Sometimes, fish just need a little something different to push them over the edge. With plastics, a change in color can be just the thing. Several manufacturers like Yamamoto offer worms with chartreuse tips, but dipping tails in dyes like Spike It enables anglers to alter any of their colors with a simple dunk.
New Hampshire pro Joe Lucarelli says that for dropshotting, his bait-dying strategy takes an opposite turn.
“People always dye the tail of their bait, but when I’m dropshotting, I want a bass to bite the head of my bait because that’s where the hook is,” he said. “That’s why I dye the head of the bait.”
Bassmaster pro Matt Greenblatt offers this tip: “If you rub a Senko, you can change the color and the salt content as well.”
Experimenting with extravagant color patterns like Yum’s Bumble Bee Swirl or Wave’s Sweet Potato may trigger strikes from curious fish. Likewise, baits with blue, red or gold flecks can catch a fish’s eye when those little sparkles reflect sunlight. (Tip: This also helps anglers keep track of their baits to detect those subtle bites. When the sparkle disappears, set the hook.)
Spray-on Scents (TriggerX Rejuvenator Spray, Gulp!, Yum L PT, etc.) help mask human odors, but they also lubricate a stickbait for easier passage through vegetation. In most cases, the slender body just skips across the pads, but on sunny days, soft-plastic baits can actually stick to the dry surfaces.
Editor’s note: This article is part of the Stick it to ‘em feature in the October issue of Mississippi Sportsman. Digital editions can be downloaded right to your computer or smartphone.
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