nwgabassmaster

I will have an interview with Mr. Wade Middleton, from San Antonio, Texas, coming here in a few days. He has a tournament that he is directing with ***, I believe. Just waiting for him to get back to me with the answers to the questions. As I said, Ish has kindly agreed to do another interview. I am thinking that I might ask him to do a 3 or 4 part interview. If you all would be interested, post some of the questions that you would like to ask him, and I will put some of them in the next interviews to come. Thanks, John P.

I believe that I heard the same thing, but I am not sure if that it's true. Even if it was, Gary is a great guy. In 2001, I met him at the ATL BPS. Although I doubt that he remembers it, I talked to him for a good hour, about the lures and stuff, and he was very up front, very honest, and very nice. That was several decades ago, and this is the 21st Century.

In clear water, yes, it can. I consider clear water anything that is visible down to around 5 ft. I have seen bass come up and chase a certain color buzzbait, and not hit it, and then, follow it up with another color, and they tear it all to pieces. So, yes, even though it's a reaction lure, color can play a part.

Technically, nothing. However, it is mainly just a reaction type lure. It makes so much noise, and it goes so fast, the bass do not have time to think about it. They have to jump on it, or pass up a free meal. You can get the colors to mimic any type of forage, from shad to sunfish, to smaller bass.

Over the past few weeks, I have been fortunate enough to slowly develop a working friendship with Mr. Ish Monroe, from California. He gave me the great honor of conducting an online interview with him, so that he would be able to answer the questions as his own pace and in his own time. After much anticipation, the interview is complete, and luckily for me, he has agreed to do it again, down the road. So, I hope that you all enjoy this, and that you get an insight into Ish Monroe as a person, and as an angler. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. What exactly do you contribute to the sudden rise that we have seen from you? Can you contribute any part of it to the use of the Sweet Beaver from Reaction Innovations? Well, first of all, our tour season has changed to the spring, and I seem to fair well at that time of year. And yes, the Sweet Beaver is one of my keys to success. It's one of my favorite baits. 2. It has been said that you are switching from Skeeter Boats, in sponsorship, to Ranger Boats. First off, is this true? Secondly, can you divulge the reasons for the switch? And lastly, what can you say to the people that believe that it's a huge mistake, and that you should have stayed with Skeeter? Yes, I have switched to Ranger boats. My reason for the switch was strictly a business decision on my part. Well, Ranger has and always will be #1 in the industry, and the opportunities that are available, i.e., Ranger Cup, FLW, Ranger M1 Owners Tournament $1,000,000 Corporate wraps, are astounding. There is no mistake if you are trying to make a living at professional angling. You have the opportunity to write your own check. And tell me who would not want to fish for $1,000,000. Skeeter could never offer that. 3. When it comes to the Sweet Beaver, how do you fish it? I know that I read an article that described a particular rig that you setup to use for bedding bass, but is that the only way that you fish it? Which colors produce better than the rest, and which sizes do you use most often? I fish the Sweet Beaver many different ways. I flip it, I pitch it, C-rig it you name it, any way you fish a plastic, you can fish a Sweet Beaver. My most favorite color is Sprayed Grass. I also use Penetration a lot as well. The regular Sweet Beaver 4.20 is the size I use the most, but the smallie and doublewide I also use very often. 4. Can you please describe the trials and tribulations that you have encountered while trying to make your ways to the elite ranks of professional bass fishing? Certainly, there were those that said that you were crazy, that trying to be a professional fisherman was not a way to make a living, etc. Also, tell us about those that did stand by your side, and have always lent their support. The biggest trial and tribulation would have to be to leave home for 6months, where you don't get to see your friends and family. My father supported me and stood by me, but at the same time he let me learn life and how things are. I do have a lot more support from family members and friends that did not support me in the past. 5. In the 2005 Classic, we saw that you did not do too well. As an openly admitting fan of yours, it's hard to believe that the Classic was won with less than 12 lbs. of weight, and that so many anglers zeroed out. Can you pinpoint the reasons why the fishing was so difficult? Also, are you now able to look back on the tournament, and see how you might have done things differently, so that you could catch fish? And with the BASS Master's Classic now being moved to the first tournament of the season, and it being on Lake Toho, can you tell use how the two Classic will be different? Are you willing to make a claim of where you think that you will finish? The water quality in Pittsburgh has been so poor for many years that the fish are now just starting to make a come back. They will have a good fishery in 4 or 5 years if they continue to clean the rivers. There is nothing that I would have done differently. I went for the win and I was unfortunate to have a local angler sitting on my spot each day of the competition catching fish before I got there. The difference between the 2 Classics is that the Toho classic will have 5 fish stringers bigger that the total weight of the Pittsburgh Classic. And it will be a great venue with Mickey Mouse right around the corner. Well, I think I am going to fair well in the event considering most of my finishes there have been in the Top 20, but I am shooting for the win! 6. As a professional fisherman, especially being one that seems to be openly talkative with anglers from all walks of life, and differing backgrounds, what is the most common thread of questioning that you receive? Does it revolve around how to be a better tournament angler, how to become a professional, or how to gain sponsorships? How to gain sponsors would have to be the most commonly asked question. And the answer is to tell the sponsor what you are going to do for the and not ask what can they do for you. 7. What can we expect from Ishama Monroe in the future? Admittingly, you obviously want to win the Classic, and probably the Angler of the Year title. With each year bringing tougher competition, do you see yourself being able to step up and bring the titles home? I am not sure. I believe that I am capable of bring both those titles home, but I want more than just one of each.

