IntroC

It’s pretty amazing what Lee did with back to back classics but overall I think Wheeler is gonna be the next KVD/Clunn.

Wow! I had no idea these lakes have that many tournaments on them. Sounds like east Texas is the place to be. Someday....lol

I have a hypothetical question. The question if a guy had enough money to pickup and leave his current surroundings and just wanted to fish tournaments the rest of his life where would this place be? I am talking money tournaments with good payouts. Also talking an area or it could even be a lake that has that many tournament where a guy could fish them on a very regular basis. All within a few hours drive if a place like this even exists. Would love to hear opinions and your idea of where this place would be.

I always thought Jordan Lee was a bit overrated. Boy was I wrong. Congrats to him!!! Can’t even imagine. Guys a stud.

Biggest thing is don’t worry about what others are doing. Fish your strengths during a tourney. Remember it’s always you against the fish, not the others in the tourney. You start focusing on them and you will suck. One thing i have realized over the years is when I fish alone, which I do a lot, is I always catch bigger and more fish then when I have someone in the boat with me. As soon as I get someone else in the boat questioning what I’m doing it’s no longer me against the fish. You are now focusing on them instead of what the fish are telling you.

What happened to Skeete. All anglers limited except for him. He blanked. Just curious if something happened.

I have never thought of a brush hog as a beaver style bait. Rodents, sweet beavers, d-bombs, Wooly bugs, all seem like the same bait with no action. Good for colder water situations and jig trailers in cold water as well. For warmer water flipping and pitching I grab a Pit Boss.

IMO a spook is more of a fish catcher than a plopper. I would even go so far to say a popper is more productive than the whopper plopper. I’ll have to give it a little more water this year. I try not giving into hyped lures. It’s usually just attributed to good marketing.

Very informative discussion thus far. Thanks!

I'm wondering if anyone has fished bedded bass with a spotlight at night. I read a few articles or maybe it was in the book Sowbelly, I can't remember it's been a long time about those fellers in California that were chasing the world record. They were fishing trolling motor only lakes and if I recall were renting boats at these lakes and would race to their spots to beat the competition. Not sure if I got my info exact but it went something like this. These guys were hardcore record chasers and it was a very interesting read. What I'm wondering is if these fish would have been easier to catch under the cover of darkness? Or do they leave there beds at night?

I remember at one time big bass specialist Mike Long was gonna write a book, does anyone know if he ever did.

i you think you have enough tackle and rods time to get a boat.

I can't emphasize enough, fish with an experienced fisherman. A good fisherman, a great one is even better. Id pick an experienced angler over books and the internet any day of the week and two times on Sunday.

That the beauty of fishing. You can spend as much as you want or as little. I have spent thousands of dollars on tackle and can tell you my most exspensive baits are not my most productive. I have twenty dollar Megabass poppers that have yet to catch a fish, fifteen dollar spy baits that have yet to catch fish and the list goes on and on. Granted these baits baits do catch fish and do have some that produce well but have many more that are fish less. The majority of my best days have been fishing cheap soft plastics. I have probably caught more fish on a simple grub than all others combined.

Yo Zuri's 3DB series, and the mega bass pop max I like in clear wAter situations. I do believe the realism of these baits illicit strikes when the water is clear. I have witnessed many a smallmouth slowly come up under a lure a take a closer look. You can't tell me realism in this instance doesn't help, certainly isn't gonna hurt. Stained water Pop-R.

The only fish I have ever seen belly up in the wild is a dead or dying one. Same goes for a live well. I honestly don't think I have ever seen a belly up fish recupe.

I think I knew that. Isn't that the guy the died shortly after in a plane crash?

Would love to see a "no-namer" win this thing just once.

Wow! Wasn't expecting that.

Can't stand using fluorocarbon fishing line.

Date of course, what hours of the day you were fishing, sky conditions, temp, wind speed, barometric pressure, water color, water temp, water level, lure you were using, color of it, how you were fishing it, cover being fished, structure being fished, or anything else that jumps out at you that particular day. For instance a mayfly hatch could influence what type of bait they were hitting that day. Or if you notice a carp spawn taking place can question you into what stage the bass spawn is in. I mentioned barometric pressure, of all the ones I listed IMO this is the least important. I have never been able to figure out any patterns based on this but still write it down. Moon phase is another. Journals can really start being helpful after you have kept them going for a few years. The more you fish the more helpful they are.

I owned a v-hull before I bought the bass boat that I have now. My decision was based on what species and the style of fishing I did the most. I fish primarily bass and walleye with a little musky and salmon thrown in. Regardless of what I'm fishing I like casting and liked the large front casting decks on a bass boat. Pros of a bass boat for me was the obvious casting deck. I like that you can put most tackle and rods under the floor instead of on it. More speed. You can get into extremely shallow water. Can get under low bridges. Pros of the deep v would be safety if you have small kids that will be fishing with you. Safer on big rough water. If you are a troller they have more options for mounting rod holders and other accessories on the rails. The ole man has a Ranger Reatta that IMO is THE best compromise on the market. Has a large casting deck. Handles great in rough water. Your not really fishing down in the boat as the sides seem to half way between a bass boat and your typical deep v. Would be tough to find one in the ten grand range though.

Just curious if this will be on Bassresources again this year? Anyone? @Glenn

I have both versions and have fished the smaller version more than the larger. Have had very little luck with the smaller version fishing for smallies, which I thought would murder this thing. I did catch one on it if I recall. Really haven't tried it on largemouth yet. IMO its a very well made bait, has a unique sound and should catch fish. I actually threw the smaller version quite a bit wanting to catch something on it just wasnt happening for me.

Do you have room for one pump? One pole will hold that boat more than well enough. I have one pole on an 18 ft Skeeter and have never had a problem with it holding.