Got a chance to fish Castaic Lake the other day and the craziest weather that I have seen in years hit me dead on.

With winter locking down on most of the bass nation, one’s thoughts inevitably turn to more vertical pursuits. While the unenlightened may think the Big Bass Zone is simply a big-bait, big-method forum, our dedicated readers know otherwise.

What if we said, “Bass are like bears, they hibernate”? Hopefully, you would – in no uncertain terms – tell us how incredibly stupid that sounds. But if bass don’t hibernate, then why do so many anglers treat them as if that is the case?

I am all about learning and the best teachers are the fish themselves. top water fishing is always fun and this may make you think a different way next time on the water. Remember that this will also work in darker water, but the distant is diminished.

Among the ongoing tirades about the state of tournament bass fishing, one question has gone unanswered: "Since when does tournament bass fishing – especially televised professional bass fishing – define the beginning, middle and end of our sport?"

A few years back Al and I got into some slab crappie out here in California. What a great day on the water with Al. The technique of flipping and pitching works very well for crappie with 1/16 oz Spro Phat flys (what I had tied on) and 6# test Maxima Line. All the crappie were caught in less the 3' of water and best 5 weighed close to 10 pounds.

Finesse, it seems, is suddenly a hot topic among tournament anglers. After more than 2 decades of scorn, the national cast-for-cash crowd is finally coming to the party. Not so much as a matter of choice, but because they had to.

Great show fishing with Charlie and showing him how to catch big bass California style with big swim baits. This will prove to you that the BBZ concept will work from coast to coast.

We're back after a little mid-summer break with trips to ICAST in Las Vegas and the Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh. With Big Bass Zone (the book) just out, it will be interesting to see how BBZ mentality plays around the bass-fishing world. Of course, those of you who have been with us from the start on BassFan.com know the mindbending in store for everyone else.