spotted bass & the offshore
Lanier , Smith and Hartwell are known for their strong spotted bass / blueback herring connection . Unlocking their secrets has added to Cody Meyer ’ s reputation as one of fishing ’ s foremost authorities on spotted bass .
“ Spotted bass really live offshore the whole time ,” says Meyer , whose catch list of oversized California spots has buttressed his reputation . “ They can school 200 or 300 feet from structure , or just 50 feet . But when it comes to spots feeding on herring , the best schooling action is over structure , over those brushpiles and cane piles made from bamboo .”
Meyer hunts for prime structure in practice , making sure he can pinpoint their location come tournament time .
“ Your first cast over brushpiles is crucial ,” he says , stressing his reliance on his Garmin electronics . “ If a cast is too far from the piles , it ’ ll pull fish off the piles and they will scatter . It ’ ll take a while for them to regroup . With LiveScope , I know exactly where the pile is , and I can bring the bait directly over it . That ’ s a big deal . In summertime , bass really hunker down in the piles waiting for herring to pass over them . In the early morning or at night , they might school anywhere , but after that , the key is pretty much brush or cane piles .”
Surface lures sparkle when spotted bass and blueback herring converge .
“ On herring lakes , you can catch fish on topwater baits all day ,” Meyer says . “ Herring really gravitate to that high sun . On overcast summer days , it ’ s harder to catch them on top .”
He approaches spotted bass differently on lakes without bluebacks , singling out Oroville and Shasta in California .
“ Those fish tend not to get on structure as much ,” Meyer says . “ You may find a point or an offshore island a good place to start , but spotted bass on these lakes are more nomadic .” His favorite topwater lures are the Evergreen Shower Blows ( SB ) 125 , a pencil popper-style bait , and the Evergreen Justine ( JT ), a stealthy rattle-free walk-the-dog bait . A clearbodied version of the Evergreen One ’ s Bug is another favorite .
“ I always have a topwater on deck when I ’ m fishing a spotted bass lake , just in case they come up schooling ,” Meyer admits . “ Even if I ’ m drop-shotting brush piles .”
Cody Meyer relies heavily on topwater baits for schooling spotted bass .
Evergreen Justine
PHOTO BY KYLE WOOD
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 49