Fishing bass during the spawn, in particular bedding bass - what a touchy subject! If you ask ten bass fishermen their thoughts, the answers will vary from “never” to “situation” to “always”, and the discussions on the subject sound like presidential debates. Let us delve into the “situation”. Why? Because this is the one I adhere to, and I am going to go over the thought process, baits, and what to look for.
Often while kayak fishing offshore, I use a vertical or Speed jigging technique from a kayak… What you need is a high speed reel, no backing braid ready (no slippage), and a jigging rod of your choice. I use Ugly sticks just as light and strong as the big names at half the price. Braid line 40-100 lbs (I use 50 lbs) leader can be mono or floro 60-100 lbs (I use 80-100 lbs) floro a little stiffer and holds up to structure a little better.
Let me introduce you to the Oregon Coast. This had begun as a tutorial on a specific fishing area, but has quickly expanded. This first part is focusing on the gear that we use here in the PacNW when bottom fishing on the coast. We’re going to be targeting Rockfish, Lingcod, Cabezon and Greenling. Bottom fishing on the Oregon Coast is an excellent, often fast paced fishery. So let’s get started with the tackle.