Hope you had a bass-filled weekend! I finally got the boat restocked and in the slip. Took 10 more hours! No fishing yet but it's coming....

Went through a pile of tackle. If you work with high school anglers, especially in less well-heeled areas, please let me know. I have some barely used (if at all) baits, some in the package some not, that I'll be splitting up into boxes to send out. Gonna take me a few weeks to get to it though.

Saw these guys this weekend – great show once again. One highlight was them covering Skynyrd's "Poison Whiskey." Amazing! The closest I'll ever see to OG Skynyrd doing it: great Southern Rock band band, 3 guitars, keyboard player, good drummer, singer with the same range. 

Heads up that this MIGHT be the only BB email this week. Gonna try to get another one out, but I'll be tied up/down the rest of the week. We will be running stuff on social though!

Appreciate you reading and watching – have a good week and bless you!

Gitcha Blaster video fix here:

Is it me or doesn't it seem like Cole is in the hunt pretty regularly? Before his win this weekend, so far this season his best finish was a 16th at Ivie/Brownwood, TX. But last year he had a 3rd, a 7th and 2 4ths in a row to end the season. And in 2024 he had 2 top 10s.

Pretty dang solid for a guy who admits he doesn't fish a whole lot outside of pre-practice, practice and tourneys. Here's how he got his first red trophy.

Going in and practice

> "The #1 thing is I was gonna go and fish shallow. That's what I like to do, and my gameplan was to look for dirty water. It'd been getting some rain and stuff, so I knew there'd be some dirty water up the rivers.

> "I didn't see much of the lake. I basically spent all my practice up the White River – fishing up the War Eagle and the White both. That's where I spent all my time. I figured out as much as I could and went from there.

> "Obviously it's the spawn. You know you've got fish guarding fry, some fish spawning, not as many pre-spawn fish. Up in rivers those fish are a little more behind...[heavier pre-spawners] just helped tremendously. Wesley [Strader, who got 2nd] was catching the same kind of quality I was.

> "I was catching pre-spawn fish and fish that were just setting up to spawn.

> "I was targeting little channel banks, little spawning cuts and pockets – not deep water, anywhere from 3' and less. Banks with wood laying down on it, some were protected. ...50-100 yard sweet stretches.

> "You wanted a hard bottom, but most of that lake's got a hard bottom. it's a mountain lake so it's loaded with rock."

Tournament

> "We got a big storm on our off day. Day 1 I ran up there and and the water was just blown out. ...I dropped my bait in the water and couldn't even see it. It was just mud. So I went to plan B, which wasn't a great plan.

> "I ran outta there, got into some cleaner water, fished all day, struggled and ended up with 15 lbs.

> "The 2nd day I fished the 1st period and a half...then ran up there to check that water again. It started clearing up just a little bit, and that's when I smashed 45 lbs late in the day and made the Knockout Round.

> "[Day 3] I ran up there and had high hopes of catching them. I got on my best stretch and it was better than it was [the day before]. I had 35 lbs the 1st period...I had 45 lbs in 2.5-3 hours of fishing. I went practicing after that.

> "I stayed in that area and just expanded on it. I wanted to learn as much as I could within a couple-mile stretch of river [the War Eagle mostly, but also the White].

> "I was catching them swim-jigging...a lot of fish on a Strike King Thunder Cricket, some on a frog. The Knockout Round morning was when I really caught em...on a frog. The morning was little bit warmer.

> "The final day I had frost on my front dock...my main bait was a swim-jig.

> "[Day 4] I went to my best stretch...caught a couple on a frog right off the bat...but they were smaller fish, little bucks.

> "I picked up a swim-jig, and that's what I caught the majority of my fish on. I did mix in that Thunder Cricket.

> "It started off pretty good. I had a good 1st period...everything was going smooth. I had a couple good stretches saved...so they were fresh. I felt good about it and had a really good day of fishing.

> "I thought I pulled away with it but Wesley was just smashing them too. It ended up working out."

