Hope you had a good weekend and start to October! Spent the weekend here running to games and birthday stuff while trying not to think of exactly what bait I'd be fishing each day...which I did anyway. 😁
Can't wait to get back after 'em, even at the Dead Sea over here. I know where they go – all 3 of 'em 🤣 – when the water temp starts fallin' so....
Hope everyone survived the social media outage, I know some folks were like:
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5 Qs with new Bassin' Hall of Famer Jay Yelas.
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Man I love Jay. I mean, what a name he's got! 😁 Just messin'. I do love Jay for a bunch of reasons I won't get into here, but if there's any doubt just know he's a great dude and of course a great bass fisherman – so pretty much the opposite of fellow HOF inductee Steve "shut up Kumar" Bowman. (Hahaha just messin' Bowman!)
Here we go with 5 Qs with one o' the newest Bassin' Hall of Famers:
1. When you were getting inducted, did you ever think about the times you used to sleep in your van between tournaments?
> "I actually told some stories in my induction speech about my early days. I didn't tell that particular story, but I talked about my humble beginnings. Like my first boat used to be a flower bed. I was working for landscaper one summer...an 8' wooden boat as a flower bed and the homeowner decided to dispose of it. I asked her if I could have it...took it to the lake. The whole transom was missing so I put a trolling motor on the bow. At the end of the day I pulled it up on shore in some bushes and left it...no one would take it.
> "Compare that to kids nowadays in high school fishing, they all have to have a brand new bass boat to compete in these tournaments. The truth is, where there's a will there's a way. I never got [a new bass boat] til I graduated college. If your heart's in it and you want it bad enough, you don't have to have a full-blown bass boat...you'll find a way to make it happen...."
> About sleeping in his van: "The worst was Lake Mead in the summer, camping in a van with no air conditioning...sleeping in a van that's like 106 degrees....
> "I loved fishing so much I wanted to make a living as a pro, and by God's grace I was able to do it. But it was humble beginnings for sure."
2. Back in the day you used to say you were kinda like the Phil Mickelson to Kevin being like Tiger Woods. You still feel that way?
> "No I don't anymore. But I thought that was a good analogy back in the '90s and early 2000s. He and I started our careers at the same time...started my career my at the same time as the greatest tournament bass fisherman of all time. Like Phil started the same time as Tiger...that's what happens when you start your career the same time as the GOAT.
> "Phil definitely had his days in the winner's circle and I had those too. I thought that was a fun analogy at the time. It's not a good analogy anymore because Kevin has continued to walk in great integrity and Tiger hasn't."
3. Do you know that one of the Bassmaster tourney rules is there because of you calling me on the way to weigh-in every day of the Classic you won...which was awesome of you thank you man. [I was in bed, I think after some surgery, and couldn't be there.]
> "No I didn't know that. It gets so crazy at the weigh-in and after the weigh-in and I knew you'd want to talk, so I tried to get that task completed when I had the time. It was like an hour's drive from Lay Lake back to Birmingham – I probably talked to other people too.
> "I didn't realize that was the reason for the rule. I do get a kick out of that."
4. What's better: Winning a Classic or being at a C.A.S.T. for Kids event?
> "Gosh that's a hard question. I have to say that for a tournament fisherman, it's winning the Classic. But at a C.A.S.T. for Kids event you're getting to watch these kids have their days in the sun.
> "I was just at an event Saturday in TX and this one boy caught a 3-lb bass. We're all done fishing – we're under the pavilion having lunch – and he brings this bass up in a weigh-in bag, and he's like, 'Jay get everyone to cheer for me.' So he brings up the weigh bag and everyone gives him a big cheer – that's his Classic win. We're there to celebrate them.
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> "I love going to those events and I love sharing the joy of fishing with those kids...celebrating those kids and helping them make memories. But winning a Classic, that's something I wish every fisherman would experience because it's an unbelievable feeling and accomplishment. It's what everybody dreams of.
> "My wish is that every bass fisherman could experience winning the Classic, including those kids that come to our events."
5. Is there a way to say sorta briefly what God has done for you in bassin'?
> "Well first He gave me the talent and ability to do it. It's a gift. Just like athletes in other sports have gifts for certain skills. He gave that to me by His grace.
> "He gave me a passion in my heart to just love the sport of bass fishing. That's a gift from God...includes the desire to work hard.
> "He game me great favor both with the fish and the industry. You can be a great fisherman and never win a Classic or AOY title. So He blessed me with that Classic win, which gives you the platform to glorify Him and share the Gospel of Jesus with other fishermen around the country. It's given me a platform to share His glory.
> "Everything we enjoy is from His hand, and it's all intended for His glory – I just have great Thanksgiving for the gifts He's given me for sure. The gifts ultimately are not for you, they're for other people....
