New Article: The Truth About Light Tackle

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The Truth About Light Tackle
by Craig DeFronzo

What is light tackle?

For arguments sake, my definition of light tackle is as follows: light tackle is a complete light line delivery system that makes utilizing light baits easier by matching rod, reel and line size accordingly.

I'm sure many people view light tackle as fishing with soft wimpy rods and tiny baits on 2lb. test. The truth is that it could be like that, but it doesn't have to be. The equipment I use when going light is by no means wimpy tackle. I prefer to use equipment that can stand up to the rush of a 5lb. largemouth bass surging to get free. For this you need rods with solid backbones, fast actions and reels that can hold decent quantities of line. Dependable drags are also a must.

Light tackle does not necessarily mean you have to go fish with tiny baits, either. I have numerous baits in my arsenal that are far from small. To me, light tackle is a complete system utilizing specific equipment and methods to accomplish a common goal, this goal is catching more and bigger bass. It does not have to be 2 and 4lb. test exclusively. My system is really geared for 6 and 8lb. test. At times I even utilize 10lb. thin diameter lines. I think the diameter of the line is far more important than the actual test rating. These lines provide me with different delivery options and help make this approach more versatile. For arguments sake, my system is a combination of light rods, reels and line teamed up with light lures. Once the correct tackle is realized, I take it further by applying specialized and polished methods to bring these baits to their highest level of fish catching ability. Add to that a little bit of general bass knowledge and I round out this system and base it on seasonal movements and lake by lake analysis of bass.

In order to keep an open mind, it is imperative that the thoughts of whippy trout rods and soft action rods fly out the window. There is nothing soft about the methods that will be discussed. There is nothing to be ashamed of, either. Light line fishing not only increases the numbers of fish you catch, but it is fun too. If you use it, I guarantee it will make you a more consistent angler whether you fish for fun or in tournaments.

When I first developed this system, my target fish was 5lbs. I felt that on a regular basis, my tackle should be able to conquer a fish of that size without any real trouble. I used this strategy for over 15 years and it held true and helped me land three fish over 9lbs. along with many in the 6 to 8lb. class in NY. My system has changed a little more in recent times due to my move to the Motherland of bass fishing, Florida. Here, I have the ability to run into far larger fish on a regular basis because they are far more plentiful than in NY. I have tweaked the system accordingly by utilizing thin diameter lines that are slightly heavier than the steady 4 and 6lb. diet that I relied on for so long. The secret is to remain in balance with the lures you are trying to throw. Once your rod starts to overload due to the weight of a lure, you need to change things. I'm generally relying on 8lb. line these days for many of my applications, but seeing 15lb. bass swimming around does not intimidate me, nor does it prevent me from using 6lb. line to try to catch them.

Now that I have tweaked this system and filled in the gaps by making baits that were once not available to the light tackle angler, the arsenal features all of the types of baits one would utilize when fishing with conventional gear. Anyone who feels that they would be missing out by lightening up need not worry since all the bases are covered.

Why light tackle?

I firmly believe that many anglers including professional anglers use light tackle as a safety net to save the day when traditional methods aren't producing. I took it one step further by realizing that light tackle will make fish bite at other times, not just when they are finicky. By decreasing your line size and baits, you make your offerings appeal to a larger population of the bass group you are targeting. This essentially translates into more strikes and more fish caught. This is ultimately what
we all want.

Light tackle is simply fun and sporting to use. I've taken some very large bass that gave me all I could handle on light gear. It is a blast and likely once you experience this, you'll likely become a convert for life. This book by no means suggests that you should abandon traditional methods altogether. Instead, it preaches versatility in using both and toggling between the two when conditions dictate. Adding the use of light tackle to your arsenal gives you another way to catch fish even at times when those can't miss conventional tactics fail you.

Does fighting a large bass on light tackle harm a fish?

I firmly believe that an experienced light tackle angler poses no greater threat to a large fish than an angler using traditional gear. The myth about light tackle angling is that it takes longer to land a larger fish, thus creating more stress and perhaps fatal stress. In my opinion, when using light line whether 4 or 6lb. test, it should not take extraordinary amounts of time to land a large bass compared to heavier line, say 10 or 12lb. test line. Could it take 10 or 15 seconds longer? Yes, but the amount of time to fatally stress a fish would likely be significantly longer.

The only sure way to harm a fish is to mistreat it in some way. With proper handling, bass can be released alive a high percentage of the time. Now, if you fight a fish until it is exhausted, it will surely build up deadly lactic acid and die as a direct result of the battle, but this can be accomplished by an angler utilizing any type of gear, not just light tackle. Generally, light line will break long before you have the chance to fight a bass into exhaustion. I suspect a large majority of fish mortality can be blamed on improper handling and not light tackle battles. Do you think using heavy gear to swing a bass over the side of the boat and having it land hard on the deck is healthy for it? My advice is to handle fish gently whether you use light tackle or traditional gear.

