Entry 71-5
Emily Shaffer On Handling Different Fishing Situations And The Baits And Colors She Uses
More of Emily Shaffer’s Tactics For Fishing Different Kinds Of Bait
Editor's Note: Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, a member of Strike King’s professional team, and a 9-time Bassin’ Gals Classic qualifier, has three first-place titles, 15 top-10 finishes and the WBFA 2002 Angler-of-the-Year title. With her career winnings at just over $200,000, Shaffer holds the record for the single largest bass, 9.01 pounds, weighed in at a Bassin’ Gals Classic event, beating the 25-year history of the Bassmasters Classic and the 19-year history of Bassin' Gals Classic.
Question: What are some tactics you use to fish plastic worms and lizards?
Shaffer: I Carolina-rig my lizards and Texas-rig my worms. I like to use a big worm in the summer and a lizard in the spring. For both worms and lizards, I’ll use the watermelon color in clear water and the June-bug color on darker days. I can never go wrong with the tequila-sunrise color or a pumpkin with chartreuse tail.
Question: What are some tactics you use to fish jerkbaits?
Shaffer: I think the Strike King jerkbaits are fantastic. I love the 3X Zulu. The more erratic a jerkbait is, the better smallmouths like it, and the Zulu is a very-erratic bait. I always use a white Zulu.
Question: What are some secrets to being a professional angler?
Shaffer: I’ve found that having experience, spending time on the water, doing your homework by checking all of your lures and making sure everything is in your tackle box as well as pre-scouting the lake are all important ingredients to bass-fishing success.