Baits

He said he only caught a few on the frog – by far the most weight was on the swim-jig and bladed jig.

> 1/4-oz Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jig – white with a white Strike King Scounbug, and gp with a gp Strike King Rage Bug, 50-lb Strike King Contra Braid, Lew's Custom Pro Reel (8.3), 7' 3" MH Lew's Custom Lite Magnum Hammer Rod.

> Why 1/4-oz: "I watch every one of them eat my bait – whenever I'm throwing a swim jig. If you think about it, up in real shallow water like that, those fish want to feed up. They don't want that bait down close to the bottom, in my opinion."

> 3/8-oz Strike King Thunder Cricket – b/b in dirtier water with a b/b Rage Bug, and white with white Rage Bug ("the Rage Bug keeps my bait up higher – I see a lot eat my ChatterBait too"), 20-lb Strike King Contra Fluoro, same reel but 7.5, same rod ("I use that rod for everything basically").

He said he was just casting to the bank and working it back. He pumps the swim-jig "a lot" – quick pauses with the reel.

Electronics

None:

> "I was fishing in 2' or less."

Shoutouts

> "Definitely my title sponsor R&L Carriers, and all my other sponsors. And my family, my wife and everyone."

Well I guess that works? 😁 Here we go:

1. What is R+L Carriers?

> "They're a big trucking brand...a big trucking company. They're based out of Wilmington, OH. A lot of the people that work there fish."

2. Since you went the college route [Bethel] and did real well there, are you at all surprised by the caliber of guys we see coming out of college now?

> "No I'm not at all. There's a lot of good anglers.

> "The sport's getting bigger. People are more involved, we know more about fish...I'm not surprised at all."

3. Since you're still pretty young and don't have kids, have you ever thought about fishing other MLF trails? [I asked this question because he doesn't fish a ton and has been doing real well.]

> "I would if I had enough sponsorship money...I might try to do that next year. Sometimes I don't know if I want to fish that much. I love deer-hunting, I've got some other side work I do. I run a small excavating business and stuff like that. I don't mind it.

> "When I'm home, I don't fish. I'm really not good enough to compete against those dudes. I don't put in as much time as most of those guys. I just feel like stuff's been going right.

> "Maybe I'm more open-minded in tournaments [from not fishing so much]. I don't know. I love it.

> "I thought about moving to Guntersville and I still might. When I went to college I fished every day, and once in a while I do miss that."

Bonus Q: Have you ever weighed more than 10 lbs on the OH River? 😁

> "Yes I have. Me and my dad I think weighed 14 one day or something. It's been forever. Dad, he was good out there. He had that figured out.

> "I think he and my brother weighed 16 one time, on a frog...a long time ago."

Man if that's true Cole's dad should be in the OH Bassin' Hall of Fame! 🤯

2nd: Wesley Strader

> 3/8-oz Z-Man JackHammer white/chartreuse with 'pearl white' Zoom Z-Craw Jr, and gp and Cali craw with 'tilapia' Zoom Z-Craw Jr, 18-lb Sunline Sniper, Trika Ti 100 (7:1), Powell 755CB Endurance Rod.

> 3/8-oz Epic double-willow Spinnerbait (4 and 3.5 blades) with Zoom Split Tail Trailer (pearl white), 16-lb Sunline Sniper, same reel, Powell 725CB Naked Rod.

> "Spinnerbait was fished around wood, and the ChatterBait on the flats and backs of pockets."

3rd: Banks Shaw

No deets but did get a pic:

4th: Zack Birge

> 3/8-oz Z-Man JackHammer with a white trailer, 20-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro, 8:1 reel, 7' 5" MH Alpha Angler Mag Rebound Rod.

> 5/16 white swim-jig with a white Strike King Rage Craw, 40-lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid (dark green), 8:1 reel, 7' 3" MH F Alpha Angler Zilla Rod.

> "Shallow isolated cover up the river, 1-3', mostly wood cover."

