WRB-2.0

Yamamoto 5" single tail grub, color 196 ans 305.Tom

With good GPS sonar units you don't need physical marker buoys, you mark fish and structure elements using way point markers/icons. Buoys are OK if you need a visual reference on the water. Learn to read your sonar unit and maps, they are essential tools to fishing off shore structure. Back in the past we had to learn landmarks and triangulate to find structure with depth finders and mark spots with buoys to stay on them. Today you have good nav maps with way points, saves a lot of time hunting for isolated structure. Tom

There are a few variables to consider before selecting a knot. 1. Type and strength of the line. 2. Type of hook or is another factor. Palomar knot requires a larger loop the pass the lure through. This creates problems snugging the knot tight without over heating the knot and keeping the double line organized so it doesn't cross over itself, severely weakening the knot when cliched tight. The double Palomar knot is making 2 overhand wraps in lieu of 1 for the standard knot and improves the knot when using braid. I like the Palomar knot for tying direct to hooks or clips using mono line. Improved clinch knot or Trilene knot is a good knot for larger lures, spinnerbaits and tying direct to split ring lures like crankbaits when using mono line. San Deigo jam knot is what I use for FC line, all lure and hook types except heavy wire hooks. Heavy wire hooks with FC line I use the double SD knot; 2 wraps through the hook eye. Braid I like the old braid knot; double line clinch knot. Tom

This is a good point to look at and Catt pointed out the hump, although a 1foot high spot on a point in deep structured lake is marginal it's still important. The point ridge between the high spot narrows down to a saddle 1 foot lower, agian not a big change in depth but the narrowing shape creates a funnel zone for bass to feed on boat fish when wind is pushing plankton over that point. Saddles are important structure elements and the hump is important isolated feature of this point. Can't see what is available in the lower inside corner of this point, but it looks good. Good luck with your structure fishing. Tom

You might consider getting a few vintage suspending crankbaits like Bagley DB2, DB3 Dredge, Rebel Suspend R and Strike King Suspend FatFree Shad. Very difficult to tune suspending cranks. Tom

Worrying about line twist when deep structure spooning shouldn't be an issue. If you add a swivel you add weight to the spoon, adding inline swivels creates 3 knots, not good. Some spoons may twist your line, most don't. The trick to untwist line when vertical spooning is let the spoon hit bottom, the crank 1 turn lifting the spoon off the bottom, stop and let the spoon untwist your lne while attracting bass to strike....win, win. Tom

Don't feel alone 90% or more of bass anglers never fish more than a casting distance from the shoreline. This is so ingrained in bass anglers that few venture away from the shoreline. We talk about pioneer bass anglers like Buck Perry who tried to educate bass anglers that a fishery lies over their shoulder on outside structure, most anglers still refuse to even look off shore for bass. Tom

Depends where you store the boat. If you store the boat in a locked garage, keep everything in it. If you store the boat covered outdoors or where thieves can steal your stuff, then remove what is valuable. Do not keep your sonar units mounted when trailering your boar boat, remove them. Tom

4, 6'10" ; 2 are 6 power, 2 are 5 power. (ALX MB916NG+ & MB905NG+) these are my go to jig rods and retired 8 older Loomis & Lamiglas 7' jig rods. 2, 7' ; 5 power (Lamiglas TBC 705) 1, 7'8" 6 power. (Lamiglas BC 786) The 6' 10" rods are perfect length for me and my boat front deck. The 7' rods are now used for hollow body swimmers on jig heads and A rigs. The long rod is for heavy cover flipping or pitching. Tom

Owner mosquito size 1 hook for nose hooking or wacky hooking and Owner #5133 down shot hook size 1/0 for weedless hooking. Don't over fish a drop shot, let the worm do it's own action by slowly jiggling the rod tip into slightly slack line. The drop shot rig is a finesse rig and works best with finesse 4" to 6" worms. Tom

Fish this point during winter, pre spawn,summer and fall. If this point was located inside a bay or creek arm it would good during late pre spawn and post spawn. If this point was located inside a creek arm where it divided the arm into two more arms it would be a primary secondary point and excellent pre spawn, post spawn and summer location. Good luck. Tom

Without knowing where the point you posted is located in reference to the main lake basin or large creek arm it's not possible to determine what this point is. The whole underwater area you posted is one point. The areas above the red marks are small flats located on one point, the yellow area is near the end of the point. The small flat zones with wider spaced lines are where most bass will be located next to deep drop offs, depending on the depth the bass are located. Good looking point. Tom

