The Bass Report: Recent Episodes
Joel Ede & Ryan Cook
Clara is a hammer. No two ways about it. She came with some seriously interesting conversation and an intriguing report after her and Alex's win at Don Pedro. JR Wright is a good ol' boy with some info on Oroville and insight into other lakes. Big thanks to Nick for stepping up and rounding out the show with some Delta knowledge. It never ceases to amaze us how awesome people are in this community. Just when you think you've heard it all, you definitely haven't.
In this episode we welcome kayak tourney angler Scott Savko on once again to talk about a recent trip to New Melones, kayak tournament news and upcoming events. TBR regular Vince Borges drops in for a little WWBT buyout rumor talk and current Delta conditions. Headlining this one is So Cal native, John Karayan, who ended up 7th at the recent WON Cal Open at Clear Lake.
Settling into the new format with reports on some of the more prolific bass fisheries in northern California. If you'd like to help your fellow anglers out with simple reports, water temps, clarity, etc. hit us up on Instagram. @thebassreport
Miracles do happen. The mood from the last episode to this one is stark, and beautiful. Diana returns to us in unbelievable fashion and we talk about her ongoing recovery. We had some great people call in and ask questions and just reveled in how awesome it is that we still have her. We also got the chance to chat with Luke Johns about his top 5 finish at the inaugural Western Bass Shootout, and our guy Mark Cobey helped us out with a report on Clear Lake and Berryessa. We are happy to be back!
Diana Cook needs our prayers and support. Christian or otherwise, send some healing love towards this beautiful soul.
Merry Christmas TBR listeners! In this year's final episode we're joined by WWBT/Apex angler Colby Pearson. We talk finesse, we talk big swimbaits, we have a good time. Thanks for listening this year and best wishes to you in the New Year!
Hard to beat Juan Acosta talking Delta fishing in the winter. Throw in some forward-facing sonar discussion and you have a good conversation. On top of all that, the Motherlode is in fine form this winter. Go out and catch 'em!
What was gonna be a quick Q&A on lithium batteries turned into a full-fledged, good ol' fashioned TBR episode! Big thanks to Tanner for joining us. Not only did we get some great info on lithiums, but we ended up talking Delta fishing with him as well. Hope you all enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Big thanks to Austin for joining us and talking shop. Dude knows more about fishing than a dozen keyboard pirates.
Joel Chin is an enigma, wrapped in a mystery, shrouded in a dude who loves people. And he lives it. But, he also loves bass fishing. We had ourselves a good time talking to a man that defies the standard of what a bass fisherman should/would/could be. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we did talking to him.
We head to SoCal in this one to talk to long-time friend of the show Fred Klinshaw and fishy fly-freak Joey Camacho. If you've ever been fly-curious, this one might push you over the edge.
Tony has been a California stick for quite a bit. He had a year of PBs of the smallie kind during tournaments. We thought that was pretty cool, and it turns out Tony is pretty interesting. Not only is he interesting, but he has a lot of great info to share, and he's willing to share it with kids that are interested in the sport. Tony is the real deal.
This is the second time we've had Shan on the podcast and thanks to Ryan Cook it was better than the first. You might know him better as @aquatic_biologist on Instagram. Some of the things he says are hard to swallow, like lead weights. But, it's based on science, not opinion or feelings. We hope this is educational, and if it makes you uncomfortable, find a safe space. #dontcheat
"Absolutely beside myself." Quote from Hunter Baughman, a bass fisherman from Arkansas after winning a Toyota Series MLF event at Truman Lake. Most of us would be beside ourselves with a win that big. He knows how to fish a jig, and explains it. He may be physically impaired, but he'll still catch more and bigger fish than you! He's a hammer and has some great knowledge to share. Thanks, Hunter!
Wild West Bass Trail Duel on the Delta is serious. Maybe because it has big fish. Maybe because it's incredibly difficult. Maybe because it's not your average bass fishery.... enter a sea lion! It isn't normal, It isn't easy, the rest of the U.S. doesn't realize how difficult this fishery can be. Alex Klein knew this coming in, found a place near him to practice, and then he put himself in a position to win against the best. If you like underdog stories, listen up.
