From Western Bass News

J ROD MCGINNIS FIRST PERSON REPORT

BAD WEATHER BASS

BY J ROD MCGINNIS Published: May 18, 2009

It started as a challenge to get my son back into fishing. It seems we were having a bad start, as we had tried several times at Lake Pardee, Camanche and then switched to Lake Amador.

Then I made a decision to go to Clearlake with a professional guide. I knew we needed badly to get some fish on the hook, or I was going to lose my son Ryan due to not hooking any fish. We all know the frustration of the feast or famine when it comes to fishing.

I decided to contact the owner of a tackle shop ( Limit Out Tackle ) in Clearlake Oaks and Bob Higgins’s wife referred me to a new guide on the lake by the name of Steve Perkins. I had several conversations with Steve and explained to him that we needed to get some fish on my son Ryan’s line or he might back off from fishing.

What I got was more than I bargained for and more than what I paid for. Ryan and I fished two half days with Steve and I will say he worked to get us hooked up.

By the end of ia rainy cold Saturday we had caught almost 30 bass ranging from 3 to 6 ½ pounds. Most caught were in the 4-pound range and made for an exciting time, even in the cold rain that I had insisted on fishing in.

I had to try and beat my sons 6 ½-pound hog bass that he had caught the prior day. I only had to tie him or get one 1/4- pound larger. Well, I lost, but it was a experience that my son and I will remember. Its not every day that you get to watch your son pull in a 6 1/2-pound “hog “ bass.

Oh, you’re probably wondering what we caught them on. Well, for that you’ll have to ask Steve Perkins, our guide. I highly recommend Steve--you may not get that 6 ½ pounder every day, but he will get you on the bass. He recently hooked a 12 pounder.

If you’re looking for a guided trip, give him a call. Ryan and I will be going back soon so I can try and redeem myself with at least a tie.

Link to Article on the W.O.N Web site Click Here

Northern California's Inaugural Bass Tackle Event

Bass Jam 2009

Hippo Tackle: Swim baits in Pennsylvania? That’s exactly where Hippo Tackle is from and Steve Perkins was on hand to show us yet another interpretation of the paddle tail bait that sell for $6.99 per 4 pack and feature a much softer than normal plastic for enhanced fish enticing action – especially at super slow speeds. Steve tells us his favorite technique with these baits is to slow roll them through weed beds with heavy weights, lifting them off the bottom ever so gently, and then having the baits fall right back down again. The extra-soft plastic on the Hippo Lures allows the tails on these baits to move on this presentation whereas other baits Steve has tried have no movement because the plastic used in the baits is just a little too stiff.

Hippo Swim Bait