Sometimes you got to force yourself….

I don’t like jigs, and I don’t like soft plastics….

I admit it – probally cause I really don’t know how, when, why, etc to fish them. I have gotten fish on them – but not very often. During the winter – I kept saying to myself – I got to get out and fish plastics and jigs once open water comes.

So what have I been fishing? – anything but. Sunday was no exception – calm glassy smooth water – tailor made for top water stuff. I threw spinner baits, buzz baits – top water plugs – zero – zip – nada – not even a missed strike.

Finally – a 1/2 hour before it was time to go home, I forced myself to listen to myself, and got out a 1/4 oz rattle jig w/ a plastic craw (dark red – glitter) – it was in my box – easy to get at – so I went with it. I know craws are more a bass bait, and I’ve not caught a bass yet in the water I was fishing (mainly NP) – but they aren’t fussy (most the time) – so what the heck…

1st and second casts – in the middle of the pool – nothing. Basicly dragging and hopping the jig on the bottom. 3rd cast was up along a bank. I hopped the jig back, and as it got closer to me – higher in the water column – to the point where I could see it (6-8 ft away), there was a flash of green, and it was gone – so was my jig. Pulled up on the rod – it bent over. Water splashed, and the fish took some line. I eased over to the section of bank where my landing net lay, and waited the fish out. When it tired enough, the net did its thing.

My prize was a 25″ NP, 9″ girth. Various weigh-it-with-a-ruler charts put it at between 3.6-4.2#. When I measured its mid-section, I could feel the body of a 6-8″ bait fish in its belly. This one I released to fight again. No other activity in the time I had left – but made an impression.

This was also my first fish on braid of any sort – I have used all mono up to now – but I had a sample spool of 30# Spiderwire, so I put it on a reel needing line and have been trying that as well.

UG

nice fish! It must have put up a good fight. I have always wanted to hook into a Northern like that, good job.

Nice post UG. It always helps if we can find ways to challenge ourselves and break away from the norm. I myself, am doing the same thing this year in trying to branch out to fish bass with plastics.

In years past, I have always fished bass on Chesterwoods twitching a floating Rapala probably 99% of the time. So, about a month ago, I spent the money and invested in some Exude Bass plastics. Well, a couple weeks ago out on Chesterwoods, I rigged up a wacky style Comida worm. After about a 6-7 missed fish learning curve I started getting the hang of things and next thing you know the bass were steadily coming into the boat.

I think its always fun to get out and do some experimenting in our fishing techniques. If your like me its almost more exciting to catch fish while I’m trying out something new. And on the plus side, it just adds another method into the arsenal of tactics.

Andy