“Fishing in the West with Tony Giallombardo”

Part 3: Bet on the BigySmal

Editor’s Note: Tony Giallombardo of Tempe, Arizona, a competitive bass fisherman since 1995, fishes the American Bass Anglers (ABA) tournament circuit, the U.S. Angler’s Choice bass-tournament circuit and the AllStar bass-tournament circuit. This week, Giallombardo will tell us how and where to fish at this time of year in the West when temperatures are still hot.

Question: Tony, do you use any other lures differently than other fishermen in your area do?

Giallombardo: Yes, I do. I fish the Mister Twister BigySmal Meatloaf Shad on a Carolina rig. I prefer to fish this lure when I’m targeting our stocked rainbow trout. I put a 1/4-ounce split shot about 18 to 20 inches ahead of the BigySmal Meatloaf Shad, cast it out and fish it like a mini-Carolina rig on spinning tackle. I’ve also used this technique to catch bass and crappie.

Question: How big are the rainbow trout you catch?

Giallombardo: They generally run 8 to 15 inches, but a number of bigger trout also are stocked with the 8- to 15-inch trout. Although our possession limit is only four, you can catch and release rainbow trout all day and have a really-good time. I like the pearl and the shad-colored BigySmal Meatloaf Shad. I’ve actually caught bass on this rig at Lake Pleasant near the Phoenix area.

When I’m fishing this rig, I use heavier line and bait-casting tackle. The biggest bass I caught on this rig weighed about 3-1/2-pounds. This rig is productive for catching rainbow trout, bass, bluegills and shellcrackers (redear sunfish). You can fish the BigySmal Meatloaf Shad using this rig or on a traditional Carolina rig with a bullet-weight sinker, a barrel swivel and 12 to 15 inches of leader.