Savage Gear 3D Bleak Glide Test

  I managed a short half an hour session on my local water to test out the new 3D Bleak Glide from Savage Gear as i'd just received them in the post. I got two sizes, 13.5cm 28g and 16.5cm 49g to try in both dirty silver and fire tiger patterns.

Savage Gear 3D Bleak Glide 13.5cm Fire Tiger

  The lures are slow sink so where i fish i started the retrieve the moment it hit the water. I varied the retrieve from slow and steady to short twitches with the rod tip but i must be honest, the lure looked fantastic in the water and creating a wide, slalom action.
  In just a short session i could tell this lure is going to be a favorite of mine for where i fish, the lure that got the most interest was the 13.5cm Fire Tiger pattern which may be because the abundance of jacks where i fish at the moment and the fact the water is very coloured up. I tried the other size i had in both colour patterns with no interest and came back to the smaller version but i'm confident the others will catch on another day.
  I managed to catch a small jack of around 2lbs have a pop at the lure very close in but didn't manage to land the fish unfortunately as you can see, great fun though and always gets the heart going!



Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

First Pike off the Surface 2014!

  Weather seemed perfect on my local water to try for the first Pike off the top. No wind and overcast meant the water was flat and calm so on went the Megabass Dorum 120, my most successful lure last season. The Megabass Dorum 120 has a bib on the front but is so buoyant due to its wooden body that it wiggles on the surface and creates an excellent V wake behind it.

Megabass Dorum 120 

    I cast the Dorum across a shallow bay and slowly started working it back with the odd pause and twitch when about 3/4 through the retrieve a Pike of about 3lb came up to hit it! I always remove the middle hook of lures with three hooks to aid with unhooking and also fish welfare.

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

New Pike Lures from Savage Gear

  Have been looking forward to getting hold of these new lure from Savage Gear; the Bleak Glide Swimmer. These lures look perfect for the shallow water piking that i do so couldn't wait to get my hands on them. The Bleak Gide Swimmer comes in three sizes; 13.5cm 28g, 16.5cm 49g and 20.5cm 85g. I, personally, use light tackle for my lure fishing so i decided to get hold of a couple of the 13.5cm and 16.5cm versions as the 20.5cm version were a little too big for my fishing.
  I went for one natural colour for each size in the Dirty Silver colour and one colour for murky, clouded water in the Fire Tiger Pattern. Both colours have worked for me in the past so they seemed the perfect option for me.

Savage Gear Bleak Glide Swimmer 13.5cm & 16.5cm in various colour patterns

  As you can see below the lures are jointed which helps them create an enticing slalom action just under the surface. There are videos of the action available on youtube if you give it a search but they look fantastic!

The Savage Gear Bleak Glide Swimmer with Jointed Segments

I should have mine by the end of the week so i will hopefully, if weather allows, be out in the coming weeks to test these lures on my local water.

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

Another Pike on the Modified Savage Gear 4-Play Fire Tiger 19cm

 Just a day after my previous Pike i headed up tot the same venue to have another go. A different day all together with break throughs of sun and a light wind causing a small ripple on the water. Fished along the bank as usual casting in likely places that may hold a Pike in wait and had a few snatches at the lure but again, half way along, in the same spot as the day before, i had another hit on the same lure! The two fish were almost identical as well with this one being a tiny bit smaller at around 4.5lb. The modified Savage Gear 4-Play Fire Tiger does the business again!



Thanks for reading, Sam Johnson

Modified SG 4-Play Brings a Pike in the Rain GoPro 3+ Video

  I saw the wind had dropped today and spotted a brief gap in the drizzle so i headed up to my local water for a bit of piking. I got there and the rain was holding back and the surface of the water was calm and flat so i thought i give it a go with a surface lure, the Spro BBZ Jr 6". I cast across a shallow bay and began to retrieve the lure slowly across the top with a few pauses and twitches in hope of a fish.
  Half way through the retrieve and i was twitching the lure on the surface when it got smashed! i waited for a split second to feel the weight of the fish then i struck... missed it. Gutted!

  I decided then to change over to a favorite shallow lure of mine, the Savage Gear 4-Play 19cm. I chose to use the Fire Tiger pattern as the rain had coloured up the water a bit so this would give a pike the best chance of spotted my lure. I make a slight modification to my 4-Play lures when i'm fishing in shallow water, just by removing the middle mounted hook and split ring, it enables the lure on or just below the surface and has worked really well for me over the years.

