Entry 40-5

Chad Brauer's Unique Fishing Techniques

Brauer's Method For Fun Fishing

Editor's Note: Thirty-year-old Chad Brauer of Osage Beach, Missouri, doesn't know what life without bass fishing would be like. He grew up in the shadow of his father, professional bass fisherman Denny Brauer. But Chad has begun to cast his own shadow in the world of bass fishing. He is one of the most-respected young fishermen on the tournament circuit trail and is definitely part of the future of bass fishing.

Question: Chad, do you have one more odd tournament-fishing technique?

Brauer: I never have used this next method in tournament fishing, but I have used it for fun fishing. In the dead of winter, when the little bass just suspend and follow schools of baitfish, a number of guys will use their electronics to find schools of shad. Basically, they'll drop jigging spoons down on them, jig around the schools of baitfish and catch one every now and then.

Instead of using the traditional jigging spoon, I'll either take a jigging spoon and slide it into a Strike King Flip-N-Tube that is white and basically looks like a shad but gives it a little bit different action. It allows you to work it through cover better around standing timber that is 30- and 40-feet deep. I feel like it allows me to work through the timber better. Secondly, I'll take a 1-ounce light jig with a grub behind it and fish it in the same way. This way, the fish see different bait than they usually see in the same situations.

Question: Have you used these tactics yourself, or have you seen other people use them?

Brauer: I've used a couple of these tactics that I have heard guys describe, but I've simply tweaked them to fit my style of fishing.

Question: How important is it to change up and try odd things?

Brauer: I try to do something different every single day. I may not try something major, like doing something totally crazy with bait or anything. But I'll try different retrieves or different angles and just anything different to try to help me determine what the fish want. Many people get into the same old rut of going out, tying on the same baits every day, reeling them in the same way, working the same areas and taking the same boat trail. Every single time they go out, they do the same thing where they may try something just a little bit different but in different areas. They'll fish shallower or deeper or use a different bait, a different color or a different lure, which can open their eyes to some fish that they have been missing.

On certain days, changing up your equipment or fishing tactics may make a huge difference in your catching bass. You try a different retrieve -- one out of every 10 casts and just switch it up throughout the day. Sooner or later, you start picking up on varying techniques and different conditions that tell you to maybe use something else in the switch. You should never get into a rut and do the same thing. The bass never want the same thing two days in a row.




 

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