Please keep in mind that when we discuss light gear, we are not talking about soft action noodle rods as many might assume. Instead, we are covering fast action rods with the backbone necessary to land large bass yet at the same time make even a small fish fun and challenging. We are not playing a fish out until it is totally exhausted. Our goal is to focus on the sport of the fight and release the combatants as quickly as possible with as little wear as possible.

Please understand, I am speaking about catching and releasing bass for fun, not throwing them in a live well and parading them around a lake for 7 hours. That is a whole different issue in regard to fish mortality and there are studies that show this can harm fish. If anglers could realize this, there would not be a debate about it.

Do you recommend light tackle for a specific type of angler such as a beginner or experienced angler?

If you have a pulse and a desire to catch more fish every time out on the water or you just want to have fun, then I recommend light tackle to you. Experienced and novice anglers alike will be able to produce better results with light tackle. I think it is actually easier to teach a novice angler the in's and out's of light tackle because he/she has not developed any bad habits. An experienced conventional angler has years of habits that he/she has to be broken of. It is kind of like molding a perfect angler. It would be more difficult for a seasoned angler to forget the style in which they are used to fishing in order to pick up light tackle and attempt to master it.

The most important thing here is a desire to learn and ultimately the desire to catch more bass. When you couple these two things together and add a little disciplin
e to stick with this method, you will notice improved results. It is hard to simply pick up anything new and realize immediate results. Confidence in any approach out on the water will make you more efficient. Light tackle is one of the few things in which you will notice results very quickly if you are on the right track.

Can you employ light tackle in all parts of the country or is it just a clear water tactic?

There is no doubt that the West Coast methods of finesse fishing greatly influenced light tackle bass fishing as we know it today, but in my opinion, this technique evolved to its current level with portions of knowledge from the East Coast and Southern bass fishing know-how as well. Of course, with its naturally clear waters, the West became the proving grounds for many light tackle theories. I'll let you in on another secret, however. Both the North East and the Deep South are loaded with clear water impoundments that necessitate the use of lighter lines for spooky fish.

My theory is that the left coast anglers simply couldn't keep secret what the bass fisherman on the East side of the United States knew for years. That lesson is that light gear can be a devastating way to catch fish and have fun. You can definitely use light tackle tactics anywhere you fish and they will help you to catch more fish than you ever thought possible.

Is there a difference between light tackle and ultra light tackle?

The answer likely differs depending to whom you direct the question. I'm a pretty experienced light tackle angler and my answer is yes, there is a definite difference between light tackle and ultra light tackle. Light tackle encompasses a broader range of gear, sometimes even including ultra light tackle or micro light gear. The spectrum ranges all the way to medium action rods and gear. Ultra light tackle is a more narrow selection. It is made up of predominantly soft or slow action rods and super small reels and generally 2 and 4lb. lines. Unfortunately, much of the gear you find labeled as UL is actually junk. There are only a few reliable UL products on the market. It is much easier to find good quality light tackle gear. These two approaches have one thing in common in that they can both utilize the same thin diameter lines and small baits.

For a while, I concentrated on fishing with the absolute smallest gear I could find. This was simply fun fishing as each fish was an adventure in itself. A tiny reel that holds 50 yards of 4lb. test or 80 yards of dreaded 2lb. test and a super light 5 foot spinning rod were the norm. It is very fun, but with tackle that is prone to failure, it can become super frustrating in a short time. I'll admit it, early on I catapulted at least one rod and reel set up into the drink out of frustration. I've Bo Jacksoned at least one rod over my knee, snapping it in disgust. These days, much of the newer tackle is higher end, more refined and more efficient. You will be able to utilize some of the light tackle gear to fill in the void and employ it for true UL fishing.

Can light line and bass mix?

Light line isn't just for trout and pan fish anymore. Despite what the average angler may believe, bass and light line absolutely can mix. The plethora of quality tackle that is being introduced for light line enthusiasts makes this type of fishing more enjoyable. Even before I was fishing tournaments utilizing light tackle methods, I was catching more fish than ever on them in my recreational fishing. In fact I was catching tremendous numbers of big bass on small gear. In my first tournament season, I never fished line heavier than 6lb. test. In my second, I occasionally broke out a flipping stick to throw heavy jigs but other than that, again I relied on 6lb. test. To me, you can only catch fish that strike your offerings. Knowing that making your line and lures smaller will get you more strikes, my decision to stay with light line was an obvious one. Despite catching several bass in excess of 5lbs. during competition on light line, the 6lb. test held firm and in two seasons, I broke off one bass on the light line. Considering that most anglers break a fish off every time out, my success on light line has been nothing short of amazing.

The theory is that smaller baits can be consumed by a larger number of different sized fish. Once you put the theory to work, you are in essence opening yourself up to more strikes from more fish. From a stand point of recreational fishing, you are getting the most "bang" for your buck by doing this. For the tournament angler, you are unlocking a very efficient system for catching keeper sized bass to limit out. I've always subscribed to the theory that if you bring in a consistent limit all the time, you will be rewarded in the end. This is how I went about my tournament fishing. Go for a limit first and any larger fish I come across would be a bonus. Once that
limit is achieved, then I could change my style and look for one big bite, but I had to have 5 in the well before I could make the change. That game plan helped me and led me to incredible success.

