By George Fiorille
Thanks to the popularity of anglers fishing with live sonar, other electronics, and the overall popularity of hard baits, stick baits are probably one of the two most popular baits with bass fishermen today. They come in several different variations that cover a wide spectrum of uses.
History
Stickbaits have been around for a long time. History tells us that the original was the one made by Lauri Rapala, hand carved back in the mid 1930s in Finland.
According to the Rapala web site, the lure really did not take off until the early 1960s. This is due in part thanks to an article about the lure in Life Magazine. The issue became famous not only for the lure introduction in the United States but thanks to another article featuring Marilyn Monroe.
Today’s stickbaits are a lot different than the originals made almost 100 years ago.
Even though the Rapala/VMC corporation is still making the original hand carved wood stickbaits, today's bass anglers seem to favor the more durable plastic versions.
Avid bass anglers had to manicure the original stick baits to catch fish in special conditions such as in cold water and other applications. This was often done to make the lure suspend in inactive conditions. Anglers would do things such as wrapping lead solder around the hooks, drilling the bait and pouring in lead, adding lead golf tape, and adding a putty to make the bait suspend in cold water.
Today's stick baits come in several different versions. There’s ones that float, ones that suspend a few feet under the surface, ones that dig down deep and suspend, and ones that sink to the bottom.
Stickbaits are best fished with medium action rods. Avid stickbait anglers usually prefer a rod that is around six foot eight inches long. The action gives the bass a split second to suck in the bait and the shorter length rod gives the angler a more comfortable grip to work a cadence,
Floaters
A little trick some anglers do is to fish a shallow running stick bait on a Carolina rig. They will run a line through a bullet weight, slide on a bead, then tie the main line to a swivel. They will attach a leader anywhere from 1-4-feet to the end of the swivel. Then a shallow, floating stickbait is attached. The bait is lobbed far out with a long casting rod in the 7’-7’6” range. The weight gets the bait quickly to the bottom. The angler then drags the bait slowly along the bottom. Bass see very few stickbaits in deeper water.
Suspending Stickbaits
I teach 4 bass fishing classes each year at Cornell University. Many of my students fail to realize and/or accept the fact that a suspending stickbait that suspends in 45-degree water, will float in 77-degree water. It has to do with water density.
Cold water is denser than warmer, thinner water and will hold the bait down. During the summer, bass are more active and will chase a rising bait better. If you are just starting out and want to buy just a few stick baits, buy yourself a few suspending baits. Ones that will run like 3’-6’ deep are good ones to stock.
There’s a good tip whenever a fish follows the lure to the boat or bank and then steers off. Keep the boat going straight away about 3-4 boat lengths away. Turn around to the back and fire a long cast towards the following bass. Many times the fish stays on the same track depth and the ensuing cast will trigger a strike.
Deep Diving Stickbaits
In the past few years, deep diving stickbaits have become increasingly more popular.
Bass anglers using live sonar to spot and throw at bass are finding deep divers can trigger fish spotted deeper than originally thought for regular stick baits.
The added length of lip on deep diving stickbaits not only give them added running depth, but better deflecting qualities off of structure as well. Non tournament anglers troll the deep divers to really trigger deep dwelling bass such as during late summer.
Sinking/Spy Baits
Some anglers prefer to get their baits near or on the bottom with sinking stick baits. You can fish these types of baits almost like a jig or worm. Make a long cast, feel it down, and an active bass may strike on the drop. After the bait hits bottom, try picking it up and dropping it like a worm or creature bait.
One bait that has gotten more use but little publicity are the spy baits. These sinking stick baits usually sport a double spin blade on the front and one on the back as well.
Many spy baits come with too small of hooks. Itsy bitsy size number 10# and 12# treble hooks need to be exchanged for size number 6# and 8# premium hooks.
These small, twirling stick baits work well on light fluorocarbon lines such as 6 or 8 pound test. When bass are laying on or near the bottom, the blades are often the key to triggering strikes.
Stick Bait Colors/Sizes
Stick baits are usually thought of as a fairly clear water lure. They do usually work in these types of water clarity. Translucent colors like ghost, chartreuse belly with blue back and translucent silver sides work great.
Stickbaits can work in slightly murky water as well. In these conditions, colors like chartreuse shad and bone/orange belly can work. Sometimes during these times you can fish them like a shallow running crankbait.
When fish are near, spawning or post spawn, try fishing bream or sunfish colors. Bass seem to hold a grudge in post spawn against panfish which were trying to raid their nest.
Stickbaits not only come in four different versions, but multiple sizes as well. The most popular stickbait size is the four and half inch. Smaller sizes work well in late fall and the larger ones excel for bigger bass and matching the hatch when larger bait is in the area.
It’s easy to see why stickbaits are the one of the most popular bass fishing baits today. When you consider the variations, sizes, and colors available, it gives bass anglers the edge to catch more and bigger bass.
