(Editor's note: The following is the latest installment in a series of fishing tips presented by The Bass University. Check back each Friday for a new tip.)
Ish Monroe is a big-bass specialist who notes that if there’s any way he can make it happen, there are “no fairy wands in my boat.” He likes heavy rods and strong braid, and while he can use a spinning rod effectively if pressed, he avoids them if at all possible. For many anglers, that’s not feasible or preferable in clear water, but Monroe said that if you understand bass behavior, there’s no reason you can’t power-fish with heavy tackle where there’s good visibility.
No matter where he’s fishing clear water, the goal is to find some sort of shade. The biggest fish, he believes, live in the thickest cover and under the biggest docks, in places where they don’t see many lures, if any at all. That could mean a single log on an otherwise barren bank, or grass, or rocks and riprap. His strategy is always to aim for “the highest-percentage spot on the first cast,” which gives his prey two choices – eat it or spook.
As the day goes on, he’ll try to determine what it takes to trigger bites consistently, but no matter what he diligently tries to be extra-stealthy and to ensure that the fish don’t have a lot of time to examine his lure. That means he’ll fish fast, covering three times as much water as the average weekend angler in a day of fishing. He notes that’s a large reason for why Kevin VanDam has had so much success, because he makes “twice as many casts” as anyone else.
Before focusing on specific lures, he’s quick to generalize about presentation staples that apply across the board. For example, colors are critical, and he’ll focus on shad and craw patterns, with lots of translucent finishes mixed in. There’s also the matter of speed, which is why a 1/2- or 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades works so well. He doesn’t need the harder thump of a Colorado or Indiana blade. Instead, he wants flash to attract the fish from long distances and those models can be burned back to the boat. He’s also a stickler for the color of his boat – typically black or blue or some combination thereof – and said that he doesn’t understand how Skeet Reese ever fools a bass out of his yellow Ranger. Monroe extends that caution to his clothing, and in clear water or under bright skies he’s hesitant to ever wear any bright yellow, orange or purple, which he believes serves as a warning beacon to skittish fish.
He’s also a topwater fanatic in clear water, not just his favorite frogs, but also the River2Sea Rover, poppers, buzzbaits and of course the Whopper Plopper. He fishes them all on braid, a minimum of 40-pound test, which has the diameter of 10-pound monofilament. In fact, he’ll usually fish the buzzbait on 50, and sometimes as heavy as 65 when he’s making short pitches. In order to compensate for his line’s lack of stretch, he’ll fish all of them except the frog on a fiberglass or composite rod, which allows him to see the strike and swing on the fish, but still gives the bass time to inhale the lure. He fishes his spinnerbaits and crankbaits on composite rods, too, but uses mono and fluorocarbon, respectively.
No matter where you’re fishing, Monroe urges anglers not to get caught up in the uncontrollable factors like weather and fishing pressure. Instead, work to maximize your effective selections on controllable factors – like the part of the lake you’ll fish and your lure selection – and your efforts will be rewarded.
If you want to learn some of Monroe's other clear water power fishing strategies, including his rod choices for maximizing topwater success, check out his full video, available only by subscribing to The Bass University TV.
