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Lance Vick’s
Fishing Tricks
When All Else Fails....

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Angler Profile
Tom Jessup

Winter 2010
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 Publisher/Editor
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Shane Beilue
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Columns
Essential Cold Bassin’ Checklist......................05 Bassin Babes......................06

Toyota Sharelunker Has Begun!......................08

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010 3

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 Essential Cold
Cody Greaney Bassin’ Checklist
T
he Bass don’t just stop biting when
it gets cold. They might eat less
often, but typically eat bigger meals,
right? That tends to not just be the bass this
time of year, but the fisherman as well. When
lakes are virtually vacant and fish are steadily
getting bigger why not get out there and take
advantage of some potentially record days
on the cold waters. Here is a top-ten list to
remember while fishing these cooler months.
Some might be obvious and some are just for
pure comfort.
Socks: After parking the truck, you make
your way lake side and while jumping aboard
the boat the toe of your shoe brushes the water.
Cold, wet feet equal a long and potentially
dangerous day. Bring an extra pair of socks on
each outing. Might sound strange but on more
than one occasion has this been an issue.
Water: You are surrounded by water, have
downed a gallon of coffee and you are fishing
in 30-40 degree weather...this equals a perfect
concoction for dehydration. Yup, that’s it,
drink plenty of water.
Life Jacket: Picture this... You lean over to
pick up fresh bait just as your fishing partner
hits the trolling motor and you stumble,
bobbling around in your sumo suit of cold
weather clothing, falling off the side and
SPLASH! By the time your partner realizes
what has happened and monkey walks his way
to you, your heavy clothing is immersed with
water sinking like a 5 oz. lead weight. Scary,
but too often are these stories of reality from
fisherman just like you.
Honey Bun: On a cold morning every
good cup of coffee must be enjoyed with this
carbohydrate, sugar engrossed, and gas station
delicacy. It’s crucial.
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
Reel/Line Conditioner: Line memory
nightmares can be easily overcome with a
couple sprays. Not to get super scientific, but
with the onset of cool weather comes a stiffer
line, more prone to memory. Not to mention
having to pull a backlash out while wearing
your wife’s snow skiing gloves.
Sun Screen: The sun is still out. Though
it is not literally melting your skin like the
brutal summer months in Texas, there are still
harmful, cancer causing rays that need to be
blocked. Protect your skin.
Frozen Boat Scenario: Often a night’s
frost can literally freeze the entire boat including
the latched lockers and steering. Rather than
finding this out while floating helplessly, be
sure to check your boat and release
any frozen areas before dropping
the boat in the Arctic Sea. Do
this not only for safety issues,
like being able to steer the boat
and get to fire extinguishers, but
for the more important stuff like
your bait box and live wells.
Gloves or Not: It is
important to feel your line for
subtle bites during the winter
months but do you sacrifice
a finger to frost bite for it?
There are various theories
and suggestions that
usually float around
this time of year about
glove selection. The best
way to decide what works
best for you is to try them all.
Neoprene is sometimes thick but
great for water contact. Golf gloves are
popular, especially the ones that are lined
with a fleece type material. You should find
some gloves that work for your style and wear
them.
More Clothes: In the hot days of summer,
there are numerous ways to cool off. In the
colder months it is harder to warm up after
getting cold. Pack clothes, jackets and extra
jackets that have pockets full of clothes and
jackets. Ok, maybe I went little overboard, but
having too many warm clothes in the boat is a
more of a comfort than the contrary.
Bring ONLY the Willing: If you have
to beg, cry and pry someone to get on the
water with you, you will have to endure the
whining and constant complaining from the
curled up ball of clothes laying in the floor of
the boat. This is not the time to invite
someone who is new to the sport of
bass fishing, unless you never want
them to fish again. In that case,
Fish ON!Some of the best and
largest fish are caught pre-spawn
and in some lakes in the heart of
the spawn that falls during our
winterish months. Not that we
have to drill through ice to fish,
but it can still get rough out
there and a few comforts go
a long way while on the
water. Fish hard and
fish smart.
5
 AILS
NT TR c o m
Baiting the Hook for
the Next Generation
AME
TOURN n b a
s s .
g n i t i o
i
Doris Thomas
Bassin Babes Columnist

