Mooching entails anchoring or drifting over big baitballs and lowering a bait on light line and a small hook. The light tackle makes catching a big fish alot of fun. I prefer trolling because I know that over the course of a season I can hook up with more fish for my passengers by covering some territory and dragging irresistible objects in front of the salmon. Downriggers and weight releases can be used with equal effectiveness. A flasher blade imitates a school of baitfish, and the bait or lure trails along behind.
Calico bass go on a rampage in mid-spring.
The are quick to rise to the top of the water column and voraciously attack baits and artificials alike. Once the bass leave the structure and come up the chumline into open water, the fishing gets wild. I like to rig spinning outfits with a small hook and a splitshot. The splitshot isn t necessary for the fish, but gets the bait down a foot or two where the pesky seagulls can t quite reach. I consider the Santa Barbara Channel to be California s calico capitol.