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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Flick Shake
Japan's Little Secret
By Luigi De Rose
“Man, this thing works!” I said surprisingly to my dad. We were working our favourite shoreline on our secret bit of bass haven in mid July. Giving the dock’s posts and shady floor boards most of our attention we were catching them well. Suddenly, the docks petered out but we kept on fishing.
With nothing to aim at we fired casts randomly along the sandy shore line. Switching from a craw to a wacky rigged worm on a light jighead, I started nailing them. Considering the heat and intense sun, bass were hammering the worm. After that great day I vowed to learn more about this technique called flick shake.
Flick shake is another finesse technique with Asian roots but with an edge. The concept is simple. The tackle is simple. The results are simply amazing.
Hooking a finesse worm through the middle with a jighead is a staple in Japan. A pinnacle player in it’s design and popularity is Seiji Kato, a Japanese lure designer and founder of Jackall Lures. His reputation, he’s the creator of the TD Minnow (Diawa), Sammy and Pointer (Lucky Craft), has been a driving force. Winning the 2007 Bassmaster co-angler title on famed Lake Amistad with the jighead wacky rig, anglers took notice.
By Luigi De Rose
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| The under used Flick Shake. |
With nothing to aim at we fired casts randomly along the sandy shore line. Switching from a craw to a wacky rigged worm on a light jighead, I started nailing them. Considering the heat and intense sun, bass were hammering the worm. After that great day I vowed to learn more about this technique called flick shake.
Flick shake is another finesse technique with Asian roots but with an edge. The concept is simple. The tackle is simple. The results are simply amazing.
Hooking a finesse worm through the middle with a jighead is a staple in Japan. A pinnacle player in it’s design and popularity is Seiji Kato, a Japanese lure designer and founder of Jackall Lures. His reputation, he’s the creator of the TD Minnow (Diawa), Sammy and Pointer (Lucky Craft), has been a driving force. Winning the 2007 Bassmaster co-angler title on famed Lake Amistad with the jighead wacky rig, anglers took notice.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga: Key Concepts
How they Stayed Alive on Chichamauga
By Luigi De Rose
Lake Chichamauga last week was a lake in transition. Water levels were fairly high during the practice period. Into the first two days of the tournament, the lake's water levels slowly dropped . On Friday afternoon, the sky opened and the rains came. The intensity was so sever that the TVA, the authority who controls water levels on the lake, opened the dam to release the excess water.
During the beginning of the week, anglers discovered bass in partially flooded shoreline cover. Other sections of the lake held spawning bass on beds. As the water dropped, to the utter shock of FLW Touring Pros, much of the productive cover what now out of the water and bass beds were left high and dry.
Once the dam gate closed, especially on Saturday and into Sunday the final day, the water levels began to climb. Unfortunately the new water was cold and muddy; erasing any chances to find bedding bass again. Many of the top anglers, including eventual winner Clifford Pirch and second place Shinichi Fukae, felt their sight fishing strategy was sunk.
Shinichi Fukae explained during a few different interviews that his primary area had become muddy and difficult to fish. Clifford Pirch used his skill to seek out the clearest water he could. He found it behind large marina complexes. The riprap, walkways, docks and any vertical cover he discovered would eventually yield enough bass to hold off for the win.
Clifford determined the marina was best because the area was not fed by a creek. Coves and bays which had a creek in the back instantly turned to chocolate milk with the heavy down pours. If spawning bass were present, anglers couldn't find them.
One angler who adopted to the dramatic changes extremely well was Scott Canterbury of Springville AL. He targeted trees. As the water flooded these fallen trees, the bass moved in and Scott was right behind them. He sacked of 19-09 which turned out to be the heaviest creel on Day 4. Everyone except him and Tom Monsoon had poorer success on Sunday.
The lesson learnt on Lake Chickamauga is to practice with the intention of change. Anglers who stuck to steep bank and kept an eye on what could be good suffered the least and the one who banked on slow tapering shorelines watched in horror as their bass and luck got sucked out.
By Luigi De Rose
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| Clifford working the posts. I guess he didn't see the sign. (Photo: Rob Newell FLW) |
During the beginning of the week, anglers discovered bass in partially flooded shoreline cover. Other sections of the lake held spawning bass on beds. As the water dropped, to the utter shock of FLW Touring Pros, much of the productive cover what now out of the water and bass beds were left high and dry.