T
hese days the activities available for
kids are limitless. From sports, to
dancing, there is an organization or
club for just about everything out there. The
problem with a lot of these activities is that the
participation is limited to the child competing
in the event. While we as parents
love to sit on the sidelines
cheering on our children, we
are also always in search of
activities that the whole family
can do together. Bass fishing
is something that fits the bill.
From the youngest member of
the family to the oldest, fishing
is something that everyone can
enjoy and participate in. Now
Bass Fishing is taking it to the
next level by offering tournaments
for kids to participate in.
Ignition Bass Youth Fishing League (YFL)
is an organization that is doing just that by
offering youth the opportunity to Bass Fish
on the tournament level. It provides the
opportunity to introduce kids to the world
of tournament fishing, being competitive
and winning prizes. It offers the opportunity
for kids to meet other kids interested in bass
fishing in a family friendly environment.
The Ignition Bass Youth Fishing League was
started in 2009. It is a nonprofit Trail, where
all money raised during the season goes to
providing awards and prizes during that season.
Anglers compete against other anglers of his or
her division. Points and prizes
are awarded on a per division basis. For the
2011 season there are three Divisions.
· Little League (6-9)
· Minor League (10-13)
· Major League (14-17)
The division splits allow for fishing ability
to be spread more equally. In the Little League
Division, the boater is allowed to help with
casting, netting, lure selections, etc. to help
the smaller anglers put fish in the boat, but
not actually catch the fish for them. In the
Major League, the boater is not allowed to fish
at all while in the Minor League, the boater
may fish but cannot help provide fish or assist
in catching fish other than net the fish. The
boater cannot add fish to the count
in any Divisions.
The top 6 anglers in each
division advance to the Year End
Championships. $8400 of prizes
was given out each year. The Angler
of the Year (Top Points Winner) in
each division is also awarded a
plaque.
Tournament fishing is a
great way to get the family
outdoors and spending quality
time together. Nothing beats the
look on a child’s face when they land their
first bass. Why not take it to that next level and
let your child compete in bass fishing? Who
knows you might have the next Kevin Van
Dam on your hands.
If you would like more information on
Ignition Bass Youth Fishing League, along with
entry forms you can visit their website at:
w w w. y f l . i g n i t i o n b a s s . c o m

2011 YFL Schedule

Feburary 19 - Lake Livingston - Kickapoo Marina April 30 - Lake Somerville - Overlook Park
March 19 - Lake Conroe - Stow-A-Way Marina May 21 - Lake Sam Rayburn - Jackson Hill Marina
April 09 - Lake Sam Rayburn - Jackson Hill Marina June 18 - Lake Livingston - Kickapoo Marina
Sept. 24 - Championship - TBD

6 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010

 S
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Denn enter
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ag N
ALTON JONES Signing a fan’s copy
of Texas Bass Fishing Magazine at The

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Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010 7

 oy o t a S h a r e L u n ke r
T s B e g u n !
Season Ha
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department will begin
accepting entries into
the Toyota ShareLunker
program October 1, 2010.
SHARELUNKER Anyone legally catching
TEXAS P ARKS AND WILDLIFE
a 13-pound or bigger
largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between
October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota
ShareLunker program by calling program manager David
Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600
and leaving a phone number including area code. Fish will be
picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.
Proper care and handling of big bass is perhaps the single most
important factor in their survival. Last season produced 33 entries,
and all but four survived. “I urge anglers to go to the ShareLunker
web site and review the information on how to take care of big
bass,” said Campbell. “It’s also important to be prepared to catch
a big fish when you go fishing. Take the ShareLunker phone
number and your cell phone with you. Have your livewell filled.
Put your net where you can reach it while fighting a big fish. And
get the fish to a minnow tank at a marina or bait shop or to an
official ShareLunker holding station as soon as possible after you
catch it.”
Some tournament organizers now recognize the importance of
immediately weighing possible ShareLunkers and transferring
them to a holding tank before official weigh-ins, a trend Campbell
would like to see spread. “Holding a big fish in a livewell for hours
decreases their chances for survival,” he said. “In addition to the
stress of being held in a small space, temperature and oxygen levels
may not be optimal, and ammonia levels may rise. Commercially
available livewell additives can help, but it’s always best for the
fish to be in a tank big enough for them to swim around in.”
8
The current season marks the 25th year of the program. To date
504 fish have been entered into the program. Those fish have
come from 61 different public reservoirs and nearly two dozen
private lakes.
ShareLunker entries are used in a selective breeding program at
the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens. Some
of the offspring from these fish are stocked back into the water
body from which they were originally caught. Other ShareLunker
offspring are stocked in public waters around the state in an
attempt to increase the overall size and growth rate of largemouth
bass in Texas.
Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program
will receive a free replica of their fish, a certificate, ShareLunker
clothing and be recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center in Athens. In addition to this, if a Texas angler
catches the largest entry of the year, that person will receive a
lifetime fishing license.
For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program,
tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, see www.
tpwd.state.tx.us/sharelunker. The site also includes a searchable
database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures
when available.
Information on current catches and other topics, along with
brief videos of angler interviews, will be posted as available
on the program’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/
sharelunkerprogram.
The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to
the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota.
Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a
wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
 ShareLunker Program Accomplishments
In the course of caring for more than 500 largemouth bass weighing over
13 pounds, the ShareLunker Program has:
Branch’n Out
1. improved knowledge of proper handling and care of big fish;

