Guntersville Crush Session

Here is a quick clip from the recent outing to Lake Guntersville. I was able to stretch the string on numerous giant LMB's on the Spro "Little John" crankbait. The biggest fish of the day was 7lbs (which you will see in the video). Had to have the crankbait ticking the weed tops with long pauses. The rod would all of a sudden just load up, and out came the words Fish On! I also got the fish to bite a Rat-L-Trap when I would "yo-yo" it over the grass tops. I am off to the first FLW tour event on the Red River and will be posting updates and info here soon. Hope to get some fun video stuff while I am there. Oh and I forgot to mention...win a tournament as well!

Are you kidding me....unba

My brother and I headed to Guntersville yesterday for a day trip.  Left me wanting more...wondering when I could be back for another crush session! 

All but one fish came on a Spro Little John crankbait in spring craw pattern.  The largest largemouth bass I put in the boat was just a shy under 7'pds!  It had the crankbait completely inhaled.  I also caught fish throwing a 1/2 oz rat-l-trap.  Just had to have the bait ticking the tops of the weeds.  Then an occasional pause and wham they would crush it.  It was an unba day.  I am enjoying every bit of my opportunity to fish in this part of the country.  I can not wait for next weeks FLW tour event on the Red River.  

Yesterday really helped get the monkey off my back.  I had a few bad outings recently here on Lanier and was in need of a day like yesterday.  I am super stoked to get over to the Red River and get to business.  Can't wait to stretch the string on more lmb's. I will be posting more updates and info soon, FISH ON!!     

Trying to figure it out

As I sit down at my computer today I realize I have no fish stories, pictures, or videos to share.  I have to ask myself why is that?!  I blame it on a few different things.  It has been unusually cold here in GA, it has been very wet (rained 4" on Sunday), and last but not least I have not been catching fish!  To be honest it strictly comes down to being successful and productive on the water....as of late I have not done either of those two things. 

My updates for the past 5 years have been about all the fish I am catching, the success I am having on the water, and the killer photos to accompany.  Example below...

This post is different.  I am going to talk for a minute about what it is like to not catch fish, to struggle on the water.  The trials and tribulations.  The fish are not always flying in the boat....hard to believe i know?!

Last week I hit the water 3 days and never boated a fish, yes that is correct, I never caught a bass on Lake Lanier 3 trips in a row.  I think I can tie it to a few different factors.  Water temps....the water temps last week hovered in the low to mid 40's!  Bass are lethargic when the water gets that cold.  The fellow MN boys/girls can relate, they do not catch many bass when the lakes are frozen.  They simply do not feed and go dormant.  So I tried to adjust and fish slower to get bites, but to no avail.

Water temps played a role.  Also the amount of rain.  It seems to rain an inch plus here every 2 days.  The water levels were going down and the fish were biting, now they are on there way up and the fish shut down.  The water also gets stained with the rain and makes them tough to catch. 

The last thing I have to point to is ME.  I am the only one with control over where I fish, what bait I use, when I fish, and how hard I fish.  I think last week marked an all time low for me.  When things aren't going right and nothing seems to be working I start to break down mentally.  Adjustments needed to be made in order to captilize and I was not able to do that.  To be succesful at a high level, you have to be able to adjust on the fly......  

I know what you are thinking right now...."it is fishing, how hard can it be?"  "It's not like you are at work!?"  Well I am here to tell you just the opposite.  When you pursue anything at a high level, I don't care what it is.  If you are not able to achieve success it wears on you mentally.  I started second guessing everything I was doing.  Don't mistaken this for complaining, I would never complain about getting to fish for a living.  I am simply putting on paper what I felt last week.  I felt defeated and beat down.  I found myself getting to the lake late, and leaving early.  That is not like me.  I found myself abandon everything I have learned in the past and going scatter brain.  I had a case of serious discontent. 

So here I sit with a fresh outlook and a fresh start to the upcoming fishing adventures.  I did have to take a few days off the water, reflect, and get refocused.  I went back to the drawing board and am going to have a different approach. For me to get back to being successful I have to put the trolling motor down and go!!!  That is my key to success.  If I am driving around at 60 mph I will never catch any bass.  I have to fish longer, fish smarter, and fish harder than ever before.  The FLW Red River tournament is fast approaching and I do not want to start my season off with a bad showing.  I think this past 2 weeks was the best thing that could have happened to me; gave me a better understanding of how to adjust and react the next time things get tough.  It is best that I have it out of the way, and can go forward being successful when it counts the most.  But I also understand that rough times are still ahead, I just know I need to handle them differently. 

As I stated earlier I will be heading to the Red River in Shrevport LA for an FLW tour event.  I will update every day while I am there with pictures and stories.  Stay tuned.      

I am headed to the lake this afternoon and will be back with photos and stories.  Until next time, FISH ON!  Time to get back to the Crush!   

Still Ice Fishing

For those of you who have been asking, I am still rocking with ice house rentals on Lake Minnetonka and Lake Waconia.  I am still offering guide trips and corporate outings this winter.  I have a few guys contracted and helping me keep it all going while I am traveling and fishing all over the country.  Let me know if I can put you on a ice fishing trip you will never forget.