WRB-2.0

WON report is tough bite in 30/35’ of water. WON is about 2 weeks late. 2 weeks from now things should pick up if it warms up. Tom

I made a cranking rod using Fenwick Popping rod because it was easy to launch 1/4 oz lipless up to 1 oz DD22 crank baits. Also my structure spoon rod. This rod was made to cast floats with live shrimp for bone fish. Replaced Fenwick with OTS Loomis PR845C popping rod. If you can cast your crank baits with ease use the the Dobyns Fury rod you have, just set the drag at 3 lbs. Tom

That is called a spider jig one of the easiest to use and effect jig everywhere. Tom PS, try a Hula Grub using a 3/0 off set hook on a Slip Shot ( finesse C-rig) deadly post spawn.

When I made the Cosmic Clock Calendar pre was before and post was after, then changed to pre and post spawn. Before those terms we call pre spawn bass “staging” when a group of females gathered to feed on abundant prey adjacent to spawning areas. Pre spawn wasn’t met to be length of time between winter and actual bedding egg laying. The water temperature 55 to 58 degrees was the body temps of staged bass I caught. Not the surface water temperatures. Tom

Just because 1 lure catches bass more often then it’s twin doesn’t mean the color is the difference The Storm Wiggle Warts didn’t all hunt, only a few did. We would buy 6 of any deep diver and maybe 2 would be stand out bass catching lures. Those 2 became cherished lures. I agree to have a productive crank bait custom painted with colors known to work where you fish but don’t waste your money on marginal crank baits. Don Iovino’s MC Zoner Hunter is a good alternative to original Wart. Tom

The rain run off has been good but cold water and most local lakes dirty with debris. The bass want to move up but cold water sets them back. With the dirty water I like to use darker colors like jigs black with chartreuse high lites and soft plastics bark purple with blue neon vain. Single spin #3 copper Colorado blade black spinnerbait. Any lure you would use at night. Tom

The on our local lakes spawn when the water temps warm above 55 degrees. Most years do to our Mediterranean climate the spawn starts( Casitas in February Castiac, Cachmua, in March Big Bear in May. This year all the above lakes are a month later do to very cold wet rainy year. Tom

If you are considering using braid for crank baits look at YGK OH Dragon sinking braid. YGK is small diameter braid. Tom

Photoperiod only affect water warming, length day only increases water warming if the air temps are warming. Big Bear lake is located 100 miles south of where I live, slightly longer photoperiod. Big Bear is still frozen over and has 6’ of snow today. The local lakes have a late spawn this year, it’s usually over by now but the bass are in pre spawn because of colder then average air temps keeping the water under 58 degree at the depth bass spawn. Colder water impacts survival rate of the fry from predators because it takes weeks for eggs to hatch in lieu of days. Tom

You will never know! All you can do is be prepared the next outing. Tom

As a boater you control where and how you bass fish. You always hear time on the water and location, location, location. Time needs to be productive time to determine location. Your boat is your fishing platform to take you to the right location. Where is that location? The question we must answer. My routine was launch the boat turn on the sonar unit and survey the marina to determine how deep are the bass and or baitfish. What is the water clarity and surface temp. Looking under the boat ramp docks for clues. Wind direction. What seasonal period are the bass in. Now I have more current info then 10 minutes ago and can select lures based on how deep to start. Marinas have all kinds of structure and cover, usually a point to meter. Now based on time on the water the location is easier to find and a starting area. The water temp where the bass are located is rarely the surface temps, that is why the life zone depth is critical. LMB can’t survive a sudden 10 degree water temp change , they move to their comfort zone, the depth you metered them in! Good luck, Tom

Wacky hooked Jackall 4.8 Flick Shake worm, green; watermelon candy Brown, cola or camo Nose hooked Roboworm Sculpon or FlutterCraft* 3 1/2” Reaper ( nose hook flat side up). Colors, hologram shad &Oxblood lt red flake. ^^^^^Alternated to Flat worms^^^^^ Tom *Flutter Craft Custom Baits

20# FC leader is to stiff for finesse drop shot, change it 8#. Spro FC finesse stealth 8# leader is $10 for 54 yards. Make the leader length about 7’ long, use the Palomar knot with hook upright, weight about 8” below the hook. Tom

Designed to be fished weightless ( 5/8 oz) with 3/0 off set hook in belly slot. Tom

Just read this and agree you need 4 rods. I suggest using the MHF jig & worm rod unless you are happy using the HF casting jigs, worms and creatures. Adjust the rod as needed for the lake fished. 2 casting and 2 spinning. 1 spinning for drop shot or weightless Senko and 10 # FC* leader. 1 spinning for Slip Shot (finesse C-rig) 8 lb mono leader in lieu of FC to help float hand poured worm like Roboworms. Ideal for back seating. Enjoy your retirement and club tournaments, Tom * take 6 and 10# FC leader spools, 6 for drop shot & 10 for 5” Senko.

All are knock off* finesse and mushroom Ned jigs. C is a knock off Owner Sled head. Tom * not premium hooks, sharpen before use.

What do you use for rod, reel & line? 3 basic soft plastic drop shot rigging. 1. Nose hooked. 2. Weedless Texas hooked. 3.Wacky hooked. Weight is usually 1/8 to 1/4 oz but varies. The drop shot weight is designed to pinch the line end and pull off when snagged. 1. Nose hook use size 1 Owner Mosquito or similar. 2. Weedless use size 1/0 or 2/0 Owner# 5133. 4”- 5” size 1/0, 6” size 2/0. 3. Wacky hook same as nose hook. soft plastics I use are; 1. 4 1/2” Roboworm Sculpin and 6” straight tail. 2. 6” Roboworm straight fat. 3. 6” Roboworm straight tail and 4.8” Jackall flick Shake worm. Keep It Simple and don’t over work it. Tom

That is what I call the Slip Shot rig?

3.6” long? Weighs 5/8 oz! Tom

Just reading about Yamamoto Yamatanuki heavy soft plastic 3 1/2” weighs 5/8 oz popular Japan now available here. We will need to learn the name “Yamatanuki”. Tom

The C-rig requires 3 knots, a swivel and heavy egg sinker. Slip Shot has 1 knot no swivel uses main line and cylinder sinker stopper that slides through rocks. Tom

Nobody trolls diving lures anymore so knowing how deep the lure actually runs vs line type is subjective not objective. To determine running depth troll the lure at 120’/ 40 yards on known flat depth on your sonar. Use the code FC line of choice vs mono line the same diameter. If there is a foot difference I would shocked! Tom

My 1st 5 bass 40 lb limit was at Lake Sherwood in the late 60’s. With my 510 paper graph I found a mid lake stump and it was a gold mine. When the lake was drained in the late 80’s that stump was a groove of Oak tree stumps! Tom

Fished long enough to be blessed with several outstanding days on the water. Still in high school when my brother and I fished Casitas from a rental boat. Long day with a few bass when heading back to the marina cast a black/orange 300 Bomber as we entered the break wall and caught a big bass. My brother and I kept catching big bass over an hour until the patrol boat made us stop fishing. Good memory with my late brother. Told the story of my Castiac catch over 18 DD bass on a Scrounger/Sluggo off mud point non- Stop until the Scrounger was gone. Lots of stories of running into wolf pack bass at both Castiac and Casitas during their hay days. Tom

12# mono since the 60’s for crank baits. The past 5 years Sunline 11# Diefer Armilo mono. Reason higher knot strength per diameter the other mono and exceptional casting performance. When using crank baits you make more cast per hour then other lures and need smooth long distance casting line. Tom