“It’s all in the presentation,” he always says, regarding using spinnerbaits for bass. Well, last night Rob proved himself right because he had a great night. We left late and got to the lake around seven or so, and on his very first cast with a yellow spinnerbait (while I was still putting my gear down), Rob caught the first of his numerous bass (you can click on the pics below to see the full-sized images).
I started out using my ultralight with a white rooster tail to see if I could duplicate last week’s bluegill catch and while I was doing that, Rob caught three more in his next five casts. And so it went. He was on a roll last night, at least when it came to the big bass. I caught my share, but not a one over a pound, while Rob was catching the big ones, to include one which weighed in at almost three pounds.
Above: Rob’s lunker of the night.
There was no moon last night and the bass finally stopped biting some time after ten but we kept trying until close to twelve before we threw in the towel and headed home. Once more I’m convinced that in summer, the best time to go fishing is at night. It’s quiet and peaceful, there are no other fishermen to contend with, it’s a lot cooler and best of all, the bass are biting.
My only regret is not putting the “deep woods off” on earlier. I’ve got bug bites in the weirdest places. lol
I had a great time though, and if they hadn’t stopped biting I could have stayed out there all night.
Rob,
We’ll have to watch the moon cycle and try it again around the next full moon to see if they bite later and better. Agreed, last night was a blast and on top of it, I got some free lessons from the “master” himself
.
Agreed, last night was a blast and on top of it, I got some free lessons from the “master” himself.
Was Ron out there? lol
LOL. As you know, I just recently started using spinner baits (and yes, I am a believer) but my technique is sorely lacking. Just like the other time, I again lost a nice one close to the bank when it jumped and threw the lure. I’ll get it sooner or later (hopefully sooner!).
I guess only Gar catches the big ones
Ron would have a stinger full ,if Rob caught one fish
Nobody asked for your opinion sand shark man.
Hard to imagine you stayed awake all night without a Philippino girl with you.
Anyway Tbone says that you should have used a different color spinnerbait,
He is a PRO you know
Rob,
Is that a Zebco?
Nomad,
Rob’s right. presentation is key when using a spinner-bait. Cast it out and reel it in. – Kidding.
You may find you can prevent them from shaking the hook by holding the rod tip up as high as you can when the bass breaks the water. You’ll still lose some, but this helps. A trailer hook can help too.
Yes, that is a Zebco Rhino that I’ve had for nearly ten years.
Actually, there are lots of different ways to fish a spinnerbait besides simply throwing it out and reeling it in. I always switch it up.
In reference to them jumping off, try keeping the rod tip down low so that they stay in the water. It sure looks pretty when they break the surface and smile at you, but 99% of the time that’s when you’re giong to lose your fish. Maintain tension and keep them in the water.
The fish looks plastic or that it was added in with some software application. what paint pro??
Photoshop.
Thanks Rob was that a confession or are you just telling me the name of the application. AHAHAHAHAHA
I looked at all the pictures It appears its the same fish displayed over several hours
Reality,
That’s because to non-fishermen, all bass (maybe even all fish) look alike.
Hey Rob I saw a little girl with that same kind of reel,She liked it
And your reference to how to bring them in,You have been taking lessons from Tbone
YOU KNOW HE IS A BASS PRO.And he hangs around with other,BASS PROS. You should join his group if your just learning how to fish.They are all BASS PROS!
lol Reality!! I’ll never tell….
Joe, that reel has actually been a very good one, and the fish didn’t seem to mind. I can cast that thing a mile, and come to think of it, it’s 13 years old…not too bad for a $20 reel.
Rob,
Does the down technique really work for you? You’ll have to show me that next time we’re out. The last time I took the “hold it down” advice from Alan I almost lost an eye to a spinner bait. That said, take a look at the American Pros on ESPN next time you get a chance. My recollection is they almost always go high when a fish is coming up. I know Yeom-si does.