Once the dam gate closed, especially on Saturday and into Sunday the final day, the water levels began to climb. Unfortunately the new water was cold and muddy; erasing any chances to find bedding bass again. Many of the top anglers, including eventual winner Clifford Pirch and second place Shinichi Fukae, felt their sight fishing strategy was sunk.
Shinichi Fukae explained during a few different interviews that his primary area had become muddy and difficult to fish. Clifford Pirch used his skill to seek out the clearest water he could. He found it behind large marina complexes. The riprap, walkways, docks and any vertical cover he discovered would eventually yield enough bass to hold off for the win.
Clifford determined the marina was best because the area was not fed by a creek. Coves and bays which had a creek in the back instantly turned to chocolate milk with the heavy down pours. If spawning bass were present, anglers couldn't find them.
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| Scott flipping his way to 4th. (Photo: Rob Newell FLW) |
One angler who adopted to the dramatic changes extremely well was Scott Canterbury of Springville AL. He targeted trees. As the water flooded these fallen trees, the bass moved in and Scott was right behind them. He sacked of 19-09 which turned out to be the heaviest creel on Day 4. Everyone except him and Tom Monsoon had poorer success on Sunday.
The lesson learnt on Lake Chickamauga is to practice with the intention of change. Anglers who stuck to steep bank and kept an eye on what could be good suffered the least and the one who banked on slow tapering shorelines watched in horror as their bass and luck got sucked out.
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Sunday, April 17, 2011
FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga Day 4: Prich Grabs Prize on Chick!
Clifford Clinches First Win on Tour
Shinichi a solid second.
FLW Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces Sunday to win $125,000 at the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga presented by National Guard with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 77-3.
“This is awesome,” said Pirch, who now has won more than $645,000 in FLW Outdoors competition. “It’s exciting. When you’re sitting up there waiting to see what guys have it’s a little nerve wracking.
“The last two fish came late in the day and I knew they were really going to have to catch them,” Pirch added. “You never know what everybody else has got … if they found a pocket that warmed up just a couple of hours earlier than I did and put a hurt on them.”
“I’m pretty spent,” Pirch said. “You fish one of these things and have burned it at both ends … it’s one of those deals where you leave it all out on the lake. I’m worn, but I’m excited. It’s been a fun time.”
Pirch said he employed a Roboworm creature bait as well as a jig-head worm for sight fish and blind bed fishing. As the water levels rose during the week, Pirch said he had to adapt and become mobile and target specific pieces of cover slowly with a jig.
“I caught five fish today,” Pirch said. “I got five bites and I caught five of them. Any time that happens that’s just a blessing. I don’t know how else to explain it. I got exactly what I needed, and man, I’m thankful.
Shinichi a solid second.
FLW Press Release
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| Clifford Pirch on Top. (Photo: Brett Carlson FLW) |
“This is awesome,” said Pirch, who now has won more than $645,000 in FLW Outdoors competition. “It’s exciting. When you’re sitting up there waiting to see what guys have it’s a little nerve wracking.
“The last two fish came late in the day and I knew they were really going to have to catch them,” Pirch added. “You never know what everybody else has got … if they found a pocket that warmed up just a couple of hours earlier than I did and put a hurt on them.”
“I’m pretty spent,” Pirch said. “You fish one of these things and have burned it at both ends … it’s one of those deals where you leave it all out on the lake. I’m worn, but I’m excited. It’s been a fun time.”
Pirch said he employed a Roboworm creature bait as well as a jig-head worm for sight fish and blind bed fishing. As the water levels rose during the week, Pirch said he had to adapt and become mobile and target specific pieces of cover slowly with a jig.
“I caught five fish today,” Pirch said. “I got five bites and I caught five of them. Any time that happens that’s just a blessing. I don’t know how else to explain it. I got exactly what I needed, and man, I’m thankful.
Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 4: Rojas Rips Toledo Bend
Dean Rojas Leads All Four Days
Gerald Swindle misses by one ounce
By Deb Johnson
B.A.S.S. Communications
BASS Press Release
MANY, La. -- As they met backstage, Dean Rojas and Gerald Swindle shook hands, then gave each other a man hug. Both smiled graciously, both teared up a little.April 17, 2011
It was hard to tell who had just beat who, but it was Rojas who had bested Swindle by 1 ounce in the TroKar Battle on the Bayou. Rojas secured a wire-to-wire win, his second Bassmaster Elite Series victory. It was his fourth Bassmaster career win, one of which, like Sunday's win, was on Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Rojas collected a $100,000 check and an automatic entry into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. He also jumped 23 spots in the all-important Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, also the road to the post-season.
