On this Wednesday, the 2010 Bassmaster Classic contenders are on the water for their last day of practice. Will what they find today have them scratching for a limit on Friday’s first day of competition, or scratching their heads as what to try next to figure out an unusually cold Alabama Lay Lake. We tried to help them break the ice a little by asking them a few more questions about their thoughts and strategies around their fishing and this week’s event.
1. Knowing what you know now at this point in your career about what it takes to sustain a livelihood at professional fishing and be competitive, what advice would you have for someone else wanting to chase the same dream?
Kevin VanDam (Plano pro staff) – Biggest thing is to believe in yourself. Do it your way and to your style. You have to have confidence, and it has to be about your own strengths and abilities; not about trying to emulate someone else. I have anglers telling me their accomplishments, and then want to know if I think they’re ready. My answer is always the same, “Only you can know that.”
Jeff Kriet (Sebile and Jewel Bait Co. pro staff) – I have a lot of people tell me they want to do what I do, fish for a living. But it’s really not true. They say they’re not because they don’t have the time or money. Well, I didn’t have the time or money either when I got started. But I made up my mind and went after it just like I was making a decision to start my own business. If you’ve got the guts and determination to do that, go for it. Be prepared for a ride, and do know that there are going to be sacrifices.
Todd Faircloth (Sebile pro staff)- Be patient, and be prepared for a slow start, in the beginning, especially when it comes to getting sponsors. I felt once I graduated to this level that things would happen in a hurry, but they didn’t. You have to understand that and have the staying power to hang in there until you get things going the way you want.
Kevin Short (Jewel Bait Co. pro staff) – If it’s for a college-aged person or younger, it is to get a college degree in marketing before you do anything else. Having the education and that kind of information on your side is ever bit as important as being able to catch fish. For someone older, learn whatever you can about marketing, however you can. I think it’s the single most important thing toward molding an angler for a long and successful career.
Tommy Biffle (Gene Larew Lures pro staff) – Take up golf at an early age. No, if someone is really serious about this as a career, it’s to spend as much time as possible fishing in all kinds of places and in every type of condition. I’m hearing some guys here this week saying they’ve never fished in water less than 50 degrees before. Then another guy who is in the know was excited to practice while it was snowing because he knew it’s an active time for fish. Fishing for a living, you don’t get to pick the days, times and places to go, so you better be ready to deal with what you’ve got.
Mike McClelland (Jewel Bait Co. pro staff) – Biggest piece of advice is to get an education first, focusing on marketing and business because what we do is a business first and foremost. And don’t get hung up on fishing as many different tournaments as you can. Instead, you’ll be better served by simply spending more time fishing and going to different places and situations.
2. Does cold water and weather make you change your choice of line type or weight?
Kevin VanDam – Not really. I’m pretty much using XPS fluorocarbon for everything; some braid for flipping around the grass. I do use a lot more line conditioner when it’s cold like this because it sheds water and helps keep my rod guides from freezing. I use a Palomar knot for fluorocarbon.
Jeff Kriet – No, not really. If I make any changes it will be going to heavier line because the water is stained and I can get away with it. I’ve got my Jewel jigs on 15 pound fluorocarbon; my Sebile crankbaits are on 15-20 pound test fluoro. I use a San Diego Jam knot on my fluorocarbon, it’s kind of like a Double Uni.
Todd Faircloth – Not really on my line choice, but I do consciously back off on my hooksets just a little. I’m using mostly fluorocarbon and because they are low stretch, the extreme cold can brittle them a little so I sure don’t want to break a fish off on an over-powered set.
Kevin Short - Not much of a change. I’ve downsized a little, but mostly using the same type – fluorocarbon. As for my knot, I use an Improved Clinch or a Double Uni on the smaller diameter stuff.
Tommy Biffle – If I do make any changes it will be to bigger instead of smaller. I am using fluorocarbon, Sunline. When fishing is tough you don’t want to take any chances with bites few and far between. I think I can get away with a little bigger line.
Mike McClelland - I’m liking my green Sunline I’ve got spooled for this stained water. I’m using fluorocarbon for my bottom baits, giving me the best line properties for them. For my stickbaits, I go with their monofilament because it doesn’t sink or weight them down.
3. When you have bait that is working well in a tournament, will you have an identically rigged rod and reel with an exact duplicate of that bait on your boat?
Kevin VanDam – Absolutely. I have a backup for everything. I have to be efficient. I don’t want to waste time having to rig or change a bait when I don’t have to.
