Entry 222-3

Catching Big Bass with Randy Dearman

Part 3: Fishing the Zero

Question: Randy, what were you fishing with in that Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tournament?

Dearman: The bass were moving up to spawn, so we decided to practice on our own and then meet to discuss strategy. All of us caught bass shallow, flipping and fishing the Strike King Zero, except for David Fritts. David is an offshore fisherman. He caught one bass over 10 pounds and a couple more 8 pounders. Tommy Biffle and Clark Wendlandt fished shallow, finishing in 5th or 6th place. I was paired with David Fritts, and we fished deep water. We had a great day of fishing, but we just didn’t catch as many bass as the shallow-water fishermen did.

Question: Why do you fish the Zero so much, Randy?

Dearman: I love to fish the Strike King Zero. That’s the one lure in my tackle box I know I can depend on to get a bite, when I can’t get a bite on anything else. When the bass are becoming inactive or moving up to shallow water, you can catch them on a Zero. You also can catch deep-water bass on a Zero. I fish the Zero differently than most people do. I put a 1/8-ounce slip sinker up the line, so that the lure will fall to the bottom very slowly. When bass are inactive and you’re having a hard time getting a bite, bet on the Zero.

Question: How are you fishing the Zero with a slip sinker?

Dearman: I peg my slip sinker to the head of the Zero, cast it out and let it freefall slowly. Many times suspended bass will take the Zero rigged this way. Even on a bad day, I usually can get a limit of bass fishing the Zero. If I’m fishing really-deep water, I usually won’t fish a slip sinker that weighs more than 1/8-ounce.

Question: What’s your favorite color Zero to fish?

Dearman: I usually let water color dictate lure color, but my favorite color is watermelon-red. I fish the Zero on 12-pound-test line. When bass are shallow, I’ll fish the Zero whacky-style. Any time I’m struggling in a tournament, and I really need to get a bite, the Zero is my go-to lure.

Question: Around what kind of cover do you like to fish the Zero?

Dearman: I fish the Zero around grass, rocks or any other kind of cover, and I fish it around no cover at all, when the bass are suspended. If you intend to catch bass, when you go fishing, whether the bass are biting or not, don’t leave home without one or two bags of Zeros.

Next: The Strike King Denny Brauer Premier Pro Model Jig

Contents:

• Part 1: The Amistad Reservoir Tournament
• Part 2: Count on the Spinner Bait
• Part 3: Fishing the Zero
• Part 4: The Strike King Denny Brauer Premier Pro Model Jig
• Part 5: The Red Eye Shad