My Client Catches – Upsize or downsize? – South Devon Bass Guide Ltd

My Client Catches – Upsize or Downsize?

NOTE: The Audio Clip relating to this fantastic capture can be found further down the page.

Despite the fact that my catches never really ended during the transition from 2024 to 2025, whereby I achieved some memorable catches during the winter and early-spring (all of which can be found on my Marc Cowling – Bass Lure Fishing sister website) you could still say that it is still early in the ‘new season’ down here in south Devon…

By this, what I mean is that as the water begins to warm, the shrimp start to swarm, the bait fish (sandeels and sand smelt) begin to shoal up, and the crabs begin to moult, the way that the bass behave can be extremely unpredictable. They are often in pockets for example, or they can be fixated on one food source only – both of which serves to make my clients and I work exceptionally to catch them – but find them we very often do…

My clients’ fabulous bass and a new PB landed after a change of lure to the smaller 11cm Savage Gear Slender Scoop Shad, skewered onto a 6/0 5g belly-weighted hook so to combat the flow of the current

Alongside utilising differing lure types and styles of retrieve, something else that can place more of the odds in the anglers’ favour when searching for those reticent bass is to clip on either a soft or a hard lure in a slightly smaller or even a larger size ‘than usual’ in an attempt to garner an attack!

What a brute!!! The biggest client capture of the season so far…

Lure Boxes…

No, I’m not about to bore you with what type or size of lure box I carry around! Instead, I want to tell you about why I ALWAYS have a ‘sniff around’ my clients’ collection! Sometimes there is something in there that takes my fancy, and that I think the bass might just want over the ‘usual suspects’ shall we say – it’s all about learning and trying new things right?

“Was he scared of it Dad?” was what my daughter asked me when I showed her the photograph! “No darling, he was just in shock” was my answer…!

Audio Clip

To listen to the full story of how Pete’s new PB was achieved you can hit ‘Play’ on the Audio Clip below:

My Books

(Including my latest release: The Lure of The Bass – The Revised Edition)

For stock levels, purchasing options (BACS or PayPal) and for more information in regard to the contents of each of my respective publications you can follow the links to my sister website below:

The Lure of The Bass – The Revised Edition

Bass Lure Fishing – A Guide’s Perspective (Volume 1)

Bass Lure Fishing – A Guide’s Perspective (Volume 2)

2025 and 2026 Availability

(2nd Guide Joe and Marc Cowling)

Information and Prices, plus the remaining 2025 Availability for my 2nd Guide Joe can be found here.

Furthermore, I will be releasing my (Marc Cowling) 2026 Availability to the general public very soon (the clients on my mailing list have had sight of these for some time and I am already 70% booked for next year). Therefore, to enquire and/or to be kept informed please either complete the Contact Form below or email me directly at: southdevonbassguide@yahoo.com