Just imagine being a 19 year old kid & winning your first Bassmaster Elite Series tournament in only your second event. Well, Trey McKinney did just that on Lake Fork this past weekend. He became the youngest Elite Series champion & took over the co-lead in Bassmaster Angler of the Year & Rookie of the Year race along with Ben Milliken. Now he joins the podcast to talk about it.
But that’s not all. Jake’s Take – the ultimate behind-the-scenes Bassmaster segment with Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse returns & we talk about everything that happened both on and off the water at the Toledo Bend & Lake Fork tournaments. Including never before revealed info from the back deck of Kyoya Fujita , Lee Livesay, Takumi Ito, Kyle Welcher & Ben Milliken’s boat.
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Wow, what a show we have for you this week. It is a double dose of goodness. We are joined by the youngest elite series champion ever, the youngest angler, the year leader ever. The youngest rookie of the year leader ever. The youngest century club member ever. Trey McKinney hot off his win.
But we break down everything that happened in the first two stops of the Bassmaster Elite series with the full behind the scene show with bass master videographer Jake Latendresse. It is crazy. All this includes 11 Century Belts and a lot happened in two weeks. Trey McKinney and Jake Latendresse
Joining me this week, on… I’m Bob Cobb from The Bass Masters. welcome to Mercer. Welcome one Welcome all friends, family, freeloaders, fish and freaks. You’re all welcome. Here at the Awkwardly Honest Fishing podcast that goes by my last name, which is a mercer. Welcome into the 151st edition of the Mercer Podcast,
And I hope you’re having a great week. Happy hump day to each and every one of you. As you can tell, my voice is a little raspy coming off two back to back events to kick off the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series and to absolutely insane events.
And we’re going to talk a lot about them. I mean, the first event, obviously, in many Louisiana, Toledo, Bend, we had another bass master Century Club Achieve Me may have just seen the start of the most dominant elite series career or elite series start to a career that we’ve ever seen.
I mean, leaving Toledo Bend, our eventual champion career for Guida, now has just ten elite series events. He has six top tens. He has two elite series victories, two Bassmasters Century clubs. It’s unbelievable. Nobody knows anything about them, but you’re going to learn about them today because we have Jake’s
Take Back in Your Life. Bass master videographer Jake Latendresse was in the boat with him for three days. Watch it all go down and we’re going to finally learn about Koya Fajita. And just when you thought that it couldn’t get any better, we roll up the road to Lake Fork
And what a fork and turn them. And that was we had ten Century Belts, the youngest elite series champion in history, Trey McKinney, 19 years old, and literally was six, was eight. I’m bad at math. I was 18 the week before. I mean, just turned 19. He’s now the youngest
Elite series champion ever. He’s the youngest leader in progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points the youngest person to ever lead the record, Lithium Rookie of the Year race and the youngest person to ever achieve a century belt. And he was knocking on the door of Paul Elias’s all time weight record.
So it was unbelievable. And we’re going to talk to Trey here on this show and get to know him a little bit because, I mean, just imagine it, 19 years old. I mean, every time I talk to him, I feel like a total loser because I think of myself at 19
And he is doing so much more than I even imagined or even dreamed about at that time. So we’ll talk to him. It’ll be a good show. But before we get into the show, I got to thank everybody who came out. Record crowds, giant crowds at both venues. Absolutely insane.
I love my job, but it’s events like these last two that remind me I got the best job in the world and you guys make it better every single year. So I thank you all for that. A couple of things that I have to personally thank people for. You see right behind me
Have a probably the world’s greatest bobblehead collection, I’d say, if it’s not already. I mean, it’s it’s almost there. And we’re adding some more thanks to Super Marshal Rick Moore. Guess who we got? Clint Eastwood. That’s right. If you look closely, Clint was actually on the desk or on the picnic table
Of last week’s mobile podcast, which we’re going to do more of those. You guys love that. But check out this beautiful bobblehead, Clint. Dirty Harry. Unbelievable. Rick Moore got me this because Rick Moore is a super marshal from the West Coast. Goes to a lot of events, has,
You know, been on the boat with pretty much everybody in pro fishing. But when he’s not doing that, he runs security at the Pebble Beach Open and Clint has Clint’s saloon there. So this is a beautiful Clint Eastwood bobblehead that will that will be behind me always.
And if you ask me in fishing, I’ve said it before, we have our own Dirty Harry. We have our own Clint Eastwood. It is Jason Christie. And look at there. I mean, it’s Jason Christie. It is beautiful. And I believe that they were trying to make this bobblehead and Clint
Said, no, no, you’re not doing it right. And he took it and painted it himself. I don’t think this actual one. I think they copied it from there. But Clint, you look spectacular. I thank you for being the the amazing human being that you are. And, hey, you’re welcome on this podcast.
Any time you know, 5 minutes of your time. We just want to talk about fishing. I mean, I will I will cling on to the Clint clout in a heartbeat. But regardless, you’re going to be on this podcast a lot because you can be right back there. But that’s not all.
We have more bobbleheads. I mean, it was raining bobbleheads. Not only do we have Clint Eastwood, we got a Pat Schlapper bobblehead, this one given to me, not by Pat, but by his parents. I if I was, I should know their name, but the Schlappers gave me this beautiful bobblehead,
And both of them will be behind me forever on. So I thank you for all of the fine gifts and I thank you for tuning in. So it’s a very long one, but it’s got a lot of details. It’s got a lot of behind the scenes stories, and I think you’ll enjoy this
If you got to break it up in a few bits. That’s okay. You can do that. But stick with me through this because it is it is a very a lot happened, let’s just put it that way. I mean, it’s just two events into a nine event season, but man,
It feels like a lot more than two. There is a lot going on behind the scenes. There is a lot of changes in this sport. And we’re going to talk about a lot of it on this week’s show. And so I should stop talking so we can jump right into it
And get to our very first guest who is the youngest elite series champion in Bassmaster history. He is the youngest to co-lead the progressive Bassmaster Angler there. He leads that with Ben Milliken. As a matter of fact, he is the youngest to co-lead the CO Lithium Rookie of the Year.
Also leading that with Ben Milliken. He’s the youngest to ever achieve a bass master century belt. He is the young fishing phenom that is Trey McKinney. And he is the even left lake for still hanging out at Lake Fork. Let’s get him. Trey McKinney, you are the youngest
Person to ever win an elite series event. Are two elite series events into your elite career and you are currently leading the go to Lithium rookie of the Year and currently leading the progressive Bassmaster. And with your title, Co-Leading with your buddy Ben Milliken. What? What? I mean, could you even have dreamed
Of of this moment? You know what I mean? Like, I know you’ve worked hard, but did you ever imagine two events in a be this? No, not at all, really. You know, like basically, like I said, when I was going, I just didn’t want to step over my head. You know, I’m saying,
You know, there’s a whole bunch of those comments. It’s like, you know, or on Tik Tok motivational stuff that, you know, when you’re scared to jump is the time you should jump, you know, And I would you know, there’s a lot of truth to that. But it’s also scary. You know,
That’s like, you know, that’s just big balling it. You know, just just jump in it and see what happens, good or bad, let’s go type of thing, you know, And that’s hard to do. So I’m glad we done it. I’m glad we chose the path that we done. You know,
There’s a lot of other variables anymore. You know, there’s so many different places you can go. But then I got to talking with a lot of people and, you know, you just think of the Bassmaster Classic, You know, that’s I mean, that’s like the Super Bowl, you know? I mean I mean,
You know, you have all these other trials and everything you can I mean, possibly go pro as well. But the Bassmaster Classic, there’s just not another thing out there like it. And I figured this was my best route and did I think it was going to go like it has? Not really.
