My favorite article in Bassmaster Magazine is 'A Day on the Lake with a Pro'. I love the breakdown of how a professional angler finds fish, where he found fish, and what baits he uses (vital info for tournament preparation). There are certain baits that I feel don't make much of a difference (plastics for the most part), and baits I do feel make a difference (hard baits). Baits a pro uses that are not part of that particular pro's sponsor group peak my interest the most. He more than likely doesn't pay what we pay for them (connections are connections), but he doesn't get them for free...and the fact he feels he needs them says something to me). Lucky Craft sticks out in my mind the most of course, due to non-sponsored pros continually throwing the Pointer and RC series. The most recent example would be Aaron Martens on Guntersville, who threw the RC2.5DD to a win. Not only is Aaron not sponsored by Lucky Craft, but Lucky Craft is the main competitor of his sponsor, Megabass. Also, Kevin Short just won on the River with a WEC E1, a custom crankbait made by Ed Chambers. Most of the Elite Series events have anglers fishing the same areas....this is the case more and more. If you are sharing a stretch of bank, ledge, or hump....the bait can be the 'dash of tabasco' that puts you in the lead. Anybody else pay attention to this?

Before a war happens...I do feel plastics can make a difference, but there are far less expamples.  Most often, a pro can get by with what his sponsor supplies him.  All my ribbon tail worms perform the same.  The noted execptions I have (there are more I'm sure) are the Senko (even KVD was seen last year with a bag of Senkos on his deck), the Sweet Beaver, and the Paca Craw.

A pro is going to throw whatever he thinks it takes to win money. A sponsor is just a company that pays them to wear the logo. Megabass does not care if he throws LC's or Beetle spins, as long as he's on the podium holding the trophy and is wearing a Megabass jersey.

A pro is going to throw whatever he thinks it takes to win money. A sponsor is just a company that pays them to wear the logo. Megabass does not care if he throws LC's or Beetle spins, as long as he's on the podium holding the trophy and is wearing a Megabass jersey.

Correct.  I find it refreshing when an angler like Aaron states he won the tournament on a Lucky Craft.  There are countless BASS wins that an Elite angler credits an 'unknown' crankbait or creature bait.  If you watched that event with Martens, we got a good shot of his deck with all his rods laid out.  He had at least 8 rods rigged with sexy shad crankbaits; a Strike King series 5 and 6, a Fat Free Bomber, a DD22, and the RC among others.  

I will say that it is refreshing to see that but it does not happen all that much. I have been able to get to know several of the Elite and FLW pros because of my relationship with a certain company which I will remain nameless. Several of these pros have won and get up on the stage and say they won with the sponsors bait. TV coverage shows that was not the case. One pro even one a MAJOR TOURNAMENT with a certain bait and even had them brought to them by the owner and after he won said he won on a sponsors bait. I understand they need to protect the dinner table but I would rather them just be honest and say I found a bait that worked better on that given day or days than pad the pocket. Just my thoughts.

By the way most sponsors do care. If a bait wins a classic or a major than equates to millions of dollars in product sales because...yes we are suckers.

It is good that they will admit what they used.

In a past life, I was told many times if I put too much tape over a particular athlete's shoe, and covered the logo, I had to stencil on a new logo so as not to irk the sponsor. Another sad example are pro golfers, if they use a club other than their primary, they try very hard to keep it a secret (example Phil Mickelson's driver a few years back).

You can do whatever you want, ultimately, ya still gotta find the fish.

By the way, anybody seen any fish lately? Mine all seem to be on summer vacation.

Twitch

A light definitely goes off when I hear of a non sponsored pro using a certain bait over a similiar one that fits their sponsor portfolio.  I know that the bait they are using has to have a certain quality that puts fish in the boat.  In the Aaron Martens situation, I would much rather them give credit where credit is due instead of the old cop out "It is a prototye we are working on w/ XYZ company."  The worst example was when George Cochran won the Guntersville BASS event on what was obviously a Pointer 100 but claimed it was a Strike King product.  

One of the best series they ever put in that magazine. It reaffirmed for me that I was doing things right when it came to strange lakes or lakes I wasn't very familiar with. The methodology of how the pro's would work a lake with no previous experience on it is a how to strategy guide for how any weekend angler could approach any lake and catch fish on a pretty consistent basis.

Great topic IMO.

I have to admit I dont believe a single pro when he discusses lures and brands on TV and in some mags...other than my own experience.

The folks here I do believe. One of the best things about this site.

I guess that makes me somewhat of a cynic...which Im really not in general.

Mark

It happens it most sports. I go to the Masters here in Augusta every year and the majority of the golfers use stuff other than what they have on there bag.

A example of this in fishing 2 years ago the classic winner said he was fishing a prototype of a Booyha jig. We all know he was fishing a Mop Jig made by Buckeye but they don't pay him so he goes on the stage and says he took the rubber off the mop and put it on the proto type head. Whatever.

Yeah "day on the lake" is my favorite mag and tv series.

I also get interested when a pro says he's catching them on a non-sponsor bait.