My system is more involved and, in this book, you will learn how, when, and where to use specific baits and techniques to catch more bass. I have never stopped
myself from fishing in certain situations because I was told, "you can't do that" or "that won't work here". In fact, I thrive when people tell me I can't be successful a certain way, it is in my being to prove them wrong. Had I listened to people, I would have caught far less fish and never stumbled on to this awesome and consistent, fun way to catch fish. I certainly would never have acquired the knowledge necessary to fill the pages of this book.

Can you employ many different techniques using light line? Are there specific light line methods?

In my opinion, light line is very versatile. There are absolutely a ton of interesting and effective light line methods that really need to be fished on light gear to be appreciated. Call these methods light line specific. They simply work better when teamed up with lighter gear. I grew up learning the West Coast finesse methods and combined them with my East Coast experience to form a formidable approach that has provided me with a systematic inside line to consistency. Most of these West Coast methods simply excel when fished on lighter lines, hence the recommendation of their use. Using heavier lines may actually dampen their effectiveness.

There are a few obvious limitations but in reality, the sky is the limit with light line. Realistically speaking, I do not feel limited as to what I can do with this approach. It is likely that there are times that other methods would out produce light line tactics or be more appropriate. When I recognize those times, light tackle takes a back seat to those other methods. This is the extreme rather than the norm. That is a lesson in versatility. It is important to become skilled in many presentations. Don't get caught up in being a one trick pony.

This book is full of light line methods and approaches that will be discussed in great detail. Remember, if nothing else, it is important to keep an open mind (I've said this at least four times already). This is the beginning of learning how to become a versatile angler. If you are skilled in fishing conventional tackle, adding a light tackle bag of tricks to your approach gives you a two pronged approach. If you prefer to fish with larger baits and gear, at least you have something to fall back on when conditions call for down sizing. Having that parachute will delay those helpless feelings you might get when things are not working and you have to put fish in the boat.

Are you at a disadvantage using light tackle around heavy cover?

I'm sure that some guys who consider themselves power fisherman might disagree with me when I say that you can even be successful with light line in heavy cover.
Of course, you need to gain experience in fighting a big ba
ss in this type of cover, but it certainly is not impossible to win some battles, and after you gain experience, most of the battles.

I'm a firm believer that you have to put baits in front of bass where they live. If they live in nasty places, then you must go in after them. Many anglers refuse to put their baits into locations that may break their line. I made a living early on slinging light tackle jigs into the worst possible snags and most of the time I won the battles. I always reasoned that I would rather have fought and lost a big fish then never had that fish bite my lure at all.

The only disadvantage you may find is that you can't horse a fish on light gear as if you were using 60lb. braid and a 7-6 flipping stick. If you approach your fishing and respect the gear you are using, you will find that it is possible to handle fish that the average angler may lose even on heavy tackle.

In truth, with experience, you can learn to adapt to heavy cover when fishing light gear. It is possible to hang up or break off if you choose the middle of a submerged tree as your battle ground. At the same time, these nasty places are also some of the areas where you will generate more strikes. So, if you fail to fish around these spots you may be limiting your action for the day. It is a compromise that you must consider. I would rather have lost a fish in heavy cover than never have hooked it because I failed to throw my bait there. You can't expect to be successful if you go out on the water and fish scared.

I've used light gear for many years. I know that you could have a hard time in heavy cover if you lack experience of fighting bass around it, but I think as you progress, you learn what not to do and what limitations your lighter line may have. You make up for it, you can cheat a little. You may have to put a little extra pressure on a fish to lead them out of heavy cover. You may pop some line. In the long run, you will be a better schooled angler.

Experience will be your guide as to how you approach each fish in heavy cover. Each bass is an individual and contrary to what many others will say, each fish
has different habits, characteristics and certainly fighting ability. As you gain experience, you will learn to anticipate what each fish is doing or about to do on the end of your line. Take mental notes before you even hook into a fish. What will you do once you hook one? Be prepared and have a battle plan. It will pay off for you in the long run. Take note of your surroundings when you are working an area. Plan exactly what you want to do if you happen to hook up with a big fish.

If there is money on the line, perhaps light line might not be the best way to winch a bass out of a jam if you lack experience with it, but if you utilize heavier line and lures, you may miss out on the strike altogether. If that is the case, I'd take my chances on lighter gear any day!

Can you be a serious tournament angler employing light line methods?

The early days: developing a system in 1999, I began fishing competitively with several B.A.S.S. affiliated clubs. I had done very well despite both my lack of experience fishing tournaments and with my light line approach. A few years later I joined a local club and again set out to employ light line tactics exclusively in the tournaments that we fished. This time, I would be fishing with baits that I made and nobody else had. This would be the proving grounds for my light line success. I wanted to see how my light line system would hold up against the formidable Senko and all of the industries best products.

