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Matt Arey’s Trick for Finicky Topwater Schooling Bass
Few scenes in all of freshwater fishing spur a greater rush of adrenalin than the sight of bass schooling in a surface feeding frenzy. Except sometimes their appetites seem tougher to please than verbally abusive Master Chef Gordon Ramsay in an episode of the television cooking show “Hell’s Kitchen.”
Fact is, the weather during practice at Eastern Oklahoma’s Lake Tenkiller, sight of 2019’s final regular season Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, served up temperatures that felt like hell’s kitchen – which also seemed to send tons of bass to the surface to bust up shad.
“It seems like there are schooling fish everywhere you look all day long here. But they’re super tough to catch because they’re feeding on tiny little threadfin shad, versus larger gizzard shad,” says Matt Arey, winner of more than $1 Million in career prize money.
Temperamental bass bring out Arey’s little bag of tricks. Actually it’s not a bag, but instead a single tackle tray stocked full of tiny grubs and jig heads meant for catching crappie.
“It’s all about matching the hatch. And if they’re gonna eat little threadfin shad like peanut M & M’s, then I’ll give ‘em what they want in the form of 2 ½ to 3 ½ crappie grubs,” says the North Carolina State grad, and proud daddy of two sweet girls.
Arey throws a variety of both curly tail grubs and paddle tails too. The 1/8 and 3/16 ounce lead heads he pairs them with come from a mold he inherited from Arnold Ledford, a treasured fishing buddy who passed away in 2018 in their hometown of Shelby, NC. He uses 6-pound P Line Fluoroclear line on a long 7’ 4” spinning rod to maximize casting distance.
Obviously the greatest benefit to Arey’s use of small crappie lures is getting topwater schooling bass to bite when they seem to refuse more standard lures designed for largemouth and smallmouth. However, at Tenkiller, largemouth and smallmouth have to measure at least 16” to weigh-in – and that will be an even bigger challenge than simply getting surface schoolers to bite.
If Arey succeeds, you can grin knowing he is catching them on the equivalent of tiny candy-coated peanut sized lures … actually made for crappie.
Zaldain Says Tenkiller will be Top 3 Toughest Tournaments of His Career
With a check cashing percentage of nearly 70% and (32) Top 20 finishes to his credit, Chris Zaldain has become one of the most polished and high-achieving pros in all of professional bass fishing recently. But the highly likeable California native says this week’s Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Tenkiller, OK will be one of the absolute toughest of his eight seasons as a pro.
Q: What’s going to be the toughest factor in this tournament?
Zaldain: It’s hard to pick just one factor. We’re facing warm falling water during a traditionally tough bass fishing month, with bass chasing shad in open water, and not really relating to cover.
Q: What’s the single toughest professional tournament of your career?
Zaldain: That’s easy, the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series on the Delaware River in Philadelphia that “Ike” won. I caught like five total bass in that tournament. But Tenkiller this week will for sure rank in the Top 3 toughest of my career.
Q: Name 3 lures fans can expect to see Bassmaster Elite Series pros throw a bunch of this week?
Zaldain: Topwater popper, football jig, and a mid depth crankbait.
Q: On the eve of this tough event, how much weight do you think you need to catch on Day 1 to feel good about your performance?
Zaldain: 10 pounds, because catching a 16” legal keeper here is as tough as catching a 24” keeper in the Toyota Texas Bass Classics on Fork and Conroe.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the biggest headline in college or pro football right now?
Zaldain: I honestly don’t watch football. I watch some NASCAR, and a lot of San Jose Sharks NHL hockey. I’m close friends with former Sharks right winger Owen Nolan. He loves to fish.
Chickamauga Officially Added To 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Slate
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Last week, the bulk of the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule was revealed.
This week, the schedule just keeps getting more attractive for fans who like big bass.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Hunter Shryock holds a giant largemouth caught during the 2017 Southern Open held on Lake Chickamauga. The Elite Series will hold an event on Chickamauga on Feb. 14-17, 2020 Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. officials announced late Tuesday evening that the second tournament on the 2020 Elite Series slate will be held Feb. 14-17 at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn. That means a schedule that was already jam-packed with big-bass fisheries will now also include a lake that ranked sixth overall on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2019 list of 100 Best Bass Lakes.
“We’re thrilled to have a lake like Chickamauga on the schedule,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “Everyone knows Chickamauga’s reputation for producing giant bass — and when you consider the timing of when we’ll be there, the event has some amazing potential.
“It’ll be a great trip for our anglers, for the fans in that area and for fans all over the world who like to watch our pros catch big fish.”
Chickamauga hosted an Elite Series event in 2014 and Bassmaster Opens in 2017 and 2019, and all three events were won with an average of more than 20 pounds per day.
Those events were all held in late April or beyond. The earlier timing of the 2020 Elite Series event could certainly mean colder temperatures, but the bass will likely still be fat and healthy before the bulk of the spawn begins.
The famous 36,240-acre fishery known as “The Chick” has only hosted five major B.A.S.S. events, and two of those were prior to 1992.
But the lake has hosted other Bassmaster tournaments — and in 2017, it produced one of the largest fish ever caught in a Bassmaster High School Series event when Georgia anglers Adam Sansom and Chase Carter weighed in a massive 10-11 largemouth. Logan Henderson and Steven Swann of Alabama won that event with five bass that weighed 24-1.
