Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

Larry Hemphill

Not sure if the floating restrooms would be open.

Larry Hemphill

What is the problem if one drove their own boat, alone in the vehicle, paid their fee to the "orange ranger deposit station or other collection box, launched, fished, took out, and drove home. Probably only seeing a few, cold, bass fishermen from a distance. One can just shout to another angler...

Larry Hemphill

I was reading my latest issue of Bassmaste (Mar 2020) and as always, went to the photo pages first. And again, a smile came to my face as I looked at the photos comparing the "in your face" 11-8 (#1) from Jason, to the "distant" 10-10 (#9) from Zach. Those bass are only 14 oz apa...

Larry Hemphill

My second post should have gone with the previous one!!

Larry Hemphill

Remember - this is now the "modern world!" The new modern word - certainly in this state - is "lawsuit!" Many regulations are very strict now in public areas. Much more than in the past. Why? Farmers and other pond or small lake owners would sometimes let folks in on their proper...

Larry Hemphill

That was a great bait on big bass lakes like Clear Lake and Amador. Large bass feed on BULK1 They like bigger meals such as a trout, if available. One of the best night baits I have ever used for trophy bass. If you are fishing low light conditions or at night, you need a large bait to attract their...

Larry Hemphill

I have made this caution before about Bullards Bar and very cold weather. If you are going Monday or Tuesday early morning, take both ramp approaches slowly, especially Dark Day. if you lose traction with your bass boat behind you on possible slick ice, it's a long way down. Take it slow. Remember i...

Larry Hemphill

If the colder weather does arrive (heavy snow in the Sierra today), they probably will back off the shore. They usually do during an early spring cold front.

Larry Hemphill

After I re-read my post, I remembered a similar situation at Collins Lake - but in late February. Again - east shore where surface temp in mid-Feb went from 50 to 57 by late afternoon. A 9 lb largemouth was looking for a quick bite and my red craw crankbait was the meal she was looking for. I believ...

Larry Hemphill

I was never a big fan of the lake but have fished it many times in years past I always found that the east side (afternoon sun) of the upper north/south arms would attract lots of early season bass Needs the afternoon sun rays I remember a great sunny, warm afternoon in early March with early water ...

Larry Hemphill

I would have to agree with Dave. I know - I have sold many Rangers as they wanted me to upgrade often. When I was guiding, folks were besides themselves to finally ride in a "Ranger!" Once a great name - always a great name - and that is important!! Just a thought - when I put my last Rang...

Larry Hemphill

That photo didn't need a comment from me. It was a great photo. As I said, sometimes too much nice background can take away from the amazement and appreciation of a true fish of a lifetime. I want to count the scales of the fish. I hope not!!

Larry Hemphill

Just a suggestion on a photo like that. The subjects are the FISH and the ANGLER, not the background. The background was very nice and adds to the photo, but the background is not the reason for the photo. Get that angler smile closer. And hold the belly (of the bass!) out a bit. One wants to apprec...

Larry Hemphill

Haven't kept up with Pardee in the last 2 years, but remember, there are some big largemouth in there as well.

My biggest largemouth there about 7-8 years ago was a bit over 9 lbs

Larry Hemphill

If I still lived in San Jose (moved to Yuba City in the late "70's). I guess I would have feelings about draining Anderson. I always preferred fishing Coyote and Chesbro (forgot how to spell it!) Big bass in those days!! Always sad that Coyote peaked for big bass (up to 15 lbs I heard) after I ...

Larry Hemphill

If we have the wind predicted for Sun-Mon, Bullards can be difficult to fish.
Coves are more open at Bullards and not many fish there yet.
It is basically an open water lake and getting out of the wind can be difficult.
I know - many years experience being blown around!!!

Larry Hemphill

I know I have said this before on the forum, but thot I would post a reminder since the recent reports have indicated very slow fishing. Remember: The sun may feel a bit warm on your back in the Jan months It is however doing nothing to warm the water. The sun's rays are too horizontal to penetrate ...

Larry Hemphill

I liked your bottom photo. In my opinion, and that of many others, a huge bass like that needs the support of both hands, meaning a left to right photo. Just remember to hold the belly out a bit toward the camera. You want to see the "whole" girth of a monster like that!! I have been told ...

Larry Hemphill

When I used to do a lot of winter night fishing at Clear Lake, those birds looked HUGE in the front running light! If you didn't go too fast, they would move very quickly out of the way. Never sure if they were asleep or awake, but they always got out of the way in time. Sometimes they would leave a...

Larry Hemphill

I gave a seminar this spring to a group of out-of-state anglers who were going to fish for a few days. I had never been up to the Markley Cove cabins, where they were staying. I thought they were pretty nice!

Larry Hemphill

Larry Hemphill

I fished my first ever tournament at McClure with the San Jose bass club, many years ago. I've only been on the lake twice, but I just loved it for some reason. Probably amazing structure areas. I love all the foothill lakes in that area - fished them a lot in my San Jose years. Amador and Pardee ar...

Larry Hemphill

Not sure I would get in the boat with that character....LOL!!!

Larry Hemphill

I agree - your reports are excellent and seem to be honest! Giving readers choices of baits to use at different depths are very helpful. Keep up the good work!!

Larry Hemphill

Larry Hemphill

Nice to see both anglers hold their big bass with both hands. They will thank you for that (somehow!)

Larry Hemphill

I just have to agree about the Ford 150. Never thot a "6" could tow like that and be so quiet (for a truck). When one has neighbors a few feet away - sleeping - and my truck starts or backs in the boat - you want to put a blanket over the hood - or something. We usually don't leave our hom...

