FISHING VIDEOS
BASS FISHING AND Q&A WITH STEVE COPPER ("IN DEEP ON THE DELTA") + BLOOPERS
I had the pleasure of bass fishing with Steve Cooper of “In Deep On The Delta”. Introduced him to some uncharted waters (to him) up north as I have been fishing there since the eighties. The North Delta can be a fantastic and productive fishery but you need to practice caution. It can be real dangerous as I’ve bent many props and put scratches on my boats through the years as there are so many hazards and unmarked objects.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY - THE 100+ LB HALIBUT CLUB (PB & BIGGEST LOSS
Halibut fishing in Alaska for barn door halibuts! When I get a chance to go to Alaska fishing, I’m all in! Only in Alaska can you hook onto something so big! Denise hooked onto a huge one in 400 ft and fought it for hour before getting it to the boat! It was her PB halibut, about 110 lbs. Then we went black cod fishing in 1700 ft with electric reels. Watch the video as something happened to me that never happened before ever in my many decades of fishing Alaska! Fought the fish for an hour before things got crazy. I just wish that I could have seen this monster! It was truly an experience I’ll never forget, ever!
EPIC TOPWATER BLOWUPS FROG FISHING FOR BASS (HOW TO WALK FROGS | EPISODE 1: TECHNIQUES
Summer is the perfect time to break out the frogs for epic topwater blowups! I’ll demonstrate a trick to make your frog walk side to side, which is nothing but deadly. Get ready for the frog tournaments! I’ll show you which kind of mats and vegetation to target. When bass hit frogs it can be an explosion or just a single slurp but with either one you better get ready to set the hook hard! I’ll discuss how to frog fish tidal waters. Laugh along with us as we show our misses as well as catches as it was fun and productive day of frogs only fishing!
KING SALMON OFF DOWNRIGGERS - ANCHOVY TRAY BAIT WORKS GREAT!
Salmon fishing outside the Golden Gate to Bodega Bay. During the summer the salmon feed on krill and anchovies along our coast line. This has been one of the best season for numbers and big salmon in many years. Some say the schools along our coast line are ten miles long. There is a lot of krill and anchovies along the coast line as there are many whales feeding along with the salmon. Limits are pretty common among most anglers. Watch this video as we show you how to catch salmon trolling with tray anchovies!
FINDING PERCH IN LAKES: EASY & FUN FISHING FOR KIDS - GREAT SUMMER FUN!
I like to go after panfish or perch in local lakes this time of the year as they are very plentiful. Good to get the kids out fishing because they are easy to catch. While bass fishing, I could see schools of panfish on my fish finder so I knew it would be great fun to teach my grandson how to target and play these types of fish. When hooked, perch swim in circles and are surprisingly strong and put up a good fight, making it a blast for kids to catch! I use ultralight rods with 4 to 6 lb monofilament line. You only need a size 10 to 2 baitholder hook and some split shot to get the worm to the bottom. I can see the fish swimming around on my electronics so it’s easy to locate them. In summertime they are a bit deeper in 20 to 30 feet water on points by deep water. They make great table fare pan fried!
CHASING ALASKAN BLACK COD 2000 FEET DEEP WITH ELECTRIC REELS FROM ISOLATED ISLAND NEAR JUNEAU
My friends and I took over Shelter Lodge, an isolated island only reachable by boat near Juneau, Alaska. Our main target was to search for the infamous black cod, one of the most expensive and prized commercial fish in the world. Black cod live in depths of 1,500 to 2,000 ft and were only caught by commercial fisherman until recently. The Lodge figured out how to catch the cod in the dark deep depths with hook and lines on electric reels! Black cod can be tricky to catch as you’ll see in the video as they twist the lines all the way for 2,000 feet and can snap off during the gaff. And they’re not that common as it took us three days to get our limits
STRIPED BASS WITH CHATTERBAIT & BLADED JIGS (EASY LIMITS IN WEEDS)
For years, I’ve been targeting weed flats while other boats have blown past or stopped and got skunked. I’ve been catching lots of stripers starting in the fall through the spring and found an easy way to limit out quickly. I discovered that when working chatterbaits in the correct manner, I could get my lure to come back clean almost ten out of ten times.