Savage Gear 4-Play 19cm Fire Tiger Middle Hook Removed

  The rain returned as a moved down the bank but i continued to fish close to the surface with the 4-Play. I cast the lure back along the reed line i'd just walked past, about 10 feet out and began to slowly retrieve the lure.. Bang! Fish On! the pike had taken the lure very short into the retrieve so was a way out. This pike had a little more weight to it than others i'd caught recently and when i eventually got it in, it had a very fat belly.




My prize for braving the rain was a nice chunky Pike around 5lb..

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

New Megabass Zonk UK Colour Range for 2014

Megabass are bringing out a colour range for its Zonk lures to immitate our UK baitfish, check these out!

Megabass Zonk 120 in New UK Colours

Megabass Zonk 120 Mack 1 Colour (Top View)

Pretty Excited for these to hit the shelves as the Megabass Zonk is one of my most successful lures. The proposed UK colours are awesome, imitating all types of baitfish from Sand Gobies to Pollack to Mackeral, fish that Bass just love to munch!


All pictures courtesy of TopWater Lures

Thanks for reading, Sam Johnson

Video on Surface Lure fishing for Bass

Searching through YouTube and found this video by Boat Fishing Monthly which shows Bass being caught of the surface in the UK. Tips on how to improve your catch rates are also mentioned so well worth a watch. The lads managed to catch 67 bass between them with fish up to 7lb 3oz!




Just a few weeks until the Bass start to return along the UK coastline and surface fishing is up there with the most exciting way to catch them.

Thanks for reading, Sam

Finally Got Hold of My Bass Favorites Again!

 I have been looking for these Bass Lures for ages now, there was rumors that the lure company, IMA Japan, had discontinued the production of these specific lures and especially the colours!

When i heard that IMA were shipping some more to some UK outlets i just had to get hold of some. The lures in question are as follows.

- IMA Salt Skimmer (Silent)

IMA Salt Skimmer (Silent) Bora Mullet

IMA Salt Skimmer (Silent) Cotton Candy

IMA Salt Skimmer (Silent) Petit Spark Joker

 The IMA Salt Skimmers had become very difficult to get hold of, especially in these certain colours. I have a few Salt Skimmers but have never managed to get hold of them in these colours and also the silent version with no internal rattles. I cannot wait to get out on the shorline and give these a go, perfect for a stealthy approach. The Joker Salt Skimmer is going to become very much a part of my night fishing Bass armory.

- IMA Komomo II 110

IMA Komomo II Asanago Flashing Plate


IMA Komom II Joker Flashing Plate (JFP)

 The IMA Komomo II is one of my favorate Bass lures, it runs very shallow and can also be used on the surface. These particular colours, the Asanago Flashing Plate and Joker Flashing Plate are among the most illusive lures to get hold because they had a lot of hype surrounding them. For me, i have not really used the Asanago Flashing Plate as i usually fish on the surface or at night, this, however, is when the Joker Flashing Plate is my 'Go To' lure for shallow ground at night. The black bottom creates an excellent silhouette in the dark and a steady, slow retrieve is perfect to tempt a Bass.

When i found out these lures were coming to the UK again i decided to get hold of a few, plus a couple of spares, for if i lost my beloved Joker Flashing Plate i would be gutted!

 A Lot of stockists in the UK are fast running out of these lures, I know a couple sold out altogether in less than an hour so, if possible, get hold of a couple while you can! 

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

Lure Caught Pike on Spro BBZ Jr 4" GoPro 3+

   After the recent warm weather i decided to try a trip to my local water to fish for the pike. The air temperature was around 11 degrees and the weather was overcast with little wind, perfect. I went up and started off using a Megabass Dorum 120 on the surface to see if i could tempt one off the top, no luck.
  I quickly changed over to a Spro BBz Jr 4" Floating version in the Roach pattern.

Spro BBZ jr 4" Roach

  This swim bait runs a couple of inches under the surface when coupled with the wire trace i use for my pike fishing. The lure is in my Top 10 Shallow Pike Lures i mentioned in a previous post, see here http://sgjlures.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/my-top-10-pike-lures-for-shallow-water.html
  Here is a short video i shot while using the Spro BBZ Jr 4".

Hopefully as the water keeps warming, the pike fishing will get even more productive and i should be able to get some footage of pike taking lures off the surface soon.