"I'm going to the Classic, this is so huge," he said. "Everything about the win I love -- the trophy, the check, the points, the Classic, and winning a tournament in 2011."
At the same time, Rojas said, he felt for Swindle, who was philosophical and gracious. "I wasn't out to beat Dean, I was out to compete against Toledo Bend and fish to the best of my ability," said Swindle, who already secured a 2012 Classic seat by winning a Bassmaster Open earlier in the season. "The competition is the fish ... and most of the time yourself is the enemy if you beat yourself up, get too bent out of shape.
"I could sit here and write a book about all the big ones that jumped off during this tournament. You have to say, 'It was meant for Dean Rojas to win' because I put 110 percent heart and soul into this and I didn't make any stupid mistakes."
Gerald Swindle misses by one ounce
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| A Win Really is That Difficult! (Photo: James Overstreet BASS) |
B.A.S.S. Communications
BASS Press Release
MANY, La. -- As they met backstage, Dean Rojas and Gerald Swindle shook hands, then gave each other a man hug. Both smiled graciously, both teared up a little.April 17, 2011
It was hard to tell who had just beat who, but it was Rojas who had bested Swindle by 1 ounce in the TroKar Battle on the Bayou. Rojas secured a wire-to-wire win, his second Bassmaster Elite Series victory. It was his fourth Bassmaster career win, one of which, like Sunday's win, was on Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Rojas collected a $100,000 check and an automatic entry into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. He also jumped 23 spots in the all-important Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, also the road to the post-season.
"I'm going to the Classic, this is so huge," he said. "Everything about the win I love -- the trophy, the check, the points, the Classic, and winning a tournament in 2011."
At the same time, Rojas said, he felt for Swindle, who was philosophical and gracious. "I wasn't out to beat Dean, I was out to compete against Toledo Bend and fish to the best of my ability," said Swindle, who already secured a 2012 Classic seat by winning a Bassmaster Open earlier in the season. "The competition is the fish ... and most of the time yourself is the enemy if you beat yourself up, get too bent out of shape.
"I could sit here and write a book about all the big ones that jumped off during this tournament. You have to say, 'It was meant for Dean Rojas to win' because I put 110 percent heart and soul into this and I didn't make any stupid mistakes."
Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 4: Rojas Wins by an Ounce!
Dean Rojas Hangs onto TroKar Battle by a Sniff.
By Luigi De Rose
MANY, La. -- Dean Rojas outsmarted the wind and the fish to hang onto a wild week of fishing. His reward is the blue Elite trophy for winning the Battle on the Bayou tournament Toledo Bend. G-Man Swindle, who consistently climbed the leader board every day finished an ultra close second. Swindle's 18-14 catch was the largest of Day 4 but not enough to dethrone Dean who lead this tournament wire to wire.
Top 5
1 Dean Rojas 70-15
2 Gerald Swindle 70-14
3 David Walker 70- 2
4 Chris Lane 67- 3
5 Fred Roumbanis 67- 1
More detailed coverage coming up.
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| Possibly the bass the won it. (Photo: James Overstreet BASS) |
MANY, La. -- Dean Rojas outsmarted the wind and the fish to hang onto a wild week of fishing. His reward is the blue Elite trophy for winning the Battle on the Bayou tournament Toledo Bend. G-Man Swindle, who consistently climbed the leader board every day finished an ultra close second. Swindle's 18-14 catch was the largest of Day 4 but not enough to dethrone Dean who lead this tournament wire to wire.
Top 5
1 Dean Rojas 70-15
2 Gerald Swindle 70-14
3 David Walker 70- 2
4 Chris Lane 67- 3
5 Fred Roumbanis 67- 1
More detailed coverage coming up.
FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga Day 4: Clifford Pirch Wins!
Pirch Wins First FLW!
By Luigi De Rose
Arizonian pro Clifford Pirch with his first FLW Tour event on Lake Chickamauga with four day total of 77-03. Shinichi Fakue finished second after weighing in 10-15, his smallest limit of the tournament. His four day total was 70-08. Tom Monsoor, finished third with 69-05 on the back of a respectable 15-02 day 4 limit.