2. developed and communicated to anglers recommendations for

handling fish in ways that improve survival;

3. established weigh and holding stations at major reservoirs around

the state to improve the survival of big fish by providing the proper
environment for them until pickup by trained TPWD personnel;
Double Chair and Loveseat Swings
4. generated nationwide interest in Texas bass fishing and increased
tourism, as evident by 74 ShareLunkers having been caught by residents
of 20 states other than Texas;

5. documented the number of lakes producing 13-pound or larger bass

from one in 1980 to 61 by 2010;

6. created awareness of the value of catch-and-release fishing;

7. developed a selective breeding program that produces broodfish used 3 Piece set - Loveseat and 2 chairs
throughout the TPWD hatchery system, helping spread ShareLunker-
derived genetics to all public waters stocked with Florida largemouth
bass by TPWD;

8. generated free publicity for bass fishing in Texas worth millions of

dollars by providing the basis for thousands of newspaper, magazine,
television, radio and electronic media stories;

9. provided funding to develop cutting-edge genetic fingerprinting Master Chair, End table and Rocking Chair
techniques that makes it possible for TPWD to identify ShareLunkers
and their offspring stocked into public waters. These techniques also
make possible:
We
· genetic identification using a minimally invasive fin clip;
· positive identification of ShareLunker offspring and
Deliver!!
confirmation of previously caught ShareLunkers should
implanted tags be unreadable;
· more accurate identification of intergrades (crosses between
Florida and northern largemouths) and easier determination
of parentage and relatedness among ShareLunkers,
including identification of sisters submitted to the Arbors
ShareLunker program;
· genetic analysis of scale samples archived from ShareLunkers
Would you like a roof
submitted to the program before the DNA fingerprinting on your swing?
techniques were available;

Call
· the search for genetic markers associated with ShareLunkers
and for gender determination. Samples are being analyzed

Today!
in an attempt to determine if there is a specific gene that
influences growth differences.

10. Using genetic fingerprinting techniques developed in the last five

years, TPWD has begun studies in selected public reservoirs using tagged
ShareLunker offspring (referred to as Operation World Record or OWR No bark, no problem, we
fish) to determine the growth rate of OWR fish compared to other can peel the swings also!
largemouth bass in those reservoirs. Results so far show OWR fish grow

832-524-0841
bigger faster.

These accomplishments have all been made using program sponsor

dollars and without additional staff over and above those required for Courtlan Kenter•Huntsville, TX
normal operation. courtlankenter@yahoo.com
www.branc hnout.com
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
When All Else Fails....