Around 2000, I set out to start my own light tackle business based on custom homemade light tackle lures. I have been pretty busy ever since considering it was
just a hobby to me. My philosophy is that if I could build baits using the best quality components and make them different from all of the mass produced baits on
the market, I could build up a devastating arsenal of lures that fish never saw before. This "something different" is the foundation of my whole light tackle philosophy. It has proven itself so many times to so many people. Fishing light tackle was just the first step to my doing something "different" approach.

I also decided to try my methods in some tournaments. I fished a local club circuit that was held on week nights with a friend. Together we used my light line methods and baits to fish 8 tournaments. We never finished below the top two spots in any of the events. Generally there were 8 to 12 boats fishing those tournaments. I was impressed by our success. The competition took notice, too. We walked in that first night and were basically laughed at after "serious" tournament anglers took one look at our light tackle, but when we weighed our fish that laughter turned into dead pan silence and likely shock. Those same anglers began to ask us for our input in how they, too, could become more efficient with lighter gear. Everyone looks for an edge and many will eat crow to find it!

I decided to ratchet up the pressure and joined a club to test my approach. In 22 events during the first three seasons, my light tackle approach brought me to the winners circle 16 times. I finished runner up 6 times. Light tackle helped me win every major award the club offered including 3 Angler of the Year titles and 2 MVP crowns. These achievements were realized due to fishing light line over 90% of the time in competition. Light tackle whipped up the competitors and led my charge to victory. To say I am a believer in it is an understatement. I honestly feel that all of the chips were stacked against me and that by utilizing this system, I overcame adversity and the pieces of the puzzle all fell into place for me. I had known for years that this system was good, but I learned that its potential was greater than even I expected. I consider myself a very skilled and versatile angler, but my success in competition can't solely be based on that. I truly feel that my decision to stick with light tackle, through thick and thin was the main reason I had achieved this success. I had a plan and realized my goal by sticking to that plan. Light tackle simply gave me an added ability to get more bites and that translated into limiting out in just about every event I fished in. With this consistency, I couldn't go wrong and it ultimately led to me finishing at the top on a more than regular basis.

In 2004 I left the comforts of my small water club and joined a group of guys who fished bigger water. To me this was important because I had never fished most of
the waters that we were to compete on. Now I would have to rely on both my knowledge of seasonal patterning of fish and light tackle to be successful. My charge with light tackle led me to 4 out of 5 first place finishes and many of the coveted awards. Importantly, it proved that light tackle could be a big fish system as well. In these 5 events, I weighed in over 76lbs. of bass. This was slightly over a 3lb. average. Light tackle helped out distance the second place angler by almost 40lbs. of total weight, this was consistent with the results of the previous couple of years with the small water club. Again, I chalked up this to the use of light lines and light baits.

There are likely some hard core tournament anglers out there who think that fishing finesse baits and light tackle only attracts small fish. I've often heard these types of anglers state they could go out and finesse a 6 or 8lb. limit on any given day. Consider this: I charted my tournament standings for 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2002, I fished 8 events and my clubs Classic with light tackle exclusively. Total weight for the season 89.70lbs. In 2003, total weight for 8 qualifying events and a Classic 90.89lbs. and there were two non qualifying tournaments where I put up 16.93lbs. and 12.48lbs. respectively with my light tackle approach bringing the true weight up around 120lbs. In 2004 I fished 4 qualifiers and the Classic and weighed 7
6.40lbs. Basing this fishing on a 5 fish limit for every event, the average per tournament was well over 10lbs. That is not bad for light tackle. In competition I had 11 fish over 4lbs. and 4 over 5lbs. Again, this is during a tournament where most of the
time I worry about a limit, not a big fish for my plan of consistency. Listen, I know plenty of hardcore tournament anglers who fish conventional gear who would kill for a 10 to 15lb. bag every time out. Most of these guys travel for hours to get to their tournament locations.

I would hardly call myself a serious tournament angler, but my success with light line in competition, speaks volumes. I've fished three full seasons in a club circuit and used 6lb. line almost exclusively. Out of 22 tournaments, my partner and I won 16 of them and finished in second place in the remaining six. We finished on average, 35 to 40lbs. better in total weight each season ahead of the second place team. Can you imagine having 35lbs. separate the first and second place teams in a regimented tournament schedule? Is that effective? I think so. Add to that a two Classic victories, two Team Angler of the Year Titles, two Club MVP titles, an overall Angler of the Year Title and two Mr. Bass Titles, and you can see how efficient light tackle can be when given a serious chance.

Now I will be the first to tell you that these were club tournaments, not Pro events and in the grand scheme of things they mean very little. As far as light tackle is concerned though, this performance marks success against anglers who were throwing the industries best baits on the best gear. For me it was a tremendous accomplishment, it clearly put to rest any thought that light line could not provide successful results in competition on a consistent basis. It also showed other anglers who previously dismissed it as a little fish tactic that it could not only provide them with consistency, but also with a few larger fish. I specifically fished competitively
to test out my fishing system and prove that light tackle can be consistent in competition. I got more than I ever bargained for, so did the guys I fished against.

