Terry Scroggins' knack for catching plus-size bass has earned him five B.A.S.S. wins and more than $1.5 million in prize money. He's won in every season, but fall holds a special place for the "Big Show." It's a time when the bass are gnaged up and feeding, and he takes advantage of this by sticking to shad imitators. Here's are Terry Scroggins' 5 favorie baits to throw in the fall.
1. Yum Big Show Craw
“One of my favorite ways to fish is to flip soft plastics into heavy cover, and this is my go-to for that. The forage under these mats is small, and this is a perfect match for the stuff that lives under there. I flip these with a 7-foot, 8-inch extra heavy Duckett rod and a Lew’s 6.3:1 Tournament MG reel with a left-hand crank. With a lefty reel, I can make more flips throughout the day because I don’t have to switch hands I’m holding the rod. Also, I set it so the cast control is a free as possible so you can generate more bites. I crank the drag down as tight as possible, too, so there’s no give at all. This is a powerful reel.”
The Lew's Tournamenet MG is Scroggins' choice for flipping the Big Show Craw.
2. Yum Dinger
“This is something that folks everywhere need to be throwing pretty much year-round, though I like it in the springtime best. I throw it on a 7-0 heavy action Duckett rod with a 6.3:1 Lew’s Tournament Pro Speed Spool reel.
Scroggins relies on a Lew's Tournament Pro Speed Spool for slinging soft plastic stickbaits like the Yum Dinger.
3. Yumbrella rig
“This is good in the fall because fish are schooled up a lot, and there’s nothing better for them than this rig. Your rod and reel are important when you’re throwing something this big and heavy. You need a stout rod (I use a 7-6 heavy action Duckett) and a reel that can handle the stress and strain of pulling heavy braid and sometimes multiple fish to the boat from a long ways off. The Lew’s Team Speed Spool is perfect for this. It manages the line very well, especially when you’re casting into and fighting the strong winds that can happen this time of year.”
3a. Money Minnow
Scroggins throw Yum Money Minnow-style swimbaits on his Yumbrella rig.
The Team Speed Spool is Scroggins' choice for lobbing umbrella rigs.
4. Bomber Fat Free Shad
“This crankbait will also get you in touch with those suspended fish, and its can also grind around on the bottom. I throw this with the new Lew’s BB-1 reel. When I’m trying to reach the bait’s maximum depth, I need a long, long cast and the B1 throws farther than any reel I’ve used to date. It also holds a lot of line. I use 10- or 12-pound-test line and a 5.1:1 reel on a 7-3 medium action Duckett cranking rod.”
The brand new BB-1 in 5.1:1 ratio is Scroggins' choice for working deep-diving crankbaits.
5. Zara Spook
“This time of year, the bass are balled up and sometimes crash to the surface as they’re chasing shad, and a Spook is the perfect bait to reach these fish. First, it walks on top and is an easy target for schooling fish, and second, you can throw it a mile because it’s heavy. I use a Lew’s Super Duty reel for this because it holds a lot of line, which is important because I’m throwing this with 50-pound braid, and if you have a reel with a small spool you risk outcasting your line capacity. I like the 6.3:1 ratio here and a 7-0 Duckett rod.”
Scroggins likes the Lew's Super Duty's line capacity for thick line.
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