WORK DEEPER WATER FOR SALTWATER BASS

GET TO THE DEPTHS

CALICO, SAND BASS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HEARTY OCEAN ANGLERS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

So, you want to go calico bass fishing but the weather is not cooperating. Storms are starting to hit the Southern California coastline and water temperatures are cooling off.

Don’t give up because calicos and sand bass are just sliding out onto deeper structure. Last winter brought some great fishing for me and my friends as we worked artificial reefs, drop-offs and even sunken boats off the coast. You too can enjoy this type of fishing; you just have to search for the correct areas to fish.

FINDING COVER

You see, up and down the coast are man-made structure such as pipes that are covered with giant boulders. Over time they have become reefs that hold all types of life, supporting the food chain. There are also old bridge pilings, concrete pieces and sunken boats, as well as the natural contours of the bottom. Rebar can make them tackle takers, but just use a weedless jighead and it should cut down on having to retie all the time.

BE A DIGITAL SLEUTH

If you have enough of these targets/ reefs stored in your mapping unit, then you have what you need to fish all winter and be successful. You will,

With a match-the-hatch mentality and using a fish finder to track down schools of fish in deep water, clever anglers can really score big on saltwater bass this winter. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Author Bill Schaefer admires a calico he pulled up from the depths of the Pacific. “Wind and current can play a part in your (bait) choice more than you think,” he says. “If you see that the fish are up off the bottom on your sonar, then don’t go too heavy, as your bait will fly right past them.”

of course, need a fish finder with mapping capabilities to mark the spots, but if you don’t have mapping on your unit, a small handheld unit will work too.

If you only have the fish finder you’re still in business, as long as you can read the contours of the bottom or the targets. Line up two fixed points on land to find and return to the spots you like, if necessary. You can also carry a notebook to make notes on your favorite spots. Even some less expensive fish finders have GPS/mapping and higher resolution than older models and will really help you out.

Can you tell the bass from the schools of rockfish on the structure? Yes, if your unit has high resolution, such as my Lowrance HDS 12 Live Sonar. On structure, the rockfish tend to look more like a school of bait and only a little larger in makeup.

The bass tend to look more like streaks or the classic hooks you have come to recognize. Even though they slide out to deeper water or are on, say, a pile of old bridge pilings, they can be up off the bottom chasing baitfish and feeding. If this is the case, then you will usually see a ball of some type of bait above them and the streaks on your meter running through that bait are the bass. They can also be up prowling in wolf packs or schools and not actually feeding and will look like just slightly elongated hooks. No matter where you find them, it’s always worth a few casts.

FEASTING ON BAITFISH

At these depths there is a lot of food for bass to feed on, so it won’t always be a classic ball of some type of baitfish. Marks on the bottom can mean that they are feeding on crabs, including red crab, or lobster, shrimp, octopus or even squid.

Some of these can look like a ball of something on your meter, but the reading will be hazy and almost clear because of their makeup. You will learn to identify them over time.

Watch what bass spit up when they hit the deck, you throw them in the livewell or bait tank, or when releasing them. Many times observing what they are eating has helped me in a tournament by matching the hatch. If you can come close, shape or color-wise, then you should be able to tempt them into eating your lure. Even the fall of the lure can make a difference.

THINK LIKE A CRAB

Speaking of, how your lure falls through the water column can be a game-changer. Think about how a red crab just drifts with the current. One tournament we couldn’t get bit until we went to a lighter jig head so the bait would just drift down slowly.

Usually, you will need a heavier head than when fishing the kelp, but it can still be anywhere from ½ ounce to 2 ounces. You just don’t want any more weight than you need.

Wind and current can play a part in your choice more than you think. If you see that the fish are up off the bottom on your sonar, then don’t go too heavy, as your bait will fly right past them. Most of the fish may not even see your lure go by.

A lighter living rubber jighead, like a Reebs or Warbaits, trailed with a swimbait, creature bait or giant grub will work well when the fish are

LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market POWERFUL. 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke POWERFUL. 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke COMPACT. Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200 COMPACT. Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200

THE ALL-NEW F200 IN-LINE FOUR. FORWARD THINKING. THE ALL-NEW F200 IN-LINE FOUR. FORWARD THINKING.

Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four. Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four.

CALIFORNIA

AVILA BEACH Port San Luis Boatyard (805)595-7895 www.portsanluisboatyard.com

OREGON

EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541)686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com COOS BAY Y Marina (541) 888-5501 www.ymarinaboats.com

YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine

Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™ Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal

Kelvin Nettleton unhooks a nice deep-water bass. Winter is a great time to get on a boat and head out to the depths for some great fishing.

(BILL SCHAEFER)

keyed on red crab. Again, the size of your jighead can be key to the fall of the bait, but so can the swimbait you choose.

GET IN THE SWIM OF THINGS

Have you ever been fishing with a buddy and he keeps catching bass and you don’t? Different swimbait manufacturers all believe in the design of their bait, especially the tail and the vibration it puts out.

