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swimbaitTue Nov-10-09 08:25 PM
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#11479, "The state of the trophy bass union"


  

          

So what's up with Nor-Cal trophy bass fishing these days? There's a lot I don't know and a little that I do. Has the heyday passed? It feels like it. Could the giant bass and the crazies who pursue them rise again, no doubt. Where were we, and where could this deal be headed now?

The year was 2000 and I was a grom with a boat that required regular bailing. Yes, Traveler is a brand of boat I owned one, vintage 1976. She lives in Brian Long's parent's side yard these days - I think. Sorry about the time you almost sank at DVL Brian #1.

I caught a big bass that year. Just one. Not a lot seemed to be going on with bass of the giant variety in Nor-Cal at the time but there was energy out there. It was energy waiting to be tapped.

In 2001 I saw a 19 pound bass on a bed. Maybe 19 and a half. I had a vague understanding of how to catch bedded bass. Some article I'd read said to use toro tubes. Had that stupid piece of plastic laying on this bass' back and it didn't care a bit. A time machine and a Big Hammer would be nice sometimes. The next day that fish could have been caught. My next two fish over 10 came the same day later that fall. Iaconelli had nothing on me when the second one hit. I was wearing a plaid flannel shirt.

Paul Duclos was the big name in Nor-Cal. Paul, where are you now man? Berryessa night fishing, or sleepy Spring Lake? Would always have liked to have met you. Saw some photos of you by the ramp at San Pablo with giants long before I came along.

I met most of the people who became known in Nor-Cal trophy fishing in the years that followed. Fish Chris, Nico Raffo, Steve Pagliaguchi, Matt Allen, Josh Declusian, Don Osborne, Don Moorman. A dozen tourney guys who fished for big ones too. Guys like CV and Joe Bruce and Johnny C and Robert Marxmiller.

Then there were the lure makers. Met most of you guys at some point. I used to have to watch my cell phone minute usage and it wasn't me doing the talking. Jerry Rago, Mickey Ellis, Mike Shaw, Scott Whitmer, Matt Servant, Nathan Bettencourt, Jeremy Anderson, Ken Huddleston, Jason Scott, and 20 other dudes all building piles of sawdust and donning respirators for our fishing pleasure. Maybe I've had some impact on this industry, but lure makers are an independent bunch that like to do what they want to do. Don't blame ya.

OK, So-Cal - I hear you knocking. Sorry for the lack of love. Mark Rogers, you'd downplay it but you taught me a lot. Matt and Cameron, friends since 1st grade. I didn't learn much about big bass from you guys but tournaments - yes please and thank you. Cam is my first call when I need guidance on how to just get bit. Matt remembers Santa Margarita in May with the AC Minnow. Cam remembers the first subsurface hudd bite he ever got. Some memories will stick with you till you are old.

I met three hundred other people who just liked to fish or talk big bass. Erik Patzner caught a 17 at Pablo. I still like your signature about pretending to be a swimbait fisherman. That's funny. I pretend to be too most days.

In the back of my mind (and probably your mind too) there's always been a question about whether there are other guys out there doing it. Catching giants - really big ones - and not saying anything. There's a few in So-Cal for sure. But I don't think there's many in Nor-Cal. One or two. I think I would have seen you some time. Or Nico would have seen you. Being single and single-minded in pursuit of fish, Nico is my eyes and ears these days.

The real heyday ran up until 06. And 2005 was the killer year. The hudd made swimbait fishing easy for the first time. Let's be real. If you took a huddleston deluxe 8 inch to a lake where the bass hadn't seen it you were going to catch bass. I even caught bass at Chabot, and that lake sucks. Sometimes you'd see a bass and cast at it and it would actually eat your swimbait. That never happened before.

What happened next? Every tournament was a swimbait festival. Every shore pounder had just got the hot dope from Walton's Pond and was out there hucking. The high point of the stupidity for me came one day at Don Pedro fishing with CV. We were on a point, a good one. A boat ran around behind us and cut it. Out went the trolling motor. Here comes the flipping stick with the big swimbait tied on. Here comes the cast aimed 50 feet from my last one. Heave, snap, sail........ sploosh. Souvenir for the shoreline scavenger on low water next fall. Should have known that it was done right then and there.

2006 was a toughie. Fish got caught but not in the numbers like 05. Maybe the same number of fish got caught but three times more people caught them. The euphoria wore off for me in 2006, I wanted it easy and it wasn't any more.

2007 I moved away to the central coast. The fishing that spring was OK before I moved. I was on it, really on point. Making moves, timing it - focused. It's like when you get in the batting cage and start cracking one after the next. The best feeling in the world.

I heard they founded Jamba Juice and Clif Bar on the central coast but they didn't bother to plant any florida strain versions of the bass I love.

Spent time with grad school, studying and spotted bass. Damn spotted bass. Taught taught myself about ice jigs and rubber frogs. Took friends out fishing who knew nothing and enjoyed it. Hooked a 10lb northern at Margarita and dumped it. In 2008 I drove to Nor-cal one morning for spring break and caught a 13 and a 14 the same day chuckin. It was like the stock market going up during a recession before it crashes back down. The death throes.

Short bites and terrified bed fish. Crummy water conditions and quagmire mussel inspections. Barriers to entry everywhere. San Justo - closed. Coyote closed to boating several months out of the year. San Pablo still drained for a dam retrofit. How damn long does it take to fix a dam. Ruination! 3 pounders winning 10 grand at Pedro. Nico still caught 'em a little. You guys have no idea how good Nico is. He's the best in Nor-cal today, period. Let's talk teenagers, not 10's.

This year. I've been admittedly distracted. Derek is 8 months old now. Don Moorman is trying to sell his rig and his stuff, hope you are doing OK Don. Steve P, still here after all these years. Hope you're catching a few. Matt Allen, dude you are like the only guy still catching a lot of 9 to 11's. Don't worry, I don't go to your lake. Fish Chris is in to car stereos. Jake J, I used to have this neighbor in Fremont I should have turned in to you man. Ha. Hope you're still around.

Not many new guys out there. Greg Ross knows how to fish. There's a few motherlode guys that do too. Taylor Parsons, Alex Niapas. Never met you guys but clearly... With so much attention still spoiled on swimbait fishing Greg feels like the only true trophy only angle guy in the last few years. Did I forget someone - don't know?. This isn't the top 40 list. Now-a-days anyone who wins a tourney on an osprey is a big bass expert. OK.

