My knowledge about catching linesiders is somewhat limited. I mostly learned how to catch stripers by talking briefly with Steve LaRussa at Coyote Bait & Tackle, reading quite a few articles on the web, and getting out as much as possible during the striper season.  At first, I quickly grew frustrated. It felt as though I was ‘blind’ casting my way through the Delta while hunting for these fish. What I really needed was some direction from someone who knew what they were doing. I decided to search for a guide who knew how stripers migrated through the delta. A professional who could take me out to show me what it takes to find and  land big fish. I didn’t want to take the trolling route, I wanted to go with someone who knew how to plug for these things.

After researching on the web, I came across Bobby Barrack’s website. It is stated on his homepage that he does guided striper trips. I then took a look at his photo gallery. His clients have caught some hogs…big, [singlepic=15,320,240,,left]big stripers. Some of the photos show his clients holding their fish like a sack of potatoes. After looking at those photos, I assumed that this is probably the guy I needed to talk to.

Bobby Barrack is a Bay Area born fisherman. He decided to move near the California Delta because he spent so much time out on the river anyways. I asked him how long he has been guiding and his response was, “Oh, only 12 years.” That’s longer than I have been an avid fisherman! I also asked him what draws him to striper fishing and he stated that it is because he has been doing it since the 80’s.  It felt good to fish with Bobby on the Delta for the linesiders because you can see that his passion for largemouth bass fishing spills into his techniques for catching the Big Mo’s. If you were to ask a trolling fisherman to plug all day for these freight trains, he would probably laugh in your face. Some people cannot grasp investing an entire day into plugging for stripers and that is because they are not ‘bass fisherman’.

I decided to split the cost of the trip with my stubborn father to learn that plugging for stripers can be fun. My Dad loves striper fishing as much as I do. Except, he likes to baitfish and troll for them. Getting him to[singlepic=12,320,240,,right] use a bait caster is hard enough so selling him Bobby’s services was going to be tougher. Once I showed my Dad Bobby’s photo gallery, he quickly decided that it might not be a bad idea.

The plan was to meet at Russo’s Marina at the butt crack of dawn, the best time to catch these fish on topwater lures. Due to my fathers desire to take long morning showers, we were late by about 15 minutes. Who knows, that fifteen minutes may have cost us a 30 pounder. Maybe two. If you were to ask me any question about striper plugging, I would reply with this statement, “BE ON THE WATER RIGHT BEFORE THE SUN STARTS TO LIGHT UP THE SKY IF YOU WANT TO CATCH A BIG STRIPER ON A TOPWATER LURE”.

When we arrived, I was very excited to see that we would be navigating the Delta on a 21 ft Ranger dubbed, “El Sappo”. Before this trip, I had never been on a bass boat of this size. Deck room, lots and lots of deck room.

Through out the entire day, we fished an area of the Delta that I was already familiar with. I previously had only fished for largemouth bass in this area, so fishing for stripers here was all new to me.  The most important thing I learned about fishing for stripers was to move a lot when searching for these fish. We would give every spot a good 10-30 minutes of plugging, and then move. Even though we bounced around, Bobby definitely proved to me that you are able to recycle a spot. If they were there earlier in the day, hit your baits, then left. They may return.

[singlepic=16,320,240,,left]All in all, the trip produced a 13 pounder, a few around 10 and a bunch in between shaker size to 5 pounds. I missed a big one, which straightened the eye of the hook holder on my Lunker Punker Jr due to a heavy drag setting, and my Dad missed another big one because he set into the fish too early. Those fish were definitely in the 10 plus pound zone. Who knows, maybe bigger. There was also a time when a fish followed Bobby’s bait that was “BIG!!” Unfortunately, we couldn’t get her to commit to our baits.  Bobby also explained that sometimes the big fish grab the bait with a ”slurp” and when you hear that sound, you know she is big. Sure enough, another striper missed my bait later in the day which made this sound.

I learned a lot fishing with Bobby Barrack. The most important things were to be patient when searching for stripers that are willing to commit to topwater baits, do not be scared to fish water as shallow as 3 feet, find some moving water, and move if you aren’t catching anything. When you see those linesiders busting bait on the top, cast those lures out towards them and hang on!

I do plan on doing a trip with Bobby in the future. Maybe I’d book a trip in September when you can still catch some largemouth on frogs and stripers on Lunker Punkers. Thanks Bobby for convincing my Dad that plugging for stripers is awesome.

