My daddy got me started bass fishing when I was just a kid. We would take our old fishing rigs consisting of a steel rod, level wind reel and spool of black line to the lake or creek.
He would tie on one of the few lures he had back then – a Hawaiian Wiggler, River Runt or Dalton Special and we would give it a try.
Later, another lure captured the interest of bass fishermen when the plastic worm was introduced. At first, these lures were stiff and straight and featured a couple of hooks imbedded in the worm. These lures eventually gave way to a soft and pliable plastic worm that you rigged up Texas style with a bullet weight tied on above a single hook which was skewered onto the worm with the point concealed in the plastic, making the lure weedless.
Since then, there have been a whole array of lures introduced to attract bass and until recently, these lures were the mainstay for anglers going after bass.
Scan social media today and you’ll find that yet another lure, totally different, has taken the bass fishing world by storm and for the life of me, I can’t figure how the heck a bass can be attracted to a small round plastic or rubber ball with tenacles sticking out in all directions. Yamamoto calls theirs the Uni; others call it Sea Urchin, Strike King’s version is the Floating Tumbleweed or Dice Lures, to name a few.
How effective are these lures? I interviewed an angler who fished the Majestic Bass Tournament held a couple of weeks ago on Lake D’Arbonne, Kade Hillestad, a 24 year old student at the University of Louisiana Monroe, fished this lure exclusively during the tournament and when the deal was done,
Hillestad won the award for the heaviest five fish stringer for the tournament with his five fish weighing 28 pounds. Included in his catch was the third largest bass in the tournament, one that tipped the scales at 8.03 pounds.
The tournament pays cash for the largest bass weighed in each two hour period throughout the event that ran from Saturday morning until Sunday morning. Hillestad had fish that won three of the five two-hour weigh ins including his 8.03 pounder. During the duration of the tournament, Hillestad was able to collect a pile of checks for winning three of the two hour weigh ins plus the third largest bass in the event along with winning the best five fish stringer.
“I only used one lure during the whole tournament to catch my fish,” he said.
What lure did he use? He caught all his fish using one of those crazy looking new lures.
“The one I used is called the Prickly Pear and I caught all my fish on it,” said Hillestad. “I was fishing the thermocline which is the line where warm water and cool water meet. It varied in depth during the day and I was able to keep up with it because fish relate more to the cooler water.”
Hillestad is a member of the ULM fishing team and his club has a tournament later this month way up north on the Potamic River.
“I may try a variety of lures but for sure, I’ll have the Prickly Pear tied on one of my rods because I believe in this crazy lure and how well it works,” he said.
If you plan to bass fish anytime soon, you owe it to yourself to drop by your favorite outlet that sells fishing lures and grab a handful of these new, weird looking lures. Ask for Prickly Pear, Uni, Dice Lure or Floating Tumbleweed – they’ll know what you’re talking about. Chances are, you’ll be impressed with what these strange looking lures can attract.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are around the grass early and hitting topwaters. Later they’re around deep drops and channels. Soft plastics and cranks baits and the new Fuzzy Dice baits are working best. Crappie are around the deeper tops and are hitting jigs and shiners. Bream are on shallow beds and hitting small spinners, crickets and worms with some really big ones being caught. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Crappie are around brush hitting shiners or jigs. Bass are best flipping the trees and lily pads with oversized soft plastics along with Dice Baits including the Prickly Pear. Bream are still on the shallow beds and hitting crickets and worms. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Water level is falling and fishing has slowed. No reports of bass, crappie or bream. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are best on topwaters early and crank baits and soft plastics later on secondary points. Crappie are in the channel and channel edges in 12-14 foot water hitting jigs and shiners. The bream are on the beds and biting crickets and small spinners. Lots of catfish are being caught on red wigglers and night crawlers just off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are suspended around deep brush with jigs and shiners working best. Bass are in the shallows early hitting topwaters and in deeper water around around the channel edges later. Soft plastics and crank baits are picking up some. Night fishing is starting to pick up. Bream are on the shallow beds and hitting worms and crickets. Stripers should be starting to school soon. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE YUCATAN – Big gar rodeo was a success. The water is rising again. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and buffalo caught in nets. Crappie and bass have not started to hit but barfish are starting to bite. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.