Which brings us to now, today. It's November. I used to catch some decent jig fish in November, and the green 12" worm, and even swimbaits if you timed it just right. Wish I had the energy and time to go check my old haunts. I know Nico would go. We do lame stuff now like prefish at lake McClure with our high dollar digital scales at the ready to see if the spots we are catching are 1.4 or 1.6's. I bought two Stradic C-14's last month. Gotta get your jollies somehow. What happened? Demoralizing.

Life is full of cycles. Waves and wind and weather. It's like some perverse math equation - I always hated statistics but saw the value. The economy is down, fishing for giant bass is down, the water is down. It will come back around but slow like a bottomed out real-estate market. Meanwhile we'll weigh our 1.4's and put fancy bouys in them with pounds on one side and ounces on the other.

Ten years later I'm as passionate as I ever have been about giant bass. I'll never quit this sport and never give up the chase (yeah you know THE CHASE, the one in all caps). Maybe all that's missing is a new flannel shirt.



  

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Replies to this topic
RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Bassinboys, Nov 10th 2009, #1
RE: The state of the trophy bass union, swimbait, Nov 11th 2009, #2
      RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Marcus, Nov 11th 2009, #3
           RE: The state of the trophy bass union, supermat, Nov 12th 2009, #4
                RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Nico, Nov 12th 2009, #5
                     RE: The state of the trophy bass union, fr0g, Nov 13th 2009, #6
RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Slough Crew, Nov 14th 2009, #7
RE: The state of the trophy bass union, swimbait, Nov 15th 2009, #8
      RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Urban, Nov 15th 2009, #9
           RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Nico, Nov 16th 2009, #10
                RE: The state of the trophy bass union, magmaster, Nov 17th 2009, #11
                     RE: The state of the trophy bass union, crotalus, Nov 17th 2009, #12
                          RE: The state of the trophy bass union, crotalus, Nov 17th 2009, #13
                          RE: The state of the trophy bass union, magmaster, Nov 17th 2009, #14
                          RE: The state of the trophy bass union, swimbait, Nov 18th 2009, #15
                               RE: The state of the trophy bass union, crotalus, Nov 18th 2009, #16
                                    RE: The state of the trophy bass union, bassindon69, Nov 20th 2009, #17
                                         RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Terra Ferma, Nov 20th 2009, #18
                                              RE: The state of the trophy bass union, dockboy, Dec 28th 2009, #19
                                                   RE: The state of the trophy bass union, swimbait 24-7, Dec 29th 2009, #20
                                                        RE: The state of the trophy bass union, swimbait, Dec 29th 2009, #21
                                                             RE: The state of the trophy bass union, swimbait 24-7, Dec 29th 2009, #22
                                                                  RE: The state of the trophy bass union, dockboy, Dec 29th 2009, #23
                                                                  RE: The state of the trophy bass union, Nico, Dec 30th 2009, #24
                                                                       RE: The state of the trophy bass union, CA Swimb8er, Dec 31st 2009, #25
                                                                            RE: The state of the trophy bass union, basshunter4u, Jan 02nd 2010, #26
                                                                                 RE: The state of the trophy bass union, flipit, Feb 02nd 2010, #27

BassinboysTue Nov-10-09 09:51 PM
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#11480, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 0


          

Well said. Period. Excellent piece, as bittersweet as it was...it went perfectly with Bob Dylan singing the tribute song to Woody Guthrie. Went out today for two hours...and my little tin can took on at least 35 gallons of water. I think she's done, but her replacement is waiting for me to turn her in to the next to be towed behind the truck.

Was at one of your old night haunts recently too. What happened to that place? I just wish I hadn't been late to the game on that one. There's not a bigger rush than getting crushed on top with an empty moon.

There are a few still on 'em...or at least so I hear. They keep it under their hats so tight, you can't even see their faces. I do hope I can put it together a little more this year. I lose faith, and then I get blasted. Faith restored. I hate to love these fish, but man d they keep me coming back.

Thank you greatly for helping the guys like me with this website... that goes for everyone reading this. Observing and putting it together myself was so much more rewarding than someone handing me a hudd, putting me on lake X, and telling me the business. Now I just need the discipline and patience...I know Nicos' got it. He needs to bottle what ever it is that exudes from his pores.

Thanks again for the post Rob. It's been a while since I felt like I had something to say, but your post was spot on. And don't worry, there IS someone out there rackin' em up here...I just don't know who or where. ;-)

-Ben

  

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swimbaitWed Nov-11-09 08:26 AM
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#11481, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 1


  

          

Ben - great to hear from you. You're so quiet I forget about you sometimes. It was nice to chat with you at the lake last year. Sorry to hear your old boat is getting tired. I never had luck fixing leaky rivets, it's a losing battle. Luckily used boats are cheap right now and it sounds like you already have something :)

  

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MarcusWed Nov-11-09 11:35 AM
Member since Nov 11th 2009
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#11482, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 2
Wed Nov-11-09 07:25 PM by Marcus

          

I got into trophy largemouth somewhat by accident, was always a 200+ days a year delta striper guy and never thought much of the largemouth. Caught alot of largies as striper fishing bycatch, but never really targeted them.

4 years ago I re-connected with a striper fishing buddy from my youth, that had trended heavily towards delta largemouth fishing after high school, while I just striper fished harder than ever. Fishing with him I learned very quickly the challenge of getting consistent results with the higher quality delta largies.

Pre-fishing the 2007 SnagProof tourney with him I caught a 10.1 on that little pathetic WiggleWog wakebait, my first double digit bass. She CRUSHED it!!

I caught many 6-9#ers out of the delta the next year, but couldn't get another double digit throwing frogs.

Last winter while striper fishing in 45 degree water in January, I had a monster largemouth swirl on my big wakebait. The beautiful bronze flash and 5' diamter flat spot on the surface gave her away. I changed my angle and speed and caught a 9#, 6#, and a 5#, and had another big one take a look but not bite. I saw the potential to say the least.

7 weeks later in late February, now 49/50 degree water and maybe 100 hours of mainly fruitless big swimbait fishing effort under my belt, playing around with speeds, angles, tides, weather, and mainly just alot of BANG BANG BANG BANG BANGING my head on a concrete wall, the concrete wall being the spot I knew she lived, the big girl finally ate it, a beautiful 14.5# 29" California Delta bass.

I went through the mental phase most of you may have gone through when you finally achieved Freshman Trophy Hunter status - you'd cracked the code and now the sky was the limit!! I fished even harder and was convinced I'd have a 19# fish with in a matter of weeks!! Reality set in, I boated a 10.5# a few days later, and my buddy missed a likely 13#+ fish on March 1 due to "angler awestruck paralysis" or similar, and it tapered off after that, they quit biting the big wakebait for me as the spawn developed, then I was back to striper fishing and was just dabbling in the largies.

