Try these tips, techniques for catching largemouth bass

As promised last week, here is some news for catching largemouth bass along Colorado River waters in the Yuma area, this time from Yuma Bassman, Bob La Londe of CNC Molds ‘n Stuff on bait casting basics. Bob writes:

“With experience you will probably find some difference or idiosyncrasies that are different, but work better for you personally. Most modern bait casting reels have two different adjustments you can make.

“Basic controls: Some form of braking system or anti-backlash control, a. Shimano and Pfleuger have a centrifugal braking system where you can turn on or off additional brakes. b. Quantum and Diawa use a magnetic brake adjustment. Spool tension: Basically a knob usually on the same side of the reel as the handle that allows you to apply friction directly to the spool of the reel. Some old school anglers do everything with their thumb, set the brakes at zero, and the spool tensions to total free spool. Most can’t do that or choose not to in favor of taking advantages of a modern reel.

“Getting started: I learned from Lannes Brock that most new reels seem to need a sort of break in. They seem to work better and smoother after you use them for a while. Lannes taught me a trick that seems to smooth them out pretty quickly. Tie on a heavy weight. I use a 1-oz. jig. Set the spool tension so that the weight does not pull out line, then tighten it a little more. Make 30 to 50 casts with the heavy weight. The tension should be such that you have to put some real force into it to get it to cast. This smooths out any imperfections in the parts that provide over all spool tension. Using the reel: I usually start out with a new reel by putting the brakes to half scale. Then I set the spool tension so that when I hit the button on the reel with the rod tip straight out and about 5 feet above the ground, whatever bait I have on the line falls until it hits the ground and I get about 1 or 2 loose wraps on the line without any use of my thumb. You have to adjust spool tension for every different bait and weight. Sometimes some brake settings will work better or worse with different baits also.

“Now I make some prac- tice casts or pitches based on the type of fishing I plan to do with that bait. I’ll try and adjust first the brakes and then the spool tension until I get a pretty good result. Don’t cast for distance at first. Just go for low power, easy smooth casting motions, You may find by doing this you get amazing distance with little back lash with a lighter spool tension than you thought you could, sometimes much better (especially with lighter baits) than you can with more spool tension and more power in your casts. Try different types of casts. Side arm, overhead, pitch casts, etc. Now, note which types of casts works best. For many people this is a side arm cast to moderate distance targets.

“Now here is something you may find interesting. I don’t recall who taught me this, but there is something in the dynamics of the reel that translates from sideways to the direction of the cast when overhead casting just like it naturally falls when side arm casting. Again, practice light smooth casting motions and work your way down to lighter spool tensions with moderate or light power in your casts instead of trying to force a ton of power into the cast with heavier spool tension. Many people used to spinning tackle (I am one) think that price only relates to durability of the reel. With the relatively simple mechanism of casting with spinning reels of different qualities, but the same size spool, line, and amount of fill will cast very, very similarly. The cheaper one will usually not last as long, but they will both cast similarly. With bait casting reels, I have found in general, but not 100 percent, more expensive reels with more bearings, better drags, better assembly processes tend to cast better and adjust more fluidly to different casting weights and distances. Remember: There are some things you may always be more comfortable doing with spinning tackle. I throw light baits on spinning tackle. I drop shot with it. I cast medium and light size baits into the wind with spinning tackle. You will need time and experience to learn when you need to fall back on your spinning equipment. You will need to either develop skill in your thumb or learn how to adjust your reel when changing from casting in zero wind, into a strong wind or with the wind. Practice is important. Pitching and flipping is all I originally used bait casting tackle for. I practiced in my driveway, in the house, and out by the pool for hours and hours before I felt really comfortable doing this all the time. I don’t have anywhere near the skill level of guys who grew up using bait casting tackle, but I definitely credit hundreds of hours of practice to the fact that I have actually had fellow anglers, say, ‘I envy your pitching ability.’”

Much thanks to La Londe for his neat “tips of the trade” to help our local anglers.

Bob La Londe is working now on plans for a fun tournament 2019 to win free lures fishing Arizona and the Colorado River and getting in on a great get-together of forum members. If you’re interested in getting in on the action, contact La Londe at cncmolds.com. He’d also enjoy to hear from you if you should have a new idea for a swim bait or have figured out the perfect new jig design or would like to design a whole line of molds for your new bait company. CNC Molds ‘n Stuff can help!

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: Team Robby Balou/Wallace Wright took the top spot at the November club tournament with their bag of bass weighing 24.28 as well as taking the No. 2 big bass honors with a bass weighing in at 6.74. Dustin Driscoll/Matt Crise teamed to place second with 15.60. Tim Price/Lynn Dombe placed third with 15.44 followed by Trisan and Lawrence Casaus earning fourth place with their 14.33 total weight. The No. 1 big fish went to father and son team Ted/Michael Hook with a largemouth weighing 7.35. No. 1 out of the money, earning a FTS certificate was Craig Johnson with 13.40. Robbi Balou also won the junk fish option with a 4.86 carp.

Members need to keep fishing lines in the water to be ready to fish with the club for their end of the year Dec. 1 “Presidents Choice” Tournament at Colorado River waters launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Entry fee is options-only with a 4 fish limit and a wonderful tri-tip lunch at 1:30-ish. Must be a member of Desert Bass to fish this tournament! The learning and enjoyment will never end. Wonder what member is taking the great Angler of the Year award this year? For details, call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

Reminders: There is no entry now until further notice for fishing wildlife refuges at Martinez or Ferguson Lakes. Water levels are still dropping so watch for bars and debris in the river and remember to use your lights in the mornings for a safe launch.

• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: Important note: Michael Obney is encouraging non-boaters to sign up for tournaments as well as boaters. In essence, that is what the idea behind the draw is: Pair non-boaters with boaters to exchange ideas. It’s a great way to learn tips for successful bass fishing.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: I’ll keep you posted when the new fishing schedule is put together for the 2019 club bass and catfish derbies so you’ll know what to look forward to. You can also call membership chair Becky Pope at 502-0121 for information.

• Yuma High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any high schooler to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing them with boats and equipment as well as guiding the youngsters, both guys and gals, in gaining a good share of fishing know-hows. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started. Any interested high school student will be a part of an exciting year for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake.

• New owners of Sportsmen’s Hideaway: Danny Woods and Blake Hash are the new owners of the Hideaway but Edgar is still on site to help with tips along with helping with your fishing needs. Visit them at their new shop where Mitch’s Bait Shop used to be, a bit east on 16th Street from where they’ve been behind Baron’s Fuel.

Hunt happenings

• Even the wild horses — just so you know: Wild horses may not be wildlife as we know it, but they are federally protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. However, according to a report by Daniella Silva, a federal judge temporarily blocked a controversial plan by the Interior Department that would surgically sterilize wild horses in Oregon. After a wild horse round-up east of Lakeview, Ore., the plan, by the Bureau of Land Management, was to move forward to surgically remove the ovaries of wild mares in the Warm Springs Management Area of Hines, Ore. Joanna Grossman, equine program manager for the Animal Welfare Institute, stated her disapproval showing this plan to be “a reckless and inhumane surgical sterilization experiment that would endanger the welfare and lives of federally protected wild horses; an “experiment” with BLM seeking to ‘assess’ the impact of the procedure on those horses and their behavior compared to horses without the surgery. I am aware that BLM has a hard job in managing wild horse herds on public lands because of the increasing population but is this the way? Not!

Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.