Larry Hemphill

There really isn't an answer to that question. A "secret" spot is usually only good for a certain time of year. In other words, a good secret spot might only be worth the "secret" during the spring, or fall. I have many, many so called "secret spots"....when Lake Berrye...

Larry Hemphill

If there is a 25 degree air temp drop in a 36 to 48 hour period - there WILL be a change in the bite - probably not for the best! Water temp will drop a little, but something will be different. it will change the baitfish too. It is often referred to as a "summer cold front." That would no...

Larry Hemphill

That's easy to answer - the fish are closer together when the water is low - LOL! Seriously - when the water is high, there is a lot of shallow cover like brush, weedlines, shallow rock, etc. Bass can do a lot of ambush feeding from the protection of shallow cover. As summer leads into fall, the bai...

Larry Hemphill

One of the things I love about Berryesssa is the basic steady water levels. The elevation usually doesn't change quickly, just the usual, slow drop in the summer and fall. I checked out the level closely yesterday and it seemed to me that it was a bit high for mid-Sept. Just wonderin'....

Larry Hemphill

I have seen where both record spots were caught - Nick's 11 1/4 and my client, Clara Ricabal, with the 7-2 female record spot this spring. She caught hers with me in February, probably as shallow as the big ones get - about 15 feet deep, on a warm afternoon. She caught another at 4 + pounds and I ca...

Larry Hemphill

Does anyone know about the results of the Amador all-nighter tournament?

Larry Hemphill

The lake went through those conditions about 20 years or so ago with very high water. In the Oaks arm one could see the bottom of dock pilings in at least 7 or 8 feet of water. Saw stuff we never saw before. Only lasted about a week. I wanted to check out every dock on the lake for sub-structure (ro...

Larry Hemphill

Who would do that? You could get lost out there at night!! With a bass like that - who cares! Congrats!! They look bigger at night, don't they?

Larry Hemphill

No I have not. Sure have heard a lot about it thru the years! Too many lakes in California - but a good problem!

Larry Hemphill

Almanor is a beautiful lake - and worth the trip!! It is a bit out of the way, so it is rare to have a big crowd. August is probably the busy month. But those folks don't get up early, so the bite is usually good until 9 or 10 am. There are shadows on the east shore for several hours in the morning....

Larry Hemphill

You nailed the big question - how are the other boats doing?? Actually the boats don't do anything, but the anglers do! THAT is the big question on every trip when you see other bass boats nearby. Tournament fishing or guiding - no difference in the question - I WONDER HOW MANY THEY GOT?????? Your m...

Larry Hemphill

Wow! This is the first essay I have ever read on the reports section. As a former teacher I would say you write very well! I will usually make a comment on a post, as others will, about a subject brought up on the forum. You went a lot further on your post - well done! It sounds like you fished the ...

Larry Hemphill

I finished a response to you, but it was too long! You are right - the bigger they are the more they thrash and wiggle with force.. One might think that if the bass was supported in two areas - front and back - the weight of the trophy would be more evenly divided over its body length. If one is str...

Larry Hemphill

I do know what I am talking about. Have discussed this with Fish and Wildlife experts. I was talking trophy size fish such as the one in the photo. You are certainly correct about holding the bass with his upper body bent at a 45 degree angle. Not good. One should hold the trophy somewhat horizontal...

Larry Hemphill

Congrats on a wonderful bass! Maybe your first trophy bass? I think you will have many years ahead to catch many more monsters. So I might suggest holding you future big ones with both hands - horizontal. One hand on the mouth and one hand in from of the tail. Tournament folks all hold the fish in t...

Larry Hemphill

If you have interest, read my fishing report about Clear Lake, posted 4:30 pm Wed. Another crazy pleasure boater at Clear Lake - close call for us.

Larry Hemphill

Thank you, guys! I'll learn to be patient someday!

Larry Hemphill

I don't tournament fish but do have a lot of friends and clients who do. I always look for the final results in a 3 day tournament. Can't find them for WWBT Sunday finals. Seems often I see the results promptly for day 1 and 2, but never for the final day. Could someone help me? Are they just not po...

Larry Hemphill

Great to see you win the battle with that bass! I guess the thrill never goes away when you catch a bass like that!
Still remember the evening when you and Frank gave a seminar to our San Jose club in the mid-70's!

Larry Hemphill

I am a big fan of Billy Driessen's weekly reports for Western Outdoor News. He did a nice report about my Bullards Bar guide trip with Clara Ricabal about 3 weeks ago. She was a star, catching a 7 lb 2 oz spotted bass during her first 3 hours ever on the lake!! Yea, we all do that! Billy, in a perfe...

Larry Hemphill

What if a dumb non-tournament fisherman wondered where this tournament was held? This fellow wonders why everything is covered about the tournament except "Where" was it held??

Larry Hemphill

Now that's a report!! I'm impressed - except with the "inches" thing. Have to think that through!! Be careful in the 5 mph zone. Don't want a ticket during the tournament! I'm seeing more and more of you folks on the water. A new definition of the stealth approach to an area. How do your l...

Larry Hemphill

I, too, have been using regular P-Line fluorocarbon for years now. Mostly 6 lb test which does fine on smaller spinning reels. Never seems to break. Maybe our bass are too small!!

Larry Hemphill

I have been throwing the 3.8 Keitech swimbait a lot recently, and have had very good results. Even hooked a big fish at Berryessa (assume it was a bass, but lost her). I just wish the head was a little stronger. It is usually one and done!

Larry Hemphill

My congrats also!! Not as many of those toads over 10 lbs as there used to be. A 10+ is very special these days!! I have seen what you could do when another angler in my boat landing bass after bass with one arm (not an 11 pounder!!). I took him out during one of the old BBAC tournaments, many years...

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