More Movement for Bass

Fishery surveys indicate that largemouth bass are more abundant than ever across the country. But at times, it's hard to get a bite with standard presentations. Bass can learn to recognize popular lures and often refuse to bite them unless they're actively feeding.

To combat this conditioning process, new lures hit the market regularly. One of the most innovative is Berkley's Bungee Power Hawg, a 4-inch multiappendaged bait that looks like a cross between a praying mantis and a salamander. The Bungee Hawg features a pair of curly legs that stretch out when the bait is jigged, then return to their curled position. Visualize an octopus doing curls with a dumbbell and you get the idea.

But that's not all. The Hawg also sports a pair of flappers that vaguely resemble the claws of a crawdad. The bait also features three pairs of legs on its wormlike frame. Flip it. Pitch it. Cast it on a Texas or Carolina rig. Just get the thing into the water and watch it work. It's a new teaser that will catch more bass for you this season.

Whatever way you rig it, though, be sure to use a wide-gap hook that will set through all those appendages once a bass inhales it. Also, don't hesitate to experiment with the lure. I've found that tearing off the paddles sometimes increases bites when Carolina rigging. And for flipping, I cut off the six little legs, to get a straighter drop that's less likely to hang in grass or twigs.

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