When fish move up in the spring and become more aggressive, a lot of different lures might be used to catch them. Sometimes, though, after a weather front goes through or there’s a sudden change in water conditions, the fish might pull out a little or a lot. You know they’re somewhere between deeper water and the spawning flats, but finding them can be tough.

Regardless of where I’m fishing, I always keep one rod on the casting deck that’s rigged up with a watermelon-red Senko. It’s my spring confidence bait. I cast it with a 6-foot Kistler medium-action rod, which gives me more control, and 12-pound-test fluorocarbon line. My favorite hook for it is a 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG rigged Texas style, but without a weight. Depending on water depth, I use one to three Storm SuspenDots and wrap them around the bend of the hook to sink the Senko. That way, the bait falls horizontally rather than head-first, which is more natural-looking. It also doesn’t inhibit that subtle Senko wiggle as it falls. The cool thing about the SuspenDots is that you can add more or take off some without having to re-rig the Senko. You can catch bass on it from Mexico to Canada, along the bank or in deeper water.

— Kellog’s Rice Krispies Treats pro Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas