"BASS CALIFORNIACATION"
Special Interview with David Roberson of Orso Swimbaits
If you have kept up with the latest craze to come from out West, then you have heard the word 'swimbait'. These sometimes plastic but mostly hardbody baits have been producing some eye popping, scale topping size bass. It really came to light this year on the tournament trail when several major professional circuits hit Western lakes, in the wake, producing impressive big bass and winning weights.
In just one tournament, we saw the all time record total weight broken 4 times. In fact, 7 of the top 10 anglers overall totaled more than 100 lbs of fish (20 fish) for a 4 day event. And the winning weight? Over 122 lbs by Steve Kennedy. The bait that produced most if not all these massive stringers? A swimbait.
I recently was invited to experience some swimbait action up close and with one of the foremost experts in the Western technique. His name is David Roberson, owner and designer of Orso Swimbait Co. from California. David has been honing his swimbait craft and skills on Western Lakes, even winning a couple local tournaments. In his quest to produce quality swimbaits, David wanted to test his swimbaits on Jordan and Harris Lakes. Along the way, get some input from eastern fishermen, that being me, and in between, try and tempt some East Coast bass with West Coast tactics.
Call it "East meets West" or "Bass Californication".
Carolina Outdoors: OK, Dave, tell our readers alittle about yourself. Tell us how you got interested in swimbaits.
David Roberson: I've always fished, spending my younger years fishing creeks and rivers near my house catching anything that would pull back on my line. After a few years in college, I entered the Air Force in 1994. First base was Aviano AFB, Italy. This is where my bass fishing greatly improved.
Carolina Outdoors: Italy? I've heard Italy has some good bass fishing.
David: Yea.. Italy has some very impressive bass fishing. I join the bass club on base and had tournaments every other weekend. My very first tournament I took third. I was hooked. I spent 5 yeas in Italy, then headed to North Pole, Alaska - Eielson AFB. What a change in worlds. There was no bass fishing but I made up for it fishing for pike, salmon, halibut.
David Roberson
Carolina Outdoors: What got you interested in swimbaits?
David: I was in Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska in 2004, just back from Iraq. When I was in Iraq, my parents would send every fishing magazine available, that's when I started reading about the west coast swimbait scene. When I got back I had the chance to go to Port Hueneme, CA for a one month advance military class. Bored and stuck in a hotel, I decided to hire a fishing guide since I was within an hour of lakes that hold 10 of the top 25 bass every caught.
I had the chance to fish Lake Casitas with professional guide Sean James. Lake Casitas is known for great swimbait action and giant fish. It was the middle of November and we were throwing the 8" Huddleston. At first, I was surprised by the size of the bait and it took me a while to dial things in. Around 11 o'clock that day, I made a cast out, the bait hits bottom and I start to reel it in. About half way back I get drilled and it ended up being my first swimbait fish, a 13.2lber. Two hours later, we return back to the same area and after a few cast a stick a 11.8 pounder. I was hooked !
Carolina Outdoors: Hooked on California or swimbaits? (LOL)
David: Both ! (grinning) That is when I decided to move to southern California. And I did in early July of 2005, living only 2 miles from Lake Casitas. My first year was relearning the Huddleston and whatever swimbait I could buy. I would spend anywhere from $20 to $300 on one bait. The learning curve is slow and long but I was figuring things out and things I didn't like. I wanted a bait that I could fish faster, at different speeds with more of an east coast style.
Carolina Outdoors: Did you start by tinkering with other swimbaits, changing their design?
David: No, I wanted to carve my own baits but I didn't have the talent to carve, so my good buddy, Rob Cummings got involved and together we came up with the first prototype. At first, they were crude and ugly. The first design was 8 inches, made out of wood and hand painted. It would last about 2 or 3 days fishing before it would get water logged or break but I was catching fish and learning what needed to be improved. It would take about 4 to 6 hours to make a bait before painting, so I wanted to figure out a way to pour the bait with plastic. After about 4 months of reading and asking anyone that would give me info, I started making my own molds and pouring my own baits. The plastic mixture took a while to dial in the correct mixture, achieve the ratio to make the bait to swim correctly. In a short time I got better, and the swimbaits performed better.
Carolina Outdoors: When did you think you were onto a better swimbait?
David: When I started getting followers and a few bites. At the same time, I wanted to show what I was experiencing to others that were into throwing or wanting to throw swimbaits, that's when I started with the headcam and recording what was happening.
Carolina Outdoors: (David wore his headcam during the entire fishing day on Harris and Jordan) Yea, I was kinda taken back when I first saw your setup with the camera but after I saw it, its really neat how you can film my action and yours without hands. The video sees what you see. Sorta like a "Dave Cam" (grinning)
David: That also took some experimenting, but I got the camera deal set. So after posting a few videos on the internet, I started getting emails on the bait and where to purchase it. At first I thought I could make a few and sell them each month but I quickly realized I couldn't keep up with the demand while working a full time job with the military nor have the quality in the bait I wanted if I was going to ask someone to spend their hard earned money on it.
DaveCam on Harris
Carolina Outdoors: That's a familiar story for me, I heard the same thing from Kelly Barefoot at CLU, with work, demand and quality.
David: So I started looking into the next level, that meant hiring an engineer and figure a way to get my product produced with a lower price while improving the quality. Being on a shoe-string budget and green to the fishing industry, it has taken longer and cost more than I would have ever imagined. But I'm slowly getting there.
Carolina Outdoors: Are you to a point you are happy with all?
David: I'm in the final design process with the engineer. Once that is accomplished, I will make final adjustments with the prototypes and go to production hopefully in the next few months on a 12" design. The first bait I will release will be a 12" and it will come in three different patterns. Most bass fisherman may think this is too big a of bait for their local water, even ones on the west coast, but all it takes is time on the water and just a matter of time before that "donkey" drills the bait.
Carolina Outdoors: I have to admit, when I first saw your swimbaits, I was like man, these things are huge ! But you have different sizes.
David: You saw the 12 inch model first, that's what I started with. I have a 8" trout size and a smaller bluegill type swimbait. I have other sizes in the works. Plus, after fishing with you I have already started designing a swimbait designed specifically for the east coast. I have a total of 3 other sizes, 3", 5", 10" in trout type baits.
I'm looking to do more fishing on the east coast and other places with swimbaits to get a better understanding how swimbaits work on different bodies of water while trying to educate bass fisherman that the price you pay for swimbaits is worth the money, it will produce a fish of a lifetime. It just takes a different mind set than most East Coast anglers are used too. I know swimbaits will work any where, you just have to convince anglers to throw them. Its a different style of fishing, a different feel and takes a different set up to be successful.
Carolina Outdoors: That's for sure, I know even though I have read and seen the swimbaits on TV, I was really still questioning swimbaits. Its very much like deep cranking or flipping, it takes the correct set up to be not only successful with them, but comfortable throwing them. Go into the set up you use to fish your swimbaits.
David: As you saw, it takes the correct rod and reel. Some 8" or smaller baits can be thrown on a heavy jig rod, so no need to purchase another rod. But some 8" and larger swimbaits need a larger rod with more backbone that will allow longer cast and better hook sets.
Carolina Outdoors: The first thing I noticed about your rod was it was more like a surf rod that bass rod. With a long handle and heavy action. It took me some time to get use to it, it was awkward. But once I got use to the weight of the bait, I could see the advantage of the set up.
David: The long handle helps you control the heavier baits. You also need a strong rod to handle the size of the bait and the size of the fish (grins) As for reels, you would need a larger reel to handle the stress. When it comes to line capacity, you need the bigger reel to hold more of the heavy line, with bigger baits, you can make longer cast. You need the correct line. As for line, it should match rod and reel setup. For smaller baits, 15lb test would work but for 8" and larger baits, 20 to 25lb test is needed.
Carolina Outdoors: Another thing is the hookset. I noticed the first big bass that struck the swimbait at Jordan, you jerked too soon, like with a topwater bait. You need to wait right?
David: The hook set is important as you saw. If you are throwing floating swimbait, the key thing to remember is it is like you say, just like a topwater bait. You have to wait before setting the hook, don't set the hook until you feel tension. This is the hardest thing to do, even for me. Mainly because with a floating swimbait, the explosion will be huge, but still wait until the fish turns. If you are throwing a sinking bait, the bite will be similar to a crankbait bite...it will either be a slam or a tick with slack line...either way, swing then swing again.
Carolina Outdoors: With the bigger tackle, do you need to be careful of the hook set compared to the line size? And even the way you fight the fish.
David: If on 15lb test or lighter, take your time with constant pressure. But reeling fast as possible because the fish can use the size of the bait when shaking his head as leverage to throw the hook. If on 20lb test or larger, reel as fast as you can with no drag, rod tip down to get the fish to the boat...if the fish wants to go to the left go with the fish to the left, around the boat until you can net the fish. Don't change directions, the fish has the chance to shake his head and throw the hook by constantly changing directions with the rod.
Dave shows the rod setup.
Dave switches to a crappie look alike.
Carolina Outdoors: Thanks Dave, I really enjoyed fishing with you and learning more about Orso swimbaits. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?
David: Its been a great couple days of fishing with you on Harris and Jordan, I learned alot. You showed me some things that I will use in my designs and I got to show you why a swimbait is popular out West. I guess the last thing I need to say is that the key to swimbaits is like any bait, you gotta throw it to be successful.
To see a headcam video of fishing with Dave on Jordan Lake, click on this link: Orso Dave on Jordan
Orso Swimbaits realistic looking bream and crappie patterns.
Copyright © 2010, Carolina Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
For more info on Orso Swimbait Co., visit www.orsoswimbaits.com
For those coming here for info on Dave's passing,
please note the following infomation: the family has set up a Memorial Fund in Dave's name for Warriors on the Water. Please send a contribution to:Warriors on the Water
Attention: Hal Abshire
509 Rabbit Run Lane
Cameron, NC 28326