TRAP IT!
Feature by Russ Clark
Illustrations by Jason Yates

T
hroughout time, we have all been overwhelmed with

trying to understand article after article on what

to do during the winter months. Water temps are

in the 40’s, wind is typically strong out of the north, and just

thinking about hitting the water sometimes takes all the energy The Trap bite is typically specific to grass this time of year, and

we have knowing the conditions we will face. It’s been written locating grass at different depths will increase your odds of having

time and time again that the best technique is to slow down your a very productive day on the water. There are a couple of key

presentation during this time of year. I agree, and maintain this is points to concentrate on when looking for the right grass. Shallow

the primary technique to apply. However, there is one exception grass growing from the bank out, should cover main lake and

to this rule and that is the Rattle Trap, now commonly and secondary points fairly thick to a depth of 5’ running down both

affectionately known just as “THE TRAP”. sides of the bank from the point. Mid depth grass will be in the

12’ range growing up from the bottom, topping out about 5’ to

I’m not saying give up on that big black and blue jig around the 6’, and deep grass will top out around 12’ to 15’ on top of creek

end of a deep dock, or that shaky head finessed down the rocks bends and adjacent deep points.

on your favorite rip rap or even a weightless fluke darting slowly

through your favorite timber spot. However, if you add the Trap There are three techniques that work best when it comes to fishing

to your arsenal this winter you may be surprised at the results. grass during the winter.

10  Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010

 G
RIPPIN Is a technique that is best utilized when

fishing shallow grass, but has its place in mid depth grass as well.

Cast the Trap towards the bank retrieving it at a steady pace

gradually coming in contact with the grass, and at the last couple

of feet before clearing the grass let it sink down while retrieving

into the grass and with a sweeping action, rip the Trap free. The

strikes you will encounter fishing a Trap out of the grass will be

very aggressive.

G Is a technique that really works well at the

TICKIN
mid depth and deep grass locations. When fishing grass at depths

deeper than 8’ feet, make long cast counting down to the top of

the grass then retrieving the Trap fairly fast back while ticking and

slightly maintaining contact with the grass, if the Trap hangs then

sweep it, rip out and hang on!

YO YO Is a great dying shad technique which is best

suited for a deep grass presentation, but can also be utilized other

times of the year as well. Make your long cast and count down to

contact with the grass, once you feel the grass then stroke the Trap

hard straight up, then let it flutter back down and repeat. This

technique is not much different from stroking a jig, and more

times than not the strike will happen on the fall.

Today’s market can be confusing at best when it comes to choosing the right Trap. Model numbers seem to be endless when it comes to

keeping track of all the different size, types, and styles. My favorite Trap when working grass has a rounded head like the Lucky Craft

LVR D -7 or LVR D – 10 in any variation of red, and the Sebile Flatt Shad 54 Rouge Craw.

Things to consider when fishing grass patterns:

· Locate the right grass (on points, around timber)
· Look for grass with new growth if possible.
· Work different depths and not stay to long at any depth that’s not producing.
· Current or flow is a plus if present.
· Be patient and confident, fish will be there.

As always, be safe on the water, think conservation, and introduce someone to fishing!!!

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010 11

 Missouri PAA Pro Angler Brian Snowden all alone on Lake
Conroe searching for the ever elusive largemouth. Snowden
was one of fifty pro anglers that competed in the Toyota
Texas Bass Classic this October. Snowden went on to win
the TTBC with a final three day weigh-in of 48 pounds, 4
ounces.

12  Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010

 Photo by Sarah Henry

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010 13

Lance Vick’s
Fishing Tricks
Price
by Steve
Veteran Lake Fork guide Lance Vick

doesn’t remember the exact date he

first fished a Big Joe Flutter Spoon,

but does remember where he fished

it: at the end of Little Caney Point,

not far from the dam, where the

water drops from 20 to 24 feet. He

caught enough bass that day, six years

ago, that the point is still one of his

regular spoon fishing guide stops,

even though everyone else also knows

about it.

“It’s not so much the point

as it is the lure itself,” laughs Vick,

who’s been taming Fork’s giants for

15 years. “During the cold weather

months, literally from early October

after the lake turns over, until pre-

spawn activity starts in January, a big

flutter spoon is my preferred lure on

Fork, and it’ll definitely catch bass on

other Texas lakes, too.”

T
oday, a number of lure makers sell their flutter

spoons at tackle stores around the lake, but the

Big Joe, produced by Joe Spaits, owner of The

Tackle Factory on FM 17 in Alba, is the original. He’s been

selling them since 2003, and today they are sold and used

all over the world, not just for bass, but all freshwater and

some saltwater species.

