Bass Basics

Beginner’s Tacklebox: Carl Jocumsen

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Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen moved from Australia to Texas to pursue his bass fishing dreams. He learned his craft quickly and will use this knowledge to fill the flat box he is holding with a solid assortment of lures for novice anglers.
Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen moved from Australia to Texas to pursue his bass fishing dreams. He learned his craft quickly and will use this knowledge to fill the flat box he is holding with a solid assortment of lures for novice anglers.
Jocumsen is especially proud of the Supernato Frog because he designed it for Molix.
Jocumsen is especially proud of the Supernato Frog because he designed it for Molix.
The hollow-body Supernato floats like a regular frog, but it also has legs that sputter on a steady retrieve.</p> <p>“The Supernato is a hybrid between a frog and a toad bait,” Jocumsen said. “You can work it many different ways. Or, you can just wind it in and big bass will eat it.”
The hollow-body Supernato floats like a regular frog, but it also has legs that sputter on a steady retrieve.
“The Supernato is a hybrid between a frog and a toad bait,” Jocumsen said. “You can work it many different ways. Or, you can just wind it in and big bass will eat it.”
The most unique advantage with the Supernato Frog is that you can unscrew the legs and replace them should they become damaged. And, you can change the color of the legs whenever you wish.
The most unique advantage with the Supernato Frog is that you can unscrew the legs and replace them should they become damaged. And, you can change the color of the legs whenever you wish.
The Supernato earns the first spot in Jocumsen’s beginner’s tacklebox.
The Supernato earns the first spot in Jocumsen’s beginner’s tacklebox.
Jocumsen fetches a spinnerbait from one of the T-H Marine Tackle Titans, a magnetic lure holders fixed to the underside of a boat locker lid.
Jocumsen fetches a spinnerbait from one of the T-H Marine Tackle Titans, a magnetic lure holders fixed to the underside of a boat locker lid.
It is a 1/2-ounce Bassman TW Series spinnerbait sporting tandem willow leaf blades and a translucent, shad-imitating skirt. Half of the lead weight is molded to the hook’s shaft under the skirt to give the spinnerbait a smaller profile. Jocumsen recommends this spinnerbait for clear water conditions.</p> <p>“Bassman spinnerbaits are made in Australia,” Jocumsen said. “They became my first sponsor when I was 15 years old. The brown wire looks more natural to the fish, and it angles up from the head so the spinnerbait runs horizontally in the water.”
It is a 1/2-ounce Bassman TW Series spinnerbait sporting tandem willow leaf blades and a translucent, shad-imitating skirt. Half of the lead weight is molded to the hook’s shaft under the skirt to give the spinnerbait a smaller profile. Jocumsen recommends this spinnerbait for clear water conditions.
“Bassman spinnerbaits are made in Australia,” Jocumsen said. “They became my first sponsor when I was 15 years old. The brown wire looks more natural to the fish, and it angles up from the head so the spinnerbait runs horizontally in the water.”
Into the box goes the Bassman TW Series spinnerbait.
Into the box goes the Bassman TW Series spinnerbait.
Another Bassman TW Series spinnerbait is Jocumsen’s next pick for the tacklebox. This 3/4-ounce model sports a single, large Colorado blade and bright chartreuse and white colors.</p> <p>“This is the spinnerbait you want to fish in muddy water,” Jocumsen said. “The thumping Colorado blade and the bright colors help the bass find the bait.”
Another Bassman TW Series spinnerbait is Jocumsen’s next pick for the tacklebox. This 3/4-ounce model sports a single, large Colorado blade and bright chartreuse and white colors.
“This is the spinnerbait you want to fish in muddy water,” Jocumsen said. “The thumping Colorado blade and the bright colors help the bass find the bait.”
The Colorado-bladed spinnerbait joins the double-willow model in the tackle box.
The Colorado-bladed spinnerbait joins the double-willow model in the tackle box.
