***I’m currently on day two of Stage 3 so please don’t name the winner. 
 

Something I’ve noticed alot in watching every BPT event over the last 3 seasons is that many of the top guys are using the exact same bait each tournament. 
 

Example: in Florida they were almost all using Chatterbait. This tournament on lake Murray they are almost all using flukes. 
 

So my question is, are they all that good to coincidentally pick up the same bait, or do you think there’s some behind the scenes (and against the rules) talking amongst friends to help each other out?

 

 

PS- I know someone is going to say well Mark Davis throws a c-rig and Chris Lane won with a stick-o, etc. etc. etc. 

I’m just saying, Lake to lake, many of the same top guys are throwing the same thing as each other every time. 

Also on another note, I crack up every time Nick Lebrun catches one and says “that Hayabusa tb3098643 really did the job”

 

 

I don’t actually know the numbers he says but he always says the entire model number of whatever hook he’s using. 

Info. from locals and fishing certain bodies multiple times informs them on what will/might work on a particular lake. There’s bound to be overlap in their choice of potential baits to throw. I don’t think it’s odd that many of them would come to the same conclusion that a spinnerbait, fluke, chatterbait etc.. is what is working the best during particular tournament. I’ve seen tournaments when they were all catching fish using a wide variety of baits/techniques.

 

34 minutes ago, NavyToad said:

from locals

I thought you are not permitted to do this? Or am I thinking of the wrong tournament? 

4 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

I thought you are not permitted to do this? Or am I thinking of the wrong tournament? 

You’re not. But doesn’t mean It doesn’t happen. 

3 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

I thought you are not permitted to do this? Or am I thinking of the wrong tournament? 

I think you’re right. Pretty hard to enforce - are they going to tap phones and monitor emails? In either case, I think it’s logical that several pros could/would at times end up using the same bait.

Just now, NavyToad said:

I think you’re right. Pretty hard to enforce - are they going to tap phones and monitor emails? In either case, I think it’s logical that several pros could/would at times end up using the same bait.

I think they do random polygraphs for this.

 

I know they are competing against each other during the tournament. That also doesn’t mean they don’t talk at the end of the day. 

I think the anglers are allowed to go back and look at previous events and do research from there. I think that helps a lot. 

 

Also I think for Murray in particular the fluke made sense with the herring stuff going on. However there are still guys like KVD will crank em or jerk em to a decent finish. 

Is it ever a spinnerbait? Asking for a friend 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Is it ever a spinnerbait? Asking for a friend 

Not often. Jason Christie likes to throw one. 

Chatterbaits in FL and flukes on a east coast herring lake are about as 'bread and butter' as bass fishing gets....I don't think any of them needed to be told about that stuff.  

 

Not saying they don't talk to each other and do research within the rules...but unless it was like all of the top-10 using some odd-ball technique I think you can chalk it up to them just being bass fisherman and figuring the same things out.