FISH FINDER 101: 2D SONAR - PART 1: SENSITIVITY, ARCHES, A-SCOPE & FREQUENCY | EPISODE #1
In this video, I’ll introduce the different technologies and then go into depth on 2D Sonar, which has been around for many years and is still being used to this day. You’ll learn how to get out of auto mode and dive into manual mode. I’ll show you how to set up Sensitivity, Colorline, Arches, A-Scope & Frequency to get the most out of your fish finder and explain why each of these settings are important and what they do. 2D Sonar is such an important technology that I’ve broken the subject into two videos. So please check back for Part 2: Noise Rejection, Range, Split Screen, Palettes, Scroll Speed & Ping. After watching this series of videos, I’m sure you’ll be able to fine tune your fish finder to catch a whole lot more fish!
TESTING IS YOUR BOAT HOT OR NOT? KOKANEE LIMITS 1/2 HOUR: LEADCORE, DOWNRIGGERS & SETBACK | EPISODE #2
I’m going to show you how to catch kokanee using leadcore and downriggers. The first rod I set out in the early morning is my leadcore and most of the time it’ll hook up even before getting the downrigger rod out. You have to know some important tips if you want to limit out fast. I’ll clue you in on how I scent shoepeg corn and how to tip the hook. How long the leader is behind the dodger is key to getting the right action. The distance in set back before you clip it into the release is critical to hooking up. And this next tip applies to anyone using downriggers: How to check if your boat is hot or not – giving a negative charge off the cable. I’ve seen it countless times where one boat just can’t catch – if your boat is HOT, you won’t catch anything!
WHAT YOU NEED TO CATCH KOKANEE | EPISODE #1
Kokanee season is right around the corner! I’m going to show you how to locate and catch them. We’ll cover all the kinds of equipment you’ll need, including rods, reels, downriggers and lures. Learn how to read your fishfinder electronics and understand what you’re seeing. The key to easy limits is controlled depth fishing with downriggers so you’re placing your lures exactly where the fish are feeding.
CAN YOUR LINE DO THE FIGURE 8? LOCATE & CATCH FISH WITH CHATTERBAIT & BLADED JIGS IN THE CALIFORNIA DELTA | EPISODE #2
I’ll teach you how to work your line to get the best action for stripers, making a figure eight. It’s spring time and that means it’s time to get out the chatterbait! First, you need to have the right kind of rod to get the most action out of the chatterbait. Any of the cranking glass rods will work fine because the tips are very relaxed and will let the chatter bait vibrate. With a 6:1 ratio, I reel the lure in real slow, sometimes even stopping for a second before retrieving again. There are times when the bass will swallow this lure and sometimes they’re hardly hooked and get off! I actually catch a lot of stripers on this lure too!
CHATTERBAIT & BLADED JIGS - FISHING IN WEEDS IN CALIFORNIA DELTA AT HIGH & LOW TIDES | EPISODE #1
It’s spring time and that means it’s time to get out the chatter bait! First, you need to have the right kind of rod to get the most action out of the chatter bait. Any of the cranking glass rods will work fine because the tips are very relaxed and will let the chatter bait vibrate. With a 6:1 ratio I reel the lure in real slow, sometimes even stopping for a second before retrieving again. There are times when the bass will swallow this lure and sometimes they’re hardly hooked and get off! I actually catch a lot of stripers on this lure too! Last fall I caught a 34 lb striper on a chatter bait in 2 to 3 feet of water. Last fall we were using chatterbaits for stripers as they were in the weedy flats chasing crawdads.
STACKING DOWNRIGGERS - CONTROLLED DEPTH TROLLING; TOPLINING, SETBACK & TACKLE | EPISODE #2
When trolling for trout, I like to double stack my downriggers to target fish throughout the water column. In addition, I always topline to catch the shallow fish that you can’t even see on the fish finder. In this video in Lake Camanche, a Motherlode lake,, I show you step-by-step how to double stack your downriggers. I explain the importance of setback in relation to water clarity and how I choose my setback on the top and bottom downrigger as well as the topline rod and the solo downrigger. Then, I’ll go through my favorite tackle and gear that I use trolling for trout so you can land limits!
