I used to fish a lot of one-day’rs and always said they were mostly “spot” tournaments. Those that had one hot spot or landed on a hot spot could put 5 good ones in the boat and take home the coin. No need to save fish or go running around looking for a pattern, just milk out everything on one spot or area. Good stuff thanks man!
I’m with ya! Explain your approach when “fishing the conditions” your top baits for each condition. And what to look for.. contour, depth ,water color ,wind ,no wind, sunny, cloudy, rain, etc u get it lol
I like the video I was about to go fish a tournament on a new body of water. Just being able to do map study and just a few hours before the tournament.
Okay, so to keep going with the one day tournament theme, when you are fishing a huge lake how do you go about picking your area? Some lakes have creek arms that are bigger than some lakes. Do you pick an area and stick with it, or do you pick an end like north or south end. Thanks!
Team tournaments you and your partner for sure need to have good chemistry and no egos on the boat. Whenever someone gets that vibe to try gotta just go with it. Someone’s gotta be willing to try certain things for bigger bites and the other try and pick them apart
What you said about putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is really interesting. The only time I got a check was a day I was putting a lot of stress on myself. I didn't enjoy it, but I was kind of manic and ended up catching big largemouth for the day (which was only 3.5 lbs). But any other time I've put pressure on myself I seemed to fish better. I'd rather not be crazy stressed out but I would like to catch better fish during tournaments.
Hey Andrew, I have enjoyed tuning into your utube videos. I am form upstate South Carolina and we are now doin the shad spawn on the humps ans flats. This is an awesome and exciting way to catch those bigger spots which explodes a top water. I use a Ima swimmer and or a spoke type mostly on 30-40# braid. My frustration lies with the line wrapping around my from hook every 6-8 cast using precious time to unravel. Specifically, is there a better braid or a certain # test than others that will help prevent this. Also, do you add a oring if the bait does not come with one. How about a feathered treble on the rear. Finally do you tie straight knots or loop knots. Thanks for your input and good luck for the remainder of this year.
Great video bro. Hit the nail on the head. The club I fish with is one day events only and it’s always the issue of what to do is such short amount of time.
Good topic, even if you're not a tournament angler. I like to fish different bodies of water so I'm always figuring it out. I find i often learn as much from catching fish as I do from not catching fish.
I’d say just be confident and don’t fish for his fish. I’ve been really successful as a co won 3 Flw multi day tournaments. I’d have certain baits I thought would work good at certain angles and have them ready just for that one or two cast or punching and flipping certain spots. But just mix it up with baits on good angles I’d always get a key bite doing it that way. And then when you don’t have that angle just use your confidence bait. If it’s a senko long line sucker ifs he’s moving the boat fast twitch here and there and just leave your spool open. Hope this helped a bit
Okay I agree with your premise here of keeping an open mind and I know you're talkin bass boats. I say shay kayak exclusively and carry during a tournament 6 rods and sometimes I'll squeeze into more for total of 8. I can't run and Gun like you do in a bass boat. I have a pedal kayak an Old Town Predator PDL so I can get around better than the guys that just paddle but not as well as the guys that have a motor. Giving that premise generally speaking what would you have on board for 6 rods? Here's my typical to start out with. Three spinning three bait cast. 3 spinning we'll have a wacky rig a Shaky Head and either a weightless lizard or a waitlist paddle tail swimbait. My baitcaster lineup is typically a Whopper plopper a swim jig with a chunk trailer and a vibrating jig or a spinnerbait. That's my starting lineup for many lakes post spawn to fall. What are your thoughts?
This is very good information for me and my partner we fish in the USA bassin circuit and they're one day events sometimes we get to practice beforehand sometimes we don't thank you Andrew
I have fished since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, but my fishing is therapeutic tournamentric (my new word for the day), but when searching for I am dragging a Carolina Rig with different baits while I am casting, or give my grandchild a Beetle Spin to help this old man out too.