I catch alot of those snakey delta 8 and 9#ers that were double digits pre-spawn, but I've learned that the time to get a teener out of the delta is February/March and that my dreams of the delta record fish are just that...dreams and quite the long shot. I think I've seen her a few times though, not sure.

Almost won HBC but she jumped off at the net!!! I never net frog fish either!!! Had I swung her in the $10,000 was mine!! At least I stayed in the boat.

Marcus

EDIT: That would be banging my head on the PROVERBIAL concrete wall

  

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supermatThu Nov-12-09 10:42 AM
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#11484, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 3
Thu Nov-12-09 11:19 AM by supermat

  

          

I'm glad you wrote this! I noticed the downward spiraling trend a couple years ago and just prayed it was weird weather patterns, water conditions, etc.
At this point, I'm thinking that's not the case. The last few years have gotten progressively more difficult. Two years ago I got really, really lucky. I rediscovered (with my buddy Big Matt) a lake that had seemingly slipped everyone's mind. That worked out great until every pre-teen with a swimbaitnation handle called it home. :D That's ok, it was a unique experience and a fun year.
After that it was back to the drawing board. Correct me if I'm wrong but here is the trend I'm seeing... the little lakes SUCK! (Or it could just be that I vowed to never pick up that 12 foot boat again.)
It seems like any lake that has had more than 3 years experience with a hudd is a NIGHTMARE to land fish.
Let's take my first swimbait lake for example (most of you know where that is)... I gave up on it and here is why: When you guys introduced me to throwing huddlestons that lake was a joke. Pure and simple... a monkey (like me) could catch those fish. But over time they started getting a little more conditioned... they wouldn't eat as readily. One day I had one go "tick" "tick" "tick" "bite" on a steady retrieve. I wasn't sure what had happened until a few weeks later when I WATCHED a fish do it. That tick tick was the fish running up, bumping the bait, then cutting to the side to WATCH HOW THE TROUT REACTED! That's INSANE! They would just bump it over and over again until they either destroyed it or swam off a little more educated than when they came. That was all fine and good until I was out there on a new moon, creeping my bait along and it went "tick" "tick" "tick" and then NOTHING. Those fish were so conditioned to the hudd that they could, under a NEW MOON, decide that it wasn't the real deal. That's when I threw in the towel and started to look toward new options.
For me its been big water and TONS OF TIME to get it done. I'm very blessed to have a bigger boat now that lets me get around easier than before. Although, with all that said I still can't get another teener to save my life... I just don't like to fish the way they want it. That style of fishing bores me so I chase 9-12 lbers with quicker retrieves to keep my attention.

Nico, I have no idea what you've done this year but I've seen years past. You're a teener catching machine and you deserve everyone's respect. You've got mine, as does Rob. There are a lot of people who stick big fish because of insights you guys gave us, or forum posts you made. (I'm sure you regret them all now that the bite is tough, but I thank you for the early inspiration and insight.)

Matt Allen

www.dobynsrods.com
www.dirtyjigstackle.com

  

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NicoThu Nov-12-09 11:53 AM
Member since Nov 03rd 2001
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#11485, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 4
Thu Nov-12-09 01:40 PM by Nico

  

          

Interesting thread, and nice to hear perspectives from other big bass die hards like Matt.

Where to begin? Times are definitely tough for big bass fishing, particularly swimbait fishing. This is the first year for me since 2000 with no swimbait fish over 10 lbs. Same story for Rob. (Although, admittedly it would've been easier without my team partner sending me text messages to stop fishing our swimbait water while I'm prefishing :)) Even before this year I've been catching far more big bass "regular" fishing with jigs, plastics, chatterbaits and what not than with swimbaits.

The odd thing that seems to be happening is that the tougher swimbait fishing gets, the less an angler's skill seems to matter. It sounds counter-intuitive, I know. In previous years if you were good at targeting big fish, it wasn't difficult to go to unfamiliar lakes and start catching big fish right away. It wasn't uncommon to be catching double digits from 4-5 different lakes each year. All you needed to know was which lake turned on at which time of the year.

Nowadays the only way to really be successful is to fish HARD, everyone already knows how to throw a swimbait. In the last couple years the people who are catching a lot of big swimbait fish are those that have one or two lakes they fish 50 days a year. That didn't happen for Rob or I this year. Same thing going on in SoCal it seems. Butch Brown is the man, but he also fishes a lot.

The HBC experiment is a sad victim of the decline of big bass fishing. Five years ago if you put 50 people on a big bass lake, the people in the know would have caught fish, everyone else would have caught nothing. This year, skill didn't matter; everyone caught nothing.

This being said, there's still fun fishing out there. Even without the swimbait giants, I had an enjoyable year, and am looking forward to the coming winter and spring. The yearly updating of the gallery is coming soon, and there are still a few months left to add a swimbait fish :)

  

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fr0gFri Nov-13-09 05:44 PM
Member since Nov 13th 2009
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#11486, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 5


          

I hope I am not one of the preteens that ruined that lake for you Matt. Since the place was such easy access for me, it was only fitting to fish it all the time.
}( I never told anyone about where I caught my fish. The other group of kids that go there do like to open their mouths though. Its a bummer, but oh well. I am new to this trophy bass fishing, but I can tell it has a lot of drama with it. I am trying my best to stay out of it and just fish.

  

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Slough CrewSat Nov-14-09 06:35 PM
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#11488, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 0
Sat Nov-14-09 06:49 PM by Slough Crew

          

I'm still around Rob, thanks for remembering me. I'm more of a lurker right now, I don't really have anything to talk about... I do almost check in daily though. Here is a rundown of my last few years.

I got into swimbait fishing just before the height of it. I got serious about it in November of 2005. It started with a couple trips in late October, I caugt a few fish with an 8lber being the biggest and had tons of followers. The day after thanksgiving I had an incredible day, 17 hudd fish in one day. It was an insane day and to this day i have seen nothing like it again. Bass were chasing trout everywhere, all I had to do was cast to the boil and fish on! The spring of 2006 I had some really good days. Caught several over 10lbs and even got my dad onto a couple of fish over 10lbs. As always with swimbait fishing it was hit and miss but it was usually more hit than miss.