HOW TO TROLL FOR TROUT - CALIFORNIA MOTHERLODE FISHING LAKE CAMANCHE | Episode #1
I’m going to take you to a Motherlode lake in California early spring and show how to troll using topline and downriggers for rainbow trout. My technique for toplining that I learned a long time ago has three main elements: Setback; Speed; and Tackle.
Do you wonder where to start fishing and which areas to try first? I’ll discuss how to locate fish on your fish finder and putting the lure in the right depth using the downrigger. Once you learn the basics of trout trolling, you’ll have your limits in no time and a blast reeling them in!
BLADE RUNNER FLUTTER SPOON SMASHES MONSTER STRIPERS -
TRIGGER HUGE HITS!
I discovered a special way to work the new Flutter Spoon from Blade Runner Tackle, which has a unique proprietary design that causes bass and stripers to attack in both deep and shallow waters. We landed stripers up to 30 pounds and the fights were awesome! I’ll show you exactly how to cast and work the lure to attract and trigger strikes.
WHERE TO CAST SENKO, BRUSH HOG & CHATTERBAIT IN TULES, PENNYWORT & ROCK BANK TECHNIQUES | EPISODE #2
As bass come up to search out spawning grounds, they’ll be feeding close to the bank. But during the cycle of the tides, they’ll also move into the grassy areas so you need to understand how water movement dictates where the fish will be located. I’ll go through the lures that work best for wood, tules and pennywort. I’ll cover how I use tides times to determine where I’ll fish that day and which lure to throw.
LOCATE & CATCH SPRING BASS - TEACHING TIDES & LURES FOR WOOD, TULES & PENNYWORT | EPISODE #1
Spring is an iconic time in the bass fishing realm as the big bass come into the shallows to feed heavily and prepare to spawn. This is the time of year you have the greatest chance of landing your personal best.
PITCH & FLIP BRUSH HOG TO CATCH BIG BASS - STEP BY STEP TEACHING | EPISODE #1
Pitching a Brush Hog into the wooded areas of current has won lots of tournaments. But where you pitch and how you work the bait makes all the difference between hooking huge bass and getting nothing but snags. In this video, I teach a friend step by step how to fish the Brush Hog. Then I’ll show closeups of how I pitch and detail which areas I chose to fish and why.
SECRET HOW TO RIG FISH TRAPS, SWIMBAITS OR PLASTIC BAITS - GET BITES & CATCH MORE FISH | TACKLE TIPS
Ever wonder why your friends get way more bites on the same 5” swimbait (aka Fish Trap or plastic bait)? Their swimbait is on straight so the lure is tracking correctly in the water. Sure it sounds simple but not many people realize or even notice how critical it is to put your swimbaits on carefully so they hold straight onto the jighead. I always set mine up at home before I go out and dab them with superglue so they don’t budge.
TV EPISODE: 3 EASY TECHNIQUES TO CATCH TOURNAMENT BASS | LAKE BERRYESSA
TV episode filmed on how to locate and catch bass in both shallow and deep water for the upcoming tournaments in Lake Berryessa.
FLUTTER SPOON TO TARGET HUGE BASS IN OPEN WATER DURING FALL & WINTER SHAD DIEOFF | DROP N' DRAG
Testing a prototype flutter spoon, I discovered how to get the big bass on the bottom to bite even in deep open water. After finding larger fish on my fish finder, I utilize a technique I call Drop N’ Drag that mimics the shad dieoff in the winter months. I’ll explain why this technique is so productive and show exactly how to handle your rod and reel.
HUGE FALL & WINTER BASS - KASTMASTER DROP N' DRAG | PART 2: LINE CONTROL IS EVERYTHING & GEAR TALK
Line control is absolutely critical when imitating a dying shad. And you can’t get the right effect unless you’re using the correct tackle. But what works best and catches the biggest and most bass? Utilizing a technique I call Drop N’ Drag that mimics the shad dieoff in the winter months will land you huge monster bass. Using a Kastmaster, which every angler probably already owns, I’ll explain why this technique is so productive and show exactly how to handle your rod and reel.
