Time to downsize

[keithdog]

I thought now would be a good time to remind others that this is a good time of year to try downsizing our presentations. The lakes are full of small newly hatched young fish, insects, tadpoles, crayfish and so on. They make an easy meal for a hungry largemouth and using a presentation to relect that is a very wise thing to try. Spinning tackle works very well with this type of approach, but casting equipment using light lines and light to medium action rods works great also depending on what your going to throw. Good lure choices for this time of year would be 1/8 - 1/4 oz. spinnerbaits and small inline spinners like a Mepps or Rooster Tail. A small #6 or #8 Rapala X Rap, or any small jointed minnow bait like a #7 jointed Rapala works very well this time of year. Especially deadly right now would be to use a tube bait which very closely resembles small fry. By using it with a light weight or weightless, toss the tube out near docks, brush, weedbeds, and other cover and let it gently sink. Retreive the tube with a slow soft jerk jerk pause retrieve which closely mimics the movements of young fry. Small 3-4 inch worms worked slowly along the bottom will capture a lot of attention as well as well as a small crawfish type bait like a Baby Peca Craw. Last year I tor'em up good using a small Baby Peca Craw tig rigged with a 3/16oz bullet weight fished in weed pockets. Small crankbaits sold as crappie cranks will catch both crappie and bass! As will the old but reliable beetle spins, and crappie jigs. Try these small presentation and remember to try to match the color to the type of prey that is prevalant in your body of water. You just might have the time of your life.