If you are interested on booking a trip with Bobby, check out his website, http://www.bobbybarrack.com. You can also call him at (925) 684-9904. Be sure to tell him that Mario and Marce Sr. sent you.

Bobby’s Gear:

Lunker Punker Jr.

• ROD: Falcon Cara T7- Bobby’s Perfect Frog Rod/CC-8-2710XHT/ 7’ 10”
• REEL: Shimano 200DHSV
• LINE: 65# Spiderwire Stealth

Lucky Craft 127 Rip Bait

• ROD: Falcon Cara T7/CC-5-17MH/ 7’
• REEL: ABU Garcia Revo 7:1
• LINE: Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, 15# test

Pencil Popper

• ROD: Falcon Cara T7/Swimbait/CCB-8-173SW
• REEL: ABU Garcia Revo 7:1
• LINE: 65# Spiderwire Stealth

It would take a big 8.05 pound kicker that would lock Gary Wratten and Dave Uyeda into first place on the final day with an outstanding bag weighing 16.23 pounds. With the big fish option, winner take all option and first place check, Gary and Dave brought home a total of $3,510!!

Thank you Coyote Bait & Tackle for keeping the thrill of competition bass fishing alive in the Santa Clara County.

Results provide by Coyotebait.com. Click here to view photos.

Coyote Bait & Tackle’s Two Day Team Tournament Shootout
Anderson Reservoir, Santa Clara County
November 8th & 9th, 2008

1st Place – DAVE UYEDA/GARY WRATTEN
Day 1: 6.83lbs., Day 2: 16.23 lbs.
Total Weight 23.06 lbs.
$2200

2nd Place – RUS SNYDERS/CHARLES RIM
Day 1: 7.66 lbs., Day 2: 10.50 lbs
Total Weight 18.16 lbs.
$1000.00

3rd Place – JIM GIANCOLA/ CINDY SILACCI
Day 1: 8.92 lbs, Day 2: 8.56
Total Weight 17.48LBS.
$700.00

4TH: CHRIS ZALDAIN/ STEVE ERICKSON 7.98,9.00= 16.98LBS . $500.00
5TH: DARREN SHIMA/ ALEX MEZA; 7.93,8.53= 16.46LBS. $400.00
6TH: BRIAN CARLSON/JEFF KAWAGUCHI: 7.51, 8.94= 16.45LBS. $300
7TH: RODNEY IO/ REID ANDERSON: 9.59,6.23= 15.82LBS. $200.00
8TH: MATT KIM/JOE MACRENARIS: 8.11,7.61=1 5.72LBS. $100.00
9TH: JOHN HAGEN/BRIT BRITON: 7.00,8.10= 15.10LBS.
10TH: BILL LEE/ BOB GRENEVALD: 8.23, 6.65= 14.88LBS.
11TH: JUAN ACOSTA/ MIKE GUTIEREZ: 6.81, 7.63= 14.44LBS.
12TH: DON WELCH/ RON HUNNEWELL: 8.07, 6.24= 14.31LBS
13TH: JASON & GENO LAZZERINI: 6.15, 7.95= 14.10 LBS
14TH: WEYMAN KWONG/JERRY ROUSE: 7.88, 5.92= 13.80LBS.
15TH: MIKE WOHLGEMUTH/RAZE REEZER: 7.49, 6.19= 13.68LBS
16TH: JEFF LAMY/RICHARD PUENTES: 6.52,7.09= 13.61LBS
17TH: CHRIS COSTELLO/ CHAD HULBERT: 6.89,6.67= 13.56LBS
18TH: JAVIER MARTINEZ/TONY CHRISTIE: 8.81,4.73= 13.54LBS.
19TH: SCOTT CARTER/JOHN EDMUNSON: 6.24,6.23= 12.47
20TH: TED TENCATI/DAVE TENCATI: 5.22,6.97= 12.19LBS.
21ST: MIKE JOHNSON/ CLARK FOSTER: 6.57,5.59= 12.16LBS.
22ND: RYAN WAKE/ ADRIAN PAGAN: 5.40,5.46= 10.86LBS.
23RD: ADAM McANREWS/ JUSTIN BALDASANO: 5.10,3.62= 8.72 LBS.
24TH: JOESPH& JOE LAVERY: 5.68,2.73= 8.41LBS.
25TH: GREG BORG/DERIK ALLRAD: 4.54,2.00= 6.64
——————————————————
26TH: MOE MARTINEZ/ADAM KERN: 2.97LBS
27TH: CODY REMICK/NEIL BUSHMAN: 2.78LBS
28TH: MARK SARIN/ ALEX MEZA SR.: 2.74LBS.
29TH: DAVID COFFURO/ JULIO OLIVEEN; 2.45LBS
30TH: EDDIE KING/MIKE SCHLEY: 2.37LBS.
31ST: KENNETH KNIGHT/ ZACHERY KNIGHT: 2.34LBS.
32ND: DALE RODONI/ SANDI RODINI: 1.62LBS.
33RD: MIKE & JOHN AMOROSO: 1.52LBS.
34TH: RICHARD TRUJILLO/ ANTHONY: 1.45LBS.
35TH: DAVE THOMPSON/RICK SCHWARTZ: 0.00
36TH: JIM RUE/JOE NICOLAI: 0.00
37TH: JERRY SMYTH/ JOSH HANOKA: 0.00
38TH: ROBERT YOUND SR./ ROBERT YOUNG JR.: 0.00
39TH: JERRY BOYD/ KEN BALDWIN: 0.00
40TH: KELLY & CARRIE SPRAGUE; 0.00
41ST: JOHN MESKER/ TINO FLORES: 0.00
42ND: ANTHONY CARLSON/ JASON GOODPASURE: 0.00

