| I was fishing a small lake in central California back | | | | fished Rapalas for as long as I can remember. So, |
| in 1980, I think it was that year. I had been fishing | | | | I said "what are you talking about not fishing it |
| for a couple of hours and doing ok, catching some | | | | right?". He said "well, all you're doing is throwing |
| 1-2 pound fish and in a far I was fishing a small | | | | the lure in and reeling it back. I said "yeah". He |
| lake in central California back in 1980, I think it | | | | said" have you ever noticed a minnow or shad or |
| was that year. I had been fishing for a couple of | | | | whatever, he said they never go very far, they |
| hours and doing ok, catching some 1-2 pound fish | | | | usually move a few inches at a time and they |
| and in a far distance I could see this man walking | | | | dart." He said "that lure of yours is supposed to |
| up with a bright red jacket. | | | | imitate the baitfish the bass is after so make it |
| The closer he got, the more I noticed his jacket | | | | act like one." Then he showed me and guess |
| and all the patches on it, one said 1978 World Top | | | | what? He was right!His acted just like a baitfish |
| Water Bass Fishing Champion, along with about 20 | | | | and even looked like one swimming the way he |
| other patches. We began to talk, of course, I | | | | did it. As he stood there twitching the end of his |
| wanted to know all about him and he began to tell | | | | rod and letting it sit every two or three twitches |
| me about how he became champion. Now, I do | | | | then twitch it two or three times more and let it |
| want to say one thing here, I forget what he told | | | | sit, I seen his point. I also seen him catch another |
| me and I don't even know for sure if there is | | | | bass, which made me a believer. Now I don't |
| such a tournament for the World Top Water | | | | know if this man was the top water champion or |
| Championship but I watched this guy fish.He was | | | | not but I do know one thing.........his technique |
| probably in his 50's or early 60's at the time and | | | | works.I have used it on most of my retrieves |
| fished this lure different than I have seen before | | | | anytime I fish top water and it works. Cast the |
| so I paid special attention. Finally, after seeing him | | | | lure, let it sit, twitch the end of your rod two or |
| catch a half dozen fish while I caught two I asked | | | | three times and let it set again. The only thing I |
| him what he was doing and what bait he was | | | | have done is add one additional move. I throw the |
| using that he was doing so well. He said he only | | | | lure out and let it sit, twitch the rod two or three |
| used one kind of bait and opened up his tackle | | | | times and let it sit and then I move the lure so |
| box. Can you imagine my surprise when the only | | | | slow it barely cause a ripple and that is when I |
| lure he had in there was Rapalas. I mean bunches | | | | get most of my hits. Try this techniques the next |
| of Rapalas, every color and size you could | | | | time you fish your favorite top water lure and |
| imagine. I said where's the rest of your lures, he | | | | see the results.Charles E. White has fished for |
| smiled and said this is all I use. By the way, at the | | | | almost 50 years for bass. It is estimated that he |
| time I was fishing with a Rapala, that was ironic | | | | has caught over 6,000 bass in his lifetime. His |
| to me. I said "that is what I'm using now".He said | | | | biggest bass is a 12 pound 14 ounce bass that |
| "yeah, I see that but you're not fishing it right". | | | | hangs on his office wall. Charles has fished with |
| Well, I had fished for bass for about 25 or so | | | | people who have never fished before and taught |
| years then and wondered what in the world he | | | | them to become successful anglers and has also |
| was talking about, me not fishing it right. I had | | | | fished with the pros in Florida. |