What the PROS will NEVER Admit about the Fishing Industry 

This is why you’re one of the best channels out here! NO BS fishing information. You’ll straight up tell it how it is. You won’t hide what you’re throwing or how you are catching them. You want to see everyone be successful at fishing and catch bigguns!

A handful of us old school guys knew this. You are the one that shows us truth and what your really doing to catch fish. I appreciate you and your content bro.

Spot on. I’m 70 years young and have loved fishing since that first time as a five year old with my Dad s help catching a small bluegill with a cane pole baited with a red wiggler under a bobber. What a game changer RU-vid has been with relatable and real content. In fact, I learned how to catch shallow water bass with a BIG EZ from watching you on RU-vid back when you first came on the scene. Thanks for keeping it real.

RU-vid has grown because people want to Learn how to do things. In the early 2000s fishing shows lost there way and focused on catching fish! We wanted to learn those basics of how to catch fish, how to read the water, simple things like how to tie knots. We all knew when a pro would be interviewed and say I caught these fish on this so and so bait it was BS. few tell what they are really doing. When I was tournament fishing I would have a couple outfits on the deck of my boat with Bubble Gun color baits on them. so as others walked the parking lot in the early morning they would see these. Oh the looks I got. priceless. RU-vid is a tool. an information tool, and like forward facing sonar, you might not like it but its here.

One of the first vids of you I ever watched, you did not care what the outside world said or did, you told me what you were rigging, how you did it, and why it worked. Always have kept it #RealFishing, and have been more personable than a lot of others. I think we all crave to learn more about our passions, and that will never go away. I bet the pros even watch the little guy's videos to learn a thing or two sometimes. I appreciate the content you put out, and appreciate more, that you aren't trying to sell us something every single video. Happy to see Bog livin it in the vid. 🤙

You’re right Mikey. Honest discussion is lost which is why when it occurs people recognize and appreciate it. That’s you dude. Always on point. Keep it up 👍🏻

Pros all tell you that you need spot lock, power pulls, ffs, flouro, and a 100K boat to catch a fish. I don’t know how I ever catch anything, lol.

When I first started watching you many years ago I didn’t know what to make of you but I hung around and I’m glad I did. To me you’re real and believable along with educational and entertaining, thanks.

You have no idea how much I appreciate the fact that you are real, genuine, honest and sincere. I can relate to you because I can tell you have a passion for fishing and it rubs off on me every time I watch your videos.

Keeping it real and honest, that’s what I luv about your channel. Very informative and great content. I’m 67 and have been fishing since I was very young. Still luv it and continue to learn. RU-vid is great. I’ve learned so much from it. Not only fishing but a variety of things. Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing more of your videos.

There is a ton of content out there. I watch a lot of it, but tend to shy away from highlights and just fish catches. I love technique and pattern videos, as well as uncut, raw fishing footage. Watching these videos has made a direct correlation with my ability to fish lakes. I grew up fishing ponds and hated lake fishing, because I didn’t understand it and couldn’t catch anything. I’m pretty salty on the water now, and it is because of guys like you that take the time to teach and explain. Thanks for all of your hard work. It has helped pay off in my fishing.

Mikey you nailed it on the head again. I have been in this game a long time and back 10 years ago you really couldn't learn much from most of the pro fisherman out there. at least not a lot that was useful. That tone has defiantly changed in the last 5 to 7 years. You are completely correct. 10 years ago if I wanted to find really good information it was pretty hard to come by. Then guys like you started showing out on you tube. It was unfiltered and not filled with BS. I watch more You Tube now than I ever have. It is where the information is. I see a shift now in the pro tournament anglers. They are realizing that they need to share the information if they want to capitalize on the opportunities that are out there to grow their audience. You keep doing what you have been because you are one of the very best at it.

Even though I have been fishing for over 60 years, I watch videos about fishing to learn. You are the best at sharing information which might or even might not help. The important thing is you do share. Keep up the straight out honest work. Even throw in some videos of the bad days, because we all learn from those too..

I just started fishing at the beginning of 2022 and have watched thousands of fishing content and I had by far learned more from you than all the pros put together. You and ol' Randy B

I do not know how you don’t have 500k subscribers! I still like your old school tin boat videos the best!!! Thanks for staying true.

Great content is always mikey! What you're talking about is exactly what we're doing in our tournament club. Outcasts Bass Club is a group of guys that got together for the enjoyment of fishing and not focused on the payouts. We share techniques, baits, conditions, etc. We have both professionals and rookies in our club. It's about teaching and learning! At the end of the day it's really about your character. When Captain Lee Harrelson spent some time with you, I'm sure he told you about the club. Keep doing what you're doing dude!