Jocumsen plucks his next pick from the T-H Marine Tackle Titan.
Jocumsen plucks his next pick from the T-H Marine Tackle Titan.
It is a 1/2-ounce Molix SS Super Squeaky Buzzbait. The extra-large blade makes a distinctive sound as it spins around a grained brass rivet.</p> <p>“The drop-down bend in the wire makes for better hookups,” Jocumsen said.
It is a 1/2-ounce Molix SS Super Squeaky Buzzbait. The extra-large blade makes a distinctive sound as it spins around a grained brass rivet.
“The drop-down bend in the wire makes for better hookups,” Jocumsen said.
The Molix SS Super Squeaky Buzzbait finds a spot next to the spinnerbaits in Jocumsen’s tacklebox.
The Molix SS Super Squeaky Buzzbait finds a spot next to the spinnerbaits in Jocumsen’s tacklebox.
Jocumsen fetches a box stuffed with soft plastic baits from his locker.
Jocumsen fetches a box stuffed with soft plastic baits from his locker.
The box houses one of Jocumsen’s primary baits in assorted colors.
The box houses one of Jocumsen’s primary baits in assorted colors.
That bait is the 3.5-inch Molix SV Craw Magnum.</p> <p>“It’s just a good all around bait,” Jocumsen said. “I use it as a jig trailer and Texas rigged for pitching, punching and with a Carolina rig. It has a subtle action.”
That bait is the 3.5-inch Molix SV Craw Magnum.
“It’s just a good all around bait,” Jocumsen said. “I use it as a jig trailer and Texas rigged for pitching, punching and with a Carolina rig. It has a subtle action.”
Into the box goes the Molix SV Craw Magnum in Jocumsen’s go-to color, green pumpkin.
Into the box goes the Molix SV Craw Magnum in Jocumsen’s go-to color, green pumpkin.
Jocumsen plucks a 1/5-ounce Ned head from a tackle box filled with these finesse jigs in various sizes.
Jocumsen plucks a 1/5-ounce Ned head from a tackle box filled with these finesse jigs in various sizes.
Then he threads a small paddletail grub onto the hook.
Then he threads a small paddletail grub onto the hook.
“The Ned Rig is a fish catching machine all over the country,” Jocumsen said. “You can use whatever trailer you want to.”
“The Ned Rig is a fish catching machine all over the country,” Jocumsen said. “You can use whatever trailer you want to.”
Jocumsen snatches a crankbait box from his locker and selects one for the beginner’s tacklebox.
Jocumsen snatches a crankbait box from his locker and selects one for the beginner’s tacklebox.
The lure is a 1/2-ounce Molix Custom Sculpo Rattlin’ Crankbait in the Mud Craw color.</p> <p>“This is a great bait for early spring, cold water fishing,” Jocumsen said. “It runs 6- to 8-feet deep and really hunts and deflects well off cover.”
The lure is a 1/2-ounce Molix Custom Sculpo Rattlin’ Crankbait in the Mud Craw color.
“This is a great bait for early spring, cold water fishing,” Jocumsen said. “It runs 6- to 8-feet deep and really hunts and deflects well off cover.”
The Molix Custom Sculpo is placed in the beginner’s tacklebox next to the Ned Rig.
The Molix Custom Sculpo is placed in the beginner’s tacklebox next to the Ned Rig.
Jocumsen returns to the same crankbait box and selects a 1-ounce Molix Sculpo XD Rattlin’ Crankbait in the WWC Red Craw color.
Jocumsen returns to the same crankbait box and selects a 1-ounce Molix Sculpo XD Rattlin’ Crankbait in the WWC Red Craw color.
“This bait gets down over 20 feet and is good for fishing offshore in the warmer months,” Jocumsen said. “Bass just eat red everywhere.”
“This bait gets down over 20 feet and is good for fishing offshore in the warmer months,” Jocumsen said. “Bass just eat red everywhere.”