No, to be honest with you, like I said, I’m my mom’s always real positive. Like, she was like maybe like, you know, stay positive and everything. But, you know, I try to be a little bit of both, you know, a real, real artist and a little bit of the positivity and everything.
So I was like very skeptical of it, but I’m very glad we chose the path lived done now. Yeah, I mean, it’s worked out pretty good. I’d say. When when did you start? When did this dream start for you? At what age? When you said, Hey, I want to fish for a living?
Absolutely. You know, there was you know, there’s multiple little things that you can say when I mean, when I was you have to be old enough, you know, that you realize what it would mean to you. And I feel like, you know, you always we always have a dream.
I want to be a professional. I want to be a pro fisherman. But you don’t realize what that would mean to you, to, you know, you get maybe just a little older, maybe. I think I was probably, you know, probably 13 or 14 til I really knew what it meant
To be a pro and work to be up there on the top level, to be able to compete with some of these guys and to be able to hoist the trophy. I mean, that’s I mean, it just means the world, you know, it’s it’s an unbelievable feeling. I got up there
And I was just like looking out there at the crowd and it was pretty amazing. It’s busy being. Yeah. Can take a picture here right this second. You might if I do this podcast, get the picture. Just take the picture right now. Tell him to come to the picture.
Okay, Do the picture. Okay. We will talk about ourselves. They can be part of the podcast. Yeah, Yeah. I’ll show you guys how we got this. Yeah, absolutely. Come on. I know man has been fishing. It’s like, since I have, so I. It’s all good. 60 years old and I am his brand.
I thank you my time with you. And what you got going with that? Yes, absolutely. But it was I watched all four days on the screen and it was watching work like that. You were working hard. It was stressful. I gave it to that. It was stressful.
We’re going to set this is right here. We gonna get us a picture. So the finish out here used to you come out here and catch 5000 fish today. Look, I got smart. I got smart and smart, and I really appreciate it. I have no problem. My wife was on the know.
We’ll turn it around, Roger. And perfect. Yeah. Look in the sun. It’ll make a better picture. Okay. Awesome. My wife was. Want to know how you started fish? Is your family fish? Did you? Absolutely. So basically what happened was, is I say what we on a podcast. Yeah yeah, yeah.
We get to watch the Mercer podcast. We answer questions like that. All right. So basically what it was is we basically started and we had church tournaments, everything was like that. So I really got introduced to it as of that age and we were kind of just going into it.
I know I Trump tournament version, but I don’t know. I like what we done just now. You know, it was it was a different feeling. And my buddy Rick Tatum, he took me along and we done a lot of tournaments and we start in the junior
And then we went to the high school and we’re like, Now do we go, Yeah. Oh. And then we started. I’m sure you heard them like I guess back in the day, they’re like the red man’s spells. So I started that and we ended up I want I go to the year
One year, and I was like, you know what? I guess I like local heroes and everything. And I was like, you know, maybe we can do it. Maybe Illinois. Yes. Yeah. And so I was like, I need one more year of confidence, one more year of learning all these different strokes
That these guys know their lives. So we done one more year, the baffles and angry year again. And I got talking to a buddy of mine and got me convinced officially open. So it was kind of like a, you know, it’s a big thing to step into it, you know?
But yeah, I talk to everybody. It’s like, man, that opens. You have the best of both worlds approach. They said, Oh, I can compete with these guys. Exactly. And I really got that feeling when I went in the first 814, I found on like You Follow, and I was sitting like 60th
And I was like, Oh my gosh, You know, I stepped in over my head. I was like, I don’t know any do. And right after that, the next day we matched up with like £20 and we jumped all the way up into the top 20. And that gave me that competition, you know,
And we just kind of had exactly, you know, you got to have a little confidence in yourself, fish in a trust in your gut and everything. And that’s what wakes up. We kind of just built on that. So it’s amazing to be to congratulate and it was awesome to watch your
I think God is good and he’s got big plans for it. Yes, I hope so. Yeah. Well, you have a good day, my brother. Sorry. It’s like I was out there, was hot back to him. Thank. Thanks for being on the podcast. Yeah, that’s. That’s going to be a lot of your life
Now, dude. Like, I mean, is it weird for you to be recognizable? Like, literally, you were inside, you stood outside for, you know, we started this for a minute in and people are asking for your picture. Is that a weird thing for you to deal with? It is. It’s kind of it’s
Not it’s not overwhelming. It’s a great feeling. You know, some some guys will go, you know, sometimes maybe it gets a little oh, something like that. You know, you get bothered. It’s not so much that if I mean, it’s not self can live and train but inspire other people. I mean, that’s
I feel like that’s why a lot of us do it. I feel like if we lose sight of that, you know, it becomes work. It becomes maybe not, not as fun. And so that’s one thing I hope I never lose. I feel like any time I can inspire a little me,
I mean, that’s that’s exactly why I do it, to have him do it the right way, follow the right path, try to do everything. I mean, honestly, on the right path, in the right way will get you so far. Sometimes, you know, you can take shortcuts and stuff like that
With some, you know, it’s fine. Everyone’s so but you know, just trying to do it the right way. People sometimes really recognize that, and that means a lot to me. That’s all I kept thinking. It’s weird when I watched you guys hold trophies. I think different things for different people.
But the whole time I just kept thinking and I said that to backstage, like, imagine what a 15 year old version of you how motivating it would have been to see a 90 year old when Win Elite Series event. Have you thought about that at all? The impact
That you have on the sport long term? I’ll tell you what, that’s that’s a really important thing. I feel like I’ve had a lot of kids. You know, we went down to a mexican restaurant here a while ago and just said that, you know, I was just kind of me
And my mom was sitting there and I could feel this guy staring at me. And I was like, okay, I was I didn’t really know where he was, but I was like, you know, like scanning the room, like, kind of getting awkward, like, where’s the ad? And I finally caught a glimpse
Through the wall and I saw him or whatever, and he came over and talked to me and he’s like, You know, my son has been watching you. It’s really inspiring to him and everything. And just a person like that just coming up to me and saying, that is pretty cool.
