It’s no secret that I’m a power fisherman. I’m most happy with a big rod in hand and a jig tied at the end of the line.
But I’m also a realist. To compete at the highest level these days, you’ve got to accept changing conditions and implement finesse tactics.
Our lakes are getting older, clearer and experiencing intense fishing pressure. Fishing dirty water is now a niche situation. These lakes clear up fast, so we must appeal to the bass’ ability to feed by sight.
Fishing pressure is at its greatest ever. Even the recreational anglers are much better at finding and catching bass than they used to be.
So, as crazy as it sounds coming from an old jig guy, the goofy-looking “dice baits” that have entered the market are not so goofy. They catch ‘em.
Frankly, the concept of having multiple tiny tenacles coming off a piece of plastic isn’t new. When I was a kid, I watched a lot of Virgil Ward’s Championship Fishing TV show. I remember him using similar lures, but they were considered a fad and went away.
That was when lakes weren’t as clear and equipment wasn’t nearly as good. I don’t think the modern version is going to fade away.
I started using Strike King’s version, the Tumbleweed, last year on the St. Lawrence River. I was searching for smallmouth on the flats and started pitching the Tumbleweed at fish I saw.
Tumbleweed comes in a floating and a sinking version. I put one that sinks on a small Gamkatsu jighead used for wacky fishing and tossed it in front of the fish.
It was pretty amazing. Some bass raced over and ate it as soon as it hit the surface.
And it’s not just a smallmouth bait. I have some lakes around my Louisiana home that are super clear and full of cypress trees. I took the Tumbleweed out the other day, put it on a weedless 1/32 and 1/16 tungsten jigheads and pitched it around the trees.
The bait kind of shimmies on the fall, and I could see fish coming out to eat it.
I learned that you want the slow fall to retain the shimmy action that seems to trigger a bass’ curiosity. I basically deadstick it or may shake it a little if I see a bass bird-dogging it.
I fish it on spinning gear with 10-pound Gamma Braid and 8-pound Gamma fluorocarbon leader material.
While I was using the sinking Tumbleweed for those situations, the floating version is ideal for drop shotting because it hangs in the fish’s face.
On a weighted head, the Tumbleweed is fished like your standard wacky rig, except it gives something different to appeal to their curiosity.
And that’s what we must do these days. I still love my big rods, big line and big baits, but I just ordered nine Lew’s Mark Zona Signature Series spinning rods.
I’m armed and ready to adapt when conditions get so tough that finesse tactics are required to put a few more fish in the box.
