Jigging with Plastic Wave Worm for Large Mouth...

The one thing you learn as you get more knowledgeable about fishing is that there are SO MANY different techniques and lures and that fishing isn't as "simple" as it seems. OK, you can put a worm on a hook with a bober and get some great fish sometimes(hey...my own largest largemouth came from a simple worm, bober and hook...- with the help of another fish that jumped on the line first) but the reality is A LOT of the time you need to know about different water conditions, vegetation, currents, as well as what lure or technique to use to get those fish out and biting. I'll admit I'm like a sponge most of the time reading so much and trying new things (and using my intuition - which I must say with all honesty is one of the best tools you have as an angler).

The boys and I recently went fishing in the middle of the afternoon (2pm...not prime fishing time under normal sunny circumstances) under the bridge here in town. There is a nice current under the bridge and some great sop coverage on the one side mixed with tons of lily pads and other weeds. We always had luck catching a variety of pan fish and occasionally a small mouth or large mouth. 45 minutes in and we were catching a couple pan fish here and there with worm and bober, but I noticed that near the sop on the right side there was a lack of bites on my line which got me thinking there was something a bit bigger under there scaring the little fish away. I decided to switch to a a red and white Wave Worm with a WACKY RIG (just straight on the hook) and do some jigging. It only took about 3 minutes from the time I put the wave worm in for a BIG bite to come and the fight ensued (I had no clue what was on there..but it didn't want me to find out). After a couple minutes I pulled in a beautiful 17" largemouth.

If I'd ignored my knowledge and intuition that guy would have sat there all afternoon while I fished..but switching my bait, set up and taking note of the signs...allowed me to have the thrill of another great catch! We admired the guy for a bit and then let him go back on his way. Each catch is a lesson in trusting what you know and reading the conditions....can't wait to get out there again!