(Proof Creative photo)
[This BassParade exclusive is by pro derby fisherman Kevin Short.]
A note to Boyd: After reading your plea for some piscatorial direction on the Louisiana Delta as noted here on bassblaster.bassgold.com, I wanted to drop you a line and slip you a little sumpin’ just FYI:
> “We” don’t all get help on the Elite Series.
> “We” don’t all talk to every local that “we” can get on the other end of the phone.
> “We” don’t always need help with tournament waters.
> “We” don’t all “pick the brains of the people who know the waters well.”
“You,” Boyd Duckett, might be the end-all, be-all of information gathering – which is cool, as long as all that information is obtained before the off-limits period begins. But “You,” Mr. Duckett, do not speak for “We.”
Now ‘Me’
Before ‘Me’ goes any further, let me state this: ‘Me’ has nothing but the utmost respect for Boyd Duckett and what he has accomplished on the tournament trail, and in his business dealings. Being a Classic champion, the man is an icon of the sport. He’s also an extremely successful businessman inside and outside of the fishing industry. Again, lots of respect for Mr. D, but…
…”we” don’t all get help on the Elite Series. Not wanting to speak for “We” – “We” being my fellow Elite Series anglers – I can tell you that “Me,” Kevin Short, runs from information like it’s a sack of pissed-off squirrels.
Yes, K-Pink has gotten information in the past. The few times “Me” has received info, “Me” has floundered hopelessly in the derby. It’s blown up on “Me” faster than a backlash in a cheap baitcaster.
As a general rule and for whatever reason unbeknownst to “Me,” intel ops on the part of K-Pink usually go FUBAR beyond all belief.
Some recent examples of this unexplained phenomenon include the 2008 Classic at Hartwell, the 2010 Classic at Lay and a Northern Open on the upper Chesapeake Bay this past September. All jump out as shining examples of why “Me” doesn’t play well with info gathering.
> The 2008 Classic was a respectable finish in the 20s only because the intel that “Me” had garnered was pretty much useless for the conditions.
> The Classic at Lay was absolutely disgraceful. Pretty sure the only person I finished higher than there was Denny. We were both stubborn enough to spend two days looking at each other in the same creek, watching each other not getting a bite.
> The UCB this past September was just butt ugly – that’s all I have to say about that. Info gone wild. Like I said earlier, FUBAR.
So, yes, “Me” has gathered intel and “Me” has gotten sca-rewed by that intel. Not through the fault of those giving the info, just some kind of intel mix up in my own twisted brain.
Most of those who have tried to help “Me” have been what many would call “local experts.” Not that it did “Me” a lot of good. Maybe “Me” just hasn’t figured out how to process and filter out what’s good intel, based on my fishing strengths, and what’s bad.
I think I’ll just stick with what Boyd says in closing his Sept. 9 blog entry: Show up and catch the fish.
Just Show Up
As a matter of fact, showing up and catching the fish has worked well for “Me” in the past. June of 2009 on the Mississippi River out of Fort Madison, Iowa comes to mind. Local intel was pretty much useless, as floods along the upper Mississippi the previous year had devastated the fishery and completely changed many of the local hot spots.
Show up and catch the fish – that’s what we had to do, and that’s what many of us did, “Me” included. (Chest beating here.) Yes, “Me” won the derby with NO help from NO one. Amazing, I know, but true.
Same story, different pond this past April on Pickwick. NO info. Just put the boat in the water and caught the fish. Elite Series win number two. Just “Me.” Not “We”.
“Me” would be fine if “We” couldn’t get any info from anyone at any time about any body of water after the schedule is announced. Let me break that down:
> No info
> At no time.
> From anyone.
I realize that’s probably living in Bass Fishing Fantasy Land, but hey, a guy can always dream.
Seriously. No info. Period. Not even from your fellow competitors. Ooh, that might put a crimp in the “teams” and “networking” that goes on among Elite Series anglers. “Me” is not a fan of that either (in case you couldn’t tell).
I’ve always thought that the highest level of competition in the bass fishing scene would occur when “We” in the front of the boat were all competing against only each other. Kind of like those early Classics when Ray would load everyone up in the plane and the competitors would find out where they were going when the wheels left the ground – that’s when men were men.
None of this “Me” competing against a “team” of two or three other “We’s” who were sharing info.
Not “Me” competing against a “We” who hired the best guide on the water before the off-limits period.
