By Billy “Hawkeye” Decoteau
Professional FLW Tour Angler, Licensed Bass Guide, and Classroom Instructor for The Bass University Pete Gluszek has more on his plate than most Chinese Buffets! Yet this likeable Franklinville, NJ angler is always available and willing to share his tournament winning techniques and tactics with Bass East.
Now don’t misunderstand me Pete Gluszek is a highly motivated, competitor knowing the importance of having a little something different than his fellow colleagues in order to cash a check! Listening to the Lake Champlain and Hudson River Champion, Pete’s enthusiasm was overwhelming, while his never-ending compassion for pursuing the Black Bass within it’s aquatic environment was a lesson within itself.
“Most bass anglers take a detour when it comes to chasing bass during the heat intensified month of August,” says Ranger Boat’s Pete Gluszek. (www.NorthJerseyMarine.com) “However, savvy anglers wanting to increase their bass knowledge, realize it’s during those extremely tough condition days when the bite is almost non-existent the opportunity for advance learning is waiting at their doorstep!”
According to Gluszek he and Professional Bassmaster Elite Angler Mike Iaconelli, founded their educational nationwide program, ‘The Bass University’, specifically to encourage and provide information hungry bass anglers with the importance of The Bass University motto “Never Stop Learning”! “Any time you think you have the bass situation figured out these finned creatures seem to throw you a change-up,” Chuckles Gluszek. “However, every movement of the Black Bass is based upon the prevailing conditions within its environment, and their predatory instincts.” (www.TheBassUniversity.com)
Gluszek informed me every professional bass angler utilizes the same basic fundamental bass transitional factors in their approach to establishing on-the-water bass behavior. “It is during this search process, where we first actually witness why some anglers always seem to catch bass no matter what!” Separation of individual anglers application of techniques and presentations, understanding of bass movement, centered on their ability to read prevailing weather conditions, and most importantly the individual talent of each angler to make adjustments quickly, is usually the key to success.
“What many anglers seem to forget is that a bass’s metabolism is the complete opposite than ours!” instructs Gluszek. Referring to bass being cold blooded and our being warm blooded. “This is when an angler’s attitude takes over, he/she can fall victim to the August heat, make a million excuses, or as in most cases simply quit and head home! Or, they can place the heated temperatures off to the side and concentrate on reading and observing the prevailing conditions!”
“When the temperatures rise, bass need to feed more often as their body requires this for survival, they also seek areas with cooler temperatures, and easy access to food. One reason, thick vegetation such as emergent matted grassy areas comes into play this time of year.”
Pete Gluszek idles his Evinrude E-Tec along extended matted grass or chestnut flats searching for sections that standout as being different. “Cuts, pockets, points and depth changes are all factors to consider. However, openings within the matted vegetation, raised mats, and areas with a change in the prevalent vegetation are transition areas and can be bass magnets!” (www.Evinrude.com)
Elaborating Gluszek explains, “I equip myself with what I refer to as ‘Power-Finesse’. Let’s consider heavy matted vegetation or Chestnuts as found on Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. Power and speed is needed to get these bass below the heavy cover to explode through the surface, here I will utilize my Rogue 7’6” Flipping Sticks, braided PowerPro line, high-speed reels, and a heavy spoon to work the surface.” Gluszek is adamant when it comes to balanced tackle. “My longer rod not only allows longer cast, more importantly it allows me to quickly get the bass to the surface, by picking up more line, as does a high speed reel, while PowerPro braid cuts through the vegetation and assures solid hook-ups!” (www.RogueRods.com)
Calling this setup his locator, Pete adds a trailer to his spoon for additional weight, noise and vibration. “If the bass have no problem honing in on my spoon, I’ll add a PowerTeam Lures 4.5” grub. The grubs’ tail will keep flipping and kicking the surface, while it’s inverted ribbing causes more surface commotion, especially in open water areas. When the situation calls for additional weight or a faster retrieve, nothing is better than impelling a 4.5” Conviction Craw unto your spoon!” (www.PowerTeamLures.com)
The Finesse portion of Gluszek’s Power-Finesse equation comes into play when bass are exploding holes in the matted vegetation, yet he is unable to get a hook-up. “This technique is not for the faint of heart,” laughs Gluszek. Adding, “Too often anglers will try to follow-up their missed strike with the same bait, and although it will work at times, I have discovered following up with a Power-Finesse tactic works much better!” Gluszek’s arsenal includes the same 7’6” Rogue Rod, braided PowerPro line and high-speed reel. However, his Power-Finesse follow-up bait is a PowerTeam Lures 3.5” Craw D’oeuvre! (www.PowerPro.com)
“It’s imperative that anglers immediately pitch their follow-up bait into the exploded hole ASAP! I have found that utilizing larger baits in this situation doesn’t always produce solid hook-ups. For this reason I peg a 3/8 oz bullet weight, in front of a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook, then add the perfect size follow-up bait…………3.5” Craw D’oeuvre!”
According to Gluszek, the bass inhale his 3.5” Craw D’oeuvre offering. “I believe it’s compact size, long vibrating thin craws, and balled shaped rear tentacles aid in the bass locating the craw, but when their olfactory glands register the PowerTeam Lures ‘Sow Chow’ impregnated scent the bass simply eat it!”
When confronted with submerged vegetation, such as Milfoil, Coon-tail, eelgrass, etc, Pete Gluszek highly recommends taking the same underwater approach to reading this cover as he does with emergent matted vegetation. “Once again anglers need to eliminate the unproductive areas by concentrating on high percentage areas.” Gluszek, utilizes his sonar to mark waypoints locating grass bed, pockets, holes, depth changes, underwater rock piles, timber and any other sections he believes bass will use as ambush points.
“Shade is a major factor when approaching submerged vegetation, as are overhanging trees, and docks. It may surprise you, but the bass your chasing along the deeper outside weedline, may have moved to the shallow inside due to it becoming the shady area!” suggest Gluszek.
Keeping to his Power-Finesse approach, after an early morning topwater bite has disappeared, FLW Tour and Bassmaster Open Professional Angler Pete Gluszek likes to keep it simple. (www.FLWOutdoors.com, www.Bassmaster.com) “Contending with the afternoon heat is enough of a challenge, so when it comes to bait selection for flipping, pitching or skipping into shady areas I stick with only one bait, and utilize two different sizes,” reveals Gluszek.
Once again turning to PowerTeam Lures Pete Gluszek rigs a 4.5” Texas-Rig Jig soft plastic unto a 6/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook and a 3.5” Texas-Rig Jig soft plastic unto a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu. While, his weight size varies based on the prevailing conditions. “These PowerTeam Texas-Rig Jigs are heavy enough to skip weightless, and the difference in the two sizes is perfect for my Power-Finesse Technique!” As for colors, Gluszek prefers PowerTeam Lures ‘Swirl Colors’. Nothing in nature is actually the same color; there is always some form of color modification, for this reason anglers can not go wrong choosing a swirl combination!”