And that’s why I said something on Live On that last push I call it. I mean, that is that is all I wanted to do, you know, give somebody a chance to follow their dreams when somebody, you know, you might you might be shy, you might be like, man,
I can’t make it for somebody. Hopefully that can see it of what we just do on it is to be like, okay, maybe I should shoot my shot. Maybe, maybe I can do this. You know, it’s it’s you a selfish no matter what you stand up against. That’s really what it’s about
Is you figuring out how to catch the five best fish out of the whole field. And once you learn that and I started to drift away from that, you know, I was like, okay, we got all these good people behind me. I got to beat them. What if he catches a ten pounder?
There’s so many different things at this. Like right here of all legs, I would never have thought I would have done it here. But it’s it’s amazing. But it’s so much going through your mind. And if you just cut that out and be like, okay, when’s my next by What cast is it
Going to be on right here, this moment? And if you just keep focusing on that for me, I’m going to go a lot farther. You keep saying we. And I think that’s fitting in your situation because it feels like to me that this was this moment, this career. It wasn’t just you.
It was your entire family. Yes, sir. Yeah. It’s been when I say we, it’s it’s there’s so many people that come into that it’s I and Rick Cheatham as he’s basically I mean, he’s taught me everything now. I mean he’s of course I mean basically everything it means to be me.
You know, I’m trying to I’m going out there. He’s taught me how to just not so much The fishing part of it is just trying to be, you know, professional, trying to be just genuine, you know, not not trying to act like, okay, So he always tells me
It’s like you go out there and be yourself. That’s what I want you to be. And, you know, just for somebody to say that is a lot more motivating than going out there, be like, okay, focus this focus this, this fight. You have to focus on it. I can just go out there,
Be myself, and go fishing on what I love to do. I mean, it’s amazing, you know, he’s pushed me so far and taught me so many things. I’ve met so many people through. I mean, there’s so many people that just helped me along the way. I forget one time.
I mean, I hadn’t been fishing that long. You know, I don’t have that much wisdom on, you know, changing a tire, for instance, We’re talking about the simple stuff, like I’m talking, okay, I got a flat tire, What do I do? I got these tools, put this together, put that together,
And I’m not have enough. I’m not strong enough. So I’m like, jumping on it, trying to get the nut to break loose. I mean, and he comes out there, he’s like, You make sure I do that. I’m like, You know what? That’d be that’d be really awesome. And he just like,
Puts this together and situation and it goes and breaks right loose. You know, it’s just the little things that he has taught me and everybody that has taught me just a just simple stuff like that. It all comes together and it’s been really important. When did your relationship
Because you mentioned Rick on stage. I mean, he traveled with you to all the opens from what I’ve heard. When did that relationship with him start? Absolutely. And that was actually so I have a I have a buddy at home when I used to when we used to build our house,
We had a bricklayer and he loved competition. And his name’s Dale Croft. Okay. So I had fish a little bit. I always had farm ponds. Everybody that I knew had a pond around me had drama for me, like knocking on everybody’s thought I should probably catfish upon, you know, I everybody
That would let me fish upon. I always like I mean daily weekly I’d always be there in and just just something about it I loved you know when I could trick something and it’s natural to bite my plastic rubber worm. I love it. You know, it’s it’s pretty cool.
But I mean, it was very young. After I went with him and started fishing, I would bring my bass rods dropping fish. He would be like, Man, you don’t need those things. We’re going to crop fish. And I was like, you know, I’m I was going tagalong take home.
And every once when I start catching bass where we were probably fishing and I was like, okay, this ain’t a pond, this is a lake or catch, you know, we’re catching up to you. And I was like, Man, it’s a different world. You can go everywhere, you can start the boat.
I can run over here, I can run over there. It was really cool just to be out there because I really didn’t have a boat or nothing yet. And first of all, I went with we kind of met some people through the store and he had had a rough time. He had tried
And it had went through a divorce and it was a rough time for him as well. And he’s like, Yeah, I’ll take him. So we got out to like of Egypt is our home like, and he took me out and we really clicked. You know, it’s different, you know, I think
He would probably be like 55 at the time. I mean, I mean almost I would say something rather 58 something and take in like a 11 year old kid out fishing. And, you know, sometimes that why you ask this question, why you got to do that, why you got these
Like little things, you know, little me would do that would just, you know, annoy you probably. And somehow it clicked really well. And he took that burden and just we just traveled so much together. And it was pretty cool. The memories we have had.
I mean, I’ve been in the boat with him on I he’s quite his personal best. And I mean, it’s it’s been it’s been an amazing journey. We just kind of kind of grown together, you know, he started as a coach, then we went to more of a mentor
Or then we went to a partner and now he’s his support. It’s crazy how it’s just took so many little steps at the time. So what was the phone call with him like after you finally won the event? It was pretty special, you know, I answered.
And the first I was like, is we done it? You know, it’s he’s like, man, they said, you know, out of that, I’m proud of you if you wouldn’t want it. And I was like, I understand everything. And when he said, you know, he said, you know, you don’t
You don’t always have to be on top. And he said, I’m going to be proud of you no matter what. He said, I know what we’ve been through. I know what we’ve done. I know the journey that the Lord has put us on here for and how many people you’re going to inspire.
And he’s like, We’ve done it. You know, it’s it’s an amazing thing. I mean, he said, I wish I was there. He had some stuff going on back home that he couldn’t come. So unfortunately, on that part. But, you know, we’ve got a long career
Ahead of us, so I hope we can get him get him on. Maybe maybe the next one. I talked to a bunch of your family members, some family friends that were all there Saturday, Sunday, whether it be take off, whether it be backstage. And they all claim to have seen this coming.
They all claim to have like from day one we watched him fish and he’s different. Are they just saying that because you successful or do you think like through your whole life did it feel like people said this was your path? You know, it has been really weird. People have always said,
Like when we go fishing, you know, I just go fishing. I don’t know what I’m doing. You know, I’ve just always I’ve always took that as as an a complement is to try to figure out I let it and it is a bad thing. It’s kind of like a kind of gambling
At the same point of it, you know, it’s like that fish are pretty professional gamblers. I mean, comes down to it and like hunting, I love it. Basically, all I do is hunt and fish. And to be out there in the outdoors and learn their ways, that’s like it almost consumes
Me, like more or less. It’s that I’ve always been kind of a weird type, you know? Everybody’s like, Well, what are you doing? I’m like, I’m going fishing. Oh, you don’t waste a weekend. I don’t. You don’t go out and do something. I go to a water park
That is on fire like now. I think I’m I go fishing. You know, I just always every day I can. Any day I got three. I’m just I’m always out there trying to learn that next thing, that next opportunity, that next little technique that I can get a fish, a bite
That maybe somebody else might not. So everybody’s always said that, but I’ve never really I’ve always just, you know, blow it off like, Oh, I don’t know, man. I’ll just, you know, I’m out here fishing just like you. You know, I’m not I’m not doing anything different. We’re just out here
Having a good time and everything. And everybody’s like, Well, there’s. You’re doing something different. Why are you catching two to my one or three to my lawn or something like that? And I’m always real competitive. So it was only like a tournament where we go fishing and anybody ever goes fishing with me,
It’s going to be a tournament. We always we going to have we’re going to have our our fishing against each other. So it’s it’s been amazing. So you didn’t you didn’t I should. We got minnows back on capacity, all right. Absolutely. But it’s it’s Thank you, sir. But it’s been amazing, Gayle.
