The Inside Line

At Dobyns Rods, we build models for every technique bass anglers need to employ. Sometimes, they’re making short, precise casts, flips, pitches or skips to specific targets; other times, they’re launching baits long distances. It’s important to develop your skills at all presentations, but I think the long cast is something that doesn’t always get enough attention.

When B.A.S.S. announced Lake Fork as site of this year’s Texas Fest, every angler in the field immediately thought of big bass. Because of good management and strict catch-and-release regulations, trophy bass are abundant on Lake Fork, and this year’s event certainly proved it.

Of all the events slated on this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series schedule, none was more concerning than Winyah Bay. Serving as the confluence to numerous rivers, this South Carolina tidal system can be unpredictable and stingy … even when the conditions seem right.

Of all the events listed on this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series schedule, I was most optimistic about this one.

That may come as a shock to some of you since my favorite fishery — the St. Lawrence River — is also on the schedule. And you know how much I like that place.

The reason I wanted Hartwell was the timing. It fell dead on the spawn, and I love to sight fish. And with more than 56,000 surface acres, I knew I’d find somewhere to fish by myself.

Gary Dobyns loves the spring season; but not only for the warming weather — he’s more enamored with the seasonal bass movement that increases the levels of both quality and quantity. No doubt, the prespawn is the time to punch your ticket on a whopper and the renowned rod maker is all about maximizing his opportunities.

At nearly 40,000 surface acres, Lake Lanier is spacious and welcoming. Its beautifully sculpted shorelines feature countless points, pockets and coves — all comprised of rock, sand or clay.

The main body of the lake is deep and clear but to the north, the rivers feeding Lanier flow with a chalky stain.

Fishing in February on the St. Johns River can mean feast or famine, rarely anything in between. It’s all dependent on the weather. If a severe cold front moves in, forget about it. But if temperatures are on the rise, you better make sure your tackle is up to the task.

When B.A.S.S. first released the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule, I saw plenty of opportunity. Most of the venues seemed perfectly suited to my style of fishing, and I was anxious to get things rolling.

Unfortunately, with each passing event that optimism faded. In the end, I was left with the worst season of my 30-plus-year career.

Now that my return to Alaska is finally close, I’m starting both to relive my 1995 trip and to get excited about this one. The last go-round, we spent money we didn’t have at the end of the journey to take a halibut charter out of the world-famous town of Homer.

I just finished up a short article for one of the few remaining major newsstand mags about shiner fishing in Florida. I’ve gotten paid to write about fishing for 15 years – and when you add up all of the articles and advertorial pieces I’m sure I’ve been published well over a thousand times, as far as I can recall this is the first piece I’ve written about using live bait for bass.

I’m less than seven weeks away from my second trip to Alaska, only 24 years after the first one, and I’m as excited as I’ve been about anything in a long time. I’m going to some world-famous fisheries and I’ll be there with people who know the waters better than anyone else.

“I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn’t have the time.” (attributed to various authors)

Lake Picachos is a fishery where you’ll raise eyebrows if you catch a hundred a day – not because you’ve done something special, but rather because you’ve lowered the camp average. It takes 200 a day to really impress someone who knows the score, and even then it’s not like you’ve set records.

I made an order during the Tackle Warehouse Memorial Day sale not necessarily because I needed anything, but rather because failure to do so would break a longstanding streak and would effectively amount to sacrilege.

When my friends Kristine Stuart and Aaron Rygas first joined us at El Salto, I could tell that Kristine was a lukewarm attendee. It’s not that she resisted, but she’s not a huge fan of mornings and didn’t quite know what to expect. Now, three trips into the experience, it’s pretty obvious that the soon-to-be Mrs. Rygas can’t wait to get back.

I have to work this week. That can only be done by staying within commuting distance of my office. Which means that I did not go to Mexico with my wife and friends to fish.

The last gas station that you pass on the way to Leesylvania State Park, the Potomac River boat ramp that I use most often, is called Wawa. I stop there probably 90% of the times that I fish the river, either to get gas (lowest price in the area), ice, one of their excellent sandwiches, or sometimes all three.