Featured Product:
Get Your Alabama Rig Here

BBZ:  20 years in 20 minutes

By Bill Siemantel creator of the BBZ-1 and Big Bass Expert

This Article was originally published in Bass Anglers Guide, but used with permission of Bill Siemantel

You would think that this would be a quantum leap in fishing. Can you honestly say that you can give someone 20 years of fishing knowledge in just one article? Most people would say no. I, on the other hand would say that I can save you 20 years of the trail and errors that I have ran into out on the water. And that in its self would stop most people in their tracks.

This is going to be one of those in your face type of articles that most fishermen do not want to hear. Why, because most of them are the same group of guys that are not willing to take it to the next level anyways. The sad thing is, “ IT'S NOT THAT HARD”. Yes, I just said that, catching bigger fish is not that big of deal. With the right information and a new way of looking at things the heavyweights are sure to follow, if you are willing to take that next step.

What has been happening for way to long is that the so-called bass pros have been preaching to you that the only way to start to catch bigger fish is to step up the size of your bait. You want to catch a big fish? up-size your spinner bait from a 3/8 oz to ¾ oz , stop playing with those ½ jig and start firing out those 1 ton football heads, you want a big crank bait fish, tie on that DD22, bla,bla,bla. If you really think that's the case, then why is it that the number of fish over 10 pounds rarely ever find themselves in your live well, heck, how about just having one on for a moment on the end of your line.

The great Rick Clunn a few years back said that he was going to target big fish in all the tournaments that he fished with big baits. I for one was thinking now this is going to be good, Rick is by far one of the greatest tournament fishermen that I have even had the pleasure meeting. But guess what, at the end of the year and ending his streak of Bassmaster Classic berths. I read an article that Rick wrote on how he went after those big bass and what he considered big baits. Long story short, Rick didn't get it either, and now he is back to his standard tournament tactics. Now don't get your panties in a bunch on that statement, “it is what it is”. Rick has proven himself as one of the Elite tournament anglers on catching limit style fish , but targeting bigger fish with big baits constantly in a tournament format is another issue. Can it be done? I think that answer is clear----------it already has.

So what's gone wrong with the general population of fishermen? no one wants to work for anything. They want you to make them a treasure map with an “X” marked on it, hand them a lure, and show them were to throw. Even on the tournament side, I have heard and seen some of the Pro's say this “ if I can't find any fish I will fish the fishermen ( because they are doing well in the tournament ), or if there is that many boats over there, it's gotta have fish” I on the other hand did the 20 years of trial and error with the big baits, not only in building them, but understanding how each one of them work in water and the reaction they had on the fish I was targeting. Finding fish on your own is one of the biggest hurdles you will run into, and using and understanding big baits will cut that search down in half. That my friends it what it is really all about.

So, the question to you is; have you really tried to understand what your lures do under the water? If you think that's a dumb question, then think of this. How many of you have sat down and picked up a tool (lure) and flat out knew what that thing does when it's in the water. Better yet, what that lure does when it comes into contact with any type of cover or structure?

Example, do you work your lure (say a jig) across the bottom, or are you creating the illusion of realism by making the bass think it accomplishing its goal by pushing that crawdad along the bottom. Then when it funnels it up against that rock, do you work on that illusion a little bit more by slack line popping your jig so the pork start to come up in the air so the bass thinks the crawdad is trying to defend itself? And finally when that bass crushes that crawdad, do you understand that you did not trick that bass into hitting your jig, but you lead him to believe he was doing what he always does.

Now, replace that jig with every big bait or swimbaits on the market these days. To help you understand the difference between these lures, here is a quick base line. “Big Baits” are lures over 8 inches long (8” Tiger Tubes, BBZ-1, Hudds, Optimums, Rago's, Wood Plugs, ECT.). Do not place these baits in the category of the 3” to 7” swimbaits that are no more than a jig with a boot tail. If you do, you don't get it! You just found yourself standing dead center in that rut with everyone else that does not know how to properly place their tools in the right category. The moment you do not understand how to categorize your tools, then talking about location or techniques is a waste of time.

When you are ready to step out of that rut and start rethinking everything you have been doing, then this is the moment that you can look at any tool, every technique, and all bodies of water and start to eliminate a lot of the guess work. Am I not saying that I do not have tough days out on the water, shoot, just like most of you I have sat there in my boat racking my brain on what the hell am I doing wrong?. However, it's easy to just give up and fall right back into those old habits. How many of you have said; I'll just drop shot and catch a few small fish before I go home, or maybe I should I crank the rest of the day, damn- the wife has been buggy me about mowing that lawn.