I mean, I’ll just I’ll just take it. And like I said, it’s we’re just going to let it every little step of the way. Just more techniques and more time. And now I’ve really got I mean, everybody sit down like the Japanese guys have really like intrigued me.
Like you see all their stuff that they throw like a Harry nice and there’s like a sugar Cubano fingerlings on it. Like, I mean, why would have asked bite that. I mean, in my defense I look at that and I’m like, if I was a bass, I wouldn’t
Mind that, you know, what does that do? And just like all different little techniques, I’m looking around looking at people, fish and everything. My goal is just to kind of like not steal other people’s techniques, but just kind of kind of try to master everything. You know, if
I’m really not good on ledge fishing, I don’t know why. I just never I can catch them, but I can’t find them like these guys. You know, they go out, they’re idle. They’re like, Oh, right here on the map. This is it. That’s the money spot. I’m like, That’s a hawk.
I was different from this one that hope, you know, And it’s just it’s learning all this boat stuff that I can apply at these different lakes, Like I’m I’m a shallow water guy and I use action target to help me. I use as a tool and everything like I did this week.
You know, I moved out there over that deep water, but then that last day I got to catch them. How I like to catch them. You know, when I woke up that morning, I told my mom I was like, They’re up there. She’s like, What? I’m like, They’re up there. She’s like,
What do you mean they’re up there? I’m like, They’re up. They’re getting there. They’re moving up. Or I saw a few fish yesterday and I can notice them. They were doing some weird things. They were coming up or relating to stuff they don’t relate to if they’re not getting there.
And I showed up that next morning and I pulled up in that pocket and I just turned to my camera guy. I’m like, They’re here. He’s like, What am I doing here? I he’s like, okay. I mean, I had a tough time getting the bite, but I had the confidence
That I knew they were there. And that’s what that’s what something really special. Me on that last day, I got to go out and catch them how I love to and catch them kind of like I have fish, my roots just a lot bigger than what I’m used to.
You know, seven pounders, not at home, you know, I never catch them like that. So it’s pretty special. Does it frustrates you that your entire rookie class is pegged as a group of dudes that without forward facing sonar, you couldn’t catch a bass, right? It kind of you know, I take it as
I don’t take it personally. Not at all. You know, I figure I figure somebody if somebody really cares enough and they’re following me, everybody knows back home, that’s not what that’s not what I come from. You know, everybody back home would tell you, it’s like, yes, can he catch them on it?
Is that a tool that better serve as an anchor? It absolutely. You know, but I love going back fishing, dirty water, flipping, lie down, getting shallower. I hope you can never see my boat That’s deal at home. If the water somewhat high, if you see me on a day, you’re doing good,
You know, like I’m so far back up in that stuff. So, I mean, I love that stuff. That’s what I eat up. And so that’s that’s one thing, you know, I don’t let it bother me. I mean, it is unfortunate, you know, there’s some people that rely on it more than others
Not I mean, that’s just part of it. But I love just being able to be versatile. That’s kind of how I spend my whole kind of trying to learn as being versatile, you know, always being able, no matter where I can go, is try to cut it, check.
You know, that that’s kind of my goal. I mean, small mouth, everybody’s like, Oh, target, small mouth. You got it. I’m I don’t know, like I went up to my aunt lives on a place eighty-eighths. I was like, you know I got a lot of I heard my
So I mean I was out there doing a jig on small mouth scoping around like I didn’t know what I was doing that was out there just trying to get on the boat and I figured out how to get on the boat the jig, but I didn’t know I could have just thrown
This little thing and ate it. Just ate it. You know, I didn’t know that. And it’s just a the little stuff. I have so much to learn. I mean, I was out there, so I had to catch them. So I would see you on and I’m on.
I thought my jig on his head and they would follow it down and never eat it. I was like, okay, okay, we’re going to switch them out. So I would somehow sneak attack these bars. I would see him swimming and I would throw my jig because of the water so clear
I would throw it like 20 foot out front of them where they couldn’t see it. And I’d watch them and I’d keep a mark on where my jig was and I’d keep platinum swam and I swam like a bed and fish almost. And I swam. And finally, when I get over it,
I would just like, pop it on the bottom or something. And they would like, stop and they would look down and I just like enchants. And they would come down and eat it. That was the only way I can about it. But just little stuff like that I could find
And realize how I get these fish of body is special to me. That’s what that’s what I want to learn as an angler is just how to how to tease fish and to bite it. You know, in there it’s pretty cool. You get to taste something in their natural habitat
To bite something that’s not real. I love it. Where do you personally think what do you think the future of forward facing sonar is in competition? Specifically, do you think we’ll see toys? I mean, I think we’ll see changes. I feel like, you know, I don’t know
If I’m hitting on the head here. I mean, the, of course, is, you know, the kids. I kind of suit everybody’s boat. You know, there’s got to be something to happen where there’s not like over, you know, everybody at some point, you know, the squeaky wheel gets a grease
And that’s just part of it. But I mean, it’s still not going to there’s too much money out there in it. And it’s such a good product that you can realize how fish move, how they work. Yes. It’s going to make them tougher to catch because everybody can catch those fish
That hadn’t been used to be pressured in a little while. But another thing about it, you know, if they just limited to one or two, you know, to kind of kind of me, everybody’s everybody’s good to go, you know, type of thing instead of everybody running, you know, like five transducers.
You know, people get people get upset. You know, I understand it. I get it. Everybody wants to see an old fashioned shoot out, which, I mean, I understand it, but it’s definitely not as easy as it looks. But, you know, if we could just meet a happy medium where everybody limits
To one or two of any choice, wherever you want to put it, you just each boat, you can have up to two or you can have up to one, just something like that to kind of float everybody’s boat, I think, would be a, you know, a good start. You know?
I mean, I’m not I don’t want to be a opinionated person or anything else like that. But, you know, I feel like that way that would meet everybody kind of I mean, it’s not going to be one thing where it’s not going to just stop, but it almost is.
It’s so good, you know, if you understand it and everything else like that, which and it is it’s a really cool product just to kind of seal. I love it. It’s intriguing to me because I get to see a fish on a natural. Have I get to see how they line up,
Get to see how they set up, get to see how they swim, how they react to different boats, different colors. There’s so much that’s good with it, but some people, you know, I not see, but it’s a it’s an amazing thing. It’s amazing product. So I mean, there’s gonna to be changes
But I hope it’s for the best. You know I hope everybody everybody meets a happy medium and everything goes good. Really. If it if it went away, would you be panicked. No, no, I don’t think that’s, that’s a no, I really wouldn’t. I mean, I have plenty of stuff, but I love fish.