Thanks for reading, Sam Johnson

New Perch Lure Testing results in a nice Stripey and an opportunistic Pike

   I received my new Perch lures yesterday and couldn't wait to get on the water and try them out. The lures in question were the Quantum Joker and Fiiish Black Minnow 70 seen below. They each appealed to me for different reasons, the Quantum Joker was a very new concept of lure to me with a new technique of fishing to me and i was interested to try it out. The Fiiish Black Minnow has always worked for me in my Bass fishing so when the Fiiish guys brought out some fluorescent colours in a 70mm size i just had to have them for my Perch fishing.

   I started off fishing the Quantum Joker, in various colours, chucking it to the edge of far bank barges on the canal i had chosen to fish. The great thing about this lure is that when it hits the water, it planes away from you until it reaches the bottom so this meant my lure was falling right underneath the barge.
   I gave the lure some water time but was unsure which technique to retrieve it with; slow lifts and falls, fast lifts and slow falls or a couple of jigs and then fall so this made my confidence in the lure diminish a little and i believe confidence is key to success in lure fishing. I will however continue to give the Quantum Joker a good go in hopes of some success on a certain retrieve.
   After this i moved down the canal a 100 yards or so to another place i'd caught Perch before. I clipped on the Fiiish Black Minnow 70 in Fluoro Green with a 3g Fiiish Head. I started to retrieve the lure with the technique i know best of hopping the lure back with short twitches and withing a couple of casts i had a slam on the rod, missed it. I thought that would be my only chance but a few more casts and irregular rod taps that all anglers wait for suddenly started on the tip. I stopped retrieving and just held the rod up to feel for the bite, BANG!! i set the hook and after a short fight i landed a lovely Perch just shy of 2lb.

   I decided to head back to the first spot i tried to give it a go with the Fiiish Black Minnow but no takers. Whilst i was fishing though i kept seeing fry fly from the water and large splashes and boils on the surface of the water. My first thought was Perch, so i continued to fish with my array of soft plastics and jigheads chopping and changing every few casts or so to see if i could tempt whatever was making these fry jump. I had nothing on the jigs so after another large boil on the surface i thought to myself  'this fish is obviously actively hunting near the surface and i'm using soft plastics on the bottom, time for a change' i rifled through my Perch box which contains a select few hard lures. I decided to clip on the Megabass X80 Trick Darter in a silver pattern. Second cast in the rings of a another surface commotion and the lure smashed! a short fight later and the culprit was little 4lb Pike.

    All in all a very nice morning on the water, No success with the Quantum Joker but the Fiiish Black Minnow 70 fast becoming a favourate and a nice opportunistic Pike.

Thanks for Reading, Sam

Amazing Fly Fishing!

  I, myself, am a lure fisherman who fishes for many predatory fish using lures but i have never been too interested in the art of Fly Fishing. I have never had the urge to learn the technique in the UK for trout species, Salmon or even Pike but the video i stumbled upon below makes me want too!

  This is not the traditional art of slowly wading quietly up a chalk stream to tempt a brown trout into taking a dry fly which i must admit, doesn't really appeal to me. This fly fishing is brutal, chasing big predators with large surface flys in the mangroves of Australia. Watch the video and tell me you wouldn't want to experience this!

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson 

New Bass Lures from Fiiish, IMA, Tackle House

With the new Bass season fast approaching, as usual, there are a range of new lures that are available. I have picked out three lures that i will be trying when the new season arrives.

• Fiiish Crazy Eel 

The Crazy Eel is the new soft plastic lure designed by the innovative lure company Fiiish. There first product, the Fiiish Black Minnow has been a revelation in designed and performance fishing for all manor of predators so i am sure this new Crazy Eel will be a huge success in the coming season.

The Fiiish Crazy Eel can be fitted with 3 different weighted heads; Shore, Off Shore and Deep which each have a specific hole for the hook to come out of on the body of the lure. The lure Crazy Eel comes in size 10cm, 15cm, 22cm and 30cm with various weight option depending on the head you choose.

• Tackle House Vulture 120 (20g)

The Tackle House Vulture 120 is a new surface lure which has a very slim profile much like the successful IMA Salt Skimmer but has a weight of 20g meaning the lure should cast an absolute mile.

I have ordered a few for the new season and can not wait to test these lures out on the coast.

• IMA Scarecrow 100 (14g)

A IMA Scarecrow is a very different type of lure to what i would usually use for my Bass fishing as the lure is jointed. This jointed makes the lure swim in a slalom style 'S' action just under the surface of the water, a great target zone for feeding Bass.

