1.- Boat launch fiasco technique. Show up to the lake an hour after daylight. Mention that the bass at this lake bite early and you are glad you made it there before the late sleepers did. Make sure all of your rods are hanging half out of the boat in a tangled mess with no lures tied on. Have your fishing partner make at least 4 failed attempts at backing the boat down the ramp. While not normally necessary, having a couple empty beer cans fall off the boat on to the ground, and test starting the motor wile out of the water are considered finesse techniques, and can pay off with an extra big bite.

While your friend is launching the boat, you cautiously grab a rigged rod out of the pickup. Hide it behind your back while walking a couple hundred yards down the bank. When you get to a tree along the bank, hide behind it, unzip your fly, and act like you are going to relieve yourself. Instead of taking a leak, make a long cast. Even highly pressured bass will not expect this level of angler competence, and without any caution will greedily grab what it believes to be an easy meal. Don't miss the hookset. This technique is only good for one bite a day, and you don't want to be standing there with you fly unzipped and a did you see the size of that bass, look on your face

2- Comunity hole hijack technique. After taking pictures of the giant bass you caught with the first technique it is time to actually get in the boat and start fishing. Drive full speed to the closest community hole, with preferably multiple but at least one boat of anglers already fishing there. Kill the motor, quickly coming off of plane, and toss out an anchor. The more noise the better, so throw the anchor as high as you can. Ask the anglers in the closest boat to you how the fish are biting. To add some finesse to this method, you can ask the anglers, how time they had to get up to get there so early, or do you know if a fishing license expires a year from purchase, or on Jan 1 of every year.

Make an attempt to untangle the mess of rods you have hanging over the side of the boat. After a half hearted attempt give up, and grab an old ugly stick with a Zebco 33 reel that was neatly laid off to the side. Tie a saltwater size brass swivel on, and attach a floating Rapala to the swivel. Cast over the top of another anglers line, and hold on. You will get bit. Like the other technique, make sure you do not lose this bass. You will not get a chance at a second cast. If you have the fastest boat on the lake, you can hold the bass high for a picture, but you must get out of there quickly. If your boat is slow, or you suspect an other angler may be armed, forget the picture. Leave immediately. You may have to cut your anchor line, but you can always buy a new anchor, your safety comes first.

3- Electronics deception.-The next advanced technique, requires some pre trip planning. If you have an extensive electronics package, with big screens and FFS than you are already set. If not and you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on the real thing, you will have to improvise. With cardboard duct tape, and plexi glass you can build what looks like a dream electronics set up. Don't worry about details, just make it look like you have at least two 16 inch screen on the bow, and two more at the helm.

Start fishing off shore driving back and forth looking at you fake screens appearing to be scoping. Make a few casts and keep moving. Eventually you want to get within casting range of a fishy looking laydown on the bank. When you think you are close enough put down the rod with the jig head minnow you have been casting, and grab up an old rod, with a Hula Popper tied on. Cast the old Hula Popper next to the laydown and hang on. A giant bass will still think you are scoping and might forget all the warnings his grandparents had told it about the classic popper. This technique does not work a majority of the time but can be done multiple times a day at different locations, making it an excellent option on a slow day.

4- Equipment malfunction.- This method has many variations, only limited by the creativity of a seasoned angler. My favorite is very simple. Fish a spot where you catch a few bass. When the bite stops announce it is time to move. Have your fishing partner disconnect the fuel line to the motor. Try a few times to start the motor. At this point you need to do some acting. You can swear, kick something, throw something on the floor of the boat, or if you are really desperate to catch a trophy, you can even break or throw a rod overboard. After having a temper tantrum a three year old would be proud of, take the cowling off of the motor and act like you are trying to fix it.

Be ready because you will only get one chance. Sometime between the tissy fit, and taking the cowling off of the motor, the bass will start to chase bait on the surface. You must be ready to cast before the bass have the time to discover they have been duped.

Like many advanced techniques, this method is only good for one bass, but can be used a multiple locations, making it an excellent method to try throughout the day.

This technique has many variations, that can be used with both boats and kayaks. A broken kayak paddle works at times, but intentionally capsizing your kayak is at the very top of the advanced technique list.

5- Lunch time bass- This technique is similar to other methods mentioned. Basically you try and convince the bass you are not able to cast to them because you are busy eating lunch. Of course you are ready for them, and only pretend to be distracted. If done correctly you can not only catch a big bass, but still manage to eat your lunch.

6- Last cast technique. This is a great way to finish the day, and can even be used more than once in the same day. Announce you are going to make one last cast. This alone may get you a bite. The finesse application for this method, is to also mention your wife will be very upset if you are late, and that you must hurry if you are going to get home in time. Continually looking at you watch and having a panicked look on your face, will help significantly. I have had great success with this technique. So much that I have continually landed bass far beyond the time I anticipated. It has worked so well, I no longer had to act like I was in a complete panic. One last cast ended up being over 100 casts. It is a thin line weather this technique is a big bass catcher or a real home wrecker. Make sure you do the math before you try this one. If simply telling your fishing partner it's the last cast doesn't work, removing lures, and breaking down all of your rods. This will get the biggest bass in the lakes attention. As with other advanced techniques it is critical to keep one rigged rod out of sight, completely hidden. When the bass are convince you really are finished, they will start to feed. Make a cast, catch the big one, then go to the other end of the lake and try it again.

