Client Catches – Surface Lures “R” Us…
If you follow my blog or indeed my social media platforms, then you will know that I am very particular about what goes into both my personal and professional (guiding/client) lure boxes. There will be patterns that do a specific job, ranging from a hefty, overly conspicuous, chartreuse soft plastic paddle tail for use in murky estuarine water, to a diminutive, surface sliding lure with a great deal of ‘flash’ encompassed with the body styling to mimic small bait fish scattering.
Furthermore, in order to become a ‘staple’ in my armoury, the ‘action’ (which may or may not be administered by the angler) will need to posses an intrinsic ‘style’ of movement that will not only be appealing to me, but of course to our friend the bass…
Top Waters…
As you’ll read in this, and all of my forthcoming ‘Client Catches’ posts, so far this season, the majority of the noteworthy bass that my clients have landed (including the largest currently at 68cm that you can read about here) and unfortunately lost have ‘walloped’ a surface or top water lure of some description. Primarily, this has been either the IMA Chappy, Xorus Patchinko 100, or Xorus Patchinko 125. However, every so often something new, different, that interests me, or that I believe can complete a definite role appears on my bass fishing radar…
Fishus Espetit
With an earlier blog post in mind (Client Catches -The Swimming Surface Lure) if you don’t already own one of these lures, allow me to introduce the ‘Espetit’ designed and manufactured by a lure fishing company called Fishus. The full description of the lure, its various sizes, and the multitude of colours they are available in can be found here).
If you’re on the shoreline or out on the water as much as I am chasing bass on lures, then you’ll know just how damn ‘finicky’ they can be – something I covered in my previous blog post here. So when I observe a lure’s movement on the surface that is ever-so-slightly ‘different’ from the patterns I am already using, and then I witness it account for a stunning bass in some very shallow (18″) and pretty mucky water, I feel it is my duty to inform my readers and followers – after I’ve purchased a few myself you’ll understand!
Making a splash?
Now, as it happens (I don’t mind admitting this) if you don’t already recognise him, the client who landed and released the bass in the featured image is Wayne Morgan – founder of the You Tube Channel Angling Addicts (here) and owner of a relatively new online lure fishing website/shop named Lure’s Edge (here).
So did I instruct Wayne to attach the Fishus Espetit – a lure that he stocks alongside a whole range of Fishus products? No, I didn’t – that was his choice, and you can hardly blame him – not only because he clearly has a vested interest in the product(s), but also because he has caught a lot of bass on them, and so have his subscribers!
No, what I suggested to Wayne, as the first push of the newly flooding tide brought with it some turbid and dirty water, was to attach a surface lure that wasn’t ‘splashy’ and that instead would ‘meander’ across the millpond he was fishing into and through the shallows – and I mean very shallow at 12-18″ depth.
‘That’ noise
I know I write this a lot! But that sound – the crash come splash that detonates through the type of intricate creek valley that we were stood on is probably the finest noise you could ever wish to hear if you’re a surface lure afficionado like most of us are! To be honest, I don’t know what I love more – the sight of bass smashing into a surface lure or the ‘crashing clamour!
Would a similar surface lure had accounted for what is a wonderful bass by anyone’s standards, and a new shore-caught/lure caught bass for Wayne at 64cm? Well, what I didn’t tell him at the time, is that despite guiding on this particular mark on over 100 occasions now, I have never seen a bass take a surface lure on the flood here, or in such murky water on this particular venue, which for me, tells a story, and that story is that maybe the 95mm Espetit was the difference… All I know is that I took ownership of two yesterday morning!
To Book a Guided Session at South Devon Bass Guide Ltd
To book or to enquiry about a professionally guided bass lure fishing session with either myself Marc Cowling, or my 2nd Guide Joe, please complete the Contact Form below. Alternatively, you can email me directly at: southdevonbassguide@yahoo.com and I will endeavour to reply as soon as I possibly can. Further, please feel free to peruse my Testimonials, The Experience, What I Offer, and About pages.
Thanks for reading.
Marc Cowling
South Devon Bass Guide Ltd
South Devon Bass Guide Ltd 