Many bass anglers have caught big bass on 1/16-ounce jigs. The Texas state record largemouth, a behemoth 18.18 pounder, was caught on a 2-inch minnow. Case closed. Well, not quite. There are many more small baits that will catch big bass under the right circumstances.
For purposes of this article I will take a look at swimbaits, small worms and finesse jigs. Lots of anglers operate by the bait theory of go big or go home. The majority become zeroes instead of heroes.
The YUM Pulse 3.5-inch swimbait is ideal for small bait presentations in summer. Many minnows, shad and bluegill have grown to this size and attract a lot of hungry bass. Featuring a solid body with a thumping tail and ribbed body, it provides a dynamic swimming action which triggers a rolling action whether retrieved at high or low speeds. This factor provides great versatility in rigging and retrieval applications. It will work effectively on swimbait hooks, YUMbrella rigs, jigheads, belly-weight hooks, Texas rigs or as a trailer for swimming jigs, bladed jigs or on a spinnerbait.
The YUM 4 1/2-inch Finesse Worm is an absolute bass thumper under extremely hot conditions which push bass to deeper water or heavily-shaded areas. It is highly effective as a drop-shot rig in deeper water and provides a small profile bait for tossing up under overhanging trees and bushes, where big bass like to hide during the heat of the day. Tossing the bait on a spinning rig is perhaps the easiest way to go. However, I caught my biggest river largemouth on a Finesse Worm rigged with 8-pound line on a bait caster. I made a relatively short and very accurate cast under a low-hanging tree. I allowed the unweighted finesse worm to slowly sink towards the bottom of the back bay area off of one of my favorite Ozarks streams. I hardly noticed the take as the big female inhaled the worm. The line started moving off slowly. I put a little tension on the rod and felt the weight of the fish. Only then did I set the hook. I bit my lower lip as that 22-inch largemouth towed me around in my kayak for the next few minutes.
The jig is one of the most popular and productive baits ever created. They are so versatile. A jig can be flipped to wood and weed cover in shallow water, pitched under and around docks, or other cover in the mid-depth region of the water column, or cast to deeper water to work though bottom structure, or brush-piles, stumps and rocks. You can fish a jig ultra-slow, or swim it all the way back to the boat. Either way, jigs catch big bass.
The BOOYAH Baby Boo Jig was developed for a low-profile application under such conditions. I especially like this jig for rivers when I’m looking for big smallmouth bass. Crayfish colors work effectively, especially around rock rubble, deep-water boulders and up under cutbacks. Steep-sided clay banks entering the water are key areas to toss these jigs. Such areas are normally home to lots or tunneling crayfish. And there is nothing a big smallmouth likes better than a crayfish attempting to escape.
Smaller baits often are just the ticket big bass are itching for when extreme heat arrives, or when the crazy feeding moods hit that bass are so well known for. Try sizing down your baits this summer and wait for the big fish bites to begin.