And, you know, I get out there and when I figure I always try last year, I always have, You know, like an active target pattern, a scope and pattern out there that was like, okay, if my shallow deal don’t work where I just get to go fishing and run patterns,
I’m gonna go out there and do that, you know, like there’s there’s always that side of me. That’s what I love. You know, I’ve always had those tournaments last year where I’d always have my other pattern that I know I could get that 12 to 14, maybe just fishing,
And then I would always have something on my back pocket that, okay, if I do this with my daughter, I might be able to catch that four or £5 range fish. You know, that kind of puts me over the edge. So, I mean, I wouldn’t say panic.
No, sir. I mean, it’s gonna be it would be great to still have it on some, some I guess techniques I’ve learned that are really I mean, I mean they’re really deadly. But you know, I feel like if we took away everybody that back to scratch,
I feel like I wouldn’t panic at all. I would love it. I would just go back to jump fish. And that’s what I love. Yeah. I mean, you fell in love with that. Clearly fell in love with the sport before that was even a thing. So it’s I honestly hate it for
You guys that you guys have to put up with. I mean, to me, you’ve worked hard to get here. You deserve to be here. You’ve proven the how has your first two we other than obviously it’s been good cause you’re leading angler of the year and winning tournaments stuff but
You must have had something in your head that you figured, okay, my first few events and I don’t mean finish wise, but as far as like interacting with the guys and everything, has it been what you expected coming into it? You know, there’s always it is an amazing deal.
Like I said, I’ve always, like I said, last year, the pollinate, everything. I mean, I’ve always kind of looked up to it, you know, as content, real professional. I mean, he’s living the life, you know, he’s got his wife, his kids, he’s got the poles, a camp where he bowls about, like, whatever.
That’s what everybody dreams of, you know, that’s living the dream right there. And I’ve always kind of looked up to that. That’s always what I that’s always what I’ve wanted right there. And just to live on the road, have everybody with you. And I mean, it’s pretty special,
You know, all the guys have been super great to me. And of course, you know, there’s a few that’s like on aggregate, you wouldn’t have that. You know what it is? You know, it doesn’t bother me. I’m you know, I want to thank is I don’t let a lot of stuff bother me.
You know I do me and hopefully the Lord sees that and he pushes it the right way and it’s going to lead me the way he ever wants me to. So I don’t let a lot of that even cloud my vision. You know, I just go out
And do what I think is right and try to follow the right path. So but no, other than that, all the guys have been great, you know. Gerald Swindell Always have you with a smile no matter what, you know, I mean a lot of them guys are so funny.
Just when you see them outside of the tournament fishing world, you know, they’re, they’re all really good guys. It seems like. So a panic was always your guy. That must have been a pretty special moment when he jumped up on the stage to get a picture with you.
It was, you know, and he’s he’s like, man, he’s like, soak it up. And I was like, that’s that’s what the first word. I come he come up to me. He’s like, Dude, soak it up and I’m like, Yes, sir. You know, I mean, that’s it’s kind of it’s wow.
You know, I had a lady want to take my picture and I was like, This is what I this is I’ll never forget this moment. He’s by if he ever sees it. Oh, my goodness. Here you go. Say, I was sitting there in the boat or whatever, and this lady is like,
He’s she’s looking around like he’s like, I want a picture. But, you know, me and Brandon was talking that she has a phone with Bryan, and he’s like, Hey, will you take a picture? Andre and I about fell over. He’s he’s like, he pointed and he’s like, soak it. And he said,
There’s no heaven all the time. So I mean just that’s like that right There is, is is unbelievable. You know, he’s a really good guy. I mean I just I look up to a lot of those guys like that. I mean, he he’s a super special to do.
You are you even think ahead like this? But I mean if there is anything negative from your start, it’s that I mean, you didn’t really you didn’t really have to pay your dues for a long time on the elite series clearly do. Do you worry that this came too early at all?
You know that’s what this was saying about John. I’ve been in over my head. There’s so many fisheries that we’re going to like St John’s. Oh, my goodness. You know, like, I have no idea. I went there. I’m pretty practiced and I call I see one bass, first day, two bass.
The second day I was like, you know, this is great. This is awesome. This makes my fifth. Like, I cannot get to my house. You know, it puts you on a piece of land. If you got kind of like swirls, it’s like, Man, I hope it changes.
You know, I get better. Chad I did great. So, I mean, it is it’s very intimidating. I like the northern swing. I better learn quick. You know, I was like, I’m going to go up there and spend as much time and work as hard as I can to learn how to do it,
Maybe get in the right areas or find a different bass or just find out how to catch those fish like these guys do. So that’s one thing that I feel like I’m lacking is like tidal waters never fish, and that’s the first time I ever set foot on. Can’t say I’m a fan.
I love it. You know, it looks cool. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s something I’m going to have to learn. Very much so. And I like shallow water fishing, but that’s different. That is different. You know, I’ll go out and I log river fishing, like Mississippi River, like lacrosse.
I thought about fishing in the there because that place, as in that place, is something in my heart. I love that place. Like I love it. And so I thought about fishing the open there. But those are places I love, you know, fishing. You know, the right can’t break all this.
And I was like, you know what? It’s just a river. Try. Come on, let’s just do it. Just like a river. And I had one bite, so, you know, it’s it’s not going to be it’s going to be easy. There’s a lot of stuff on the schedule this year
That’s kind of a little scary. But we just got back and we stopped, put in our time, watch the many videos. We can learn as much as we can in a short amount of time and hopefully don’t bite me. But like I said, it’s always next year and the next year.
We just got to keep learning as quick as I can. Why did you choose to to not go the college route, but with competitive bass fishing in college fishing. So, I mean, you kind of skipped right over that and went to the opens and obviously qualified and the elites has worked out
All right for you. Yeah, there was that was a hard choice. You know, I had a lot of opportunities get out of some really great places. You know, I liked a lot of the guys that I was eventually, you know, I thought about going to when I was in high school
And I was thinking I was like, you know, and I was like, you know, I don’t have a whole lot going. And that was kind of the joke back home. I was like, Man, I hope fishing works out for you. I’m like, Trust me, it makes it, you know, right? I mean,
I kind of it’s kind of a sacrifice is what I’ve really done is kind of just I don’t have anything else. You know, I was I was going off for broke is what a lot of people would say. And so it is a it was it was a
It was a hard choice, really, because I knew if I went that way, you got a business in marketing, something in that nature that would be good all around. You know, if I met some people in the fishing industry say it didn’t work out, I could always have a job
And something I love. So I thought about doing that and everything and I was like some guys just like, you know what? Go with it, man. I’m like, What do you mean? They said, Just let it go. I’m like, Let it go. I was I knew. What about,
You know, what if I don’t make it, it? I mean, he’s like, you’re still young. So that’s the beauty of it. He said you’re still young. He said, What’s the what’s going to happen? I was like, You go out there, you don’t do it. I was like, Yeah, that’s pretty bad. You know,
That’s that’s pretty, pretty unfortunate there. And he’s like, you know, he said, Just go out and do it. And he said, Just try it. Go for it, shoot your shot. And college is always there. I’m like, You know, I’ll show you. This sounds pretty good. My mom’s like, you know,
And my mom was like, What if you think you can do it, you’re going to go for it. You know, I’m she’s like, I’m always here. I’m proud of you and I’ll support you if you want to make that choice, I’m going to let you, you know, I mean, for them,
I wouldn’t even know what in a 17 year old just go, you know, just like a mom and go practice. She’s like, What a yeah, I’m gonna go down to Alabama for about a week, go down there, prepare. And she’s like, You know what she said, You want do it, go.
