Book review: Big Bass Zone by B. Siemantel & M. Jones

[FishDr]

Okay, I am going to go out on a limb here and do a book review, instead of reviewing a lure or rod or reel.  Not just a book review, but a review of a book that has a coauthor who's reputation in the swimbait world is varied.  But hey, this is SU and the book is a potential resource for swimbait anglers.

 

Why a book review?  Well, I’m a bit of a fishing nerd and when I found out in mid-2007 that there was a book written on catching big bass that focused on using swimbaits, I just had to have it.  That was just after I'd been “encouraged†to try swimbaits in Colorado, a state much better known for its big trout and big mountains than its big bass.  Still, as a California transplant I had “friends†who would keep me warm all winter long by sending me pictures of largemouth and striped bass that dwarfed anything I’d encountered in Colorado – heck, a couple of the bass would have broken the Colorado state record.  I was used to such treatment from my “friendsâ€, but what was remarkable was that almost all of these fish were being caught on these giant lures.  Something was up, and I, as an allegedly intellectual angler, needed to know what. I bought some of the lures, had a bit of success, then ran across the book, read it cover to cover more times than I care to admit, and have since had a lot more.  Still no DDs, at least not bass, but I’ve caught more trophy walleye than I have a right too and almost every single one has eaten a big bait – and many have been because of tactics I learned in the book.

 

 

The book, the Big Bass Zone, is co-written by Bill Siemantel and Michael Jones.  Bill Siemantel is a big bass angler of some note, and some notoriety as well, but I’m not reviewing his involvement with the swimbait scene, I’m reviewing the book, so let’s just focus on the book as a potential tool for other swimbait anglers.  If you want to rant about him, or the swimbait world, do it in another thread.

 

Michael Jones is an outdoor writer who wrote for some of the big bass magazines and who is known for his incisive style.  The combined writing of the two results in a book that is easy to read, and which, at least to me, almost sounds like a one-sided conversation.  It’s not the same tone that you would get by attending a fishing seminar, but it is one that made me, at least, sit back and think about how I’d fished over the last 30-odd years and how that could be improved.

The book has a mixture of pictures of big baits, big bass, and some gorgeous illustrations are done by the late Chris Armstrong, and they, themselves, are worth the price of the book – Chris Armstrong was arguably the best fishing illustrator to ever put pencil to paper.  While others might draw more colorful fish, Armstrong’s strong suit was being able to illustrate fishing scenes, helping to explain what was happening in the text, and, more importantly, what might be happening in your local pond or lake, both above and below the surface.

 

Okay, on to the book.  It is 288 pages long and has 24 chapters, most of which deal with one aspect or another of big bass fishing.  Note that I did not say big bait fishing – while much of the book does talk about the use of big baits (mainly swimbaits, sometimes big tubes), it also talks about using a similar approach to big bait fishing for all of your fishing, and briefly mentions a couple of less-well known tactics like using ice-fishing jigs and the float ‘n’ fly to target big fish.  The first 7 chapters set the stage for the book, talking about why conventional bass fishing tactics and mentalities don’t often result in large numbers of large bass and reflecting on how anglers go through changes and sometimes arrive at the point where a 5-bass limit of keepers just doesn’t cut it anymore.  If you’re reading this, you’ve probably experienced that kind of genesis.  The section culminates in the chapter entitled “Ten Reasons Why You Probably Won’t Catch a Really Big Bassâ€, which makes for fun reading, even if only for getting a list of excuses to use when you get skunked.  Here’s a paraphrased list:

 

2. Wrong water depth or location (e.g., big fish need deep water).
3. 
   
4. Using lures that are small or average sized.
5. 
   
6. Being limited by water temperature – big fish won’t eat when it is cold.
7. 
   
8. Being afraid to use unorthodox lure speeds – e.g., fish slowly when it’s cold.
9. 
   
10. Fishing the standard seasonal patterns – big fish are only available when they spawn, and, if you’re lucky, in the winter when trout are stocked.
11. 
    
12. You have to fish the right moon phase.
13. 
    
14. You need to fish from a boat.
15. 
    
16. You need to be quiet when chasing big fish.
17. 
    
18. The weather was bad.
19. 
    
20. You can only catch big fish on live bait, swimbaits, jigs, plastic worms, (insert your favorite big bas lure here ---> _____________).
21. 
    

 

Seriously, if you’re on this board and have spent even a modest amount of time throwing big baits, you’ve probably already figured out a few of these, but back when I started, that chapter was an eye opener – essentially you could take each one of those reasons, flip it around, and use it to come up with an unorthodox approach to big fish fishing.  Since reading that chapter, I’ve thrown big lures in water that was theoretically too shallow, or too deep, or too cold or too warm, often from shore, often in bad weather, and often whenever I got a chance to go fishing, without worrying about weather, season, or moon phase.  I’ll admit that I’ve caught most of my bigger bass and walleye (and pike and hybrid striped bass) on big baits, but there’ve been a couple of times where I’ve used the big bait to locate the fish, and then caught it using something else.

 

The next 13 chapters focus on big bait fishing in more detail – where you might find fish both by day and season, strategies to consider trying (e.g., making one good cast instead of a bunch of poor ones), the mechanics of casting a bait that weighs slightly less than the average person’s shoe, and a summary of some of the big baits available back in ’05 or ’04, when I assume the book was being written.  Unlike the BBZ DVD, the book is not pushing any one companies baits, it just talks about different types and how/where/when you might want to try them, which is refreshing to see – most of the other “how to†fishing books and articles I’ve read lean rather heavily on using Bait X produced by manufacturer Y – this book doesn’t do so.  The list of baits is somewhat dated, given that 10 years have passed since the book came out, but the ideas are there – with a little late night thinking, you can definitely apply them to the lures we have today (or wish we had).