Not “Me” competing against another angler who called every local expert with a pulse before the off-limits period.
Just “Us.”
Show up and catch the fish.
Let’s find out who can really catch them.
_____
[After reading this a couple times, it’s making me feel like I have to “We” –Ed.]
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16 Comments
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BryanT
November 30, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I agree with K-Pink 100%
Pretty cool show is lost lake, and of course when BASS ran the day on the lake series.
I also still think the top 5 or 6 in the Elites would still be the top 5 or 6 though.
There are tourneys where info helps a ton, anybody remember Falcon? No way in hedoublehockeysticks does two guys find a foundation on a ginourmous flat and whack them without a little help.
Minnow
December 1, 2010 at 9:01 am
I can tell you for the falcon incident Aaron didn’t get any help, as for the other guy I can’t comment.
Lesley Martens
February 6, 2011 at 8:37 am
Excuse me BryanT – don’t talk about what you don’t know – my husband would totally side with KPink here – he doesn’t get help – he found that “foundation” with good old fashion instinct!
C. Craig
November 30, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I agree with Mr. Short, show up and fish. I thought it was disgusting the way Boyd Duckett used his blog on a national fishing site to beg for info and THEN to brag about how much people helped him! It was pathetic. I hope he finishes dead last. LAST! Shut up, sit down and fish Mr. Duckett.
aaronb
November 30, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I get it…but I’m a little confused by his seemingly recent disdain with the ‘we’. He admits to getting info in classics as recently as 2008 and 2010 and an Open in 2011. Sounds like that didn’t work out for him. And now he’s making a public commentary against a peer professional angler who freely admits to doing what Kpink himself did as recently as a few months ago?????
One has to wonder if Kevin would have won a couple of those tournies he got some intel on, instead of it going FUBAR, he might not be so compelled to write this….I do agree though, it would be cool to see them fish a classic ‘blind’ and see how they rank with nothing but their experience and intuition to rely on.
Bobby Benbo
November 30, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I like this. Go bag’em Short.
Boyd
November 30, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Stop picking on “ME”
Bo
December 2, 2010 at 3:36 pm
“We” at BassParade are glad to hear from both of “you”. 🙂
BP
November 30, 2010 at 10:00 pm
I don’t think Elite Series Pro’s need to get special insider info to catch fish. But tournaments are not about catching fish, but about catching bigger fish than the other fishermen. Inside info may help increase fish size, but then again maybe it doesn’t. My guess is more times than not insider info doesn’t result in bigger fish. It may very well be that insider info results in smaller fish at the same percentage that it results in larger fish.
I see nothing wrong with getting help. It is just one more tool in the tool box that we should try to take advantage of as anglers to help us catch more and bigger fish.
If you can’t network effectively you only have yourself to blame.
Chris
December 1, 2010 at 2:13 am
I’ve got a hard time believing that in 2 1/2 days of practice these guys are weighing in fish that blow the minds of even local sticks. I’m sure there are some senerios were it makes less difference, but when they go to fish factories like KY lake or Amistad, you can’t tell me info doesn’t play a big role in narrowing things down. Especially when fishing offshore.
Randolph
December 2, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I love Ducketts honesty on his blog. It’s pretty obvious most guys get as much help as they can. As for Duckett he’s got to be busy keeping his businesses going so I guess he can’t spend time fishing every place. He’s got to get as much advice as he can. Looks pretty smart to me.
Dwain
December 2, 2010 at 4:12 pm
How can you slam someone for getting info and then start admitting in almost the same breath that you have gotten info yourself as recently as the 2010 classic?
BP
December 11, 2010 at 5:04 am
Boyd Duckett has responded to Short and agrees.
They are both totally wrong and here’s why:
http://basspundit.blogspot.com/2010/12/to-boyd-duckett-and-kevin-short-i.html
Essentially they can’t see the Forrest from the trees and are trying to eliminate something essential about angling that is positive through and through.
Volman482
March 3, 2011 at 1:02 pm
If you got the”jack” then you can get the info.
Wrong, but true.
I’ve been fishing tourneys for 40+ yrs. and can tell you that you are at a distinct disadvantage when the buddy info sharing system is in place. (Unless of course you are a part of it)
No level playing field exists even in local events.
david bowen
December 22, 2011 at 11:11 pm
how can these guys be called pros when they get help on every lake they fish?