It was a long time ago, 25 years or so at least, when I first heard about a bass fishing lure that was creating quite a stir among anglers. I wanted to know more so I found out who was creating these lures, got in touch with them and eventually ended up in a boat on Black Bayou Lake with one of the owners, Jerry Church, who introduced me to the Wobblehead, an odd looking but popular bass catcher.
Most fishing lures have an array of features that make them popular with bass anglers. Not so for the original Wobblehead which simply consists of a curved piece of metal with a hook attached and a plastic worm skewered on the hook. That was it and you had to wonder how the heck could this simple contraption catch bass. When you cast it out and slowly reel it in, the side-to-side motion on the retrieve exactly mimics a small snake swimming along the surface, a tasty morsel for a hungry bass.
The company has changed hands a couple of times down through the years and the current owner for the past six years is area bass fishing pro, Jim Dillard. Since assuming ownership of Wobblehead lures Dillard has made some improvements in the original design that not only enhances the performance of the lure, it is more effective as a bass catcher.
“The current design we have come up with keeps the curved metal part basically the same but we have improved the hook design to give it more action. Whereas the original hooks
were solidly attached to the metal head, the hooks we have come up with feature a free swinging
design that gives the lure more action,” said Dillard.
Wobbleheads have always been a great warm to hot weather lure because this is when baby snakes are more active.
“I have come up with a ’58 to 58’ code for fishing a Wobblehead,” Dillard continued. “When the water temperature reaches 58 in spring until it drops to 58 in the fall, this period in between is when the lure is most effective.”
With the majority of bass fishing lures, certain techniques are usually called for in order to make a lure suspend, rip the surface or hang motionless. What makes the Wobblehead different and so popular is that the method of fishing it is as simple as they come.
“Cast it out next to a tree, stump, log or bed of grass and reel it in real slow so you can see the lure as it slithers along wagging side to side just like a baby snake. You might want to pause in your retrieve for a second or two letting it sink a but before reeling again. Just try whatever works best for you and the mood of the bass you’re after,” he added.
Another important thing to remember when fishing a Wobblehead is what to do when a fish takes the lure.
“Use a delayed hook set. If you rare back on the rod the second you feel a hit, you’ll likely bring in the lure with half a worm. When a fish takes the lure, don’t set the hook until you see the fish swimming off with it,” Dillard said.
The red metal slab with a natural colored straight tailed worm is still the most popular combination but the company has a variety of other colors of the slab and worms that work.
“Black has also been a good color for the slab and the color of worm you attach depends on what the fish want on any particular day. Sometimes even chartreuse seems to be what they prefer,” he added.
To find out more about one of the most popular lures produced here in north Louisiana, check out www.wobbleheadlures.com.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Crappie are around the deeper tops in 17-18 foot water and have been fair on shiners and jigs. Some bass to around 7 pounds have been caught fishing soft plastics around
channel drops and humps. Some are also being caught at night around the lights on dark colored
spinners or soft plastics. Bream fishing is still fairly good around the lake on crickets or worms.
No report on catfish. For information contact Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278- 4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – Bream and crappie fishing is still fair to good around the trees and bushes. No report on bass. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
OUACHITA RIVER – Some nice bass in the 5 to 6 pound range were caught last week during the Ronald McDonald tournament. Fishing has slowed this week because the river is on a rise but should improve once water level becomes stable. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass fishing has been best early mornings on topwater lures and after the sun comes up, soft plastics and spinners are working better. Areas producing the best catches have been up Corney Creek. Crappie fishing has slowed a bit with most caught on shiners or jigs on the edges of the channels. Bream are still fair to good fishing worms and crickets around shallow beds. Catfish are still biting cold worms fished off the banks. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Bream are still hanging around shallow beds and fishing is fair to good on crickets and worms. Crappie fishing has been best fishing around the lighted piers at night using shiners with some really nice sized fish being caught around deep brush on shiners or jigs. Bass have been best fishing around and under the boat docks on soft plastics. No report on catfish. For latest information, call Misty at Kel’s Cove at 331-2730 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT –Bream and catfish have been good while bass and crappie are slow to fair. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE ST. JOHN – Catfishing is good, bream fishing is fair while crappie and bass are slow. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water continues on a slow fall and fishing is improving. Lots of catfish and barfish have been caught with the crappie bite improving. Bass are slow. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
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