Ask the Pro

Mike Wurm tackles spinnerbaits, lake vegetation and the rigors of professional bass fishing circuits

Starting Sept. 11, Operation Bass will begin publishing a weekly online question-and-answer column entitled “Ask the Pro.” The column will feature some of the premier bass anglers in the nation answering questions submitted by you, the readers. All you have to do is submit your question to us via e-mail at [email protected] and we’ll get your fishing inquiries to the professionals. Whether you’re interested in learning about fishing strategy, when and where to use certain baits and lures, spawning periods or the latest in high-tech fishing equipment, the “Ask the Pro” column is for you. Today’s debut column features FLW pro, Mike Wurm.

Q&A with Mike Wurm

Q: Since turning pro, what fishing-related question have you been asked most often? How do you typically respond?
– OperationBass.com staff

A: The one question that seems to come up most often is: “How do you approach all the different lakes and new locations and still catch fish?” This question often is asked by individuals who have fished most of the time on one lake and are now faced with traveling to other bodies of water.

The best answer I can think of is to try to first reduce the size of this new body of water so that you can cover a smaller area. Look at a map of the lake or river and choose a single creek arm or bay or maybe a bend of river or area of main bank to begin your trip. Being intimidated by the sheer size of some of these lakes is easy to understand.

Next, after remembering the time of year, type of water (lake, river, etc.) and weather, approach the general location of fish accordingly. Try to fit the area to the style or kind of fishing that you like to do. You will be more confident and receptive to the information you discover as well as what is going on with the body of water in general.

And finally, take the information learned from that small segment of the lake (or river) and, looking at the maps, find other sections with the same characteristics and apply what you learned from the first area to the new area. Hopefully, a pattern will emerge. If not, remember that eliminating stretches of water can also be very helpful for your future fishing experience.

Q: I’m overwhelmed with the number of spinnerbaits available on the market. What do the different sizes do differently and when should I use one over another?
– J. Fickbohm, Clearwater, Fla.

A: In regard to spinnerbaits, generally try to match the size of the spinnerbait, especially the blades, to the size of the baitfish. The blades present the flash and vibration to the fish and are usually the first the fish sees and relates to.

The three main styles – Colorado, Indiana and willow leaf – each have distinct vibrations and flash. Colorado and Indiana styles give the most vibration while the willow leaf presents the most flash. Colorado and Indiana blades are better used under conditions when the water is off-colored and stained or muddy. The willow leaf is better in clear water.

The different weights of a spinnerbait not only relate to the size of the lure but also relate to how deep you need the lure to get down in the water. The smaller sizes, one-eighth and one-quarter ounce, are better suited for shallow water or for situations where the baitfish are small. The larger lures, three-eighths, one-half and three-quarter ounce, are for larger applications such as deeper water presentation and larger baitfish.

Spinnerbaits can be very effective from the surface to very deep water to fishing on the extreme bottom. The three-eighth and one-half ounce sizes are probably the most common because of the size and ease of casting. One thing to remember when fishing the spinnerbait is to vary the retrieve until the fish tell you which one is the right retrieve. A cast around any type of cover is usually better.

Q: I’ve been fishing southern California waters for several years without much luck. There’s plenty of vegetation, but not much structure. What can I do?
– Chris Baade, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

A: It’s important to remember that vegetation, oftentimes, is the structure that bass are relating to. Many lakes and rivers throughout the country probably could use a little more vegetation; however, lakes with too much vegetation can also present some problems for anglers.

When fishing vegetation, or any type of structure, always watch for anything different or irregular. This could be a change of grass type, a point of vegetation, an open hole in the grass or especially an isolated clump or mass. It is usually these irregularities where the bass locate to ambush their prey. A point comprised of grass can be every bit as effective as a land point or point of rocks. Also take notice where two types of vegetation come together or a log or rock is situated within a grass bed. Both can be very effective areas.

Lures and presentations should be of the shallow variety. Topwater lures can be very effective in this situation. However, the easiest lure and one of the most reliable is probably the plastic worm. Texas-rigged fishing works well here also because the components are extremely versatile in both color and use. Weedless spoons and spinnerbaits can be utilized to cover a lot of territory. Soft-body jerkbaits also can present a different profile to the fish.

Remember, always pay close attention to detail with each fish you catch and apply what you learn to catch another. When fishing vegetation, note exactly what type of vegetation, depth, location, point or hole, etc. and find other situations like that to catch other bass.

Q: I’ve been an avid bass angler for years and have become quite skilled at it. I’m thinking of hitting the tournament trail. What advice can you give me to make this transition?”
– Bryan Sweet, Fairmont, Minn.

A: With professional bass fishing becoming more and more noticeable and visible on television and in other media, many individuals are beginning to think about tournaments. Making the transition from recreational fishing to tournaments can be very exciting and rewarding or very frustrating and costly.

If you are just beginning to fish tournaments, proceed in steps by first fishing local or weekly four-hour tournaments or their equivalent. Get a feel for fishing for a prescribed time and work on concentration and focus. There are many good team tournament series out there and pairing up with a friend with tournament experience helps a lot.

Proceed from the smaller tournaments to a more organized tournament trail, either draw or pro-am, with a championship at the end of the season so you can get used to accruing points and fishing more consistently. What should be happening now is that you will begin to gain more exposure to different types of water. Remember, fishing tournaments does not mean that you know it all. Keep learning every time you are on the water and also learn from every partner.

However, if you choose to begin fishing tournaments, do not forget to come up with a plan and a set of goals. This gives you a focus and a measuring stick for your success. And, one last thought: Always think positive, have confidence and believe in yourself.

Mike Wurm of Hot Springs, Ark., is a former medical technician turned professional fisherman. In 1998, he placed seventh in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour standings. His career is marked by three top-10 FLW tournament finishes, including a win at Lake Murray, S.C., in 1999. His FLW Tour sponsors include Coleman, Ranger Boats, Stren and Evinrude.

Next week in Ask the Pro, Carl Svebek III discusses sight fishing, soft-plastic baits and the intricacies of fishing reservoirs.