You do it right. Great passion, good discussions, lots of great honest teaching, and of course why we are all here; supporting BOG!

Thanks for this, dude. We can always trust you to keep it real and lift the veil on these hot topics. I appreciate you man 👍👍👍

Bro, Thanks for all your insight. With everything thing that is going on in the industry today, possibly there will be some changes for the good happen in the future. Stay hopeful and positive and keep fishing.😎

It’s guys like you that do make a difference. I was one of those guys who watched a lot of good RU-vid fishing channels to learn how to fish. I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to fish when I was younger. It wasn’t till later in life I got a chance to go to lake Murray sc about 12 yrs ago that really started my passion for bass fishing. Through all of it, i was able to join a small bass club this year to learn how to try to be a better bass fisherman. THANKS FOR ALL the awesome content.

So funny to me that you put this video out. I’m 54 now and just started back bass fishing when I found guys like you on RU-vid. All my buddies ask how and why I got so addicted to bass fishing so fast and my answer was this. First thing I bought when I had a job and built some credit was a s-10 Chevy truck and a sprint bass boat with a 90hp Johnson. I loved that boat like a child and tried my best to be good at catching bass. I watched every bass master show trying to catch a glimpse of a bait. I told my son back then bass anglers were like a cult, they wouldn’t tell you shit, refused to help even a little bit. Even the local guys would hide as much as possible and it was almost impossible to learn from anyone any little thing. As you said all the pros lied about how deep, what lure, how dirty are clear and what structure they were fishing. It was terrible for me at least. I made 5 bucks an hour and was married so every fishing trip all I bought was hell for spending money on gas and lures. Lmao!!! I went on a winter trip fishing one day(all day) and caught 1 tiny bass. When I was pulling my boat out an older guy was there. I ask if he had any luck and he showed me an ice chest full of bass all the way up to 4 lbs. I ask him if he would share a little advice and he said yeah keep at it you’ll figure it out and got in his truck and left. That night I sold my boat to my buddy to use catfishing. My son just laughed at me. My point is that you guys doing RU-vid have done more for the industry by teaching people than the pros ever will. You guys teach us to catch fish and catching fish is fun. Trying all day and not catching fish is discouraging to anyone. I know for myself and my son that when we would try something that you guys show us and it works. We talk about it for weeks. Thank you for that.

I got in on youtube early. Got out & quit for a while. My job had my life. Lost all my subscribers. Retired now & been trying it again due to having more time but seem to be spinning my wheels. O well, live & learn. Been watching you & it's great you've been successful. Love watching your early years in the jon boat. Keep the vids coming. You're right up there with the Dance's & Martin's.

Your so right, I fished as a kid and just 7 years ago I started bass fishing I started watching your videos and alot of others to learn how to. I'm 67 now👍

One of the best and truest convos you have had with your audience! Well done!

Guy at the ramp “what are they eating “ me bubble gum pink worm 😂

This is the most honest insight you’ll get. That’s why I Love you man! Keep doing you Mikey.

I remember the days of flipping off the aluminum John boat with torn carpet. You are an OG of RU-vid fishing.

I absolutely agree with you Mikey,there’s so many tournaments these days BassMaster, Mlf,High School ,College and there’s only so much 💰💵 to give 🤷It’s not like the 80’s and 90’s when we had TV advertisement 💵💰 was paying for the tournaments

Hands down your channel and Bass HQ are the best channel’s for wanting to learn about Bass fishing!!!!!!! With both channels honesty is a top priority. Never change!!

I'm with ya man I didn't have a mentor and I love it I live it and I've been doing it for 28yrs before I ever thought about doing RU-vid. I'll do it until I die with or without tournaments or social media.

This is my favorite channel. Just plain ol honesty 🤟. Thanks Mikey.....and bogg👍

Mike, you always tell it like it is! We appreciate it. I've been watching the pros for years and I realized early on they were feeding us a line of crap. One of the reasons I like following you and watching your videos is you not only show us how to use a lure, but which lures to use, and then you catch fish on the lure as proof that it works. Keep up the great video's!

Well said Brother. So down to earth and real. I listened to him on Mercer's podcast on my Thanksgiving drive. RU-vid is how i learned how to fish when i started at age 26. Jon B and Peric were literally the first Video's i subscriber to. Keep up the amazing content, Brother.

Best way I have heard this whole thing described. Seriously I feel like you have pinpointed exactly the situation. Hope Bog is doing well!

Straight talk, thats want people want, the way you put it out there is awesome!!!