There is no doubt that scaling down bait size appeals a wider pool of the fish population. For this reason, it makes sense to consider a light approach. Add to that the tremendous pressure these fish receive during a tournament and it is logical and almost necessary to succeed. I feel that to be a successful tournament angler, you need to be consistent and what better way to be consistent than to catch more fish using a technique that can put you on to those fish.

I think light tackle is an approach that many of the Pro anglers use when the going gets tough. They just don't readily admit that this way of fishing puts food on their tables when all else fails. Maybe they are afraid of the sissy image some anglers associate light tackle fishing with. One thing I always remembered as I was learning to fish this way, when asked about what baits they use under the toughest conditions, most Pro anglers said light tackle was the way to go. I just took it a step further and used these baits in everyday situations. Why not catch more fish, more often? It makes sense.

The pro's aren't using light tackle in tournaments, why should I?

Remember when I said to keep an open mind? Well, you can't truly rely on the material and information of what a paid and sponsored Pro tells you 100% of the
time. His motivation is to tell you about certain baits, from the companies that sponsor him and he is even less motivated to give you his winning pattern, the same one that feeds his family. Take it to the bank that there are many pros out there who rely on light tackle during tournaments, far more than you hear about. I think that there is a reason not too many guys defend the "sissy" fishing techniques when the "bubba" guys speak negatively about it. This is likely because they do not want to give up their secrets. Some anglers simply write light tackle off for tournament fishing. This is really a mistake as there are so many times light tackle is an advantage.

On a national level, the pro's have discovered the importance of keeping light line options in their arsenal. Did you ever hear of a guy named Guido Hibdon? He won a Bass Masters Classic with a light line approach. His son Dion did as well. Rick Clunn is another guy who uses light tackle at times on the Pro tour to be successful. He's been to 23 consecutive Bass Master Classics. The guys out West have a totally different approach to their gin clear waters and it involves 4 and 6lb. lines for so many techniques. Those light lines are used out of necessity. Out of that necessity evolved a whole new approach to fishing.

These days, you can read the magazines that talk about Pro events and you will likely find that many more tournament anglers are resorting to lighter tackle to entice bites from educated fish. If nothing else, using light line can help you become more consistent at catching keeper sized bass. I would guess that there are a ton of anglers out there who would give anything to bring in a limit each time out or at least have the knowledge that might help them achieve that limit. In tournaments, you don't always need a big fish to win, if you remain consistent, you will often be rewarded by strong performances.

If that has not convinced you, keep this in mind - anytime an angler is faced with tough conditions, light tackle is almost always the response recommended by pros and anglers in the know. There has to be something to it.

Consider this as well, I have done many speaking engagements and at one particular event, I met and had a lengthy conversation with Larry Nixon who is in my
opinion, one of the top 5 professional bass anglers in the world. I asked him about the use of light tackle on the professional tour and he readily responded that
there are plenty of guys using this tackle on a regular basis to finesse limits of fish under tough conditions. Essentially, all of the pro's use it despite not admitting to it. For his seminars he used my Kistler Helium ML spinning rods and spoke about light tackle worm fishing that he uses to find limits. To me, that is proof in the pudding.

Does light tackle have any limitations?

I'll be the first to tell you that light line does have its limitations. Although those limitations as they apply to my fishing are few and far between, you have to realize that like everything in life, no system is absolutely bullet proof. I feel that this one is as close to perfection as possible in the world of bass fishing. My fishing system is not simply putting light baits on the end of your line. Even if you do only that however, you should increase your catch by at least double. If you think about it there are anglers breaking all tackle world records for giant tuna and marlin on lighter lines such as 20lb. test. Those fish can be hundreds of pounds in weight. Why would landing a 5 or 6lb. bass on 4lb. or 6lb. line seem unattainable? Perhaps it is only intimidating to guys who have never done it. You are only limited by what you think you can't accomplish.

I have experienced some form of success with light tackle in just about all fishing conditions. I'm not sure there are any real limitations as far as bass fishing is concerned. Perhaps you would be limited in the over all size and weight of the baits you might want to throw, but I can assure you that throwing smaller versions of those larger baits will likely put you onto fish even more readily than with those larger baits. These days there are enough bait companies making light tackle lures to prevent and angler from scrambling to make their own as I did in the early days.

Some anglers might argue that light tackle is not suited for deep water presentations, but I absolutely disagree. Light small diameter line is essential to probe the depths. There are guys out West drop shot fishing in 80 feet of water with 4 and 6lb. line
. They fish darter heads on 40 feet of water and routinely doodle in the depths proving that the light line approach can be used in deeper water. It makes sense, too. Deeper, clear water with no obstructions is perfect for thin diameter line that you can use without worrying too much about abrasions to scuff up your line. The thicker the line diameter, the more drag the line creates in the water. This is important for allowing baits to run true. Without drag, baits will track normally to their potential. If they are hampered by thick diameter lines, the action, running
depths and retrieves will be effected.

My light tackle bass system is very versatile. It covers all types of fishing situations, lures, gear and conditions. The only draw back to the system may be utilizing some heavier baits in extremely deep water situations. Flipping large baits into thick weed growth is another area where you would be better suited using heavier gear. Although not a large problem for me, you have to know when to simply utilize another method or different gear.

