Bass: Homer Circle Secrets of the Pros Being Bass editor of Sports Afield has many advantages. One of the biggest is the opportunity to fish with the nation's pros in the annual Classic Tournament of the Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society. Observations I've made over the years on how the top 35 bass anglers in America make a living by catching fish under extreme conditions will help make you a better fisherman. Keep in mind that these specialists compete on natural lakes, man-made impoundments, rivers and various waterways. So they must cope with ever-changing environments, cover, water conditions, seasonal vari-ants and weather. Try these tricks of their trade. Roland Martin: At age 57, Martin is the all-time winner of the most B.A.S.S. tournaments. On a hot August day, with bright sunlight and clear water conditions, his thought was: Look for shade. He sought out docks in coves bordering the main lake. His choice of lure was a small leadhead jig rigged with a three-inch plastic worm. The lake was high, leaving a scant three inches between the surface and the dock bottom. Most fishermen would cast parallel and close to that small opening. Not Roland Martin. He knew other anglers would have already done that. So he made flat, sharp casts into those three-inch targets, skipping lures five to eight feet under docks. The result: He culled his limit of bass each day while others caught fewer fish in open water. Practice skipping lures--it's a skill worth mastering. Shaw Grigsby: Age 41, and nine-time Classic qualifier. He made this reply when I asked him why he was so gently nudging his lure along: "I let it tell me what's going on. Right now, it's hooked on a piece of monofilament caught on the bottom, and is just sliding along. "It also tells me if it's touching weeds, rocks, gravel, boulders, sand, mud or brush. Whichever one produces bass, that's what I feel for as I ease the lure along." This "feel" is transmitted from the lure, up the line, down the rod, through the handle and into his hand. Work at developing this kind of sensitivity. It's a matter of keeping your mind locked onto the lure and "finger-feeling" it along to interpret its impulses... the most important of all, of course, being a bass in-haling the lure. Guido Hibdon: Age 51, Classic winner and twice Best Bass Angler of the Year. Hibdon boggled my mind with his finite lure control. Using a jig-and-plastic-lizard com- bo, he let the lure hang down to his feet, pulled off another four feet of line and let the lure "pendulum" toward him. Then, flipping the lure toward the target and feeding line with his free hand, he "tippy-toed" the lure over the surface, making a continuous trail of dimples. Using this amazing hand-eye coordination, Guido walked his waterdog in, around, and over all types of cover. His limit of bass was above the average for the day. Tom Mann Jr.: Age 43, with more than $250,000 in tournament winnings. Here is a model of readiness: Before leaving the starting zone Tom Mann rigged six rods. Two were lightweights for small lures, three were for medium weights, and one was for heavy lures and cover. The lures were sorted by size, type and color; and for safe running, the six outfits were secured, three on each side of the front deck. All else was battened down for a fast run. Mann silenced the outboard at least 25 yards from cover, eased close with the electric motor and flipped soft casts into each type of cover, including lily pads, weeds, brush, reeds, docks, and duckblinds. If he got a bump on a spinner lure he quit reeling, let it sink to bot- tom, laid down that rod and picked up another with a completely different lure, such as a plastic worm. Wary bass were frequently hooked on the second offering. Jimmy Houston: Age 53, with more than $250,000 in tournament winnings; TV-show host. As Houston stood on the front deck satur-ating shore cover with flip casts, I watched him use two tools all pros rely on: an electric motor for quiet movement and a bow sonar for continuous bottom-reading. When the images revealed a promising bottom feature or suspended fish, Houston changed to fast-sinking lures for vertical fishing. He was thus able to cast to shoreline covers and offshore hangouts below the boat. Pointed Remarks After battling a big bass, or pushing a lure off a bottom snag, break off about three feet of line and retie your lure. This keeps your vital connection at its maximum strength. Keep your mind attuned to the lure at the end of the line, but keep your eyes roaming the surface of the water for bass movement. When 10 casts with your favorite lure yield nothing, keep changing sizes, colors and types until you find the one bass want. When you see a likely hangout, study it before making that first cast. Answer the question: "Where is the spot too tough for others to reach?" Then do your best to reach it. Learn to flip. All pros are masters at this technique. It allows you to lay down accurately the most casts into the best hangouts, sinking lures toward bass--not away from them. ⌐ 1997 The Hearst Corporation. All rights reserved.