Great insight as always man. Terkla was on zaldians podcast recently and called Jacob near the end. . I really hope Jacob takes Robs advice to ride this wave he made while its still hot and relevant and start churning out content immediately.

So true. Like you said in that last video, I was 10 years old, reading In Fisherman, and thinking that if only I fished that jerkbait just like it told me or learned to analyze structure just like the pictures, I would then finally be able to catch more fish. Haha, RU-vid anglers and honest content finally helped me to learn how to find and catch fish every season, all 12 months, any day. Grateful for channels like this one.

OMG! You’re exactly right Mike. You and a bunch of others on RU-vid are the reason I am obsessed with bass fishing. Real content and genuine personalities. Keep doing you brother. Tight lines!

I wish I had FFS on my boat but can’t bring myself to spend the money … yet. I like to see the scope that shows a school stacked out in no where instead of on the bank. It amazes me how many fish we may be driving over at 60 mph.

Spot on about what you are saying. Now a little less serious. My wife and I live in Palm bay and she is crazy about your videos and they have helped us beyond belief. Hate to also tell you she loves Boz. When you come back down we would love to meet you if at all possible and just say high. You are a good hearted human being and that shows through in not only this video but your others. Hope you have a blessed day Mikey

I have been a victim of a tv show about smallmouth. It is nice to have honesty about lures and technique .With big money in the drivers seat we as viewers have to cipher through the content being shown. We watch to learn and share. Thank you for your views of honesty.

Your right Mikey we need a real dude in a tin rig, punching up 10s in Florida and stright giving juice. Iv been watching you since the beginning man. Your channel just hit home for me, I'm a big flipper and being from Ohio we dont have many chances to punch so I was drawn to you bc of the real content.. Long storie short you lead me down a path of BB Crickets, Why not's and yo mommas 😅an I can say in comfortable punching thick stuff now cuz of you man. Thank you b Mikey B for being a real one. P.S. I miss the ol Florida days man...

As always keeping real and i agree theres plenty of room because its about if the viewers connect with your content

Many years ago I watched bill dance outdoors and was always intrigued by fishing. It wasn’t until I hit my early 40s that I needed a new “hobby” and chose learning to fish. That was almost a decade ago. I’ve learned SO much thanks to RU-vidrs who put out content to teach and educate people like me who knew nothing and am still learning now. I love watching some of the competitions and stuff but a lot of it isn’t interesting if I’m to be completely honest. I’m more interested in learning the entire process and how to locate and catch fish through knowledge not technology. Anyways, without the wealth of information on RU-vid alone I’d probably have given up long ago. Good video as always, much love Sir!

Bro i just turned 59 and you're still able to teach me some of the new techniques and some mods to some old favorites. I appreciate the way you speak directly to your base not at us. Keep on keeping on bro give bog a belly rub from this old guy.🤙

You are 100% right back when you were throwing D&M custom baits on that little boat catching monster fish there was no one out there showing how to flip in real time or that custom swim jig bite that almost snapped your rod in two(awesome)there was a serious lack of info out there but you got it done and I thank you for it

Kevin Van Damn is the only pro fisherman that shows you new baits and how and where to use it. Even weather conditions. Kevin is a great teacher like you are. That’s how I buy baits. Thx buddy!👍🥸🙏

Really incredible video my friend. It will leave its mark. You are really good at what you do. I appreciate it. So real

Love all your videos especially the early tutorials like your flipping and punching I moved here from ny 23years ago they never taught any of those secrets in all the million magazines I had read or the million fishing shows I had taped and watched took a long time to figure out I was getting duped !!! Love your Chanel !! Learn heck of a lot from you I still need to a of practice to keep my baits quiet !! lol I am not very good at it but I try ( maybe one day you could do a deep water hydrilla or deep grass punching video be nice to see how it’s done ) central fla we fish the same lakes . Thank you Mikey

When you said 2010 you started I was thinking back of some of the first videos I saw with you in the ripped carpet and plywood deck boat punching. Good times!

Mikey!, You Rock and/or Roll as always! Consummate Professional. Everything you do is appreciated to the sport of bass fishing! Thank you.

Mikey is 110% correct, I fished alot of the Bassmasters Top 150 tournaments many years ago as far back as the late 1990's as a co-angler. I fished with some of the biggest names on the Bassmasters Tournament Trail and everyone of them told me the same thing. When we go to the stage today for weigh in I'm going to be promoting my sponsors lures and products even though that is not what I caught my fish on. And if you would keep that under your hat I would really appreciate that. And yes I saw them catch fish on a Bombmer 7A crankbait in red crayfish color but on stage it was a Storm Wiggle Wart in Tennessee shad color. And it was the same thing with Jigs, Jerk Baits, Rattle Traps, Top Waters and Plastics too. And it wasn't just 3 - 5 guys doing it either it was everyone. But, they were selling their sponsors products and making them money. Before TV cameras actually got put in the boats with guys the camera shots were from boat to boat and the Anglers actually didn't let the cameras get a good look at the baits that were being used.