I’m not convinced holding the rod tip down will keep a bass from breaking the surface, but I won’t presume to tell anyone how to fish either. IMH experience, the bass is going where it wants to. Sometimes they head straight down or for cover, but most times they break the surface. I’ve found that holding the rod tip down will most often put the bait’s trajectory in line with my head when the bass shakes it.
Nomad, good pics by the way.
Rob, nice looking fish. May I join you guys sometime? (I can’t go this Friday – International Pro-Am)
I’ve found that holding the rod tip down will most often put the bait’s trajectory in line with my head when the bass shakes it.
LOL Gar.
Yes, holding the rod tip down works, for me anyway, and helps keep the fish in the water, where I want to keep them until I get ‘em near the bank or boat. It all depends on the depth I’m trying to fish, but I’ll set the hook with the rod tip up high, but will then take it back down, and will even put the tip all of the way into the water sometimes.
From my experience, if you hold the tip up high while you’re reeling them in all you’re doing is guiding them to the surface and inviting ‘em to jump out of the water and spit your bait back at you, but like you said, I’m nobody to be giving fishing advice. I fish to have fun and relax. Putting too much thought into it ruins both of those for me.
I’ve never researched it, but I would assume that the guys on TV are intentionally trying to bring them up to the surface so that they splash, make all kinds of noise, and jump up out of the water because it looks better, and is more exciting, for the audience.
Of course you’re more than welcome to fish with us. You know that bro. As of right now, I’m working this weekend and can’t go either.
Gar,
As far as holding the rod tip down, it didn’t work for me. On Saturday my friend Jim and I went out again to the same spot. On my fourth cast with a yellow spinnerbait, I hooked into a nice one. I did everything Rob suggested – make sure you set the hook good – check. Keep tension on the line – check. Keep the rod tip down – check. Yet when I got the fish to within 12 inches of the shore and I thought I had it, it jumped, threw the lure, and swam away.
The weather’s not looking to good for the remainder of this week but hopefully the forecast will change before Friday. We’re moving to another apartment complex later on in the week, and I’m off Friday through Tuesday. If we can get everything unpacked/situated and I get all the pictures hung up, then I’m hoping to get out somewhere.
Nomad, with the large hook on a spinnerbait sometimes they’re going to get off; that’s just how it is brother. Try a trailer hook like Gar suggested above. I put those on sometimes too.
Nomad,
Here’s a tip I learned a long time ago while cat-fishing that might try in that situation. If you’re bank fishing and have them up near the shore, keep the line tight and briskly walk backwards a few steps. Basically drag them to land. Be prepared for them flopping back in the water though…
If it makes you feel better, I lose more fish on spinner baits than any other lure I’ve fished. However, I catch more fish on spinner baits, so it all comes out in the wash. The spinner bait is the most verstaile lure ever invented. It’s virtually weedless and can be fished fast or slow, on top or deep… you can’t beat it.
I think keeping the rod tip up works for me because gravity is working in my favor. Like Rob, I really don’t think about except in a forum like this. I just know I’m gun shy after having a big bass fire my own lure back at me and it hitting me in the side of the head.
If I was going to stay here for an extended period, I’d definitely get a boat. Being restricted to the shore isn’t *too* bad during spring, but in summer when they start moving deep, not having a boat is a handicap, especially in the few lakes I fish. And yeah, I could go to Gosam and rent a boat but that lake’s never been kind to me.
You guys got me curious so I went over to ESPN’s BassInsider message board and searched on proper rod position and found the following:
Re: Proper rod position while fighting a large bass
tfyoung1 Posted: Jun 03, 2006 08:39 PM Quote
Posts: 183
If a twevle pound bass wants to jump, it will. The type of rod, line weight and hook set you used determined your fate. Keeping the rod at a 45 degree angle from the bass, rod tip toward the water and loaded with line tension is all you can do. A fiberglass rod and premium mono helps to keep treble hooks from vibration loose. Loosen the drag a little and use your thumb as a primary drag when the bass is near the boat to prevent tearing loose hooks from soft tissue. Keep telling your self to slow down and not rush a big bass to the boat. It takes years to hook a bass of a life time, there is no reason to hurry up and loose it.