Gary is the guy you want to go fishing with. He won't show up late, hungover or distracted. He's been a mid-Valley staple big fish catcher and tourney winner for years. Gary is a winner. Be like Gary.
The youngest WWBT AOY ever. If you don't understand the acronyms, no worries. Luke explains how he went from starting a high school bass club to out-foxing the best in the west. Storytelling is a thing we like very much, and Luke is good at it. Sit back and listen to a young dude tell a story of winning. You can do it, too.
Local Delta guy starting a new Saturday night derb? Sweet! Let's talk to him. And talk we did. Andy Doudna is one of the most knowledgeable guys you'll meet when it comes to Delta wildlife issues. He's been fishing the Dirty D for years, but not always for the green ones. In just the last four years he's solidified himself as one of the dudes to look out for when it comes to River largemouth. We were blown away by the conversation! We hope you are too.
After a great trip on Champlain with our own Ryan Cook, Upstate New York native stick Ryan Latinville joined us to talk smallies. We discussed differences in fishing tactics between right and left coast, as well as tackle that transcends geography. Big thanks to Ryan for the time!
MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Rookie Phil Dutra joined us to talk about his philosophy on fishing, competing at the top level on the the west coast, a move to Guntersville, and a life chasing bass across the Eastern United States.
Last time we talked to him, it was frog-centric. This time, it was much more. Great conversation with a Delta legend. Thank you for everything, Bobby.
Coors Original, the diesel fuel, the banquet beer! If you haven't seen his boat you probably will at some point. Matthew Saavedra is a Wild West angler that gave us all a bunch of great information about northern California fisheries. He's a great dude and we appreciate his time. Thank you Matt!
Nothing's perfect! But Mark Gomez giving years worth of information in an hour is close. This podcast was great because we had to work harder for it! Mark worked with us despite technical issues. The audio is not great on this one. Thanks to the Patreon supporters that won't be an issue in the future.
Back from vacation/COVID hiatus with the man Zack Thompson. We had a great time talking to Zack about his tournament career, the ups and downs of Delta fishing and his thoughts on the latest electronics tech. Enjoy!
River resident Hulen Johnson was kind enough to join us to talk about his road to Delta consistency, and he came with the heat! Tons of great tips, tricks and guidance on the mentality that leads to success on a fishery that has a lot of dudes scratching their heads more often than not.
A bit of a break due to technical difficulties, going into another one here soon. But, we got Jay from Hook'd Fishing in Ione on the line. Super knowledgeable dude, great shop, absolute stellar individual. We had fun and got into some specifics we weren't expecting. Dude knows his shit.
The Hammer himself graced us with his voice/presence on this day! Fred Klinshaw is not only a sought-after bass guide, but a great human being. We talked about his tricks on Casitas, upcoming derbies at Cachuma, and all kinds of fishing paraphernalia. Book a trip and you can experience the Fury in person!
Newly-crowned guide Mark Cobey joined us to talk about his journey from back seat to front in some of the most competitive tournaments in the west. Did he come in guns blazing? Maybe not. Is he going to quit? No chance. Dude is a self-proclaimed bass psycho and is now guiding on Clear Lake and Berryessa. Thanks for the time, Mark!
Overcoming scheduling issues is the name of the game, sometimes. Ryan and Joel took to Instagram Live to field and ask some questions in this episode. It was a Friday evening so don't expect much! :) Thanks to Bass Union, G-Ratt and Spearpoint hooks for the Patreon goods this month!
We focused on the Fresno area in this one, but also bounced around some other waters, too. It's always great talking to Art, he's a great ambassador of the sport and a hell of a good angler!
Despite the coincidences that made us all wonder if Vince is actually a wizard; we had him on cuz he's kind of a bass sorcerer, and we all need some help on the Delta before the April 30th turkey shoot at 6am Ladds Marina in Stockton, CA! Bring $20 and your biggest fish!
Twenty five years of experience means something. Back-reeling? Yeah, we're talking old school. JR has info that's been forgotten and could win money in the right hands. Big thanks to J.R. for coming on! His PB spot is probably bigger than your PB greenie, too. :)
Joey Price is a Delta guide and tourney stick. He came on after a fresh dub at the NewJen Delta Team Tournament and gave some of the most detailed information we've ever had on the show. But, you're gonna have to do the hard work if you want this juice to work for you. Help us out with a 5-star review on Apple and you'll be helping us out big time!
