Gear

Stephen Browning’s small water baits

What Elite angler Stephen Browning takes with him when he is fishing smaller bodies of water.

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<p>Stephen Browning is a top Elite Series angler who excels on river systems. The pro has built a reputation for faring well in river systems where backwater systems are big part of the equation. Browning recently won the Central Open on the Red River at Shreveport. Despite the big title, Browning’s win and approach comes from his years of fishing small waters in Southeast Arkansas. </p>
Stephen Browning is a top Elite Series angler who excels on river systems. The pro has built a reputation for faring well in river systems where backwater systems are big part of the equation. Browning recently won the Central Open on the Red River at Shreveport. Despite the big title, Browning’s win and approach comes from his years of fishing small waters in Southeast Arkansas. 
<p>Browning has two Championship trophies in Bassmaster, both of them a result of lessons learned while fishing small lakes and reservoirs. Each of them taught him to keep things simple. The following is Browning’s simple approach and tackle box to catching fish in those small places.</p>
Browning has two Championship trophies in Bassmaster, both of them a result of lessons learned while fishing small lakes and reservoirs. Each of them taught him to keep things simple. The following is Browning’s simple approach and tackle box to catching fish in those small places.
<p>Keeping it simple as easy as having a variety of lures like these dozen pictured that will do the job on virtually every pond or reservoir.</p>
Keeping it simple as easy as having a variety of lures like these dozen pictured that will do the job on virtually every pond or reservoir.
<p>Most small waters require a shallow-water approach, and these lures cover the just about everything you will see in a day’s fishing in just about any small water.</p>
Most small waters require a shallow-water approach, and these lures cover the just about everything you will see in a day’s fishing in just about any small water.
<p>A square-bill crankbait is a must around shallow cover if you want to entice big bites, especially when the active fish slow down and it’s time to create a reaction strike. This is a Live Target Bluegill square bill. In most small waters, bluegill are the primary forage so mimicking the colors and action of that fish is important.</p>
A square-bill crankbait is a must around shallow cover if you want to entice big bites, especially when the active fish slow down and it’s time to create a reaction strike. This is a Live Target Bluegill square bill. In most small waters, bluegill are the primary forage so mimicking the colors and action of that fish is important.
<p>A buzzbait, like the War Eagle buzzbait, is a must. There are simply times when a buzzbait will produce strikes when nothing else will. “Not to mention, it’s so much fun when you get into these little places where they just kill it,’’ Browning said.</p>
A buzzbait, like the War Eagle buzzbait, is a must. There are simply times when a buzzbait will produce strikes when nothing else will. “Not to mention, it’s so much fun when you get into these little places where they just kill it,’’ Browning said.
<p>Browning doesn’t fish anywhere without having a Z-Man Chatterbait handy, especially around grass, which is often a big component of small reservoirs. Throw it on braid if possible. </p>
Browning doesn’t fish anywhere without having a Z-Man Chatterbait handy, especially around grass, which is often a big component of small reservoirs. Throw it on braid if possible. 
<p>A topwater plug is not only fun, but essential. It will allow you to make long casts and cover water that sometimes your boat can’t get to. Again, colors that mimic bluegill and frogs are essential. Browning likes the Live Target Popper Frog because it can be walked like a stick bait or paused and popped over cover.</p>
A topwater plug is not only fun, but essential. It will allow you to make long casts and cover water that sometimes your boat can’t get to. Again, colors that mimic bluegill and frogs are essential. Browning likes the Live Target Popper Frog because it can be walked like a stick bait or paused and popped over cover.
<p>A lipless crankbait can produce strikes in wide open spaces, while allowing the angler to cover water. </p>
A lipless crankbait can produce strikes in wide open spaces, while allowing the angler to cover water. 
<p>Like most anglers, Browning doesn’t go anywhere without a jig. He prefers a 5/16ths-ounce Jewell Finesse jig, with a twin-tail trailer. “This jig will catch fish in every body of water in the country,’’ Browning said. “But it can be especially good in small places. The profile fits small reservoirs and it allows you to pitch it, flip it or drag it.”</p>
