| What is a "twitch" bait? | | | | and mix up this process. Sometimes I will give it |
| First off, what is a "twitch" bait? I first heard this | | | | two or three jerks to make it jump forward |
| term from my Brother-In-Law when he saw me | | | | underwater. Other times I will twitch it just |
| catching fish on one and mumbled, "I never could | | | | enough to move it forward over real shallow |
| catch anything on those twitch baits." A twitch | | | | weeds to the next open hole. Here are the areas |
| bait is really nothing more than a floating crankbait | | | | I concentrate on depending on the time of day. |
| with a very small lip.The bait runs a few inches | | | | Night to Early Morning Locations |
| under the surface with a steady retrieve and | | | | When fishing one of these baits early in the |
| returns to the surface when the retrieve is | | | | morning I will fish shallow weed edges or flats |
| stopped. Some examples would be the original | | | | with some kind of cover. Usually you will be |
| Rapala(tm), or some of the floating Yo-Zuri(tm) | | | | seeing the tail-end of the night feeding crowd that |
| lures but there are many models and brands, so | | | | has been out on the prowl. As the light gets |
| pick your favorite. | | | | brighter they will move closer to structure for |
| How do you fish it? | | | | ambush possibilities. |
| Now onto the important part, how to fish the bait | | | | Mid-Day Locations |
| as a "twitch" bait. This is a real simple method but | | | | Here is where you get to test your casting skills. |
| it requires some imagination. The whole idea is to | | | | Move up towards the thick weeds that have |
| imitate a dying fish on the surface. You've all seen | | | | open pockets. Start casting to the close pockets |
| them, those fish that make a few ripples on the | | | | and work your way out. Move the boat quietly to |
| surface and then swim a foot or so before | | | | avoid pushing the fish to other cover. If you don't |
| returning to the surface again due to exhaustion. | | | | cover all of a pocket on the first cast then throw |
| This is no different. I fish it in different areas | | | | back again, the fish might not move far from |
| depending on the time of day and weather. One | | | | cover to get their meal. |
| thing though, if its real windy out skip the small | | | | Evening to Night Locations |
| twitch bait and move to something that runs | | | | Start moving towards the weed edges and flats |
| underwater or makes a bigger surface | | | | again. The edges near the cover that you fished |
| disturbance. Basically you will want to cast the bait | | | | in mid-day seems to usually produce. I have |
| and let it sit until the rippes settle. Be ready for a | | | | fished these baits with success at night but usually |
| strike though, because I have had fish hit the lure | | | | move on to Jitterbugs for surface work and |
| when it first lands on the water. Give it a quick | | | | Texas-Rig worms for fishing structure. I will write |
| jerk to make it dive forward and then let it | | | | an article soon on my experiences with night Bass |
| surface. Twitch it a couple of times on the | | | | fishing. |
| surface to make it ripple but not move. Repeat | | | | |