Winner Take All Option
DAVE UYEDA & GARY WRATTEN
$930.00

November 8th Big Fish
JERRY ROUSE 5.30 Pounds
$380.00

November 9th Big Fish
GARY WRATTEN, 8.05 Pounds
$380.00

This bait looks amazing on the top of the water. The Lunker Punker looks more like a real fish skimming across the surface of the water than to it’s comparisons by ten fold. I once witnessed seeing an Osprey eagle attempt to capture this bait off of the surface thinking it was a tasty trout. It’s action is unlike no other walk-the-dog top water bait that I have seen. It seems to add some spice to it’s walk by rolling on it’s sides when you yank down on your rod, then up righting itself once it stops it’s zig or zag. This action is what greatly contributes to the amount of disturbance that this lure can create while cruising across the top of the water. Rattles are not needed in this bait for it to capture the attention of any feeding fish that may be in the area. Fished fast or slow, this bait is a deadly weapon when pursuing the top water bite for hungry Blackie’s or aggressive Linsiders.

You may be curious about what rod to use when throwing the 4 ounce Lunker Punker or the smaller 3.5 ounce Lunker Punker Jr. I throw the 3.5 ounce Lunker Punker Jr. on a Kistler flipping stick(KFS76) which has a medium to fast tip and a semi-stout body. This rod works great with this bait and it only cost me $99.00! I have heard from others that the Dobyn’s 735c will also work when hucking the Junior around at your local waters. I was throwing the Junior on a Dobyn’s 736c when I bent out one of the hook holders while fighting a 10 pound striper. This lead me to begin using a lighter rod. Although, I would like to note that if the only heavy rod you have is a broom stick, use a 5 foot 20lb mono leader at the end of your braid to help cusion the stiffness of the rod.

I am sure that one of the Okuma Big Bait rod’s will also work for you as well. My buddy, Jerry “Jerbs” Smyth, throws the Lunker Punker Senior on his 7’6” Okuma Big Bait heavy rod and seems to not have any trouble making his bait walk properly across the top of the water.

When using this bait for the Linesiders, I have Spider Wire’s 65 pound braid tied to my high speed Curado 201 reel. I buy this line at Wal-Mart, it’s only $14.99 there. You did not hear the from me…Using a high speed reel is necessary to have just in case the biggies start swimming towards you after they are hooked. You always want a bend in your rod or the fish just might unbutton.

I have also followed the advice that I have read on other websites by replacing the split rings and hooks to insure that my fish do not bend out any of the hardware attached to the lure while hustling them in. I found me some 1/0 Owner 2x hooks and some 70lb split rings to replace the factory hardware. Although, I have read that you may want to put on the 4x hooks if you are using braid that is as strong as what I am using. You know what? Just loosen up the drag a little bit if you can’t find that size.

I mentioned above that I bent out one of the hook holders while fighting a fish. Thankfully, the other hooks were stuck firmly into the fish’s mouth and I was able to net it. I was hoping that Black Dog Bait Co. may be able to help me out with a replacement due to the high cost of the lure. I made two attempts to contact them via the contact form on their website to report the issue and received no response. I hope that this is not true for others out there who may have experienced any other problems with this bait. I assume that they may be too busy to address the issue. Luckily, Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods replaced the bait at no cost. Thanks Glenn!

