HEAVY
HARDWARE
HAULERS
HOW ONE CALIFORNIA BIG-BASS HUNTER
GEARS UP FOR HEFTY SWIMBAITS
M
By Matt Williams
photoS by MiKe GiLbert
may-june 2017 I fLWfISHInG.com
ike Gilbert is a 35-year-old big-bass junkie from
Vista, Calif., with a serious hang-up on giant swim-
baits. The addiction has cost him more than a few
bucks spent on custom handmade lures and other specialty
gear over the last few years, but it has paid off handsomely
with some very large fish. In fact, Gilbert’s affinity for jumbo
lures has already rewarded him with more bragging-sized
bass than most anglers will catch in a lifetime. Among them
are nearly a half-dozen “teeners,” including a massive 17.4-
pounder that might be the largest bass ever documented
on video from cast to catch.
Gilbert caught the fish with a jumbo 11-inch Hinkle Lures
Glide Trout. In the video titled “Working Class Zero:
Seventeen,” which is available at Gilbert’s Working Class
Zero YouTube page (see more big-bass videos at working-
classzero.net), he takes full control of the enormous bass
from start to finish, more or less winching the powerful fish
straight to the boat and never giving it the opportunity to
turn its head until it makes a last-second surge.
What’s also clear in the video is the seemingly effortless
manner in which Gilbert lobs the 10-ounce lure out there
and lays it up near the dock.
None of this – his manhandling of the fish or his fluid
casting with a big 10-ounce bait – happens by mistake. It
stems from Gilbert’s experience and knowledge of equip-
ment for targeting big bass with big baits. According to
Gilbert, getting outfitted for throwing swimbaits is no differ-
ent than gearing up properly for other styles of fishing. It’s a
specialty tactic built around baits that demand specific gear
in order to achieve optimum results.
Gilbert knows what it takes and has some advice for folks
wanting to gear up for big-bait fishing.
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