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THE BASS COACH |
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Bass Tournament "Shortcuts"
(By: "The Bass Coach") Roger Lee Brown
Have you ever noticed whether it be Club
Tournaments, Divisional Tournaments (B.A.S.S. Federation, Red Man, Anglers Choice, etc.) and even the Pro Tournaments, usually
you will see a hand full of the same anglers consistently "In-The-Money" most of the time. Then while you're driving home
after fishing some of these tournaments without much success you ask yourself "What are these anglers doing so different than
I am."
There are many different reasons for these same anglers to consistently "Cash-In" or "Place in the money" fishing
Bass Tournaments, and I hope that I can help you with some "In-Site" on what keeps some of these anglers successful when it
comes to tournament fishing.
Bass Tournament fishing is a very competitive sport in a multi-billion dollar industry where
more and more anglers every day are joining the ranks of the Tournament competitors. With all these new competitors as well
as the already established ones, the competition seems to be getting tougher and tougher thus making it harder to stay on
top, or consistently in the money. Now, there are several "Tricks-Of-The-Trade" or "Shortcuts" you can use to give you the
edge you need to eliminate a good portion of the field of participants. These can seem to "Stack-The-Cards" in your favor
when it comes to Tournament Preparation.
The first one we will talk about is:
1. UNDERSTANDING BASS The better
that a angler can understand his or her opponent the better or more successful he or she will be against it. One of the most
important factors when bass fishing is understanding what a bass does during different situations and how the scenses make
a difference (taste, feel, sight, smell, etc.). There is much to learn about bass especially when you have to consider some
of the following:
A. Water Clarity
B. Water Temperature
C. Water Oxygen Content
D. Vegetation
E. Seasons
F.
Daily Conditions
G. Pressure Changes
H. Weather Fronts
I. Natural Forage
J. Colors
K. Water Depth
L. Structures
and
there's more!....... The first rule of thumb ALWAYS to keep in mind is that a Bass needs "3" elements tosurvive which are:
1. FOOD 2. OXYGEN 3. COVER
By understanding these three elements and by using these 3 key elements related to some of
the situations or conditions listed above should help you begin the preparation for the "Pre-Fishing" period of a Tournament
and the start of putting a "Game-Plan" together. Next:
2. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE TOURNAMENT WATERS This can
be done properly by first obtaining a map of the waters that you will be fishing. By understanding how to read a map related
to bass fishing you can just about "Pre-Fish" that body of water just by knowing the; Channels, Drops, Humps, Shallows, Flats,
Depth, Points, Structures, etc. and by understanding the Seasons, Daily Conditions, Water Temperatures, etc. you should be
able to eliminate large amounts of water and key on the areas that would relate to the bass based on many different factors
listed above. Another way to get familiarized with the water is to "Hire" Guides or Charters that fish these waters frequently.
Now, depending on expenses it would be recommended to hire at least 2 different guides or charters on any given body of water.
The reason for this would be to take the "Best of the two" days to help find areas, patterns, etc. Being a licensed guide
as well as a bass angling instructor, I need to let the truth be known that there are very poor and very good guides on just
about every body of water that holds larger scale bass tournaments. Another way to help to learn the water is to "Fly-The-Water."
Go to the municipal or county airport in the area and find a pilot to take you up and fly over the tournament waters. This
doesn't cost very much (normally), but you'd be amazed of what you can see from the air that you can't see while sitting on
the water.
3. COLOR & BAIT PATTERNS Probably one of the best ways to learn the color and bait patterns of any given
body of water would be to visit as many "Bait & Tackle" retailers in the area as possible. Not so much to talk to anyone,
but to look and see what baits and colors are being sold the most off the shelves. If you visit several of these retailers
you should be able to get a very good idea of what colors and baits to use pre-fishing based on the averages of all these
different
places combined.