The size of the lure is 10cm long so a relatively small lure to what i usually use but this small profile can make the difference between a fish or not if that is the size of prey the Bass are looking for.

Thanks For Reading, Sam Johnson

My Bass Fishing Accessories

I take a few accessories with me when i go Bass fishing to help with fish care and also make a lot of things easier and more convenient for myself while i'm out on the rocks or in the surf.

- Snowbee Lure Boxes

Lure Storage is a big part of lure fishing as we all know but having the right lure boxes can help organize your lures and make them easier to select during a session. These Snowbee Lure boxes have separated section specifically designed to hold lures up to 15cm in length, this spacing reduces tangles of treble hooks. Once you have finished a fishing session you may want to rinse the lures you have used and this box, due to its design with whole throughout, allows you to submerge the entire box into fresh water to rinse all the lures at the same time.

- Snowbee Sling Bag

The Snowbee Sling bag fits hand in hand with my lure boxes, the main compartment holds two of the Snowbee lure boxes which is more than enough to hold my hard plastic lures for a session. The bag also has interior and exterior pockets to hold all your soft plastics and bits and bobs like lure clips, leaders and spare hooks etc. The bag has a single strap to sling over your shoulder and a clip to keep it in place. When you wants to access your bag, just unclip and the bag swings round in front of you for easy accessibility. It also has a drinks holder on the bottom and loads of bits to clip things onto the bag.

- IMA Pliers 6.5"

A good set of pliers with multiple tools is essential for modern lure fishing. These IMA Pliers are small and compact and come with a pocket to store the pliers in when not in use. This pocket has velcro straps and an elastic cord to attach to any bag or item of clothing you have with you. The pliers have crimping capabilities, split ring openers and, most importantly, a braid cutting blade.

- Boga Grip 15 lb

A Boga Grip is an excellent tool for handling and weighing the fish you catch and, for me, they have become a very handy piece of kit for my lure fishing. In essence the Boga Grip is a lip grip for handling fish when you have caught them. Attach the Boga to the bottom lip of the fish and the fish will then be secured, just have to make sure you have a firm grip yourself of the handle and also attach the cord provided to your arm so as not to lose it. The Boga Grip has built in scales for weighing fish but you should not weigh fish solely on the Boga if they are of significant size as this can cause damage. I use the 15 lb model of the Boga Grip.












- Greys Rubberised Magnetic Landing Net Medium

I have recently purchased this Greys Rubberised Landing Net for the season ahead. There are many instances when a net is very useful for landing fish but also keeping yourself safe also. The net is rubberised so that hooks do not get caught in the mesh. If you are stood in the surf or on rocks, sometime it isn't easy to land fish using your hands or a Boga Grip and this is where the net comes in. The short handle means it can be controlled easily at close range. The net comes with an elastic cord with clips to attach to your person. The base of the handle has a magnetic plate so it can be detached and reattached with ease.















- Greys Platinum Breathable Waders and Studded Boots

Breathable waders are probably the most important accessory that i own and this Greys Platinum set are great for me in order for me to do the type of bass fishing i like; rock hopping, standing in surf, standing in swell etc i need a good pair of waders and also a good pair of Studded Boots. The boots provide grip on slippery rocks covered in water, algae or kelp but are also waterproof.

















- LED Lenser Rechargeable Head Torch

If you are going to do any night fishing then a good head torch is essential. This LED Lenser is the headtorch i use, it is rechargeable via any electric source and is also adjustable. The LED Lenser can be adjusted to beam light distances from 5-100 metres or more and also the brightness can be altered from really dim light to an extremely bright beam.

Thanks for reading, Sam Johnson

My Bass Setup

Here is a quick look at the equipment i use for my lure fishing for bass. I have used a variety of tackle over the years but just recently settled on this lot and its an excellent setup for the fishing i do and the lures i use etc.

Rod
- Tenryu Injection SP73M Casting Weight 5-28g

  The Rod i use for most of my Bass Fishing is the Tenryu Injection SP73M, it is 7' 3" long and only 135g in weight. The rod is quite short but has a lot of power in at the base but still that fast tip action which makes working my lures, especially surface and soft plastics, great fun. The lightness of the rod means i can carry it and cast it continuously during a session and not put strain on the joints, the whip of the rod when casting makes lures fly out. The casting weight is 5-28g, perfect for the lures i use, i rarely have a lure over 1oz (28g) with the Patchinko 2 (27g) the heaviest bass lure i use. The great thing about the range of casting weight is that i can switch from a relatively heavy hard plastic lure to a small soft plastic and work them equally well.

