The Big Bass Zone book by Michael Jones and Bill Siemantel forces readers to completely rethink their approach to catching trophy-class bass. Think catching big fish is luck? Think big fish are loners? Think you can't pattern them and catch them with regularity? Think again.

Some novice anglers surely won't get it, but Siemantel and Jones have taken much of the luck out of it and devised a methodical, tactical approach that anyone can adopt.

The uncharacteristic formula – which goes against the grain of what we think and believe – seems unorthodox at first. That's what makes this book special – it's the best solid, proven information on catching big bass that we've seen in decades.

Siemantel used to keep a padlock on his tacklebox and turn his back to anglers trying to glass him on California's Lake Castaic. He no doubt left a few secrets out of this book (think Volume 2), but there's so much here to digest it seems impossible there's anything left. The tactics were decades in the making, and have been proven on lakes across the U.S.

BassFan editor-in-chief Jon Storm said, "I've worked closely with Bill over the years, but we only shared a boat once. It was the best day of bass fishing I've ever had. A tournament was canceled and at least a dozen top sticks in California launched on a lake. I watched as Bill began to dissect the lake. He took his big-bass principles, grafted them onto the lake and within 2 hours found the spot.

"We caught a 35-pound limit off that one spot. Bill showed me where to throw, how long to count down, and when exactly I could expect a strike. When it was done, he explained why those fish were there, why we had to approach them from a certain angle and why bait choice wasn't nearly as important as presentation. It was mind-blowing."

Storm added: "As for the rest of the 'top sticks,' nobody caught a fish over 4 pounds."

That's what the Big Bass Zone teaches. A full suite of techniques, centered on a new set of fundamentals, that can put you on big bass with daily regularity.

From dissecting points, creek channels, humps and flats, to utilizing location as a key to start the hunt for big bass – it's all discussed in detail. Much like real estate, big-bass hunting is entirely based on location, location, location. What makes big bass suspend? Why do they use points? How do weather and fronts impact them? How do they use creek channels? Understanding "kill zones." Those are a few of the book's strongest subjects.

There's also plenty of eye candy. Detailed illustrations by Chris Armstrong break down structure and techniques, and Siemantel includes up-close shots of his baits and big catches.

Big-bass hunting most definitely takes a different mind-set, plus study and patience. If you're satisfied with your success, this book is not for you. But for the thousands of diehard devotees and anglers trying to turn it up, this work is a guidebook.

It asks you to throw out everything you know and start over with an open mind. I've been a hardcore tournament angler for decades, but Big Bass Zone took me on a journey I didn't expect. And I think that's the most important thing here – not the destination but the journey. The authors aren't telling you to fish like them – they're guiding you through the journey of understanding. Where you arrive is ultimately up to you.

Further Notes

> Before you read this book, immediately throw out the notion that it only works out West. There are 10-pounders in New York, Minnesota, Missouri and everywhere in-between. Live in Texas? You need this book. Florida? Read it. And even if 10-pounders don't swim in your water, the approach is scalable – meaning it helps you target the biggest bass in any lake, be they 3-pounders or 13s.

> One of the real keys in the whole Big Bass Zone approach is understanding that all waterbodies have a top, middle and bottom of the water column. Bass use all three zones in different ways, and so should you. But don't be afraid to utilize all three zones in a single cast. The authors show you how.

> Plan to read this book two or three times before you begin to grasp all that is offers. We think that's a positive. On the other hand, it might be too deep for some anglers.

> Generally speaking, each chapter offers you something you've never read before. In terms of technique books, that's a big deal.

Bottom Line

Diehards, get this book. It's really that simple. Who doesn't want to catch huge bass? Isn't that really why we're all out there in the first place?

(The Big Bass Zone is available from Stoeger Publishing. To order, click here.)