Gambler Pro-Staffer finishes 12th in B.A.S.S. Central Open
Gambler Pro-Staffer Carl Svebek prefers to be a one-trick pony. In the first tournament of the Bassmaster Central Open Season held on Toledo Bend Reservoir, Carl rode the effectiveness of a single lure to a 12th Place finish. The lure of choice? It was none other than Gambler Lure’s new Wacky Jig Head and popular Sweebo Worm.
Traditionally, Carl exploits the Spring Toledo Bend bass run by targeting fish in shallow water in the southern portion of the impoundment. For the 2009 B.A.S.S. Central Open, however, Carl discovered that bass were ahead of their typical spawning cycle and water levels were comparatively low to previous years. Without hesitation, Carl decided to buck his conventional strategy and focus his efforts on the north end of the reservoir in Breezy and Martinez Creeks. It paid off. Armed with a 1/16-ounce Gambler Wacky Jig Head and Green Pumpkin Sweebo worm, Carl jumped to an opening day limit of 19 pounds. His creel was good enough for third place.
He explains, “The lake level was down a little bit. It was not in the buck brush that it normally rises to this time of year, so I fished shorelines. The fish weren’t way back into cover and were relating more to the grass. I knew the fish were shallow, and I felt like the Sweebo was the best way to catch them in those conditions. It’s funny – I never had to throw another bait the whole tournament. The Wacky Jig - Sweebo is the bait that I have the most confidence in, and I was catching fish on it, so I stuck with it.”
On the Day 2, the cold front and high winds that had confronted the tournament field had finally taken a toll on the Toledo Bend bass, and weights dropped-off. Despite the challenging conditions, Carl persevered with the Wacky Jig - Sweebo combo for a 13-pound, 2-ounce limit to maintain his standing near the top of the leader board. The tournament concluded after two days as high winds forced B.A.S.S. organizers to cancel the originally-scheduled first day of the tournament.
Carl rigged the Wacky Jig - Sweebo Worm on 15-pound test fluorocarbon line, and utilized a 6’ – 6” Medium-Heavy baitcasting rod with high-speed reel. He relied on the set-up for tossing the lure long distances close to the bank, into grass pockets, and/or tight to cover. The overall effectiveness of the shallow water pattern, however, he attributes to the unique features and overall design of the new Gambler Wacky Jig.
“I really feel that being able to throw it directly into cover such as grass and lay downs gave me a few more bites that I otherwise would not have got. I think the combination of the shorter shank and weed guard really helped to keep the Sweebo from hanging-up so much. And with the weighted head, I was able to cover more water, too. For years, I have always fished a wacky worm on a straight-shank exposed hook. Now with this new Wacky Jig, I am able to get it into heavier cover and pick up a few more fish that I had been missing. Of course, one of the best features of the jig is the hook; when you get bit, you will almost always get them to the boat.”
Carl is also eager to experiment with the Wacky Jig Head on other central lakes and reservoirs, not just in Spring, but other times of the year as well.
“Although the wacky worm is a technique that comes into play this time of year, we are now able to get a wacky worm down where we would typically fish a Shakey Head at other times of the year. When the fish are shallow in March, April, and even into May, I’ll usually throw the 1/16-ounce Wacky Jig Head. Later in the year, in the summer and into the fall, I will throw a little heavier weight, 3/16-ounce or heavier, when I am fishing deeper – say, 10- to 15-foot of water. It is just a great jig!”
Congratulations on your finish, Carl, and best of luck Wacky-Jigging the Sweebo to many future tournament successes!
Gambler Pro-Staffer Carl Svebek prefers to be a one-trick pony. In the first tournament of the Bassmaster Central Open Season held on Toledo Bend Reservoir, Carl rode the effectiveness of a single lure to a 12th Place finish. The lure of choice? It was none other than Gambler Lure’s new Wacky Jig Head and popular Sweebo Worm.
Traditionally, Carl exploits the Spring Toledo Bend bass run by targeting fish in shallow water in the southern portion of the impoundment. For the 2009 B.A.S.S. Central Open, however, Carl discovered that bass were ahead of their typical spawning cycle and water levels were comparatively low to previous years. Without hesitation, Carl decided to buck his conventional strategy and focus his efforts on the north end of the reservoir in Breezy and Martinez Creeks. It paid off. Armed with a 1/16-ounce Gambler Wacky Jig Head and Green Pumpkin Sweebo worm, Carl jumped to an opening day limit of 19 pounds. His creel was good enough for third place.
He explains, “The lake level was down a little bit. It was not in the buck brush that it normally rises to this time of year, so I fished shorelines. The fish weren’t way back into cover and were relating more to the grass. I knew the fish were shallow, and I felt like the Sweebo was the best way to catch them in those conditions. It’s funny – I never had to throw another bait the whole tournament. The Wacky Jig - Sweebo is the bait that I have the most confidence in, and I was catching fish on it, so I stuck with it.”
On the Day 2, the cold front and high winds that had confronted the tournament field had finally taken a toll on the Toledo Bend bass, and weights dropped-off. Despite the challenging conditions, Carl persevered with the Wacky Jig - Sweebo combo for a 13-pound, 2-ounce limit to maintain his standing near the top of the leader board. The tournament concluded after two days as high winds forced B.A.S.S. organizers to cancel the originally-scheduled first day of the tournament.
Carl rigged the Wacky Jig - Sweebo Worm on 15-pound test fluorocarbon line, and utilized a 6’ – 6” Medium-Heavy baitcasting rod with high-speed reel. He relied on the set-up for tossing the lure long distances close to the bank, into grass pockets, and/or tight to cover. The overall effectiveness of the shallow water pattern, however, he attributes to the unique features and overall design of the new Gambler Wacky Jig.
“I really feel that being able to throw it directly into cover such as grass and lay downs gave me a few more bites that I otherwise would not have got. I think the combination of the shorter shank and weed guard really helped to keep the Sweebo from hanging-up so much. And with the weighted head, I was able to cover more water, too. For years, I have always fished a wacky worm on a straight-shank exposed hook. Now with this new Wacky Jig, I am able to get it into heavier cover and pick up a few more fish that I had been missing. Of course, one of the best features of the jig is the hook; when you get bit, you will almost always get them to the boat.”
Carl is also eager to experiment with the Wacky Jig Head on other central lakes and reservoirs, not just in Spring, but other times of the year as well.
“Although the wacky worm is a technique that comes into play this time of year, we are now able to get a wacky worm down where we would typically fish a Shakey Head at other times of the year. When the fish are shallow in March, April, and even into May, I’ll usually throw the 1/16-ounce Wacky Jig Head. Later in the year, in the summer and into the fall, I will throw a little heavier weight, 3/16-ounce or heavier, when I am fishing deeper – say, 10- to 15-foot of water. It is just a great jig!”
Congratulations on your finish, Carl, and best of luck Wacky-Jigging the Sweebo to many future tournament successes!
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2 comments:
I too am hooked on wacky rigged worms, find it the most effective approach to catching bass in Florida using anything other than a live shiner. Even my 11 year old son will attest to that, who already has caught numerous bass in the 18 - 20" range. My favorite colors being Black/Blue flake, Watermelon Candy, Plum / Blue Flake, Florida 5O, and Laguna Glass; depending on water clarity.
Best of luck for the rest of the year. I will see the Gambler Team down in Kissimmee for the tournament on June 14th!
Stephen Ward
Keystone Heigts, FL
Sounds great Stephen, we will see you at Kissimmeee.
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