Combining the last cast technique, with the Equipment malfunction can get you that last big bass of the day. Pull the fuel line, make the last cast, then try and start the motor. Catch the big bass, hook the fuel back up and drive back to the launch. You may even get home on time.

Some days you just have to be smarter than the bass.

These are all highly effective techniques , especially the one last cast.

Enhanced imagination, Mercy.

Ah, I see you're letting the most advanced techniques out of the bag. I guess it's time to let you on some real juice I observed the other day.

Boat Launch Fishing

I was lucky enough to observe this rare technique a couple weekends ago first hand. Launch your boat, after a morning on the water, return your boat to the launch.

Pay attention because this step is key. You need to abandon your boat in the water at the launch and then proceed to fish from the dock next to the launch. This prevents your rivals from entering the water and confuses the bass. They'll think you're in the boat and then you'll get them from the dock! Really flawless.

This works doubly well if you're performing this technique with a motarized vessel in water that has clear no motarized vessel signage!

5 minutes ago, Rucksack said:

Ah, I see you're letting the most advanced techniques out of the bag. I guess it's time to let you on some real juice I observed the other day.

Boat Launch Fishing

I was lucky enough to observe this rare technique a couple weekends ago first hand. Launch your boat, after a morning on the water, return your boat to the launch.

Pay attention because this step is key. You need to abandon your boat in the water at the launch and then proceed to fish from the dock next to the launch. This prevents your rivals from entering the water and confuses the bass. They'll think you're in the boat and then you'll get them from the dock! Really flawless.

This works doubly well if you're performing this technique with a motarized vessel in water that has clear no motarized vessel signage!

That is a real pro level adaptation to the standard advanced launch technique. Thanks for the tip. I was hoping others would be able to add some pro level tips to the basics.

My favorite advanced technique is to intentionally cast my lure high up in a tree. Then while climbing the tree to get my $20 crankbait back, I yell "got him". For the rest of the day the fish in the area think I'm squirrel hunting not fishing. This technique only works with very expensive lures.

On 7/24/2026 at 1:51 PM, king fisher said:

1.- Boat launch fiasco technique. Show up to the lake an hour after daylight. Mention that the bass at this lake bite early and you are glad you made it there before the late sleepers did. Make sure all of your rods are hanging half out of the boat in a tangled mess with no lures tied on. Have your fishing partner make at least 4 failed attempts at backing the boat down the ramp. While not normally necessary, having a couple empty beer cans fall off the boat on to the ground, and test starting the motor wile out of the water are considered finesse techniques, and can pay off with an extra big bite.

While your friend is launching the boat, you cautiously grab a rigged rod out of the pickup. Hide it behind your back while walking a couple hundred yards down the bank. When you get to a tree along the bank, hide behind it, unzip your fly, and act like you are going to relieve yourself. Instead of taking a leak, make a long cast. Even highly pressured bass will not expect this level of angler competence, and without any caution will greedily grab what it believes to be an easy meal. Don't miss the hookset. This technique is only good for one bite a day, and you don't want to be standing there with you fly unzipped and a did you see the size of that bass, look on your face

2- Comunity hole hijack technique. After taking pictures of the giant bass you caught with the first technique it is time to actually get in the boat and start fishing. Drive full speed to the closest community hole, with preferably multiple but at least one boat of anglers already fishing there. Kill the motor, quickly coming off of plane, and toss out an anchor. The more noise the better, so throw the anchor as high as you can. Ask the anglers in the closest boat to you how the fish are biting. To add some finesse to this method, you can ask the anglers, how time they had to get up to get there so early, or do you know if a fishing license expires a year from purchase, or on Jan 1 of every year.

Make an attempt to untangle the mess of rods you have hanging over the side of the boat. After a half hearted attempt give up, and grab an old ugly stick with a Zebco 33 reel that was neatly laid off to the side. Tie a saltwater size brass swivel on, and attach a floating Rapala to the swivel. Cast over the top of another anglers line, and hold on. You will get bit. Like the other technique, make sure you do not lose this bass. You will not get a chance at a second cast. If you have the fastest boat on the lake, you can hold the bass high for a picture, but you must get out of there quickly. If your boat is slow, or you suspect an other angler may be armed, forget the picture. Leave immediately. You may have to cut your anchor line, but you can always buy a new anchor, your safety comes first.

3- Electronics deception.-The next advanced technique, requires some pre trip planning. If you have an extensive electronics package, with big screens and FFS than you are already set. If not and you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on the real thing, you will have to improvise. With cardboard duct tape, and plexi glass you can build what looks like a dream electronics set up. Don't worry about details, just make it look like you have at least two 16 inch screen on the bow, and two more at the helm.