I was like, I’ll be gone for a week, sleep in my truck, anything I had to do. So, I mean, it’s just it’s been a very special deal. But I mean, the college deal is great. It really is. You know, the thing that you have to think about it is,
Is you get to travel all these places for free that I haven’t even been to yet that we’re going to go to eventually. What is your long term goal like? What? Would you like it? Yeah, Keep it simple. Yeah, we’re going to keep it real simple. Don’t try. Let’s just eat.
Let’s make it so classic. You know? Let’s just finish the classic. That’s. That’s the one thing that I’ve always wanted to do. A classic. And I mean, that’s been a dream on forever. Get out. Stand in a stadium full of people. I mean, that’s. Wow. That’s that’s something
That not everybody get to experience. And I would love to do that. So hopefully we can just stay in the top 40 this year. And like the classic, is that kind of frustrating for you? I always think about that with rookies. I mean, a few of them, like Millikan, will face the classic
Obviously Tyler Williams, Kyle Patrick. I mean, all the guys that got wins last year will face this year’s classic. But you’re riding high hot off a win and you got to sit on the sidelines and watch that. Is that frustrating? You know, I had my opportunities, Yeah. Last year. I really did.
You fought in Oklahoma what it was. And hats off to Joey. I mean, he earned it. I mean, it was his tournament. That’s all I can say when I when I when I realize that this time, when it’s your tournament, it’s your tournament, you know, I always try to push it,
Everything else like that. But it was his tournament. I mean, he caught a I think you’d call like a three pounder that bumped me out. And like the last two or three cars. So, I mean, like I said, it was his tournament. I broke off a lot of fish that,
I mean, would have definitely secured it. But it is it’s all right. You know, it got us here and I’m good with it. You know, I’m I’ll go there. Hopefully I’ll come out soon. Maybe the classic. so. You said this week you learned when it’s meant to be your tournament.
It’s meant to be your tournament. I had a moment this weekend where. Where I literally said on live that you were going to win. Did you have a moment? Like, when did you start to think that I can win this? When I caught my by side. Do you?
You know, it’s like little moments like that. I was like, what if what if this is it? You know, that was the second day. Still a lot of fish to be caught to even think about winning. But I was like, shoot, I was like, I don’t happen every day. I was like that.
Or that ever happens. I was like, This could be it. Like I would go to sleep. And I honestly, I slept really well. Like, that’s the one thing that I can say. I slept really well. And when I woke up, I was just I don’t know what it was. I was like,
It’s another day, another five bars, and we’re gonna go out there. We’re going to try it. You know, I, I was, I was very, very good on that Friday. I really. I got to thinking about it and all sun It was morning, you know, I was just. I just gone.
I was lying in bed thinking about what I was going to do. And also and it was just a my alarm went off, you know, And I would get up and we just I didn’t even really know that I had that one area that I started in.
But other than that other any other place I went, I really didn’t even I was just like, you know, I’m just going go here. We’re going to go right here. I don’t know why, but we’re going to go right here. And that’s what it was. It was just I love that being able
To run off that gut feeling. And really for me, I was talking about more like the north facing pockets. I didn’t realize that. And in tournament I got look it and I was like, try I was like, you need to realize some of the stuff. I was like looking at my map
And every waypoint I had was on a north bank or a north facing pocket. I was like, Come on, I don’t know. It’s like going. I clicked right there and I started running and everything and I was like, There’s fish there. Fish. There’s fish, there’s fish nourish fish.
And when I realized that, I was like, we got a shot. You know, it was I seen some stuff and a lot of people were struggling for. So from I mean, I didn’t understand it because I figured everybody finding the same stuff and really I didn’t have much competition. I had one boat
And one thing that I wanted to fish on. But other than that, and a little like like this, that’s pretty crazy. Just see, you know, it was the exact same moment that I. When you thought it, I thought it. I unlikable. It’s in it’s true with you. And the crazy thing is,
I just found out that Coop did the same thing on the final day of the tournament. That that five pounder, he was sat. And you guys don’t know this, but all day, while he was the only one that didn’t have £100 and there was like 35 minutes left or something like that,
And he ended up breaking off a five pounder, ended up catching the same fish again. That’s what got him in the Century Club. So he was meant to he was meant to be in the Century Club. You were meant to win this tournament. It’s pretty unbelievable. But the one thing that
I think I did on Earth this week is you’re so unflappable. It’s amazing. Four, 19 years old that you you seem so put together. But when I saw you in the morning, dude, you were a total train wreck just like every other 19 year old. Is that how every morning is like
It takes you a while to get there. It’s. It’s a Red Bull in my right hand. A in my left, and we’re just kind of chill. And, you know, I got to listen to my music. Yeah, I’m. I’m really not the greatest morning person I like to do it. You know,
I’m a person that gets up either 5 minutes before jumping. That’s true. I don’t know if I got everything. Get to the ramp, Be like, Oh, thank goodness. I got everything. Let’s go fish. And I’m either that guy or I’m the guy that gets up way before time and just like, paddles
Real slow of a morning and trying to get everything ready. It’s either one of the two. I mean, I very much so prefer the other one, but sometimes I’ll hit the snooze and then I’m like, Wait a minute, this is a big nature. We got to get out right now, right now
And fly to the ramp. And it’s it is I was that last day I was trying to I got as much sleep as possible and I was a little rough that morning. I was say out of the rough that morning. I had a maybe a little bit more Red Bull
Than what I drank because I was having a rough. How do you celebrate to do anything to celebrate afterwards, really. We went out to eat, too. We went out to, eat. And all the people that come from home, we went out to dinner and that that was a pretty special time. You know,
I walked in the restaurant and all sudden everybody started clapping and whooping and our and people, I didn’t even know. And that was a pretty special moment. Yeah. It’s like folks are an amazing community, but it’s cool to have. I mean, just as we’ve been talking, you know, people just roll up and
You made history. I mean, it was a history making week. And I can’t wait to watch your your future unfold. And and I thank you for being the person that you are. I mean, I think that I think that I don’t think you’ll ever know how many people you motivated this past weekend
By just being you. But keep doing it, dude, it’s it’s awesome to have you on the elite series. You’re you’re a light of happiness every time other than when it’s like really early. That is not so. Yeah. Don’t talk to me as an inventor but I’m I’ll to you.
