LOJO
FISHING
Hey Lojo Fishing Fam! Welcome to Karl’s Bait & Tackle. I wanted to share with you my favorite rigs and techniques for catching bass. I’m just a bearded dude who loves to fish. From pond fishing challenges to epic fishing adventures around the world — I’m all about fishing hard while having a little fun along the way.
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My Top 3 Baits
Bandito Bug
Googan Baits
My Favorite Colors
This one is hard because they all work for me but if I had to choose — Green Pumpkin, Natural, Blue Baby.
Where to Fish
Boat docks, brush, sparse grass, rocks or main lake features such as points or humps.
How to Fish
Flip around structure or cover, or drag this rig on the bottom when fishing rocks or main lake features.
Gear Recommendations
LINE: 15-20lb Fluorocarbon
ROD: 7’-7’6’’ Medium-Heavy to Heavy Casting Rod
REEL: 7.1:1 to 9.1:1 Gear Ratio Casting Reel
Hummer
Googan Squad
My Favorite Colors
I throw white buzzbaits most of the time but switch to black buzzbaits at night.
Where to Fish
I fish buzzbaits in the shallows — over grassy flats, both submergent vegetation like hydrilla and milfoil and emergent plants like Potamogeton, needle grass, pepper grass, and alligator weed. I also will work it slowly over open spots in shallow bays.
When to Fish
I feel confident in buzzbaits once water temperatures approach 60°F in the spring, and until they drop below about 50°F in fall.
How to Fish
I like to change speeds to see what sound and vibration the fish like best. Don't sleep on night fishing with this one. Quality over quantity. Those big bass will travel a further distance at night to hit the Hummer.
Favorite Trailer
I'll add a soft plastic paddle tail swimbait trailer when I want to bulk up my setup and improve casting distance.
Gear Recommendations
LINE: 15lb Monofilament or 40lb Braid
ROD: Medium to Medium-Heavy Casting Rod
REEL: 7.1:1 to 9.1:1 Gear Ratio Casting Reel
Juicee Jig
Googan Squad
My Favorite Colors
Black and Blue in stained water and Bluegill or Green Pumpkin in clearer water.
Where to Fish
Using this bait around grass, docks, and brush laydowns have resulted in some BIG bites.
When to Fish
This baby is good to go year round.
How to Fish
You can skip, drag and even swim (I know it’s not a swimjig but it swims) this jig.
Favorite Trailer
My favorite soft plastic trailer for the Juicee Jig is something with a ton of THUMP, and for me, that’s the Bandito Bug from Googan Baits.
Gear Recommendations
LINE: 17lb Fluorocarbon
ROD: Medium-Heavy Casting Rod
REEL: 7.1:1 to 9.1:1 Gear Ratio Casting Reel
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My Favorite
Techniques
Texas Rig
I’m constantly on the move taking on new adventures and fishing new lakes, so having versatile presentations comes in extra handy. To me, there are few rigs more efficient, versatile, and effective as the Texas Rig. With just a hook, sinker, and soft plastic — I can fish multiple areas with confidence.
Another effective way to target BIG bass is by throwing big worms on a Texas Rig, for this technique I’m beefing up my setup with bigger hooks and heavier line, then making sure I’m ready for battle when the biggun bites.
Topwater
Any angler who has ever experienced a topwater bite already knows why this is my favorite technique. And for any who have yet to feel or see a topwater strike, I hope this list gives you the confidence to go chuck some baits topside. Topwater lures create some of the more vicious and memorable strikes I’ve ever experienced. Watching a big fish explode on a bait is one of the things that gets me to lake bright and early.
My favorite topwater baits are the buzzbaits, frogs, spooks, and of course, the Whopper Plopper. Who doesn’t love the way that thing sounds?
Neko Rig
Lowkey, my favorite finesse fishing technique to catch a bass, would have to be the Neko Rig. This is relatively new and originally from Japan, but it works perfectly for a southern angler like myself. Grab your favorite spinning rod, finesse hooks, and a pack of soft plastics. Now you’ll only need one more ingredient for the Neko Rig—and that’s a set of Karl’s Nail Weights. You insert the weight into the fat end of your finesse worm; this helps your bait fall with a natural action while helping you fish near the bottom more efficiently. Go to Karl’s YouTube Channel to learn more about Neko Rigging.
I like to fish my Neko rigs with a 7’ Medium Power, Fast Action Spinning Rod rigged with 8-Fluorocarbon line.