Entry 320-4
George Cochran and the Evolution of Bass Fishing with Tips On How to Make Your Fishing Better
Editor’s Note: George Cochran of Hot Springs, Arkansas, has had a tough year this year. He missed two tournaments this year on the FLW Series because of illness. “I’ve had to go to the hospital twice, but finally, I’m healthy and back fishing,” Cochran says. Even with his illness, Cochran barely missed the cut for the FLW World Championship. Cochran, a two-time Bassmaster Classic champion (1987 and 1996) and the 2005 FLW Cup winner, is still one of the most-competitive fishermen on the pro circuit, even when he’s sick. For 28 years, Cochran has maintained his high level of performance on the BASS and FLW circuits.
Part 4: I Love a Red Eye
Question: George, with what new Strike King lures have you really fallen in love?
Cochran: When Strike King released the Red Eye Shad, I was a little skeptical. But this year, I honestly can say that I’ve caught more bass on the Red Eye Shad than any other lure I’ve fished. The really-loud rattles in the bait are part of the reason, but the many-different colors also have helped me be more effective in catching bass.
Question: Do you fish the 1/4- or the new 1/2-ounce Red Eye Shad?
Cochran: I fish both. I fish the 1/2-ounce in deep water. But since I’m a shallow-water fisherman, I fish the 1/4-ounce more than the 1/2-ounce Red Eye Shad.
Question: In what types of areas do you fish the Red Eye Shad?
Cochran: I fish it in a number of different places. That’s the reason it’s my go-to bait. I’ve caught bass fishing around rocks, around, over, through and on the edges of grass and around wood. 
There isn’t any type of cover or open water where I won’t fish the Red Eye Shad.
Question: On what pound-test line do you fish the Red Eye Shad?
Cochran: I prefer to fish it on 12-pound-test line. However, but if the water’s really clear, I’ll fish it on 10-pound-test line. I like to fish it with a Daiwa 7-foot cranking rod and a Daiwa left-handed bait-casting reel with 6:1 gear ratio. I like the high-speed reel because the bass seem to like a bait moving fast as opposed to a slow-moving bait. Too, with the Red Eye Shad, when I’m reeling it fast, and it hits cover, it bounces off the cover. But then the Red Eye Shad will recover and starts swimming quickly, which triggers more strikes.
Question: Walk me through the retrieve. From the time the bait hits the water, what do you do?
Cochran: Let’s say I’m fishing rocks, and I want the lure to run 5-feet deep. 
I’ll cast out the lure and let it sink, until the line goes slack, and the bait hit the bottom. When I start my retrieve, the Red Eye Shad is already on the bottom and in the rocks. I’ll reel the Red Eye Shad, let it bump rocks and then kill it while I’m swimming it. When I kill the bait, it swims down like it’s dazed after hitting the rocks two or three times. This often is when the bass will take the bait. I also will use a pumping retrieve. I’ll cast out the Red Eye Shad, let it swim all the way to the bottom, rip it off the bottom and let it swim back while I reel up the slack and rip it up again. Many times I’ll get a reaction strike, whether I’m fishing rocks or any type of cover.
