BassBlaster

Tharp’s pattern and jig, Why use an old school chunk, Zaldain’s bait

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Today’s Top 5

 

 

 

Tharp’s weenin’ pattern.

 

Congrats on Tharp’s first Elite win. Few pattern deets here, all of it on BassBlaster.rocks:

> “The third [practice] day I was on Bull Shoals again and I didn’t have a bite. So I ran to a place 4 miles up the river, near Diamond City. I pulled up on a channel-swing bank, made three pitches and got a bite. So I cranked my engine up and found three creeks like that one, that had stained water and channel-swing banks in the back. I didn’t fish them, just rode around to look at water color.

> “That night I pulled my map out of Norfork, and saw three creeks with exactly the same look. The very first place I went, the first pitch I had big one bite. That was the same spot I started on on day 1, and that was the spot I won the tournament on. It looked right on the map, and it looked right when I pulled up on it.”

JO shot from a great gallery:
> “All the fish were thinking about spawning or spawning. They were really shallow, like in 1-4′ and feeding heavily. They were all on something irregular [wood or structure].”

> Water viz averaged 2 feet. “The very backs of the creeks were more stained, and the channel swings toward the main lakes were clearer. If [those clearer-water areas] had wind I preferred fishing those, but if not I’d fish the more-stained water sort of to conceal myself.”

 

 

Tharp’s weenin’ jig.

 

Used a 1/2- and 5/8-oz 4×4 Randall Tharp Signature Series Jig (golden craw) with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk (green pumpkin). Here’s the actual jig he used, texted in by him:

 

> “It’s exactly the same jig I won the Open with on Ross Barnett [in 2013]. When the water is stained to clear, that’s the color [combo] I throw most of the time. I carry that color and black/blue – they’re the only ones in my boat.

> “It’s a really good jig out of the package. It’s an Arkie-style head with kind of a keel-shaped bottom so you can skip it under docks. The line tie is semi-recessed to it comes through cover better.

> “The weedguard angle I spent a lot of time getting right — the distance above the hook, and it has fewer and thicker strands than most which makes it a little more weedless.

> “The 5/0 VMC hook on it VMC specifically designed for that jig, plus it has a double-banded skirt — one under the silicone and one on top. It won’t come off. You can fish with one for 4 days, and unless the strands actually break it’ll never slide down or anything.”

 

 

I was trying too hard. When you’re fishing well, it’s really not that hard. When you have to force yourself, you can’t make it happen. You just have to let it happen.

 

– Tharp answerin’ my question about what he changed after not having a good season last year.

Here’s a visual representation of Tharp’s season last year — Steelers receiver Antonio Brown tryin’ just a hair too hard to be Mr. Fashionista:

Sorry if your eyes hurt now….

 

 

Tharp’s secret ritual war dance.

 

Says it calls in fish:

Was inspired by the New Zealand rugby team doing the Maori War Dance — had no idea Tharp was such a big rugby fan:

Need to put the dryer on low heat for those shorts next time….

 

 

What Mr. Zaldaingerous did.

 

The fisherman formerly known as Chris Zaldain was in the running to win and ended up 3rd. He and 2nd-placer Skeeter Reese were fishing swimbaits, and Tharp and 4th Matty Herren were flippin’. Here’s Mr. Zaldaingerous’ bait and pattern:

> I fished a 6″ Megabass Magdraft Swimbait in white black shad. Fished it on 15-lb Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon, which helped get it down to 4-6 ft.

 

 

> The key to my swimbait bite on Norfork was targeting 3 things in Bennett’s Bayou, in this order:
  1. Channel-swing banks that looked like bluffs from far, but actually flattened out along the bank.
  2. Algae growing on the rocks — held baitfish and limited lure selection, swimbait was best.
  3. Shade.

> I would troll along the channel swings with the side of my boat no further than 5 ft off the rocks, casting parallel to the bank and sometimes uphill. Slow, steady retrieve, and I would see just about every fish swim out of the shade and smoke that swimbait.

