Pro staff fishing tips from our handpicked Megabass team. Find that edge while on the water with our pro staff’s time tested fishing strategies.
As Chris Zaldain left Palatka, Florida for the seven-hour drive to Lake Lanier, he experienced a bit of déjà vu. The road took him through Atlanta, up into the Georgia foothills, and he felt himself being transported “back to Northern California.” That told him much of what he needed to know and informed the choices …
Fishing the Fall Transition Bass fishing is an art and a science. Each year, our knowledge of the sport increases exponentially with new products, technology, and time on the water. However, one aspect remains the same; bass behavior and locations always change with the seasons. Understanding these underlying seasonal patterns are critical to becoming a …
Professional bass angler Chris Zaldain nails it when he says new school grubbing is a finesse swimbait rigged on a ball head jig. Unlike grubs, anatomically accurate baits like the Megabass Spark Shad closely mirror baitfish in appearance and motion while allowing anglers to cover the water column with speed and efficiency. Although they work …
Hollow-belly Frogs have been catching bass for nearly 50 years, but for much of that time, many anglers thought they were relegated to fishing in Florida around lily pads. However, about 20 years ago, some Western bass anglers began dispelling that particular myth. Tournaments started getting won with huge weights in California, particularly at Clear …
When most anglers pick up a lure off the shelf or from the tackle store pegboard, they’re looking at limited clues about its effectiveness. Does it have a paint scheme that resembles the local forage or otherwise triggers reactions? Does it share the general profile of their quarry’s favorite meals? Some will even shake the …
Heavy baits need to be fished on rods rated for heavy lure weights, but with a taper that allows for imparting fish-triggering moves. The rod needs to be mated with a reel up to the tasks of quick line pickup and robust gearing for maximum winching torque. Line choice can vary between heavy monofilament, fluorocarbon, …
Large schools of bass move offshore during the Post-Spawn and Fall patterns. One of the most effective ways to target these fish is to throw a deep diving crankbait like the Deep-SIX. In this video, Bassmaster Elite Angler Chris Zaldain talks about boat positioning and approach when targeting offshore bass.
Take a closer look at the Kanata Jerkbait with Edwin Evers. Watch as he breaks down some of the features of this bait, including when he likes to fish it, and what type of rod and reel setup he prefers.
A good portion of bass feeding activity takes place on or near the bottom; crawfish and all sorts of baitfish make use of the lower water column for cover, shade, cool water and feeding opportunities. A jig and swimbait are two lure categories that produce big-time results in this zone. California native Chris Zaldain has …
With more and more anglers casting big swimbaits, mechanics can be key to success. Come along as Oliver Ngy breaks down his casting mechanics when throwing big swimbaits. He covers the overhead “bomb” cast, the “roll” cast and also touches on skipping these big swimbaits under docks and structure. Suggested Setups: F10-711X ONAGER Baits: MAGDRAFT …
Professional angler Chris Zaldain has turned to the Magdraft swimbait in 6″ and even 8″ sizes to bring some serious weight to the scales throughout his tournament career. Find out why–and how–Chris fishes this unique swimbait for key bites in various situations, including the areas and cast angles he targets to elicit bites in community …
Megabass Pro Edwin Evers shares his insight on the X-80 Trick Darter and ITO Shiner, two sleeper jerkbaits that are go-to’s in the warmer months, and when targeting aggressive feeders. Both lures feature taller backs and shiner-like profiles that allow them to dart even harder than the Vision 110! Find out when and where pro’s …
Sure, we all see on instagram that big baits catch big fish…but how do they do it? Trophy Bass Hunter Oliver Ngy shares the three primary retrieve styles he employs on the way to double-digit monsters, utilizing the Megabass I-Slide 262T. When do you use a straight retrieve? When do you employ reel action (sharp …
If all else fails, you’ve always got the drop-shot…but sometimes they just don’t want that traditional vertical presentation. In those cases, the Hazedong Shad in 3″ and 4.2″ is a limit-saver. Not only can you work the spot with a traditional vertical line-shake, you can also employ a slow, dragging approach to swim through the …
Drop-Swimming: Use Swimbaits to Elevate Your Drop Shot Game! Read More »
When I think of September bass fishing, I think of fishing around shallow targets. Of course, many anglers associate bass fishing with shallow cover, as a bass is an ambush feeder, but the thing that separates the average angler from the expert in dissecting shallow cover is understanding casting angles. One of the first things …
Chris Zaldain shares his finesse jighead approach on Minnesota’s Mille Lacs, where his Spark Shad 3″ and Orochi XX Shaky Head powered him to a five-fish limit of 26lbs of smallmouth bass!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dprZXYYcbaQ
Thin, wiggly worms, soft stickbaits and little goby imitators are the workhorses of the dropshotting world, but when California pro Chris Zaldain heads north in the summertime to chase big brown bass, his number one tool on the end of his spinning rod is a small swimbait. There are times when he’ll fish them horizontally …
One of the keys in competitive bass fishing is learning to focus on catching better than average-sized bass. The skill level of anglers has accelerated at such a fast level over the past 10 years that having the ability to just catch a limit keeper size fish will rarely even cash you a check at …