Re: Proper rod position while fighting a large bass
jimcline547 Posted: Jun 03, 2006 06:48 PM Quote
I may be wrong but I agree with you. If I think a big fish is going to jump I lower the rod and keep the pressure on. I’ll even put the rod tip in the water if I have to. Sounds to me like just a bad break. Maybe the hooks are too small. JIM
And here’s a good article that says to do the same thing.
Really though, just do what works for you. If you don’t have any confidence in the bait you’re fishing with, or how you’re fishing it, you probably won’t do that well with it.
And Nomad, 12″ from the bank? If you’ve got ‘em that close, yank it out of there and get it on the shore man!!!
Rob,
Never had the chance, dude. You know how right at the bank it drops off? As soon as I got the fish to that part, it jumped and was gone. I really thought I had it…but hey, those are the breaks and there’s always a next time
.
I don’t know if you remember or not, but I lost at least one, maybe two, right at the bank the other night. It sucks!
Did you tell Gar about the fish in Ajoshi’s fish tank at the tackle shop up the road? LOL He’s got all the big ones in there. wtf???
Nope, I sure didn’t, because I was planning on going out there some late night and “liberating” that baby, so that someone could take a pic of me holding it
.
What do you think…at least 6 pounds or better? The owner said it was, what, 58 centimeters long? What a waste though…you know that bass is going to die in that tank.
Yes, she said 58 centimeters, but there were other nice ones in there as well.
I like your plan though…
I could be wearing “the hat”
.
Nomad,
If you’re not afraid of a little duct tape you should come with me next time (by the way, I’ve never had a leak in the boat – peeing aside…). The biggest difference in the quality of fishing I’ve found this year is I’m not limiting myself to only the Pyeongtaek/Osan area. Have truck will travel… There is some great fishing to be had within a two hour radius of here. Twice this year I took a chance and went exploring and both times I’ve hit pay dirt. Rob keeps talking about Chung-Ju, and I agree with him… Someone has to recon it and see what’s up. I just haven’t had time because I’ve found great fishing elsewhere and there are only so many Saturdays in a season… This year has been the best year of fishing for me so far in country and I’ve only been to the river twice, and Idong the same. The next trip to the afore-mentioned lake is going to be an overnighter. We’re already planning it… I imagine I’ll lose my mind trying those night fishing tactics there. You are, of course, always welcome to join us.
“The hat!”
I owned that thing for less than a week and it was gone, but it went for good reason, and to well-deserving friends.
Do you remember how I used to be with Senkos, or with worms in general for that matter? I hated the grind-it-out slow fishing that is known as worming, but after I caught a few I started to get into it. And it wasn’t until you, Gar, and even the Bass Master Ron, gave me a few pointers that I could actually hook a fish on one. I just didn’t have the patience for it, and still don’t sometimes.
I remember one day earlier this year, Gary and Ron advised me to slow it down, to not yank on it as soon as I felt the first nibble, but to let the fish run with it for a little while and then set the hook.
I’ve fished with a Senko every time out since that day, and I think that was back in early March. I love ‘em, and I have a feeling that you’re going to be the same way with spinnerbaits eventually.
I ordered some chatterbaits today, can’t wait to try those bad boys out.
And Gar, the next free weekend I have I’m going to Chung-ju, I promise.
Here’s a link that actually works for the Chatterbait. Doh!!