> "One of my favorite memories in my career was after I won the Classic and AOY and that autobiography was published. I was at a sports show in Chicago, doing a seminar, and a big guy, he was like 6' 8", 300 lbs...comes up...thought he wanted to talk about the baits I was using. He walked right up to me, gave me a great bear hug [and spun Jay around]. He said, 'I just wanted to say I read your book and found Jesus. I wanted to thank you and give you a big hug.'
> "A big black guy from Chicago found Jesus because of me, a bass fisherman? Only God can do stuff like that. It made me realize it's such a neat web He weaves, if we're obedient and do everything – there's no telling what good can come out of it."
Bonus Q: Looking back, seeing what you've seen, and where we're at now, where is bass fishing going?
> "Bass fishing is going well and will continue to grow. It's come a long ways...changed a lot since I started in the late '80s. You've got 2 tours, and think you'll see those 2 tours for a long time, providing a way for guys to make a living in professional bass fishing.
> "Electronics has been a dominant theme over the last 10 years and it will probably continue to influence the sport. The tournament trails might have to put a limitation on technology eventually...might see something like that come along in the future.
> "But as long as people practice catch and release and good livewell care and fizzing deep-caught fish, stuff like that...these fish are so hardy they'll be able to survive and reproduce, and keep going.
> "So many fisheries are better now than they've ever been, especially smallmouth fisheries up north...and the largemouth fishing has held up too – it's still good almost everywhere we go.
> "More people are fishing than ever...and you know how it is with fishing – if you do it and have fun, you'll keep going. So I think the future is bright with bass fishing."
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"...make the line squeak into that grass. If you don't hear that squeak, you'll probably lose the fish."
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> "You jerk, pin 'em up, and the bass is covered up in weeds. Just keep winding and throw all that weedy junk in the boat and dig the fish out. If you don't own them, they'll own you."
Maybe the best description of the close-quarters combat I've heard...and from a dang goat no less! 😁
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Deep-driftin' swimbaits with the current.
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Cool lil tip from MLF Pro Circuiter Kurt Mitchell who's from somewhere called "Delaware." I think it's a small city just outside Rhode Island? 😁 Okay it's a state, but it's the only state other than AK that has no bass...😂 Lol DE peeps! Great to see someone from there gettin' after it!
> ...discovered that he could crack deep-current smallmouths on a 3" Megabass Spark Shad. Fishing it on a dropshot....
> "When you're drifting with the current, and moving the bait back to you, that swimbait is actually pointing into the current. So it's like a little baitfish trying to swim against the current, but it's going backward.
> "I was thinking if I was a bass, and I saw a little fish struggling against the current, I'd just go up there and eat it real quick. And that's what the smallmouth do...they pummel it, you feel them every time."
> "The Spark Shad, for that particular deal, works way better than a Keitech Fat does. The tail kick on the Keitech is slower and wider, and it just doesn't look right."
Bonus tip from him:
> "Personally I think Smelly Jelly is the best scent that's ever been made...it's like a top-secret thing."
Ya think I was messin' around about Smelly Jelly? Hahaha nope it's good!
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A week in the life of a travelin' tourney fisherman.
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> Break ins, a double tire blowout, engine problems that cost me 4 hours of fishing day 1, battery failure before day 2, a broken trolling motor hydraulic arm on day 2 at 10 am (which after 45 min I was able to break off and still strap down and use it on low speeds), and a broken phone screen while trying to fix my trolling motor on the water are all the things that tried to roadblock me from having a successful week.
Here's John repairing his troller with a multimeter and what looks like a metronome??
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He looks a little accident-prone....😆
Dang! If just one of those things happened to a couple of the tour pros, their running light poles would still be in the hospital or in therapy HAHAHA! 🤣
Glad John coulda sorta laugh at it man....
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🤣
In the same post he talks about selling his tackle, losing fish on a Carolina rig, and fishing for crappie instead of bass. I wonder if he's been listening to Paul Mueller too much...? 😂
Never heard of it but here's their site. KJ posted this pic with the announcement – I think it's a minnow that got barfed up in the well: 😁
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5. NPFL's 1st season finishes up...
...last (Grand Lake) winner is TN's Taylor Watkins, and AOY is John Cox's FL bud Keith Carson, who won it by a single point over TN's Brandon Perkins. Bad link so can't link it, it's at thenationalprofessionalfishingleague com:
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Congrats to ';em and the NPFL, which far as I know did what they said they were gonna do = a good start.
He said:
> "...the people...at JM Associates are a joy to work with and among the top people in the industry."
WTHeck!! Totally false...BAHAHAHA JM peeps! Just messin'...😁 But I wonder about this line from Bruce?
