The upcoming 2017 Bassmaster Classic promises to be one for the ages. A big fish lake during the spring is ripe for big weights.
There are several possible patterns that will take the title on Lake Conroe, Texas. We asked three contenders to predict the winning techniques and the answers are all over the board.
Finessing Big Bass at the Bassmaster Classic
With the Classic being held on a lake known for giant bass, it was surprising that all three pros selected the shaky head as a technique that they feel could win the event. “It is a perfect way to target a specific zone and if the lake is pressured it will get those subtle bites. It also catches monsters,” says Clifford Pirch.
Chris Zaldain echoed those statements and said the lake and Texas in general is prime for a shaky head. “Conroe has tons of shallow cover and the finesse approach always catches them,” he says.
Keith Combs comes into this event as one of the most experience anglers on Lake Conroe and says that the lake sets up well for finesse. “It gets tons of pressure and that time of year the fish are finicky. A shaky head may do really well,” says Combs.
All three of the pros plan to use a 20-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid on a spinning setup with a 10- to 12-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader.
Swimbaits for the Bassmaster Classic
On the other end of the bait size spectrum, Pirch and Zaldain feel that a swimbait could win the Classic.
“I remember when I was there for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic and the swimbait bite was on. The lake has a lot of docks and timber and you can fish this vertical cover with a big swimbait like a Megabass I-Slide or 8-10” Magdraft,” says Zaldain. He added that the lake sets up perfectly for swimbaits because of the size of the fish that swim there. “It doesn’t have a lot of 2 or 3-pound fish, it has tons over 6-pounds.” He prefers a 20-pound fluorocarbon like Seaguar InvizX for both of these baits.
“Conroe is a big fish lake and we may be able to get a Clear Lake style swimbait bite going with big glide baits or a big Rago swimbait. Fishing this way can definitely burn you, but it could help you catch a giant each day to push your weight up past everyone else,” added Pirch. He likes to fish his swimbaits on 25-pound Seaguar InvizX.
Pitching and Flipping at the Bassmaster Classic
Lake Conroe has an abundance of docks and with the bass being shallow this time of year, targeting shallow cover could lead to a win.
Combs predicts that at least one person will do well flipping docks, wood and other cover. “It may not be the way that wins, but somebody will have a high finish doing this with a ½ oz. black and blue jig or something similar,” he says.
“I think flipping dock could be a way to win it. Whether that is blind sight-fishing and casting to spawners you can’t see or just shallow fish, it could be a factor,” says Pirch. He rigs up 65-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid and joins a 4 to 6-foot leader of 20-pound Tatsu fluorocarbon with a Crazy Alberto knot. “That knot seems to be the best because when you tie it you never have to cinch down the fluorocarbon which could weaken it,” says the Arizona pro. He prefers this setup with braid to fluoro to help keep his presentation less visible than if he was using straight braid.
Wild Card Patterns for the Bassmaster Classic
Depending on the weather leading up to event, the fish could be more in a pre-spawn or post-spawn pattern. This could change things for the field and Zaldain feels like a crankbait or jerkbait could be factors.
“If the fish are still mainly pre-spawn, the jerkbait bite could be really good. I was there during pre-practice and caught them really good on a Megabass Magnum 110 with 20-pound Seaguar Rippin’ mono,” he says. He prefers the monofilament line for shallow jerkbait fishing. “It keeps it running shallow and is also much easier to maneuver it around cover since it doesn’t sink.”
If the fish are mainly post-spawn, Zaldain feels that cranking deep brush piles may be a way to win the Classic. “The lake has tons of deep brush piles and during the summer that is how tournaments are won. A big crank like a Megabass Deep-Six with 12-pound InvizX to get it down to that 16- to 18-foot range may be the way to go,” says the California pro.
Topwater may be another way to catch a winning bag according to Combs. “This year has been pretty warm and the fish should be further along. A walking bait like a Strike King Sexy Dawg on 40-pound Seaguar Kanzen braid with a short leader of 20-pound Rippin’ is how I’ll be fishing if the topwater bite is on.”
As you can see there are a variety of techniques that may produce a win at the Classic. The variety of baits that may do well open it up for an exciting event.
Advertising