More info later tonight.
TOP 5
1. CLIFFORD PIRCH 77-03
2. SHINICHI FUKAE 70-08
3. TOM MONSOOR 69-05
4. SCOTT CANTERBURY 67-08
5. BRETT HITE 62-09
By Luigi De Rose
Arizonian pro Clifford Pirch with his first FLW Tour event on Lake Chickamauga with four day total of 77-03. Shinichi Fakue finished second after weighing in 10-15, his smallest limit of the tournament. His four day total was 70-08. Tom Monsoor, finished third with 69-05 on the back of a respectable 15-02 day 4 limit.
More info later tonight.
 |
| Clifford Prich with his first WIN! |
1. CLIFFORD PIRCH 77-03
2. SHINICHI FUKAE 70-08
3. TOM MONSOOR 69-05
4. SCOTT CANTERBURY 67-08
5. BRETT HITE 62-09
Saturday, April 16, 2011
FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga Day 3: Pirch Remains on Top
Pirch Remains on Top of Leader Board on Day 3
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| Lake Chickamauga Day 3 leader with a nice one. (Photo: Rob Newell FLW) |
FLW Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. –Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to retain the lead at the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga presented by National Guard and advanced to the top 10 as the crucial No. 1 seed. With a three-day catch of 15 bass weighing 60-9,he now holds a 1-pound lead in the tournament going into the final day of competition.
“I pulled in there this morning and the water was at least two feet higher than it had been,” Pirch said. “The water clarity was still decent when I started, so I was glad to see that. I thought the sun was going to break free and warm them up and move some new ones in, but we didn’t get that. We had winds and clouds all day.”
Pirch didn’t reveal the techniques he employed on Saturday, however he did say that he was not sight fishing.
“It was just pure fishing,” Pirch said. “I was blessed with some good bites and caught quite a few fish. It went well and I certainly can’t complain.
“It’s hard to say what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Pirch added. “I’m thinking we’ll get some sun. They’re really wanting to move in. The temperature’s right and we’ve got a full moon this weekend. They’ve got to be coming.”
Cheez-It pro Shinichi Fukae of Palestine, Texas, advanced to the final round of 10 pros in the No. 2 spot with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 59-9.
Fukae said he caught the majority of his fish “junk fishing” by throwing soft plastics on a Texas-rig anchored with a 3/8-ounce weight as well as a chatterbait and crankbait. He said his deepest fish of the day came in no more than 8 feet of water. Fukae said he believes some of the fish he got to bite could have been spawning fish.
“I cannot see them because the water is high,” Fukae said. “They may be bedding fish because I missed them a couple of times and they still bite. I don’t know about tomorrow because the water is getting high and muddy and cold.
“They’re starting to scatter now,” Fukae added. “I caught 10 keepers the past two days and only six keepers today.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros and advancing to the final day of competition are:
“I pulled in there this morning and the water was at least two feet higher than it had been,” Pirch said. “The water clarity was still decent when I started, so I was glad to see that. I thought the sun was going to break free and warm them up and move some new ones in, but we didn’t get that. We had winds and clouds all day.”
Pirch didn’t reveal the techniques he employed on Saturday, however he did say that he was not sight fishing.
“It was just pure fishing,” Pirch said. “I was blessed with some good bites and caught quite a few fish. It went well and I certainly can’t complain.
“It’s hard to say what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Pirch added. “I’m thinking we’ll get some sun. They’re really wanting to move in. The temperature’s right and we’ve got a full moon this weekend. They’ve got to be coming.”
Cheez-It pro Shinichi Fukae of Palestine, Texas, advanced to the final round of 10 pros in the No. 2 spot with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 59-9.
Fukae said he caught the majority of his fish “junk fishing” by throwing soft plastics on a Texas-rig anchored with a 3/8-ounce weight as well as a chatterbait and crankbait. He said his deepest fish of the day came in no more than 8 feet of water. Fukae said he believes some of the fish he got to bite could have been spawning fish.
“I cannot see them because the water is high,” Fukae said. “They may be bedding fish because I missed them a couple of times and they still bite. I don’t know about tomorrow because the water is getting high and muddy and cold.
“They’re starting to scatter now,” Fukae added. “I caught 10 keepers the past two days and only six keepers today.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros and advancing to the final day of competition are:
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