The bottom line is that when I started to get the bug on catching bigger fish with my father, I was a goofy eight year old that never stopped trying to figure out those big bass. We would either fish out of our small 14 foot Valco on the weekends, or he would drop me off at Castaic Lake before he had to go into work at 5 am on days I had off from school to fish the shoreline. Can you believe how times have truly changed, I would have to have a few loose screws in my head to take my child down to Castaic Lake and drop them off for the day while I went to work in today's society. I would be trading fishing rods for a so-called pack of cigs in my not so cool 8x10 cell block before the end of the day for child neglect.

But, if you put yourself in the right mindset and remember all the experiences you have had on the water, the good times and the bad times then you just stepped into the BBZ . The times I spent on the water as a kid finding spots over 25 years ago, and thinking then that I had nothing to show for that day on the water are the same spots I fish today. Yes, back then I would of done cartwheels if I even hooked a 8 pound bass, but the number of 10 plus pound fish now that I have caught there reaffirms the old adage that time on the water is worth its weight in gold (or bass) if you put yourself in a position to keep learning. Oh ya, the fishermen that are more consistent are the ones that are better at remembering where that gold lies (spot -on- spots).

Now where do you start to look for bigger fish? “Location, Location, Location”.

I spent 25 years on the water trying to find good spots, all you have to do now-a-days is get on “ Google Earth ”, or find yourself a “ Navionics ” chip for your Lowrance unit. That alone with eliminate years of searching for great areas, then it just boils down to you finding those key little gold mines.

Next, let's talk about lures, are there any perfect lures? Maybe. There are some very good tools out there that with the right combination of proven techniques are hard to beat day in and day out. The key for you is to find those lures that are capable of doing as many techniques as possible. Should you use a ½ in box wrench, or pick up that adjustable crescent wrench? This could be a trick question, that ½ in box wrench might be the perfect tool for the job, today . The problem here lies in the fact that very few people have ever spent the time using big baits and understanding them in all aspects. What do these lures do when you slow roll them across the bottom, do they act the same if you dead stick them on the surface, and how do directional changes influence the action of these lures up against cover or structure, like rocks or brush.

One of the simplest questions to answer about any lure is if it is mechanical (a crank bait that uses it bill to impart action) or manual (a spook that walks the dog from your actions) motion bait? That question alone will separate 80% of the fishermen out on the water, why? Because it makes a difference in understanding that an 8” Tiger Tube is a manual motion lure, and a DD22 is a mechanical motion lure. But if you think it's that simple, then you would say that a Fluke is manual bait vs. a Rip Bait that is mechanical bait, the real answer to all lures are, that any lure has the capability to accomplish both disciplines if the angler behind the rod has taken the time to do his homework. Here's where you should ask yourself if this really matters? “ Yes It Matters” .

So here is the deal with Big Baits, let me rephrase that, with all lures. Everything Works !!! Yes they all work, the only difference is that the guy that understands the techniques and then knows how to pick out the right tools are the ones that other fishermen pop off and say “ that guy has gills, man he is in a different league, I wish I can do what he does” well you can.

Stop over thinking this big bait thing . If you are one of those guys that can say, I am a master of the Carolina rig, or hand me spinner bait and I can pull a rabbit out of my hat, to the crazy guy that fishes top water years around, then you are going to be a great big bait fisherman. Why? Because each one of those disciplines have 3 elements that are basic (location, tools, and techniques). This means if you are the C-rig man, then dragging a swimbait along a 25' deep road bed is the same thing (it's just a different tool), for the Spinnerbait magician, hand him an 8” tube or a slow sinking BBZ-1 swimbait around buck brush and watch out. For the Super Spook fanatic, his head will spin out of control when he finally picks up the top water big bait and sees what he can do over those long tapering points with them, why? Because it's just another tool for that proven technique he already knows.

“Strangely enough, someone who is just getting started in bass fishing may have a better chance of utilizing this information than the veteran angler. Without preconceived notions and ingrained ways of doing things, a new comer could easily be the one who excels. So it is not ability---or the lack of it---that holds anyone back. It is simply an unswerving devotion to the cause of catching big bass.”

 “Keep it in the BBZ”

 Bill Siemantel

Bill Siemantel's Sponsors:

BassCat Boats, Spro, Gamakatsu, Maxima Fishing Line, Lamiglas Rods, Robo Worms, Motorguide, Pro's Soft Bait Glue, Bass Boat Saver, Team Liftoff, Team Davies Drop Shot, theBBZ.com, Lindy Little Joe,

Bill Siemantel Accomplishments:

Co-author Big Bass Zone (the book), Bassmaster Tournament Winner, Lure designer and inventor, Fishing Educator and Trophy Hunter

Learn more about the BBZ @ www.bassfan.com , Big Bass Zone (the book), Bill Siemantel's DVD Swimbait