Spring 2022
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deviate,” he stated. It’s available in 1/8 and 1/6-ounce sizes.
“Color doesn’t really make a difference,” he shared. “I use bluegill or blue shad or grey ghost or chartreuse ghost. When I’m using it in a team tournament, my partner and I will generally use different colors.”
He prefers to throw it on Seth Feider’s signature series Tatula Elite AGS spinning rod, a 7’6” medium-light stick that allows for long casts without overpowering the fish.
“You want to lean into the fish,” he implored. “Never set the hook.”
He pairs it with a Daiwa Tatula LT 3000-sized spinning reel. “Line size is everything,” he added. “If you go too heavy, it won’t float down.”
His best strategy for casting distance, natural action and fish fighting power has turned out to be a combination of braided line with a fluorocarbon topshot. His
typical setup pairs a main line of 20-pound-test Daiwa J-Braid with approximately 30-feet of 7-pound-test Daiwa Samurai.
So, will Ish adopt the ways of other western greats on the national tours like Brent Ehrler and the late Aaron Martens and make finesse an integral part of his game year-round? Don’t count on it.
The outspoken angler says he’ll use this technique “only in the wintertime,” with the implication that it’s a last resort – but it’s a last resort that has opened his eyes and padded his bank account.
He’s yet to land a bass over 4 1/2-pounds on it in a tournament, while his partner has hit the 6-pound mark in competition. But those are the fish that get paid when things are tough, and he’s more than happy to keep cashing checks when things are tough. •
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