A Tennessee Team Trail event held on Chickamauga in February took 31.46 pounds to win, and a 12.91-pounder took big-bass honors.
The Chickamauga tournament was not part of B.A.S.S.’s official schedule announcement last week because some contractual details had not been finalized. But an official deal was reached with the host city of Dayton on Tuesday.
“We know the kind of bass that are swimming in Chickamauga — and when you think about all of the possibilities that come with having the best anglers in the world on this lake early in the year, it’s really exciting,” Akin said. “It’s a great addition to the schedule.”
The Chickamauga announcement means only one remaining venue on the 2020 regular-season schedule — the one for the annual Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — has yet to be revealed.
The site for that event, which has historically been held on some of the best big-bass fisheries in Texas, will be announced soon.
2020 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule
Feb. 6-9, St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla.
Feb. 14-17, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.
March 6-8, Bassmaster Classic, Lake Guntersville, Birmingham, Ala.
April 2-5, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
April 16-19, Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning, S.C.
May 29-June 1, Sabine River, Orange, Texas
June 5-9, Texas Fest, TBA
July 23-26, St. Lawrence River, Waddington, N.Y.
July 30-Aug. 2, Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Aug. 13-16, Elite makeup date
Aug. 20-23, Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, Mich.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 510,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
How Scott Canterbury Finds Bass on Lakes He’s Never Fished
If GPS technology had not become part of cell phones and dashboards, current Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader, Scott Canterbury should have sought a sponsorship from mapmaker Rand McNally to help him find his way – because the Tundra driving Yamaha pro had never been to five of the ten Bassmaster Elite Series venues on this year’s schedule.
So how did Canterbury find fish at a supreme level on waters he’d never seen before?
On the eve of the last regular season Elite Series event of the year at Lake Tenkiller, one of the reservoirs he’d never seen before, the Alabama pro graciously shared three tips for successfully finding bass on new waters.
Do your homework
Like most modern day anglers, Canterbury makes a study of Google Earth as well as online tournament results and reports, but he offers a wisdom rich warning.
“Tournament results can tell you what to expect to catch within reason, and reading about winning areas of the lake or river helps too. But don’t get caught up in knowing the exact place where a past winner caught his fish, because almost never do two tournaments get won from the exact same spot,” he warns.
Love a trusted friend, but hate dock talk
If you want to elevate Canterbury’s blood pressure a notch or three, ask him about “dock talk.”
“I’m telling you, 100% do not listen to “dock talk” – learn to ignore it completely!” he says emphatically. “I’m fortunate to have a guy like Matt Arey I can totally trust to share areas of the lake we think are productive, but a guy like Matt is hard to find, so if you don’t have a buddy you can totally trust, rely on yourself, don’t talk to anybody,” he says.
Work hard to find the best area
“I try to fish one area of the lake per day in practice. I don’t run all over the place every day,” says the Yamaha pro.
“If I don’t love the area I fished at the end of the first day of practice, then I look forward to dissecting a new area of the lake during the second day of practice. Heck, at Winyah Bay this year, I never found the best spot until the final three hours on the third day of practice,” he says.
Canterbury is also known for fishing super thorough in shallow water, working hard to catch bass from shorelines in skinny water that most would consider unattractive.
“The good looking stuff is so obvious, but I try to slow way down and figure out ways to catch shallow fish from areas that don’t look good at all to most people.”
And as for Lake Tenkiller
Canterbury has never been to the Eastern Oklahoma impoundment that Jimmy Houston and Jason Christie cut their legendary angling teeth on, and he says things won’t be easy this week.
“The biggest challenge this week is catching five bass everyday bigger than the 16” minimum length limit, and leaving here still leading the Toyota Angler of the Year race,” he concludes.
Don’t bet against him. Canterbury has a history of being right at home on waters he’s never seen before.
Toyota Extends Sponsorship Of Bassmaster Events Through 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S., the world’s largest fishing organization, and Toyota have renewed their longstanding, 16-year partnership for four more years. An exclusive sponsor of the B.A.S.S.-owned Bassmaster Tournament Trail since 2004, Toyota will continue through 2023 as a Platinum-level, exclusive Automobile/Truck and Mobility partner.
“Toyota is thrilled to continue our exclusive partnership with B.A.S.S. into 2023,” said Matt Ozawa, engagement marketing manager, Toyota Motor North America. “What began as a partnership to help launch the Tundra 16 years ago has evolved to Toyota now serving as the Official Vehicle of B.A.S.S. It’s truly a great fit for Toyota and continues to excite fans across the country.”
“B.A.S.S. is looking forward to four more years with Toyota,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “This partnership will give Toyota elevated exposure to our growing audience of the world’s best bass anglers and fans, who learn about Toyota onsite at our events and through our award-winning media properties. Plus, our angler competitors are excited about the opportunity to continue participating in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program.”
The popular Toyota Bonus Bucks program offers cash prizes to eligible anglers who tow their boats with a qualifying Toyota vehicle.
The agreement includes Toyota sponsorship of the 50th Bassmaster Classic, as well as the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and the grass-roots T.N.T Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments.
For bass fishing fans attending Elite Series events, Toyota will continue with its family-friendly activities and Toyota vehicle displays.
Besides its strong presence at Bassmaster events, Toyota will continue garnering prime visibility in B.A.S.S. multimedia platforms. They include Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times, the popular Bassmaster.com website, Bassmaster social media and the award-winning TV show, The Bassmasters, which airs on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 510,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Open Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic.