In my previous blog/audio post (here) I confidently stated how I would not have caught 20% of the bass I landed between mid-December 2024 to early-March 2025 had I been casting and retrieving anything else but a creature bait – within daylight especially.
This is a bold statement of course. However, in addition to being an accurate one, what I also would state here is that, alongside describing in detail over on my Marc Cowling – Bass Lure Fishing sister website how, when, and where I utilise these very special lures, I can add that some of the locations in which I have hooked bass on them (including the 71cm animal I landed in February of this year here) are somewhat unconventional…
A ‘Mega’ Revelation
Will I reveal my findings in this regard? Yes, but not until I have as close to ‘affirmation’ as I am ever going to achieve taking into account the mercurial nature of our quarry. Were the catches that I, my clients, and that of my 2nd Guide Joe achieved over the winter of 2024/25 influenced by just one unique winter of benign weather? I will not know the answer to that for another couple of years I suspect.
A question that has been answered however, and unequivocally so, is whether the creature baits would continue to yield bass to our clients during the warmer spring and summer months – outside of when crabs are the main item on the bass menu. Aside from July (when fish were hooked and unfortunately lost while using them) either Joe or I have successfully caught or guided our clients onto bass whilst using a creature bait in April, May, June, August, and now September.
The Megabass Sleeper Craw has been a revelation as far as I’m concerned. I did have my suspicions that they would be difficult to retrieve through the ‘sea lettuce’ that forms on the mud/gravel foreshores of many of our estuary systems (not all you’ll note) and that has indeed been the case. However, now that this ‘salad’ is beginning to dissipate it opens up an increasing number of my marks to the use of what has proven, beyond any doubt, to be a lethal lure…
When others fail
Blowing yet more smoke up their bums, one of the many attributes that they possess is the ability (alongside the angler working it of course) to winkle out a bass when either all else has failed, or the overall conditions simply warrant their use – something I will elaborate on in future posts as the Sleeper Craw catches inevitably mount up.
I mention all of the above as there is no doubt in my mind that my client below (Damien) would not have witnessed this ‘fin-perfect’ bass essentially race into a 2m2 gap within a bladder wrack field, to engulf his ‘fresh out of the box’ Sleeper Craw before his very eyes!
The excitement in his voice as he shouted, “Fish on! Fish on! It took it right in front of me, there in the gap!” as I scrambled (unsuccessfully) to grab the net, is something that will live with me, and even more so, him, for a very long time I suspect given how ‘made up’ he genuinely was to hook and land this his new PB bass.
More to Come
“This opens up so many opportunities for me on my marks at home”, was something Damien added as his achievement sank in. God I love my job!!! Moreover, I can tell you that is more to come from these lures – a lot more…
Marc Cowling’s Books
(Including my NEW 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 (Marc Cowling – Bass Lure Fishing) 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, my Remaining 2026 Availability plus Joe’s forthcoming release of his 2026 Dates will be available very soon. Therefore, to enquire and/or to be kept informed please either complete the Contact Form below or email us directly at: southdevonbassguide@yahoo.com
Thank you for reading.
Marc Cowling
South Devon Bass Guide Ltd
South Devon Bass Guide Ltd 