5th: Spencer Shuffield

> 6" Z-Man Jerk Shadz (smelt), 1/4-oz Queen Tackle Jighead, 15-lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid 9 (white) to 12-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro, 7' 3" ML Ark Reinforcer Spin Rod. "Suspended fish in 25-40'."

> Z-Man TRD Crawz (Canada craw), 1/4-oz Z-Man Pro Shroomz Head, 15-lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid 9 (white) to 12-lb Yo-Zuri T7 Fluoro, 7' 1" M Ark Reinforcer Spin Rod. "Pea gravel to chunk rock in 11-15'."

No FFS tourney. Congrats to NC's Cole Huskins who must have used literally every oz of his local knowledge to beat Kyoya Fujita by just 2 of those oz. Guess it was a Cole weekend after the previous Jacob weekend??

Hadn't heard of Cole so I looked him up – he fished the Opens in 2021-22 and didn't do amazing except at Norman in '21, where he got 3rd. This year Norman is the only Open he's fished so far, so he's batting 1,000.

Sounds like his main baits were a HideUp Coike Fullcast for catching cruisers, a Neko-rigged Berkley MaxScent Magnum Hitworm around dock poles and a Bloody Thumb Lures Wake Hammer:

He said:

> "God was looking after me today, He made me make the right decisions. He provides the opportunities for me. I give Him all the glory."

#stout brother! Now to the top 10's baits broken down.

Top 10 Baits Breakdown

Big hard swim/glide bait = 60%

Big soft swimbait = 40% – Jackall Vividus and Jackall DeadSlowler (kyoya baits), Berkley Nessie 7, Megabass Magdraft

Urchin = 30% – HideUp Coike Fullcast, Queen Purcupine, HideUp Coike Shrimp

Sight-fished = 30% – Zoom Z-Craw, Berkley MaxScent Stank Bug, Strike King Rage Bug

Neko rig = 20% – both Berkley MaxScent Magnum Hitworm

Buzzbait = 20% – both True South V Twin Double Buzzbait

Jig = 20%

10% each = Wake bait, Swim-jig, Wacky rig, Topwater walker, Flutter spoon, Shakey head

Shoutouts

1. The only other Elites to finish in the top 10 was KJ Queen (6th). Believe Norman is his home pond.

2. Guessing the whole jigs on docks deal wasn't on since Norman is known for that, but WV's Ed Powell (7th) was skipping this wild color combo jig under shallow docks:

Looks like it's black and red with a gp head and brush guard? With a white Berkley MaxScent Stank Bug as a trailer?? Amazing. Maybe those Norman bass need glasses lol.

1. Matt Arey withdraws from the '26 Elites

Got a lymphoma diagnosis and is gonna focus on that. Prayer folks, please pray for him. ✝️🙏

Quick story: Back when Zona and I did that Loudmouth Bass show, Matt was one of our camera boat drivers. WAY before he was an Elite.

2. Jamie Hartman also withdraws (again)

Jamie's had a rough go over the years, seemed to be wear and tear – believe mostly his back. Now it's his ribs. B.A.S.S. says it's "slipping rib syndrome," which sounds super painful and I bet is even more painful than it seems.

Prayer folks, please pray for Jamie as well. ✝️🙏

3. Jacob Walker uses that BaitFuel Stick on urchins too

Gitcha Stick here.

4. Randy Moss now involved in that B.A.S.S. vs MLF tourney

That World Bass Enterprises (WBE) Champions tourney this fall:

> ...Moss will team up with WBE ahead of "The Champions" to raise the profile of the sport of bass fishing and amplify an event that will include a $1.25 mil payout to the winning angler....

> Additionally, WBE will serve as the presenting partner of Moss' new bass fishing series "Chasing 10 with Randy Moss," which will debut on YouTube in the coming weeks.

> The first episode of "Chasing 10 with Randy Moss" will feature his former Minnesota Vikings teammates Cris Carter and Jake Reed, along with WBE Founder and CEO Brian Bird.

5. Berkley Lab Series Minnow already sold out on TW

But they still have som of the Lab Series Finesse Worm. Lab Series Flat Worm also sold out.