Rob and Nomad, I’ll share an observation with you. As you know, spinner baits are almost always good for me, no matter what the conditions or time of year. However, the last two times out I put them away after 10 minutes and went to cranks… i.e. deep-divers, medium divers, and rattle-traps. Deep water or shallow, the bass have been tearing them up. Saturday, in the wee hours of the morning I found bass on the rocks that dropped to 60′. Later they were found anywhere, particularly in open water. I believe this time of year they congregate out in the open or in the shallows looking for schools of baitfish. The rattling cranks must sound like a dinner bell. I know Idong has a huge population of big bass that school in the summer. Last year, John “the original” and I saw a school out there that must have held at least a 1000 big bass. I shit you not. I have never seen anything like it before or since. I wish like hell I could put my boat on that lake.
Bill tried spinner baits for a solid hour with no fish caught the last time out, while I was bringing them in left and right on a 12′ diver off the rocks. I switched over to a Kast-Master just to see if they’d hit that too. Yup. I had one on so big it straightened one of the treble hooks and got away. Then I went to a Rattlin’ Shad and they pounded it. I threw every crank bait I had in my tackle box just to confidence-test them… lures that had never caught fish or I’d never tried all worked. I ended up finishing with a brand-new 3″ silver and black Rattle-Trap, about a half ounce, and it’s now so chewed up you’d think I had been practice casting with it on a gravel bed. What a blast.
I went to Yeom’s last night and re-stocked on lures and got that broken rod tip repaired. Everything I bought has rattles in them. I’m getting ready for that night fishing with you guys.
Hey Rob ,I see great pics of all you guys catching Bass,
Hows the Bass pros doing?Alan Tbone and that group.
By the way, Mr. Yeom quit KSA and won’t be fishing the KB circuit either. He said he was only going to do fishing shows on T.V. I guess he’s fed up with KSA. (Shi-ro).
He did say he’d still like to hang out with us and do some partying though. Good people.
Rob,
I’ll get the hat back from Alan this weekend at Andong. You keep that night fishing thing up and I’m sure you’ll have it back in no time.
Gar,
LOL, I just got my order in from Bass Pro…nothing but Shad Raps, jointed minnows, jitterbugs, spinner baits and of course, some more white rooster tails for those bluegill. Some of the crankbaits are deep divers so I’ll wait with those until someone takes me out in a boat
. As shallow as Idong is in places, I don’t want to use a crankbait that goes down to 7-11′ only to hang it up on the rocks.
Yeah, night fishing…hopefully we can all get together soon and do that but when it does happen, DO bring that hat, just in case
.
Odie, Alan and T-bone fish?
Just kidding. But seriously, Alan and Pete are the only foreign Pros that I’m aware of, and maybe Walt from down south. T is just like me, a wannnabe!!!! lol
Gar, in addition to the hat, do yourself a favor and bring some freaking OFF!!! Even though Nomad let me borrow his, it was too late. I’ve got bites all over me!!!
Oh yeah, and don’t forget a flashlight, 5,000 Won for fishing Ajoshi just in case he comes around, Senkos if you like ‘em, cigarettes if you smoke, sandwiches for munching, and a stringer for the fish.
Those are all things that I’ve forgotten, or neglected to bring with me, while out fishing with the Nomad. lol
“Cigarettes if you smoke.” You’re starting to sound like Ron.
LOL.
Yep, that’s me: Nomad’s Bait and Tackle/Bank/Deli/Hardware.
And yet Rob caught all the nice fish. Where’s the justice
?
Gar, like Ron? Come on man. I didn’t deserve that. That’s hitting below the belt, and I’m declaring WAR on the Gar Meister!
Actually, reference the smokes, Nomad picked me up a couple of packs at Osan because they were out of MUL’s on Yongsan, so I wasn’t actually bumming per se, but I’m guilty as charged on all other counts.
Rob,
I was talking to T last night and he’s asking me “what are you bringing?” blah blah this, that, cigarettes… and I said, “oh shit, I better bring extra cigarettes for Ron because he always forgets to bring his own” lol.
Gar, I sent you an important email. Please check…
Thanks!