I always preach about being careful to avoid being a one trick pony. This usually is directed towards anglers who dismiss light tackle as sissy tackle. It is important not to get locked up in any one method or technique. This could cloud your judgment and affect you negatively on the water. Versatility is the key to angling success on any level.

The bottom line here is this, I'm certainly comfortable enough in my ability to recognize any time where I may feel that light tackle is not the way to go for a given situation. When I see this as being fact, I'll readily switch up to heavier gear. I'm not a prisoner of my own system. I'll do what I have to do in order to catch fish.

Can I be as accurate with light gear as I am with bait casting gear?

With a little practice, you can be threading the needle and skipping baits into tiny little openings under bushes and stick ups with ease. I learned how to become a very accurate caster over the years. It was based more on necessity if I wanted to be successful. The lighter lines you will be utilizing will aid in your casting accuracy. With light gear you tend not to be concentrating on casting distance. Instead you should be more interested in accuracy for close combat. You can't expect to simply pick it up and perform like a champ. You need to work at it, but I feel you can be super efficient with it.

One of my fishing buddies gave me the nickname of "The Surgeon". He was impressed at the small places I could put a bait with relative ease. The delivery system I
use helped me become a very accurate caster.

I was once challenged by an angler to a fish off. I would rely on skipping my light tackle baits to visible cover while that angler flipped and pitched any bait in his arsenal. He told me he could reach any spot I skipped to and be more effective doing it. The fact that he boasted publicly that he was so sure he would prevail made his undoing even more satisfying to me. He would get a public flogging if he failed, and fail he did, miserably. As the day unfolded, he realized that his accuracy with a flipping stick was not even in the same universe as the deadly accuracy of skipping. He could only muster flips to the outside edges of the shoreline cover we worked as I penetrated deep under the snags and tangles. When all was said and done he had a single fish to his credit, I had waxed 22. In retrospect, you can be extremely accurate with light tackle provided you practice with it. Of course, I heard every excuse in the book as to why he was unsuccessful but in truth, he learned a valuable lesson that day that should have opened the doorway for him to improve upon his technique and keep his mouth shut.

Important rule in bass fishing, make sure your mouth doesn't write checks that your body can't cash.

Can you catch big bass on light line?

I could answer this with just one word, absolutely. There is no doubt that big bass can be taken on light line. I have pursued big bass with light line for many years. The sheer numbers of large fish I've taken on light line are staggering. It is simply a fun and challenging way to fish. I don't think I'd attempt to catch the all tackle world record with 6lb. gear, but if I was hunting for the record, my choice for that would only be 10lb. test.

In truth, I've landed more than 1000 bass over 5lbs. in my exploits and the majority of those were on light tackle. I'd estimate 70% were caught on line testing 6lbs. or less. This includes a good share of 34 fish over 7lbs. in NY. I've taken 4 fish over 9lbs. on line testing 6lbs. 99.9% of these fish came from NY. One bass was a 13.9lb. Florida giant. If you think landing a 5lb. largemouth is a hairy experience on light tackle, you can only imagine what fighting that beast was like. I have a whole section in this book dedicated to big bass fishing with light line. You might be surprised at just how many big fish you can catch with scaled down presentations. I will guarantee you that once you fight a big fish on small tackle, it will change your outlook on the sport and you will be hooked in the pursuit of light tackle bass fishing.

Catching larger bass on light tackle is a system in itself. In the following areas, we will highlight exactly what steps you need to make in order to be a success big bass light tackle angler.

Why should I fish with light tackle when I can catch fish with conventional tackle?

This is a good question. If they are hitting 3/8oz. spinner baits with reckless abandon or big 4" crank baits, I'll be throwing those baits along side of you. There are times when I get tired of being meticulous and retying and checking my gear. I love to put on 20lb. braid and catch a mess of fish without worrying about the state of my gear. I am also a sucker for flipping and pitching 3/8oz. jig n pigs on 15lb. line with a 7ft. MH or H action flipping stick.

You have to know when to recognize and switch to a better plan. It is called versatility. Unfortunately, with today's fishing pressure, light line is often the key to getting those lock jawed fish to bite. If you think about it, each time you read about specific factors that lead to the fish becoming inactive or lure shy, just about every response is to scale down your tackle to get more bites. Cold fronts, bright sunny days, low pressure zones, and drastic weather changes can all be combated by lightening up. I feel this is a totally natural way to fish. Why not employ light tackle all the time, not just to combat specific situations. There is no doubt that you will catch more fish if you use light tackle. Light tackle is also at its best when you are fishing behind a boat or in heavily pressured waters. I can't even begin to
explain the success I've had fishing used water. The fish that get bombarded by the commonly thrown baits tend to be more receptive to smaller baits and a less
intrusive approach.

