Mike Iaconelli has known about the “weapon bite” on blueback herring lakes for 15 years, and it will be a significant part of his game plan this week. It’s brief but it can be crucial.
It’s the most consistent way to take advantage of bass feeding on blueback herring, which gather in shallow pockets and drains every evening. Bass are in sync with this, and gather for breakfast when the herring begin exiting the shallow water every morning. Schools of blueback herring will move quickly the remainder of the day, roaming the main lake at various depths.
“As soon as that little bit of light cracks the sky, about 6:45 or 6:50, they instinctually turn and start coming out,” Iaconelli said yesterday. “It’s a really weird phenomenon. “I was told it’s called the weapon bite. It’s a big weapon to have in your arsenal. But it only lasts for an hour, an hour-and-a-half at most.”