Git Hookd Fishing - Lifestyle & High-Performance Apparel

Git Hookd: Pro Tips

Get the edge on your next trip. Here are some of our team's favorite tips for landing more and bigger bass.

Finding the Fish (Structure & Cover)

1. Fish the "Cover": Bass are ambush predators. Always cast near anything that provides cover: fallen trees (laydowns), weed beds, boat docks, and submerged rocks.

2. Look for "Structure": Pay attention to changes in the lake bottom. Points, drop-offs, underwater humps, and creek channels are all magnets for bass.

3. Wind is Your Friend: A windy bank pushes baitfish (food) towards it, and the choppy water makes bass less wary. Don't be afraid to fish in the wind.

4. Find the Baitfish: If you see schools of small fish (shad, minnows) dimpling the surface, bass are almost always nearby.

5. Shadows are Cover: On bright sunny days, the shadow lines from bridges, docks, or overhanging trees create an "edge" that bass use just like physical cover.

Lures & Technique

6. Match the Hatch: Use lures that mimic the local forage. Are they eating crawfish? Use a jig. Are they chasing shad? Use a silver crankbait or swimbait.

7. Vary Your Retrieve: Don't just reel in at one steady speed. Twitch, pause, speed up, and slow down. A "pause" is often when a bass will strike.

8. Golden Hours: Bass feed most aggressively in low-light conditions. The first two hours after sunrise and the last two before sunset are prime time.

9. Color Matters: A simple rule: Use bright colors (Chartreuse, White) in dirty/muddy water. Use natural colors (Green Pumpkin, Watermelon) in clear water.

10. Keep Hooks Sharp: This is critical! Your hooks are the most important part of your setup. A dull hook will not penetrate a bass's bony jaw. Check them often.

11. Go Topwater: Even if it's not early morning, a topwater lure (like a popper or frog) can draw an explosive strike, especially in calm, shady areas.

12. Slow Down: When the bite is tough, especially in summer heat or after a cold front, a plastic worm (like a Senko) fished slowly on the bottom is hard to beat.

13. Feel the Bottom: When fishing a jig or a Texas rig, pay close attention to what your line is telling you. You'll learn to feel the difference between a rock, a log, or a "mushy" bottom.

14. Set the Hook (Hard!): When a bass hits, set the hook with a strong, upward motion. You need to drive that hook point home. (Exception: for topwater, wait to feel the fish's weight before you swing).

Gear & General Advice

15. Check Your Line: Get in the habit of running your fingers down the last few feet of your line after every catch or snag. If you feel any nicks, cut and re-tie.

16. Be Stealthy: Bass are highly sensitive to sound and vibration. Close boat hatches gently, avoid stomping your feet, and use your trolling motor on a low, constant speed.

17. Watch the Weather: A falling barometer (right before a storm) often triggers a feeding frenzy.

18. Practice Catch & Release: Handle fish quickly and gently, especially the big ones. Get a quick photo and release them to fight another day.

19. Fish "Parallel": Instead of casting straight out from the bank, position your boat to cast *parallel* to it. This keeps your lure in the strike zone for the entire retrieve.

20. Learn Your Knots: A bad knot is the #1 reason anglers lose big fish. Master at least two (like the Palomar knot and the Uni knot).

21. Wear Polarized Sunglasses: This isn't for style. Good polarized glasses cut the glare, allowing you to see submerged cover, spot fish, and protect your eyes.

Lure & Rigging Guide

Essential Knots

The Palomar Knot

This is arguably the strongest, most reliable knot for tying a hook or lure to your line. It's fast, easy, and almost never fails.

Step 1: Double about 6 inches of your line and pass the loop through the eye of the hook.
Step 2: Tie a simple overhand knot with the doubled line, but don't pull it tight yet.
Step 3: Pass the entire lure (or hook) *through* the loop you just made.
Step 4: Moisten the knot with saliva and pull both the main line and the tag end to cinch it down tight against the eye.

The Uni Knot (or Duncan Loop)

Excellent for nearly all applications, the Uni knot is very strong and great for tying to hooks, swivels, and lures.

Step 1: Pass the line through the hook eye and double it back to form a loop, laying it parallel to the main line.
Step 2: Hold the loop and the main line. Take the tag end and wrap it 5-6 times *around* the two parallel lines, making sure to pass *inside* the loop.
Step 3: Moisten the knot and pull the tag end to tighten the wraps into a neat coil.
Step 4: Pull the main line to slide the knot down and snug it against the hook eye.

Essential Bass Rigs

The Texas Rig (The "Go-To" Weedless Rig)

This is the most popular and versatile rig for fishing soft plastics. It's designed to be "weedless," allowing you to fish in heavy grass, wood, and cover without getting snagged.

Step 1: Slide a bullet-shaped sinker (a "bullet weight") onto your line.
Step 2: Tie on a wide-gap or "EWG" hook (e.g., 3/0 or 4/0) using a Palomar knot.
Step 3: Take your soft plastic (like a worm or creature bait) and insert the hook point into the very tip of its nose.
Step 4: Push the hook in about 1/4 inch, then bring the point out the "chin" of the bait.
Step 5: Slide the plastic all the way up the hook shank until it covers the hook eye and knot.
Step 6: Rotate the hook 180 degrees. Re-insert the hook point back into the body of the plastic, keeping it straight. The hook point should be "hidden" just under the surface of the plastic.
How to Fish It: Cast it, let it sink to the bottom, and then slowly "drag" or "hop" it back by lifting your rod tip and reeling in the slack.

The Wacky Rig (The Finesse Killer)

When the bite is tough, the Wacky Rig is a secret weapon. It gives a slow, fluttering action that bass can't resist.

Step 1: Use a small, sharp hook (like a "wacky" hook or a size 1 or 1/0 octopus hook) tied directly to your line.
Step 2: Take a stick bait (like a Senko) and find its exact middle (it often has a smooth "egg sac" section).
Step 3: Simply pass the hook point directly through the middle of the plastic. That's it.
Pro-Tip: To save your plastics from tearing, slide a small rubber "O-ring" to the middle of the worm and hook the O-ring instead of the plastic.
How to Fish It: Cast it out and do nothing. Let it fall on a slack line. The ends of the worm will wiggle as it shimmies to the bottom. Most strikes come on this initial fall.