Brauer's Techniques for Taking Bass

EDITOR'S NOTE: Denny Brauer has won Angler of the Year on the B.A.S.S. Circuit, the 1998 B.A.S.S. Masters Classic, FLW Angler of the Year and just about every major fishing tournament in the nation. He's also the first fisherman to appear on the Wheaties Breakfast of Champions cereal box. This week we'll look at what has made Brauer so successful.

QUESTION: What are your favorite techniques and why?
ANSWER: Although lake and season conditions dictate the best techniques, I prefer to fish shallow water between 1 and 5 feet deep. My favorite depth is about 3 feet, but I've also caught bass in 50 to 60 feet of water.

QUESTION: What has been your strongest technique over the years?
ANSWER: Without question, flipping and pitching has paid the most bass dividends for me. I also love to throw spinner baits, topwater lures and those new square-billed crankbaits from Strike King, like the 4S and the Series 1. I have an arsenal of lures to use in shallow water if I find fish and cover in the top story of water. If I can't locate bass in the top story, I move to deep-water areas and crank deep-diving crankbaits and fixed jigs or worms.

I don't like to stereotype myself as a shallow-water fisherman. I don't go to a lake where I have to fish deep and automatically think I will have trouble fishing there. I believe I can adapt my fishing to any style required to win a tournament. If an angler doesn't develop that type of positive mental attitude about his fishing, he won't win many tournaments.

TOMORROW: Brauer's Best Bets for Bass Baits