Preparing For A Trip In May

[Bill Babler]

Check out my article Spring Smallmouth Primer on this thread. Look at the colors of the Jigs, Split-shot rigs, Hula grubs, and Shaky Heads.

In May at Cape Fear, all you need is the jig, shaky head, and splitshot rig. Top Water Clear or pearl/green back spook--Smoky Joe Redfin. Thats it period>>>>

Don't confuse yourself with a bunch of other junk. Maybe a spinnerbug or two, if its windy, but thats IT..

The more tackle you throw in the boat the more reason you will try and fish it. Don't do this. These baits will catch anything that swims that time of the year in Table Rock.

Location is everything. The baits I mentioned are their food.

[JoeSki]

"Keep it simple stupid." - great advice Bill. thanks for the smallie article, very informative. Sounds like I need to spend more time with my map than with my tackle. One question is I only throw baitcasters so is shakey out of the question?

[Bill Babler]

Not at all. Especially up the river like that. You can throw it with a 1/4 oz head on 8 # flora. The Baby Brush hog works great up the James that time of the year, and really looks good on that 1/4 oz. spot remover head. Green pumpkin, and if the water is a bit cloudy, dip its tail in chartruse.

Put the boat in about 25 ft. of water, throw the rig up in the 4 or 5 ft area and shake and drag it back till its trailing the boat. You should be able to establish depth like that and then you got it.

Arron Martins fish a shaky head on a baitcaster the entire classic.