When you think of New York pro Alec Morrison—2025 Redcrest qualifier and Toyota Series champ at Sam Rayburn—power fishing might come to mind. But behind the big wins and bold casts lies a different kind of weapon: finesse. In particular, Morrison has become a quiet force in the realm of hover strolling, a subtle-yet-deadly technique that’s reshaping how top anglers target suspended and finicky bass.
Hover Strolling 101: A Delicate Dance in the Water Column
“It’s a jighead minnow, strolling-type category,” Morrison explains. “You’re targeting the upper parts of the water column, using a light jig to keep the bait suspended just above the fish—even when you don’t see them.”
That suspended zone, often between 8 and 12 feet deep, is a fickle space where small adjustments make a big difference. Precision becomes everything—not just in jig weight and bait profile, but even in overlooked factors like hook size.
The Game-Changer: Megabass HAZE-ST
While he’s still fine-tuning his own custom jigheads, Morrison has already found a bait that checks all the boxes: the Megabass HAZE-ST.
Originally designed as a dropshot bait, the HAZE-ST is the long-awaited evolution of the HAZEDONG SHAD series—engineered for high-pressure zones and tournament-grade precision. It features a sculpted martini-tail design, fluted sides, and a flat-top profile, all working together to respond to the subtlest angler input. Whether held still in a deadstick posture or animated with gentle rod movement, the HAZE-ST delivers trembling tail action and vivid, micro-pulsing vibrations that stir even the most neutral-minded, suspended bass.
Though designed with dropshot applications in mind, its effectiveness extends far beyond. “It really stood out to me at Table Rock,” Morrison recalls. “It’s just small and so lifelike. It reminds me of the smelt that northern bass love.”
In a field dominated by oversized 5- to 7-inch sonar baits, the HAZE-ST dares to go smaller—and smarter. Morrison has tested those larger profiles but finds they often miss the mark when bass are keyed on small forage. At a recent Table Rock event, the nuanced difference between the HAZE-ST’s 3.4-inch profile and a 4-inch bait proved undeniable.
Versatile and Deadly Across Finesse Platforms
Designed to target cruising fish in mid-depth zones, the HAZE-ST shines not only on a dropshot or hover-strolling rig but also on a lightweight jighead. Its ability to translate action across finesse systems makes it a high-dimensional weapon capable of coaxing bites where traditional presentations fall silent.
“The key is getting that side flash,” Morrison says. “It’s all about rod tip movement. That flash pulls fish up. I was watching them on sonar track and eating it from below.”
Thanks to advancements in forward-facing sonar, water clarity isn’t as limiting as it once was. Even in stained conditions, Morrison can now pinpoint targets and deliver the HAZE-ST with surgical precision, tweaking cadence, retrieve speed, and direction based on fish behavior in real time.
At Table Rock, when fish hugged the bottom, he slowed down. When they floated higher or showed more energy, he picked up the pace. The bait’s hydrodynamic shape lets him dictate action without losing control in the water column.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
One of the most frequent missteps Morrison sees is anglers letting too much slack into their line, which causes the bait to rise or drop out of the strike zone.
“The biggest thing is maintaining a steady retrieve,” he advises. “It’s like fishing an old Huddleston. You want that perfect, consistent pace—just enough rod shake to pulse the bait, but not so much that it rises or sinks erratically.”
Another overlooked variable? Hook size. While many anglers default to oversized jigheads, Morrison stays between #2 and 2/0, warning that anything larger kills the lure’s subtle motion. Lighter wire also preserves the bait’s fine-tuned action.
The Tools of the Trade
To maximize the HAZE-ST’s capabilities, Morrison leans on purpose-built finesse rods, including the Megabass Destroyer P5 Baby Plugging (7’2”, 1.5 power) and P5 Flyssa (7’6”, 2.5 power). He’s also experimenting with JDM Levante rods—notably a 6’3”, 1-power light model that provides a shorter lever arm for enhanced control and precision.
“Most of the time, you’re not bombing this bait out there 100 feet,” he explains. “The shorter rod helps me connect better with the bait and gives me finer control over its movements.”
He spools with 10-pound braid to a 10-pound or lighter fluorocarbon leader—another nod to finesse over brute force.
Finishing Touches: Color and Confidence
For colors, Morrison prefers universal baitfish matches: Moroku, with a white belly and silver flaked back, and Borealis Shad, which sports a darker back with hints of green and purple. These patterns mimic a wide variety of small forage across U.S. fisheries, making them versatile staples in any hover strolling arsenal.
Why It Matters
The Megabass HAZE-ST isn’t just another soft swimbait—it’s a finely tuned, multi-role finesse system. Originally born from dropshot precision, it now commands the mid-water zone with equal finesse, offering unmatched control and realism across presentation styles.
Whether finessing pressured fish with a deadstick drop or drawing up mid-column roamers on a hover-stroll, Alec Morrison has shown how this bait is rewriting the rules—and giving finesse anglers a dynamic new edge.