4. WATCH THE LOCALS One of the best ways I've found some great "Honey Holes" in the past is just by
observing the locals. While you are on the water and see a boat sitting in one spot for a while, just move off in a distance
and watch. Remember, some of these locals have fished these waters all their life and are not sitting in areas just to eat
lunch! And, especially in the morning before you hit the water, try to find the local diner where most of the locals go eat
breakfast. Many times in the past I've got some great information just by eating at the same place at the same time, and by
sitting as close as possible. Many anglers like to brag! Just by sitting and minding my own, you can't help to over hear these
locals talking between themselves about the 10 pounder they caught off of Trumans Point using a Spook, etc.
5. PUTTING
A GAME PLAN TOGETHER Putting a game plan together for a Tournament and especially "STICKING TO IT!" can make of break most
of the anglers in the field. The biggest problem of "Most Anglers" when tournament fishing is not sticking to a game plan.
Several years ago, I had the great pleasure and company of Shaw Grisby Jr. and his Father (Pops) over at my home for dinner.
That evening, I asked Shaw's father (A truly great and knowledgeable man) what he thought was the biggest problem of why most
anglers can't seem to stay consistent, to which he replied; "They always leave the fish!" What he was saying was, that if
you are in an area where there are fish, WHY LEAVE? Give a spot time... The biggest part of pre-fishing is locating fish right?
So don't just give a spot a few minutes then leave..... I've sat on certain spots for a couple of hours without as much as
a bite, then all of a sudden they turn on and I've caught limits just by waiting them out. Also, when making your game plan,
select
an area where you won't have to run miles and miles to secondary spots. Try to keep at least 3 or 4 alternate spots within
a few minutes of each other.
As I mentioned before, being a Pro Bass Instructor, I've had several students in the past
who attended my 3-day Bass Fishing School that just wanted to learn how to "Pre-Fish" for tournaments. By teaching them a
better understanding of the bass, why it does things, when it does things under the different circumstances, how to put game
plans together, showing them different techniques and patterns, teaching them colors, what proper equipment to use, how to
locate bass, etc. these former students are some of these "Constant Money Winners." I hope that this article will help you
in all your future tournaments and make you a more consistent angler. If you may have any questions on any of the material
I've covered, please don't hesitate to contact me at my Email address at: rlbrown@capital.net or at any of my websites at: www.capital.net/~rlbrown or www.fishing-boating.com/basscoach
Until next time!...... Take Care & God Bless!....."The Bass Coach" Roger Lee Brown
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THE BASS COACH |
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Bass Fishing is NOT! Just
a Guy's Thing Anymore
(By "The Bass Coach"
Roger Lee Brown)
Well, finally after all
the years of enjoying the sport of bass fishing I have noticed that more and more women (and girls) are taking a considerable
liking to this wonderful sport. In fact, in the last five years during the operation of my 3-day "On-Water" Bass Fishing School
and Bass Fishing Charter Service located here on Lake Champlain and Lake George, NY, I have had a tremendous increase of women
(and girl) students enroll in my school as well as booking bass charter trips each year, and I really must say that it really
gets me excited to see them enjoy all the fun and excitement they've been missing out on for so long.
For many years
bass fishing has been thought of as being just a "Guy's Thing" but let me tell you first hand, "women love this sport just
as much (some even more) as the men do." In fact (sorry guy's!) some of the women (and girls), that I have taught or fished
with in the past seem to make better anglers than most of the men do when it comes to using certain types of artificial baits
and techniques!, maybe because of the patient factor most women have over the men. Just maybe, they want to prove they can
be just as good bass anglers as their husbands, boyfriends, or just men in general. But for what ever the reason ladies, keep
it up!
It would really be great to see more women (and girls) enter and compete in bass tournaments on a competitive
level with the men because I know (through past experience) that many of them would give the men a run for their money. It
wouldn't surprise me a bit to see checks being given out to some of women (and girls) that enter these tournaments, placing
"in the money" during the weigh-in when the tournaments come to a conclusion. If the "guys" can do it, why can't the gals,
right?
