Lunker Learning – Old town crier

By Steve Chaconas Lunker Learning To become a better bass fisherman there’s no substitute for time on the water, except for Robert Montgomery’s new book Kickin’ Bass. Writing for Bassmasters Magazine, Montgomery has covered bass fishing for several decades. He’s written many books offering tips for catching bass. His recent offering boasts to make the bass of your dreams a reality. Kickin’ Bass divulges strategies and techniques, bass biology and behavior, fisheries management and stewardship, locations, and finally tacklebox contents. The book relies on bass fishing experts, covering the sport top to bottom, shallow to deep, on knowing how, where and when to catch them. Montgomery’s inclusion of guides is thoughtful. They can catch fish, but their real job is to break down the details involved to enable clients to achieve success. Books relying on pro anglers assume the reader is at that level and that the pro is able to get the points across. Pro fishing skills often don’t go much beyond magazine copy points. Montgomery references pro anglers to eliminate water and unproductive fishing spots and situations. Conservation, and its impact, is discussed with the most respected black bass fisheries biologist, Gene Gilliland. He says if a bass is caught in an area, fish it longer. The fish was there for a reason and others will be there for that reason. He also says there are a lot more fish in a spot than we could imagine. Electro fishing reveals a lot about fish population density, but also how they move and other details about their diet, memory and habitat. Predictable behavior is important to thinking your way to making the right decision on lures and fishing spots. It pays to have a great relationship with fisheries managers. After all their jobs depend on angling success. Additionally, fish Continue Reading