Here is a question that I am embarassed to ask considering all the years I have been throwing wood, what is the proper method of retrieving a swimming plug? I ask this question as it relate to speed of retrieval, action used during the retrieve, and anything else all of you might think of. Thank-you. :D

I will usually retrieve slowly with a swimmer but if I am not get any hits I will vary it. I know most people say slow retrieve for bass, but sometimes I will get hits once I speed up a bit.

one way i do it (I'm sure it's not the only way) is

1) rod tip down, with tip pointed at general direction of plug
2) slow retrieve, with no slack in the line
3) occasional twitch to liven things up

I use a slow retrieve with a twitch every couple of handle turns, if thats not working I'll speed up retrieve untill I find the one they want.

I find that sometimes, depending on the actions of the fish, that you must try just about anything to get them to bite!!! The retrieve will almost always vary to some degree depending on the action of the water itself! Usually a slow steady retrieve, but when that does not work, sometimes you need to adjust and do things a little differently than usual. Good luck! Just one guys opinion, take it for what it is worth!:kewl:

tell Me what plugs You Use???
thanks

I went to a Bob Hahn seminar years ago and he said 2 things that have always helped me catch bass. Retrieve as slow as you can and when you think your too slow,go slower.


When your swimmer is on the back of a wave stop retriveing and let it wiggle there until it breaks.

so say Your using a 6" Bob Hans swimmer
Your going top crawl it on top , you can work it slow But You can impart alittle action on the plug via a pause or a twitch here and there and if the wave will hold the plug yes work it and a little dropping of the rod to keep it working is good.
I usually lift and drop my rod depending where the plug is working either on the slack of the wave or the pulling of the wave.this is to keep the plug working at all times .
some times a plug tumbling will get hits also if You can keep controll of it.
If Your fishing a bowl with a bar that goes straight out and a bar that goes out at an angle to Your right. this is a classic cape structure here.
You can work the start of the angled bar at the beginning and then work Your way into the hole By casting over the bar and working the lure back while walking to Your left into deep water at some point You will be working the back side of the bar.
Then You can work the deep hole and just to the left of that hole You should see a rip line on water moving out to the ocean.
You want to fan cast towards the Bar to Your left and work the lure slow accross the rip and then work it out at the end of the rip By casting the plug as far as You can to the farthest point of that rip.
at that point You may elect to get on the bar and I would cast to My right to the same rip only now Your going to fan cast from tossing to the shore where the hole is to If You can the bar that comes out at an angle to working the rip along the Bar You are on.
and then You would move onto casting straight out on the bar You are on.
I basicly walk and fan cast and will work the hole and both bars back and forth.
But alot of times You will find most fish in one spot for a particular Time period during that phace of the tide and when it drys up do all of the above to locate the fish agian.
Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,..........,,,.,.,.,.,,,,>)))'>..........,.,.,.,.,.,..........,.

BASSMASTER-- question for you- When you lift or drop your rod on the rolling or slack wave do you continue the retrieve or just use the rod to keep the action?
Thanks.

Originally posted by justplugit
BASSMASTER-- question for you- When you lift or drop your rod on the rolling or slack wave do you continue the retrieve or just use the rod to keep the action?
Thanks.
use the rod to keep the action thats where dropping the rod comes into play.
when I lift the rod ,I may reel in a bit to keep tight to the plug

Keeping tight to the plug is key - I don't like to leave a lot of slack in the line.

THANKS

what other plugs You work?

MEGA is my first go to : then depending on water conditions and bait .rubber shad wood simmwer ,wood popper and needlle .

I think BM wants them.:D

A deal is not out of the realm of possibilty!:chatter

There can only Be One.................................

Lures are not made to be retrieved simply, rather they ought to be played to simulate a bait to entice the fish. All different lures have different actions either on the surface, under the surface or on the bottom. therefore there is no one set of rule of retrieve or method.

Even same lure should be retrieved differently in different places and different time of the day and night for different species.

For instance, if I fish in the channel I will let the current take the lure while I am playing the lure as long as I can because there is better chance to hook up fish in the channel and there is almost no retrieve until the lure is too far out and begin to being washed away.

But when the blues are running I will retireve the same lure with a lot more speed while playing.

If I fish early in the morning, I approach the edge of the water with caution and I throw a lure or fly close to the edge and there is almost no retrieve but playing the lure right there where it landed.

And I am still experimenting and learning all the time. that's why it is called "Fishing " not "Catching"

We are fishing all the time, but not catching all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:happy: :happy: :happy:

You can bet your life that there is only one BASSMASTER who is truly the master of all bass, and properly named so,however ,"where there's a lure there's a way,gotta be more then one way.

Unless of coures it's a bob hahn swimmer or bassmaster pike!:lasso: