Jig fishermen know one of the keys to catching more bass is concentrating on the fishing line — with any anomaly indicating a fish has picked up the lure, even if the strike isn’t felt.
But Pierre Part Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cliff Crochet said he doesn’t eyeball his line just when pitching jigs.
“Watch your line no matter what bait you’re using, except topwaters,” Crochet said.
The four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said bass often pick up spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits and plastics without transmitting the strike through the line and into the rod. This can happen when bass swallow a lure while swimming toward an angler, for instance.
Seeing the line jump prevents anglers from missing those strikes or misunderstanding what’s happening.
“If you’re not watching your line, you might think you hit grass,” Crochet said. “The line could jump to the side or just get a little slack in it.”
But making a habit of being a line watcher can up your odds of success even when the fish absolutely smash lures.
“Even when they are hitting hard, you’ll get a little (advanced) notice because you’re eyes will tell you (a strike has occurred),” Crochet explained. “That way, you won’t be as surprised when you feel it.
“When you feel (strikes) with your rod, you might be 50 percent, but when you see (the line jump) with your eyes, you might (catch) 80 percent.”
Focusing on the line can be hard on your eyes, especially when using fluorocarbon or small-diameter braid, but Crochet said it can help you avoid that sinking feeling when a huge bass spits a lure at the boat.
“That could be the difference between getting a good hook in (a fish) and getting him in the boat, and not getting a good hook in him and missing him,” he said.
