TOUGH BASS FALL
FOR SOFT PLASTICS PHOTO: DANIEL ROLOFF
[TACK LE]
PRO CHOICES FOR LOCKJAW LARGEMOUTH BY RIC BURNLEY
SOFT PLASTICS FOR TOUGH BASS
STANKX HERO CRAW In dirty, turbid water, a super slow presentation will get the most attention from big bass. On central California’s meandering Kings River, kayak angler and blogger Daniel Roloff says choosing the right soft plastic is crucial. “I’ve been using StankX Hero Craw in a custom color that perfectly matches the local crayfish,” he says. Roloff explains that master pourer, Travis Coleman, uses a variety of traditional and out-of-the box techniques to achieve perfect color and tone. “The bass gets a good look at the bait before deciding to strike,” Roloff says. “It has to be perfect.” StankX Hero Craw has won approval on Roloff ’s Impractical Angler blog. “It’s big and wide, giving it a lot of profile in the dirty water,” he says, “and it’s infused with Hawgsauce, which the bass really like.” $4/6 pack •
www.stankxbaitco.com
REACTION INNOVATIONS SWEET BEAVER
Texas tournament pro Tye Black- shear says the biggest fish live in the deepest structure. To pull trophies out of the rough stuff, nothing beats flipping a jig. Blacks- hear matches a Reaction Innovation 4.20 Sweet Beaver trailer to a half-ounce Dirty Jig No-Jack flipping jig. The No-Jack pulls one trick every jig maker should emulate. “The jighead keeps the trailer sticking up,” Blackshear points out. A bushy rubber skirt and stiff weed guard prevent the lure from getting snagged. Blackshear really likes the careful detail molded into each Reaction In- novations bait. With forward-facing ribs and a triple split tail, the compact Sweet Beaver is designed to make a lot of noise with the least resistance. The nose and centerline are beefed up to make the lure tough, but the plastic is soft and subtle to provide enticing action. $5/10 pack •
www.reactioninnovations.com
SOUTHERN LURES SCUM FROG
To get attention on overcrowd- ed and overfished waters, an angler has to make some noise. New Jersey kayak guide, Dino Cerdiera (www.
thepondhopper.com) likes to make waves with Southern Lures’ Scum Frog. “It is a hollow-bodied soft plas- tic frog that comes rigged with two hooks,” he explains. The Scum Frog’s life-like shape and froggy action make it popular with the bass. “Hop the frog from lily pad to lily pad,” Cerdiera says, “first thing in the morning or on overcast days.” Bass often knock the frog into the water in an eruption of white water and green skin. “A lot of times the bass will engulf the lily pad and the bait,” Cerdiera claims, “it’s awesome!” $3 •
www.scumfrog.com
www.kayakanglermag.com… 17
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