The Molix Sculpo XD Rattlin’ Crankbait joins the other lures in the beginner’s tacklebox.
The Molix Sculpo XD Rattlin’ Crankbait joins the other lures in the beginner’s tacklebox.
Jocumsen reaches to the T-H Marine Tackle Titan for another essential bait.
Jocumsen reaches to the T-H Marine Tackle Titan for another essential bait.
This one is a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait dressed with a Z-Man Razor Shadz Swimbait.</p> <p>“This bait is easy to use and it is catching bass all over the country,” Jocumsen said. “It catches bass from docks, rocks and grass and you can fish it from shallow to deep.”
This one is a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait dressed with a Z-Man Razor Shadz Swimbait.
“This bait is easy to use and it is catching bass all over the country,” Jocumsen said. “It catches bass from docks, rocks and grass and you can fish it from shallow to deep.”
The Z-Man Chatterbait is looking good in the beginner’s tacklebox.
The Z-Man Chatterbait is looking good in the beginner’s tacklebox.
Jocumsen fetches a tackle box filled with lipless crankbaits from his boat locker.
Jocumsen fetches a tackle box filled with lipless crankbaits from his boat locker.
He chooses a 1/2-ounce Molix Lipless Crankbait in the Brown Cream Purple Tiger color.</p> <p>“Beginners want stuff they don’t have to twitch,” Jocumsen said. “Just throw the Lipless Crankbait out and wind it back. You’ll catch them from rock and grass, and you can hop it in deep water. It catches them all year around.”
He chooses a 1/2-ounce Molix Lipless Crankbait in the Brown Cream Purple Tiger color.
“Beginners want stuff they don’t have to twitch,” Jocumsen said. “Just throw the Lipless Crankbait out and wind it back. You’ll catch them from rock and grass, and you can hop it in deep water. It catches them all year around.”
The Molix Lipless Crankbait embellishes Jocumsen’s beginners tacklebox.
The Molix Lipless Crankbait embellishes Jocumsen’s beginners tacklebox.
Jocumsen grabs a box designated specifically for Molix MF Jigs.
Jocumsen grabs a box designated specifically for Molix MF Jigs.
He dresses a black/blue MF Jig with a matching 2.75-inch Molix SV Craw.</p> <p>“This is a new jig from Molix,” Jocumsen said. “I’ve been using it for the last two years. It’s great for beginners because it comes through everything, rocks, brush even riprap. It looks like a football jig but it has sort of a teardrop shape.
He dresses a black/blue MF Jig with a matching 2.75-inch Molix SV Craw.
“This is a new jig from Molix,” Jocumsen said. “I’ve been using it for the last two years. It’s great for beginners because it comes through everything, rocks, brush even riprap. It looks like a football jig but it has sort of a teardrop shape.
The MF Jig and SV Craw don’t take up much room in the beginner’s tacklebox, but this combo is a big hitter.
The MF Jig and SV Craw don’t take up much room in the beginner’s tacklebox, but this combo is a big hitter.
Jocumsen reaches to the T-H Marine Tackle Titan one last time.
Jocumsen reaches to the T-H Marine Tackle Titan one last time.
He nabs a sexy topwater walking bait, the 3/4-ounce Molix Topwater 110.</p> <p>“This is a great bait for a beginner,” Jocumsen said. “It’s easy to work and it has three trebles that keep fish on.”
He nabs a sexy topwater walking bait, the 3/4-ounce Molix Topwater 110.
“This is a great bait for a beginner,” Jocumsen said. “It’s easy to work and it has three trebles that keep fish on.”
The Topwater 110 looks like it’s ready for action in the Beginner’s Tacklebox.
The Topwater 110 looks like it’s ready for action in the Beginner’s Tacklebox.
Jocumsen’s completed beginner’s tacklebox is ready to take on bass wherever they live.
Jocumsen’s completed beginner’s tacklebox is ready to take on bass wherever they live.

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