Longtime Delta resident Logan Huntze joined us to talk about his journey from striper fishing to absolute green fish stick! The guy is incredible, not just in his skill but in his humility and candor. One of our favorite guests of all time, thank you, Logan!
Greg joins us to talk about the current bite on the Delta, the kayak tournament scene and growing his YouTube channel. We had a great time and appreciate him taking the time. Big thanks to all the Patreon peeps and the companies that support us every week!
We have pro and co-angler champs from the Wild West Bass Trail Pro/AM Clear Lake on this week. It was an interesting tournament with some big bags and some tough fishing. Christian Ostrander, Mike Peterson and Jamie Effisimo join us to talk about how it all shook out.
As with every episode, we come in woefully unprepared. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it's mediocre. But, in rare instances, it's perfect. Jeff Kriet is a great example of the latter. He took the ball at the one-yard-line and ran for a big score in this one, stiff-arming us the whole way! If every guest could be like Jeff it would be too easy. Hope you enjoy. Please follow @thebassreport on instagram and give us a 5-star review on itunes/Apple podcast app. Thanks!
It's pronounced Da-Goff! These two brothers are absolute PhD students of the big bait game that have wrecked shop here in Central California for years. They also talk about it pretty well, which makes for a great listen. Fantastic show, thanks boys!
Ryan and Joel talk about fishing New Melones and a bunch of other stuff. Video of our day to come on the Patreon platform. Enjoy!
If you haven't heard of G-Ratt Baits, well now you have. Garrett Dixon started making these glides a few years ago and they've become a staple in the bass community. From catching big green ones on Clear Lake to catching behemoth tuxedos on Chesapeake Bay, they are real, and they are affordable for all. We discuss also discuss South America and how amazing it is. Enjoy!
You could call it a collab, or you could just listen to three podcasters talking about pocasting. Either way, we had a blast. Cast & Crank was a staple when we started this lil' podcast, and it was great to talk to Nick about the community and our place in it. Hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording.
Apex contender Joey Skym joined us to talk about Shasta WWBT, delta buzzing and frogging and how he was able to calm the nerves for a big top 10 finish in his first Apex derb. We also did the Patreon giveaway for the Phenix Maxim, Heavy Hitter Custom Baits chatters, Spearpoints, Brabec Buzzbaits and G-Money Jigs.
One of the OGs (Original Guests) Fred Klinshaw graced us with his voice and knowledge once again! Dude is the easiest person to talk to about bass and anything else you might want to discuss. Ryan and Fred went on a trip recently, so we talked about that and the finer points of pontoon stripping. Go book a trip with Fred (or Ryan) and experience the greatness in person!
2021 WON Bass Open Champ Cliff King joins us to talk finesse fishing, tournament angling and more.
We've had a string of very easy episodes. For whatever reason the powers that be made this one incredibly difficult. But, despite the hangups we got to talk to a great dude (and his wife!). Keith stuck a top 10 in the 2020 Delta MLF as a first time co-angler. Luck? Maybe. There was no luck involved when he upped the ante in 2021 and solidified himself as the MLF Delta co-angler champion. He was cool enough to give us accounts of both derbs!
California native, recent Idaho transplant, MLF BPT angler Cody Meyer joined us on a drive back to NorCal for the upcoming Shasta derbs and shared some serious wisdom. From his exploits as spotted bass world record holder, to fishing professionally for 15 years, Cody was a pleasure to talk to.
In a world full of confusion, we talked to a man who has found the most righteous way to live, and he's carried it over to his tournament fishing. Obedie Williams is happy. Are you?
Check out:
Phenix Rods
Coyote Bait and Tackle
Stage Stop Gun Shop
Spearpoint Hooks
G Money Jigs
Mickey Clements runs the best tackle shop in the western united states. He joined us on this one to talk about what it takes to keep a shop like that running and why it's so successful. He's also been fishing for blue fin tuna! Kent Brown hosts a radio show and talks Folsom Lake fishing.
