ESPN

In the world of bass fishing, the "prop" lure is wrongly viewed as the redheaded stepchild in an angler's tacklebox. Most fishermen ignore them in favor of other types of surface lures. And that could be a major mistake when the right situation for a prop bait comes along.

This type of lure is at its best during the post-spawn phase around most kinds of shoreline cover. It also attracts attention in shallow flats or around grassbeds. But the subtle, water-churning action of a prop bait is also productive in the summer and fall months, with the bite more closely linked to shad movement.

Although some larger versions such as Bagley's Bang-O-Lure can tolerate light chop, others like the Heddon Tiny Torpedo or Strike King Prop Scout are much better suited for glassy surfaces around cover or grass.

But in these conditions, it's very easy to overwork the bait. Although the lure action is generated by an abrupt forward motion, it's really very delicate and the optimum presentation is often nothing more than a twitch.

Unlike other more aggressive surface offerings like chuggers or walking baits, the prop bait requires a greater degree of patience from the angler. In the vast majority of circumstances, these are target-oriented lures requiring relatively long, accurate casts. Sometimes it can be in the narrow shade of a laydown, or in small holes peppering a grassbed. In these situations, the strike zones are comparatively small and the triggering mechanism is often a blend of persistence and finesse.

The patience factor comes into play on many casts since one of the most productive presentations demands a smooth surface before twitching the lure. As the ripples diminish, the anticipation grows. Often, the first forward 'sploosh' of the prop bait is all it takes to trigger the strike response. As with any lure type, it takes some experience with props to learn their subtleties. In other words, you have to throw 'em to know 'em.

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