2007 was a different year, got rid of the wife that would get mad if i wasn't home from my fishing trips by the time she got home from work. I am kind of ashamed to say it but in feb of 2006 I actually left a red hot bite because I didn't want to get in trouble because I wasn't home when she got home.... My dad couldn't believe it, I caught an 11lber on my last cast and said to my dad... "Time to go". He couldn't believe it. I puts lots of time on he water and put some good trips together. I did see bass gorging on trout a few times and could not get bit. I mean insanely gorging on trout. The bass would chase trout like a dorado would chase a flying fish and yet they wouldn't bite. I caught a couple over 10lbs but noticed that the fishing wasn't as good as the previous year.

2008 again, different from the previous two years. Fished some of the old haunts and some new ones. Could really tell that it was going to be a tough year. The saving grace for the year was the day that Don and I had. We caught 12 or 13 fish in one day, four of which were over 11lbs. We both had limits over 40lbs and our best 5 between us were over 53lbs, definitely a day I will never forget. Didn't catch many fish other than the fish from that day. Bought a house on a small private lake in May and got married again in August, this time to a wonderful woman who encourages me to do the things that I love to do.

2009, the slowest yet. December of 2008 started out pretty good, my first trip yielded a couple of good fish over 7lbs and broke one off over 10. Couple of other trips in December were ok with a couple decent fish. January was a pretty good month and what I thought was the start of a really good year. Some 5's and 6's, one over 8 and a day with two 10's in three casts. My next trip after the two 10's was in early February, I think I caught a 3 and 4 early that day and then the bite shut off. I think I went again the next day, it was cloudy and showers were in the forecast. I got to the lake and launched, as I was idling out I thought to myself, "it's going to get ugly today". I proceeded to fill up my livewells before I even got to the first spot.......got skunked and haven't caught a swimbait fish since. I made a bunch of trips through feb and into mar and never got bit again. I fished hard last year but just couldn't put anything together.

I think that everybody throwing the same baits has definitely slowed down the big fish bite. Like every technique there are peaks and valleys in how hey work. We appear to be in a valley right now for swimbaits and big fish. I think it will come back around, maybe there will even be an upward swing this year. A lot of the weekend warrior swimbait fisherman have put their swimbait stuff in the garage already. Another thing that may be having an effect on the fish is the drought we are currently in. Seems like the fishing took a turn for he worse when we had the first of several dry years. Hopefully we get some rain this year and fill up those lakes that really need water. Those big fish need to spread out so they don't see so many of the same baits.

Other than that I have been working a bunch, we eradicated over 390,000 marijuana plants this year in Fresno county so that kept me busy most of the summer. At home I have been working on my own little fishing experiment... Tagging fish and tracking their lengths and weights, but that's another story.

I'm going to hit the 2010 season hard just like I did in 2009, hopefully the results will be better!

Jake J

http://calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/jakej/

  

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swimbaitSun Nov-15-09 07:09 PM
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#11489, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 7


  

          

Marcus - welcome. Saw that photo of your 14 pounder, what a great looking Delta bass. You said you spent 200 days a year on striper. That's the kind of dedication the Delta takes to catch the biggest of any specie out there. The Delta is magical, and mysterious, and punishing and demoralizing. Sometimes in the same day.

Matt A - thanks for the post. I should go to one of your seminars sometime, I could use a freshening up with new ideas. I find myself fishing the same spots with the same lures, just stubbornly beating on the lakes waiting for something new to happen.

fro0g - Matt knows as well as any of us. If you go film big bass being caught you should expect the onslaught that follows. When fisherman watch fishing videos, they aren't watching the fish and the fisherman - they're watching the background. You can show me a photo of any trophy bass lake in Norcal and I will tell you the lake in 3 seconds. Go ahead quiz me :)

Jake J - Great to hear from you. Four 11's in one day is a magical day. That's the kind of day to make you just glad to be alive. Fundamentally that is what we are all after - the experience, the interaction with the fish, the million year old instinct to hunt things down and catch them and be successful at it.

Nico - You always say what I'm trying to say with half the words :) A great summation.

Writing this post did get me motivated to go out and hunt for big bass on Friday for my day off. I fished hard, like I haven't fished in a while. One bite all day. It was a 9. It hit my triple trout and boiled and missed. I never set the hook, just waited for the pressure that never came. Irony?

Please keep the great responses coming.


  

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UrbanSun Nov-15-09 09:53 PM
Member since Sep 22nd 2004
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#11490, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 8


          

Heres my take. The fishing hasnt gotten more difficult, its just that changes needed to be made. When I committed to swimbaits, I chose one lake as my classroom. Once I figured out what I was doing, I started applying that knowledge to other lakes. My classroom admittedly was somewhat easy in the beginning, its dead now and thats a shame. I dont even fish there anymore. It truly was a great place.

Ive caught more swimbait fish and had more fun in the last three years than in the previous years. However, my go to baits have changed, and the way I fish has changed. This was a necessity, it was clear to me that something had changed and what used to work was not working anymore. Although Ive caught more fish up to 9+ in the last few years, the number of DD's Ive tangled with has decreased. However, I dont seem to lose fish anymore, chalk one up to experience. As a result the number of DD's Ive caught has remained the same through the years. Ive never been one to post high numbers of DD's for various reasons, the biggest being work obligations limiting time on the water. Ive struggled to find a way to spend as much time on the water that I want to, and recently Ive done a 180 with my life to try and find a way to fish at the level I want and still make the kind of money I want. Its a balancing act and I have nothing but admiration for those that have figured out how to do it. For those that have a family, I dont know how you do it. And for those that have young children, I really dont know how you do it.

To be truly consistent catching DD's, IMHO, one has to focus on one or two proven lakes. For the past two years I chose to travel, to fish as many trophy lakes as I could to gain experience. I did this solo. I did gain that experience, I caught plenty of good quality fish, but I caught few DD's doing it. I spread myself too thin during peak times. However, Im glad I made the sacrifice now because I learned those lakes, I found the type structures that work for me, and in the long run I feel it will come back to me in the form of more DD's. Unless somebody takes your hand and tells you how to poke big fish at a new lake, figuring out a new lake takes time and time is the enemy.

Way I see it is this. Swimbaiting is a dynamic venture thats in a constant state of change. To be consistent requires the ability to adapt and make adjustments, otherwise you are left in the so called dust. I changed what I was doing, and as a result Ive caught many more swimbait fish on many more lakes, Ive had a heck of alot more fun, and my sense of personal satisfaction has increased. Nowadays, my objectives for any given day are more to have fun and catch quality fish. There are still times when I know the timing is right and my objective is to catch a DD, but the number of those days are less than they used to be. However, everything is cyclical, and Im certain sooner or later my focus will once again return to toads. In the meantime I have no problem catching 9 pounders on new baits and doing different things.

And PS: If Nico isnt poking a bunch of toads then we are all in trouble. I dont know him very well if at all, but as best as I can tell hes probably the best in NorCal. I have nothing but respect for him, and every time Ive met him he has been very cordial. Thats saying alot given the current state of the swimbait world.

  

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NicoMon Nov-16-09 02:59 PM
Member since Nov 03rd 2001
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#11491, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 9


  

          

First off, if you've figured out how to consistently catch 5-9 lbers in the reservoirs, you're waaaaaay ahead of me, and anyone else I know. Rob and I would kill for that class fish in tournaments. Don't think I haven't noticed all this Rising Son talk. I'm still wondering if that only works on the delta and CL, but anyway...

While I fully agree with your assessment of our lakes today, the strategies you've described are themselves a product of much more difficult fishing. The difference between now and 5-10 years ago is that back then the very best way to catch high numbers of double digit bass was to fish lots of different lakes with various techniques. In other words the way you're fishing now. You didn't have to choose between two paths.

I miss the variety that type of fishing used to provide, but tournament fishing has added some diversity and plenty of challenge for me in the meantime. Fishing the mother lode region gives a very strong incentive to keep fine tuning my swimbait presentation. I've never really understood the recent obsession in the industry with hard swimbaits and haven't caught much with them (other than wakebaits of course). Maybe this winter I'll try to figure that one out.

I also very much believe lake conditions have some part to play in the weird fishing. Last winter the swimbait fishing started out not half bad, then the DFG stocked 100000000 pounds of trout, and strangely enough the bass didn't seem hungry anymore. It didn't help that the lakes didn't have any water, so all those trout were concentrated. It was like the mother lode lakes turned into bay area lakes. If we get some rain and a few fewer trout, things could pick up again. Also, it'd be nice if they opened coyote up to boats again so I could crack some big february flip fish. Last year sucked in that department :(

Also, Jake: 17 hudd fish in one day? Holy ****. Aside from a few wild nights of 25+ slammer fish, none larger than 2 pounds, I'm not sure I've ever caught more than 10 swimbait fish in one day.

  

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magmasterTue Nov-17-09 10:48 AM
Member since Oct 14th 2004
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#11492, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 10


  

          

I have been lacking in the swimbait department this year. I have had a few good days both at Clear Lake and down south. I did spend a lot of time the past years working on developing new rods for work which required me to fish a lot of different baits. It did make me learn a lot more about the baits and when the best time to use them is.

Down here the swimbait thing is still popular but it is a lot tougher to get bit. You get a lot more bumps and follows compared to a few years ago. I have tried several different techniques/modifications to get bit. I have also played with rigging to possibly achieve a better hook up ratio. I have started thinking about using the older baits that I have not thrown for a while like Osprey and Rago. Maybe the fish have not seen them as much? Like Nico, I seem to do better with the soft baits and hard surface baits. I have yet to catch any fish on a Triple Trout for example.

I never really have thought of myself as a true trophy hunter or swimbait specialist. I am nowhere near the caliber of angler like Cameron Smith and Matt Peters. I am also not as good with the big bait-big fish deal like Nico, Rob and Matt Allen. You guys are all studs. I'm just glad I know many of you and you have been very helpful sharing some information with me.

I focused this year more on being well rounded with several techniques to catch what I need. I have caught more 5-9 pound fish year than any other years which makes me happy. I missed a DD fish by one ounce (Matt A and I both had this happen this year lol) and lost a few that were well over 10. Eventually the moon and stars will line up right, and maybe I will get one or two this year. All I can do is get out there and make a million casts until I get bit :-)

  

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crotalusTue Nov-17-09 03:04 PM
Member since Nov 17th 2009
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#11493, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 11


          

Its been so long since I've posted here, I had to create a new account because I couldn't remember my old one. To me it seems that the small lakes we have associated big bass and swimbaits with are passing their prime. At least in my situation. I live in Santa Rosa so you can guess where I'm talking about. The lake was drained, scraped clean, and refilled in the 80's with clean water, florida bass, and trout. Those first few generations of florida bass had little competition, clean water, and a trout rich diet. Needless to say, those bass grew and grew, and in the mid to late 90's there were giants. Today there are still bass, a few big ones here and there, but nothing like it was. The lake is scumbo garbage dirty, and stagnant. No more trout are planted, and people have raped the lake of panfish. When I was a kid, (mid 90's) you could catch bluegill till you were blue in the face, just thousands of them, everywhere!! After years of people filling 5 gallon buckets full of them, they are nearly non-existent. Back in 05-06 I caught a few toads at night on the big top water. Not much, action there the last few years. The lake is so small and overfished, over polluted, I don't bother much anymore, however, this thread is getting me re-motivated to make it happen. Those old big bass from the 90's likely have died off, and there isn't much happening to keep the existing fishery healthy. I would love for DFG to drain the lake and start it all over. I'm a big aquarium guru, and I know how important clean healthy water is for growing fish. With the lack of rain, our lakes aren't getting water changes. As the lake levels drop, dirty water becomes more and more concentrated, which is bad. I think the larger lakes are going to be the places producing most big fish in the future, and even then I don't think the bass in those larger reservoirs will attain true giant status (15lb+). The thing about those small lakes is the density of stocked trout per acre and florida strainers. Plentiful, high nutrition forage, with genetically superior bass. I too have been wondering how Paul Duclos fell off the face of the planet? Still fishing???

  

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crotalusTue Nov-17-09 03:06 PM
Member since Nov 17th 2009
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#11494, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 12


          

whoops, sorry, forgot to make paragraphs.... Didn't realize I was rambling so long.

  

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magmasterTue Nov-17-09 03:24 PM
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#11495, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 13


  

          

I spoke to Paul a couple of years ago. Super nice guy and he is still fishing. He seems to be fishing more saltwater than anything from the impression I got from him. Anyways he is still out there fishing but I think he is just keeping it quiet.

  

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swimbaitWed Nov-18-09 04:59 PM
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#11496, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 12


  

          

Thanks for the Santa Rosa update. That lake was a special lake. I only had the pleasure of fishing there 3 times. What a healthy place. What a drag they stopped stocking trout :(

I'm right there with you on the assessment of bad water quality. I believe San Pablo and Don Pedro suffering from the same issue. On those lakes you'll see these things on the trees at low water that look like great gobs of snot. We call them alien pustules.

When I see those things growing on trees it seems to go with bad water conditions and bad fishing. Don't know if you have seen them up there. We need rain, and badly. Even with rain I don't think some of these lakes will cycle back for many many years.

