Thread: Strange how patterns can change annually on a lake; wire leader

This one lake I fish in spring is usually predictable in May. Early on the weed tops are within 3-4' of the surface - even weeds growing in 7'. The fish are in that gap and can be caught pretty much anywhere - no specific pattern. As the seasonal weeds begin to die, they accumulate in thick bunches wherever the wind blows them leaving clean bottoms. Not so yesterday.

Weed clumps were scattered and still attached to the bottom with many others floating separately all over the lake making the retrieve tougher than usual. Still though, 37 fish (crappie, sunfish, y. perch and bass) were better than none especially since I wanted to try the jigs that I attached 3" of thin wire to to prevent pickerel from biting me off at another lake. They did okay but small bass threw the hook on the jump. I figure it was the smaller hook size on small jigs that didn't get set good.

This is the wire-to-jig used:


Fish caught:

(Have no idea why the tail was half gone.)

wire used:




Maybe if I shortened the wire to 2" it would do just a well....

Thanks Skeet. Man do I hate being cut off by picks ! This one didn't get away:


Not bad for 8 lb test braid/ no wire leader.