Bass Fishing with Micro Plastics

Bass make famously good use of that big yapper of theirs. When that cavernous maw opens, it’s been known to take down full-size bluegills, trout, rodents, frogs…even birds. But bass don’t exclusively opt for ribeye steaks over popcorn chicken. Throughout the course of the season, bass feed on a large variety of small invertebrates, and at certain times of the season and under pressured conditions, mimicking this smaller forage will lead to more bites and some surprisingly stout fish.

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The ponds and lakes of the Northeast are full of aquatic insects. Head to any trout-stocked kettle pond on a warm winter day and you’ll see these bugs hatching while rings of rising trout pockmark the surface. Though the minds of trophy-hunting bass anglers will undoubtedly drift toward the bass that might, when the water warms, feed on those trout, bass anglers more likely to catch a hearty limit of fish before the spring peepers sing will be thinking of the bass feeding with the trout.

With some exceptions, “micro” baits, those lures that measure less than 3 inches long, generally produce quantity over quality. You may not want to go all-in on bass fishing with micro plastics in mid-April, but around Groundhog Day, even the most stubborn super-sized swimbait-throwing trophy hunters are happy to scale down to get bites—and many cases, lots of bites.

While all types of lures come in micro sizes, including tiny topwaters and crankbaits, the most versatile and effective are miniature soft plastics. A key advantage to a micro plastic, like the Z-Man Micro Finesse GOAT on a 1/10-ounce or lighter jighead, is the slow sink rate that keeps the bait in front of a bass longer as it falls. On a mushroom-style head, it will sit upright on the bottom, presenting a tiny, enticing profile to lethargic or pressured fish. 

Micro baits can also easily be “hovered” in front of fish using a super-slow retrieve and the occasional subtle rod twitch. If you know where the fish are suspended, this is an effective tactic for both large and smallmouth bass through the winter and early spring. It’s also deadly through the ice. 

Micro Plastics for Bass

From the Bank

Some micro plastics feature tails that are conducive to swimming, making them the ideal choice for fishermen covering water. Their action is amplified when the bait is moving, so they are often the first baits that bass fishermen reach for during ice-out periods, when fish are still lethargic but willing to eat a more lively presentation.

Z-Man Micro Finesse Guppy GrubZ

With its grub-style tail, This 2-inch baitfish imitation is made from Z-Man’s 10X tough ElaZtech which is highly tear-resistant and buoyant. As a result, the grub-style tail produces an enticing swimming action on a slow or steady retrieve and, when hopped along the bottom on a Micro Finesse ShroomZ jighead, the tail stands up to attract low-lying bass.

13 Fishing Micro Vertigo Minnow

Measuring just under 3 inches, this scented micro paddletail is an appetizing size and while meant for panfish, does a fine job of culling lingering bass from schools of bluegills and perch. It can be jigged vertically through the ice, but it shines when rigged on a small jighead and fished around deeper structure in cold water.

Z-Man Micro Finesse Shad FryZ

With its deep-bodied profile and segmented tail that generates a natural swimming action, the 1.75-inch Shad FryZ is a near-perfect imitation of young-of-the-year panfish and shad—two staples in the diets of largemouth and smallmouth bass. It’s made with Z-Man’s durable and buoyant ElaZtech material and, like the Guppy GrubZ, it works best on a slow, steady retrieve or when bounced over sandy, gravely bottom on a Micro Finesse ShroomZ jighead.

Through the Ice

Some micro plastics excel when jigged vertically rather than being cast and retrieved. Their action is enhanced by subtle twitches, and they tend to get bit when the bait is nearly stagnant.

Berkley PowerBait Atomic Tubes

These pre-rigged, miniature scented tube jigs have an erratic darting and gliding action, plus a vertical line tie that makes them a great choice for ice fishermen. Larger tubes—ones that don’t come pre-rigged—are a staple among shore fishermen in the spring and summer months when crawfish are on the menu.

Lunkerhunt Hive Micro Wiggler

The collar of discs on this 1.5-inch finesse plastic adds action to the pin-style tail, and produces minute vibrations that will draw in wary bass. It’s made from a stretchy, durable, and buoyant soft-plastic material, which allows the bait to withstand bites from smaller, peskier fish as it hovers and wiggles in place for the right bite from a curious bass.

Eurotackle EPF Minnow

A ball toward the rear of this scented 1.3-inch micro plastic enhances the action of the forked tail, which undulates with subtle twitches of the rod. Its rounded, segmented body presents a slightly larger profile, which helps it stand out to bass as a larger meal.

Another benefit of scaling down (though not everyone sees it that way) is the variety of species it tempts. In addition to bass, panfish, of course, are suckers for small plastics, but so are pickerel, walleye, and trout, including big trout. While those extra species won’t do you much good on tournament day, on a late-winter outing when any bite is a good bite, even pickerel can bring a smile. 

Related Content

Tips to Catch More Cold Water Bass

Scale Down for Winter Largemouth

Finesse Swimbaits for Bass Fishing

Source: https://onthewater.com/bass-fishing-with-micro-plastics

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