Ask the Pro: Terry Bolton
Terry Bolton tackles the technique of mapping weed beds, fishing for suspended bass in floating trees and sight fishing.
OperationBass.com is pleased to introduce Terry Bolton as this week’s Ask the Pro expert. If you are interested in participating in future columns, submit questions via email to: [email protected]
Q & A with Terry Bolton
Q: Since turning pro, what fishing-related question have you been asked most often?
– OperationBass.com staff.
A: Probably the most asked fishing question I get is, “How do you find fish on a strange lake?” Usually when I go to a strange lake I try to talk to someone and find out some general information about it first. This might include water level, temperature or what type of cover the lake offers, such as rock, grass, ledges or docks. After that, I will try to get a good map and study it to obtain a game plan according to the seasonal pattern. Example: If it is springtime, I may try to pick out a major creek that I know will hold a large population of fish to start my search. Usually, once I start my search, I will fish lures with which I am comfortable, such as jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Hopefully, as I fish these lures, I will be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together and come up with either a good pattern or a good area to fish.
Q: I have timber fever and would like to find new ways to fish for suspended bass in flooded trees. So far, I have done fairly well on jigging spoons and spinnerbaits. But when the action slows, what are my other options?
– Gaston Lopez, St. Louis, Mo.
A: Gaston, one thing I would try is buying weighted hooks for soft plastic jerkbaits. This will allow you to fish these plastic jerkbaits at different depths as you twitch them through the trees. If the timber you are fishing is deeper than 10 feet, I would try to throw a small, 4-inch finesse worm on a 1/8-ounce jig head on 8- to 10-pound Stren line. Rig the worm Texas style and cast it out into the timber and as it falls, gently shake the rod tip on semi-slack line. Most of the bites will occur on the way to the bottom and they will be rather light. Usually the line will just tighten up.
Q: Bass anglers always talk about fishing gaps and inside turns in weed lines. However, in the large lake that I fish, stained water makes it impossible to see these irregularities. Plus, I’m afraid of spooking bass by exploring with electronics. What tips can you offer for mapping weed beds and marking fish with them?
– Ray Zeckman, Fort Smith, Ark.
A: Ray, as you fish down the weedline pay close attention to your depth finder. Watch to see if the water gets deeper or shallower. A lot of times the water will be deeper heading away from the grass. And that usually means that the deep water may lead all the way to the edge of the grass – an indication that there is a turn in the creek or a ditch running through the grass. If the water becomes shallower, this may indicate that there is a point or high spot leading away from the bank. Another thing you might try is to take a Carolina rig with a heavy weight – a 1/2-ounce to 1-ounce – and fish this down the edge of the grass. The heavy weight will allow you to feel the grass (where it ends or starts) and it will also allow you to tell if there are any rocks or shell beds – areas where the grass may not grow (bare spots).
Q: This spring, I tried sight-fishing for the first time. However, I continually spooked the fish. Sometimes the cast scared them. Other times, my profile alerted them. How can I prevent this from happening in the future?
– Shawn Christian, Anderson, S.C.
A: Shawn, the first thing to remember is to always throw past the bed and bring the bait back up to it. You should also try throwing the bait on the bank and dragging it off into the water. If the fish are easily spooked, try to back down the bank. You can then back your boat into the bank and trim your engine into the mud. Sometime this will cause the fish to settle down and become less skittish. Also, always be aware of the angle of the sun so your shadow does not cast across the fish.
Another thing to try if you encounter a fish that is easily spooked is to make a note of where that fish is. Once you are aware of its location, you can leave the area and come back a few minuets later. However, when you return, make sure that you stay well away from the area. Try to stay back far enough where you can just barely see the fish and make long cast to it. If you are far away, try using brightly colored bait such as white or chartreuse so it will be visible to you at a distance. Another idea is to try different color lenses on your sunglasses. When I am fishing I usually carry two pair of Action Optics sunglasses. The two lenses I prefer are Silver Creek Brown and Freshwater Amber. I wear the Freshwater Amber on cloudy and dark days and wear the Silver Creek Brown on sunny days. I find these two lens colors help me see into the water in different light conditions. One final tip: On cloudy days, move down the bank slowly scanning ahead of the boat for light spots which might indicate beds. On sunny days, look for dark spots or shadows which might indicate fish.
Terry Bolton of Paducah, Ky., a premier angler on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, has 18 top-10 tournament finishes on the Operation Bass circuit. He has ranked in the top 30 every year since 1997, finishing as high as sixth place in the standings for 1998. In addition, he has practically owned the Red Man LBL Division for the last five years. He is ranked number one in the standings for the 2000 season and finished in second place in 1999. He has placed no lower than 11th in the standings since he began fishing the LBL Division in 1996. Bolton’s tour sponsors include Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Land O’Lakes, BC Powders and Stren.
Next week, Scott Martin discusses fishing techniques for clear water, ideal ways to fish reservoirs and how to make the leap from amateur status to professional angler.