THe long line on
By Tyler Brinks
Story & Photo
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long-lining with Jeremy Starks
ong-Lining is the latest technique to come along in professional bass fishing. It was so unknown that many Elite Series anglers had not heard about it until the event on Douglas Lake was won by Jeremy Starks. When I asked several Elite Series about the technique, they said they had no idea about the technique before the event, some questioned the legality of it and others couldn’t wait to be able to try it for themselves. The technique is simple in concept, yet there is still much to learn about this new way to catch bass from the deep. In simple terms, the best way to describe this is to make a long cast with your crankbait and then use your trolling motor to let out as much line as possible before starting your retrieve.
In reality, the technique makes sense; more line out allows the bait to dive deeper and stay in the strike zone longer. It’s a simple physics lesson and when used properly, it will get crankbaits to unbelievable depths. By virtue of his win at Douglas Lake, West Virginia’s Starks has become the master of long- lining. He offered his help to break down the technique and help other anglers learn from his years of experience. Starks started by saying, “One thing I want to get out there right away is that long-lining is not “strolling’, the two terms get used together and it bothers me. Long-lining is legal and strolling is like trolling, you cannot legally move the bait with your trolling motor.” He continued by mentioning that it has taken him years to perfecting the technique on the deep lakes of W. Va and Tenn. A variety of deep crankbaits The technique has been around for years and was one of the best kept secrets in bass fishing. Jeremy added “I’d like to say I was the first to do it, but the guys in Texas have been doing it for years. Jason Quinn was doing it in the Bassmaster Classic in 2004, but nobody caught on to it because he didn’t win the event.” added Starks.
Brinks Photo by Tyler
THE APPROACH
This technique is not something that will work everywhere and it will not work every time. There are certain factors
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