DROP N' DRAG: CATCH HUGE FALL & WINTER BASS ANYWHERE THERE'S SHAD - KASTMASTER | PART 1: TEACHING
I teach a friend new to winter bass fishing the how and why of the Drop N’ Drag and then she tries it out to land some nice bass. Utilizing a technique I call Drop N’ Drag that mimics the shad dieoff in the winter months will land you huge monster bass. Using a Kastmaster, which every angler probably already owns, I’ll explain why this technique is so productive and show exactly how to handle your rod and reel. Tackle choices are critical to success and I’ve been in the industry for nearly 30 years so can tell you in detail what works and why.
EPIC BATTLE: 4 LB LINE VERSUS 17 LB MYSTERY FISH ON ULTRALIGHT TACKLE
On my ultralight crappie rod with 4# test, I hooked into a huge fish that sure did test my skills. First, it snagged around a log and Warren had to pull the log nearly out of the water and managed to untangle it. That clever fish immediately made another run and pulled out over fifty feet of line and wrapped around under yet another log. If you’d like to see how to battle a monster fish and two trees on light line, then you’ll enjoy this epic battle. Sure was a great end to a day of Delta crappie fishing!
HOW TO CATCH SUSPENDED FISH: TACKLE, DEADSTICKING & MOOCHING FOR LANDLOCKED SALMON | EPISODE 4
I’ll show how to locate suspended landlocked salmon with a fish finder and my techniques of deadsticking and mooching that appeal to the way these salmon feed. I’ll show how to rig your lure and bait and exactly how to set the hook on these salmon that slam the bait swimming straight up.
HOW TO HOMEMADE CURE BAIT & SETUP LURE TO CATCH LANDLOCKED SALMON | EPISODE 3
Building upon my brother Ron’s and my experience fishing salmon in saltwater, we started using a lure called a Gitzit for landlocked salmon. But we soon realized that just using the lure isn’t enough. So we devised a very specific technique and everyone in our boats have been limiting out ever since. I fillet and cure herring or anchovy with ice cream rock salt and then dry out the pieces overnight in the refrigerator so they stay on the hook and keep the salmon biting long enough to set the hook. In this video, I will teach you our family secret and look forward to hearing how you limited out too!
SECRET TO NONSTOP ACTION: SUSPENDED LANDLOCKED SALMON WITH HOMEMADE CURED BAIT TRAILER | EPISODE 2
After decades of spending the entire day trying to catch a few landlocked salmon, I finally developed a technique that has me limiting out in hours. Once the lakes turn over, landlocked salmon are on the prowl for the huge bait balls that have moved up into the more shallow water column. They’re hunting en masse in voracious schools but can be incredibly difficult to target for several reasons which can be solved using my technique.
HAS BERRYESSA (FOLSOM, OROVILLE & ALMANOR) TURNED OVER TO CATCH LANDLOCKED SALMON? | EPISODE 1
When the lakes turn over, landlocked salmon come out of the depths in huge numbers chasing the baitfish. You can easily limit out in a couple of hours if you hit it right! The turnover phenomenon occurs around December or January for Lake Berryessa and results in the water temperature being the same throughout the water column. However, in my years of experience fishing these lakes, I find you can’t rely on the reports from the water district and instead you need to look for yourself at the depth that the bait fish are holding. By graphing the lake with my fish finder and then looking closely at areas with Active Target, I’ve been tracking the turnover progress for the past month.
CRAPPIE CLEAN N' COOK: SCRUMPTIOUS CRUNCHY PAN FRIED RESTAURANT STYLE | EPISODE 4
This recipe was a bestseller in my restaurant and is always a hit with everyone, even kids who don’t like fish. The crispy golden crust has that satisfying crunch that keeps the seasoned fish inside tender and juicy. And the best part is that it makes a super quick dinner in less than 10 minutes! I demonstrate how to properly fillet crappie quick and easy and show you what attributes to look for in a good fillet knife. I’ll tell you how to cure your cast iron pan so fish doesn’t stick and how you can achieve that beautiful golden brown crust without using a lot of oil.
