Big Bass Secrets of a Texan
If you think about it, whether you are fishing in South Texas, the California Delta, Kentucky Lake, or any lakes north of that, the general rules of Largemouth fishing all apply. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely A LOT of factors that are completely different, not to mention when fishing slows in the summer months in the south they are really just getting started in the north.
With that said, you really can learn something new about fishing from every article you read or every fishing show you watch. The hardest part about teaching us dogs new tricks, is applying what you hear and see to your own local bodies of water at the right time of year.
Local Texas angler, Drew Smith, better known to the Instagram world as @Drewsfishin, has been literally tearing up the Texas lakes this spring and he has the pictures to prove it. Smith doesn’t come from a bass fishing background, as a matter of fact, he’s never really been in it for the tournaments simply for the fun of catch and release. Not only does Smith have close access to some of the best largemouth fisheries in the world, but in a very short time he’s been able to apply what he’s learned from other anglers around the country and has applied it to his style of fishing.
Recently Drew posted a picture on Instagram holding a pair of 7lbers. To most people, a pair of 7lbers is a catch of a lifetime and although Drew doesn’t take those fish for granted, this season has been full of 8lbers, 9lbers and 10lbers!
Having had such great results this spring, we caught up with Drew and asked him if he could share with us what he’s been doing to catch these giant trophy fish.
“I’m definitely lucky to be living in Texas and so close to a bunch of big fish lakes,” says Smith. “Fact is, I’m not doing anything out of the ordinary, I’m just fishing.”
“The two 7lbers in my latest Instagram picture were caught in 81 degree water on a 5 inch Sexy Shad Swimbait rigged on a 1oz jig head and a 5/0 hook. Basically what I’ve been doing is making long casts, letting the
swimbait fall down into the grass and ripping it out. I’m definitely not reinventing the wheel with what I’m doing, but I’m listening to what the fish want.”
“What I’ve found is if I don’t work quickly, the fish have too much time to look at my bait and they just follow it. When I rip it quickly, it’s creating those reaction strikes that we always read about and the fish just keep chomping it.”
It seems as though Smith truly has taken what he’s read and what he’s been taught and he’s actually giving the fish what they want. As the bite has changed over the last month or so, so have his techniques.
“Earlier on in the spring I was catching them good on a Jerkbait but again it was a fast retrieve,” says Smith. “I would literally cast the Jerkbait out and rip it 3 or 4 times then let it sit. The one thing that has been common throughout the spring is the bass have been heavily feeding on baitfish, so I’m always looking for baitfish flipping around on the surface. When I see those baitfish, I know there’s a good chance they are being chased.”
Smith’s swimbat technique is precise and he requires the right equipment to get the job done.
“Since I haven’t been using big giant swimbaits,” says Smith, “I can get away with a 7 foot rod. It’s a medium action rod and you might think I’m crazy but I can make massive casts and cover a ton of water.”
As Texas quickly moves in the summer, the fishing will continue to change for Smith, as it will for everyone else. Like he has been doing for most of the spring, Smith says he will continue to fish on weekends and when he can get time off work. His plan is to continue to learn more about the local lakes he is fishing and apply different big fish techniques to them!
Follow Smith’s quest for giant bass on Instagram -> @drewsfishin