The best technique to fish jigs is usually to drag them along the bottom. Far too many anglers hop them during the retrieve. That’ll catch a few bass, but not as many as with a slow and methodical drag. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw a crayfish hop up and down on the bottom? If they don’t do it, why should you?

Now no springtime bass fishing article would be complete without a discussion of topwater baits. Exactly how, or why, they match the hatch is somewhat of a mystery. Nevertheless, they catch bass, big bass.

Let’s begin with poppers. Poppers catch a ton of bass each year. Maybe it’s because they look like distressed baitfish, or maybe it’s because they look like something good to eat. Regardless, if you want to become an effective angler, you’ll learn to use one.

Popping plugs also come in every conceivable shape, size and color. The easiest -- but not the only -- way to sort them is by sound and action. Some make a loud bloop sound when they hit the water, while others simply pop a little. A few popping plug designs are made for “walking the dog” like a walking stick, but others just plow along. Some poppers will sit high on the water, some ride nose up and tail down, and others darn near sink. And some have props, others don’t. They’ll all catch bass on one day or another. It’s best to have a complete selection on hand.

Buzzbaits are in a class all their own. The easiest way to categorize them is by sound and splash. There are clackers and squeakers. Clackers bang and clang as they cross the water. Squeakers make a squealing sound as they are retrieved.

You can make a clacker by punching a nail point through the hole in the blade. A nail point is square, so the hole will be square. The blade will bang around on the wire shaft and make a strong clacking sound as you wind it in.

The best way to make a squeaker is to wet the shaft and blade and pour salt on it. Allow the mess to sit overnight inside a plastic bag. The salt will pit and corrode the metal causing a loud screech as the parts rub together. It’ll drive you, and the bass, crazy.

Bending the buzzbait’s blades can easily control splash and noise. Bend them in to quiet the bait; bend them out to generate more splash and commotion.

Once you’ve modified your buzzbait, don’t be afraid to throw it over and over to the same spot. For reasons known only to bass, they will often hit a buzzbait only after repeated casts to the same spot. This may sound crazy, but it works. Give it a try this spring. You’ll be glad you did.

No matter which topwater bait you choose, don’t be snared by conventional thinking. Topwater lures aren’t just for early mornings, late evenings or cloudy, overcast days. They’re for anytime the fish will bite them. Throw one when the bite gets slow. You might be surprised at the results.

Buzzbaits aren’t just for shallow-water applications either. Oftentimes bass will rise 20 feet or more to take a topwater plug, especially when the water is clear and the sun is shining down from a bright, clear blue sky.