Hook n' Look Splash #12 - Bottom Silt

[DannyStricker]

Here you go guys, more underwater information.  This took place in the fall, cool 50° water temps and we were fishing with Strike King's 3/8oz. Premier Pro-Model Jig.  The Largemouth were hitting hard that day and it wasn't until we dove into the water that we realized why they were hitting so hard.  Our mental perception of how the jig was working was proved incorrect as we learned a lesson in "Mud Puffin."

http://www.hooknlook.com/splash-12-bottom-silt/

Enjoy the video, and please comment.

[eetz]

Hi Danny,

That was a really interesting video. 

Were you able to identify the silt bottom with your electronics? 
Or was it more of a situation where you could feel it with the jig and it just looked like a soft bottom on the electronics?

Thanks!

[Redbone]

It would of been nice to see a follow or a strike. If they were that aggresive it seems like any bait would be just as effective.

[djkimmel]

Maybe. I think the crayfish mimic brings out the beast in bass sometimes because they want to get the little hard-shelled creature back into the crusher pads, safely smashed for dinner. That's my theory anyway. It might also be because bass are craw gourmands too!?!

There have been times when the bulky jig and pig was the bait that made a difference for me in tournaments. I made a state team once on St. Clair, limiting out and culling multiple times while my draw partner had just 1 bite fishing something more wimpy. I think the fall and the profile, along with a solid thump on the bottom, made the bass want my bait.

[DannyStricker]

Hi Danny,

That was a really interesting video. 

Were you able to identify the silt bottom with your electronics? 
Or was it more of a situation where you could feel it with the jig and it just looked like a soft bottom on the electronics?

Thanks!

You can definitely use your electronics to tell a hard bottom compared to a soft.  However on this occasion our perception was that the jig was bouncing along the bottom and we were trying to mimic a crayfish, we just figured the bass that ate the jig were really aggressive.  But once we dove we realized that the bottom was so soft that the jig would bury itself in the silt.  The bass had to be aggressive to dive into the silt and get its prey.  It was a huge eye opener, and exciting to see.  I wish I could have filmed a strike shot!!!

[DannyStricker]

It would of been nice to see a follow or a strike. If they were that aggresive it seems like any bait would be just as effective.

My number one goal, the "money shot" is to capture a live strike shot.  I try to get that on every show and sometimes it just doesn't happen.  The bass were aggressive when they wanted to eat, but that doesn't mean it was an action packed day.  The bites were slow and far between, but when they did bite those bass would charge into the silt bottom to grab the jig and they would be coughing up muck all the way to the surface.  Very interesting!

[djkimmel]

One thing I have definitely learned... cameras can be bad luck for bites!! You and Kim do a much better job but everyone who does video knows about the video camera curse! If it was easy, everyone would do it!