Reel
- Daiwa Caldia Mag Sealed 2500

The Reel i use for my Bass fishing is the Daiwa Caldia Mag Sealed 2500, the reel weighs 225g and it very compact and balances well with my rod. The spool can hold a surprising amount of braid for its size, more than enough need for casting and playing fish. The reel is mag sealed which prevents any salt water entering the inner working of the reel to minimize rust over a long period of time. The drag system is very smooth and i regularly use it in preference to back winding which others may prefer.

Braid 
- Daiwa Tournament 8 Braid 20lb Green

I have switched from mono-filament to braid for all my lure fishing now, whether it be Pike, Perch or Bass because with braid you get no stretch so you can feel whatever the lure is doing, braid is also thinner than mono so you can get more line on your reel and further casting distance. I have chosen this Daiwa Tournament 8 in 20lb class for my bass fishing, i don't remotely think that i will catch fish 20lb+ on this line but i use this strength to prevent snap offs on boulders and casts during a session. The bright green colour enables me to follow where my lure has gone when casted which, in turn, helps me retrieve the lure accordingly.

Leader
- YGK Nitlon DFC Fluorocarbon 16lb

For me, a fluorocarbon leader gives me more confidence than my bright green braid straight through so i choose to tie on this 16lb leader, about 4-5ft of it. I know anglers than don't use it and i also know anglers that do so its not essential but just personally gives me more confidence, and i think confidence has a lot to do with success in fishing. A good leader knot is needed if you are to use fluorocarbon and the knot i use is the one shown, i think its called the 'GT Knot' but another popular knot is the 'Albright Knot'.

Lure Clip
- Delalande Agrafe Rapide 

For me, a lure clip is great for my fishing, i can change lures very quickly without the hassle of tieing a new knot to my lure. This can sometimes be the difference between catching a fish and not, i have had many instances when you see a fish surfacing and attacking prey and you happen to have a fast sinking soft plastic lure on when a surface or shallow lure is what you want in that short moment, the clip allows you to switch very quickly and make the most of the situation. This specific lure clip, the Delalande Agrafe Rapid, is a very compact clip but is also strong so makes it great for bass fishing.

Thankyou for Reading, Sam Johnson

New Perch Lures

Made a few recent purchases of New Perch lures to try out on the waters i fish. I have read about and researched a few possibilities but most of the lures i found matched the lures i already own so something different was needed.

- Fiiish Black Minnow 70 3g Jighead

  The first lures i got were from the innovative Fiiish company and specifically there Black Minnow 70 lure took my fancy. I have used the larger versions of this lure with great success for Bass, Wrasse and Pollack so i am in no doubt they will be effective in fresh water also. I decided to get a few colours of the lure, one natural and two in brighter colours to stand out in the murky water i fish.

I have chosen to use the 3g Fiiish jigheads and the compatible krog hooks which combine to make the lure weedless. The light weight Jighead will enable me to fish the lure with slow lifts and drops which can prove deadly for perch. The Fiiish Black Minnow has a paddle tail so it works whenever the lure is in motion but also the flexible body and the way the hook connection is designed means that, even when stationary, the tail has the ability to wave around and attract fish.

- Quantum Joker 8.5cm 5g

The Quantum Joker is a new lure to me which i have recently read great things about. It is not your conventional soft plastic lure used for perch as it has no jighead for use with the sink and draw or hopping methods. In contrast the Quantum Joker is rigged what looks like backwards but this is all to aid in the action and technique of fishing this lure. The Quantum Joker has a large beaver-like tail and isn't like anything i've used before.

As you can see the colours of these lures are mainly bright with light greens, yellow, reds and oranges which are all great colours for perch, especially in coloured water. 

  Now on to the technique. The technique to fish with these lures is illustrated below and it looks like a conventional sink and draw but the way this lure is rigged means that after the lure has been lifted, instead of falling vertical down or hopped forward, it will actually fall slightly backwards on the fall. 

  As i've mentioned, the Quantum Joker has a different action to most conventional soft plastics that are fished with jigheads and some say this can provoke attacks from wary fish that might otherwise leave a jigged lure alone.

Can't wait to get out fishing and try these lures out!

