Deadsticking

Deadsticking means stopping the retrieve completely and letting the bait hang or sit motionless in the water. No twitches, no reel turns, just patience. Bass that have seen a lot of lures often refuse anything moving with purpose, but they will still eat something that looks dead and easy.

This works best with baits that hold still naturally, like a soft jerkbait, a wacky rig, or a suspending jerkbait. Anglers use it after a missed strike, when fish follow but do not commit, or in cold water when metabolism slows down and bass will not chase. The pause can last several seconds or even a full minute if the water is cold enough.

Watch your line instead of the bait. Most strikes during a pause show up as a twitch, a slow tightening, or the line simply moving off to the side.

• Use a slack line so the bait falls and sits naturally.
• Fish clear, calm conditions where bass can find a still bait by sight.
• Pair deadsticking with a soft plastic from soft plastics for a lifelike, subtle profile.