I have heard that down in So-Cal there's 100 guys on Saturdays fishing DVL with punkers from shore. Swimbait fishing isn't all dead in this state. I don't know much on Casitas being it's in quagmire mussel near lock-down. The lower lake has a special place in my heart. Wish I lived closer. That's one place that has maintained through a lot of years. There are many good fisherman on those lakes.

San Diego in spring would be great too. You hear how tough it is, but people do catch fish. Nor-cal ain't much different on the small lakes now from a toughness standpoint. I feel like I can say that because I've been to Poway, Dixon, San V, Otay, Mirimar, etc. Those are hard lakes, but the fish are there. I was astounded by the number of bass per acre in Poway and San V. The densities are way higher than up here, which creates competition, which makes even smart fish more catchable.

Lots to think about.

  

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crotalusWed Nov-18-09 11:46 PM
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#11498, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 15


          

I went out in the rain yesterday just before dark with my new baitsmith magnum in blue menace and felt pretty good. I was chucking away from shore, I pulled my bait out of the water to remove a blob of hair algae and down in the dark water I see a white spot move in and then back out into deeper water. Yes, a follower! I have to assume the white spot was scaring on a bass and that's all I could see. Maybe their is hope. btw, the new blue menace color on the baitsmith is sweet. Finally someone made a swimbait that looks like a hatchery trout. Dull blue back with no pink.

  

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bassindon69Fri Nov-20-09 03:53 PM
Member since Jan 29th 2006
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#11503, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 16


          

I don't know why it is what it is now. I have not been out.
I do know that I will never forget the many days of big limits. I didn't get that real big one, well... she got off. I just had two the same at 13.4 lbs. Two other 13's were boated also (my son and Tony. Many 40+ lb limits
I remember when I had my best day by my self and called Jake Jensen up on the cell to tell him "I was shooting for his 17 fish record". At the end of the day I tied him for 17 fish. I had over a 7 lb ave (wrote them all down) that day my best five went at 53 lbs even. UNREAL! But I have to say.. the day with my friend Jake was the most Awesome day ever. I just don't think limits over 40 lbs come from the front and back of a boat very much LOL!! Will never forget those days and the ones when I took my son or Tony.
I fished (bass only) for 25 years. Almost always night fishing. I really knew nobody. Just a few night guys that fished the night tourneys. I didn't like day fishing really.
It was the day Rob and CV brought 37 lbs to the scales to win a Nor-cal open,(we got 5th). That's when I asked only one question of Rob. " What is the best low cost rig to toss swimbaits?" Rob said.. Okuma GS and Cardiff 400.
The rest I did my self. I always liked to learn things my self. I got more out of it that way. Nothing worse then showing off someone else's trophy sort of speak. I loved fishing so...
When I got to where I wanted to share that's when the ugly showed it's face. To some catching a big fish was like a crack head needing a fix even to those that had caught them already.
Because of the knifes in my back from others even friends, it turned it all bitter. I HATE crack heads! So I am selling it all, I don't even want to look at my boat any more.
There were a few nice guys in it. Jake you stand above them all. You were the only one I could truly trust.
I did many things in my life but there were two things that I loved doing, Fish and Surf, I had not surfed in 25 years because of all the time spent bass fishing. I am surfing again. No crack head big fish guy can take that away. The crack heads know who they are. Don't you.

I wish it did not go this way, but it did. I have found just as much rush when surfing as fishing. I may do some surf fishing now and then(maybe).
It was all so Unreal with the fish caught. But some of the people were also unreal. I guess I learned the hard way. They have taken my love and made it bitter. Thank God for waves.... They keep coming HAHA! Want to know where I surf LOL!
Thanks for everything, it was swell but the swelling has gone down now.
I just wish all this stuff and my boat would sell. I hate it sitting in the garage. You wont see another post from me again when my stuff sells. Till then you will get sick of hearing me trying to sell it LMAO!
I wish you all but a few the best of luck!
If I sound bitter, well, I am.

Don.

PS Nothing like being betrayed :(

http://calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/bassindon69/basspics/

Nothing like fishing!

  

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Terra FermaFri Nov-20-09 09:49 PM
Member since Mar 03rd 2009
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#11505, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 17


          

A very timely post...

I got into big bass fishing at Casitas from 94-98. Back then quality fish were had on crawdads (can't do that anymore) and slow fished plastics. Watched swimbaits blow up but never tried them at the time. I did, however, pick up some old AC's, TNT's and one of the first Castaic trouts..which I lost during a move! Moved away in '98 and have only fished it a few times since. Did O.K. considering the time I put in, but no lunkers.

In 2006/2007 (I no longer have a boat at this point and fish from shore) I started fishing Huds at San Pablo and had a fantastic spring...a very good number of 5-12lb fish. It seemed almost too easy. Got a few 10lb + fish on plastics too boot. In 2007/2008 hit it hard after lake opening expecting similar results and basically got blanked in 12 or so outings and gave up fishing big baits for the year. I also fish small plastics for...well...smaller bass. And 2007/2008 proved a very tough year for that too. In spring 2008/2009 I went out 8 or 9 times: the 1st trip on a rainy morning got a 5 and an 8 on a Slammer. And that was it for the year. Did a few finesse trips in the summer with very poor results. I plan to hit it again seriously this spring but it doesn't look good. The lake is still low, the water still muddy, and most fish I've caught since 2006 have red sores on them. I keep marine aquariums, and in aquariums a fish with a big red sore usually expires if not treated with antibiotics.

Have also tried Lafayette, Chabot and Vaqueros with pretty sorry results. Vaqueros looked and was fishy when the water was up, but the water has been low for some time and the reports for bass are dismal. Which I don't understand as it is a young and clean lake. Perhaps the stripers are eating everything.

I'm sure there are decent lakes within 2 hours of where I live, but it takes time to find out how to produce from shore on new lakes, and I don't have that time. So most of my fishing is now down from Baja and out of San Diego on long range trips.

As a Socal native I can honestly say that fishing up here sux...no more Salmon, Rockfishing is terrible, bass fishing in my immediate area is awful...even the halibut and striper fishing has been off for the last few years.

San Pablo went downhill quickly because of of water quality...the rest of it, I think, due to poor fisheries management. In particular I think salmon has gone downhill because of the stipers, but that is another thread...

