PARK FALLS, WIS. (February 10, 2025) – Bass anglers paying consideration have a watch on the West Coast. Many aspire to fish there. A number of others, like Alex Niapas and Mark Lassagne, are already entrenched.
What’s the attraction of West-Coast bass fishing? Numerous and scenic fisheries to begin, providing the chance to catch three species of black bass in opposition to a backdrop of among the most lovely surroundings to be discovered wherever. However the draw additionally consists of appreciable numbers of bass, plus true trophy potential.
“Our fisheries are undoubtedly numerous,” says final month’s 2025 BAM Match Path Professional-Am season-opener Champion and St. Croix Rod Ambassador, Alex Niapas. “There are clear-water reservoirs throughout out right here with actually large bass, plus the California Delta and Clear Lake, which is arguably the very best bass lake within the nation,” he provides. “It’s a spot the place you may catch a bunch of five- and six-pounders with double-digit largemouth all the time a chance. Whereas finesse performs all year long on the deep, clear-water reservoirs we fish all through the west, Clear Lake and the remainder of the Delta fisheries could be a power-fisherman’s dream.”
After which there’s the noticed bass.
“Most jap anglers aren’t uncovered to noticed bass greater than three kilos or so,” says Bass Angler Journal and BAM Match Path Founder, Mark Lassagne. “However spots as much as 9 kilos and even greater are a chance on a number of lakes out right here. Match professional Randy Pierson weighed a 7.04 throughout our current Professional-Am season opener at Lake Shasta, which isn’t out of the strange. The world report 11.04-lb. spot got here out of New Bullards Bar Reservoir right here in Northern California, and the following one is definitely on the market.”
Lassagne says Clear Lake often produces 30-pound each day baggage in tournaments, and that Don Pedro Lake offers up five-fish limits over 20 kilos consisting of all three species. Personally although, he says the Columbia River is his favourite. “It’s an unbelievable fishery simply loaded with three-to-four-pound smallmouth. You may have some epic days there fishing finesse to topwater and every thing in between.”
Niapas, a resident of Altaville, California says he focused shallow factors with timber and different construction throughout his championship efficiency on the current BAM Professional-Am at Lake Shasta, which was shortened by a day attributable to excessive winds. He caught most of his 16.35 and 18.05 limits on a prototype five-ounce trout swimbait.
“Very first thing within the morning, I caught nearly a 5-lb. spot on it after which I ran round to some different areas and caught one other 4 fish,” Niapas stated of his ultimate day on the water. “I began operating just a few different spots and started catching threes and 3-½’s. I used to be culling threes by the tip of the day.“
Only one week later, February 6 on the identical lake, Niapas earned third place within the WON Bass Open with a bag that included a good greater fish – a 9.14-lb. noticed bass caught on the identical swimbait.
Niapas says bigger swimbaits are an necessary and fashionable lure when concentrating on greater bass, particularly in California lakes which have rainbow trout. “They’re form of a staple at completely different instances of the yr,” he says, including that anglers who decide to throwing them in the correct instances and locations can have appreciable success. “Larger baits can take their toll on you bodily although,” he says. “It’s not like pitching a drop shot or flipping a jig all day. I’ve been fishing baits on this class with St. Croix’s Legend Match Bass MID SWIMBAIT rod (LBTG710XHF), which comes with the brand new angler-adaptable GRASP II reel seat. It could look just a little unconventional, however when you truly fish it you don’t wish to be with out it. These are extremely gentle, highly effective, and well-balanced swimbait rods with or with out the GRASP deal with. You may simply swap it out for the standard palming set off, however the GRASP attachment retains your wrist aligned together with your arm when chucking and winding these large baits all day. You’ll undoubtedly discover much less bodily fatigue, which implies staying within the psychological recreation longer.”
Whereas Niapas chooses to focus his aggressive efforts on the BAM Professional-Am Sequence, the BAM Match Path consists of three different distinct event collection consisting of the Tremendous 60, Scholastic, and Kayak excursions. All supply anglers a wide range of advantages, together with nice payouts, low entry charges, and premier publicity. “Along with protection of the BAM Tremendous 60 Sequence on Out of doors Motion TV, all BAM Match Path Sequence are coated comprehensively in our print journal and thru our in depth social media attain. The bottom of hardcore bass anglers nationwide we attain via our multi-platform high-quality media merchandise are what actually units our event collection aside,” says Lassagne.
Whether or not you’re prepared to begin planning your West-Coast bass journey, trying to be taught extra in regards to the BAM Match Path, or just wish to put your eyes on among the most modern and complete content material spanning your complete realm of bass fishing, go to bassanglermag.com.
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly crafting the “Greatest Rods on Earth” for over 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with expert craftsmanship, St. Croix is the one main producer to nonetheless construct rods fully from design via manufacturing. The corporate stays family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing amenities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With fashionable trademarked collection equivalent to Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all sorts of anglers from world wide. The St. Croix Household of Manufacturers consists of St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
About SEVIIN Reels
Wherever and nonetheless you fish, the reel in your hand ought to assist create higher experiences. Born from St. Croix Rod’s seven a long time of design and manufacturing experience, industry-leading customer support, and unbroken personal possession by the Schluter household courting again to 1977, SEVIIN reels are meticulously engineered and purpose-built to assist anglers conquer each species on each piece of water on the planet. SEVIIN focuses on reels and reels solely, designing and advertising and marketing merchandise that enhance the angling expertise, whatever the rods anglers select. Seven seas, seven continents, seven days every week, SEVIIN reels are fueled by a collective love of fishing surpassed solely by a ardour to ship essentially the most dependable reels on the water. The St. Croix Household of Manufacturers consists of St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks.