“Flutter spoons differ from jigging spoons in that

they are usually larger and have a wider, curved design so

they actually ‘flutter’ or swim as they fall,” explains Vick.

“That type of action imitates a shad or small forage fish, and

because of its weight, the lure is easy to fish in the deeper

20 to 35-foot range where bass and baitfish stay in the

winter.”

“The Big Joe comes in both 5-inch, ¾-oz., and

6-inch, 1 ½-oz. sizes, and I just use trial and error to

determine which one the fish prefer when I start fishing.

The larger spoon has more surface area so it has a lot of

side-to-side sashaying action, but the smaller spoon falls a

littler slower. Some days the bass prefer a larger lure and

other days they want the smaller one, so I always have both

rigged and ready to try.”

Because winter bass

frequently gather in large,

tight schools near contour

changes, Vick concentrates

on humps and high spots

that break up a wide flat or

the ends of long points that

drop into deeper water or creek

channels. Often, however, the actual depth change may

be less than four feet, and the high spot itself smaller than

16  Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010

 the size of a bass boat. Vick regularly hauls in spoon-caught

bass in the four to 10-pound class at just such a high spot in

Mustang Creek, one of Fork’s most heavily fished tributaries,

and he’s also caught his share of fish on what’s locally known as

the Public Hump, a high spot south of the 2946 bridge where

the water drops from 16 to 22 feet.

“I think bass concentrate around high spots because

these are places where they can actually shorten the water

column,” he explains. “Baitfish regularly swim over the tops

of these high spots, and when the bass are on top of the

hump, they’re several feet closer to the forage when they start

feeding.

“I’d say at least 90% of the bites on a big flutter spoon

come as the lure is falling,” he continues, “so creating falls is

usually the best way to retrieve around a high spot, and you can

do that either by reeling fast or with your

rod tip.”

“When I graph fish, I throw out a

buoy but I don’t fish the Big Joe vertically,

dropping it right on top of the bass. Instead,

I back away, then cast beyond the school and

let the spoon fall to the bottom. Then, with

my rod at about 10 o’clock, I’ll crank the

reel as fast as I can five or six times. This

causes the spoon to climb several feet off

the bottom, and then I lower my rod to let

the spoon flutter back down. I repeat this

as I bring the spoon through the school of

fish.”

This fast reeling presentation often

works best when bass are active and holding

two to three feet above the bottom. If it

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010 17

doesn’t produce any results, Vick uses his rod to lift the spoon,

and he tries different lifts, depending on the aggressiveness of

the fish. Just barely raising his rod tip may lift the spoon only six

or eight inches and produce more of a hopping retrieve, while a

swift, upward jerk of the rod may jump the spoon five or six feet

off the bottom.

“You just have to try different things,” Vick emphasizes.

“It’s almost like fishing a jerkbait and trying to determine the

correct jerking rhythm bass want that day. Bass moods can

change day to day, too, but once you do get a bass to bite, you can

trigger a whole school into activity with a big flutter spoon.”

“Even catching a yellow bass or white bass, which also

gather in large schools during the winter, can activate largemouths.

With one of these spoons, you’re liable to catch anything, and if

you hook a yellow bass, a big largemouth may even hit it as you’re

bringing it in.”

Vick fishes the Big Joe spoons on 15 and 20-pound

fluorocarbon and with a 7-foot or longer heavy action rod,

primarily because of the weight of the lures and

the depth of water he’s fishing. Fluorocarbon

has very little stretch, making it ideal for deep

water hook-setting, and the stiffer rods can

certainly handle Fork’s big fish.

Overall, the guide has recognized

that his spoon fishing success seems better

on bright, windy winter days, and that

it’s also better in the afternoons than in

the mornings. Vick thinks this may be

related to algae blooms, shad eating the

plankton, and larger forage species feeding

on the shad, which in turn generates more

largemouth interest.

18  Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010

 Occasionally, Vick uses a Big Joe spoon to catch
schooling bass. Again, the trick is making long casts,
but letting the spoon fall only about two feet below
the surface instead of all the way to the bottom. He
adds steady rod tip motion as he retrieves to make the
spoon rise and fall as it swims through the bass.
“There are a lot of different ways to fish a big
flutter spoon,” concludes Vick, “and I’m sure the lures
will also work in warm weather when bass are deep,
too. Right now, however, when the water is getting
colder and the fish are becoming less and less active, I
don’t think you can make a better lure choice.”
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
THE MAN BEHIND THE BIG JOE
FLUTTER SPOON
The way Joe Spaits tells the story, it only
took two years and one weekend for his Big Joe
Flutter Spoon to become an overnight success.
“I was fishing a jig one day down by the dam,”
recalls Spaits, whose love of fishing prompted
him to move to Lake Fork in 1991, “when I
saw a 12 to 14-inch gizzard shad leap out of the
water, immediately followed by a bass at least
twice that long. I realized I needed something
that looked like that big shad.”
“I tried different materials, and finally settled
on brass, because it had the best action. Most
of the flutter spoons were, and still are, made of
steel. They don’t cost as much, but they don’t
have the same action, either.” Spaits wanted a
spoon that would fall fairly slow but still have
plenty of fluttering action, like a dying shad. He
also wanted his spoon to swim when he pulled it
up off the bottom.
Spaits orders the spoons, either silver or gold
plated and in both 5 and 6-inch sizes. When
they arrive he then adds a line-tie split ring and a
mylar-covered VMC treble before putting them
out for sale. Even after he had the design and
weight he liked, and had spent weeks fishing
them successfully, he still hesitated to sell them
because he wasn’t sure bass fishermen would
buy them.
“One Friday afternoon, two fishermen came
over from Dallas to spend the weekend fishing
at Lake Fork and each skeptically bought one of
the lures,” remembers Spaits, who had named
his creation the Big Joe Flutter Spoon, “and then
another friend, who was also in my shop at the
same time, also bought one. I didn’t think much
more about it until the phone started ringing
Monday morning.”
“The first call
was from the two
Dallas anglers,
who declared
they’d had their
best fishing trip
ever, and asked
me to save a
dozen more
Big Joe spoons
for them. Five
minutes later
my other friend
called and told
me he’d caught
an 8-12 on his
first cast with
the spoon and
an 8-14 on his
second cast.”
Kelly Jordon, a
former Lake Fork guide and multiple Bassmaster
tournament winner, then finished 7th using the
Big Joe spoon at Kentucky Lake, and within
three weeks more than 25 other pros ordered
spoons, including FLW veteran Mark Rose, who
attributed much of his FLW Stren championship
win to the Big Joe.
“It just grew from there,” says Spaits, who
readily admits he has been surprised at both
the success of his lure as well as its longevity
in the market. An original order of 200 spoons
was quickly replaced by a weekly order of 500;
that soon increased to 1,000 per week, and then
2,000.
Today, the Big Joe Flutter Spoon is sold
directly at The Tackle Factory in Alba where
Spaits makes them (3205 N. Hwy. 17; 903-
765-3398); at nearby Lake Fork Marina
(903-765-2764); and on the marina’s website
(www.lakeforkmarina.com). The spoons, now
available in a dozen color configurations and in
both the 5 and 6-inch sizes, are shipped around
the world for both fresh and saltwater species.
It may have taken two years for Spaits to
perfect the Big Joe Flutter Spoon, but it only
took one weekend to become an overnight
success – and that success seems likely to
continue for years to come.
19
 Angler Profile
Tom Jessup
In Pursuit of the Classic...
Interview by Shane Beilue
E
very tournament bass angler has
dreamed of the chance to fish the
Bassmaster’s Classic – the pinnacle
of tournament angling. The winner of the
sport’s premier event is an instant household
name with the guarantee of multiple product
endorsements leading to thousands of dollars
in prize money.
The pursuit of that dream has two
avenues: qualifying through the
professional BASS Elite and Open
tournament series or via the BASS
Federation Nation route. The latter
allows local bass club members,
affiliated with BASS, the chance
to qualify for the Classic through
an arduous series of qualifying
tournaments throughout the season.
Though not considered full time
professionals, these anglers are
premier amateurs that hold down
regular jobs while pursuing the
dream of fishing the Classic.
One such angler that has represented
the great state of Texas in pursuit
of the Classic from the club level
is Tom Jessup. Though he’s yet to
qualify for the “big dance”, Jessup
has been on the cusp by qualifying
for the Federation Nationals,
the final qualifier prior to the
Classic. What makes Jessup’s story
particularly interesting is he is not
located anywhere near the traditional big
bass waters of east or south Texas. Rather,
Jessup is located in tiny Dalhart, Texas at the
far northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle.
How does such a remote location allow
an angler to successfully compete against
the nation’s top amateurs? Jessup answers
this question and more in the following
interview:
20 
TBFM: What is the process for qualifying
for the Bassmaster’s Classic through the
Federation Nation?
Jessup: The top 6 anglers from any state
club affiliated with BASS are eligible to fish
at the State Chapter tournament. From this
event, a 12 person state team qualifies to go
to the Federation Nation Divisional event.
The top finisher from each state team in
that event moves onto the Federation Nation
Championship tournament. From there, the
top angler from each of the 6 Regions will
advance to the Classic.
TBFM: How long have you been fishing at
the club level?
Jessup: I started fishing with the Tip Top
Bass Club in Dalhart in 1987 and became
interested in fishing at the state level in
1990.
TBFM: What are some of the destinations
you’ve fished outside of Texas and how do
you prepare for these events so far
from home?
Jessup: I’ve been to Harris Chain
of Lakes in Florida twice, the Red
River in Louisiana, Table Rock in
Missouri, Greer’s Ferry, Arkansas
to name a few. Pre-fishing these
locations is a must if you want to do
well because they are so unfamiliar;
therefore, learning to navigate the
waterways safely is a big reason to go
pre-fish a new lake. Secondly, just
being able to move around without
getting lost on a system like the Red
River takes a lot of time. It’s also
important to figure out local trends
that work on a particular body of
water that we may not typically
use here in Texas. For example, at
Table Rock during certain times of
the year they catch a lot of bass on
Redfins, which is an old jerkbait
from years ago. In Florida the locals
throw a Devil’s Horse topwater lure
a lot. These are things you just don’t
know about unless you go spend a
lot of time on the water prior to the
tournament.
TBFM: Do you feel that your distance
from the state’s typical big bass reservoirs is
a limitation?
Jessup: Not really. You just have to be able
learn with whatever is available to you. The
lakes in my area are Meredith (TX), Ute
(NM) and Conchas (NM) and I can learn to
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
fish different types of water in each of those
reservoirs. Meredith, for example, has some
vegetation in it now, so that has helped me to Russ Clark - Owner
become more comfortable fishing that type PAA Pro Tournament Angler
of cover.

TBFM: Do you believe it’s important for an

angler to specialize in one technique and look
for places to utilize that specialty?
Jessup: I know some anglers do this, but I
believe being versatile is my biggest strength.
I can throw just about anything in the tackle
box and feel confident that I can catch bass. I
don’t particularly like to throw a Carolina rig,
for example, but I will if that’s what it takes
to catch bass. I make myself learn different
techniques on the local lakes and take those
techniques to new water. I believe most
anglers don’t spend enough time learning a
new technique or lure. You really have to
commit to fishing an unfamiliar lure and not
put it down until you start catching fish with
it. I also try to stay up on the newest lures and
techniques across the nation and try them out
I N G S O O N
on my local lakes.
COM N R O E!
E C O
TO LAK
TBFM: How do you develop a game plan
when going to a new lake?
Jessup: I first observe the water clarity and
temperature and try to select my lure color and
speed of retrieve based upon these variables.
I really study the topo map in advance and
Magazine

find a specific area of the lake that I can really

focus on and learn what the fish are doing in
that area. Then I can expand the pattern to
other parts of the lake.

I also think the new sidescan sonar

technology is a huge advancement for finding
fish on a new body of water. The ability to
find an isolated piece of offshore cover can
really be the difference in finding a group of
tournament-winning fish.