I would like to hear how you, Hallmen , and Castledine finance your tournament year and if there is a big difference in how each of you manage the huge expense of entry fees, boat and gear, hotel/Airbnb expense etc... not necessarily each persons finances but what it costs per year and how you cover the costs. For the weekend angler local tournament fisherman I would like to understand how that’s managed or prepared for each year. I enjoy all three of your RU-vid channels.
I’m a co-angler fishing the BFLs in the volunteer division and my home lake is South Holston. I’m good on south Holston on the front of the boat but it’s a steep bluffy lake that if you get a guy paralleling the bank or if he positions the boat in a way the back of the boat is away from the bank the only thing I have to throw at is in 50-100 ft of water. What would you recommend doing in that situation?
I like the way you lay it out I’m in the same boat about local clubs and small lakes so I thinks with all the pressure what would you be doing I’m thinking Finesse
What about practicing the weekend before? I always go out n graph and try and figure out a pattern the weekend before a tournament. Conditions change, but it's a starting point. And thanks to my graphing work when I find a new pattern it is quick and easy to adjust.
What’s your thoughts on shaking fish off during practice? I’ve came to notice that no matter if a shake those fish off or don’t most of them won’t bite or be positioned the same way the following day. Obviously weather plays a roll in that. But I really feel like if your around enough fish, sticking a few isn’t gonna hurt you too bad. What do you think?
You are seriously the most relatable pro angler I watch. But a topic I’m curious about is when do you first start thinking topwater as far as conditions/water temp and time of year
I keep a topwater on deck any time the water temperature is above 45 degrees! Under certain conditions water temperature is not as important for a topwater bite as one might think!!
Don't worry about replying to our comments, you are doing a great job of putting out quality informative videos. Don't know how you can practice, fish tournaments, take care of your family, your sponsors and eat and sleep. You need 40 hour days to get it all done.
I have a question bud. Here in Northeast Tennessee about an hour Northeast of Cherokee lake. My home lake is Boone Lake which runs into kinda like a river system which turns into another Lake. The lake has been at close to 30 percent for almost 7 yrs they almost have the water all the way up now but I'm not seeing fish on the bank like they should be. There is a ton of vegetation due to the lake being down that long. But I can't find these fish no one around here can. Could you please help!!
When I can’t find fish where Zi think they should be, I run deeper and deeper and watch my Side Scan and Down Imaging. Find the fish and then start fishing. Yes, I have spent hours just trolling and marking points, fish, bottom changes, structure... but can come back and have learned so much. Be well.
Andrew, how about a vid on baits far as 40 to 50 ° water Temps 50 to 60 60 to 70, 70+. Your top 5 baits for all. thank you. You have awesome sound quality on your videos.
I’m new to fishing and bought a new tracker 175 and trying have some good times with my nine year old. I have 6 rods and he has 3. What are different setups I should tie on for us to start learning together.
I prefer to fish without any practice. I make a plan by the conditions of that day and pressure on the lake and go with it. Just like at Pickwick Saturday. Made the run to Bay Springs .. could have did even better but it paid off even with breaking down wuth 3 hours to fish. LET THE FISH GUIDE YOU.
Depends on the body of water. I look up a lot of things before I go so I have an idea what to prepare for. But one thing is, things always happen on the water that you must adapt to. So you have to be ready for anything
Andrew the opens don't have a championship tournament. The Toyota are way above the opens. I would love 2 see the top 50 open guys go at it 4 a 100,000. No elites.
I started watching you when you were with Scott don't over stretch yourself. The best u tube channels put out 2 vids a week on a set day. This makes everyone wait for those days. You do great stuff but the war zone thing is not interesting at all not to be negative. I would like to see your channel grow you deserve it. Follow what Scott does travel day practice then tournament days it works. Do some personal stuff how you decided to become a pro that decision. Good luck brother.
Andrew, I think next year you should add a couple more sponsors or talk to your current sponsors an ask them to pony up so you can hire a camera man/editor so you can give yourself a break and/or make better content. I think it’d be awesome for the channel cuz I think eventually your gonna get burned out brother, I dunno, something to think about 🤷🏼♂️
