Hello RB Bass world. Thank you for taking the time to visit our site once again. Fall is finally upon us and for a lot of tournament guys we are getting a break from the circuit and are now able to go do some exploring at lakes we have been intrigued by all season. With that being said we have decided to write a Q&A with RB Bass’ Preston Henson. Preston is a seasoned angler with a long list of accomplishments. Some of his accomplishments are listed below.
Accomplishments:
Bass Pro Shops Open Champion 2016 (Folsom Lake)
Top 10 BASS Southern Open Kissimmee Chain 2007
2007 Elite Series Wildcard Qualifier
Wild West Bass Trail Top 10 – Lake Oroville 2016
New Bass Angler of the Year
15+ Team Tournament Wins
Win – BBT Clear Lake
Win – Stockton Bass (Delta)
10+ wins on Folsom Lake
Multiple Anglers Choice Team Tournament Wins
Now let’s get to the good stuff!
Q: Before you go to a new lake how much “homework” do you do before arriving?
A: Quite a bit – I use a handful of sources. I use Google earth and paper maps. As well as check tournament results for the season I will be visiting the lake as well as what they were won on. I will also call local tackle shops for a current fishing reports. I also will look for reports on that body of water on the RB Bass website. I will also take a look around the tackle shops to try and find empty pegs. This could clue me in on what baits are working and what colors the fish are keying in on.
Q: Upon arriving at the lake what are your steps before casting a line.
A: The first thing I do is turn on my graphs and check water temperature as well as water clarity. Depending on the kind type of body of water I am fishing I will check for grass and the type of grass in the lake. In deeper lakes I will instead find the thermocline. I also like to kick rocks over at the boat ramp in an effort to find a crawfish and see what color it is.
Q: What baits do you start throwing first?
A: I like to start with some sort of reaction bait to help cover water and get a feel for the lake. Seasons will change the bait I start with. I like a rip bait winter, a spinnerbait in the spring, top water in the summer, and fall is mix of top water & crankbaits. After getting a feel for the lake I will look at the paper map I had studied in previous days and read the notes I had left on it.
Q: What are some go to baits you will typically always have tied on?
A: Spinnerbait: River 2 Sea Bling Series Spinnerbait
Drop Shot
Wacky worm
River 2 Sea Poppa Mur Jig 5/8oz
River 2 Sea Biggie Series Squarebill Crankbait and a River 2 Sea Goon Crankbait (sometimes both)
Flip Baits: River 2 Sea Trashbomb & Reaction Innovations Beaver
I pair all of these up with my Phenix Rods and Lews reels.
Q: Do you rely on your electronics a lot?
A: Yes! Especially on a new lake. As you are idling out adjust your sensitivity accordingly. Every lake/body of water has a different density, so make sure your graph is set properly each time. Structure scan is huge for me I always like to see what is below me. Set your side imaging to double your depth to get a better picture
Q: How do you differentiate between bass and other species on the graph.
A: I notice how they position. Bass like their space and do not like to be stacked on one another. Bass that are able to be caught will typically be on or very near the bottom. If they are schooled up they will be spread out on the bottom. Typically, the fish you see stacked on top of each other are Bluegill and Crappie.
Q: Will you try off the wall ideas when prepping for a tournament on a new lake.
A: High pressure lake I will think outside the box and do something very different than most. Sometimes I will run way up the river to get away from the crowd. I have also ran to a less popular area of the lake still keying on the same pattern but simply trying to have an area to myself.
Q: Is there a standard number of rods when you go to a new lake?
A: It’s all hands-on deck until I figure it out. Junk fishing is one of my strong suits I will typically have at least 10 rods ready to roll. Always be prepared for anything.
Q: Do you have any rituals or superstitions?
A: No, I am not a very superstitious. I’m not afraid to eat a banana in the boat.
Q: When breaking down a new lake do you like to fish quickly or slowly and methodically?
A: I like to fish quickly but thoroughly. I think it’s a good idea to try and find the active fish, or the areas where the active fish are positioning. Once I find these fish I will slow down and really pick them apart.
Finally, I would like to send Preston a big thank you for taking the time to meet with me and giving us some very helpful information. Hopefully this will prove to be helpful in your next fishing endeavor. Make sure to follow RB Bass on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Also make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. There are a ton of great videos coming out constantly.
By: Ryan Hall