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

PB Lure Caught Perch 2lb 3oz, Daiwa D-Fin 4" Chartreuse Rigged Weedless

  Got up at around 6am to do a bit of Perch fishing with lures on my local canal. Got to the water as the sun was rising so the low light conditions were perfect. However during this period of low light i didn't manage to catch a fish!

  Later on in the morning, around 9am, the day had become overcast so conditions gave me confidence of a fish or two. I had been using a new soft lure i had purchased the week before, a Daiwa D-Fin 4" in Chartreuse colour. As we know canals are littered with snags on the bottom so i decided to rig the lure weedless on a 6g Jighead and slow hop it back from the far bank. I started fan casting from right to left at a spot i'd previously had success at. I had no success in the open water in front of me which usually produces a fish or but to my left, on the towpath side, was a barge which isn't usually moored there so thought id have a chuck down the side of this in hope that a perch is lying in wait under or around this added feature.

Daiwa D-Fin Chartreuse & Decoy Violence weedless Jighead

  An underarm chuck down the far side of the barge was left to settle on the bottom for a second or two before i started the slow, twitching retrieve back towards my feet. After a few seconds of retrieve the lure was nearing the end of the barge when it got slammed! My light spinning rod bent over and i knew it was a nice fish. After a short battle the fish came to the surface and i slid the net underneath it, i knew it was good fish.

  After weighing the fish it tipped the scales at 2lb 3oz, a new PB for me, safe to say it was worth the early alarm clock!

Thanks for Reading, Sam Johnson

Relegated from the Bass box to catch a couple of Pike

Recently had a clear out of lures from the Bass box and unfortunately the IMA Komomo 2 90 Sardine didn't make the cut. It was relagated to the Pike Box and thought i'd give it a go in a shallow bay that usually produces fish. I took the GoPro up for its maiden voyage on the Pike and managed to catch 2 Pike in successive casts. Safe to say the Komomo 2 90 works for the Pike but also glad that the filming curse doesn't seem to have affected my fishing as of yet!

The first fish is around 4lb and the second only a baby but great fun while the Bass aren't playing ball!

If Blurry just change the quality of the video bottom right

I got the GoPro to do a lot of filming this season whenever i go lure fishing so hopefully i will be uploading more videos as the season progresses. 

Thanks for watching, Sam Johnson

My Top 10 Bass Lures

Here is my Top 10 Bass lures i use for my fishing. Varying depths and styles to combat whatever weather and sea conditions are in front of me. There are a few lures i have only recently got hold and will also be giving a good amount of water time this season coming.


10. Yo Zuri Mag Popper 105 (10.5cm, 18g)

  The Mag Popper 105 is a classic surface lure, a great bait fish profile and cast well too due to its internal weight system. The action of the lure is great also as it walks the dog and splashes simultaneously to imitate an injured bait fish. Unfortunately the 105 model of this lure has been discontinued but larger models are available.

 9. Megabass Super Xlayer AYU (11cm)

  The Megabass Super Xlayer is a very versatile soft plastic lure, it can be rigged weedless, weightless or with a jighead to great effect. I use this lure either bumping around in the flow of an estuary or slowly hopping it back from rock marks. The tail of the lure has a internal rattle for added sound in the water. A favorite amongst many bass anglers.














8. Tackle House Feed Shallow 128 Chartreuse Back (12.8cm, 18.5g)

The Tackle House Feed Shallow is a shallow diving hard lure with an enticing rolling action. Its not the best casting lure but bass can feed very close to shore so this is not much of a problem, if caught right on the cast however, it can fly out. A steady straight retrieve will keep the lure a few inches under the surface, the perfect strike zone for bass.














7. Megabass Zonk Gataride 120 Katakutchi (12cm, 20g)

   The Megabass Zonk Gataride 120 is an excellent casting lure and dives a little deeper than the other hard lures in this top 10 at 1 metre +. The action of this lure is very erratic, great for use when a swell has built up on the rocks. The lure can also be very effective on surf beaches as it is very stable in choppy conditions, one of my best catchers for a number of years.













6. Xorus Patchinko II Sandeel (14cm, 25g)

  The Xorus Patchinko II is a modern classic amongst bass anglers, a surface lure, very long casting and easy to work. This lure has accounted for countless bass in the UK off the surface since its introductions. Can be fished slow with a lazy walk the dog action or with faster twitches the lure will spit water in front of it creating commotion. It has also been known to wake this lure very slowly in the dark which creates a V on the surface that the bass home in on.