Definetly jigs. I have a lot more confidence in jigs, than I do with tubes. I have never really had real good luck with your run of the mill tubes. I have, however, had great success with the NetBait Baby Paca Craw, which is a craw mimic that is made into a tube. I have fished jigs for 7 years now. As I said, just a confidence thing.

Sweetwater. I have fished the State Park that you mentioned. Only once though. I caught a few bass from it. If you get the chance, drop me an e-mail at americanbasser@aol.com Look forward to talk to you later.

I do not necessarily agree with that. I have several popping style lures, and I feel that they are meant to mimic a dying baitfish. The colors represent what baitfish that they represent. I have ones that look like shad, some that look like bluegills, and a couple that look like small bass. So, saying that all of them mimic bluegills is not a correct statement.

Yes. I fish them with a weight most of the time, but I don't do it with a pegged bullet weight. I actually peg the sinker about 5-6 inches above the Senko. I use the 5 inch version here. This gives the image that something is movingo along the bottom, since the weight is ahead of the lure, and then, you have the lure behind the weight. It catches a lot of bass. It's something different than most people give them to look at. I also have fished them on a jighead, and caught quite a few on the 4 inch version.

The only thing that determines what I use is the cover that I am fishing. If I am fishing around wood, I use the buzzbait or the popper. If it's thick wood cover, it's the buzzbait, and if it's thinner, it's the popper. For weeds, I fish a Spook, frog, or rat. For open water fishing, I use the Spook exclusively. If I notice any forage base around any type of cover, I am liable to switch up to a weightless fluke, and fish it around all of the above.

Last time I checked, there was a slit where the hook was supposed to go. Unless, Ole Uncle Josh has changed his tune, I would think that they would still be there. Besides, I use ZOOM trailers, for all the jig trailer needs, and I have not had a single problem from them in cold, warm, or hot water. ;D

First, I sincerely believe in supporting the members of this website with the products that they produce. It helps them out, and if the product is good, it gets them good reviews, and you will tell friends about them. So, with that being said, please do not hate on me because I am suggesting an outside producer. :-X I firmly believe in the spinnerbaits and jigs that Retriever Lures ( www.retrieverlures.com ) produces. I was once on their PS, and although the break-up was not as pleasant as it could have been, I still believe in their products, and use their spinnerbaits to this day. I would use the jigs, but, I have broke all of them off, and I have not had the means to order anymore, yet. ;D The spinnerbaits have a light wire, and are comparable to Terminator spinnerbaits, in the way that the frame "bounces back" after being abused. No, they are not made of titanium, but the frame is true right from the package, and it runs excellent. Give Mike a shout, as the prices for the different sizes and different colors are on the website, and I am sure that you will like the products that you receive. Also, there are Heavy Cover spinnerbaits, ( www.heavycover.com ) Although these spinnerbaits look good, they are, in my opinion, not worth the materials that they are made of. According to the maker, they are supposed to come through HEAVY COVER, thus the name of the company, however, the spinnerbaits are made with a short arm. I have read in 3 different magazines, BASS Master, NAFC, and Field and Stream, that for fishing spinnerbaits in heavy cover, the arm should be long. So, sounds like a rip-off story to me. :-/

