5 questions with Randy Howell

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2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic champion Randy Howell took some time to speak to us about his five favorite ways to catch summertime bass.
2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic champion Randy Howell took some time to speak to us about his five favorite ways to catch summertime bass.
No. 1: Sight Fishing
No. 1: Sight Fishing
“It’s a toss up between topwater and sight fishing. Let’s call it sight fishing. I like to catch them on a wacky rigged Senko. Sometimes you’re blind casting it and drawing them off of the beds, other times you can drop that thing right in the bed and watch them eat it. But that rig is very productive for sight fishing. Just being able to see the fish and outsmart them makes sight fishing so much fun.”
“It’s a toss up between topwater and sight fishing. Let’s call it sight fishing. I like to catch them on a wacky rigged Senko. Sometimes you’re blind casting it and drawing them off of the beds, other times you can drop that thing right in the bed and watch them eat it. But that rig is very productive for sight fishing. Just being able to see the fish and outsmart them makes sight fishing so much fun.”
No. 2: Topwater
No. 2: Topwater
“Topwater is such an exciting way to catch bass for obvious reasons. It’s explosive, entertaining and seeing the fish eat the bait like that never gets old. I really like using a Walking Boss by Livingston; it’s a very productive way to catch bass early in the morning or when they are schooling throughout the day. It just never gets old.”
“Topwater is such an exciting way to catch bass for obvious reasons. It’s explosive, entertaining and seeing the fish eat the bait like that never gets old. I really like using a Walking Boss by Livingston; it’s a very productive way to catch bass early in the morning or when they are schooling throughout the day. It just never gets old.”
No. 3: Flipping and pitching
No. 3: Flipping and pitching
“I love flipping a bait into cover, and then picking up the rod tip and feeling the weight on the other end. You never know how big the fish is until you set the hook, and that’s part of the mystery to it. It could be a 10-incher or a 10-pounder, you just never know. I love to use a Daiwa flipping stick with Daiwa’s Samurai braided line, it’s a great combo that helps me get a solid hook set, and pull the big fish from the cover.”
“I love flipping a bait into cover, and then picking up the rod tip and feeling the weight on the other end. You never know how big the fish is until you set the hook, and that’s part of the mystery to it. It could be a 10-incher or a 10-pounder, you just never know. I love to use a Daiwa flipping stick with Daiwa’s Samurai braided line, it’s a great combo that helps me get a solid hook set, and pull the big fish from the cover.”
No. 4: Shallow cranking
No. 4: Shallow cranking
“Running a crankbait anywhere in the zero to 10-foot zone is a great way to catch summertime bass. I won the Classic throwing the Livingston Howeller crankbait, and it’s a great bite during the summer months. This one could easily go to the No. 1 slot on this list, because when it’s on, it’s so much fun. It’s a great way to cover water and locate a school of fish, and when you do find a school and get them fired up, it can literally be one after another. It’s a great technique, and I love it!”
“Running a crankbait anywhere in the zero to 10-foot zone is a great way to catch summertime bass. I won the Classic throwing the Livingston Howeller crankbait, and it’s a great bite during the summer months. This one could easily go to the No. 1 slot on this list, because when it’s on, it’s so much fun. It’s a great way to cover water and locate a school of fish, and when you do find a school and get them fired up, it can literally be one after another. It’s a great technique, and I love it!”
No 5: Dragging a big jig or worm offshore
No 5: Dragging a big jig or worm offshore
“I like to put a big 10-inch Yamamoto worm on a magnum shaky head jig, or Texas rig. Just like flipping and pitching, you really never know what you’re going to get until you set the hook. Once the crankbait bite slows down, you can go our to the same locations and mop up with big meat. It’s a great summer presentation on lakes all around the country, and when this bite is on, it could easily be my favorite as well.”
“I like to put a big 10-inch Yamamoto worm on a magnum shaky head jig, or Texas rig. Just like flipping and pitching, you really never know what you’re going to get until you set the hook. Once the crankbait bite slows down, you can go our to the same locations and mop up with big meat. It’s a great summer presentation on lakes all around the country, and when this bite is on, it could easily be my favorite as well.”