Great video! Thank you for your honesty.

You helped a lot of Bass fisherman 👍Your love for it shows

I watch the video yesterday when you were talking about Jacob and that was a pretty cool video that you were talking to him about sure shooting details of rulers and saw what you can do and I thought that was in the good good and it was pretty cool I am a fisherman I videos

Well said, Mikey. The community and industry alike needed someone with the Balzz to say it. 😉🎣🔥

Speak the truth my brother, you are one of the real ones on RU-vid, stay humble.,and fish on.

Love your Vid's buddy . One of the most authentic guns on RU-vid 👍💪

Thanks Bro.. I’ve seen his video was little shocked but on good note thank you for the videos. Son and I love seeing the new tips thanks

I learned how to bass fish by watching tournaments on tv and now RU-vid. I don't have cable TV. Started watching you when u were fishing club tournaments 😎

All sports are going thru this. It’s chasing the rainbow career! I’m a tennis player professional for 5 years and a Director of Tennis for 33 yrs. Tennis niches are very hard on your or on court teaching to make a living. So many want to beings in so many sports, water them down. You look good cleaned up, yep I’m old. 😊 I have followed you from the beginning! Congratz on your success. Ps. Retired last month and moving to Crooked Lake, from Lakeland Fl. Looking forward to getting closer to Sebring.

Keep up the good work, Mikey!!

They do! People gravitate towards people who are genuinely themselves. Which you are Mikey. Which is why this channel is THE BEST!

Damn dude!! Nailed it!! stay a stand up guy!! your circle will be real!! keep up the GREAT videos!!

That a boy ! Stay on course speak your mind and be true to what you believe in , if you post if we will watch it . Great job brother, keep up the great content !

You are spot on, we watch videos to learn not to get feed some bs or what color to throw

Hey Bog! Bog was really into your talk Mikey! Ha! I’ve enjoyed your stuff from the falling out of the jonboat days. Keep it up. I’m not a big podcast guy.

Very well said! Always enjoy your take expressed on your videos

Thanks for sharing, well said.

Solid as always, Mikey. 🔥🔥🔥

Keep up the good work big bro 💪🏿💯

You are da man Mr ballz!!! Thx for telling it like it really is. Most so called pros don’t even show you what there using or how to fish it or they say they can’t show us that bait there catching them on because there working on they bait for years. So why don’t they keep a tight lip about it, and keep it off the video, DA! You’re great how you go fishing and showing us how to use it and where to use it!! Thx buddy you’re a professional fisherman in my book! Keep up this great lessons! 👍🥸🙏

100% spot-on. The times have changed from magazine/tv shows fishing exposure to social media. Nobody can change or stop that. Best part is, promotion is in the anglers control. They can do it themselves and the best part is the cream rises to the top. Viewers control that.

To be honest... I catch more fish on techniques from 25 years ago then I do from anything of this era... Tom Mann's baby 1 minus has caught me more bass than any modern-day lure... And probably always will! I am so glad I am well stocked on them.

Sure enjoy your genuine approach and helping anglers new to the sport - Thank You - keep it coming 🐠🐠🐠🐠⛳️

Mikey always keeping it real. Thanks for your input.

Good stuff and good points as usual. Ben Millikin put out a very good video about the “behind the scenes” stuff.

You nailed it!!!

You do great and I’ve done good on your info from making you on jugs and special skirts thank you.

THANK GOD someone said it. RU-vid didn't destroy anything in fishing it truly grew the sport much more than tournament fishing ever did. I have been watching BASS since the early 1980's. I can tell you I never saw anything help fishing more than RU-vid. Pro fishing is totally unrelatable to the average person that's why kayak fishing has exploded. Pros telling people that you need a $100,000 Boat to catch fish turned people off. Pro anglers are mad that their money train is slowing down. Smart pros like Scott Martain pivoted because the writing was on the wall about how things were going to change because of social media. I will disagree with you that this kid was around when this took place; it's actually the time he was coming up in fishing. He used it as an excuse for not performing at the highest levels. People are talking about how he has exploded now on RU-vid and he will be ok now. That's not how it works. People love to watch a train wreck. Some people will support him, and others are there to watch him destroy his life. You know it better than most; it's not easy to make content every week and to just make content complaining about the terrible world of being a pro angler will get old very fast. What made me watch you for the past five years is you are relatable. Well, until you got that new fancy boat. (Kidding) Reading all these comments shows me that everyone one likes you because you are relatable.. Keep up the great work. And please, no more videos about this kid. Let's get back to fishing

thank you Mikey !

