ABOUT BILL SIEMANTEL
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame • Award-Winning Lure Designer • Creator of the BBZ Philosophy
THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTER FISH
I caught my first trophy bass before most anglers catch their first legal fish.
At 8 years old, I was already dissecting what makes predators tick—not through books, but through thousands of hours watching, learning, and refusing to accept "good enough." That obsession never stopped. It just got bigger.
500+ bass over 10 pounds later (75 of those in the magical "teen" category), with a BassMaster victory at Lake Powell, induction into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, and more ICAST awards than I have wall space for, I'm still that kid trying to figure out what makes a 15-pounder strike when everyone else is catching 2-pounders.
FROM FIREHOUSE TO FISHING LEGEND
For 34 years, I served with the Los Angeles City Fire Department—a career that taught me pressure performance, reading unpredictable situations, and trusting my instincts when everything's on the line. Funny how those skills translate perfectly to trophy fishing.
While running into burning buildings by day, I was decoding predator psychology by night. That 250-pound hummingbird energy people talk about? It's real. I don't settle for the obvious. I don't follow the crowd. And I sure as hell don't fish like everyone else.
That's how you catch 500+ trophy bass when most anglers struggle to break the 5-pound barrier.
THE BBZ PHILOSOPHY: THINK LIKE A PREDATOR
The Big Bass Zone isn't a place on a map. It's a mindset.
Most anglers see the water through human eyes: "I think I'll cast over there."
I see it through predator eyes: "That ambush point gives me 3 seconds to intercept prey before they detect me, with current break providing cover and direct access to deeper water if spooked."
Location, Location, Location isn't real estate—it's understanding that every predator (bass, striper, pike, musky, tarpon) has a specific "office" where they operate. Your job isn't to find fish. It's to orchestrate the collision between your lure's path and the predator's strike zone.
The BBZ method teaches you to:
See structure like a predator, not a map
Create illusions with lures that trigger instinctive strikes
Control the underwater drama instead of just participating
Target bigger fish by understanding what makes them different
This philosophy caught me 500+ trophy bass. It'll do the same for you.
LURE DESIGN: CREATING ILLUSIONS THAT KILL
SPRO Tackle (2004-2020): The BBZ-1 Swimbait revolutionized big bait fishing. ICAST awards. Tournament wins. More giant fish than I can count. We created hard swimbaits that moved like living prey.
FishLab Tackle (2021-Present): The evolution continues. We're taking that BBZ philosophy and applying it to every predator species—freshwater and saltwater. The new Bio-Shad series, Glide Baits, and Forward-Facing Sonar-specific designs are built for one purpose: creating irresistible illusions.
When you understand what triggers a predator's kill instinct, you build different lures. That's why FishLab products catch fish when generic baits fail.
THE HALL OF FAME CAREER
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame - Legendary Angler Inductee
BassMaster Victory - Lake Powell
500+ Bass Over 10 Pounds (75 in the "teens")
ICAST Award-Winning Lure Designer - Multiple categories
Co-Author - "The Big Bass Zone" (2005) with Michael Jones
DVD Series - Swimbait and trophy bass techniques
34-Year LA City Fire Department - Firefighter III EMT A1D
I've fished local ponds, regional tournaments, national events, and remote locations that require a float plane and a prayer. The BBZ philosophy works everywhere because predators are predators, whether they're largemouth in California or stripers in New York.
THE NEW BBZ BOOK: EXPANDED & UPDATED
The 2005 Big Bass Zone book changed how thousands of anglers target trophy bass. But I wasn't done.
Coming 2026: The completely updated and expanded BBZ book that takes everything I've learned and applies it to ALL predator species—freshwater and saltwater.
What's New:
All Species Approach: Bass, striper, pike, musky, walleye, saltwater predators
Modern Technology: Forward-facing sonar, mapping integration, digital tools
Updated Techniques: 20 years of new discoveries and refinements
Same BBZ Voice: Humor, stories, and no-bullshit advice
Cutting-Edge Insights: What works in 2026, not 2005
This isn't a reprint. It's a complete rewrite for anglers who want to catch bigger fish, any species, anywhere.
FAMILY, FIREFIGHTING & THE FUTURE
I'm a husband, father of two daughters, and 34-year fire department veteran who's somehow found time to build the BBZ legacy.
The BBZ Junior Championship is my way of giving back—teaching young anglers that trophy fishing isn't about luck. It's about understanding.
I'm still learning. Still experimenting. Still refusing to settle.
Because over that next horizon? There's always something the rest of us have overlooked. And that something might be the key to your next trophy fish.
KEEP IT IN THE BBZ
Whether you're reading the book, throwing FishLab lures, or just trying to break your personal best, remember: Think like a predator, and act like the prey.
The water looks different when you see it through their eyes.
Welcome to the BBZ Zone.
CONTACT & CONNECT
📧 Email: bill@thebbz.com
📘 Facebook: /Bill Siemantel Big Bass Zone
📸 Instagram: Bill Siemantel@bigbasszone
🎥 YouTube: theBBZtv
🎣 FishLab Tackle: fishlabtackle.com
