That's awesome @IYAOYAS, and I can't recommend going to an Elite Series weigh in enough, it really makes you appreciate the sport we love even more because of how genuinely nice and approachable these anglers are.

 

BMP after losing the Lay Lake Elite event a few years ago on a dead fish penalty made time to talk with me.   You can go anywhere you want, nothing is off limits, you can go around back and watch the guys in the weigh in line, you can wait after and talk to any angler you want, it's complete and total access for the fans.    Can't think of another pro sport where you can approach and talk with the pros so easily as pro fishing.   

On 4/28/2025 at 10:39 AM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Haha, I actually asked him on facebook if he went back and tried to catch it.   

 

Doing the math on the move where he gambled and released the 2.5lb male.........it cost him $7500, he would have ended up in 2nd but instead finished 4th.  He dumped a 2.5lb fish for a 12oz fish.  

 

I don't blame him on that move because he was already pot committed to that fish and strategy that late in the day, but not leaving that fish mid day was the move that cost him it seems.  

Lol, Drew went back the next day and tried to catch that big bed fish but it was gone.    If that's not personal, I don't know what is.    Great listen about all this on Mercer's most recent podcast. 

 

He also said he could have caught 13lbs no problem offshore as he had a great spot for it, and caught them on Monday there.    

 

Not to take anything away from Paul Marks, but Drew clearly lost this derby instead of Marks winning.    

 

I can't remember seeing an angler lose an event because of being stubborn, but this was a clear case of that.