I use Zoom Finesse Worms almost exclusively with this rig. Different colors have produced more than other, such as the pumpking out performing Icicle. I use just a regular split-shot. They are fairly inexpensive, and work just as well as the drop-shot weights. I normally leave just a span of 10 in. between the weight and the hook, and I fish it around rocks more than weeds. Of course, I have fished it up and channel ledge, and did well. ;D ;D

Hey Phool, I use the Baby Paca Craw almost exclusively. I use it on a 2/0 EWG hook with a 3/16 oz. weight. Nothing sweeter! ;D If you are fishing water with moving water, I would up the weight to just enough to keep in contact with the bottom.

DBN........I appreciate the offer to come down. Like you, I do not have a boat. And right now, it does not seem that I will be getting one soon, either. Bass Hammer, I fish mostly the Rocky Mountain Project in Armuchee, Georgia, and Lake Weiss, which is over in Alabama. Part of it is in Georgia, and I have fished that 2 times in my lifetime. The last time I went, I caught 3 bass, on a T-rigged Zoom Finesse Worm, after part of the last hurricane came through, and dropped about 3 inches of rain. If either of you want to come up and fish, just let me know. I am available on most Saturdays and Sundays.

DirtyBirdNation, Yup, I know exactly what you are referring to. I have fished it a couple of times, but never enough to actually learn anything about it. ;D I am just north of ya, in Trion. Maybe we could get together, and fish sometime. I sent ya a message. Thanks.

What was really sad is that, All-Star would not honor the old warranty. That is, because I did not have the receipt, and I did not have the warranty card, they would not replace the rod. :-[ So, I am now going to start using Castaway Rods, once I am able to purchase them. ;D

I consider fry anything that is 1 cm long, up to 1/2 in. long. If it's bigger, then, I consider it just a school of that year class. ;D Just my thoughts.

Man, that's the truth. I use Watermelon Pepper in the Baby Paca Craw, and murder the bass. The action of the lure is unreal, not to mention the scent. Gotta watch out for the catfish also. 2nd time using them, I caught a 4 and 8 lb. channel cat, and the 3rd time using it, I busted my All-Star rod that I got 7 years ago, setting the hook on a 55 lbs. channel cat!

They are, but the problem that I find is that the fish seem to run up to it, and then, leave it alone. The 1/4 oz. spinnerbaits that I use, I fish them fast through the school, which gets the fish turned on. And if the fish short-strikes the lure, I will throw it back, and then fish it fast, and kill it where I got the strike. 9 times out of 10, the bass will kill the spinnerbait. Another great lure to use is a fluke. This will really tick a big bass off. I caught my 2nd largest this spring, when I was fishing beds. I caught a 6 lbs. 3 oz. hawg.

Hands down, the metal jigging spoon. ??? Puzzled? A lot of people do not use these anymore. However, if you get the weedless versions, you will be able to get it down there, and will be able to knock the fish upside their heads. Other than that, I would go with bright colored soft plastics, on a T-rig.

Thanks, but that could take a while. LOL ;D I have been a member of several other forums, but the majority of the people were located in one central location. Here, it seems that there is a mish-mash of folks all over the place. I know of 3 others from Georgia, and one from RI.

If I hadn't of talked to you earlier, I would think that you were crazy! Bass fry, this late in the year! LOL ??? However, I know where you are from, and although it does seem a little late for the fry to be swimming around, I believe that you are using something that is too big. Normally, when I see a school of fry, I fish a small spinnerbait through it. I use colors that would mimic a bluegill 75% of the time. So, that is what I would tell you to do. Also, try a deeper diving crankbait. Hope this helps. ;D

I would like to get in touch with the anglers that are from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennesse, however, I would also like to get to know the rest of you. I am a peson that believes that one person can never have too many friends, especially when it comes to fishing friends. So, let me know where you are from! I am from Georgia, in case you did not read my introduction. I live in a small town called Trion. It's about 2 hours north of ATL.

Just to add to this, I have started using the Zoom Finesse Worms, which are 6 inches in length. The person that I fished a tournament with in March, on Lake Hartwell, on the GA/SC border used them on a C-rig to catch the 3 fish that we weighed in. As it was said, there is not a right or wrong lure. Just experiment, and see what works for you. ;D