WRB-2.0

Contrasting colors start with black and white. Solid white or solid black both work but no contrast the same with any one solid color. We want the lure to stand out in low visibility conditions, don’t know what the bass see, it’s all trail and error. Tom

I wish I could talk to Gary he passed away 2 years later from cancer. Gary didn’t have much and he was thrilled when Dana sold him his BaaCat a long time dream of Gary’s. Gary asked me to fish with him on that May outing, he was so proud to have the BassCat and new to owning a boat. Gary knew he screwed up I didn’t have to add to his anguish mistakes happen. I could have worked the bass to the other side of the boat and wasn’t watching focusing on the bass. I just can’t put this fish behind me, she was a lifetime goal. We miss a few big strong strikes but out of sight out of mind, never give them a second thought. Tom

Yes, low 20’s. I was back seating with a friend using a modified Scrounger jig w/ trout color Sluggo. We were fishing a well known area called trout point on lake Castiac May 1993. We were near the base of the point and made a long cast parallel to a steep wall, let the lure sink to about 20’ and had a solid strike. I told Gary “big fish” and fought it about a minute when the bass started up. The boat. Was in very deep water when the strike occurred and expected Gary to move the boat deeper to fight this fish. I was focused on the fight not watching where we were. The big bass came up about 5’ away from the boat and Gary yells OMG standing next to me and not up front controlling the boat. At the moment I see the side of the point the time the bass see’s it. We were next to the point at a saddle area, the bass made a run up and over the saddle, the line skipping across the rocks and broke off. This was the biggest bass I have ever hooked, when she turned her width and length was breath taking. The image still haunts me to this day. Tom

Welcome to BR. Wisconsin to Texas sounds like a snow bird migration. Be aware traveling south into Mexico Sea of Cortes to fish the Mid Drift islands may not be safe anymore. South to lake Amistad isn’t safe now. Tom

Welcome to BR. Where in Croatia are you located? Beautiful country! Tom

High contrast colors would be your black back chartreuse. Tom

High contrast cranks in off color water or low light. Crank baits create a lot of underwater vibrations the feel before seeing it. Tom

Have any of you tried rowing a boat with oar locks in weeds? It’s very difficult! Paddling a boat is easy rowing isn’t. Suggest rowing in clean water up to the weed edges and cast your lures, moving the boat to work the edges and pockets. Tom

I want see the fish but it’s a double edge sword. Seeing a giant that you somehow manage to loose near the boat burns that image permanently into your memory. I constantly relive that fish and it doesn’t get any better with time. Tom

Never eaten Smallmouth bass, my in-laws say it’s a soft meat and not edible compared to local Walleye. I caught a few LMB from our local lakes and grilled the fillets for dinner when my in-laws visited years ago. They like the grilled fillets and wanted to know what kind of fish it was. So I told them LMB and were shocked it was firm white tasty fish. How the fish is cared for and the water they live in affects taste. Our local reservoirs are deep clear cool temps year around. Put the fish on ice when caught. Tom

Bass don’t change their behavior because you put FFS/Live Scope on your boat. The suspended bass have always been there and ignored by most anglers. Back in the day trollers would blindly run across suspended bass in no man’s land. Dick Trask dominated western bass tournaments using dart jigs w/ 4” to 5” curl tail worms targeting suspended bass off shore… way ahead of his time. FFS requires skilled boat control to stay casting distance off the bass using finesse small plastics. Forgotten is the Scrounger jig with Sluggo trailer that has the same roll/wiggle the FFS anglers are using now with 90 degree hook eye ball heads with minnow soft plastics. FFS is tool to locate bass it’s up to you to use lures the bass will strike where they are located. Tom

Most of the bass lakes along the Hwy 49 from above Stockton to Sacramento contain Smalllmouth bsss populations. Mokelumme River in the Delta may also have Smallmouth further upriver. Lots to choose from. Tom

