Jeff likes to approach smallies with a jig and tube combo, jigheads weighing from 1/8 oz. to 1/2 oz determined by the least amount of weight necessary to maintain contact with the bottom.? Jeff also believes in colors that match the hatch, meaning use a color or bait that best imitates what the bass are feeding on.? In big water it is very important to use your electronics to there fullest capabilities.? You have a lot of choices and lots of water to cover, mostyle open water so just casting and hoping for the best is a strategy best used by "very lucky" fisherman.

An approach to determining what depth and where to fish follow standard universal rules.? Look for structure, depth variations, rocky bottoms, or weed beds.? But just going to a spot that qualifies does not mean there will be fish there, you need this combined with food.? Cover a potentially productive area watching your fishfinder, try to identitfy bait fish.? Once you have found the food source determine what depth the bait is holding at.? Now you have the components to put together an prodcutive approach.? Use the depth that was identified by the bait and try to work structure at or near that depth.? Try to find bottom contours that match that depth and work into deeper water.

Now it's time to get those jig/tube combos down there for some action, Jeff uses just about every trick he can think of.? Start with a?jig head with a tube, make sure to work it slow and natural, don't jig it in the traditional bass?sense - "burp" it (Jeff's term). a slower 6 inch pickup?and drop.? In my opinion this is really?more of a walleye jigging movement, a hybrid big water technique.? Lake Erie is certainly one of the best walleye fisheries in the states so this approach seems natural?(to us?great lakes guys anyway).