The ultimate jack-of-all-trades fisherman joined us this week and it didn't disappoint. Shawn says he's not a specialist, but the guy is incredibly successful in catching big stripers and greenbacks on incredibly diverse waters. we had ourselves a good ol' time. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
It's hard to find a guy who exhibits both exceptional fishing talent and admirable humility, especially when he's successful as often as Juan Acosta is. The Tracy local graced us with his knowledge, candor and ineffable spirit. The juice was flowing and we had a great time talking to him.
Pine Flat regular Art Nubaryan joins us in this one to talk all things spotted bass, especially in and around Fresno. We also discuss Spearpoint hooks and what they have in store for 2022.
BBT TOC champs Bryan Cox and Kevin Davidson joined us for a madcap Friday night episode! We ranged all over, from Kevin's battle with Covid complications, to catching teeners and how they were able to scrape together a W on a tough Don Pedro.
Apologies for the audio. Not our normal quality, but Bobby transcended it all. This is the most informative Delta episode in the short history of this podcast. Bobby is not only a great storyteller, but he's also a wealth of juice when it comes to the River. He blew both Ryan and I away with his incredible history, knowledge and candor. The man is a national treasure.
Young and successful in the bass world, Christian Ostrander has made a name for himself cranking out top of the standings in both WWBT and MLF here in the west, including a big win at Clear Lake in June. Talking with him was easy, because his strategy is simple; do what it takes to win.
In this installment we ply the mind of Zach Ploeger, a Delta/Berryessa/Clear Lake guide and ex-serviceman. Ryan gives us his usual knowledge on the Mother Lode lakes, Don Pedro specifically. We had a great time and a lot of great info was shared. Like it or not, the juice flowed...
This week we have MLF tourney angler Blake Dyer talking about his quest to make the next step in his fishing career, tips on flippin' and catching big bass. Ryan shares a spoony Don Pedro report as well.
Big thanks to recent Apex Cup Champ Ken Mah for joining us to talk about the mental side of the tournament game, as well as some great tips for what's happening on the Delta right now.
In the first episode of TBR 2.0, with regular guest Ryan Cook as the newly-minted co-host, we chat with Mother Lode legend and current kayak standout John Myers. John was the first one to take Ryan out and teach him to target bass and his knowledge is deep and wide. Please consider supporting the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/thebassreport
The Kaneko crew joins us to recap their triumph at the recent MLF high school and college team events and Ryan Cook and Cory Griffith share some tips on keeping youngins engaged when learning to rip the lip.
Taking it back to the original style, just Ryan Cook and I. Talking about randomness for an hour with a little bit of fishing jooce mixed in. We had fun talking, I hope you have fun listening.
Ryan Cook and Euan Kennedy share their fat sack topwater exploits with us, as we delve into what it takes to actually learn the top o' the water technique with buzz and prop baits. Vince Borges continues the lesson, after a brief foray into Bluefin territory, with a primer on all things froggy. I love this episode.
It's episodes like these that make the editing worth it! We got the Cali Born, Delta Grown Rick Barajas with us giving delta knowledge, Joseph Orozco of Bass Union sharing the background of the brand and why it's so likeable. Last, but certainly not least, I got the chance to talk to Ryan Cook and Diana Martens about their recent engagement, and the real world heroics of the special kids fishing day they hosted. If you fish, or like fishing, or like cool people, or can't stand people who keep bass to eat, you will probably like this podcast. :)
The topwater bite is in full force on many lakes throughout California. We have Mike Brabec of Brabec Buzzbaits, Brandon Yang and Eli Guryanov with us in this one talking about topwater and a bunch more. Stay cool and enjoy.
It's a 4th of July special with a packed house of bass goodness. Fred Klinshaw, the SoCal connection joins us again, Ryan Cook talks about a huge day on Melones, Jacob Swaim gives us a bit of insight on the Delta and Brock Riggs talks about breaking down a body of water he hasn't fished in a long time.
Cook, Cortinas, Cobey. It's an alliteration conflagration of guys who can chop it up well when it comes to bass fishing. In this episode Ryan Cook drops his usual knowledge along with a solid report on local ML fishing conditions. Rick Cortinas outlines his recent trip to Clear Lake exclusively throwing big swimbaits. And BBT Central Region AOY Mark Cobey talks about his exploits on the Delta and how he and Brandon Yang sealed the deal for AOY this year.
