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the jig sinks. When the lure hits bottom, your line will slacken. Tighten the line with a turn of the reel handle; then twitch the rod tip to hop the jig forward. Continue hopping the jig throughout the retrieve.
Crawfish crankbaits are superb spotted-bass catchers as well, my favorites being those in the venerable Rebel Crawfish series. These, too, work best when fished on or near the bottom. I find them particularly effective when targeting spots feeding on lake points at night. Crawfish come out at night and push themselves along, stirring up silt. You want the lure to do that, too. Retrieve it so it bumps the bottom and creates a commotion that bass can zero in on.
When choosing from the wide variety of other lures available, bear in mind that spotted bass seldom visit shallow water. There are exceptions, of course, such as summer fish feeding on surface-running shad and spots in small upland rivers. But spotted bass typically occupy a deeper feeding niche than largemouths, staying 10 to 75 feet deep (sometimes deeper) year-round. They often spawn as deep as 25 feet.
Knowing this, you’ll want to employ lures you can work at these depths. Topwater plugs and shallow-running lures are rarely productive. Stick with artificials that get deep quickly.
If spotted bass seem persnickety, try adding a spritz of crawfish attractant such as Berkley’s Gulp! Alive! to your lure. That could be the boost you need to catch tight-lipped fish.
And finally, keep in mind the fact that spotted bass are school fish. Where you catch one, you can probably catch several to make the most out of a fun fishing day.