Revenge spoons are excellent. Blade Runner Dah spoon is also a high quality spoon. Structure spoons I use are: Mr Champ (Luhr Jensen) Megabait live jig (no longer make 3/4 oz, eBay). Kastmaster Hopkins Shortie Crippled Herring, Luhr Jensen All the above in 3/4 oz shad colors or chrome with Owner size 2 feathered (white/chartreuse) treble hooks (Iovino). Tom

3 basic spoon types for bass; weedless, flutter, structure. Weedless, Johnson Silver Minnow amd Pursader Flutter, Lake Fork and Nichols. Structure, Cripple Herring, Shorty, Kastmaster and Dah. Should keep you busy. Tom

Giant bass are extremely rare fish, the majority caught in California and mounted by Robert's Trophy Fish Mounts. The only other bass in the 18-20 lb range on this site is Fish Chris, his mount was also by Robert Munoz. The problem today is Munoz is out of business to the best of my knowledge. Crupi and Kadota's fished together for several years and supplied Munoz with the majority of 18 lb + bass to make molds from. I believe the molds are still warehoused in SoCal. Tom

There are several ultra light spinning reels on the market, Osprey Mini is one of smallest. Tom

Robert Munoz did the bass in my avatar. A good replica mount is made from a mold of a real bass. If your bass was released you need accurate measurements of length and girth along with photos so a bass mold matching closely to your bass is used to make the mount*. What separates any fish mount is the artist who does the final painting. Mounts can be in a variety of life action poses with mouth open, closed, facing right or left, etc, etc. If you look at the Mike Long underwater photos posted you will see that giant bass over 15 lbs have unique body shapes, can't see the coloration very good due to underwater photos. Tom * Munoz used Kadota's 19.1 for my mount.

Only if making longer cast easier and increasing your strike to landing bass ratio. Tom

Not long after Bobby Garland introduced bass size tubes, they were crappie size first, a rig called "cap and gown" became popular. The cap and gown is putting a worm inside the hollow tube and dates back to the mid 70's. Tom

My largest bass on a swimbait to date is 15.2 lbs. on 8" Huud trout. Big worm between 9" to 16" was 14.7 lbs on a 10" hand pour Otay Spl. Top 5 giant bass between 17.4 lbs to 19.3 lbs all on jigs with 2 1/2" to 4" pork trailers. Big and small lures work , just need to keep an open mind and go fishing and experiment with different presentations and lure size. Tom

Swimbaits work best when they are similar to the size of the prey being targeted. Definitely a concert launch ramp with grooves, that is where most planted trout are released. Tom

Rangerboy, the lake in your avatar looks like Castiac, however favorite lake is Clear Lake. Nothing will out fish a pork rind trailer in whatever water temperature in regards to big bass. Castaic for example smaller size trailers are a good choice, Casitas larger size trailers....it's just the way it is! Fish N Fools still has stock on SuperPork, the Tadpole is good for Castaic, the Sr Frog for Casitas. Soft plastics in twin tails, 4" cinnamon blue Castaic, 5" dark watermelon/ purple Casitas. There isn't a one size/ color that fits all conditions as most angler believe, each lake is different. Tom

Thank you for sharing Mike Long's photos. Back in the days when lake Miramar had a group of giant bass living under the boat rental dock and the water was gin clear....awesome to look under the dock on the shady side and see these giants. The marina and dock areas are closed to fishing and it's where the plant trout, no reason for the big bass to leave, except to spawn. Tom

Catt said best. We have no idea when bass want something small or large, trail and error. Tom

Off topic somewhat. My first memory of Buck Perry and Soonplugs was back in 1958 at the new Santa Monica Civic auditorium. Mr Perry was a speaker at the Fred Hall Show that was their that year. Along with Mr. Perry was another pioneer Carl Lowrance had a booth show chasing his portable Fish Lo-K-Tor flasher unit powered by spring top dry cell batteries. I was in high school, my brother was going in the Air Force in a few weeks and lake Casitas was opening to public fishing. We bought a Spoonplug kit and ordered a Fish-Lo-K-Tor. My brother reported for active duty before we had a chance to try out the Spoonplugs and the Lowrance unit didn't arrive for another 3 months. When I got a chance to try out the Spoonplugs, didn't catch any bass until trying out another new lure the Bomber. Long story shortened, never tried Spoonplugs after that and still have them. Never stopped using the Lowrance flasher until paper graphs came on the market nearly 20 years later. Buck Perry may have defined structure fishing, Carl Lowrance changed bass fishing and brought structure fishing to the general fishing public. The bottom line is follow Buck Perry's advice and use your sonar unit to keep your lures at the right location and depth. Tom