I like this channel, I’ve learned more about how to use baits and when

Spot on Mikey B. Well said.

The realist 🙌🏻 You da man Mikey

Great vid Mike. You've talked about this before now

Nailed it bro. Spot on 👍🏽

Love your channel! But I gotta admit, I miss the Florida stuff!! Thanks for your candidness!

I'm nearly 60 years old. I believe I lived and enjoyed the high water mark of Pro Bass fishing. It was interesting and thrilling. Now day's I dont enjoy what's happening as much. I truly believe it isn't as exciting because of all the new electronics and formats. Pro Bass fishing will never compete with other major sports. I miss waking up on Saturday or Sunday to watch Hank Parker and Paul Elias and others actually use fishing knowledge to do battle. Just my opinion.

There is a lot of that leftover omission and dis-ingenuity and some of the new faces in the industry have found new-age ways to revamp the shilling and focus on product/marketing/image as social media grows. Look how many channels are suddenly showcasing TEMU crap while claiming "no of course we arent sponsored by them!" and of course some of them are not, but there are many examples of this focus on selling everything all the time instead of teaching and exploring. There always will be. In every single industry. The smartest consumers will know how to balance quality products with the good content on these platforms. We will always appreciate honesty from creators like your self. You could easily fall into line and focus only on the marketing dollars, but you make a decision that benefits all your viewers.

SPOT ON!!!

You’re right!! Live Tournament TV is 98% entertainment; 2% educational. RU-vid fishing channels are 100%/100%. You get the best of both. We get entertained and educated at the same time. That’s why Bill Dances TV show has been around forever and is so popular. With RU-vid the amount of fishing and fishing educational content is endless. But just not fishing pick any subject you can find it on RU-vid. You don’t have to pay for it and that’s another reason people are getting rid of traditional cable and satellite. And for Bassmaster and MLF that’s going to be a problem going forward because their advertisers and sponsors are looking for eyeballs and that’s shrinking and those eyes are online; not TV. Another reason the money isn’t there.

The truth will set you free❤ thats why im watching your channel

Good video and information

Appreciate the video, dont disagree. Jacob is not alone. Jon Crews competed 4 yrs before landing sponsors. This is where the problem lies. Fishing well and proving yourself SHOULD land sponsors. But the sponsors want the anglers to be dependent on YT content to sell products and increase sponsor revenue. All while payouts in BASS MLF are actually lower when compared to years ago. So the question is with hundreds of sponsors out there where is all the money for tournament prizes ? Seems to me anglers allow themselves to be pimped. Pro anglers have huge expenses. I like what Zaldain said. Other sports athletes have representatives. So should anglers. But anglers sell themselves short by accepting what's offered. The state of fishing largely falls on anglers themselves. Ben Milliken has a video breakdown using eraserboard and breaks it all down. Absolutely incredible insight to dirty business side. Highly recommend watching it. Impossible to explain it all

True that brother, keep it coming....

Love ya MIKEY! Stay at em bro.

This is SPECIFICALLY why I turned to Tactical Bassin, you, etc. All of these channels were giving out the ACTUAL juice that pros were hiding, lying about, etc. I'm new to this sport, only 3 years in, but I could tell very early on how people were propping up companies, baits, etc so that's why I look for channels who aren't funded by the big box companies. It makes a HUGE difference.

The pro anglers organized at one time but that group never put the necessary pressure on the tournament organizations for lower entry fees and better payouts.❤ Great vid, I have seen this coming and kind of expected the anglers to stop having that false dream.

Personally, I want real people, real personality, on the water content, and learning something from everything I watch. I watched a video released by an elite series angler today that was a good video but had TWO sponsor plugs in it... I get it ya want $$ but man one is all ya need per video. That's why I like watching your stuff, B. LAT, Ben Milliken etc... it's entertaining and I take away something from every single video I watch. Keep doing what you're doing!

You , and a few others. When I came to youtube to learn how to fish (and I mean fucking 200iq tunnel vision obsessive learn) it was you and a few others. You're full discretion is the reason I am winning tournaments today, and I share everything I know with everybody whenever I have the chance - In respect to all of you. Who made it possible for me. I love this sport. I live for this community. I cant wait until I start sharing online. 2024 is the season.