masterS series
HISTORY
I started using big , soft-bodied swimbaits in the late 1980s , when they were just starting to catch on in California . Guys were using them to agitate big female bass during the spawn .
It was amazing how the bass reacted to 12- and 15-inch lures that were invading their beds . Sometimes they ’ d attack the bait , and you ’ d catch them on it , but more often they ’ d just reveal themselves , so you could go back and catch them with something else later .
That particular technique was a closely guarded secret for a long time . Guys kept it hidden in their rod lockers , but it eventually got out when the spotlight of national tournaments was put on it .
In the early 2000s , I realized that smaller swimbaits could be just as effective on waters with smaller bass or in places where bass were targeting smaller baitfish . That realization opened up a lot of possibilities for me as an angler , and it eventually led to the explosion of swimbaits in the tackle industry .
Today , I regularly use swimbaits ranging from just 2 or 3 inches to over 12 inches in length , but I especially love the larger swimbaits — 5 inches and up . For me , there ’ s just nothing like a big swimbait bite . You just know it ’ s going to be a good fish . highlights
One of the first big wins I ever had was on Clear Lake in California , and my catch was anchored by a 9-pound bass that hit a 12-inch swimbait . Later , I won tour-level tournaments using big — though not as big — soft-bodied swimbaits on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia in 2010 and on Lake Guntersville in Alabama in 2015 . They ’ ve been an important part of my arsenal for a long time now , all across the country .
56 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2021