Changing things up a bit here with a new format. In this episode we have Delta striper/bass stick and bait-painter Lawrence Rios, Mother Lode Guide and TBR regular Ryan Cook and Wild West Bass/Apex Angler Nick Cloutier all with great reports and talking shop.
Steve Cooper is a Delta guru. He spends tons of time on the river and has some great insight on the fishery, and his YouTube channel is a great testament. He joins us to share some of his experiences lately.
We got Clear Lake and Delta info from Apex angler Mark Lassagne! He's pre-fishing for some big tournaments, but still shares some great stuff. We also discuss the new Bass Angler Magazine Podcast. Get after it!
We got listener questions for Ryan this week. As the weather warms, the fishing is still hot at Don Pedro, as McClure continues to surrender mostly smaller fish.
It's been blowing like crazy for two weeks straight out on the river. Vince shares his report and gives some insight on how to be successful in the gale.
Ryan Cook says the Don Pedro bite is good. We also talk spinnerbaits and fishing with special folks.
Aside from some Clear Lake knowledge from our dude, Austin also shares some stories from his time fishing the big pond. It's funny and informative and more!
After a bit of a hiatus, we're back with Ryan to talk about what's been happening on those Mother Lode ponds. Melones has the size, but there's fish to be caught throughout the region.
He's Apex, top of the line, Nick Cloutier is the deal. He relays his experience in the Wild West Pro/Am on the Delta and what it takes to get a sponsor. There's even a Delta report and some recommendations squeezed in.
Avid bass angler Brock Riggs has been fishing Melones and Tulloch like crazy lately. He was kind enough to come on and explain some keys to his success.
Big, no, HUGE bags are a normal occurrence on Clear Lake recently. Austin Barker has been out there competing and has some insight on the big bass jewel of California, as well as how to chill out and enjoy fishing.
If you want to know whats up on the Delta, you ask Vince. He's here once again to clue us all in on the River bite.
The spawn is upon us, despite the late cold snows. It's only a matter of time before they start to get their freak on. Ryan fields listener questions about fishing during this sexy time.
The cold front we had this week finally cooled off the hot bite at Melones. Ryan talks about his thoughts on what this weather means for the Mother Lode bite as we all wait for the spawn to kick into full gear.
Christian gives us the update on Cachuma and we discuss the mussel banding situation in SoCal as well. Tangents abound and we had fun.
If you haven't found him on YouTube yet, you've been sleepin'. Steve Cooper is a a fisherman's fisherman, the real deal. He recently started his video report series, In Deep on the Delta and he was kind enough to talk to me for a bit.
We change it up a bit in this episode and dive into the biology of bass with @aquatic_biologist Shan O'Gorman. Shan specializes in tailoring private bodies of water to grow big bass. We do our best to pick his brain and see what he can tell us about our California bass.
Back after a bit, Vince clues us in with the bass bite on the Dirty D! Swim jigs, crankbaits and chatterbaits are all playing on the River. We also discuss tides and their importance during this time of year.
The first ever Ed Lacy Memorial Tourney at Don Pedro was a huge success, thanks in large part to our man Ryan Cook! We talk about the event and the current bite at McClure and New Melones in this one.
Apex Angler and Bass Angler Magazine magnate Mark Lassagne is back! He packs some great tips into this one, as he's been getting on the good ones out on Berry and Shasta recently.
Our man Ryan answers your questions on the Mother Lode lakes, fishing tactics and life in general in this Q&A episode. We went long and covered a lot of bases. Melones is still the jewel of the area, but that might change soon.
Newly-named Director of the ABA Cachuma Region Fred Klinshaw joins us once again to talk about all things tournament angling and the bite down south. He's our SoCal connection and is always a great time.
Apex Angler Nick Cloutier is a Delta local and one hell of a cool guy. He shares his experience as an up-and-coming tournament angler and gives us a great breakdown of the Delta. Beware those sea lions, huh.
Mark has been grinding it out at Berry and stacking 'em up on Shasta. He also talks prepping for his first Delta trip of the year and we get into what the Apex Cup is all about.
The fishing continues to be tough, with small bags the norm at both Don Pedro and McClure. Ryan fills us in on the bite as well as some really cool news about last week's guest, "Catch 'em Quick" Cory.
