Water Widow

At 5″ in length, and over 23 “legs” protruding from 3 sides, this is a lure for monster bass. With all the legs and bulk of this soft plastic, the sink rate is extremely slow, even with 1/2oz bullet sinker to entice even the most inactive lunker into striking.

A preferred way to rig the bait is Texas-rigged with a 3/0 Texposer hook and a 1/4 to a 5/8 bullet sinker. Pitching the bait into pockets in submerged vegetation such as hydrilla and milfoil has produced many bass over 5lbs. Unlike a normal jig-n-pig, which will come back loaded with weeds, the Water Widow is 100% weedless, making it easier to fish for many anglers, but still having the bulk of a jig-n-pig. I do recommend using heavy tackle such as a 7′ Lamiglas Certified Pro casting rod, with a medium-heavy action, and 12-17lb test line depending on the water clarity. The Water Widow is available in 7 bass catching colors, with watermelon and junebug ranking among the favorites. On a day when only the small fish seem to be biting, tie on a Water Widow, and I’m sure your luck will change.

Water Widow as a jig and pig alternative

Many anglers turn to a jig-n-pig when they are searching for a “kicker” fish, but the Water Widow is a great substitute with some definite advantages. Like the jig, the Water Widow gives the bass a large profile bait that displaces a great deal of water, appealing to the bass’s lateral line senses. Rigged on a 4/0 Texposer hook with the point left inside the bait, provides a 100% weedless presentation, even in the thickest of vegetation. Anglers who have trouble fishing a jig in hydrilla, milfoil, water chestnut, etc., will have no hassles pitching the Water Widow into the same pockets. With its bulk and all those “tentacles”, the bait has a natural slow fall on a 3/16-1/4 oz bullet weight. To add to its appeal, place a small glass bead between the hook and the weight, to give it sound, just like a jig. Shake the bait to get the weight to hit the bead and undulate the tentacles. The widow is a bulky bait, so it can take a heavy weight is get it to sink fast. When fishing deeper water or thick vegetation where you want the lure to penetrate the cover, upsize to a 1/2 or 5/8oz sinker and peg the weight so the Water Widow follows it through the cover. My two favorite colors are red shad for stained to muddy water and june bug for clear water. If you have more confidence in soft plastics, than a jig, or you’re looking for lure to present to pressured fish that have seen too many jigs, tie on a Water Widow and catch those big bass you’ve been missing.

Same Widow, different look!

Another effective trick is to remove the front “segment” and all the “tentacles” except the three at the tail and the last couple on each side. Rigged on a Lunker Grip Professional Grade dart or football head, it makes a realistic crawfish imitation sure to fool even the wariest smallmouths and spots. I like the Green Pumpkin and Green Stew colors for this tactic… learn more

Spanky

The wacky worm craze has really taken hold with anglers in the last year. Lunker City Fishing Specialties has hopped on the band wagon, but with some interesting new twists to a simple lure. The Spanky is 5″ in length, with both ends of the bait being larger (thicker) than the center. To rig the bait, hook it in the “egg sack” in the middle of the bait with a 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook. Simple let the lure sink besides a dock, blow down, or weed pocket and hold on. The unique design of “fatter ends” allows the angler to twitch the bait to get it to ungulate, without moving it very far from its location, making it the perfect bait for bedding fish. Also, don’t hesitate to try it on a Carolina-rig, where you can get the bait to depths that probably have never seen a “wacky-worm”. The Spanky comes in 15 colors, with Bluegill being my favorite for clear water, and Sherbert for muddy water. Where did its name come from? I believe its name was derived due to the fact it “spanks” the competition….. learn more