But then I’ll just be, like, real. Sure. I mean, what’s wrong with this guy? And I’m going to be like, it’s the morning. It’s the morning. You just got to just play along. But now it’s. It’s it’s pretty special. And I just want to thank everybody for following along. Like I said,
I think I mean, just on Instagram or whatever is I’ve gained so many people that wish me luck reposting. All the stories. I mean, every one of you has been awesome. It’s been pretty cool to watch it. I mean, it literally changed overnight. Like I went to bed
And I had like nine followers and I woke up the next morning, I’m like, mom, who? And we had like, I think we’re almost 20 something now. So, I mean, just to have that, you know, it’s unbelievable. You know, it’s it’s a point that I didn’t really think was going to happen, but
We just got to let it roll and hopefully we can keep doing it and just keep keep shining a light on some of those people and hopefully we can stay on the right path and be good. So I’m still young. I mean, there’s a lot of stuff out there
That can can change a path real quick. But we got to hopefully, hopefully try to stay true while keeping you. And I got a feeling you’re just getting started. I thank you. Thank you. How about that kid? 19 years old and man, so put together, I would. I mean, if I was
19 and accomplished what he did, I would be unbearable. Like, I wouldn’t make it to the third event. I’d just be a mess. But he’s put together. We’ve been hearing about him for years, and, boy, he lived up to the hype. He has literally two events into his let’s his career
Already an elite series champion and basically leading everything there is to lead on the Bassmaster Elite series. Unbelievable. And as I said to him in our conversation, I feel like he’s just getting started. And guess what? This podcast is just getting started because now we’re joined by bass master, videographer
Extraordinaire with the full behind the scenes of everything that happened on and off the water at the first two elite series events. Jake Latendresse with another edition of Jake’s Take. Jakes, take back in your life and, dude, we’re two weeks in two events, two weeks into the elite series season,
And it frickin feels like a lot more. Oh, my gosh. How. How much electricity was. I mean, I don’t want to jump ahead to, like, for both crowds. Holy crap. This thing is growing like someone poured. It’s like super food on bass, master, because this dish is crazy, man. Yeah, it was crazy.
I mean, to little Ben was incredible crowds in fourth. I think those are the best crowds we’ve had since it was a TVC, you know, and I’ve said for years we’re kind of dealing with a bit of a hangover in that community because, dude, when golf states Toyota ran
That event in the Octagon, it was so big. I mean, we’re talking Trace Adkins and all these different, you know, 35, 40,000 people in the crowd. So when your town has the Olympics, why do you want to go watch the Pan Am games two years later? Right.
Like, it’s not to sound like a dick. Does that does that make me sound like I mean, I think it’s normal. I don’t think so. Yeah, it is what it is, right? I just make me sound like it’s not Ed, It’s Uber. It’s me. It’s not what I said.
It’s just me being me. So and then there’s the whole craziness of, like, do we get into the FDA or we’ll start calling that the F-word. Here’s what shocks me. It shocks me that it exploded again. Like it’s like all winter. I mean, every pot. I got to the point
Where I was tired, like I was like, I’m I’m trying not to talk about it. Well, all winter it was all that was talked about. And then it’s like it’s like people are surprised that it’s a big thing when the season came. Like, I mean, has this not been. I don’t know.
Hey, you know, again, I don’t want to jump ahead. Too late for it. But that last day, the you know, the the the weigh ins on Sunday had a totally different feel like I mean, it was like it was like the change of guards
And it was just it was it had a bizarre feel to it and it had a new feel to it. And, you know, we’re going to talk about that when we get to that point. We still have Toledo band to talk about and and Huger Fujita. Yeah, yeah.
And I mean, I would say in defense of it’s two weeks into the season, it’s a little early to be calling a changing of the guard and but I will say this there is some frickin awesome young anglers on the Bassmaster Elite series and in the history of mankind youth is undefeated. So
Which I think makes everybody stronger. We’ll deal with that. Great. Yeah. Let’s. Let’s start. I was better at this job. I’d be like, Let’s start. It’s a little bit, but not. We’re all over the place. But Toledo Bend kicked off the season. A great, great event, great crowds, as we said.
Talk to me about day one, day one. There’s not a lot to talk about other than the fact that I was with Wilcher. He was the he’s the reigning Iowa 2023 angler of the year winner. And so I was with him covering him on day one. And honestly,
There’s really not a lot to talk about because he just didn’t his fish didn’t get going. You know, some of them moved and there wasn’t a lot a lot that happened. I think he weighed 15 or £16 that day. And as you know, there wasn’t enough to really do
Diddly squat at Toledo band. So then you left our Angler of the Year and hooked your bumper onto our eventual champion, Georgia Fujita. I was with I was with him for three days and I didn’t know how it was going to go because I’ve never been in his boat before.
And I had heard rumors, you know, he he likes to he he hates it, hates a strong word. He doesn’t like to be around the media. I don’t know if it’s because he has so many secrets to hide or if he’s got broke. His broken English. So, you know, limited
That he can’t communicate like he wants to and he feels insecure about it. I don’t know what those reasons are, but I will tell you this. He is always every day the last person to put his boat in the water because he wants to avoid the media. So really, yes, he is.
You watch at every event, you’ll see he will be the last. And it’s not like he’s in long last. He waits till everybody’s done and you’re just about to announce the the invocation and and national anthem and he’s putting his boat in the water. That’s fact. Wow. Wow. Yeah. And you think
Did he tell you it’s to avoid media? You just assumed that. No Seigo I was asking Seigo, do you know where Kyoya is? And he said, oh, he’ll be last. He doesn’t like the media, so he’ll be last to put his boat in the water. And I said, okay.
So I literally just stood on the dock waiting for him because I have to do my job. And my job is to get the angler wired up with audio and then shoot an interview about what we’re going to do that day and what happened on day one and then, you know, shoot
Clips for live and the take off and all that. So it’s you know, it’s a bit challenging for me to get my job done when, you know, a guy puts his boat in water 5 minutes before take off. But I think he was like he was actually,
I think like 54th or fifth, third or 54th out on day two. So that gave me some time to at least sit down and talk to him. And again, you know, I don’t I don’t want to paint this, you know, racial picture of me or whoever I’m with.