Think you have it hard? Nah. Our man Cory has overcome some real obstacles to become the bass fisherman he is. The Mother Lode is a great place to fish at the moment, but the dude on this episode transcends fishing. He's an inspiration and a drop-shot master.
The bigs are on the feed in NorCal. Austin gives us a little taste of the action up at Clear Lake as we talk current conditions, recent tournament results and his go-to big bait gear.
The recent rain brought mixed conditions to Casitas. Fred explains the current bite and how to target suspended bass when they get finicky. We also discuss his favorite plastics and some insights on tournament rules vs. etiquette.
Oh, man. Christian joins us yet again to talk about his little slice of bass heaven. We cover tournaments at Cachuma, rod choice and height, Australia, spiders, offshore gear and etc.
The heavy weather is upon us, and that could mean big things for Mother Lode bass. Or not. Ryan Cook is with us again this Wednesday to talk fishing and other etc.
Winter beds, swim jigs and impending weather are the topics. Vince Borges is back with us to rap on the Delta. Things are finally cooling down and we got rain in the forecast. Vince breaks it all down.
Fresh off a Wednesday local derb at Don Pedro, Ryan joins us to ramble. We talk fishing, politics, depression, housing, fishing, guns. All the things, basically.
Comeback kids Rick and Bobby join us to talk about their fourth-quarter performance at the BBT Mother Lode Region opener at Don Pedro. 70+ degree days and a little breeze make for uncharacteristic winter fishing and these two took advantage.
Crazy warm winter weather has the bite all funky throughout California. Christian discusses what he's doing to find them at Cachuma, including using his hand-poured baits and when to switch it up to reaction when the bite gets tough.
The Ed Lacy Memorial tournament is coming up, we talk about it. Also, the bite on Pedro and Melones continues to be fair, while McClure is still tough. Tournaments are upon us, but winning weights are lower than usual.
January, post-front bluebird day, shallow... throw a spinnerbait, of course! Mark and I got out on Berryessa this weekend and junk fished for a few decent ones. He joins us to talk about finding confidence and going against the grain, among other things.
Fred joins us to talk about the grind on Casitas, the abuse a bass guide's boat takes and a brief impromptu history of big bass in SoCal. We were all over the place, and it was fun. #fredklinshawfishing
Austin Barker's intro episode covers some Clear Lake winter bassin' basics and we talk about walking a fine line when it comes to what serious anglers and guides share about a fishery.
We tackle a lot this week. From breaking down WWBT team event on Shasta, to taking Q&A from all of you. Fly fishing for bass?! Yeah, things got weird. Bites good at Melones, too.
Christian joins us for his first report on Lake Cachuma. They are catching bass, big crappie and heavy trout. You can fish with Christian at chumaguide.com.
It's a jig fishing bonanza in the Motherlode region and Ryan breaks it down. Fish shallow and hope for that big bite. Also, we talk fishing WWBT team event at Lake Shasta in the blind.
Crazy weather and trout plants have the bite firing at Casitas. Salty Crew pro Fred Klinshaw reports on the big bait bite down south.
Mark Lassagne gives us the rundown on Berryessa and Shasta bite and we talk more about how he's prepping for the Wild West tournaments at Shasta.
As winter sets in visions of linesides dance in our heads. Vince talks the striper bite on the delta in the foggy conditions and makes us all jealous of his topwater salt exploits. Also, why you should shop local, specifically Coyote Bait and Tackle.
Ryan Cook reports on the state of the Motherlode trinity, Don Pedro, New Melones and McClure. The bite is there, but you have to put in some work to find it. We also talk about his recent YouTube cameo and why he gives us all so much info. You'd be hard pressed to find a better report on this area, he's kind of a big deal.
Fred Klinshaw gives us the straight dope on the Casitas bite as well as some great tactics for Castaic during this time of year.
Mark shares the current fishing conditions from a recent pre-fishing trip up at Shasta, as well as his home water of Berryessa. The fishing is good, if you can find the right schools.
Ryan Cook runs through the current bite on Don Pedro, New Melones and McClure and we talk a little bit about dealing with a tough bite when guiding clients.
The first episode! We talk to Vince Borges about the tough largemouth bite on the Delta, and what he's looking for when targeting striper.