SHARING MY SECRET TO GET SNAGS OUT - BEST TACKLE & LURES FOR CRAPPIE | EPISODE 3
I’m sharing a trick that’s a family secret to get your jigs out of snags and it works like a charm. The soft bite of a crappie is often imperceptible and their thin mouths make it easy to shake the hook loose. What makes it more challenging is they are often schooled up deep in the grass or under submerged branches and it’s easy to snag up and lose lures after lure. With this little trick, you’ll save a bundle on tackle and can get to fishing all day long. With a plethora of crappie jigs on the market, I’ll explain which works best and why I prefer straight or paddle tails over split tail lures. I’ll go over which rods and reel are best suited and why moderate action rods might help you land more crappie.
CRAB LIMITS NEW CA REGS: TIPS & TRICKS FINDING CRAB & BAITING HOOPS TRAPS IN BODEGA BAY | EPISODE 2
My good friends Guy & John are expert crabbers and we’ll show you how to locate crab, create waypoints to drop your nets and find them easily and how to be successful and productive in the current crabbing environment. Captain Guy reveals his tricks to keep snails and pests out of his bait bags so bait lasts longer while the boat floor stays clean. He explains why he uses lead core line and shows his winch retrofitted with a longer boom but still using the existing downrigger wiring. I’ll go over the new California Recreational Crab Regulations and how you can still limit out using hoops and pulling every two hours. We got our limits in about an hour and so can you!
CRAB TRAPS VERSUS HOOPS: New CA CRAB REGULATIONS YOU MUST KNOW | EPISODE 1
California Recreational Crab Regulations are in a major transition. You can still catch 10 crabs but you must follow the new regulations. I’ll go over the regulations and show which tackle you’re mandated to use, how long you can leave traps and hoops out and whether you need the new crab validation stamp. You’ll be ready to get your crab limit in no time!
MY FAVORITE GIFTS FOR YOUR FAVORITE ANGLER: STOCKING STUFFERS TO THE BIG SURPRISE
Come check out my favorite gifts that the angler in your life is sure to love. I hear tons of feedback from customers every day at the tackle store and these items get consistently rave reviews. The holidays are the perfect time to surprise that special angler with a gift that maybe they wouldn’t know about or a fantastic item that’s long been on their dream list. Anyone who fishes will absolutely love receiving these awesome gifts!
CATCH OFFSHORE CRAPPIE: 3 SUREFIRE TECHNIQUES, LIVE FISH FINDER, BOAT POSITIONING | EPISODE 2
Crappie are super fun to catch but can be super elusive to find. I’ll show you exactly how to locate crappie areas in weeds and grass using SideScan and then fine tune the images in DownScan and 2D Sonar. See live movements of crappie using Active Target so you know if the fish are hugging the bottom or moving up and down in the water column. Gain an understanding of fish movements by species so you know where to cast and how to play and retrieve the lure by watching the live response on screen. You can even target the slabs by looking for schools of bigger fish. We’ll go through the settings in each mode to find the best view to delineate between the weeds and crappie.
FIND HIDDEN CRAPPIE OFFSHORE WITH LIVE FISH FINDER ELECTRONICS IN RIVERS & DELTA | EPISODE 1
Fall fishing for crappie can be a blast if you can locate the big schools. Finding crappie in rivers and the California Delta can be extra challenging with tidal movements, current, structure and water depth. The area abounds with trees and structure on the bank but where exactly are the crappie? Everywhere just seems fished out if you don’t know how to locate the hidden crappie. Learn how to use fish finder electronics with 2D Sonar, DownScan and SideScan to locate underwater structure and then see if the crappie are hiding in there by looking with Active Target. Combined with knowledge of crappie behavior, you can start exploring the underwater world of submerged trees and structure and have a ball catching your limit of crappie.
THANKS FOR VISITING!