"For micro-plastics, we've had success with Berkley's new Dropshot Bass Minnow, Dropshot Power Worm, or Power Leech; Iovino's salted Reapers; Yamamoto 2- to 3-inch grubs; Cabela's 'Livin' Eye' minnow grub; and Bass Pro Shops' XPS Twin Tail Minnows. Rig them Texas-style on light-wire hooks like Owner's Down-Shot hook in sizes #2 and #4, with the weight about 18 inches ahead of the lure.
"Cast or drift these rigs across rock-gravel or gravel-sand transition areas, or along the base of rubble reefs. Drifting is more effective if you can achieve accurate boat control along these sometimes vague boundaries, because you keep the lure continually in the potential strike zone. Keeping the baits as far from the boat as possible helps."
3-Way Rigging: If winds or currents are strong, or when you're fishing deeper than about 15 feet, rig with a heavier weight. To a 3-way swivel, tie a 12-inch leader with a snag-free weight like Lindy's Rattlin' No-Snagg sinker or a Scott Eno sandbag or other soft sinker. Weights from 1/2 to 3/4 ounce should hold bottom well, but there's no reason not to go heavier if you lose feel. The bass don't care about the sinker and may be attracted by the sound and disturbance it makes.
Richardson recommends experimenting with the length of leader to the lure, starting about 2 feet and going longer. Sometimes, he says, the key to a hot bite is to alter the lengths of the two leaders or the sinker weight. "I've also had success adding a Betts Carolina Floater ahead of the plastic bait to raise it several inches off the bottom," he adds. "Try one of the small plastic baits mentioned above or upsize to a Lake Fork Magic Shad, Lunker City Fin-S-Fish, or Zoom Fluke. Leeches, crawlers, emerald shiners, or other livebaits also work when nose hooked with a Mustad Ultra Point Beak or Aberdeen hook. The Ultra-Point is insurance against dulling the point in tough timber or rocks."
Carolina Rigging: "My favorite rigs are premade, like Kalin's Carolina Clacker and Bass Pro Shops Carolina Shortcut. They come equipped with brass sinkers, beads, swivels, and clackers so you need only tie on a hook. One deadly trick has been to run a small floating jerkbait like Rapala's #9 Floating Minnow, an Excalibur Ghost Minnow, or Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow on a 3-foot leader. Great for smallmouths holding over deep reefs or along bluffs.
"The Carolina rig lets you present small baits on heavier tackle, which helps to combat wind. Cast straight into a 20-knot gale if you like. You always have contact with the sinker, and the bait isn't far behind. The rig quickly brings your bait into the fish zone and keeps it there. Power finesse, I call it."
