Bass Fishing - UltimateBass.com

With any fishing technique, from fishing a topwater bait on down to throwing a crankbait or worm, it's always hard to gain an edge and stay ahead of the other guys. Through the years, I've fished against some tough competition--guys like Denny Brauer, Guido Hibdon and Kevin VanDam--so I'm always looking to gain an edge. Focusing on topwater and trying for bigger bites is one way I try to separate myself from the crowd.

I'll turn to topwater again and again during tournaments, even when the fishing gets tough. Why? Because it works, and it works during more times, and more times of the year, than you'd think.

My primary philosophy for topwater fishing is, no matter the time of year, there will always be some shallow fish. If a fish has access to cover, and that cover provides a hiding spot and access to the shad or baitfish or bluegills that swim by, it won't leave. It will always stay shallow.

Summer time brings with it an amazing fishing opportunities "Night Fishing". Night fishing has some great advantages and some disadvantages too.

What separates the bass fishing professional from weekend anglers? Is it sponsorship, deals on boats and equipment; money, a large company behind the angler; ability, being able to pattern bass and catch them; or something that is so simple the general public overlooks it? Most of these things are obvious, except the overlooked. 

Sponsorship is almost a requirement with increased gas prices, high tournament fees, the expense of boats and outboards, oil, bait, terminal tackle, rods, reels, not to mention the traveling and hotel stays. Get the picture? It is expensive to be competitive in the bass fishing tournament world today. Sponsorship helps to buffer the damage that bass fishing professionally can do to the angler’s wallet, but it is not what makes him a professional.

Money?  Of course it’s an ingredient. How many professional anglers started out with a ten year old bass boat, "antique looking" tackle and equipment and despite the financial short comings still managed to excel in competitive bass fishing?  Conversely, there is "that guy", who is in every part of the country. He has a $60,000 name brand boat, several $200 rods, $300 reels to go with every one of them, and pulls his rig with a brand new top of the line SUV. He can’t catch a cold during a cold front but he is a bass fishing professional. Is money what grants him that title or something else?