Owning and operating a Bass Fishing School allows me the privilege of not only being able to teach the women
(and girls) how to fish for bass, but it also gives me a chance to actually prep them to fish and compete in bass tournaments
whether it be on a club level, simi pro, or even pro level. Who knows, I'm sure that it's just a matter of time before you
will see a woman win a FLW Tournament or even a Bassmaster's Classic, but for whatever the reason you may want to take up
this great sport of bass fishing ladies, you'll find it to be one of the most exciting, enjoyable, and greatest sports I'm
sure you'll ever experience.
While attending my 3-Day "On-Water" Bass Fishing School, you will learn most all phases
of bass angling whether it be on your home waters or here on the world famous Lake Champlain & Lake George (located in
beautiful upstate New York.) You can now learn and experience for yourselves why the bass fishing industry has reached to
a multi-billion dollar level and is considered to be America's #1 fresh water sport. Give it a try!.... and I'm sure that
you'll literally "Get-Hooked" on this wonderful, exciting sport.
Until next time, Take Care & God Bless!
"The
Bass Coach"...Roger Lee Brown"
www.capital.net/~rlbrown
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Just How Soon Is Long Enough?
(By “The
Bass Coach” – Roger Lee Brown)
I know that the title of this article can
mean a great many things to a lot of different people i.e... How soon is long
enough visiting with your in-laws, or how soon is long enough being engaged to your honey before the big commitment? Etc…
But, what I am talking about here, is a question that I probably have been asked more times by either my bass fishing school
students, bass charters, emails, and even some phone calls concerning, “how
soon is long enough” spending time with a certain bait or location when fishing for bass.
I guess the best place to start is
always at the beginning, right? Let’s say that we are going to plan a day
on the water and we want to catch as many bass as time will allow, doesn’t every angler have these “high hopes?” (-:
There are several factors to consider before
you even hit the water such as:
- Season
- Water Temp
- Knowing your Natural Forage
- Daily Conditions
- Size of the Body of Water
- Choosing the Right Baits
- Using the Proper Equipment
- Locating Structure
- Keeping it FUN! Always
The basics listed above are a good place
to start when it comes to putting the “high hopes” plan together.
Let’s start by saying that we want
to fish a body of water as big as the Santee Cooper System located in South Carolina (which is made up of Lake Marion &
Lake Moultrie.) Now, if we have an impoundment of 186,000 acres of water with
this system and just one day to fish, where do we start and how much time do we spend in one place?
The first thing I would do is to get a
hold of a map of the lake and study it. By looking at a map such as a Hot Spots
Map, or a Topographical Map (the most commonly used among today’s anglers) these maps will generally show you the contours,
depths, points, and your boat launching areas. By studying this first you can
section a certain spot on the map that looks appealing to you and in the same process eliminate a good portion of the body
of water that you just don’t have the time to fish in one day.
Secondly, I would study the area on the
map which you sectioned off looking for key areas such as contours, points, structure, and irregular bottoms. Next, keeping in mind of the factors listed above I would circle a half dozen or so areas that look good
in the section and start looking for a good working pattern. Here are a few hints
of what to look for during the different seasons:
- In the spring, summer, and fall, look more in the shallows for warmer water temps, hard packed (or sandy) bottoms,
structure (of any type), and especially vegetation areas. Just make sure that
the key factor to remember is to look for shallow water close to deep water areas i.e... Points, drops, roadbeds, channels
etc.
- During the winter months, just look for the opposite in most cases! Deeper water close to areas with structure.
Now, here is a good rule of thumb when
choosing the right baits and equipment. Choose baits that cover top water, the bottom, and everything in-between, also keeping
in mind that the proper equipment such as rods, reels, and line is just as important as the baits selections.
Normally, the difference in fishing cold
water areas from the warm water areas is to know the activity levels of the bass. In
cold water the bass tend to get more sluggish and inactive because their metabolism changes with the water temps. On the other side of the coin, the warmer the water temp means the more active a bass will be. Remember
that the more active the bass are, they will feed much more often than say colder water conditions.
