Month: October 2009

October 29, 2009

Fall Bass Fishing 101

I can't think of any other time of year where the fish are so damn reliable and unreliable at the same time than fall.

Now that is officially fall – in case you have not noticed – animals start doing weird shit. You see a lot of activity this time of year as animals are out getting prepared for the unknown of winter. This is no different for the bass. They start doing everything they can to gorge themselves to prepare for winter.

Here are a few basic guidelines I start off with when fall fishing for bass, as well as a basic list of lure suggestions. Keep in mind this does not matter if you're in California or Massachusetts the same basics apply.

Finding the fall hangouts

Starting off the first thing I start looking for are creeks, coves and pockets, fish pin bait and try and keep it corralled this time of year. This can be a crazy thing to witness, but I have seen wolf packs of fish take out an entire ball of bait in as little as one afternoon. Also the sun and water temp start playing a huge roll this time of year. I believe that the warmer the bank in the fall, the more likely it is to be a productive spot. This continues throughout winter, but that is a different article all together. So look for banks, coves, and creek areas that get sun early, and have it constant throughout the day without loosing it to the shadow of trees, hills, etc.

Once you find a few likely areas to start, begin to search for bait fish. The easiest way to do this is look for birds. Although there are not always going to be birds where bait fish are present it still helps to be very aware of birds. Keep an eye out in particular for diving birds.

Bass are going top have a tendency to bunch up no matter what the species so you are going to catch largies, spots, as well as smallmouth in the same area a lot of times. I have a tendency to fish shallow this time of year, but fish love to get deep and hang suspended under large balls of bait, so keep your graph on at all times to see what is going on under your boat. Be very aware of your surroundings. Chances are if you see a bass bust in the surface this time of year, if you can react quickly enough that fish will be catchable.

Lure selection

As far as lures go, I like to fish big baits but I always try keep an open mind this time of year since fish become really keyed in on size and profile in the fall. You may be able to draw a fish up to the boat with a swimbait for example, but that same fish may be so keyed on shad it may not bite anything but a LV 500, rattletrap or spoon. Just don't get stuck in a rut of trying to force feed the fish. Believe me, I know this from experience.

Last but not least, don't forget to cover water once you figure out a pattern. This is a great time of year to run around and try and match a cove for example where you may have stuck 20 fish. Chances are you can find the same thing happening just up the lake a bit.

My favorite fall bass lures

Here are some specific lure choices I start off with in the fall.

Remember this is just a general guideline – don't get caught up on one bait in the fall. Use your imagination. This may be the only time of year you will find 6 rods thrown across the deck of my boat.

Starting with swimbaits, from the top

Black Dog "Weed Slinger"
8" Osprey
6" Baitsmith

On the top

Super Spook
Lunker Lures buzz bait
Terminator 1/8 oz buzz bait
6" Rattling Lunker Punker

Some more offerings (ignore the buzz baits already mentioned)

Revenge Lures Viberator with a Lake Fork shad trailer
Revenge spinnerbait in all white
1/8 oz Terminator spinner bait

Two Old Faithfulls

1/4 oz Speed Trap
3/4 oz LV 500

For when that water starts to get cold:

Don't forget a selection of rip baits.

If your not one to fish in the freezing rain and cold like I am, this may be your last opportunity to get out and stick some fish until it warms up in the spring, so get out there while the getting's good.

October 28, 2009

Bass Jam 2009 Has Started a Blog

That' right Bass Jam 2009 has started a blog providing sneek peeks and up to date info on what is to come. There is going to be a lot of new product launched at this show, get the inside scoop so you don,t miss out. Bass Jam Blog

October 15, 2009

New Soft Swimbait From Jerry Rago

I just got my hands on a couple of Jerry Rago's new soft plastic swimbaits today. These baits will be released at the Bass Jam Tackle Show in November. One is a 7" bait with a standard boot tail while the other 6" has a wedge type tail.

I think both will be available in different hook configurations although I am not 100% sure on that.

