Editor’s Note: As an avid tournament angler Ty Wolf is a stickler for fresh bait. He believes that fresh bait and good techniques are necessary components of placing in the money at tournaments.
When I look back at my tournament successes, I believe that fresh bait has been the key. Coupled with good equipment and good technique fresh bait can separate winners and losers.
Once I am baited up with fresh bait I will target contours, ledges, and creek and river channels. I use Parks Planer boards to cover a lot of water. Using the month of March as an example, when you have several days of nice weather you can drag baits in open shallow water.
The planer boards are important to get the baits a long way from the boat. Otherwise, the fish might spook in the shallow water.
Shad heads are my favorite bait, but bloody chunks of middle sections work well too. I am generally fishing water in the 2 to 3 feet deep range, but I’ve dragged in as shallow as 1 ½ foot of water with good success.
