If you want to keep your jig in the same part of the water column but increase your speed, bump up to the 3/8th jig. If you fish a jig enough you will learn there are scenarios that require this…

Gambler boats are top notch! If you’re concerned about them holding up in big water…don’t be. There are some elite pros making a living out of them…

I purchase spinnerbaits based off the quality of their hook…period. And trust me, just because a spinnerbait looks awesome and is expensive does NOT mean it has a good hook (ie…War Eagle). The longer and bigger the hook…the better!

I have fished some FOM tournaments and can say it is a 1st class operation. I’m a big fan.

Instead of harvesting everyone else’s choices, I’d be curious to hear a few of yours. With all of your tournament experience I bet you could teach us a thing or two.

As far as the fluke goes, I’d bet you are trying to make it something it’s not. MANY people over-work it (a dying shad on the surface is not darting around like most people try to make the fluke look). The fluke needs to look good to the bass…not the bass fisherman.

Sturgeon Bay is definitely a good pick. However, if your trip is scheduled for early June you will probably get stuck popping bucks off of beds. Sure this is a blast, but it’s easy to overlook the big ones.

I am a big fan of Lake Erie and St.Clair. You can load the boat with giants if you time it right.

Since the subject is on the Great Lakes, don’t forget Lake Huron. Sounds goofy, but don’t be fooled. I know for a fact that Westly Strader was catching 5 pounders there during an FLW tourney…

There will still be an ‘observer’ in the boat…just not a fishing one…

Cool. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that these baits are very situation specific. If your are fishing for a reaction bite you will probably notice no increased bites. If the fish are sniffing…they’re gold…

it’s worth it.

side note- it’s nothing like spraying bang or any other scent on your plastics.

Good Luck Brent! We’re rooting for you…

MATT SPHAR…

High finisher at the 2008 classic and top 5 for AOY in 2008…

I have a room down there. I will be bringing my boat and a cooler so I can spectate with the best of them…

Happy Birthday Bro!

I am a big fan of the glass St. Croix rods too. However, I pretty much limit them to shallow cranks and small topwaters.

Using them on baits like lipless cranks, swim jigs, and jerkbaits is just way too much work. I prefer to beef up my rod and compensate with the drag.

So if I were a bass and wanted to eat that thing, what the heck would I bite??? There are like 3 different focal points…

Good luck guys!

Is this the $10,000 first place tournament?

Nice job guys. Jim Jones took 5th overall too.

Quote:

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Ya bass guys don’t need to get all worked up.

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I don’t see any of us getting worked up…

Make sure to watch FLW at Detroit. It is on this Suinday…FSN. You’ll see the Western Erie Basin…

If you’re netting the fish I’d guess around 4 minutes…

OK Eron- FYI I only got 1 1/2 days to prefish the Wabasha BFL . (could’ve used way more )

Anyway, BRAD , shoot me your phone number again in a PM…you guys may have talked me into this one…

What’s the difference between fighting a smallie for two minutes or trolling with it on your line for two minutes? You can go as far back as you’d like and find that FISHING 101 teaches us to take our time and wear out the big ones before attempting to land them (something most of us tournament guys do NOT do )

Side note- I think it’s a cover up! What Rick is really doing is hooking a big smallie in a school and getting far away from it so his co-angler can’t cast in there and catch one of the big ones…

Don’t hate, I’m simply asking a question…

If they would move that to a Sat & Sun I think I’d be heading up that way…

Hey Bullet…you believe in karma?!

I’ll keep you in my prayers Bill.

I caught over an 11 pound limit and still didn’t cash a check. The fishing was good…caught LOTS of fish. I actually prefished the area that 1st and 2nd place came out of, but I couldn’t find the big school like they did. All of the marinas on Pepin were hit pretty hard but they’ll replentish quickly. Most of those pepin fish were skinney 2 pounders so those aren’t tournament fish if that’s what you’re looking for.

If you guys are catching spots here in Wisconsin (or bordering Mississippi River) you can make the record books since there is no entry for spotted bass. Check it out…

Wisconsin State Records……………………………………..

I missed the post as well. Guess that’s what I get since I’ve been on the water 17 of the last 21 days. Which reminds me, I’m heading to Pool 4 tomorrow night for more fishing .

Anyway, those who get off by “stirring the pot” just love to see us argue. So, I have chosen (and continue to) not waste my time by adding my opinion on posts like this. I’d rather be studying lake and river maps.

Later dudes…

happy birthday