Jeff Kriet – Lots of times I’ll do exactly that, especially if I’m catching fish on a Carolina rig or drop shot that takes some time to re-rig. More commonly though, I’ve got the same kind of bait tied on but in different colors or sizes. That’s really true with my shaky heads.
Todd Faircloth - Absolutely. It’s going to be right there on my deck where I can get to it in a hurry. Well, if it’s a really hot combo, I actually will keep it in my rod locker until it’s time to fish.
Kevin Short – I’ll definitely have multiple baits at the ready, but not so much identical things tied on. Usually there will be some similar things to what I’m effectively using, but in colors and sizes that give me some more options if I’m needing to change things up in an area to get another bite or two.
Tommy Biffle - Yep, I always have identical rigs of my go-to bait, sometimes as many as three others. If you’re in a key spot, the last thing you want to have to do is lose time by having to re-rig. I like all of my rods and reels to be identical so that every time I pick one up regardless of what I have on it, it’s going to weigh and feel exactly the same.
Mike McClelland - I’ll usually have similar rigs to give me more variations instead of exact duplications. I’ll have variations of bait sizes, colors and styles.
4. Do you weigh and record each keeper fish before it goes into the livewell or what is your fish culling process?
Kevin VanDam – I wish I thought culling was going to be a problem in this Classic. But no, I don’t do that. When it becomes time to assess my catch, I typically go to a balance beam.
Jeff Kriet – I do buoy all of my fish when I catch them. That not only gives me an easy way to keep count of my fish in the livewell, but also an easy way to work with them when it’s time to cull. I use a culling beam for that. As for estimating, I like to go on the light side, then when my weight is more than that I can be as excited as the crowd.
Todd Faircloth – No, I’m not that savvy. My process is always to get a limit first, then I’ll assess my catch and identify what needs to be replaced first.
Kevin Short – I don’t weigh my fish. I do tag them. On my fifth fish I will stop to weigh and record each one so I’ll know the culling order.
Tommy Biffle – I won’t mess with my catch until I have a limit. Then I’ll use a balance beam and tag the littlest one to cull first. Yes, I have messed up on my count. Wasn’t fun and it won’t happen again.
Mike McClelland - I don’t weigh my fish at the time of the catch. Many times you’re in a situation where you catch one fish, you’ll be able to catch another immediately behind it if you’ll get your fish into the livewell quickly and your bait right back in the water. When you have a limit, it’s time to assess your catch.
5. Imagine this: It’s the final day weigh-in and you’re in line with a limit you believe has you in contention to win. Would you rather be visiting with the other pros in line and listening to predictions, or be totally tuned out and listening to your iPod?
Kevin VanDam – That’s an exciting time, and something to be shared. So many of us fishing in this Classic are good friends, and I enjoy sharing in the thrill win a friend wins. Of course, I’ve been fortunate enough to win a couple myself. It’s a special time.
Jeff Kriet - Oh, I’d be totally tuned out. I’d have some kind of hip-hop going on. I mean old school hip-hop. Just hip-hopping out, waiting to take care of business.
Todd Faircloth – No, I won’t be tuning anything out. I want to know what’s going on. I’ll be intermingling trying to figure who’s got what and what might happen.
Kevin Short - I’ll be listening to my iPod, plugged into a little bit of everything. Might be some Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, u2, and who knows what else.
Tommy Biffle – I don’t mind listening and visiting about what’s going on. It’s over by then, so you’ve either got ‘em or you don’t.
Mike McClelland – On that final day, it’s cool to have an idea of what’s going on. I got into some of that action on the last day at last year’s Classic. I had a good bag of fish that was getting lots of attention, so the adrenalin starts pumping and you do begin to wonder “what if” should the leader have a tough day. I say live the moment to the fullest.
6. When you win the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, what’s the most “fun” thing you would spend part of your prize money on?
Kevin VanDam – It would definitely be something with Sherry and the boys, probably a fun trip somewhere.
Jeff Kriet – I’d be telling my wife, “you want to quit that job, you go right ahead.”
Todd Faircloth – My longtime desire is to have my own land for deer hunting, but that might not be the best option at this point.
Kevin Short - I’ll be taking my wife on a houseboat on Lake Powell for a week, and then who knows what else.
Tommy Biffle – A Kodiak bear hunt in Alaska with my bow.
Mike McClelland – Take the family to Atlantis in the Bahamas. That looks like a fun place to escape for a few days
Source: Dollahon Public Relations
Plano, Larew, Sebile and Jewel are having a GREAT week on the Tog…….