Zach Dunham

As much as it sucks, I'm pretty sure it is just a result of him being an unknown guy. There is definitely no bias against northern anglers. Mike Iaconelli is from the north and he's constantly covered even though he hasn't done anything in years now.

Smithwick Suspending Rogues are $5-$7 depending on where you buy them and they work great.

I use the Sculpin on a drop shot and it works pretty well. Sometimes I throw the straight tail worm that way also but I usually throw that on a shaky head.

I've never seen one bigger than 10 lbs before, that thing is SICK!

Strike King KVD Sexy Dog, since I live in smallmouth country!

You just have to cast differently with different lines and lures. Change the settings on the reel you are using if needed. But as other said, in general you have to use a bit more pressure with fluorocarbon. I rarely backlash any of my reels and the only time it does happen is when throwing something really light (like a weightless senko), but even then it is rare.

What are your favorite bait scents and why? I used to use various sprays, but I just picked up some Fish Stix. I want to at least try them out; my logic being that since they are a solid (or viscous paste) that it will stay on the bait better, but I could be wrong.

This definitely has to do with casting motion. The same thing applies to casting certain Jerkbaits far. You have to have a smoother acceleration and a side-arm cast and just a tiny bit more line pressure to get them pointing straight. If you get a Jerkbait "helicoptering" you are asking for backlash.

Those things are SICK!! Makes me want to get a replica of my next giant. By the way, I see that box of Captain Crunch Peanut Butter, best stuff ever.

I love the Koppers Live Target crankbaits in the crawfish colors for smallmouth.

People may dislike me for saying this, but I really like the Wright & McGill Skeet Reese swimbait rod. 7'6" Med-Fast.

Sorry, but the average angler does not have to put up with being surrounded by and followed by a flotilla of 100 boats that are all trying to see what you are doing.

All of those things get taken into account and many other variables. The most obvious variable is warmer weather. Genetics matter a lot as well. The genetics of the fish in a lot of the California lakes are a combination of different strains of bass from different areas of the country. Putting a diverse gene pool into a lake is extremely important. Amount of forage and available space go hand-in-hand. A place with a lot of space and not a lot to eat will not hold large numbers. The reason the Great Lakes hold so many huge smallmouth is because they are loaded with gobies and other favorite treats. You can have a lake the size of Erie with limited food and I can guarantee you the bass will be limited. A lot of lakes go through cycles; for a few years any given lake may be a "big fish" lake and then it may transition into a numbers lake and back again over some more years and so on.

They tried that already and it folded because most people don't care to watch it. You know they are competing against mostly second-rate anglers. There are a few women that might be good enough to make it in real pro bass fishing, but not enough of them to make a quality tournament series. I would personally rather see one qualify for the elite series the RIGHT way, not the Danica Patrick way.

I caught a very large striper on a spinnerbait on my first cast of the day in a tournament about a year and a half ago. Unfortunately I did not take the time to weigh it. Also, I caught a 7+ lb walleye in a night tournament on a tube, and a 10 lb channel cat on a tube in a different night tournament.

Cabelas selection is very limited brand-wise. Bass Pro Shops is not my favorite place to go either. Honestly, Tackle Warehouse is the greatest thing ever. Occasionally I will go and buy some stuff at Dick's Sporting Goods. Their customer service is much better.

He clearly said the line is secondary. He means the line doesn't matter as much as people think. The reason they don't use braid while cranking is partly because of stretch but it is also partly due to the fact that braid can fray when rubbing on rocks and whatnot. FC is much more resistant to that.

And this is why I said we should wait to pass judgment on Mr. Howell! I think this new lure is an interesting concept. I don't think it would make you go from catching nothing to catching a ton, but I don't see why it might not make you catch a few more if you already found a nice spot and were catching them.

I pretty much fish exclusively Red-Eye Shads. I have multiple of them in almost every color.

Aaron Martens, because he is the best when conditions are the toughest. I also think he is the most intelligent.

I eat a big breakfast, I love breakfast, no matter how early I get up. I will drink a lot of gatorade and water and maybe bring a Clif Bar and a half a sandwich. Clif Bars will keep your stomach happy.

Wait...FLW banned it now too?

ALABAMA RIG (year?)

SUPER BLACK BASS on SNES. Also, I LOVED those hand held fishing games where you actually had to set the hook physically.