Z-Man Report

Micro bait

Ever wondered why, year after year, some your biggest bass seem to chomp the smallest lures you throw? Why those big old largemouths won’t leave you alone when all you want to do is catch crappies? And why, even when the water’s cold or the bite’s completely off, smallmouth bass continue munching those tiny little baits with aggression?

Every season, but especially in the coolwater periods of winter and spring, microbaits from 1- to 3-inches deliver consistent if not occasionally spectacular bass bites. And as you’ve probably already discovered—although you’ll catch plenty of smaller fish—some of the bass will be those 3- to 5-pound footballs.

When Bass Bite Small Stuff

Turns out, bass of all sizes feed on small stuff—invertebrates like baby crayfish, insect larvae and tiny minnows—much more often than we realize. One study1 of largemouth bass diets, for example, revealed that among a sample size of 43 adult bass, 30 of their stomachs contained invertebrates (insects and larvae), while only 19 contained fish; or 257 total invertebrates versus 118 fish. A separate study of smallmouth bass2 found that among 95 bass stomachs containing food, 58 contained small crayfish, while only 13 held fish.

Unquestionably, while bass of both species derive greater caloric value and growth from a diet of larger baitfish, invertebrates and young fish (including bass fry) can sustain bass during coolwater periods, while heartier food is scarce. Late winter through spring is one phase when bass may key on colonies of freshwater invertebrates as a means of maintenance feeding, nourishing themselves until baitfish begin to hatch. Invertebrates such as mayfly and midge larvae and aquatic worms known as oligochaetes can all figure prominently into bass feeding. As summer approaches, newly hatched clouds of baby gamefish, shad, shiners and bullheads enliven the menu.

Matching Movement Over Shape

As predatory opportunists, bass eat them all. And yet, while matching prevailing hatches with lifelike lures can appeal visually to bass—particularly in clear water and especially for smallmouth bass—angling success often stems from lively lure movements rather than body shape alone. In short, a generalist forage profile and silhouette, such as a black Micro TRD™, marabou jig or a green pumpkin Tiny TicklerZ™ will induce bites in almost any environment.

Relative to lure sizes, artificial softbaits from 1- to 3-inches in size rarely fail to entice strikes—even on the toughest days—because bass detect fewer negative cues, as bait size shrinks.

Throw something like a 1-3/4-inch Z-Man Micro TRD™ or Shad FryZ™ swimbait and you might confront continuous strikes from bass, trout, walleye and panfish alike, often all on the same day. Not only do these small softbaits move in subtle, organic ways, but they also cut an unassuming, super convincing profile of aquatic life. Again, even if the bait doesn’t physically imitate any specific critter, bass rarely find fault in tiny “generalist” offerings. If an easy opportunity presents itself, you can bet even a 4-pounder will open wide and snap.

As fishing pressure increases, so too does the need to go micro. On many waters, as anglers insist on retrieving and catching bass on larger, traditional lures, catch rates inevitably decline. In clear water, the ‘pressure effect’ intensifies. All the while, you’ll gradually and then dramatically out-fish other anglers with microbaits worked on tiny jigheads and light line. As Bassmaster Classic champ Jeff Gustafson likes to say, tiny baits are like an after-dinner mint for bass. Even if they’ve already fed, bass simply can’t resist the temptation. Microbaits present an unassuming, non-threatening morsel.

A Case for Superplastics

Micro finesse baits

While almost any micro-sized crappie or panfish-style lure will inevitably fool a few bass, select superplastics offer compelling advantages. Unlike traditional PVC plastics, Z-Man’s ElaZtech® Micro Finesse™ baits arm anglers with a trifecta of bass-catching benefits.

First, reducing downtime spent discarding torn baits and re-rigging new ones, superplastics offer unequalled abrasion (bite) resistance and durabilityTo create a singular, almost bulletproof lure, add a single drop of superglue to the collar of a Micro Finesse ShroomZ™ jighead before securing the softbait in place. This also prevents the bait from being pulled down the hook, another time- and hassle-saver.

Perhaps most surprising of all, Z-Man Micro Finesse baits offer natural buoyancy. The opposite of traditional PVC plastics, which plummet quickly to the bottom and “die,” superplastics hover naturally horizontal in the water, staying in the strike zone indefinitely. Rigging a Micro Finesse LarvaZ™ on a #8 to #12 hook and finesse dropshot rig, for example, positions the morsel perpetually above bottom. In essence, the bait almost fishes itself, not unlike fishing livebait.

Rigged on a 1/10- to 1/30-ounce Micro Finesse ShroomZ jighead, the same bait slightly slows the overall lure’s rate of fall— critical for sluggish bass unwilling to chase. Beyond their reduced rate of fall and natural hovering action, ElaZtech microbaits allow you to tie on a slightly heavier jig. You benefit from longer casts without dramatically increasing drop-speed.

To further slow the lure’s rate of fall, consider tying direct to 6- to 10-pound test braid. Like micro superplastics, braided ‘superlines’ float and add even more hover to tempt tough-bite bass.