Spring 2025
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Once we have acquired the knowledge, studied, and have a true trophy hunter mentality, we can then begin the hunt.
TROPHY HUNTER DEMEANOR
Stealth, intention, and patience with every single move. The largest bass have different behavioral patterns and mannerisms. This is why they have grown to become the majestic creatures they are. They are wary, finicky, and not prone to making mistakes (like eating artificial lures). This is what leads us to our approach and why it is such an integral factor to the equation.
Being quiet and sneaking/stalking an area increases our chances substantially. I have said for years “you’d be surprised at how much time I spend with my lure out of the water.”
This is because the setup is equally important. It only takes one good cast at the right time, location, and angle. Be sure to have it lined up and thought it out before launching your bait.
The last thing we as anglers want to do is have everything lined up for our time of glory and offer a sub- par presentation, fished on inadequate gear. We must remember the goal here and focus on every minor detail.
Choosing a convincing lure, fishing it on the proper line, with the right rod and reel combination is of the utmost importance. Having a flaw or two at this point in the process is setting ourselves up for heartbreak. Be thorough and understand your intentions. Prepare, practice, and set yourself up for success.
FISHING THE DETAILS
Once we have this strong understanding and discipline in place, we can then begin our adventure.
Giant bass have been landed on a variety of presentations. The key factor among all is whatever they were caught on is something they wanted to eat or were convinced was real, with a few exceptions. I believe in using realistic patterns from 2.5-inch dropshots to 12-inch swimbaits. And action/movement is just as important.
Light line will increase the action of the bait and be less visible, increasing the odds. Be aware of the surroundings and fishing each bait accordingly. Try to fit into Mother Nature’s mood and convince the fish that your offerings are indeed supposed to be there.
After hours, days, months, and even years of chasing this dream, it can become hard to stay focused and confident. It is a passion and lifestyle that needs to be built from the foundation up. However, each day of not catching, should be considered a learning experience, another brick in the wall, not a failure.
All the pieces can come together if you practice, learn, and continue to improve. After all the stones are in place, you might, just maybe, find yourself making history. And finally getting to ride that majestic creature off into the sunset. •
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