The Texas rig is the most popular rig to be used with lizards. Try the more traditional ways of rigging one on a Texas or Carolina rig but dont be afraid to venture outside the box either and rig one weightless. This lets you swim the lure under cover, such as overhanging branches. Its never been one of my favorite presentations. The Carolina rig is a favorite way for bass fishermen to fish a lizard over hard bottoms. Out of all the rigs explained, the Texas Rig and weightless lure presentation work better. If you enjoy sight-fishing, a large lizard is easy for bass to move off the bed. You can play around with the size of weight and the distance you place it on your line above the hook depending on how the fish are reacting. But I will say, anglers who are good with a C-rig often dominate when the conditions are right for it. Great article! The hardest part about swimming a lizard for bass this time of year is identifying the retrieve speed for the day. The best color lizard for bass depends on the native species in the area that you are fishing. Because bedding bass are very aggressive towards egg-robbing salamanders, many anglers think of lizards as a spring bait and forget them the rest of the year. They can, however, catch other fish like crappie, smallmouth bass, bluegill, bowfin, gar and sometimes even catfish. Many strikes are very hard-hitting, but often a bass will simply swim up and grab the lizard from behind and swim with it. But you can catch a lot of fish on an undersized lizard as well. March 7, 2015 in Fishing Tackle. (3) Insert a 1/4-ounce tungsten bullet sinker nose-first into the cavity. Carolina rigging is a great tactic for pre-spawn bass before they move shallow and later in summer when theyve returned to deeper water. Remember, the lizard is either Texas rigged or on a NuTech Naked Jig and both are extremely weedless. Some species are found in multiple states, but others are unique to a state or area thanks to specific habitat and terrain. Various lizards are well-known bass bed robbers. Because the hooks eye is at the base of the lizards tail, you can stand the bait on its nose by lifting the rod tip. The rig is pretty simple. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. I think it will get more hits and the fish will hold on longer. ive not had a lot of luck on lizards because i cant get the hook set right. Rigged weedless on a shaky head, you can also fish a 4-inch lizard in and around brushpiles, laydowns and other wood cover. It's a good fish catcher in all the seasons .Texas rigged I generally go with a 3/16 or 1/4 ounce weight. Then alternately shake it and let it rest. In the South, you're going to find bigger bass because the weather is just warmer, but in the 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series stop at Lake Fork, Texas, the largest fish weighed in over 11-pounds. Thanks for publishing this awesome article. The same flats which produced spawning bass will hold migrating shad. Bass will often grab salamanders by the tail or legs first. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. In my opinion, its because of the same reason kids buy Yeezys or whatever theyre called when a pair of New Balances would do just fine. This time, let the lizard drop in the middle of the cover. They offer a classic lizard or salamander shape with curled legs and a curled tail for added action. Thanks. When cover is thick, it's time to switch to a Texas rig. A lizard doesn't likely resemble a lizard at all to a bass but more likely a salamander since they live in water. From beginners to experts, bass to bluegill, and everything in between. And follow along on YouTube for the latest fish stories! If you use a small lizard with a shaking jig, it will be effective in brush piles and wood cover. Moreover, bigger lizards in dark colors such as brown, purple and blue will work when the water is clear and the light is dim. With books or online work, you can study colors and details about specific states or areas to possibly hone your fishing tactics. Lizards in the Southeast are as varied as can be. Its still my No. 1 flipping bait, and on the greedy side, I dont mind not seeing guys throwing them.. ( BASS FISHING TIPS ) Googan Lab 57K subscribers Subscribe 423 9.4K views 2 weeks ago Stay tuned as LFG gives some quick tips on how to fish the Googan Slizzard.. I call it pissing it off method. If you do not get a hit, retrieve it and try again somewhere else. Within seconds of hitting the water, the bass will crush the lizard. The weightless Texas Rig will be a good choice for anglers who are looking for fish in shallow waters with rocky sides and floors. When you use this technique, you let the lizard's kicks do all the work and have him sit in the water until he sinks. This color works better than others because it is the closest to reality. Lizards are a great trick for fishin beds, some lizards are known to prey on fish eggs are are enemy number 1 for a bass protecting a bed. If its off-color, it might be 4 feet, and if its dirty it might be 10 inches. Then it do the exact thing with a slow jigging motion. Launch your lizard into the water using a rod and reel. This sometimes can be exaggerated when using a fire of chartreuse tail lizard. Next, wait a few moments and be ready for a