Tackle and Tactics for Calico Bass

by Capt. David Bacon of Wave Walker Charters

I willingly confess that calico bass are my favorite fish. There is something mystical and magical about these checkerboard beauties. It's difficult to successfully catch them consistently. Anglers use just the right tackle, need to understand various tactics and get plenty of practice. That's the fun part, because the only way to get good at it is to fish a lot. No red-blooded angler will have a problem with that.

Casting for Calicos – The author holds up a chunky calico bass he got using a reverse dropper-loop baited with a live anchovy. Calico bass (below), or “checkerboards” as they're called by many anglers, display a “plaid” pattern and come in many different colors of browns, yellows and oranges. Fish that live in or close to sandy or beach environments tend to be lighter shades, while fish that live among the boiler rocks and rag kelp tend to be much darker.

Here is a good outline of favored habitats and what tackle and tactics will bring you success: Kelp This is the most common place to fish for calicos. In fact, the Dept. of Fish and Game (DFG) refers to them as “kelp bass” because of their affinity for suspending among kelp fronds – where they are amazingly well camouflaged – and ambushing baitfish near the surface. Boat positioning is key to catching calicos in the kelp. Anchor up so that the boat rests at anchor about a boat length upcurrent from the edge of the kelp. Begin broadcasting a steady chumline of live baits and chunked dead baits. This draws nearby natural baitfish to the chumline and enhances the attraction to the predator fish. Bass will often swim out of the kelp and chase baits in the open area between the kelp and the boat. When the bass boil on the surface to catch chum and hook baits, fishing gets downright exciting! A simple and effective rig is to run your fishing line through a 1/8-oz. sliding sinker and tie it to a #2 size live bait hook. Pin a baitfish through the nose, or collar hook it, and cast it to the edge of the kelp. When a bass picks up the bait, give it a good long moment to take the bait fully into its mouth before you set the hook fast and hard. Then lift the rod and reel like crazy to keep the fish out of the kelp where it can bust you off, flip you off and swim away. Hard Bottom Calico bass prowl the shallow reef zones, usually in less than 120 ft. of water, where they find plenty of forage species and good hiding places where they can rest in safety. The best time to fish reef zones is near a high tide when a medium current is flowing and water clarity is medium. That combination of conditions really triggers their feeding activity. On the other hand, every time I think I begin to understand fish, they up and teach me a brand-new lesson by going on the chew when I least expect it. So, fish whenever you have the opportunity and hope for the best. Read More

Choosing A Fishing Guide - Two Perspectives

To give you some insight into choosing the Fishing Guide or Charter that is right for you we have enlisted the help of National Bass Professional Fishing Guide, former radio talk show host and author Steve Chaconas, and Professional Bass Angler Luke Clausen.

Choosing a Guide

by Steve Chaconas, NationalBass.com

Choosing a guide is tricky.

I get asked a lot of questions from prospective clients. They usually focus on the fishing and maybe the type of gear, including boat I run. I think the most important question they should ask...it might not be the first, but should be the deal breaker...What form of liability insurance coverage do you have? If they do not have a 'commercial' policy, then you might run into issues if there is a problem. Many guides try to cut corners here because complete insurance coverage costs about double or more. They will try to cover their guiding business with a regular policy...if a company finds out, they will deny claims in most cases.

They should also ask about the level of skill required for the techniques being used. Some guides are not very good teachers and are not able to teach learnable techniques to new clients. Knowing the range a guide can cover might help as well. Some guides might not be able to communicate this, so it is up client to ask sufficient questions to determine whether a guide will be able to accommodate the skill level of their trip. Read More

Subtleties to smallmouths
by Art Ferguson of Art of Fishing Guide Service

Smallmouth bass fishing, in my eyes, is the best fishing in the world today. I have fished for most species of freshwater and many saltwater, both bottom as well as flats fishing and still nothing compares day in and day out to smallmouth bass! They are aggressive, competitive, strong, fighters, jumpers, diggers, mean, schoolers, quick yet smooth and are not fearful!

I've found in recent years that smallmouth bass are more predictable than the largemouth bass and that goes against popular beliefs. The difference is, smallmouths tend to move a bit more throughout a years time, but, once you figure out where they spawn, feed and winter, you will have a much better understanding of these great fish.

Being a full time guide on the Great Lakes, I can honestly say I've caught thousands and thousands of smallmouths in the past 16 years as a guide. Customers have caught nearly as many. This is due to the aggressive nature of this fish. I've learned where to look for them at different times of the year and it pays off in extreme fishing situations. Some days, we'll catch well over 60 a day and this is due to their nature.

I'm a man of Faith and do not believe in luck, but rather God being in control of everything including weather patterns which in turn, make wildlife and fish react differently at different times. If you get lined up with God's perfect timing, when fish are most active in areas of the lakes or rivers you are fishing, this is when it happens. Smallmouths are no different, though they do seem to go into frenzies better than many species of fish. This is due to their schooling nature. Whenever you find a smallmouth, chances are, there are more nearby.

Lets get into some seasonal patterns as well as the subtleties that can make you or break you out on the water. Most of us know through experience that spring and fall fishing is typically better than any other time of the year for most fishermen. This is the time when the fish are shallowest and seems that once you find them, it's endless. Then the heat of the summer comes, the fish are post spawn and suddenly the heroes of the lake are the zeroes of the lake. This is due to fish spreading out into the vast areas of each particular lake. I find most of my summer smallmouth on our Great Lakes will relate to the first major breaks off of spawning flats or move into major rivers and channels that produce cooler waters, oxygen levels are increased and an abundance of baitfish. Finally, winter fishing. Well, I live in Florida during this time of year, so I won't comment on ice fishing.
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