As I stated already, you need to learn to be versatile and not get locked into catching bass a certain way. At times anglers simply want to catch them a certain
way, whether the fish are receptive to that presentation or not. I call this force feeding the fish and you might get lucky and force feed one bass to bite, but it is more likely that you will simply be wasting your time. By catching bass or not throughout a day of fishing, you should learn to take the information the fish are relaying to you to form a plan of attack. Aggressive bass should have you selecting larger tackle since light gear isn't necessary to coax bites. On the other side of the coin, sluggish or light biting fish should dictate a change to light gear.


What type of increase can I expect as far as numbers of fish caught by using light tackle?

In all honesty this depends on you and how serious you are about improving your fishing. First, you have to make a concentrated effort to use light tackle and stick with it for a peri
od of time. For me, this was easy because I experienced the ultimate success before I even considered changing my habits. I was pre-motivated. In fact this success led to me changing the way I looked at my fishing and seeing that I could do better. Next, you have to become a sponge. During the period that I would classify as my growth period with light tackle, I craved to learn about it to the point that it was almost a sickness. I couldn't digest information fast enough to get on with learning more.

If you just go through the motions half heartedly, I feel you can catch at least double the amount of fish you are used to catching with traditional gear. Doubling you output is definitely respectable. I think that this statement is extremely conservative though. In truth, I think an angler who is serious about this fishing and develops a confidence in these tactics and dedicates himself to it can catch 3 or 4 times what he might have caught under traditional angling. To give you some idea what I mean by this, under normal circumstances on my home waters, my journals regularly show me catching between 12 and 15 fish on almost all of the trips I took before I employed light tackle. Now under a few circumstances the number could be lower or higher but the 12 to 15 fish per trip is the average. Those numbers are not too bad but once I switched to light tackle, I saw a jump in my overall numbers and the frequency in which I took bigger fish. Those 12 bass days turned into 35 and 45 bass days. I have had several outstanding outings where more than 100 fish fell to my light tackle tactics. I've taken other anglers out and together we've landed over 200 fish in a days time. I'm not so sure that this could have been duplicated with conventional tackle.

Should I concentrate on learning light tackle methods or standard methods?

I am a firm believer that an angler is much better off being well rounded as opposed to being a one trick pony. One of the themes that I always stress is that versatility is the key to success. I took my fishing up a level after I had already become proficient at conventional bass fishing. I had learned the meat and potatoes tactics. I was a very adept jig and worm fisherman. These were my strength areas but I also had experience with spinner baits and crank baits. My decision to switch over to light tackle can be compared to opening a notebook and writing on both the front and the back as opposed to just the front. On the front page is traditional bass fishing gear and tactics, on the back is light tackle. These pages are almost mirror images of one another in content, yet they differ on the ways they describe the story.

I think it was easy to learn in the manner I did. I can see it being even easier for the angler who is almost totally new to fishing. Here there are no bad habits to erase or break. You don't have to unlearn everything you spent years learning and you are less likely to be stubborn. Even if you have no intention of becoming an angler who relies on light tackle for the majority of your fishing, at least become acquainted with it to compliment your current style. There will be times when you will have to fall back on something when your bread and butter methods are not working.

Does the size of your baits matter?

For the purpose of light tackle fishing, size absolutely does matter. Remember earlier we defined light tackle as a complete system, not just a decrease in the size of your baits. With this said, smaller baits are important to keep your system balanced and working to its potential. You can't chuck 1 ounce spinner baits on 6lb. line with a medium light rod. It just isn't going to work for you. You have to match the gear and because you are using light lines and rods, you have to match your baits up accordingly. Smaller baits are not the disadvantage some anglers might lead you to believe. I think they are an advantage as they increase the interest of a larger
population of fish overall.

There have been debates over it, possibly a little blood drawn over it and maybe even wars started over what size baits a bass prefers. I always hear anglers state that big baits catch big bass and in my experience this some times is true. On the other side of the coin, the light tackle angler who targets bigger fish on his smaller gear usually throws baits 4" or smaller. I've taken tons of big bass on tiny jigs and worms. That might dispel some of the big bait/big bass theory, but is either really better than the other?

Is there scientific proof that shows that bass actually have a preference? I mean, we will never see Barbara Walters interview a bass on Sunday night and ask that question so how do we come to a conclusion? The answer may have been inadvertently revealed during the stomach analysis of bass all around the country. Not only does this show us what exactly our bass are foraging on but it also gives us the size of their preferred snack.

Several studies have indicated that crawfish and minnow samples recovered from both largemouth and smallmouth bass suggest that a specimen of 2 to 2.5" is the size of choice for adult bass. Now considering that bass can actually engulf objects much larger than that, this comes as interesting news. This shows two important things. The first is that a bass definitely can have a preference. The next is that the bass is highly adaptable to forage on creatures out of the preferred size range. This may not be ground breaking news, but it gives you something to ponder next time you are selecting what you are going to tie on the business end of your line.

The fact that these studies reveal that the preferred size of forage is likely much smaller than the standard bait that most guys throw on a regular basis reinforces the notion that those anglers who fish with light tackle and smaller baits are setting themselves up for success. This is done by offering bass the preferred size baits on a consistent basis. It is understandable why light tackle anglers are able to catch large numbers of fish because they are employing baits that are of the most desirable size. The size of these baits is simply preferred by a wider range of the bass population. This is advantageous to know.