Here are some tips on certain baits that
normally work anywhere in the United States of America anywhere you can find a bass habitat.
Top Water:
Floating Worms,
Hula Poppers, Tournament Frogs, Soft and Hard Jerk Baits, Zara Spooks, and Torpedo’s.
There are many more, but I have been just about everywhere in the US
and have had success with these certain baits.
In Between Bottom & Surface:
Crank baits, Spinner baits, Soft and Hard
Jerk Baits, Jigging Spoons, and Swim baits.
Bottom Baits:
Jig & Pig Combos, Senko’s Always
Work! Carolina Rigged Baits, My “Mo-Wak” Rigged Baits, Texas Rigged
Baits, and Gitzits (or tube baits.)
Now, between all of these baits mentioned,
I have used these baits under most every condition possible, and in every season with success.
Now, here’s the question of “How
Long is Soon enough” to put certain bait down and try something else. Normally when it’s overcast or in low light
conditions I would start out in an area where I’m quite certain that bass are holding in with a top water pattern. This is because bass won’t be in so tight to structure areas as much as they
would be in a bluebird (or sunny) sky condition. Anyway, I will start with at
least two different patterns with top water baits such as a Zara Spook or a Stick Bait (hard jerk bait.) I have found over many years that if a fish will hit top water bait either of these two will do a fine
job. Give yourself at least a good dozen or so casts using each of these two
baits trying different retrieves to see what may trigger a strike. If you don’t
get any action off of top water patterns then try a Crank Bait or Spinner bait. Again,
allow yourselves by using a couple of dozen casts with each of these two different baits, again using different retrieves
(or techniques.) One nice thing about Spinner bait is that there are many different
ways to use it. I teach my 3-day bass fishing school students at least (6) six
different presentations on this one bait because it is one of more successful and versatile baits ever made.
If all fails, “Hit the Bottom!” One thing to consider before I go into bottom fishing is that it is very important
to use the right equipment. I’m mostly talking about fishing rods in general. An angler has to feel the little ticks, slight pulls, bottom nicks, and bites with
his rod to even know that he has a strike (or a bite). There are many good rods
on the market today and I’m sure that they are very comparative within price ranges, but I have found that there is
only one rod for me personally; it is Lighter, Stronger, and more Durable than any rod I have ever used, which is a Kistler
“Helium series” Custom Rod! You can feel every little THING on the
bottom with these rods, and better yet, I don’t even have to use solid line with these rods. I always use Silver Thread
copolymer clear line for all my applications.
When fishing the bottom, you need to know
exactly where and what your bait is doing to be more successful. I will use at
least three different patterns fishing the bottom before I move on to the next spot.
Keep in mind that we covered top water, then the in-between area, next we go to the bottom with the following patterns. A rig that I kind of thought up a few years back called the Mo-Wak Rig. This rig is simply a Mo-Jo rig using a Yamamoto Senko bait wacky rigged with very little weight above the
bait. Secondly I will use a Carolina Rig because if rigged right, you can cover
a lot of areas that you can’t with a Texas rig. With a Carolina rig I normally use a soft plastic bait such
as a Yamamoto 6” Lizard, or for that matter, an angler can use many different baits on this rig. Next, I will work with
a flippin’ or pitchin’ bait such as a jig & pig combo or a crawl by itself, pegged with a weight. Give each
one of these patterns again, about a dozen casts and if all of these presentations don’t trigger a strike…..MOVE
TO THE NEXT SPOT!
If you may be interested in learning more
or just want to go out for a fun day of fishing you can inquire about my 3-day bass fishing school where I can teach on my
lake or yours, or inquire about my bass charter service on Lake Champlain. You can reach me at: Phone (518) 597-4240 or Email me at rlbrown@capital.net or visit my site at www.capital.net/~rlbrown . I certainly hope this article helps somebody
overcome some of the frustrations they may have had in the past with this topic.
Until next time, take care & God bless!”Always”
The Bass Coach – Roger Lee Brown
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