Fishing with Kenny | Along Came a Spider (Jig)

article by  KENNY COVINGTON

I love to do research, especially when it comes to the sport of bass fishing.  Years ago, long before the Internet, I would buy any and every fishing publication I could find.  We had numerous bookstores around the area, so I would scour them to find the newest edition of whatever bass publication I could find.  The quest to find the newest secret lure was always on the forefront of my search.  Rarely was I disappointed.

One of the gems I found back in the late 90’s, came from reading a publication called “Western Bass.”  The article focused on a strange looking soft plastic creature bait they dubbed the “Hula Grub” or “Spider Jig.”  As I continued reading the article my mind began to imagine if I could take this lure, if I could get any, and apply it to our local fisheries.  My love/hate relationship with the Spider jig was just beginning.

Fast forward to a tournament I was fishing a few years later at Table Rock Lake in Missouri.  While rummaging through a local tackle store, I found, hanging on several pegs, the Yamamoto version of the Spider Jig.  Feeling as though I had found a lost treasure chest, I quickly grabbed half a dozen packages and proceeded to the checkout, never even thinking about looking at the price tag.

When the store owner looked at my choices, he made the comment about how great of a bait I had chosen and that the bass on Table Rock loved this soft plastic, then he told me my price total.  “That will be $83.75 sir.”

Turning away from my friend standing behind me, I said, “I beg your pardon?”

“I said that will be $83.75”, he replied.

“Sir, I am not buying the mold and the plastic to make my own baits, I am just buying six packs of them.”  Then I noticed the price tag.  Each bag of ten lures cost about $13.99 per pack.  I was floored. (This was also my introduction to Yamamoto baits and the price tag that comes with them.) I apologized to the gentleman, bought three of the packs then took the other three packs and put them back up.  What an expensive lesson, but after the two-day event, having done very well on my newfound “secret lure,” I returned to Louisiana with a few more packs to spare.

Fast forward a few years and my trial/error with the Spider Jig was beginning to show some success.  I quickly learned this little jewel was, without a doubt, a situational or even seasonal lure choice.  It didn’t take long for me to determine the Spider Jig was a lure best suited for clear, cold water.  I have tried it on Darbonne, the Ouachita River and other fisheries in our area and have caught fish but those were the only two lakes where the Spider Jig has been consistently successful is Caney and Claiborne.

       So now that I have set the stage, what else can I tell you about the Spider Jig?  Here is what I know…  

    There are several versions of this lure. Gary Yamamoto produces the Double Tail Hula Grub, Arkie makes the Arkie Salty Crawlin’ Grub, Chompers has the Twin Tail Skirted Grub and now Strike King has introduced the Rage Luau Craw, so this style of lure is in abundance.  Having used these baits, apart from the Strike King version, I can honestly say all of them will catch fish.

I buy Chompers Brush Jig heads in a 3/8 or ½ ounce version but I prefer the ½ version when using the Spider Jig.  Once it is rigged properly, the lure is a small compact, jig substitute.  So, what makes it so deadly in cold water?  First, it is a compact lure and bass in cold water situations like such presentations.  Second, you can fish it the places you would a jig, giving the fish a lure they havent seen before.  Third, the double tail on the Spider Jig has a great subtle action when it falls, perfect for sluggish cold-water bass.  Wait, there’s more…

I have found the lure is at its most effective when it crawls on the bottom.  The more bottom contact you can keep, the better the fish hit it.  I have also found it works fantastic in sparse cover.  I have used it with great success around boat docks and deeper brush piles, but it also works good on nothing looking banks.  To slow my presentation down, when the cover will allow, I tend to pull my rod to the side much like you would fishing with a Carolina rig.  The strikes can be subtle “it feels like a leaf” to a jarring thump.  One key thing to remember is to use a sweeping hookset, it gives better hook penetration.

As far as the equipment is concerned, I like a 7-foot medium/heavy rod but one with a good tip, like a spinnerbait rod and the Spider Jig is one time I do use 15 lb. fluorocarbon line.  I use fluorocarbon simply because I get more bites and catch more fish with the Spider Jig when I do.   And no, I haven’t forgotten everyone’s favorite topic, what about color choices?  Anything watermelon/red is always good, but I have had great success with Arkie’s watermelon/black/red flake.  Anything green pumpkin or watermelon based is a good choice.  The only time I dye the tails is on cloudy days.   

Well, it looks like we have run out of space and time again for another month.  I sure hope you will give the Spider Jig a try the next time you are on the water.  I believe you will like what it produces.  Please be extra careful while on the water and in the woods, and make sure you catch one for me!

Happy New Year everyone, see you next month!