RE: the "Big Bass Zone"

Hi Bill,

Some background. I started bass fishing in the late 80's in Southern CA. I lived about 15 minutes from Casitas at one time (started bass fishing there with Creme worms) and fished Perris and Silverwood, sometimes Hodges and Skinner. In 98 I moved to Las Vegas and began fishing Mead and somewhat on Mojave. Before bass I was a trout fly fisherman and almost pro like manufacturers rep and stuff like that.

I just got your “Big Bass Zone” 2 days ago (haven't read the whole thing - up to page 75) and wanted to say there were a couple things in there caused me to think a little differently.

I like that almost Zen statement: “Nothing matters and Everything matters”

“Spot on Spot” - I know about that from Bill Murphy's books and learned about it , think about it and think about the best presentation angles – been successful at that . What was the eye opener were your comments on lure shadows – never considered that and thinking about that spot as a “kill zone”. But in retrospect that is exactly how I've been proceeding all these years. The phrase “kill zone” changed my thinking and is a good memory prompt.

“Moving the strike zone” which I got off BassFan was also a good tip.

Then your comments about noise. I've always tried to be stealthy. Pretty successful at it also. But you put into perspective when that time consuming approach can be detrimental. I believe I am not moving often enough right now given the conditions. What I see is, I'm catching bass or stripers which have come up on points or ridges or flats to feed, but the places are not consistent, that is I can not go there on any given time and pull a bass off one.
The points you made about stirring up the forage on a hump or flat were I thought valid and I'm going to try tomorrow (Saturday) wind permitting on some flats around Boathouse Cove on Mead. Fishing Skinner for striper's, I used to complain to one of my buddies about the boat wakes until he pointed out he often got bit after or during a wake passed. Always considered it just moved the lure differently, never thinking about disturbing the forage and the bass taking advantage of a momentary confusion.

So that works for me in two ways, because I believe I have not been moving often enough and I always try to explore one new area a trip ( even after 6 years I know very little of the lake and with the water 100+ ft. down, maps don't help that much) Now I will run over some point or hump with the big motor and not worry so much about spooking the bass.

Last thing I wanted to compliment you on was the suggestion for qualifying structure way points. That hadn't occurred to me. I'm running a GPS, but had just marked fish caught spots. Obviously I need to get more organized there. And that will really help because often now the shoreline features don't give a clue as to what is under the water.

Regards, Tom

i just started that book, interesting so far, definitely some different ideas. looking forward to the rest.

srw

Big Bass Zone is very well written and highly thought-provoking. I am now re-reading it. I have ordered my Tiger Tubes and look forward to trying them out. Very curious as to how they will work for me; inescapable that most of the photos in the book show the Tiger Tube. I typically fish (like most) shallow to deep and look forward to working the deep to shallow theory, as it makes sense. The one-cast theory is a bit tough for me; I have never considered that the trophy bass in the area is the most aggessive.

Doug fm Dallas

a friend of mine used those tubes at clear lake during the early spring, and said they worked awesome as a bed bait, he caught alot of 7-9lb fish. ive been leary to try them at other times, but after reading the book, i know a few spots i may try the tubes, i think ill buy 1 to try it out and decide if its for me, its $11 at bass pro shops for 1 ! lol expensive stuff, but it does come rigged and with an extra tube, not so bad a i guess, heck i pay $40 for trout lures lol

srw

I realize it is poor form to reply to your own post.

Here's what happened to me: Saturday I ran up to Boathouse Cove and ran a pattern of figure 8's with the big motor over this flat I'd scoped out a few days before. I worked!. I stirred up a school of maybe 50 small striper's who hung around in the area for maybe 30 minutes. Caught a few on a Storm Wildeye swimbait. Then went LMB hunting in the cove. Nothing there but did pick up on 3 lb striper on a 7 “ swimbait. Took it in a classic position, first cast over a rock ridge.
Sunday, fished walls with a dropshot, switching off to the swimbait rod over points,reefs and flats. Got my milk run developing in this area now. At sundown, caught my first Lake Mead bass on a large swimbait – 7' Sidewinder of a primary ridge in 20 ft.. He wasn't mush bigger than the bait, but he hit hard. One cast.