6. BassMooch DID come out with Hank Cherry's grub

Only in 3" and the color he fished – chart/silver flake.

7. Ribbit now comes in 5 new shad colors

Stealth disco, stealth blue glimmer, sight flash, sexy shad (pictured) and chrome. Thanks to Clark Reehm for the heads up.

8. New Livingston baits on TW are...

The Chumly Squarebill Tournament Series that "emits the natural sounds of a panicked baitfish when the lure is wet," and the shallow-running P-Tyson Jerkbait Tournament Series which also has the panicked baitfish sound.

9. Taku Ito's Nories Flip Gill is now on TW

Coat it in powder and Neko it! One of the baits he won Smith with:

10. Queen Baby Porpcupine urchins are available on TW

11. SC: 12-lber caught from the bank on Greenwood

25.5" long, 18" around. This line blew my mind:

> "I caught it on a bait that I had for 15 years and I never got a bite on it ever."

Love to know why he still had that bait let alone tied it on!

12. AR might "reset" Lake Atkins

Fishing not as good, size not as good, so they might do something about it for the long-term. That's a good DNR!

13. TW's 25% off Keitech sale ends tomorrow 5/6 at 6pm EST

In case you need some Fats! Link here.

14. MN: Boundary waters mining panic overblown?

15. UT wants to intro white sturgeon into 2 lakes

Interesting. I guess UT isn't a DNR that's all about native species?

16. Folks are reporting West Marine might be filing Chap 11

In 2023 it restructured its debt "to avoid court proceedings" so it does not appear to have been smooth sailing.

Headlines of the Day

Fishing rod machine allegedly starts fire at store in Jensen Beach

Neighbors said the rod machine always seemed so nice and they're shocked...🤣

Is Technology Taking the Sport Out of Hunting and Fishing?

From the Wall Street Journal which, like all mass media, seems to only mention fishing if it's something negative. Wait – maybe that's true for anything the mass media mentions? 🤔😁

Lines of the Day

Baits. It is just a good thing we only need about 10 or so.

- That's heresy AND communism! 🤣

A bass boat traveling without a driver was spotted moving down a roadway in Pineville on May 1, according to the Pineville Police Dept.

- It was on a trailer....

A few finesse rig ROD tips from GLF's Dan Miguel

Dan obsesses over fooling giant smallmouths because those are the biggest, smartest fish he has around where lives – Canada. That water is ultra-clear and those smallmouth are old and smart so he sniffs out some stuff (including for tournaments) that some guys don't...or don't talk about.

Here's a few points from one of the Finesse Boat Camp videos on the GLF YT:

- 7' 4" ML and real light line – like 5-lb braid to 4-8 lb fluoro – for dropshots and spybaits. Dan even says light line is such a priority it is enabled by the longer rod absorbing more of the fight.

- 7' 6-10" ML for bombing small baits far (hair jig, Sneaky Underspin, 1/6-1/8 oz), and the high-end graphite for being able to feel small baits at distance.

- Way better distance with "the lightest braid possible."

- You don't have to match the size of the line with the size of the fish. The right rod and a good reel with a good drag is critical though.

Of course he's talkin' 'bout his high-end GLF CX Finesse Rods in that deal. Full 10.5-min vid is here on YT, check the GLF bait offerin's on TW.

"I was wanting to strangle Wesley. I was cussing him out in my head."

- Cole Floyd talkin' 'bout Wesley Strader catching a 5-08 on Beaver to take the lead in the final minutes of the BPT there:

> "I was like, 'You gotta be kidding me man.' To have the lead like that and for him to catch that size of fish right at the end – that's a unicorn on this lake."

Just gotta warn Cole – very unwise to tick off those TN mountain folks, especially that Strader clan! 😁

How 'bout this way to hide your big feesh catch from prying eyes? Gitcha under a bridge! 💪 Posted by @throwbackbaits – believe that bait is their Metro Glide in the 'trout' color:

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