5. Savage Gear Sandeel, Sandeel (12.5cm, 23g)

   A perfect sandeel imitation, the Savage Gear Sandeel. The paddle tail creates a supernatural sandeel swimming action which bass cant resist. It can also be cast a long way due to the lead head. Either hopping the lure of rocks, sink and draw in deep water or drifting through a current, the savage gear sandeel is a must for any bass angler.

















4. Fiiish Black Minnow 90 Khaki (9cm, 5g)

  The Fiiish Black Minnow has been a revelation in soft plastics for bass recently. The innovative design means the lure is fished weedless which means less catching on snags which, in turn, means you can cast this lure almost anywhere. Can be fished in many ways, bumping along the bottom, sink and draw, straight retrieve or drifting in a current. This lure is a big favourate of mine and it the first soft plastic i clip on from my box.












3. Daiwa Shoreline Shiner R50+SSR Laser Sardine (12cm, 15.5g)

   The Daiwa Shoreline Shiner R50+SSR is a shallow diving hard lure with a very lifelike action. The lure can be cast a mile and the depth at which the lure runs is perfect for shallow, rough ground bassing. I used this lure in the Irish Bass Festival 2012 and caught the bass in the picture you see to the left, saved me from a blank trip that year, the first lure out of the box in daylight for under surface work.











2. IMA Komomo II JFP (11cm, 15g)

  The IMA Komomo JFP (Joker Flashing Plate) has some sort of enigma amongst many bass anglers who swear by it. For me its the first lure i clip on when i fish at night for bass. The colour of the lure stand out in the dark believe it or not, the black bottom creates a clearer silhouette in the dark. The lure is a super shallow diver (20cm Max) ans cast like a bullet. If fished slow the lure can be used as a surface lure wiggled across the top but i tend to fish it with a medium retrieve to just keep it sub-surface. The lure, unfortunately, is almost impossible to get hold of in this colour but other colours are readily available and are well worth a go.








1. Xorus Patchinko 100 500G (10cm, 11g)

   My most effective lure of recent times, the Patchinko 100 500G, a smaller model of the Patchinko II at only 10cm which creates a perfect juvenile sandeel profile. Still a very long casting surface lure for its size and the same enticing splashing action. The Patchinko 100 has a slightly subtler splash though which may prevent those wary fish from spooking and instead stay around for a closer look. Can be fished in many conditions but i prefer to fish this lure in calm to slightly choppy conditions so that it doesn't get lost in the sea. I just love using surface lures for my bass fishing and a fish off the top, for me, is worth more than a sub-surface caught fish just for the visual aspect. If i get to a mark and the conditions are right, this is the first lure i will clip on.











Here are a list of 5 lures i'm excited to start fishing with this season:

1. Super Strike Super N Fish (14cm, 28g)

  Needlefish lures are not a favorate amongst UK anglers but in the states they are the 'Go To' lure for there saltwater bass, Stripers. I can't wait to give these superstrike needlefish a go this season. Very long casting and can be fished in many different styles; Straight retrieve slow to fast, drifted in a current or the sink and draw method.



2. Megabass Dot Crawler 5.8" (14.7cm, 15g)

  I received these lures to the back end of last season so never had a proper chance to use them. The Megabass Dot Crawlers are a very long casting soft plastic lure that can be fished weedless and weightless, i think this lure will be excellent for me this year as i can fish it anywhere.















3. Fish Arrow Flash-J Minnow 5" (12.7cm)

  Again another soft plastic lure that can be fished weedless and weightless so anywhere is fishable. These Flash-J 5" minnows have a lazy slalom action just under the surface which i know is going to entice a bass or 2.














4. Daiwa Morethan Cross Wake 111 SSR F (11.1cm, 18g)

  The Daiwa Morethan Cross Wake 110 is a very shallow diver with an excellent, wide, rolling action. A slow retrieve will fish the lure wiggling on the surface so this lure is much like a few of my favorates and i can't wait to try it at a few marks i have in mind.










5. IMA Salt Skimmer 110F (11cm, 14g)

  The IMA Salt Skimmer 110F is already a classic surface lure for Bass in the UK however i have only just recently managed to get my hands on a few. The slender profile and long casting is perfect for my surface fishing. The subtle action will be deadly on those warm, windless dusks and dawns to which the surface lures play a major part for me.







Thanks for reading, Sam Johnson