Pannie gold. PHOTOS: TIM ALLARD
AND AROUND THE KELP BY MORGAN PROMNITZ
A
Ghost Buster PITCHING PLASTICS IN
calico bass engulfs a wounded baitfish on the water’s surface just 20 feet away. I
quickly cast a plastic swimbait. Butterflies flut- ter in my stomach as I start the retrieve. The fish homes in, but veers off suddenly. The pred- ator has become the prey. A monster looms from beneath the kelp.
Gills flaring, it inhales the plastic, so close by it drenches me as it sounds. My bass rod is bent double; line screams off the reel. Finally it pauses, shaking its head in bulldog
fashion. I tighten my drag and begin pulling. This is my chance. If I don’t turn it now, it’ll bust off in the thick bull kelp. The 50-pound braided line does its job, slic-
ing through the thinner kelp stringers. Finally, the grey ghost appears, a white seabass. It il- luminates the water in a final, lavender circle. Big baits catch big fish. In Southern Califor-
nia’s coastal kelp, large plastics will catch al- most every local game fish. Here are a few tips to get you headed in the right direction:
LIKE A HOT KNIFE THROUGH BUTTER When you fish heavy cover, bring a lawn mow- er. A kelp cutter rig uses 50- to 65-pound braided line to slice right through most weedy clutter. The set-up comprises a powerful reel with a quality drag system and a high gear ra- tio matched to a seven- or eight-foot rod with significant backbone. The tip section should be forgiving to soak up surges; braid doesn’t stretch. Use a three- to six-foot leader of 30- to 50-pound fluorocarbon.
SWIMBAIT BASICS When selecting rubber tails, consider swim- ming action, durability, color and length. A thin- ner tail section will provide greater action but is more prone to being bitten off by short-striking fish. Choose dark colors when the weather is overcast or the water is dirty, and bright colors when the sun is out or the water is clear. Think big, five-inches and better, if you want to tempt the occasional trophy.
LEADHEAD LESSONS Most western style plastics such as FishTraps and MC Swimbaits must be matched with a leadhead, also known as a jig. The most common varieties are shad and bullet patterns. Depending on cur- rent and how deep you want the plastic to run, rig it with anything from a 1/2- to two-ounce head. Make sure the hooks are strong and sharp. The next bite could be a 50-pound monster.
Spin to Win
COVER WATER AND CATCH LOTS OF PANFISH WITH THIS SPIN-DRIVEN TECHNIQUE BY TIM ALLARD
Pint-sized but always willing to put up a respectable scrap, panfish are fun to catch from a kayak. Whether it’s an hour after work or a day long affair, you can rely on them for plenty of action given their sizeable populations in most wa- ter systems. Few baits are as effective as spin jigs for targeting yellow perch, sunfish, crappie and rock bass.
BAIT BREAKDOWN Some of these baits feature a jig head with a built-in spinner blade on their undersides. They come outfitted with plastic bodies, like Northland’s Thumper Crappie King, or feath- ers, like Blakemore’s Road Runner Original Marabou. Another style has blades connect- ed via spinner forms. Examples include Blue Fox’s Jig’n Spin, Mister Twister’s Meeny Spin and Northland’s Mimic Minnow Spin.
BLADE BENEFITS It’s no secret that blades are loaded with fish-catching features. A small spinner blade emits vibration, flash and motion that’ll call in curious panfish. Blades slow a spin jig’s action, both on the fall and during the retrieve. This keeps it in the strike zone longer, giving panfish ample time to ap- proach and then attack the bait. The blade has little impact on its casting distance. You can even use a heavier jig than normal
to cast farther without sacrificing proper presentation once the rig hits the water.
SPOTS FOR SPINNING Highly versatile, spin jigs work in a variety of panfish haunts. They’re great for pad- dling and casting a shoreline. Look for fall- en trees, docks and other pieces of cover sticking out from the bank that give panfish a place of refuge. Weed flats are another excellent location. Fan cast a jig over weed tops, into cuts and along inside and out- side weed edges. Standing timber on flats is a panfish producer too. Saturate the pe- riphery of the cover with casts. Lastly, don’t discount deep water structures, like rocky points and humps, as these can hold brag- ging-sized pannies.
PRESENTATION PARTICULARS Fish these baits on an ultra-light to light power rod spooled with four-pound test line. A lift-drop or a hopping swim retrieve are good techniques in most areas. In the shallows, work jigs high in the water col- umn to appeal to the up-feeding tenden- cies of panfish. In moderate to deep water count baits down to target suspended fish. Also let them sink to the bottom. Be ready for hits on the drop. Once in the zone, ex- periment with a slow, straight retrieve and a yo-yo method along the bottom.
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PHOTO: MORGAN PROMNITZ
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