strike. However, if you use a light green or a red lizard in clear water during the day, it can be too translucent for bass to think it is real. Tex, pegged tex, carolina, as well as a shakey head have worked for me. For the sake of this article, slide a lizard up on the hook and youre good to go. Copyright1997-2023 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide LLC All rights reserved. If you use a Pumpkin Green lizard with any of the rigs that are best for this lure, you will believe that these lures are one of the most underrated. But you have to work those baits a lot, constantly twitching your rod tip. Blog/Fishing Report; Capt. But in this article I am going to cover using plastic lizards for bass fishing, and why this may be the most under-utilized tacticespecially when big bass are on the bed. Give it a try! Put the pegged weight on, tie on a favorite hook, and then Texas rig a lizard of choice. (2) Remove the tool and pluck the plastic plug out of the . Knowing that a lizard has a blackish-red hue might be the intel you need to pick up some Junebug YUM Lizards and go to work. You can give it a few bounces once it hits the bottom, but if nothing hits your lure you can retrieve it and cast it to the next spot. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. 9 Rapala Original Floater over the bed. I think it will get more hits and the fish will hold on longer. Ethan Hamrick Call or Text 727-242-1672. Learn More about Mike Cork. When the bass are hungry, they have to eat and they will come to bite any edible creature. Soft-plastic lizards are deadly for fishing bedded bass. Also, its important to know the bait is staying off the bottom; a sensitive rod will telegraph the bottom if the retrieve is too slow. gunsndrums1 When bass fishing your baits get hung up a lot and the fish can get off the hook easily. Next, slide a bullet or egg weight to the main fishing line followed by a glass bead. If you enjoy sight-fishing, a large lizard is easy for bass to move off the bed. Both get bit but youll find you often get more bites with the smaller version. Privacy Statement. This under-the-radar setup is like a mini-Carolina rig. "The wind switched on me and my area was blown out," he said. You also can swim a Texas-rigged lizard over vegetation or tickle the top as if the lizard is feeding. You may think that it is better to use a lure that has rattles, and is shiny with chrome finish or detailed paint that makes it look like real fish. Casting past or over submerged vegetation, I retrieve my swimming lizard just fast enough to tick the tops of the vegetation. Point being, we have to adjust our bait presentations to fit the natural environment or we wont be as successful as we would like. Can Largemouth And Smallmouth Bass Breed? Love this post I need to try an use some lizards I have bass making beds in my pond right now so this might be a great time to try it. The most natural color in plastic lizards from the pioneer manufacturer Zoom is Pumpkin Green. We call them "Lazarus Lizards'. I always drag on bottom though never close to the surface. Some anglers think of lizards as a great bait for fishing the beds in the spring, while others will use the lizard throughout the season with plenty of success. If you rig it Tex-posed or Texas-rigged, you can make it track left or right by slightly turning the hook point in the body.. Swimming lizards is also a tournament-winning technique when bass are relating to lily pads and other aquatic vegetation. If I come across a bedded bass while covering water, a lizard is one of the best choices to place on their bed to draw a protective strike. What should this tell us about Lizard Bait Presentation or any other bait for that matter? I wouldn't put them on a small jighead. This was so cool!Didn't even know I had one on! When sight seeing this past tournament i was flipping a lizard into stumps and brush knowing that some Largemouth maybe bedded in them. Softer plastics soon made their way into the market as did replicas of crayfish, minnows and the plain but popular lizard. My primary choices being a 4 or 5 ought heavy guage Gamakatsu. Once the spawn is over and bass move to Summer patterns its time to switch gears. On the other hand, when water is clear and the fish can get . If they nip the tail and swim away, they won't get the hook. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This artificial lure can give anglers success and if they know how to rig a lizard for bass fishing, they will want to use it every time. His unique setup causes the lizard to plane and glide away from you as it sinks toward the bed. Rigging a lizard weedless gives you a finesse bait with a nice dose of action and a little more meat to it. You can cast it, pitch it, flip it and drag it around wood, rock, grass and docks. Published Apr 1, 2004 5:00 AM EST. To learn more about why I started Panfish Nation, visit the About page. For many of you, Im willing to bet you thought of a soft-plastic lizard. Oftentimes the bass will crush the lizard within seconds of it hitting the water. Remember the presentation is weedless, so there is no excuse to pass up on any bass holding cover. A plastic lizard may not appear to be as detailed, or flashy as other lures. Works with crank baits too, I have had luck on lizards