The 7" bait I got has a through harness with a loop for the treble hook, while the 6" is set up for a Pro Rig type set up. They both appear that they are going to be versatile baits and will be available at Monster Tackle Online and Outdoor pro shop in Rhonert Park.

I'll be going out and sticking some fish on them this weekend hopefully.

Check it out on Monster Tackle>

October 13, 2009

Pimp Your Punker

After a couple years of fishing the Lunker Punker there are days when I flat out can not put that bait down. Talk about a fish catching machine.

The other thing about the Punker is that I flat out can not leave the things alone. It is one of the the funnest baits to fuck around with and change up in as many ways as you can. I have had conversations with Jeremy Anderson from Black Dog Baits where we are practically rolling on the ground laughing about some of the ways we have modified these baits. I'm not just talking about custom paint jobs here, I like to do off the wall shit.

I fish Delta and Clear Lake a lot and it is amazing what will intrigue a giant largemouth to come up and eat. The way I look at it is the more off the wall a bait is sometimes, the more response you will get from big fish. Anything that lives on, in, or around the water could potentially fall victim, so why not have that victim on the end of your line. Here is a closer look at some pimped out Punkers

The red wing black bird Punker

The furry critter Punker

The Evil Rat Punker

Have you pimped out your Punker lately?

October 12, 2009

Introducing The 10″ JSJ Trout Wake Bait

Well folks, its been a year in the making on and off, now it's time to let her out of the box.

The New JSJ Trout is a 6 ounce 10" wake bait. I will be releasing the bait at the "Bass Jam" in Cotati on the 14th and 15th of November. All show baits will be custom colors, 100% hand painted including the dots.

Shown next to the 7" Snack Size 2 piece

Here is a small sample of what will be available:

Sierra Brook Trout

Light Trout

Also as new twist on the Snack Size, I have made a shad version with a bigger eye some more face detail and a shad tail.

Shown here in a bloody mess

See you at the show – Nov 14 & 15, 412 Houser St. Cotati, CA

Details here: Bass Jam 2009 directions and details

October 5, 2009

Bass: The Movie With Bobby Barrack

I just found this online and it looks like it could be interesting. It is a movie put on by a production company called Howard Films about bass fishing.

Here is the link to watch the previews.

October 1, 2009

Scout Low-Water Lakes While You Still Can

We are reaching the end of summer, and it looks as if we are going to have a nice fall. Before you know it, the lakes are going to start filling up again. Now is the time to scout your favorite lakes and document cover that will be underwater again soon.

I have been photo documenting lakes for years, and now that we have digital cameras it makes it much easier to keep track of the photos.

Before I started to do this, I figured I would remember where stuff was when the lakes filled back in again. Well I was partially right, but for the most part I would have to seriously fan-cast areas before I was able to pinpoint structure to locate fish.

Photo documenting – and even GPS locating – certain structure will greatly reduce the amount of time you will spend looking for that one piece of structure you know is there. . . somewhere.

For the most part the actual documentation, is easy it is just a time consuming process. And lets face it, most of the time if you're at the lake you would rather be fishing. But taking a little time out is well worth it.

Lakes with boat access:

Lakes you take your boat out on are easy. You can simply bring a hand held GPS and stand on a piece of structure whether it be a tree, a log, a rock, or maybe a ledge off an old roadway, and just mark your location. You can make note of this and enter it into your boat GPS at a later date. You can also keep a numbered photo reference in your boat corresponding with it. You will want to take photos from different angles using visual reference points on shore that will remain high and dry when the lake is full again.

Shore fishing lakes:

For lakes you fish from shore this works great, too. Take photos of the piece of structure first. You can do this from a few angles, noting the orientation to shore, distance, etc. After this is done you want to take a photo from behind the object back towards shore. Try and find the place you think you may be fishing from when the lake is full. Use trees, rocks, telephone poles, etc., things that don't change too much if at all. Keep in mind that using more permanent objects is a better plan.

A lot of times the process of going out and doing this will burn it into your memory just a little more.

So what are you waiting for?

Put on your hiking boots, put down your fishing rods, and pick up your camera before its too late. There could be some improved catches in your future.