BassNJake

My guess is that there are 0 pro's that would throw away their chance at $120,000 to help their marshal win the $2500. Plus kicked off tour, loss of sponsors and the black cloud that would forever be over their heads if they were caught. Too much to lose on the Pro's side to be involved with something shady. That being said there will always be someone that tries to cheat.

FLW released its 2019 schedule and had a press conference detailing the rule changes. There will be no co-anglers in 2019 they will be replaced with marshals. The marshals will be eligible to win prizes based on the pro's they are paired with. One marshal will win a new ranger at the end of the year. Flw will also go to a qualifying system in 2020 to select the 150 pro's instead of the current priority entry system they use now. More details at FLW . Thoughts ......?

Awesome way to spend any day!!

I'm in my mid 40's and this is my everyday life. It's like a scavenger hunt where you are searching for distractions to keep you from your original task.

You can add me to the addict list. My topwater of choice is a buzz-n toad of some sort. One Saturday I spent my morning trying to figure out where the fish would be based on seasonal patterns, water temp and current conditions. I managed 4 fish in the 4 hours I was out. One was about 3.5 lbs on got on a jig. On my way to the boat ramp I got the idea to skip a horny toad around the docks. I had a 14 inch fish absolutely crush that toad and give me quite the aerial display on the way to the boat. Later, all I could think about was the topwater fish. So the next day, I spent my 4 hours throwing that horny toad down the shore and past every piece of cover I came across. I only caught 4 fish but they were all glorious topwater smashings. I haven't looked back since.

You could then try a buzzing toad along the same edgeline. The rage tail shad(although not very durable) is the one with the biggest thump followed by the rage tail toad. My personal favorite is the Keitech noisy flapper.

I cant speak for the warpig, but one of my favorite techniques is to grind an X-calibur along the bottom. The paint and the eyes did chip off and I used the hard as nails and after one trip that was ground away as well. I also tried devcon epoxy and nope that didn't work either. But what would when your slowly grinding the lure against rocks? The ones that are a little beat up seem to be the ones I have the most confidence in and they seem work the best for me.

I have had success fishing both mornings and night but my preference is mornings. I love the peacefulness that the morning brings. I like to be on my starting spot as the sun is coming up, so I put in when its dark. Then I get to enjoy the birds chirping as the morning sun brings life to the lake. Fishing is a spiritual experience for me. Having a fish blow up on topwater as the sun rises above the TN mountains is about as good as it gets for me.

I have done this before when I would really try to get a long cast. It almost seemed as if I was creating a whipping effect with the line and by the time it gets to the knot it would snap the line and send my lure flying. Slightly adjusting my casting motion solved this issue. Every now and then I'll try bombing a crankbait and this will still happen.

I take out a bag of trash with me everytime I leave the lake. The fact I can fill a bag each time is sad.

I agree not to start too light. It is much easier to control something heavier 5/8 - 3/4 than it is with 1/8 or 3/16. I'd also start with shorter casts as the ones that you try to really launch will be the ones that blow up the worst. It's really just about practice and more practice.

I read somewhere and I think it was FLW pro David dudley that said, after catching a fish you should be able to give a book report on it. What time, what depth, water color, water temp, weather conditions, where on the lake(up river, mid lake , down by the dam) specific location(west bank on a bluff wall, hump near river channel) ... ... .. As much as I try I often forget all these details from the fish before.

Second guessing is a part of learning for me. I've kinda developed a system that works for me most days and utilizes how I like to fish. I try to break it down by water column: shallow, mid depth and deep. Next is if they want it moving or something slow. I always try to get the buzz toad bite going as I go early mornings to about noon. As I'm running down the shoreline I can usually tell if there is bait shallow. Little flicks of baitfish, ripples near cover, bluegills in and around their beds, swirls in the water as I pass by... ... If I see this action shallow I will probably stay in the skinny water as i will run into some feeding fish I'll run a section of shore with the toad, turn around come back thru flipping targets and if needed I'll toss a wacky rig. If I'm not seeing the bait shallow, I'll turn around and come back down the shore fishing the 7-12 foot range with crank, spinner or chatterbaits and/or a jig, texas rig. I'll either try to get a reaction bite out of a moving lure or slow down. When I fish deeper than 12 feet I'm using my sonar to try and find the fish. then I'll start with deep diving crankbaits, swimbaits and will slow down with a drop shot, shakey head , jig or carolina rig.

You will backlash and when that happens a crochet needle is what I found to be the best tool to use. They are cheap and have a rounded point so it wont dig between braid and some have a pointed end. Can be found in the craft section of Walmart or stores like Joanne Fabrics or Michael's and of course online. https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Bates-Silvalume-Handi-Tool/dp/B00FUN2KQE

I have a 36 volt Maxxum 101 and have never thought; I wish I had less power.

^^^^ This can also be done with other lures as well: stroking a jig and cracking a tube are phrases used for that technique with those respective baits.

I saw this before and am amazed by it each time. I am pretty proficient at skipping but only when I can see the target. The target is behind the center of the boat and he's standing on a cooler 40+ feet away. I think the most impressive thing is that nobody is holding an adult beverage. These are the types of shenanigans I'd expect to see from guys sitting around a garage drinking.

Judging by the picture you included it looks as if there is a rock retaining wall all around the parking area. Try fishing parallel to the retaining wall.(I like to start right up against it and then work my way out) You can do this with a variety of lures: spinnerbait, buzzbait, senko Also when I looked at the map there looks like a long wall leading to a bridge. These causeways are also good places to throw a lure parallel to the edge. good luck and keep at it!!

It's all about the money. The Orange county tourism dept pays a bunch of money to BASS to be the host. The fans turn out huge which is appealing to the sponsors.

I've got a 52 inch Minn Kota maxxum and like BrianinMD explained I just raise it up a little and gotta watch when casting. I'll fish rough water at times and like that my trolling motor stays in the water even in big waves

Local baitshops are where i would start first. Often there will be flyers or the staff would know about tourneys on those local lakes. You could try to find local bass clubs, some clubs have co-anglers which fish from the back of the boat. This is a great way to learn and gain experience. B.A.S.S and FLW are the 2 largest tournament trails for pros. Flw has lower levels: the Costa series and the BFL series. A lot of guys start at the BFL level and will move up to the Costa series with hopes to one day fish FLW. There is also the Bass Nation organization that has clubs all over the US. http://www.massbassnation.org/

You should get a free pass anytime you want if you gotta watch Jersey Shore

There is also a crowd of bass fishing guys that have the money to own a new boat with the latest in electronics and gadgets. They fly up and down the lake doing more driving than fishing. They just lack the skill and the passion to do well. Tourneys need donors like these guys.

The water is up about a foot and a half above full pool. LMB seem to be scattered from inches of water to 30 ft deep. I went both days this weekend caught a good LMB and a SMB on a deep hump that meets the main channel using a drop shot.(Palmers Junction) I fished that hump for about 3 hours and only managed the 2 bass but was marking a bunch with my sonar. I caught more fish in the Lost Creek area but they were smaller.(few from docks and points leading out towards main lake) Got ran off the main lake area between Loyston Sea and Lost Creek pretty early Sunday because of the pleasure boaters/jet skiers, I was marking a bunch a fish so that was a bummer. Gonna start out in the Loyston Sea area next week to see if I can t get on some before it gets too crazy out there.

People often distort their weights, I bought a scale to remove all doubt ... for both on the water and off