Go Deep this Summer

GO DEEP THIS SUMMER

The weather here in Southern Illinois is almost unforgiving. It goes from the 40’s to the 80’s in about a two week period. Or so it seems that way. The bass are done spawning and heading out to their summer homes. In deeper lakes the majority of bass hang around points and ledges that have a good amount of depth on top of them. This is my favorite time of year. I throw two baits this time of year. My absolute favorite is a Strike King Series Six big crankbait and the other is the Rage Tail 10” Anaconda worm. I do not even start early in the morning shallow with a topwater bait. I go straight out deep. With these two baits I can comb the depths searching for that one piece of cover that just might have the mother load on it. Find the right cover and you will find the bass. The equipment I use plays an essential part in catching these summer time giants.
Let’s start with the Strike King Series Six crankbait. A lot of anglers throw crankbaits using the wrong gear. I have seen fishermen using a flipping stick with 20# test and a 7.1:1 gear ratio reel out there trying to throw a crankbait. Wrong! Crankbait fishing is an art. You must use the right stuff. A glass rod is number one. I actually use a rod that was my dad’s back in the 70’s that I had rebuilt. It is a 7’ glass rod and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. A glass rod is a very soft, flexible rod. By using this rod, when a fish is hooked up, the rod acts as a shock absorber not letting the fish ripping the hooks out of his mouth. A stiff rod will only result in a lost fish. The next thing is the reel. I use an Ardent XS1000 reel that has a 5.0:1 gear ratio. It allows me to crank the bait at a moderate pace without wearing me out. You cannot burn a big crankbait. A slow steady retrieve usually works the best. I can cast 50 plus yards with this reel and the longer the cast, the more I can keep that bait down deep in the strike zone longer. Line is also important. Remember that the size of line determines how deep the bait will go. The lighter the line, the deeper the bait will travel. I use 10# Vicious Ultimate line. Unlike fluorocarbon lines, Vicious Ultimate is a copolymer line that has a little more stretch. I believe that by using this type of line my hook ups increase. One reason is I cannot feel the fish as well when he grabs the bait. That split second difference allows the bass to engulf the lure before I set the hook. The line stretches along with the rod flexing giving me the stability I need when fighting the fish to the boat. This keeps the hooks buried in his mouth and not ripping them out. That is the best way I know how to explain it. While we are on the hook thing, let’s talk about it. I replace all factory hooks unless they have a premier hook already on them. Mustad hooks make a treble hook called Triple Grip. They are extremely sharp and very strong. A sharp hook is one of the important factors in landing a big bass on a crankbait.
The Strike King Rage Tail Anaconda is a big bass bait. For some reason big bass go nuts on this worm. The action and vibration of this unique worm is unlike any other worm on the market. This bait can be thrown around the same deep structure as the crankbait. Points, ledges and other deep water structure are dynamite places for this worm. Equipment again is essential. I throw this big worm on a 7’ medium heavy rod. You can go bigger but I prefer this size. The line I use is 17# to 20# Vicious Fluorocarbon line. It has exceptional feel and very little stretch. It allows me to get a good hook set on a long cast and bury the hook deep inside the fishes mouth. A fast retrieve reel is also important so I can catch up quickly when I detect a bite. I use 6.3:1 Ardent XS1000 reel. Not only is it a strong reel but you can cast a country mile with it. Other key components are a sharp 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point hook and a tungsten weight. With the right combination I can feel the slightest of strikes.
This summer go deep. Fish points, ledges, and other deep water structure with these baits. You will soon realize that by using them and the right equipment you will have great success.