Sometimes bass blast a bait, only to hit it with their tail to kill it and then pounce on it again to eat it. The angler with the nerve to keep that bait in the area and not set the hook until the bass can be felt will be rewarded. The light tip is necessary to impart the best action to the plug and a solid butt is needed to help pull bass away from the cover they almost certainly will head for once hooked. Line should test from 10 to 17 pounds and should be of thin diameter, be abrasion resistant and have high knot strength. Trilene XT is such a line.
Sharp hooks are critical in all fishing situations.
Hooks on plugs must be super sharp to ensure their effectiveness. Small files have proved to be the absolute best sharpening tools for fish hooks and the Sharp Hook File produces needle-sharp points in seconds. A unique feature of this lure is its ability, after being twitched under the surface, to pop back to almost its original starting position. To fish as a darter, use a sharp jerk which causes the bait to splash and pop water on the surface before darting under. Then pause, allowing the bait to resurface.