But ya know what, despite how close many of the baits are, one brand may have an edge over another under certain conditions due to the slight difference in there construction (color, salt content, softness, scent, etc.)

For exampe,  and I know this might be sacreligious for some, but a couple weeks back I was actually catching more bass on a cheaper off brand imatation than I was on a GY senko rigged exactly the same.  Now that said, most of the time I'd agree that the GY is hands down the best.  But all depends on the action, fall rate, etc. that the fish find attractive on a particular day.  9 out of 10 times the "hot" bait (GY Senko, Sweet Beaver, etc)  might be the best choice but not the other 10%.

Its all in the details when it comes to winning at that level.

    Yes I agree that the "Day on the Lake" is a great and informative article, but aren't the WEC crankbaits part of the Zoom Bait Co.?

I think that the day on a lake is about the only thing worth reading in bassmaster anymore. I don't care what brands of lures they use, but where,the type and why. Lets say 3 boats are fishing a main-lake weededge. The first boat thru fishes a crankbait and gets nothing. The next boat is fishing a jig and he zeroes also. The third guy is using a worm and catches 4 fish. Was it the worm? Who knows? Maybe the fish weren't there when the first 2 boats went thru. Or maybe they didn't feel like eating. Was it the cloud that came over for #3, or rattles in his crankbait for #1, or not the right trailer for #2? I think it has more to do with luck (right time & place) than our choice of baits. jmho...later

It is good that they will admit what they used.

In a past life, I was told many times if I put too much tape over a particular athlete's shoe, and covered the logo, I had to stencil on a new logo so as not to irk the sponsor. Another sad example are pro golfers, if they use a club other than their primary, they try very hard to keep it a secret (example Phil Mickelson's driver a few years back).

You can do whatever you want, ultimately, ya still gotta find the fish.

By the way, anybody seen any fish lately? Mine all seem to be on summer vacation.

Twitch

Speaking of golf, Titleist originally had Tiger in their stable, but Nike made an offer he could not refuse.  Next time you see Tiger putting, pay attention to his putter.  The grip says PING, but the blade is a Titleist.

Just about any iron or metal wood can be bent or weighted to suit a golfers feel.  But a putter?  Apparently not.

Some golfers spend hundreds on drivers but skimp on the putter.  The pros put a much greater emphasis on their putter, Tiger being the prime example.

Depth and speed are primary; Gotta have that down. After that, action matters.

I pay a lot of attention to this as well. After tournaments, I check another site all the time looking for the winning patterns for the same reasons. I like the way they do it also. They ask the angler what made the biggest impact and it's always pretty easy to find out who's kissing butt to sponsors and who's really speaking the gospel.

It happens it most sports.

Several years ago Lance Armstrong rode a Litespeed titanium bike in the mountain stages of the Tour de France.  The bike had been painted with Trek colors and logo since Trek sponsored Lance's team.

At a tennis tournament years ago I sat next to John Lloyd while he removed the stripes from a pair of Adidas tennis shoes.  They didn't sponsor him and he didn't want to give them free advertising.

I have a Silver Buddy that Billy Westmoreland gave me.  He told me that he caught most of his smallmouth on that bait, but the company was too small to sponsor him so he didn't use it on the show.

It happens it most sports.

Several years ago Lance Armstrong rode a Litespeed titanium bike in the mountain stages of the Tour de France. The bike had been painted with Trek colors and logo since Trek sponsored Lance's team.

At a tennis tournament years ago I sat next to John Lloyd while he removed the stripes from a pair of Adidas tennis shoes. They didn't sponsor him and he didn't want to give them free advertising.

I have a Silver Buddy that Billy Westmoreland gave me. He told me that he caught most of his smallmouth on that bait, but the company was too small to sponsor him so he didn't use it on the show.

All those people had a fat wallet but NO heart!  Pityful!

.

In a past life

, Twitch

Hmmmmmmmmmmm in a past life????  

It is good that they will admit what they used.

In a past life, I was told many times if I put too much tape over a particular athlete's shoe, and covered the logo, I had to stencil on a new logo so as not to irk the sponsor. Another sad example are pro golfers, if they use a club other than their primary, they try very hard to keep it a secret (example Phil Mickelson's driver a few years back).

You can do whatever you want, ultimately, ya still gotta find the fish.

By the way, anybody seen any fish lately? Mine all seem to be on summer vacation.

Twitch

It's a shame that mostly honest guys have to lie to keep the bucks coming in.  I say to myself, "I would'n do that!"  but would I?  Under that kind of pressure, I don't know.

And by the way too, I have fished 22 hours in the last few days and caught two fish, one of which was a brim.  What in the heck is going on?  Usually, a finessed worm will pick up at least one an hour even on bad days.

Agreed, with info from forums like these it's tough to pick up a Bassmaster mag. However, I've found that BassWest is a pretty good read when I'm not online.

I feel the same about outdoor programming that is filmed on "private water." It's just not the same. I've learned a lot of good fish catching techniques from watching Honey Hole Outdoors, in which public water is fished the majority of the time.