Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mike Iaconelli has made a career out of capitalizing on opportunities. When conditions warrant, the New Jersey pro likes to boost his chances for success by adding a small teaser lure on the main line in front of his primary lure.
While the concept of a teaser isn't new to bass fishing, Iaconelli believes that it's an underutilized addition to any topwater or crankbait.
"The Norman Front Runner made a splash with bass anglers back in the 1990s, and then the bait just seemed to go away," remembers Iaconelli. "The freshwater anglers have kind of forgotten what a teaser is and how effective it can be. "It's one of the techniques that I first discovered when I was fishing club tournaments years ago, and I've kept it in my bag of tricks ever since." Iaconelli points out that saltwater anglers have been effectively utilizing the technique for years.
"Teaser fishing is nothing new, especially with saltwater anglers. Those guys use it daily for all types of fish," he explains. While the teaser is an effective addition anytime that there is a topwater or crankbait bite, there are certain times when it shines — particularly in the postspawn, fall and when fish are schooling.
For Iaconelli, it's all about making the most of the opportunity. Sporting a tinseled treble hook, the teaser offers a realistic chance to catch two bass at once, a fact that Iaconelli doesn't overlook. "I can't tell you how many times I've been able to catch a double when I'm using a teaser," he says. "If you think about that in reference to tournament fishing, you can really maximize your time and productivity." Aside from the potential to "double up" on bass, Iaconelli says that the teaser also imitates the food chain, triggering bass to bite an unsuspecting baitfish.
"There are so many times when I've seen a bluegill chasing a tiny piece of fry and then a big bass comes up and eats the bluegill. That's really what the teaser imitates," he says.
When it comes to rigging the teaser in front of his main lure, the Classic winner prefers a short leader of 12 to 24 inches in length. He points out that, when rigged properly, the teaser won't affect the action of the bait at all. "Particularly with the Norman Front Runner," he explains, "the teaser won't affect the action of the topwater or crankbait that you're using.
If you have on a medium diving LaserLure and it dives 10 to 12 feet, it will still dive that deep with the teaser in front of it." For the anglers who are still skeptical about adding a teaser in front of their primary bait, Iaconelli offers this piece of advice: "When the bass are schooling or chasing bait, it can be a real asset to your fishing.
You really can't find a more natural presentation than a baitfish chasing fry. Anything that can increase my odds when I'm tournament fishing, I'm going to do it."
(Provided by Z3 Media)