 

The last few chapters wrap things up, talking about using alternative approaches to big baits to catch fish, and while I definitely paid attention to those (and use the float ‘n’ fly approach on occasion), it’s the first two sections that I find myself reading over and over again.  I don’t take everything on paper as the gospel truth, but there is a lot of information in there that I’ve mentally catalogued and filed away for use on my own waters.

 

These days, you could spend a few hours or perhaps days reading stuff on the internet (SU would be a good starting spot), watching videos, and you would run across much of the same information as is presented in the book.  The book, however, has it all summarized in a single source, and in an entertaining manner.  Like I said at the start, I'm a bit of a fishing nerd, and a traditional one at that - I like to read about things if I can't just hit the lake to try something, rather than watch a screen, s the book appealed to me.

 

Should you read this book? It depends...

 

Well, if you’re just getting into swimbait fishing, it might be a good idea to pick the book up (heck, if you don’t want to buy it, check a copy out from the local library) and read it.  You’ll get some good basic information and some leads you can then follow as your big bait career takes off.  If you’re already a swimbait junkie, it might still worth looking at, keeping in mind that it’ll largely be preaching to the choir, but there still might be a nugget or three worth retaining.  If you’re like me (sorry, if you are), then you jump at any chance to add a bit more info to your fishing computer so that you’re ready when you come face to face with a new situation, or, hopefully, the spot that holds your next PB.

 

In closing, I think it’s a decent book.  It’s 10 years old, but the core information is still relevant.  I enjoyed the book enough that I decided to buy my Dad a copy when he was laid up in a cancer center undergoing chemo and we spent hours arguing over the merits of the different ideas presented in the book.  I wanted to get him an autographed copy, so I contacted Siemantel directly and was pleasantly surprised that he took the time to chat with me and send me an autographed copy with a personal message for my Dad.  Like I said at the start, I don’t know Siemantel and only know peripherally of his notoriety in the swimbait world, but I thought that incident, at least, was a class move.  My Dad beat the cancer for one year, winning rounds one and two, but round three was one round too many.  I still have, and treasure, the autographed copy of the book, not only because of how it helped my Dad and I share some quality time, but also because of how it helped nudge me further down the path to being a successful swimbait angler.

[bigpoppabass]

Great book, wish his video was like it rather than being a spro sb promo vid...nice to hear he signed a copy for your pop.

Edited December 25, 2015 by bigpoppabass

[YELOSUB]

I really enjoy reading everything you read, you really put some time and effort in it...Thank you...I recall you saying you were planning a trip to Arizona but I don't remember when...When you do, shoot me a message and I will take you out on my boat for a day of swimbait fishing on me...By the way, Merry Christmas... Tim

[chang127]

Was on the edge of getting this book for awhile until I saw his swimbait video and it really steered me away from it. But after reading this I think I'll pick myself up a copy. Thanks for the review!

[ATFISHING1234]

Great review Chris

[swole_t]

I've been thinking about getting this book, after reading your review I think I will. Great review!

[Socalswimbait]

Great book!

[BigBaitThirty]

Great book indeed. Bill knows what bed talking about and a thing or two about catching fish. Not sure why he'd catch any flack seems like a solid dude who genuinely loves to fish all hype aside and HD a wealth of information he's happy to share. By all accounts him and this book are the ish hell that DVD was the ish and fun to watch not sure I understand the the seemingly negative connotation surrounding... In any case he will readily out fish all of us... I'm pretty savy and confident as heck as I too live and breathe & bleed this ish with a passion unwavered even amiddt the most fruitless of days... I geek out with the best of em since I was knee high to a grasshopper. That's why I dug this cat Bill not only do I vibevoff his genuine excitement even on modest catches but his heartfelt interest and enthusiasm for the sport is second to none. His sheer documented numbers of behemoths speaks volumes of his prowess and dedication. On top of all that if you reach out to him chances are he'll get back to you as a fellow fisherman no bs no agenda. I say high five to a living legend in my book. Until one disrepects me personally I don't get caught up in the he said she said drama and hear'say. I'm going to go out on a common sense limb and say he deserves more respect than it sounds like he gets and that's a damn shame. All that aside this book is noteworthy to be sure no need to dhun it because of your particular Swimbait cult membership. Make no mistake this man will out fish you... & consistently. That in itself gives this concentration of information all the merit it needs. Rest in peace to your father sir and thanks for the in depth review. I didn't need it but appreciated it all the same. I'm nerdy like that:) Cheers brotha!

[BigBaitThirty]

Forgive the auto correct errors should have preread...

[SpaceGhost]

Negative vibes probably have something to do with his blatant ripping off of matt servant and jerry rago's designs.

[kayl]

Negative vibes probably have something to do with his blatant ripping off of matt servant and jerry rago's designs.

What did he rip off from Matt? I see the Rago and BBZ 8" comparison.

[Got0ne]

Great review thanks!

[SpaceGhost]

What did he rip off from Matt? I see the Rago and BBZ 8" comparison.

 

 

http://www.westernbass.com/forum/siemantel-copy-cats-mattlures-t42100.html

[Lakeshark]

http://www.westernbass.com/forum/siemantel-copy-cats-mattlures-t42100.html

 

 Damn!

 

That was a good read.  I knew about the Rago Rip off but not Mattlures.  I used to fish the crap out of the BBZ.  Stopped since I found out about the shady practices.

 

Thanks Jesse

[kayl]

 Damn!

 

That was a good read.  I knew about the Rago Rip off but not Mattlures.  I used to fish the crap out of the BBZ.  Stopped since I found out about the shady practices.

 

Thanks Jesse

 

Same here, too bad I just bought 2 of their rats!