“Wintertime Sauger, Crappie and Bass in Indiana with Jerry Cary, Jr., and Mister Twister Lures”

Part 5: Bet on the Hawg Frog for Big Bass at Night

Editor’s Note: Jerry Cary, Jr., from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a multi-species fisherman. “I fish for sauger, crappie and bass. And at this time of year in November and December, sauger fishing is my top priority.”

Question: How else are you catching largemouth bass up there?

Cary: One of my favorite methods for catching bass here in Indiana is fishing with Mister Twister Hawg Frawgs at night around lily pads.

Question: How are you fishing those Mister Twister Hawg Frawgs at night?

Cary: I use a black light and clear, fluorescent blue line that brightens-up when that black light hits it. Those Mister Twister Frawgs are really deadly when I fish them at night around lily pads. I use 6-foot medium-heavy baitcasting rods and 14-pound-test Trilene XT line. I’ll put the hook a little farther back on the Hawg Frawg than most people do, and I cast as close to the shore as I can. I want that Frawg to swim as far as it can through the pads, so I’m making some fairly long casts.

Question: Why do you use 14-pound test when you’re fishing the Hawg Frawg rather than using stronger braided line?

Cary: If I get hung up, I’d much rather break my line off than pull a log through those lily pads and mess up the area I’m fishing. With braided line, many times, if you get hung, you’ll move the cover and disturb the fishing more than if you break your line off. I’d rather run the risk of losing a fish or breaking my line off than disturbing where I’m trying to catch the fish.

Question: What time of night do you usually go out fishing, and what time does the bite usually start?

Cary: I start my Hawg Frawg fishing about an hour before sunset and then usually fish 2 or 3 hours after dark. And that seems to be when the bass are the most active, especially during the months of July and August in Indiana. The good news is that there aren’t many people out fishing after dark. So you can have a really-good time and some very-fun fishing without much company, unless there’s a bass club having a night tournament.

Question: What color Mister Twister Hawg Frawg are you using?

Cary: I prefer to fish a black Frawg, and I’ll also use a black-and-green Frawg.

Question: In 2-3 hours after dark, how many bass will you catch, and how big will they be?

Cary: On, some nights I’ll catch as many as 20 bass, and some times I’ll only catch 10. I’ll usually catch several 5-to-6-pound bass with this tactic. Any bass that weighs 6 pounds or more in Indiana is a good-sized fish. I fish the RT Slug in the daytime for bass, and the Mister Twister Hawg Frawg at night. I believe in two lures because they consistently catch bass and catch more bass than other lures do. What else do you need to know?