Consider that all of the information contained in this book will essentially steer you in the direction of baits 4" and under for your bass fishing. You will easily see why this has come to be once you start utilizing the light gear and catching more fish than you ever have.

Where I live in Florida, a 6 to 9 inch shiner is the preferred bait for trophy bass in the 10lb.+ class. It certainly doesn't mean that only large baits will catch them, though. Guides use larger shiners to discourage smaller bass from biting. They are, after all, out for trophies. I've experienced bass that bust a large shiner, but simply won't commit to it. Switching to a smaller bait seals the deal. I've taken an enormous amount of trophy class bass on small baits. For a long while a 1/16oz. jig 'n pig was my weapon of choice and that helped me catch 100's of NY largemouth exceeding 5lbs. The Slider worm has helped me catch 3 bass over 9lbs. including one over 13. I know guys who have been fishing a lifetime with larger baits that haven't come close to catching large fish regularly.

Throughout this book, I will provide you with information and experience that has qualified me to disprove all of these myths. It is my feeling that most of these falsehoods were initiated by anglers who never even fished with light tackle, never truly understood the concept of light tackle or those who were downright intimidated by it. Think about it this way. I have no real reason to be loyal to a technique that is unproven. With that said, I took a chance by immersing myself in a system that has improved my fishing success to an extremely high level. Had it not worked for me, there would be no reason for me to give it accolades. My fondness for the light tackle approach and the countless hours I have spent perf
ecting and tweaking that approach are based solely on its fish catching capabilities. I said it before, this system is THAT good.

Copyright © 2005 Craig DeFronzo
Published with permission

____________________________________________

This article is an excerpt from the Ebook How to Catch More Bass Using Light Tackle written by Craig
DeFronzo.

Craig DeFronzo lives in Florida and is the owner of Micro-Munch Tackle specializing in light tackle jigs.

[MMT]

Sorry to bomb you guys with an article that was very long. Those of you who know me should know that light tackle played(s) a very large role in my fishing and helped me a ton in my own competitive fishing. I talk to so many anglers who just don't understand how or why to use this gear. I thought putting this up can help a bunch of you guys simply catch more fish. This article is actually an excerpt from a book I am currently working on. Right now it has something like 500+ pages. I'm shooting video and photos to help finish it up. Don't know when it will be done but i'm not really in a rush. I've been publishing smaller 50 to 100page ebooks on various bass fishing topics and those have come out very nice. Hope this article helps out and clears up any misconceptions about light tackle bass fishing.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Craig, fantastic job on the article. It should clear up any misconceptions about light tackle. I too have used what I consider light tackle with great results, but my idea of light tackle is a six foot spinning rod-one piece-a medium speed spinning reel and no less than 10# or more than 12# line. My medium to small baits are reserved for this tasckle and usually used in fairly clear water or where the fish have been pressured a lot. It's not unusual for me to cast a Zara Spook or other full size topwater bait when using light tackle. Since the fish are on the surface and I can control them, I rarely worry about snagging and breaking off. Once again, very good and timely information. Thanks. JOhnnie

[Capn jack duggins]

Good read Craig! It describes what I have been doing here in Maine for the last 35 years.
I rarely use more then 8lb test and anything over 10 lb. test I avoid like the plague, even when Striper fishing on the coast.

[Fishnj]

Great read man, i also like using lite tackle and even some ultra light tackle. I recently (yesterday) one day after reading your article caught my largest bass i have ever caught. I didn't have my scale with me, nor a camera, was a quick stop at a local lake. but i took it on a ugly stik ultra light 4'8" with a ultral light Shimano Sedona 750FB reel with 4lb mono on it using a senko(purple flake) rigged weedless dragged across some heavy cover. I mean this bass hit that senko so hard and ran but yet with good drag control i was able to pull it out from the deep cover and land my best bass yet. And all this on my trout rod lol what a great fight. The bass was about 15" and meaty. So im not to sure what that may = weight wise. THis was a great first year of bass fishing and this has just made it better yet. Great info and great tips man!

[MMT]

fishnj, your post is the reason we do it. Helping out a guy catch some fish is rewarding to me. I'm glad my article turned your wheels.-C

[bassman20042]

Craig,I also use what they call lite tackle in my area.My rod is 6'6",with a medium reel.I use no more than 10 lbs line,which I can control very easily. Just recently,a friend and I went out to our honey hole that we found earlier this year,and caught over 30 bass,which weighed between 4-10 lbs respectively. We used alot of baits that weighed no more than 1/8 ounce.What a way to spend the day.The things I learned using lite tackle,has helped me in three recent local tournaments,( to which I won two,and a second.I had other anglers asking how I worked this bait,and that bait with great success.I told them,which has helped them in their home areas.That gave me the greatest satisfaction of all,which was to pass on advice and knowledge.I still to this day,keep in touch with most of the anglers I have met.Thanks for the great article.The advice and tips will help all that read it.Keep up the great work. Bassman