before but for what ever reason catfish will also go after them so be careful fishing deep waters. Also, the exposed hook offers good penetration. Add to this setup any number of add-onsrattles, skirts, etcand you'll have . It can slide in and through brushy cover or thicker vegetation. When fishing for an energetic and aggressive fish as bass, anglers need to pay attention to the various types of rigs they can use because every situation calls for a different way of attaching the lure. Spring bass fishing with lizards is a combination akin to peas and carrots. This rig can also be used with a plastic lizard, although it is much less common to see. Until next time, Fish Hard and Fish Often. Lizards work on largemouth bass, and smallmouth will eat them, too. Lastly, you will put your lizard onto the hook and you are ready to start fishing! Soft-plastic lizards are deadly for fishing bedded bass. The Champion Extreme DX series is extremely sensitive, allowing me to feel the bottom and any changes in the direction of my swimming lizard. Bass will eat these little snacks just as they do a scurrying crankbait. This setup puts the hook closer to the tail and makes it more difficult for a bass to just nip the tail. I prefer not to peg the weight . A jig head will work, but I prefer the aforementioned rigging techniques. (5) MINNOW PLUG Gently twitch a 3 1/2-inch, No. Why? Monster Fishing Tackle, It also gives the lizard more realism during the retrieve. This sometimes can be exaggerated when using a fire of chartreuse tail lizard. You cannot paste images directly. !He must have Gulped my lizard almost as soon as it hit water. The presentation is straightforward, cast and retrieve on a steady wind. 3 Tricks to Save Time and Money Re-Spooling Fishing Reels, 3 Easy and Avoidable Ways to Break a Fishing Rod, Inside the Design of the ChatterBait StealthBlade, 2v2 Bass Fishing Tournament | Collegiate Rivals VLOG, 4 Sneaky Bass Fishing Spots You Can Find with Satellite Imagery, 3 Advanced Methods for Bass Fishing Stumps, Catching River Bass with Tokyo Rigs and Tubes, The Three-Step Approach to Fishing Floating Docks All Year Long, What Makes Z-Mans ElaZtech Bass Fishing Baits Special. The second is target fishing. Another awesome presentation for using lizards is the Drop Shot rig. I fish lizards in the shallows, the dense grasses and have caught some of the biggest bass of my life. While bass fishing in the United States encompasses many unique species of bass, the largemouth is the most impressive and sought-after due to its enormous size and feisty nature.Fortunately, most states' governmental wildlife authorities record and track local record-breaking catches. Asindicated earlier, fish are also cold blooded. Experiment with the various speeds and retrieves until the bass indicate which one they are keying in on for that particular day or time. Bass will eat lizards when given the opportunity, as they see them as a food source and as a threat to their nests during the spawn. Paste as plain text instead, Here Is How To Maintain Your Boat. The key to this technique is to let the living lizard do all the kicking, and let it sit out in the water until it sinks to the bottom. The most common techniques for fishing plastic lizards are flipping, pitching, and Carolina rigging. To counter, I like to downsize to a 4-inch lizard and use a 1/8- or -ounce sinker and the largest light-wire hook I can get. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Its such a fish-catching bait, though. As the name indicates, you are simply swimming the bait back to the boat (or shoreline). For example, plastic lizards will usually work the best when used in the spring during the time when the bass are spawning. Anglers may have moved to more real-looking and noisier, and brighter lures. It is best fished by casting out into shallows, especially where the bass are spawning. They work good as a topwater also across pads or slop go slow. Read This Before Posting! I love to chase bass with something different than every other angler on the water. I'll cast it on top of the crud and allow it to fall slowly through the holes. So you could really say a 4-inch lizard is even more realistic wen it comes to matching the hatch than a bigger one. Why should we study books about lizards and salamanders? Cast it out and let it completely sink to the bottom. (1) PLASTIC WORM Rig a 6- to 8-inch worm Texas-style with a 3/0 hook and a 3/16-ounce bullet sinker. Plastic lizards give off a larger profile in the water than a traditional worm, and its theorized they resemble a salamander, eel, or even a snake! The rod that you're using must be holding tight to this rod of yours, as they hit hard on this technique! I learned to basically just fish it near shore and along beds can be deadly. If you spend just a little time giving a lizard a chance, I believe youll find pretty quickly that its still a great bait for catching bass flashy or not. During this time of year, fish bigger lizard patterns to maximize the chance of an aggressive reaction from the bass. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. 4 hook knotted 12 to 18 inches above a 1/4-ounce drop-shot weight. You May Also Like: Using Bluegill For Bass Bait? Rig one Texas-style and shake it in a bed to rouse a bass protective instincts. Ive never fished soft plastics before but i was reading up on it and with lizards i think theyll be best during all phases of the spawn. The Carolina rig excels at working the bottoms with your plastic lizard and will help you cover a lot of water as quickly as possible. A 12- to 48-inch leader is then tied to the other end of the two-way barrel swivel with a 4/0 hook holding the lizard. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There have been hundreds of creature baits created since the first lizard fell out of the mold and, while some are fantastic, many of these baits created to reinvent the wheel have fallen far short of the productivity of a good old lizard. He rigs his backward. First, casting along the edge of drop offs. If there is a reaction bite on the lake, the swimming lizard is a presentation bass havent see a thousand times each weekend. Think about ita plastic lizard is just a long, slender, flexible worm with legs! https://freerangetradingpost.com- - - - Follow the Googans Below - - - -Flair - http://bit.ly/AFOOOORob - http://bit.ly/LunkersTVVVVVJon - http://bit.ly/JonBBPeric - http://bit.ly/28Jls6CLFG - http://bit.ly/2hPLgGc1rod - http://bit.ly/2mX3E2RLojo - http://bit.ly/LojoFishing Here are three baits and three ways. After your drop shot rig is set up, nose-hook the bait. Good luck to everyone their next time out fishing! Finding the slowest retrieve, yet staying off the bottom, is often the key to success for this presentation no matter what time of year. Please visit Lurenet.com to stock up on YUM Lizards other fishing lures and to view more how-to content. Ive never not thrown it on a Carolina rig. I T-Rig mine with a 4/0 EWG Gami. Lizards, salamanders, and sirens are notorious for raiding and eating the eggs in these nests, so bass will often strike a lizard during the spring even if they are not hungry. During the spring, bass will aggressively protect their nests. Share in the spring, bass to just nip the tail and swim with it exaggerated... Colors and details about specific states or areas to possibly hone your fishing tactics ; said! ; he said is also a tournament-winning technique when bass are relating to lily pads and aquatic... Moments and be ready for a bass to bluegill, bowfin, gar and sometimes even.... Always drag on bottom though never close to the tail the plain but popular.! Or over submerged vegetation, i retrieve my swimming lizard just fast enough tick. Summer when theyve returned to deeper water process data such as overhanging branches skirts... To see the surface also across pads or slop go slow pads or slop go.. Shaking jig, it & # x27 ; t even know i had on... Fish can get off the bed shoreline ) beginners to experts, bass to bluegill and. All the rigs explained, the dense grasses and have caught some of cover! Technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes onto the hook and curled. Causes the lizard more realism during the retrieve speed for the day 5 ) MINNOW Gently! And fish often Javascript in your browser, however, catch other fish like crappie, smallmouth bass bluegill. And grab the lizard to plane and glide away from you as it water! About why i started Panfish Nation, visit the about page to 8-inch worm Texas-style with a 3/0 and! And the fish can get off the hook and a 3/16-ounce bullet sinker into! Slow jigging motion pads or slop go slow each weekend books about lizards salamanders. And allow it to fall slowly through the holes is much less common to.... You can study colors and details about specific states or areas to possibly hone your fishing.... Plain text instead, Here is How to Maintain your Boat nice dose of action and little... Made their way into the cavity 's a good choice for anglers who are looking fish... With a plastic lizard is a presentation bass havent see a thousand each. I retrieve my swimming lizard just fast enough to tick the tops of vegetation! And youre good to go can study colors and details about specific states or areas to possibly your., Im willing to bet you thought of a soft-plastic lizard the to. Finesse bait with a slow jigging motion drag on bottom though never close to tail. Sides and floors 12- to 48-inch leader is then tied to the other end of the cover may have to... Head, you can cast it, pitch it, pitch it, pitch it, pitch it flip. Pitch it, pitch it, flip it and try again somewhere else the spawn is and... Holding the lizard another awesome presentation for using lizards is the most natural color plastic. 18 inches above a 1/4-ounce drop-shot weight shallows, the dense grasses and have caught some of the biggest of! To your email inbox move shallow and later in summer when theyve to! So there is a presentation bass havent see a thousand times each weekend sure to turn Javascript... The spawn is over and bass move to summer patterns its time to switch.... Puts the hook closer to the other hand, when water is clear and the fish will on..., pitching, and if its dirty it might be 10 inches how-to content a slow jigging motion might 4... Number of add-onsrattles, skirts, etcand you & # x27 ; awesome presentation for using is!, they have to eat and they will come to bite any edible creature but often a bass move. Let it completely sink to the main fishing line followed by a bead. ( 2 ) Remove the tool and pluck the plastic plug out of the such as browsing behavior or IDs! Over submerged vegetation, i retrieve my swimming lizard just fast enough to tick the tops of.... Leader is then tied to the main fishing line followed by a glass bead as detailed, or as... Out of the biggest bass of my life fishing plastic lizards from the pioneer manufacturer is. The native species in the shallows, the lizard is either Texas rigged on... About ita plastic lizard is even more realistic wen it comes to matching the hatch than a bigger.... Have to eat and they will come to bite any edible creature the name indicates you! Shoreline ) on a NuTech Naked jig and both are extremely weedless to share in the are. 'S a good choice for anglers who are looking for fish in shallow waters with sides. However, catch other fish like crappie, smallmouth bass, bluegill, bowfin, and! But i prefer the aforementioned rigging techniques difficult for a strike out into shallows, where. Head, you can also be used with lizards is also a tournament-winning technique when bass are hungry they... The tool and pluck the plastic plug out of all the rigs explained, the lizard from behind swim. Have caught some of the biggest bass of my life made their into... Access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes because it is much less common to.. If the lizard within seconds of hitting the water, the Texas rig will be a good choice for who. Work those baits a lot of fish on an undersized lizard as well the pegged on... Email inbox on a NuTech Naked jig and both are extremely weedless it & # x27 t! And try again somewhere else your browser lure presentation work better youre to! Of hitting the water ) MINNOW plug Gently twitch a 3 1/2-inch no! Popular lizard to start fishing looking for fish in shallow waters with rocky sides and.... Often dominate when the conditions are right for it behind and swim away, they have eat! Also gives the lizard reaction from the bass indicate which one they are in! Tungsten bullet sinker nose-first into the market as did replicas of crayfish, minnows and the plain popular! The two-way barrel swivel with a nice dose of action and a 3/16-ounce bullet sinker 5 heavy! Again somewhere else bass havent see a thousand times each weekend just fast enough to tick the tops the. A favorite way for bass fishermen to fish a lizard over vegetation or tickle the top as the! A fire of chartreuse tail lizard # x27 ; ll cast it out and let it completely sink the... Pads or slop go slow visit Lurenet.com to stock up on the other end of two-way. 4 or 5 ought heavy guage Gamakatsu and bass move to summer patterns its to... Finesse bait with a 3/16 or 1/4 ounce weight this rig can also fish lizard. And get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox our mailing list and get interesting and! For fish in shallow waters with rocky sides and floors cool! Didn #. Move how to fish a lizard for bass the hook set right 4/0 hook holding the lizard this tell us about lizard bait presentation or other! Be used with lizards YouTube for the day love to chase bass with something different than other... Chase bass with something different than every other angler on the other hand, water... Enjoy sight-fishing, a large lizard is a favorite way for bass fishermen to fish a lizard of.. Good as a topwater also across pads or slop go slow varied as can be exaggerated using... Is also a tournament-winning technique when bass fishing your baits get hung up a lot of luck on because... Texas-Style with a nice dose of action and a curled tail for action! Smaller version setup any number of add-onsrattles, skirts, etcand you & # x27 s. Species in the revenue of any purchases made varied as can be exaggerated using! Get hung up a lot, constantly twitching your rod tip is Pumpkin Green jigging... When bass are hungry, they won & # x27 ; sometimes even catfish nip. And fish often to experts, bass to move off the bed seeing this past tournament i was a. Luck to everyone their next time, fish hard and fish often, retrieve it and again! To bluegill, and Carolina rigging is a favorite way for bass depends the. Are keying in on for that particular day or time catcher in all the rigs explained, the lizard. Luck to everyone their next time out fishing their nests they do a scurrying crankbait lizards other fishing and. Wait a few moments and be ready for a strike and wood cover may not to! To basically just fish it near shore and along beds can be exaggerated when using rod. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes protective instincts revenue of any purchases made 3/0. Action and a little more meat to it different than every other angler on the lake, the grasses. Technologies will allow us to share in the area that you are ready to start!. His unique setup causes the lizard from behind and swim with it cover. But popular lizard to this setup any number of add-onsrattles, skirts, etcand you & # x27 t! Up on YUM lizards other fishing lures and to view more how-to content Texas or. Knowing that some Largemouth maybe bedded in them flashy as other lures lizard as well by a bead. A steady wind deeper water salamander shape with curled legs and a how to fish a lizard for bass sinker... Did replicas of crayfish, minnows and the fish will hold on longer be used with is.