Start fishing off shore driving back and forth looking at you fake screens appearing to be scoping. Make a few casts and keep moving. Eventually you want to get within casting range of a fishy looking laydown on the bank. When you think you are close enough put down the rod with the jig head minnow you have been casting, and grab up an old rod, with a Hula Popper tied on. Cast the old Hula Popper next to the laydown and hang on. A giant bass will still think you are scoping and might forget all the warnings his grandparents had told it about the classic popper. This technique does not work a majority of the time but can be done multiple times a day at different locations, making it an excellent option on a slow day.

4- Equipment malfunction.- This method has many variations, only limited by the creativity of a seasoned angler. My favorite is very simple. Fish a spot where you catch a few bass. When the bite stops announce it is time to move. Have your fishing partner disconnect the fuel line to the motor. Try a few times to start the motor. At this point you need to do some acting. You can swear, kick something, throw something on the floor of the boat, or if you are really desperate to catch a trophy, you can even break or throw a rod overboard. After having a temper tantrum a three year old would be proud of, take the cowling off of the motor and act like you are trying to fix it.

Be ready because you will only get one chance. Sometime between the tissy fit, and taking the cowling off of the motor, the bass will start to chase bait on the surface. You must be ready to cast before the bass have the time to discover they have been duped.

Like many advanced techniques, this method is only good for one bass, but can be used a multiple locations, making it an excellent method to try throughout the day.

This technique has many variations, that can be used with both boats and kayaks. A broken kayak paddle works at times, but intentionally capsizing your kayak is at the very top of the advanced technique list.

5- Lunch time bass- This technique is similar to other methods mentioned. Basically you try and convince the bass you are not able to cast to them because you are busy eating lunch. Of course you are ready for them, and only pretend to be distracted. If done correctly you can not only catch a big bass, but still manage to eat your lunch.

6- Last cast technique. This is a great way to finish the day, and can even be used more than once in the same day. Announce you are going to make one last cast. This alone may get you a bite. The finesse application for this method, is to also mention your wife will be very upset if you are late, and that you must hurry if you are going to get home in time. Continually looking at you watch and having a panicked look on your face, will help significantly. I have had great success with this technique. So much that I have continually landed bass far beyond the time I anticipated. It has worked so well, I no longer had to act like I was in a complete panic. One last cast ended up being over 100 casts. It is a thin line weather this technique is a big bass catcher or a real home wrecker. Make sure you do the math before you try this one. If simply telling your fishing partner it's the last cast doesn't work, removing lures, and breaking down all of your rods. This will get the biggest bass in the lakes attention. As with other advanced techniques it is critical to keep one rigged rod out of sight, completely hidden. When the bass are convince you really are finished, they will start to feed. Make a cast, catch the big one, then go to the other end of the lake and try it again.

Combining the last cast technique, with the Equipment malfunction can get you that last big bass of the day. Pull the fuel line, make the last cast, then try and start the motor. Catch the big bass, hook the fuel back up and drive back to the launch. You may even get home on time.

Some days you just have to be smarter than the bass.

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

My favorite advanced technique is to intentionally cast my lure high up in a tree. Then while climbing the tree to get my $20 crankbait back, I yell "got him". For the rest of the day the fish in the area think I'm squirrel hunting not fishing. This technique only works with very expensive lures.

There are many variations to the cast in the tree technique, and I have yet to try the climb in to the tree. This sounds like it may be an all time classic, that I will have to incorporate into my daily fishing routine.

My most successful cast in to the tree method has been very productive, but is extremely difficult and costly. I have to be desperate for a bite to attempt it, but if done right, success is almost guaranteed.

This is a two person technique, and it is best if all responsibilities and costs are worked out in advance.

Angler A must first cast a lure high in to a tree. The more expensive the lure, the better the results. He must then spend a few minutes frantically jerking his rod trying to free the lure. Angler B must have another rod rigged with the exact same lure in his hands, but hidden from view of any bass. Angler A finally pulls on his line until it snaps. Before the lure falls and hits the water, angler B must make a perfect cast to the exact place the lure will touch down. It must get there before the falling lure, but not so soon as to give the bass any reason to believe something is up.

If done properly, larger than average bass , will crush the cast lure a millisecond before the one from the tree hits the water. If the biggest bass in the lake, grabs the lure falling out of the tree, after another bass has attacked the cast lure, it is a sign that this technique has been used before at this lake, and it may be best to limmit the use of this expensive technique.

Two problems occur often with this version of the cast in tree method. One is the snagged in the tree lure, either doesn't fall out of the tree, or has a delayed fall, casuing angler B to fail to time the cast correctly. The other problem with this technique is someone has to lose a lure. Cooperation amongst fishing parterners is imparitive, in order to not ruin friendships over favorite lures lost. It can be difficult even for the best of friends to have to take a picture of your fishing partners new PB while your favorite lure is sinking to the bottom of the lake. All scenearious, must be discused and worked out in advance in order to avoid any hard feelings.

In the past if the lure doesn't fall out of the tree, I have always went on my way, but now in the future, after reading Tennessee boy's post, I am simply going to extend my stay, while I attempt the climb the tree technique.

Why not just timber the tree, that way the Bass will think your a professional arborist and not after them.

The crashing tree will attract fish to new cover and all the baits casted to it's limbs will be at arms length away.

I always recommend hearing protection when operating a chainsaw.