Techniques & Retrieves
The right lure only catches fish if you work it the way bass expect to see it. This glossary breaks down the core retrieves and presentation techniques every bass angler should have in their toolbox, from finesse tactics for pressured fish to power moves for covering water fast.
Walking the Dog
A side-to-side surface retrieve made by twitching the rod tip while keeping slight slack in the line, causing a topwater bait to zigzag across the surface. It works best with a steady cadence and is the signature retrieve for pencil-walking-baits. Slow it down over deeper water and speed it up when bass are actively feeding near the surface.
Twitch-Pause
A retrieve built around short rod twitches followed by a dead pause, used to make jerkbaits and minnow baits look like a wounded or fleeing baitfish. The pause is where most strikes happen, so resist the urge to rush it, especially in cold or clear water. This is the go-to retrieve for suspending jerkbaits.
Dead Sticking
Leaving a bait completely motionless for an extended period, letting current or subtle rod tip movement provide the only action. It is deadly on pressured or cold-water bass that won't chase but will eat something sitting right in front of them. Soft plastics on light jig heads and wacky-rigged worms are common dead sticking baits.
Slow Rolling
Reeling a bait just fast enough to keep it ticking near the bottom or through mid-depth cover without rising or snagging. It is the standard way to fish spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits in cooler water or around deeper grass lines. Keep contact with cover and expect most bites to come as a heavy load on the rod rather than a visible strike. This retrieve is especially productive with lipless-vibration-baits.
Burning
A fast, aggressive retrieve, usually with a lipless crankbait or spinnerbait, meant to trigger reaction strikes from active or schooling bass. Burning works best in warm water when bass are chasing shad and won't commit to a slower presentation. It is also an efficient way to cover flats and locate fish before slowing down to pick them apart.
Yo-Yo Retrieve
A vertical up-and-down snap of the rod that makes a jig or blade bait rise off the bottom and then flutter back down on a controlled fall. Most strikes happen on the fall, so keeping slight tension and watching your line is critical. This technique is common when fishing ledges, humps, and offshore structure.
Flipping
A short-range, pendulum-style presentation used to drop a bait quietly and accurately into heavy