  

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dockboyMon Dec-28-09 12:15 AM
Member since Jun 09th 2005
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#11545, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 18


  

          

Wow. Lots of great posts here. Good memories too. Its been forever since Ive posted here,or even checked up on the board. I remember when I first started out around 2005...damn that was long time ago. Someone mentioned about how so many learned from tips and tricks on this board. I can attest to that. Rob, Nico, Henry Long, both the Dons....I learned SO MUCH about fishing the big baits from you guys when I was starting up.
Im no longer living in SoCal most the year. I moved up to Santa Cruz for school last year, and sadly my fishing rates plummeted. Hopefully with a car in the near future, I can explore some the local bassin.

This is my two cents on it all:

There are still big fish to be caught on the swimbaits, as mentioned. But its not everyone whos doing it anymore. Its Butch, or Matt Allen, or Mike Long, or the guys under the radar my age who are fishing each lake 50 days a year. They are there when the bite goes off, and they learn how to fool those fish. It certainly wasn't that way when it started.
The private club lake I fish at in SoCal, the Fin and Feather, is an example I use a lot. Its a place with a lot going for it. Lots of trout, big fish, lower fishing pressure, and its closed to fishing 4 months of the year. I remember buying my first Castaic trout. It was a 4", one of the type you buy at Walmart. The first bite I ever had on a swimbait was a stupid fish. I was shore fishing on a dock, where I had hooked a few decent fish before. I saw good fish harassing the trout up on top, so I tied on the Castaic and threw out as far as possible. By my fifth wind, I was losing interest and let my bait slow down and flutter. Not having paid attention, I didnt notice the 8lber following my bait. It ATE that bait. There's not a 4" trout in the world that slows down and sinks when chased by a big bass, yet this fish demolished my bait, only 5 feet from me on the dock. Of course I was fishing a 7' MH outfit with 12lb, and couldn't set the hook if I wanted to.
But it was STUPID fishing. A guy I know, Rob, was a big bass guy and a friend of Butch. He fished the Hudd hard when it first hit the market. I remember the opening day of the season at the Fin in 2006, and listening to Rob tell me how he had 2 over 8 and a 10 in about 5 hours of fishing. It was the same at Castaic and DV, and even Puddingstone and the LA area park lakes. Guys were catching fish left and right on the Hudd and the BBZ, and all the big baits.
In 2007 my buddy Corey D. got a 17 bed fishing at the Fin. It was the real heyday there. I saw tons of big fish being caught.
Now, I look back and its different. its been at least a year and half since I heard of a giant from Butch. Any of the big guys down in SoCal really. It hit me the last two years I think. This year I saw lots of guys fishing the big baits at the Fin, same with last year. Lots of dudes out there with crankbait outfits and spin rods throwing the BBZ and Hudd. Same at Castaic, guys on the shore hucking the Hudd all day long with a surf rod. You dont get a lot of the suicidal fish charging the bait and engulfing it nowadays it seems. More followers than I ever remember, even from 5lb fish. Even on the Fin, the fish don't eat the bait like they would 3 years ago, with perhaps the exception of the first month or two when nobody is throwing the big baits and they've had a few months off. Same at the Lagoon and Castaic and DVL.
But I've noticed something too. Its like the drop shot. EVERYBODY dropshots a 4" Robo. I moved back to leeches two years ago, and caught lots of nice fish where dudes fish the Robo had just burned through. I've caught a lot more jig fish too. In 2008, I had a 3lb or better average fishing jigs when everybody was fishing the big baits and getting nothing. A friend and I won a tourney in March, prime swimmie time, with 1/4oz. fineese jigs. It took 14lbs to win, with 4 fish. The two years before had both required about 17 or 18lbs to do so, and the big bait guys had won the two previous March tournies. And when I did catch fish on the swimbait this year, it was on stuff like the Mission Fish. I did well on the 4-7lb fish this year and last fishing a Mission Fish in the tulles. I don't think those fish had seen something like it in years.
Im saddened a bit too see that some of the relatively close lakes to me now, like San Pablo and all, have gone downhill. But I know the fish are still there. Just like the teeners of Butch in the Lagoon. It just takes a lot more time and effort, and dedication to fishing than it used to be, because even the 4 and 5 lb fish today won't hit the big baits like they did 2-3 years ago
Now I've been fishing the boats out of SD more than anything, and up here in SC when Im at school. With a lot of local coastal fishing gone with the MLPAs, I suppose Ill have more time to focus on bass. Hopefully, that will translate into more time hunting the big girls.

Bass + Fisherman= BAASS ADDICTT!!!

  

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swimbait 24-7Tue Dec-29-09 12:21 AM
Member since May 14th 2009
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#11546, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 19


          

DOCKBOY things have been great this year. Top 10 year for me 64 over 10lb,18.4 aug 1 2009 with robert in the boat 19.8 oct 30 2009 with many fish between 12 and 16 lbs. all on vidio all on the HUDD no crying the (Blues) here! just giving you A heads up on my end.No more vids on the websites. I have A swimbait vidio i'm working on with only teener maybe 20 to 30 or maybe 40 of them being landed cast and catch live only (no staged fish). I have more than I need for the vidio right now. It time to get off my butt! an start doing it! SWIMBAIT 24/7 this year 2010.Only a few need to no when the bite is on I put to much time on the water to give my homework away. But the bass are still in all of the lakes there only a little smarter.
BUTCH BROWN

  

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swimbaitTue Dec-29-09 02:32 PM
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#11547, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 20


  

          

Hey Butch - welcome. That lake you fish down there is amazing. What a special place. I was amazed when we went there in July a few years ago how many bass are in there. The combination of numbers and size is incredible. Nor-cal doesn't have that kind of thing. Clear lake has numbers like that but not the top end. Wish I lived closer!

Can't wait to see your video.

  

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swimbait 24-7Tue Dec-29-09 05:41 PM
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#11548, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 21


          

Update just got back from the lake it's around 5:10 stuck number 65 13.11 pounds lost three others. Live on video and named Calfishing and Dockboy on camera after landing my fish. So no bull as to when it was caught. I'm still pumped up, two more days to go before the first. I'll be on the water hudd chucking!lifeguard Alex took great photos for me. "I'm still pumped" 12-29-09 :7 Im glad I live here.

  

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dockboyTue Dec-29-09 11:26 PM
Member since Jun 09th 2005
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#11549, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 22


  

          

Hey Butch! Glad to see you on the board, and congrats on the fish! Im glad you had an awesome year out there. Like I said, I havent been fishing a ton this year, and if anything, its my bad for not keeping up with the news. Good job on the teener today!:-)

Bass + Fisherman= BAASS ADDICTT!!!

