Fishing the Zara Spook has been written about countless times. Most anglers have read, or seen television hosts and touring bass professionals catch bass of all species on this age old topwater lure. But as with any lure, taking the advice of an expert that has fished one particular lure for over 20 years, will increase your Bassin’ knowledge and will prove to be a shortcut towards your Big Bass angling goal.

Reed Montgomery has made a living fishing with this lure with countless 1st Place wins, Big Bass awards and many repeat clients, that have fished with Reeds Guide Service throughout his 30 plus years of guiding for bass and stripers throughout Alabama. He is an expert in every aspect, when it comes to rigging, casting, choosing lure styles and colors for different fishing situations and choosing the correct outfit, hooks, and monofilament to tailor each spooking situation, year-round.

In June, 1991 Reed Montgomery made the B.A.S.S. Federation 12 man State team, after out fishing over 200 other anglers in the B.A.S.S. Demopolis State Team 2-day Regionals placing 4 th. The B.A.S.S. 12 man Federation State team, then went to Kentucky Lake, Tennessee and won the overall Divisional competition, beating out other qualifying state teams from all over the United States. This win could not have been accomplished had Reed not fished the Zara Spook.

From there on Reed honed his topwater skills with this unique topwater offering. Noted Television host and taxidermist, Archie Phillips of "Archie Phillips Outdoors", after doing a Television show on Alabama’s Lay Lake with Reed, noted that Reed’s dad was also known for his expertise when fishing this then not-so-popular lure of the 50’s. After that days filming, Archie noted that Reed was a master expert at fishing this lure and that he had never seen any one angler perform so well with this topwater lure. With several largemouth’s and some huge Lay Lake Spotted bass on that hot summer day, all weighing from 3-6 pounds and all caught on the Zara Spook, its understandable why.

From then on it was spook fishing on every outing, guide trip and major tournament that came his way. Reed won major local tournaments in Alabama in those recent years. Mark’s Outdoors Sports, a major annual bass tournament on Alabama’s Lay Lake. Reed took first place, Big bass honors and man and woman category, all out of 500 anglers. But only with a little help from the Zara Spook, including a 6 1/2 pound largemouth.

The March of Dimes annual bass tournament showed Reed taking first place and big bass honors (all while fishing solo) in a buddy format trail, besting over 500 anglers that day on Lay Lake. But again not without his trusty Zara Spook.

The list goes on. Reed won the 1st annual Shriners bass tournament on Alabama’s Lay Lake in 1991. Besting over 500 anglers in all fields, he won with 10 bass 35 pounds, placing first in the mixed couples category, and then also winning Big Bass of the tournament, all while fishing with the Zara Spook of course.

This was just in the early 1990’s. Later in 1998, showed Reed taking Angler of The Year in a then new solo trail debuting in Alabama for the first year, BASSBUM Solo Trail. He also won several tournaments that year and claimed Big Bass honors in several of these major events. Reed also took second place that year in BASSBUM’S end of the season 2-day Championship on Alabama’s Lay Lake. He was also 1 st Place Champion that year fishing another Alabama Solo Trail 2-day Classic, C.A.S.T. Central Alabama Solo Trail, on Alabama’s Weiss Lake. Reed also caught, "Big Bass of The Year", in Poorhouse Branch’s, "Logan Martin Lake Big Bass of The Year Contest"...of course caught on the Zara Spook.

1999 showed continued success fishing with the famed topwater lure Reed had polished to perfection, while fishing in all seasons. A record 5 largemouth bass weight of 20+ pounds in BASSBUM’s Solo Trail. Another record 5 spotted bass weight of 21 pounds in Poorhouse Branch Logan Martin Lake trail, also winning 4 tournaments and claiming Big Bass 7 times for the 1999 season.

The year 2000 it got even better. Angler of The Year for the second time in BASSBUM’S Solo Trail history. Reed also won the BASSBUM end of the year 2-day season Championship finale Oct 21-22 on Alabama’s Logan Martin Lake. He had just won and got big bass, at Guntersville Lake in Bassbum’s Northern Division, last tournament of the season. Before that, Reed won the last tournament of the season in the BASSBUM Logan Martin Central Division Tournament again getting big bass. All contributed to a major portain of his catch being caught on the Zara Spook.

Reed placed 2 nd, 5 times in 2000, won 6 tournaments and got BIG bass award 8 times in the year 2000...all with the help of his trusty Zara Spook. Just last November-December, 2000 on Alabama’s Lay Lake Reed set a record yearly catch of 5 bass weighing 30 pounds, caught in low 50 degree water on the Zara Spook. Included were 10 other bass that day, all 15 totaling well over 50 pounds. Need we say more?

Below is an excerpt from the article that Reed has written for you to preview.

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By Reed Montgomery

INTRODUCTION:

For those of you that have not yet discovered this wondrous lure, a little introduction may be needed. Not a complete history of the lure, for by now most anglers have heard of the famous Zara Spook, now over 75 years old.

In the early 1900’s a man by the name of James Heddon created a lure, carved from the end of a broomstick...

He simply cut off the end of a wooden broomstick and attached two hooks and soon discovered a unique way of enticing bass to strike, by walking this lure in a back and forth manner when retrieved. The action was dubbed similar to the dance of a hula dancer then called, "zara hula girls." Thus the name "Zara Spook" was born. Soon anglers discovered the most unique thing about this lure, the enticing dance, caught bass, BIG Bass, and lots of em’!

To this day, over 75 years later, the zara spook, now made of plastic, still fools BIG Bass nationwide. But only by those adept anglers that have mastered the lure and discovered the joy of enticing Big Bass to strike a topwater lure, bass that often ignore other lures.

As we enter the year 2001 zara spooks have been created from very small, to medium, to large sizes and now, "the Zara Super Spook." I guess you could say the "extra large version." All sizes, catch all sizes of bass. Naturally the smaller versions will attract strikes from lots of smaller bass. These smaller bass will attack this smaller version, enticing, topwater lure, especially when conditions are tough, or when fishing in a small lake, pond or creek, known for lots of keeper-sized bass.

But by now most anglers have learned the aspects of catching smaller bass and many bass can still be fooled today fishing with worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and the many other thousands of fake offerings on the market. There are even many other lures available today that can be fished on top with as many strikes as fishing the zara spooks. From small to big, the zara puppy, the zara pooch, the original zara spook all catch bass, and sometimes really, BIG trophy-sized bass.

For these tips, we are talking the new, "Zara Super Spook" and fishing this fabulous lure year-round under a variety of conditions. The following aspects of fishing the Zara Super Spook will be covered:

#1. The Lure-Color choice, rigging, hooks, selecting a zara super spook.

#2. The Line-Monofilament or one of the new braided lines on the market today? Choosing different pound test and why. There’s only one knot.

#3. The Reel-Choosing certain makes and models for different situations. Reel modifications, easily made by the angler.

#4. The Rod-Length, qualities and model of the perfect spook rod.

#5. Fishing the Zara Super Spook around wood, rock and weed cover.

#6. Seasons-Spring, summer, fall and yes, winter fishing the spook.

#7. Retrieves-Slow to fast, for times when bass want it that way.

#8. Blow ups and missed strikes - Making em’ come back for more.

#9. More tricks of the trade and psyching out the competition.

#10. Never give up-Its worth a 100 casts to see one spook blow-up.

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Split the cost with a friend (that is if you want to share these unknown secrets) Or keep it all to yourself, as you reap the rewards of fishing the Zara Spook. It’s money well spent. Or call Reeds Guide Service(205) 787-5133 to book a trip. You’ll see why they call him The Spook Man...