Larger thumping tails to quicker vibrating tails and everything in between can make a difference. If you are not catching fish, then don’t hesitate to change baits – and not just color but tail shape. It’s good to carry different companies’ swimbaits, but also make sure they’re in the same colors. That way you can still emulate the baitfish but also adjust the vibration of the tail. Big Hammer, MC Swimbaits, LK Lures, Reyes Swimbaits, Reebs Lures and Western Plastics are just a few of the companies you should try out. For colors, match the hatch with something similar to what the fish are spitting up, if you see it.

OTHER OPTIONS

As I mentioned, bass can be out in deep water but feeding up off the bottom. Other lures like spinnerbaits, various jigs, iron, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits and umbrella rigs can attract a bite. The crankbaits can dive down to the bass; the iron is heavy enough to fall to them; the jigs are weighted as well; and spinnerbaits in the 1- to 2-ounce size will get to the bass. Umbrella rigs do well on feeding bass, as they emulate a school of baitfish. It’s fun to use different lures at times to enhance the experience and the fun of catching. Experimenting can be great, especially when you hook up.

RODS, REELS AND MORE

This brings us to the tackle you’ll need. Don’t panic because the gear you use in the kelp will work in the deep areas too. My favorite rod and reel combo is the Daiwa DXSB Swimbait rod with a Lexa 300 WN reel and 15-pound Maxima Ultragreen line.

You are out in deep water, and once you get the fish coming there’s really nothing you’ll break off on. Just wind and set the hook to take the stretch out of the line. If you’re loaded up with braid, that works too; I use it in some deeper spots, over 100 feet deep.

As you can see, you don’t need to change much to follow the bass around during the year. Minor adjustments can help you catch fish in deeper water, and thinking through what mode the bass are in will also make you a better bass fisherman.

Your tackle is pretty much the same throughout the year, and in the winter you really won’t have to change anything except the weight and fall of your lures.

It may be a little cold in the morning, but once you get hooked on following the bass, you can fish them all year, from shallow to deep and back again. CS

May is the best month of the season for Halibut, and Winter Chinook (Kings), and you can’t beat Zeballos. 2022 SPECIALS NOW BOOKING FOR MAY

Dates Available for May: 1st-4th, 4th-7th, 7th-10th, 10th-13th, 13th-17th, 17th-20th, 20th-23rd, 23rd-26th, 26th-29th, 29th-31st.

SALMON

The most successful Salmon Hatchery on the Pacific Coast is just 30 miles from Zeballos. For the past several years, over 50,000 Chinook Salmon have returned each fall to the Conuma Creek spawning grounds where the hatchery is located. Most of these migrating Salmon start to come through our waters starting in May. We have non-spawning Chinook Salmon in our waters year-round—Winter Chinook (Kings, or Springs). In May you'll be catching on average 12 to 18 pound Salmon—absolutely the best table fare. HALIBUT

We are located very close to an amazing halibut fishery that seems never ending. We can't remember a trip where we didn't hook into many of these amazing eating fish. Come with us, and we'll show you how to bring up white gold. Be prepared with coolers!

Limited trips left, book now before we are sold out!

LEARN MORE zeballostopguides.com/halibut-special

Call 250-337-2158 Email: doug.zeballostopguides2022@gmail.com DAY TRIPPER

Up to 4 people per boat, expect full limits Three Great Locations: Zeballos, Tahsis & Tofino

- 28' offshore boat up to 12 hours of fully guided fishing - Full private enclosed head on board - Breakfast, coffee, sodas, water, lunch, and lots of snacks included - All fishing gear provided - Rain gear provided - Cleaning of your catch - Bring a large cooler packed with ice to transport your catch home

$455.00 USD + 5% tax /per person

Book Your Day Trippers Trip at zeballostopguides.com/day-trips. Complete and submit the form.

TRIP LIMITS for Day Tripper Package: 4 Salmon of which 2 can be Kings and two can be Silvers, 1 Halibut up to 70 pounds, 3 Lingcod and 4 Rockcod. We have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.

HALIBUT EXPRESS

Drive-In 3 Nights / 4 Days Package

Join us for our 11th annual Halibut Express starting May 1st, 2022!

- 20 hours of guided fishing - 3 nights accommodation at the Cedars Inn - All meals including wine with the dinner meals - Cleaning and filleting of your catch - All fishing tackle provided (You are welcome to bring your favorite rod and reel)

Party of 2 fishing 2 per boat: $1725 + tax USD Per Person Party of 3 fishing 3 per boat: $1395 + tax USD Per Person Party of 4 fishing 4 per boat: $1100 + tax USD Per Person

TRIP LIMITS for 3N/4D Halibut Express Package: 8 Salmon of which 4 can be Chinook (Kings), 2 Halibut, 6 Lingcod, and 8 Rockcod. We have have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.

NOTES: Fishing Licenses required and can be purchased April 1, 2022 Guide and Staff gratuities not included Bring your own coolers ... you’ll need them!