RIPPING

BACKGROUND

Many legendary fisherman, like Tom Mann, have used this technique when fishing for bass. It involves casting out your lure and reeling it in soon after. As you can imagine, ripping requires a lot of energy and stamina. 

TECHNIQUE

There are a couple of different ways to complete the cast-and-reel of ripping. One option is to make a healthy cast out and wait for the lure to sink to the bottom. Once the line goes limp, quickly jerk the rod tip upwards and reel your line in as quickly as possible. Continue to jerk upward and crank the line. This sends the lure “ripping” along the bottom. If there is no catch, allow the lure to fall back to the bottom and repeat these steps. Usually, a fish will catch on while the lure is falling to the bottom.

Another option is aimed at fishing beginners who may not be able to rip the line quickly enough. Position your rod parallel to the water and send your lure down. After the lure hits the bottom, reel up the slack. The difference with this technique is that after the lure initially hits the bottom, it should not hit the bottom again.   

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WALKING THE DOG

BACKGROUND

Mastering the “walk the dog” fishing technique involves twitching your rod which will allow your lure to move side-to-side. There are certain lure-types, such as the Heddon Spook, XPS Slim Dog, and the Livingston Walking Boss, that will aide with this technique. Overall, the lure needs to be heavy enough to go far when casting. You’ll need a heavier rod as well. 

TECHNIQUE

Start with your rod pointed down. After casting out, twitch the rod sharply. Then drift the rod back toward the lure to get some slack in the line. Continue to twitch the line all the way back to the boat. You’ll want to create a left-to-right action. If you get a fish and lose it, continue to keep the lure going. Many times, the fish will come back to your lure.

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BOTTOM BOUNCING

BACKGROUND

This technique allows for fishing in shallow or deep waters, with the bait lingering near the bottom. Bottom bouncing works well when the fish are at or near the bottom. You can use different sized bottom bouncers depending on your depth or speed. A good rule-of-thumb is 1 ounce for every 10 feet of water. A bottom bouncer involves two main components – a loop tied to your main line and clipping your fishing rig to the arm.

TECHNIQUE

Rigging a bottom bouncer is relatively easy. Cast your line out far and let the lure sink to the bottom. You’ll want to lift the rod tip up to lift the lure and then drop it quickly to the bottom. You can either bounce the lure inches off or several feet off the ground. When reeling in, lower the rod tip to allow for extra line, while maintaining tension.