(Authors Note added 11/13/2008: Grant at Black Dog Baits stated that he attempted to contact me and I believe the email must have been lost. After getting a replacement from Mel’s, I bent the hook holder out again on another big fish the following week. I contacted Grant and he stated that they would repair the bait at no cost. All I had to do was sent it back to them.

Following this second incident, I brought back my drag quite a bit. I believe that my drag may have been too tight while using the 65lb braid. Be sure your drag is loose if you are using 4x hooks and 65 pound braid.)

I have yet to hook a Largemouth on the bait although I will definitely be throwing this bait at a local lake for the the Largies next year. The Lunker Punker from Black Dog Bait Company is a good investment to make if you like watching fish crush top water lures. This bait will never be left home when I am heading out for a trip and hopefully, this will be the bait I catch some personal bests on in the future.

The author with a California Delta Striped Bass caught on a Lunker Punker Jr.

I had a similar story, not like I was handcuffed or anything and going to prison, but I surfed a 50 year storm….with my fishing pole.

All my life I wanted to catch a big 10 plus pound bass. Not just catch a 10 pound bass bass, but a 10 pound bass on a 8 inch trout swimbait. Knowing that bass fishing can produce a 50 year storm once or maybe twice in your life (but if you know what’s up, it happens frequently, I give those guys mad respect. Except those who take it to their heads.), I had heard from a close, short, hairy friend that an epic bite was on at a specific lake. I don’t need to disclose any names because if you know, you know.

I would like to point out that this friend had only been fishing for 1 year and caught a 45 pound bag during this epic swell. A 45 pound bag on jigs! Jigs! This feat will probably never be repeated for the rest of his life, but who knows, maybe it will….scum bag. (just kidding).

Well, I decided to go out with him 2 days following the amazing day that he had on the water. On this day, I brought my Crucial 7’11” Heavy swimbait rod with a Cardiff 301 rigged with 25 pound P-Line maxima and a 12 ROF Huddie tied on the end.

We hit the spot where he hooked his fish with minimal luck (nothing, except he unbuttoned a toad earlier in the day) and decided to move on. Once we hit the next main lake point, I was determined to keep hucking that Huddie for one of these hungry pre-spawn Florida strain largemouth bass. Low and behold, I got bit. I could not believe it. A bite on a HUD! That was enough to get my heart pumping faster than I have ever experienced while fishing. I love adrenaline, and this was the perfect fix. I kept repeating in awe, “I got bit on my Hud, I got bit on my Hud!”
The next cast was the start of my 50 year storm. Slowly rolling my Huddie on the lake bottom, the Hud was nailed by a 7.5 pounder. Best fight ever. I even was lucky enough to catch it on film.

[youtube]DDNeJAYkUqU[/youtube]

Blissssssssss.

Immediately after I let this fish go, I thought to myself, ”Wait, I read once where there is one big bass, there is usually another…” Two casts later, I caught my new PB and my first 10 pound plus, a beautiful ten and a half pound, trophy sized bass.

Following that day was one month filled with the best fishing of my life. Multiple 9 pounders each day I went out, a humongous bag over one weekend, landed another ten plus fish that may have been my new PB(forgot my scale), watched two other Turdz get their PB’s and I experienced it all with some of my favorite people to go fishing with. Was it for the taking, I will never know…we were always the only ones on the water!

After thinking about the why this occurred, I came up with a list of things that helped align the stars…

• Lake closed to boats (Except when you launch them by hand. This allowed us to bring a 14 ft. [singlepic=4,375,375,,right]Aluminum with a 15 hp 4 stroke)
• Pre-spawn
• Trout hungry bass
• Weekly trout plants for one month straight
• No trolling motor so we were constantly anchoring our boats making no noise what so ever
• Many types of Huddlestons available at the local shop
• Proper gear investment before the storm
• Moon was just right

Without all of those elements being perfectly aligned, I would have never experience the bite that I had. I actually do not know if it will happen again. Of course I hope it does, but I swear, I feel like if I were to die now and look back upon my life, I would be proud to have accomplished the goal that I set for myself in Largemouth Bass fishing; to catch trophy bass on trout swimbaits.

Be prepared for your storm. Have the right gear, go to the right spots, research, ask questions, and most of all, HAVE FUN! Thank you, BassTurdz.