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Post Spawn Big Bass “Wake” Up!- Mark Maule

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you just don’t want to wake up or get out of bed? Of course! We have all had that experience at some time. During the immediate post spawn period, it can seem like the big bass in a lake have one of those mornings for an entire week. However, even when they are lethargic and not feeding heavily as can be the case in the immediate post spawn period, there are still some opportunities to “Wake” them up and get them to bite.
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One of my favorite lures during this transitional phase is the Yo-Zuri 3DB Wake Bait. At 2.75”, this lure has a solid tight wobbling motion. Like other Yo-Zuri products, the 3DB Wake Bait has a rattle that can draw fish in from a long way off. The Yo-Zuri 3DB Wake Bait can be fished right beneath the surface leaving disrupted water behind it as it is reeled in, or it can be fished effectively up to about 1.5’ below the top of the water.
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Using the 3DB Wake Bait during the post spawn can be especially effective early in the morning or late in the day when the sun is lower. Add some wind up to about 5 mph hour, and this lure can be cranked for bass on any given lake. The Prism Ayu is one of my favorite colors during the immediate post spawn for bass because it emulates the baitfish that the fish are feeding on or will be feeding on soon and elicits reaction strikes. Prism Ayu is a great pattern choice to use in clear water especially as bass will come to the surface from 15’ down to engulf this lure as the cadence is changed with every crank of the reel handle. Generally speaking, I start in 3-6’ of water when using the 3DB Wake Bait, and then work my way out deeper if necessary. Another alternative in cloudy conditions during the Bluegill spawn is the same size of Yo-Zuri Wakebait in the 3DR series is the Real Bluegill.
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So if you are facing some cranky bass right after the post spawn that don’t seem to want to move, much less eat a bait, “Wake” them up with the Yo-Zuri 3B Wake Bait.

Western Striper Success!!! -by Manuel Saldana Jr.

The Striper fishing out in the west coast is on FIRE!!!! Want to increase your chances at have a day on the water that will make memories for a lifetime, here is some helpful tips on what I prefer to do and the set up I rely on!

My rod and reel choices are the following:

Rod is a 7’6″ heavy in power with a fast action tip.
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The reel is a 300 size conventional reel with a line counter. Line counters are a must because this helps us out as a guide to know how far everyone’s line or lures are.I prefer to spool it up with 30lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid in the Blue color pattern.
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Weather conditions that are most favorable are Mid-March thru early summer, but this year throughout April and May the weather was normal morning temp 45 degrees and a high temp of 74 degrees throughout the day but the main issue we have faced is the water temperatures of 50 to 52 degrees. Our normal water temperatures are 55 degrees in mid-March and approximately 60 degrees in mid-April. It took a while to figure it out, we had Spring weather temperatures but winter water temperatures due to all the snowpack in the Sierra’s.
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Most effective techniques were drifting upstream with deep diving floating Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Minnow lures or the Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Deep Diver Walleye series lure. I recommend trolling upstream at 3 to 4 MPH. Trolling at higher speeds make these stripers react to our lures, and with the colder water temps you had to get the lures right in their face because they were lethargic.
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Hot baits were the standard deep diving floating Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Minnow in Redhead/White body. This lure, for many years, has been the ‘go-to’ it comes to catching stripers. In the freshwater Deep Diver Crystal Minnow Walleye series lures the solid white has been hot for us. The bite is so good that it is almost like the stripers have never seen this lure before and they flat out couldn’t resist it! I believe the very tight wiggle the Crystal Minnow action has in the water mimics most live bait in many bodies of water such as Shad, or Pike Minnow. Another hot suggestion is the Deep Diver Walleye Series in the Hot Tiger color.
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One tip I can pass on to anglers that will help them be successful is to remove the split ring that comes in the package tie a size 54 duo snap lock to your braid the attach it directly to the bait. This helps the lure run true, plus it makes easier to change out your lures as well. Also, make sure you add a trailer worm to your trailing center hook; it helps the lure get an even tighter wiggle.

It’s Time to go Drop-Shotting! By Martha Goodfellow

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since my friend taught me how to drop-shot. Lessons started in his garage, over his boat. A lot of plastics and hooks, but only one line to choose. He shared his favorite choice of line to use for drop-shotting. It is the only line I’ll use on my drop-shot. I am speaking of Yo-Zuri Hybrid Line.

I am amazed at how well the Hybrid Line works. When you look at how it is made, you can better understand the qualities that give the line its strength and sensitivity, both important for fishing. “Yo-Zuri’s Hybrid Line is a co-polymer consisting of fluorocarbon and nylon making it abrasion resistant and has the sensitivity of fluorocarbon and the flexibility and stretch of nylon.”
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For choosing which pound test to use for drop-shotting, I fish with eight pound test Yo-Zuri Hybrid Line. In our area of South Carolina, we have some pretty clear lakes and the eight pound test works great. As for being able to land big fish, my friend and teacher, caught a nice eight pound bass, on eight pound test Yo-Zuri Hybrid Line. Yes, the line works!

Drop-Shotting is one of my favorite techniques for catching bass. I love seeing a school of bass on my electronics and dropping my bait down below the school, watching the bass chase the bait down, and then hooking up.
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The Drop-Shot works well on clearer bodies of water. As for time of year, summer and winter, when the bass are suspended in deeper water, often relating to schools of baitfish are great for the drop-shot.

Where to start looking for that school of bass. Check out creek channel swings and big, long, tapering points that run way out to the channel. If you have baitfish in the area, you are in the right spot.