TBFM: How close have you come to

making the Bassmaster’s Classic?
Jessup: I finished just one place out of 11360 Cude Cemetery Road
qualifying for the Classic this year. It’s a long
process to get that far and not make it! Willis, TX 77318

936-689-0400
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
www.roadhousetackle.com
 bass angler’s
classified directory
Sam rayburn
Hwy. 255 Piney
Point Plaza
Lake Sam Rayburn
• 409.698.9495
Needmore Powell Park
Tackle Store Marina
www.needmoretacklestore.com On Lake Sam Rayburn
971 CR 459
4239 Hwy 255 Broaddus, TX 75929
Sam Rayburn, TX 75951 Marina: 409.584.2624
Phone: 409.698.9430 www.powellpark.com
Shaded RV Sites - Cabins
The source for fishing tackle, supplies Boat Slips - Camping
& info on Lake Sam Rayburn! Restaurant - Store
LAKE LIVINGSTON, Palestine
& richland chambers
Lakeside RV Resort Waterfront
& Marina
Lodge
Lake Livingston
15152 US Hwy 190 W
Marina & RV
Onalaska, TX 77360 LAKE LIVINGSTON
RV Reservations: 317 Navaho Trail
936.646.3824 Onalaska, TX 77360
Resturant: 936.646.4734 Office: 936.646.3525
www.lakesideresort.net
www.thewaterfrontlodge.com
CHOKE CANYON
Falcon Lake
Falcon Lake Tackle
2195 South Highway 83 • Box F-10
Zapata, TX 78076 • Phone: 956.765.4866
www.falconlaketackle.com • www.falconlake.com
22 
Lake fork
Sam Rayburn Marina Resort Fisherman’s Cove Marina Resort
Lake Sam Rayburn, TX 2712 N. FM 17 • Alba, TX 75410
Phone: 409.698.2696 Phone: 903.765.2943 • Lake Fork
www.samrayburnmarinaresort.com
Cabins • RV Sites • Boat Sips • Fishing Dock • Motel
www.fishermanscovelakefork.com
Jackson Hill Park Marina
1705 FM 2851 Oakridge Resort
Broaddus, TX 75929
and Marina
Phone: (936) 872-9266
w w w.jacks on h ill.u s “Eat, Sleep, Fish” Lake Fork
Reel um N Guide Service
2919 W SH 154 Quitman, TX 75783
Owner: Lynn Atkinson
865 Norris St Zavalla, TX 75980 Reel um N LAKEFORK, TEXAS 903-878-2529
Cell (979) 220-0251
Home (936) 897-3400 Guide Service www.oakridgemarina.com
www.reelumn.com
Lake Fork Resort
Located 1/2 Mile South of Hwy 515 on Hwy 17
5004 North FM 17 • Alba, Texas 75410
Phone: 903.765.2987 • Toll Free: 800.230.4367
Lake Palestine Resort
The Minnow
Tyler, Texas
Bucket Marina Lake Fork
Lodge-Motel-RV Park-Resturant
Lake Fork Reservoir Marina & Motel
3035 W. Hwy 154
8900 Ruby Lane Quitman, TX 75783 275 County Road 1558
Frankston, TX 75763 www.minnowbucket marina.com Alba, TX 75410
Phone: 903.876.2253
www.lakepalestineresort.com Annual RV Sites • Bait & Tackle Phone: 903.765.2764
Groceries • Refueling Dock www.lakeforkmarina.com
• Camping • Boat Ramps
Lake Conroe
Choke Canyon Lodge
141 Jeff Street (Corner of Jeff Street & SH 72)
Three Rivers, TX 78071 Stow-A-Way Marina April Plaza Marina, Inc.
Phone: 361.786.3999 • Toll Free: 866.792.3999
www.chokecanyonlodge.com
Lake Conroe 10 1/2 Miles West of Conroe
on Hwy 105
13988 Calvary Rd
Willis, 77318 Lake Conroe
Food - Fishing Supplies - RV Park
936-856-4531 17742 Hwy 105 W
www.cooson3@aol.com
P.O. Box 846 Marina - Live Bait & Tackle - Fuel Montgomery, TX 77356
Junction, TX 76849 - Wet & Dry Boat Storage - RV
Park; HOME OF THE SUNDAY
Phone: 936.588.1144
Phone: 361.786.2685
MORNING TOURNAMENTS! www.aprilplaza.com
Robert’s Fish N’ Tackle
Tackle, Live Bait, Guide Service, Motor & Trailer Repair
2425 S. Hwy 83 • Zapata, TX 78076
Phone: 956.756.1442 • Falcon Lake
Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Winter 2010
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