For decades I promoted C & R for big bass during the spawn cycle prior to Ray Scott accepting C & R for his B.A.S.S. sanctioned tournaments in 1973. What the pro’s do local clubs follow and C & R became mainstream. About the same time In-Fisherman was promoting Selective Harvest in lieu releasing every bass caught, they were right! C & R became a cult with tournament bass anglers, keeping injured fish for food is akin to killing your best friend. Fortunately fishery management relies on the general fishing public to sustain fish populations with size and number of fish including bass to be harvested. Not all bass anglers are C & R and keep what they legally catch. Tom

No reason to leave the federal breakwall, the kelp beds just outside holds Yellowtail during the summer, lots a Calico inside and outside break wall. Trolling for tuna is simple; you need rod holders, trolling rods with 40# big game and tuna feather/jigs. Trolling speed for tuna is between 6 to 8 mph, the lures running near the surface about 100’ behind the boat. You run a pattern about 1 mile squares. Mornings are usually calm with swells, as soon as the popcorn comes out ( small white caps) you go in. You need safety lanyards attached to the rods and troll 2 outfits off the stern. Set the drag at 6 to 8 lbs, tuna hook themselves. You can see Point Loma from the 9 mile bank, no need to go out much further. Birds are your fish finders and kelp paddies will hold Yellowtail and tuna. I fished tournament tuna and marlin for 35 years, local to Cabo San Lucas. My suggestion is hire a 6 Pack with friends and learn how from skilled charter crew. If you get a map and draw a line from San Clemete Island Pyramid Head to the SD 9 mile bank the follows a ridge (underwater mountain ) with a high spot 43 fathoms. Tuna migrate north following the ridge or outside 60 miles or more , rarely inside towards Calalina, Water temperature is a key 66 to 70 degrees and blue. I sold all my off shore tackle 3 years ago, otherwise I would give you what you needed. Too old now to fish off shore. Willing to help you with our local bass lakes. Tom

It’s easy to trailer to Mission Bay and target tuna on the 9 mile bank in your boat. El Nino year brings up red crabs and Big Eye tuna so trolled red tuna lures should be added to the standard green colors. Castiac is slowly recovering fishes very differently then Pyramid generally deeper active bass zone. Tom

How many have I caught the past decade….0. Blessed to be at the right the right time. Tom

Welcome to BR. Any question you have regarding SoCal fishing ( fresh or salt) will be happy to help with. We have a Western Bass fishing forum for regional Q & A’s. Tom

Crappie fishing using Turner Jones micro jigs. Too long for stream trout rod unless you plan wade. The rod was in the discount basket for a reason! Tom

Mercury has a prop selection chart for boat type. SST Merc props have venting whereas aluminum doesn’t. What boat do you? Tom

When deciding what few lures to keep after collecting for over 6 decades to occasionally back seat bass fishing my choices was based on high catch rates. I love to catch bass on my jigs so they are the highest quality of lures but they are not the most productive per man hour fished. Hard baits kept are wooden Sammie, Buck n Brawl, Micheal pooper, LC 98 pointers, custom Bomber 7A’s, Zoner Hunter, Megabass crankbait, a few structure spoons, buzz bait, spinnerbait, swimjigs. Soft plastics; Roboworms, custom Shad worms, Reapers, Screamers, Flick Shake 4.8, Uptoms, Senko’s. I take these with me every outing and can’t decide what to use until on the water. Tom

High wind keeps the local public lakes closed, no boat launching. Summer lake lice with boom boxes, wake boats and jet ski can turn a pleasant day on the water into a nightmare. Tom

If the pros used it the bass anglers would follow. Most pros simply stick a spinner bait at the of the rod down in the water and if can see the blades, it’s good enough. BR Seechi disk would cool to have. Tom

I always installed a toggle switch to turn on/off sonar units and remove the head units trailering my boats. Never has a single issue with them. Tom

Shimano SLX MGL 70, 2024 model dropped the MGL but has the MGL spool is a sweet smooth casting reel using .011/.012D mono, copoly or FC line without braid. Just set the breaks 3 on 3 off. If you keep the lure weight 1/4 to 5/8 oz most medium / 3 power fast 6’8” to 7’ will perform good. Remember square bills are target lures where accuracy is important.

Balance plus light weight with a smooth operating reel and guide train helps to reduce damping affects of line movement that is falsely call sensitivity. Tom