> "B.A.S.S. will also continue to diversify our events to include other species of fish as we have done with the revived Redfish Cup Championship."
🧐
Gotta say you don't hear that every day! Glad to know we got some pointy-headed genuises on our side – besides just Jacob Wheeler I mean...😁
> The St Johns River Water Management District recently opened a public comment period, which runs through Oct 22, to gather feedback on what should happen with the Kirkpatrick Dam and Rodman Reservoir.
Vidalia mayor Buz Craft wants bassin' tourism so:
> ...plan is to have the LDWF stock Lake St. John, Lake Bruin, Lake Concordia and Black River Lake each with 100,000 fingerlings of FL-strain largemouth bass. This stocking would take place each year....
Gitcha own 2,400-acre lake on 5,025 acres for just $110 mil!
> ...will add 30% more square footage to its manufacturing operation in Flippin...a $4.2 mil investment. ...will increase its workforce by 50 new full-time employees.
> Randy Hopper: "...will provide added space for our custom trailer production as well as extensive engineering and cutting-edge product development. At the same time, the addition will significantly enhance the production flow and efficiencies of our aluminum and fiberglass boat manufacturing."
Outstandin'! Here's Vexus head man Keith Daffron with Santy Claus (yes he's real):
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Miss Nina was there too, great to see her:
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> ...features a special limited silver paint. ...standard Tatula SV has an aluminum frame but a graphite side plate. With the Limited Edition...you have an all-aluminum frame and side plate.
> ...added in an ultralight carbon fiber handle and Daiwa Zaion vented handle knobs. Zaion is Daiwa's patented carbon fiber that is used in many reels for frame and rotors. It's extremely lightweight and extremely rigid.
> In the past we've used just a graphite star drag. In the Limited Edition...an aluminum anodized brilliant blue star drag and caps for better durability and improved appearance.
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Not sure why you'd want all this stuff while on land but maybe the salty folks do?
> ...HondaLink Marine provides boat owners and operators, whether onboard or on land, the ability to monitor boat and engine data, maintain navigation and safety information, and connect to a Honda dealer....
Just regular carp, sounds like. Guess the gators can't do the job??
Line of the Day
Bass robbery??
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On BassBlaster.rocks right now...
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Jason Christie: Clear 'n cool-water fall spinnerbaitin'.
Talked to Jason about fall spinnerbaitin', this is just a lil excerpt, more comin':
> Once that water temp gets in the low 60s and high 50s, it can be really, really good. I fished yesterday here [OK] and it was still in the mid-70s so it really hasn't gotten good yet, but I'm sure up north...it's already starting to pick up.
> The only difference I would do in clear water would be use a high gear-ratio reel and burn it. I go from a 5.4 to a 7.5:1 reel. We used to fish that way a lot – Table Rock, Grand Lake, where it's clear. You want that thing to be gettin' it.
> Burn it, making a wake all the way back, and watch them explode on it. There's days they want it a little slower, but still moving it fast. You don't want that thing crawling in that clear water – they can just see it too good. And you can't take it away from 'em. Once they decide they want to eat it, you can't reel it too fast.
> "I'm too lazy – I don't want to retire. I'm going to be fishing it around everything: a stretch of rocks, down a log, down the side of docks. A spinnerbait is not a bait where you need to worry about line size.
> "If I'm fishing Table Rock [a highland rez] I'll go down to 16 because I'm not fishing around logs...."
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"...I've spent hours trying to figure out if something is wrong with my mechanics."
- Xeith Dombs talkin'. Crazy! If Keith needs to change his mechanics, I need to change my dang arms hahaha! Anyhow, he lost a few fish this season and got to thinkin' 'bout it.
2 takeaways from this for me, maybe you too:
1. These guys think about hookset mechanics like golfers think about their swings...though having said that not sure I can see John Cox ever thinking about this stuff...😁
2. Hookset mechanics = boat position, body position, rod position, hands, rod type, line, focus and maybe some more stuff which is kinda amazing if you think about it. So right now I'm realizing that after fishing my whole life, I'm only really aware of the rod position (and rod type and line beforehand). Okay, I also focus if it's been less than 8 hours between bites...😆
Didn't ask Keith but maybe he was talkin' 'bout this kinda mechanic??
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Here's Gussy "don't call me Jeff anymore, no one calls me that" 😁 Gustafson with a real nice derp! Been gettin' quite a few so must be #derpszn! He caught it on a 1/4-oz Smeltinator Jig and 4" Z-Man Jerk Shadz:
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😂 Apparently they were unfamiliar with super glue...and possibly common sense?
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Jay Kumar's BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup of the best and funniest (sometimes worst) stuff in bassin', picked by me – Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin'. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o' bass so thanks for readin'!
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