Spring City, Tenn., pro Wesley Strader is looking to improve upon last year's second-place finish at the FLW Series event on Lake Chickamauga. Photo by Brett Carlson. Angler: Wesley Strader.

August 17, 2011 • Wesley Strader • Archives

You hear guys talk about “firing up” or “turning on” a school of ledge fish in the summer, and that’s about as good a description as it gets. Until you can get one or two bass to bite, the school will generally ignore you and whatever you’re throwing. It’s like the commotion of fighting that first fish or two that turns them on.

As a general rule, I’ve found that a subtle presentation such as a drop-shot rig or a worm will get things started. For sure, you don’t want to just throw your favorite crankbait and then move on when you don’t get bit. Try two or three things. If a crankbait doesn’t work at first, go to the slower presentation with maybe a big soft plastic or jig. And once you get the school fired up, usually you can switch to something you can fish faster.

– Walmart pro Wes Strader of Spring City, Tenn.