose shape, weight distribution and sleekness to punch through thick mats of vegetation and whatever other heavy cover.

Premium Mustad Ultra Point Hook. This extra heavy duty hook has a needle sharp point with incredible strength and durability. The Ultra Point is designed not to bend or roll over. The Ultra Point lasts longer under tough flipping, pitching and punching conditions. This is a heavy gauge wire diameter hook for landing big bass with heavy line.

Double Keeper Collar. First, punch jigs have a pronounced ring that makes it quite difficult for a fish to ever pull the skirt down. Second, the spiked keeper barb helps hold soft plastic trailers without easily slipping down the hook.

Fiberguards. Extra long and extra thick for extra heavy cover. In many situations, you may want to thin out and trim short the fiberguard to match your fishing conditions. Think of it as purchasing a fine pair of unhemmed dress slacks. You wouldn't wear unhemmed pants without tailoring them first. So you shouldn't fish these jigs without tailoring the fiberguards to suit the conditions you encounter. The fiberguards come extra long and extra thick. You can shorten or reduce the number of fibers based on the fishing conditions you encounter.

Punch Jig Fishing Simplified

Punch fishing with heavy Texas rigs is one of the latest fads in bass fishing today. But punching through thick, heavy cover is something I've been doing for thirty-something years - and sometimes you just need a jig to do it.

The punch jig has a pointy, bullet-nosed shape that’s streamlined and best for snaking through thick grass and other debris cleanly. One of the most important aspects to realize is that punch jig fishing is a heavy tackle proposition. Most anglers underestimate the strength of rod, reel and line that’s required for punch jig fishing. If you find you are hanging up and snagging too much, it may be because your rod, reel and line are too light and too flexible to
keep the jig out of trouble. Switch to heavier tackle. Next, you want to cast into the best possible spot within your reach where, if you had to pick the one single place where a fish could be, that’s the place to lay your jig down. Then you just let the jig drop to the bottom. Then you do absolutely nothing. Most hits will happen in just about how much time it took to read this. If you don’t get bit during the fall or after waiting and doing nothing for a short while, then you start to drag the jig back to you slowly, up out of the weeds or cover, but your best chance to have had a hit is already over by the time you start to drag it back. As it moves over clean, empty bottom, chances for a hit are low. As it
starts to bang and bumble against weeds or debris, chances for a hit go up. Anytime you lose feel of the bottom, slow down and wait until you feel the jig make bottom contact again. Keep in mind, the most important part of a jig is the soft plastic trailer. The soft plastic trailer is really all the fish wants. If you don’t believe it, try fishing a jig with no trailer, and you won’t do very well. Punch jig fishing really is that simple.

One last tip is that you'll read a lot about punching with one ounce or even heavier sizes - but punching is every bit as effective (and sometimes even more productive) using weights as light as 1/4 oz. Anyone can punch with the heavy weights, yet not every situation you face requires the heaviest jig possible. There are many more punching opportunities that can be best served with the lighter weight jigs. You really haven't mastered punching until you can "bomb the slop" and finagle even the light weight jigs through thick vegetation and gnarly tangles of debris.

Punch Jig ~ 1/4 oz ~ Black Gold

Punch Jig ~ 1/4 oz ~ Black Red

Punch Jig ~ 1/4 oz ~ Green Pumpkin

Punch Jig ~ 3/8 oz ~ Black Gold

Punch Jig ~ 3/8 oz ~ Black Red

Punch Jig ~ 3/8 oz ~ Green Pumpkin

Punch Jig ~ 1/2 oz ~ Black Gold

Punch Jig ~ 1/2 oz ~ Black Red

Punch Jig ~ 1/2 oz ~ Green Pumpkin

Details of Punch Jig head construction. From L to R: 1/4 oz (3/0), 3/8 oz (4/0), 1/2 oz (4/0)

Punch Jig ~ 3/8 oz ~ Delta Craw

Punch Jig ~ 1/2 oz ~ Delta Craw

Russ Bassdozer

"The
Punch Jig - especially in the 1 oz size - is one of my most productive jigs in thick shallow cover all year round," says satisfied angler Bill Bjork

Details of Punch Jig head construction. Top: 3/4 oz (5/0). Bottom: 1 oz (5/0).

Punch Jig ~ 3/4 oz ~ Black Blue Air Trap

Punch Jig ~ 1 oz ~ Black Blue Air Trap

Punch Jig ~ 3/4 oz ~ Black Brown Craw Air Trap

Punch Jig ~ 1 oz ~ Black Brown Craw Air Trap

Punch Jig ~ 3/4 oz ~ Green Pumpkin Air Trap

Punch Jig ~ 1 oz ~ Green Pumpkin Air Trap

For pricing and current availability, please visit http://www.BassdozerStore.com.

Thank you for your business. May your next fishing trip be your best ever!

Regards,

Russ

Bassdozer Alabama Jigs ~ Heavy Duty Flipping and Swimming Jigs

These are the same design as my world-famous Wisconsin jigs. The difference is the Alabama jigs sport heavier, flipping strength hooks required for the bigger bass that tend to be caught on heavier tackle while flipping or swimming jigs in grassy lakes down South, whether Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas or Louisiana. Anywhere big bass and grassy lakes or grass-choked tidal waters and deltas are found, anywhere you are going to be using heavy tackle, that's where to use Bassdozer Alabama jigs.

It's not only that the Alabama Swimming Jigs are heavy duty, but there's a difference designed into the swimming and gliding action of these jigs compared to my Wisconsin Jigs. This difference in action takes into consideration the heavier tackle that will be used, and the heavier grass and different nature of grass lakes found in the South, which requires a jig to be a little different in concept than one designed for the tackle, grass and ways that my Wisconsin Swimming Jigs are used in the North (and wherever else they apply). There's nothing you can really see, or anything you need to do to get this different swimming, gliding action. It's built into the Alabama Swimming Jigs for you. All you need to do is reel in - and be ready!

Use my Wisconsin jigs with light, medium and even medium/heavy tackle. Use my Alabama jigs with heavy tackle for flipping or swimming in the baddest grass and snags for the biggest bass!

The full range of Bassdozer swimming jigs now includes: