As usual, it was another great weekend to be up north in the Aitkin area. The weather was warm, the wind was rippin’, and the bass were biting. Fall is a great time to do some experimenting with techniques that may be considered a little “outside the box”. I know this one has not been mentioned here before, but here it goes, Senkos under Bobbers… Seriously!!
Right now you are probably asking yourself, why under a bobber? Well considering the 20 mph winds we had all weekend, and the novice fishing partner I had accompany me, I had to come up with a way to target bass, and keep the technique simple enough so that fun could be had by all. With the heavy wave action, even for a small lake, the formula for success seemed elementary. Find a wind blown weed edge adjacent to some deeper water, rig up, crack a beer and wait for the good times to begin.
The rig is pretty simple. I use a medium sized Thill slip bobber, a couple of split shots about 24″ inches up, splice 14lb Vanish to 6/20 PowerPro (I use an improved Blood Knot, a little something I picked up fishing Specs in Tampa), then a 1/0 Gamakatsu circle hook. Chompers Salty Sinkers are my favorite, and I usually lean towards the natural end of the color spectrum (Dark Melon Pepper, Brown, Watermelon Red). For this application I hook them up Wacky style. I don’t think I would use this presentation on a flat day, for it is the waves that get that worm wiggling. I use markers to show me exactly where the break is, anchor up, then lay my casts up a hair short, and let the wind push the bait into the strike zone.
The hookset is simple, as soon as the bobber goes down, hand the rod to the rookie and tell her to start reeling. Circle hooks are perfect, there is no “feeling” for the fish and then setting the hook, the rig sets itself as the line is retrieved, most often right in the corner of the mouth. Over two days, about 7 hours of fishing total, we ended up with 41 bass, 20″ being the largest with quite a few in the 17″-19″ range. One thing I did notice is that the bite would come in flurries, doubles were common, a sure sign that they are schooling up, and pressing the baitfish up and down the break. Ducks and Grouse in Bemidji this weekend… And yes Bob (MUSKIES), I will shoot your birds for you this year too.
As it turns out, hammerhandles make great toys for Labs, Gettem’ Lou! Fetchum’ Up!
Dan Larson
Hawg Hunters Guide Service
In-Depth Angling Field Staff
612-247-9398
Thanks for the report. Very ingenious,
what was your inspiration? Did something like the float and fly start the wheels turning? I suspect your technique might have saved the day on Whitefish. Also, how about a post on the improved blood knot. We’re all looking for a better way to combine braided line and fluorocarbon leaders.
HEY MAN, YOU GET A NEW O/U AND YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO IMPROVE WHAT YOU CALL SHOOTING???? DUSTING COOTS WILL NOT COUNT IN MY BAG AND I AM NOT SURE THAT BUCKY WILL EVEN BRING THEM BACK TO YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND AND GREAT REPORT DAN. HOW MANY OF THOSE BASS DID YOU GET??? RUMOR HAS IT YOU GOT ACED BY THE “ROOKIE” THIS PAST WEEKEND. TEEL ME IT AINT SO!!!!
BEMIDJI AND COLD 
WITH THE BOYS WHILE YOUR CLEANING MY DUCKS…CAN’T WAIT.
My inspiration… Well, I kind of got it from another technique that I use when it isn’t quite as windy, drop-shotting, if you have a spot that you know holds fish time and time again, and you know how the fish relate to it, it is alomost a lay-up. This particular spot is a sharp break from 11′-16′ of water, and the weeds come to an abrupt end at about 14′. The bass are always hanging right on that edge middle of the day, basically it comes down to how long can you leave the bait hanging right in front of them because eventually they will take it.
Here is the best illustration I could find for the improved bloodknot, be sure to wet the knot before cinching it up, especially with flouro, if it gets hot from friction it gets brittle.
http://www.fish4fun.com/bloodknot.htm
Nice technique. I’ve heard of people using Mini Mites or other jigs with plastic trailer on a bobber for panfish. You could also probably try occasionally reeling in slowly or jigging on a calm day to move it around.