  

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NicoWed Dec-30-09 02:09 PM
Member since Nov 03rd 2001
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#11551, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 22


  

          

Too funny. I have nothing but respect for anyone who is still railing pressured swimbait fish like that. Can't wait for the video :)

By the way, I hope those three lost fish weren't on the new 8 inch weedless bait?

  

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CA Swimb8erThu Dec-31-09 03:17 AM
Member since Jun 11th 2008
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#11552, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 24


          

Butch you're amazing man! Lots of hard work, putting your time in; and not giving up really does pay off. I met you once at the BASS-A-THON; you're a stand up guy. Some big fish guys get big headed, but you're not; and you've caught more big fish than most of them. To me, that says a lot. Keep it up and congrats on a great year; I know you've worked hard for them. I look forward to seeing your vid; the sooner the better. LOL


Also, as far as this post goes, I think (know) that a lot of big fish are still being caught; guys just don't report them like they used to. I know guys that don't report fish unless it's a lake or world record. I'm being very serious! Guys don't want extra pressure on lakes; and reporting big fish does that. The big fish are still there, the really good guys that put their time in still catch them; you just don't hear about them because those guys are that serious about what they do. Just my opinion.


Arden C. Hanline Jr.

FIVE POUNDERS ARE SMALL :)!

  

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basshunter4uSat Jan-02-10 10:58 PM
Member since Aug 28th 2002
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#11557, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 25
Sat Jan-02-10 10:59 PM by basshunter4u

          

I have some thoughts about the Trophy fishing up here in Nor Cal. I hear what Rob was saying about 2005. That was by far my best year with 29 over 10 and my first 2 over 15 on the toughest lake here in the Bay area. You all know which one. I can tell ya, me and a buddy of mine went out just before a storm and hit it with the Hudds like no other day. We caught 15 hudd fish in 45 minutes and at one point got back to back to back double hook ups on the hudd. We could have caught more but we took photos. We had over 90 lbs total that day This made it perfectly clear on Matt Newmans 24 or so in a row. That made me a believer for sure.

2005 I bought my first bass boat from Paul Duclose and he towed it down and backed it in the back yard for me. I noticed you guys talking about him and I will say that he and Shelly are doing well and bass fishing alot more than on thinks. They are just keeping a low profile these days. A bad year for Paul is a good year for many. we talk avery month or so to keep up on the giant sightings and catches. He has taught me all I know and is my mentor. In the HBC 1 U_Tube video Dave Roberson ( RIP Brother ) said it best. Life Altering. To say the least. This swimbait thing has cost me plenty. It cost me my first marriage I was so hooked. Thats all I could think about. I would run home after work, get to moms and not even stop in and say hello and run down to my spot. Talk about addiction.

2006 was a slow down year only 14 DDs but then again my son was getting older and wanting to go to the pond and catch the (( EASY BASS )) So we went there a lot and I didnt get too much time at the home lake. Ken Huddleston talked me into getting an on line store going and 3 months later swimbaitcity was up and running. Successful on line it started taking up more fishing time and I started to loose the passion that I had that got me going in the first place. Started fishing more tournys with a buddy in his Ranger and got tired of him dictating HIS Boat his way so I started saving up for my own tournament boat.

2007 I concentrated on the super giants. I didnt throw baits smaller than 9 inches, mainly focusing on teener fish. I was rewarded with my PB at 17.5 from the bank again but I couldnt stop going down there. It was so convenient and Moms cooking was a bonus getting home from the lake. But 07 was even slower for the trophys down to 9 and I blame that because I bought my boat. I started fishing in that and had to learn all over. Being a bank pounder for 8 years before fishing from the boat was a 180 degree change. Started fishing for numbers more with My son and teamed up with Merle Nunes and a month later won my first delta tournament with almost 38 lbs. Not a swimbait fish caught. Believe it or not Speed traps and the luckycraft bds 3 was the crank baits we used. September that same yeat I got a call from Ken huddleston saying I needed to put up or shut up and sign up for his new tournament trail HBC.

In 2008 and the HBC win I never imagined going to So cal to a lake I had never caught a fish on and win that event on the first cast. It happened so fast my camera man didnt even have the lense cap off the camera and that fish was in the boat. He called Cervanca at the blast off and they were launching boat 23 and I had that fish in the live well already. Now thats crazy.

2009 was by far my toughest trying to get that 18 lbr. 22 trips in a row with nothing to show for it. Not a follow or a short bite. i finally ad to start to get to know pedro for the HBC. I started going up there a lot with limited success. then I went with Rmarx and finally got a descent fish. I proceded to only land 2 DDs in O9 and I think I am just going to call it the worst year of my adult life.

My theory's and thoughts of our Nor Cal lakes. More people are throwing swimbaits and that has made it tougher. The Lakes need more cover to help the populations of all species. I see meat hunters throwing big baits killing giants for food. Younger uneducated guys are taking wall mounts of the trophys that they catch on big baits. Our water woes on all the lakes have not helped the fish any either. Like Butch said the fish are still there they are just smarter. His numbers tell the truth. In this next year to come the hard core big bait guys will be successful and the others with limited success. You have to be 100% trophy or your numbers will decline I am a perfect example because it happened to me ever since I bought my ranger. I now just take all the rods out and only have the big sticks in it. Thanks Rob for a great thread. Nico keep it up in 2010 and you other younger guys remember if you get on a bite and run your mouth you will loose it. Take a picture and post it on the Internet you loose it too. Fish under the radar as hard as it is and dont let your ego get the best of you. Fish hard fish often find your own bite and tell no one

Donald C. Osborne

  

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flipitTue Feb-02-10 04:46 PM
Member since Feb 02nd 2010
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#11611, "RE: The state of the trophy bass union"
In response to Reply # 26
Tue Feb-02-10 04:47 PM by flipit

          

Hi Rob,

I cant say Ive ever been a trophy hunter exclusively since Im a tourney guy. However since I fish with CV from time to time I do chase em. It was a day CV and I had on a lake many years ago that about ruined me. Way too many big fish in too short of a time, and too easily. Im back after a long break from the tourney scene. I have to say that things have really changed. This past summer was a tough time to come back as the fishing seemed to be off a bit. Lakes were low and choked full of weeds, and everything looked so different. I had a few great days, but they did not happen with a swimmer.

The other thing is there are sooooo many swimbaits now that its a bit overwhelming. I know how you feel about McClure, but ya can easily start getting those 2lber's instead. I can help ya there.

Im throwing the hudd alot while prefishing, but so far no go. Just thinking that the time is upon us for that to come to go off.

Its been sooo long since I been on this site I had to re-register.

Sean

  

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