The change to 5 fish, the new Lowrance sonar stuff and oh yeah one of the best bass fishermen in the world right now! Had to call him, here we go:

1. What do you think about the change to 5 fish?

> "I'm kinda one of these guys that has mixed emotions. To be honest, I don't like the thought of deviating from Major League Fishing's plan. That's what made Major League Fishing who they are. It's basically an identity change.

> "I don't like that side of it, but I do like the side of where it's more relatable to local fishermen...so if they can relate more to us and it propels the sport more, then I'm all for that too.

> "I wasn't biased – I've had success in both formats so it doesn't really matter to me."

2. Is the new Lowrance stuff just better, a game-changer or not sure yet?

> "I used it on Table Rock Lake about a month ago, and man it's really, really impressive. It's not just better, it's way better in my opinion. I can see way farther, it's a lot clearer – I was really impressed with the HD transducer. I'm really impressed with it.

> "That was the first runs of them, the prototype ones, so they may be better [now], I don't know. But they're really really good.

> "This forward-facing sonar stuff is just going to get better and better and better. I can throw my bait and see it 100' no problem."

👀 🤯

3. If you had one bait to fish all over the country this time of year what would it be?

> "I would say a jerkbait. Just because it's the fall and winter time. I don't care what part of the country you're in right now, they're eating on shad right now. Spotted bass, largemouth, smallmouth – they're busting on bait, so a jerkbait.

> "I've been throwing a prototype jerkbait from Bass Mafia that we're building...got my hands on 3 of them. We're in the later stages of getting it done so it's not ready yet.

> "I'm throwing that on a 6' 8" M Favorite Pro Series Rod, 12-lb Seaugar InvizX fluorocarbon, and I'm real big on a 6.3 or 6.4:1 baitcaster. A lot of guys throw it on a 7, and they always ask why I throw it on a 6. Really it just depends on the cadence of how you work that bait. As I'm reeling, I'm jerking that jerkbait. A lot of people stop jerking and then reel but I reel as I jerk...I don't like picking up too much line.

> "With 12-lb line I noticed I get a lot more bites. I can cast the 12 farther, it makes the bait work a lot better as far as darting left to right, it allows the bait to get deeper, and it allows it to suspend a lot better.

> "I will just cover water with it. When you throw it around wood this time of year, it's really good...current seams and eddies...back of creeks, just follow the fish. There's a lot of schooling fish at the house right now – I'll chase them around with that jerkbait and catch them."

Lol just messin' – who doesn't love Cox! Next year he'll just be fishing the Elites most of the MLF Invitationals...taking it easy on himself! Had to catch up with one of the heroes of shallow-water bass-heads everywhere:

1. Will we see more screens and more screen activity on your boat next year?

> "No. I thought about it – it's something I think about constantly, and I've actually been fishing with a lot of the guys using that stuff. When I'm watching them use it, I see how efficiently they're able to fish places...it kind of makes me slightly sick. I don't know if I can hang with those guys [use of it]...but not going to do it.

> "I'll do mapping and 2D on the troller, and maybe side scan on the back.

> "Eventually I might have to if it comes to not making any checks. But as long as I'm making money to live....

> "I feel bad for the kids...if the only way to make it is to know that stuff, it'd be terrible for those guys...."

2. People say that with forward-facing sonar there's more space to fish on the bank – do you agree with that?

> "I kinda did at first, but now I'm seeing guys are using it shallow.

> "Yes it opens up some of the bank stuff, but the fish coming in have already been caught before they even make it to that shallow spot. So they're not as easy to catch. They're super educated by the time they even get there from [FFS]...just noticed the last few years. So it opens up the bank but I think they're even harder to catch....

> "They're throwing topwater using [FFS], catching them off cypress tress in couple feet of water using it...maybe a couple inches to a foot they might not be using it."

3. Will we see you and Larry Nixon bumping boats up shallow, throwing Generals and Senkos at each other?

> [Laughs] "Probably, we probably will. I'm a huge Larry Nixon fan – I've liked him from day 1. If I feel I'm anywhere near him...I could never fish near him. I don't want to get the butt-whuppin' he would give me. I don't want to see him catching them all and that get in my head."

4. What's your fave of the new rods you designed for Abu?

> "Honestly that whole line came out better than I could have imagined. I have a spinning rod and a cranking rod and I love 'em both.

> "The spinning rod – I feel like a guy who doesn't have a spinning rod can buy that and it be his first spinning rod. It can throw your full-size baits – full-size Jerk Shads and Generals – you can throw a little bit heavier line...in the weeds.... So it's a really good first [rod].

> "[Justin] Lucas has a topwater rod that's one of the best rods in the lineup. Hunter [Shryock] has an awesome 7 11 flipping rod. I think 80% of my rods next year will be Pro Series rods...."

5. If you only had one bait to fish this time of year all over the country what would it be?

> "For December I'd probably go with a Frittside 5, probably the 'Kentucky blue' color. I'm throwing it everywhere – going down rocks, points, inbetween docks – just the trolling motor on high and casting at everything."

He fishes it on his 7' 6" MH Abu Pro Series Shallow Cranking Rod, an Abu Zenon MG-X Reel (6.6) and 12-lb Berkley Trilene 100% Fluoro.

Fishing it without LiveScope vid:

> "...split the water column" [in other words retrieve it halfway down].

> "The clearer the water, the bigger the strike zone.

> "I catch a lot of fish checking bottom [letting the bait hit bottom]."

If you haven't seen it yet, like I hinted at a while back we are GIVING AWAY a full LiveScope system plus a lil assortment of YUM FF Sonar Minnows and Jigheads! 🤯🤯 Enter here and good luck mang!

One mo', this quote from Jason from a winter spinnerbaitin' vid:

> "Fishing – we all gotta be honest with each other: It's changing...with LiveScope. The days of fishing to find something or idling...they're over."

Yep I know some do or used to, just wonderin' how many folks do it now – meaning do Neds, small swimbaits and sonar get more play. This pic of the new FishLab Bio-Shad Flutter Spoon (1/2, 3/4 and 1-oz) got me thinking about it – because it's pretty much blade baits in these parts:

Then I saw this wild-looking spoon again, the Lunkerhunt Knocking Jigging Spoon:

> ...designed to separate and knock together when jigging to produce a unique metallic [sound] that fish simply can't resist. Featuring an innovative internal harness that runs through the body of the bait, a twitch of the rod tip sends the head of the spoon down the harness to clack emphatically against the tail section.

You spoonin' in the cold? Lmk!

Came across this deal about the Valley Tieless EZ Hook:

> When a combination of aging, arthritic hands and older eyes make it near-impossible to tie a fishing hook onto small-diameter fishing line, they quit fishing altogether. But they don't have to. The patented Valley Tieless Fishing Tackle EZ Hook in universal #6 solves this problem, allowing anyone to attach this high-quality hook to their 8-10 lb braided line without the need of...a fishing knot.

> Tie a simple knot on the end of your line, loop it one time around the hook, bait the hook as you normally would, then cast it into your favorite spot.

> The Valley hook...was rigorously tested for 2 years....

Notes that it's good for very young kids and physically-challenged folks too.

Company is in WI, vid on their website shows fish being caught on it...wild! They also make "clasps" for quick lure changes.