Ever since bass anglers first learned to “walk the dog” with a cigar-shaped topwater, it has been the Holy Grail of bass bites, a way to call larger-than-average fish from a distance and force them to strike out of hunger, curiosity, territoriality or anger. While the early versions of these lures still work, seasoned pros …
Once the bass move out to their deep water summertime haunts, some anglers are lost. They flail around, fishing the same crankbaits as everyone else, and then wonder why their catches don’t add up at weigh-in time. Three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Chris Zaldain has watched some of them deep cranking, and he knows why they …
Now that bass in many parts of the country have completed their spawning duties, it’s time to fatten up before they head offshore for the summer. That means they’re feasting on a diet of shad and bluegills, pinning their prey into confined spawning areas, and there’s often nothing better than fishing a roll walking popper …
The transition from pre-spawn, spawn, to post-spawn is not an exact science. When it comes to topwater techniques, these periods overlap and are far from definite. Geographical locations, the type of lake, water visibility, localized weather patterns and various other factors all make this unpredictable. One thing is for sure, though: The period immediately after …
One of the valuable byproducts of the passage of time is the fact that fishing myths are dispelled on a regular basis. Two of the biggest myths in fishing that have been proven incorrect are the belief that fish get inactive and won’t bite very well in the winter, and the idea that spawning bass …
While square billed crankbaits are deadly in the pre-spawn, and again in the fall when voracious bass are herding shad to the backs of creeks, that doesn’t mean that there’s no role for them in between those two time periods. Most savvy pros keep one or more tied on 12 months out of the year, …
Without a doubt, April is one of the favorite months for bass anglers throughout most of the country. The fish are moving shallow in large numbers and therefore tend to be easier to catch this time of year than at just about any other time. Depending upon which area of the country you live in, …
When your big bass targets are holding in shallow weeds, vegetation, or relating to bottom structure, sometimes you need to get rid of that belly treble in order to reduce snags and hangups. Follow along as Oliver Ngy shares his top-hook modifications for the Magslowl 9″ and Magdraft 8″, turning these deadly open-water swimbaits into versatile …
While you can catch fish on jerkbaits all year, there is a specific window of time on each body of water across the country when you stand the best chance to catch a huge bass. This window varies depending what part of the country you live in, and it may vary from year to year …
One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen many anglers make is that they get locked into throwing only a standard-size jerkbait like the Vision 110. If they fish it for a while without any success, many simply make the determination that the bass simply aren’t biting jerkbaits that particular day. Often just switching the size will …
Chris Zaldain shares a few key tips to maximize your productivity with the Magdraft swimbait! Head-thumping action (in addition to tail kick) is key 15lb Fluorocarbon line Realism is key, especially in clearer waters Target windblown banks and points Pair with F7-72XX Perfect Pitch or Levante F7-72C To see how Zaldain used the Magdraft 6″ to …
Jerkbait fishing may be one of the most difficult techniques to master, but on those occasions when you put the puzzle together there’s almost nothing in fishing that’s more rewarding. Even if you manage to dial in the proper colors, sizes, cadences and equipment, there’s always the additional challenge of locating the best water. The best …
Cold weather jerkbaiting is an effective way to catch lethargic and non-committal bass, but it also sits on a fragile precipice – any failure to dial in the correct size, cadence or suspending attitude of your chosen lure can mean the difference between a full livewell and a goose egg. Color is equally important, …
Bassmaster Elite Pro Chris Zaldain shares his approach to glide bait fishing. From his background in California to bodies of water across the country, Chris shares a few key tips to help you get the most out of your glide bait setup. Good luck and good fishing, and be sure to tag @megabassamerica in your fish catches …
Traditionally, most anglers have viewed winter as the prime time for jerkbait fishing. The conventional wisdom indicated that suspending jerkbaits were only effective for sluggish bass in cold water. This myth has been dispelled greatly over the past 10 years, but the fact remains that jerkbaits shine when the water temperatures are in the forties. …
In my opinion, jerkbait fishing can be one of the most complicated techniques in bass fishing, but if practiced correctly it can also be among the most rewarding and fun. There are many variables that are crucial to fine-tuning this technique, but determining the best conditions in which to use it may be the first …
While it’s true that jerkbaits are the dominant prespawn lure throughout much of the country, subtle and not so subtle variations in design make them consistent year-round producers for all species of bass. Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain has a Megabass jerkbait tied on at every event across the country, and attributes the lure category …
Source: My old fall favorites Edwin Evers shares why the spinnerbait and Vision Oneten jerkbait are his go-to options in the Fall!