Entry 69-4
Debra Hengst
Debra’s Tactics For Different Types Of Bait
Editor's Note: Debra Hengst of San Antonio, Texas, a member of Strike King’s Pro Staff, guides part-time at Amistad, Falcon and Choke Canyon lakes in south Texas.
Question: What are some tactics you use to fish spinner baits for bass?
Hengst: I usually fish spinner baits in shallow water. The type of spinner bait and the blade size depends on the clarity of the water. In clearer water, I’ll fish with a willow-leaf blade. In muddier water, I may fish with the same bait as I did in the clearer water. But, I’ll switch to Colorado blades, because they cause more vibration in the water. When the water is muddy, fish lose their sense of vision, but they can still hear the vibration of the Colorado blades.
My favorite sizes are the 1/4-ounce and the 3/8-ounce spinner baits. In muddy water, I’ll start the spinner bait slower to get the vibration going. However, in clearer water, I’ll keep it going fast, and reel it in at a fast rate. Although I don’t use a lot of trailers, if I use a skirt, I’ll use a chartreuse-and-white color. For the spinner bait itself, I like a solid white, a solid chartreuse or a combination of these two colors. Black has been a productive color for me early in the mornings. On these lures, I’ll use 14- to 20-pound-test Stren line.
Question: What are some of your tactics for buzzbaits?
Hengst: I throw buzzbaits around heavy cover and I’ll usually follow it with a Strike King 3X Zulu, if I don’t catch a bass with the buzzbait. You need to feel the bass on the line before you reel it in. For a buzzbait, I’ll use 14-pound-test Stren.
Question: Do you have any tactics you use when fishing plastic worms?
Hengst: I generally add weights to them, and I love to fish on Carolina rigs.