Like most anglers, Browning doesn’t go anywhere without a jig. He prefers a 5/16ths-ounce Jewell Finesse jig, with a twin-tail trailer. “This jig will catch fish in every body of water in the country,’’ Browning said. “But it can be especially good in small places. The profile fits small reservoirs and it allows you to pitch it, flip it or drag it.”
<p>“Never show up to any water without a spinnerbait,’’ Browning said. “That is still one of the best go-to baits.” He fishes a Screamin’ Eagle spinnerbait made by War Eagle, saying that lure won’t roll on you when you are fishing around brush and wood cover that is prevalent in small places.</p>
“Never show up to any water without a spinnerbait,’’ Browning said. “That is still one of the best go-to baits.” He fishes a Screamin’ Eagle spinnerbait made by War Eagle, saying that lure won’t roll on you when you are fishing around brush and wood cover that is prevalent in small places.
<p>A topwater toad is the four-wheel drive lure of choice. “A lot of those places have a lot of slop, because they are more susceptible to algae blooms, plus they often have a lot of flooded grass,’’ Browning said. “My favorite is the ElaZtech Hard-leg Frog. That little sucker will go through all of that and create some violent strikes.”</p>
A topwater toad is the four-wheel drive lure of choice. “A lot of those places have a lot of slop, because they are more susceptible to algae blooms, plus they often have a lot of flooded grass,’’ Browning said. “My favorite is the ElaZtech Hard-leg Frog. That little sucker will go through all of that and create some violent strikes.”
<p>A fluke-style bait or sinking bait are good choices when the fish stop chasing, they maybe in the spawning mode or just feeling the impacts of a front. Since most small waters are shallow, dropping back to deep water sometimes isn’t an option. These baits, though, in colors that mimic the forage will often entice strikes when nothing else will.</p>
A fluke-style bait or sinking bait are good choices when the fish stop chasing, they maybe in the spawning mode or just feeling the impacts of a front. Since most small waters are shallow, dropping back to deep water sometimes isn’t an option. These baits, though, in colors that mimic the forage will often entice strikes when nothing else will.
<p>A lot of small waters have an abundance of flipping cover and/or punching cover. For those places, a small-profile bait like the ElaZtech Palmetto Bug is a perfect choice. </p>
A lot of small waters have an abundance of flipping cover and/or punching cover. For those places, a small-profile bait like the ElaZtech Palmetto Bug is a perfect choice. 
<p>A lizard should be a staple in every angler’s tackle box regardless of the size of the water you are fishing. In big water, they are most often used in the Spring. In small waters they are a versatile lure that meets a lot of needs: You can Texas-rig it, Carolina rig it or rig it wacky style.  “You want to keep it simple and have lures that can do a lot of different things,’’ Browning said. “Because in a small fishery, you will likely have to do a bunch of different things if you really want to milk the whole lake.”</p>
A lizard should be a staple in every angler’s tackle box regardless of the size of the water you are fishing. In big water, they are most often used in the Spring. In small waters they are a versatile lure that meets a lot of needs: You can Texas-rig it, Carolina rig it or rig it wacky style.  “You want to keep it simple and have lures that can do a lot of different things,’’ Browning said. “Because in a small fishery, you will likely have to do a bunch of different things if you really want to milk the whole lake.”
<p>Browning has been successful on the big stage of bass fishing competition, but he will be the first to tell you none of that would have been possible without the hours and days he spent fishing the little stuff. “There’s no better platform to learn how to fish,’’ he said. “Because you can fish the whole lake and you can concentrate on different lures and cover. You come out of those places knowing how to apply and really adapt, which is the key to catching fish wherever you go.”</p>
Browning has been successful on the big stage of bass fishing competition, but he will be the first to tell you none of that would have been possible without the hours and days he spent fishing the little stuff. “There’s no better platform to learn how to fish,’’ he said. “Because you can fish the whole lake and you can concentrate on different lures and cover. You come out of those places knowing how to apply and really adapt, which is the key to catching fish wherever you go.”

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