> I ran new channel swings each day chasing shade, and noticed that the closer I worked towards the main lake, the bigger the bites got. I missed several 4-lbers that would have really helped.

Also said:

> It was a dream scenario being in contention to win on the final day, knowing I had a shot at a huge bag if I stuck with the swimbait all day. Reminded me of the tournaments I used to fish back in CA.

 

News

1. So I guess Kriet really was a banker.

Cuz here’s his other boat:

Funniest comment on the pic:

> You better start catching some bass to pay for that….

HAHAHA Kriet those are your fans man!

2. TX: Falcon Bass Champs 32 bags over 20 lbs.

Winners had 31.97 lbs. That’s pretty darn stout.

3. TX: Boat crash at Rayburn big bass derby.

Apparently all okay but:

4. CA: This happened at Clear Lake.

Guess the wind came up fast? Word is guys got out okay:

5. MS wants to raise min length on Ross Barnett.

From 12″ to 14″:

> “It was recommended by Ryan Jones, our lead biologist, based on data. He’s seen a slight decline in the number of fish between 15 and 20 inches. We’ve also seen a decline in angler catch rates per hour.”

Were bass anglers asked??

6. CA: Shasta is on again.

7. MX: Learn about Lake Picachos.

8. 25% off Strike King 38 Special spinnerbaits.

TODAY only.

9. Latest deal from Angler’s Port Marine.

2015 Triton 17tx wtih 60hp Merc 4-stroke (only 10 hrs and gold warranty thru 9/28/20). Like new. Link here.

Also check this event:

 

10. Check this Darth Triton.

BB reader Tad P. sent this in as the evil version of the all-white rig we had a while back. Not sure I’d wanna bake in it on a hot day but looks killer:

 

Blaster stuff

1. Take the BassBlaster survey, maybe win some loot.

A few mins, 12 multi-choice questions, you get to have a say in the future of the BassBlaster. Click it here, tx much!

2. Win the new YUM Pulse swimbait!

Contest ending soon so don’t wait! Not yet available in stores, but you can win a few bags plus some other YUM loot right here. Just click on the pic and yep, same deal — enter your email addy then share the link you get for more chances to win. Good luck yo!

Tip of the Day

Why Tharp likes a bulky old-school trailer.

 

Not too many folks rock an Uncle Josh-like big piece o’ plastic, so had to ask him why:

> “It’s an old-school really bulky piece of plastic — few guys fish it anymore. I don’t like to have a piece of plastic threaded on the hook. I like a ton of plastic at the hook point so when a bass inhales the jig, the hook point goes into its mouth first. I think that’s what that Big Salty does. Plus it’s water displacement. It’s big and bulky.

> “When [his jig] falls, I want it to fall vertical every time, and when it hits, that chunk is sitting straight up in the air. I think it has more action once it hits the bottom. It just works for me.”

 

Quote of the Day

It is my goal to talk Tommy Biffle into wearing longer shorts. It’s time Tommy…it’s time, brother.

– From a GREAT column on season goals by the one and only Gerald Swindle. Best thing I’ve read in bassin’ in a while. Maybe Tommy’s into rugby too?

 

Shot of the Day

Really a vid of the day…what it feels like to have an Elitist hand reachin’ down for ya:

 

Random

Researchers have accidentally made batteries that could last 400 times longer.

> While the new battery would still need to be recharged, the big difference is it would keep working efficiently over 200,000 charge cycles.

Hope it works on a large scale and that they bring it to market fast!

You fishin’ this stuff?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only the best!

 

 

Great stuff you need!

 

 

 

Git on these yo!

Jay Kumar is the guy who created BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a whole lot more in bassin’. Jay Kumar’s BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best in bassin’, and is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o’ bass. Get the Jay Kumar’s BassBlaster app:

 

 

 

 

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