Quick on the handle — yeah, that’s the basic premise of burning baits. But the proper tools greatly facilitate this tactic.
Consider these points when gearing up for a fast-paced retrieve:
• Bassmaster Elite Series pro Matt Lee said he’s big on burning Strike King 6XD crankbaits when he needs to shake up a period of lethargy.
For this to work, he said, tackle selection plays a key role.
“I burn my deep crankbaits when the water is stagnant and I can’t get a bite (otherwise),” Lee said. “A lot of people throw them on a 5.3:1 reel, but I’ll go with a 6.6:1 Quantum Smoke reel with a 7-foot-10 Quantum KVD medium cranking rod so I can wind it back faster.”
• Elite pro Mark Menendez upsizes to 20-pound fluorocarbon for burning a topwater bait, as the added lift helps keep the bait’s nose higher.
• Minimizing water drag speeds up your burning efforts. Whereas some might like to bulk up their buzz bait profile with a sizable trailer like a Zoom Horny Toad for general appeal, it’s usually best to go with a simple twin tail or some other low-drag plastic.
• For burning spinnerbaits, Mark Menendez likes a 7-foot, 3-inch Lew’s football jig rod — a model with a moderate parabolic action that helps prevent missed bites.
Because fish often slap at burning baits, a rod with a little give allows time for hook penetration.
• Menendez always adds a 2/0 trailer hook to his spinnerbait. Bites are usually fast and often poorly aimed, so a trailer snares more of those close-enoughs.
