The jig rocks

Classic jig on rock combination emerges as dominant pattern at Wheeler Lake FLW Series

DECATUR, Ala. – When the FLW Series BP Eastern event on Wheeler Lake started this week, just about any fishing pattern you could think of was working.

Shallow-running crankbaits and lipless rattlers ripped across shallow flats were hot. Drop-shots and shaky heads caught their fair share of bass. Jerkbaits over suspended fish produced for a few pros. Some anglers even began catching bass on buzzbaits.

But as day four dawned on the top-10 pros who qualified for the final day, it was obvious that one of bass fishing’s most timeless techniques was doing a majority of the damage.

“Jigs on rocks,” announced Andy Morgan (5th) of Dayton, Tenn., as he put a new Zoom Critter Craw trailer on his 3/8-ounce War Eagle Heavy-Cover Finesse jig. “It’s a classic springtime deal all up and down the TVA lakes in March – always has been, always will be.”

In the boat behind him, Dan Morehead (6th) of Paducah, Ky., was tieing on his version of the same jig.

“I pour my own,” Morehead said. “It’s a 3/8-ounce head with a trimmed down skirt and a small heavy-gauge hook.”

Morehead recounted fishing with legendary angler Jackie Davis in the Ozarks many years ago when Davis “spanked” him with one of the smaller “finesse” style jigs.

“I took it home to Kentucky Lake and started using it on TVA lakes,” Morehead said. “And as you can see with Andy, Ramie and I – it works pretty good.”

Speaking of Ramie – as in National Guard pro Ramie Colson (2nd) of Cadiz, Ky., – he, too, was tieing on the same jig this morning. Except he was opting for a lighter 5/16-ounce version of the War Eagle Heavy-Cover finesse jig trimmed with Zoom Superchunk Jr.

“It’s a crawfish deal,” Colson surmised. “I guess bass get on crawfish pretty hard just before the spawn and these little jigs look like crawfish scurrying around in the rocks.”

And if you’re still not convinced that jigs on rocks are the way to go on Wheeler right now, then consider that tournament leader Scott Lunsford of Calhoun, Ga., is also using a jig. His option is an Omega ¾-ounce football head jig (Missouri craw color) trimmed with a Yamamoto twin tail trailer.

“I guide on Weiss Lake back home and this is the deal this time of year,” said Lunsford as he showed the lure to Tournament Director Chris Jones. “I’m fishing it on rip rap around bridges – it’s classic spring time jig fishing.”

All four of these top-10 pros are fishing their jigs on some kind of rock banks on Wheeler. While Lunsford prefers man-made rip rap, others are fishing natural “transition” or “channel swing” banks where either the bank composition or slope – or both – change.

Saturday’s final weigh-in of the FLW Series will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2800 Spring Ave. SW in Decatur beginning at 4 p.m.

Saturday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:38 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 50 degrees

Expected high temperature: 70 degrees

Water temperature: 60 degrees

Wind: ESE 5 to 10

Day’s outlook: Scattered showers