But, you know, I do get I do get teamed up with a lot of the Japanese guys so that because my mother’s Japanese and I can speak enough Japanese to make them laugh and feel comfortable. And so I think a lot of the pairing comes up with with Taku started
It started with Takahiro Amori, you know. Wheeler a long time ago. And so making them feel comfortable as part of my job. So the first thing I do when I jumped in Kyoya boat was start cracking jokes and tell him, You know what my mom used to tell me
When I was a kid in Japanese? And I think from there things sort of think things get comfortable and it’s a it’s a fun time after that. And I don’t think it’s a racial thing. I think it’s just a communication thing. I mean, if we had a deaf angler on tour
And there was a camera person who did sign language or was fluent in language, they probably get paired. So true. Nice. Same day. Thanks, but I did put pressure on you because as soon as I saw you were paired with him, I don’t know if I called you that night.
I think I texted you. And I’m like, You need to get everything because nobody he really does up to this point. He and you’re back in in last story doesn’t help pull away from that. But he really starts to feel like this guy who’s not here to play any of our games,
He’s just here to take our titles. I’m not so sure that’s not true. He’s here to win. Yeah, dude is here. You know, my mom, when I was a kid, my mom used to tell me if she raised me and motivated me to be good at whatever we decided to do.
All three of us, me and my two sisters, all three of us, she would say. And it’s the Japanese saying that still today. I still hear it today from Japanese people. They say, number one, number one, you be number one. That’s the goal to be number one. And I think deep down inside
Any competitive athlete or competitor from from, you know, anywhere in the world, but, you know, particularly Japan, they have that in their mind that they have something to prove and they come over here and they’re there. Their goal is to seek and destroy and win and be proud of that.
So I probably should ask you been what when you said you started cracking jokes and telling them stuff you learn, but what did you tell it? Well, as any mother would tell their, you know, child, especially an ornery boy like I was when I was a kid.
My mom used to tell me how to, you know, sit down and shut up. And she would say, You decide near haiku, which means hurry up, get in the damn car and shut the hell up. You said that to Korea. As I’ve said it to Taku. I said it to Takahiro Omori.
I’ve said it to Kenta, I’ve said it to all the Japanese guys. I have said it to Saigo when I first met him, that those are the words that I know in Japanese, and they always laugh. And from that point forward, there’s, you know, a friendship is, is, is started from that.
I felt good that I say Ohio to them in the morning which is good morning I thought I was really doing good but you’re Ohio guys I’m a yeah let’s listen I get carried away I just say Ohio that’s the formal way to say it. Ohio, guys I miss Ohio assignments.
So what am I saying? You’re saying a very good morning to you, sir, but that’s not what I would ever say. I’ve never in my life said a very good morning to you. Fine, sir. I don’t know how to say good morning, Bitch on. Oh, so you got off
To a good start connection through your debt. Japanese are your Japanese lineage. Ha! What? What? What does this guy do? Well, nobody knows nothing about him. He won’t show his baits or anything. It’s all up to you, Jake. Dude, that was my text that buying that phone was doubling up.
Yeah, my phone was blowing up all day. And then that night people were asking me what is like, What’s he doing? Why is he so different? And after having been with him for three full days now, the only thing that I can tell you is he knows
He’s he’s so in tune to the fish because he’s not doing anything different. He’s tracking back and forth, looking for fish the same way everyone else does when he out. I will tell you one thing. He speed trolls when he’s covering water. He’s got that trawler motor on super high
And he’s moving fast. And as soon as as soon as he sees a fish that he wants to target, he reverses it and literally it’s like putting brakes on. And I was thinking about that, that podcast you did with Swindell, talking about the what do you call those two back
Channel motors on the crappy brakes, bass brakes, forward facing sonar. They came from the crappy world, and so they might have had to stay there because there was a lot of them that they were not connected to boats. At the end of these two weeks. Oh, really? Yeah, I shouldn’t say that. Listen.
Oh, gosh, I’m going to. They’re going to hate you for that can of worms. A few of them. A few of them got disconnected. I think that’s also maybe user error. I would we were in we were in timber and lots of stumps. Yeah, that’s, you know, Toledo band.
Toledo band is like a is like playing bumper pool. And in fact the first time I was ever on Toledo band, long time ago, my very first angler to cover there was Mike Akinyele. And he and I actually went to dinner on Saturday night at Toledo Band with John Crews and that whole,
That whole group. And he and I talked about the weirdest group ever John Crews, Mike Iaconelli, Brian Schmidt and Ed Laughran. It’s like they always go ahead. So anyhow, he puts his brakes on. He knows how to stop his boat on a dime so he doesn’t get too close to his fish.
And then you know, he’s got the big 22 inch embossed Marine screen on the front of his boat and he’s just got it dialed in to the point, you know, his gain is high, as high as anyone I’ve ever seen use in life scope. He’s got his game
Cranked up like it almost maxed out. I looked at I looked at the number and he was he’s way up there. And so he uses that and and he knows like he made me stand right behind the passenger seat, not not in the back corner of the boat, not in the middle,
Not to the right side of the passenger seat, right in the middle, behind the passenger seat to balance his boat out because he was he runs his trailer motor with his left foot and his back foot is angled back to the right so that it bounces his boat and for me to counterweight
It behind the passenger seat, he wants it flat. And I thought that I was being a little picky at first. But after watching him, you know, over over three days, I understood why because those that little off balance is the difference between a perfect car, an absolute perfect cast,
And what he would consider to be an imperfect cast. And I truly believe now that, you know, I’ve seen this enough with front facing sonar that they know where the fish are. They can find the fish and as the fish get more and more wise and adjust to the whole, you know,
Invasion of front facing sonar, the cast is the most important part. And he can tell which way the fish is facing. I mean, let’s face it, you know, when the fish looks elliptical, it’s either facing you or looking away from you. Most of the time it’s looking right at you
Because they know the boat is there. And then when you cast past it and, you know, he’s got all these Japanese guys have the same action on their little sonar minnows or whatever they’re using, and it’s like a shakedown. Right. But it’s a shake. It’s a shake and a constant
Retrieve with it. With a shake. And and and all of the fish that he was catching were all suspended. They were in 21 to 30 feet of water, and they were all 10 to 15 feet down. Every single one. I shouldn’t say every one of them, because he did target a few
That were on the bottom. But for the most part, the ones that were active, like we all know, were were suspended in the open water and it was it was fascinating to watch him. It was quiet most of the time, mostly because of the language barrier.
He told me to sit down, shut up and get out of the get. But, you know, it’s it’s it’s he’s fascinating to watch because he’s so focused on what he’s doing and I really don’t know how to explain it. It’s it’s minor, but really acute details that makes him different than most
Everyone else. Every pro and the enemy. It’s only been on tour for a year, but pros that I know that I’ve shared areas with that the fish beside him, they’re like he’s just better at it. He is just you know his I mean fighter told me story he was like he’s
Hammering Bass right beside him and that during that time in Jet Fighter he’s one of the best smallmouth this is small most we’re talking about last year smallmouth anglers on tour and nobody would argue that but fighters like I mean he had ten and I had two what was his conversion percentage
And I know it’s not official but did it feel like you that he marked a lot of fish and didn’t catch them or what? What did you think? He never let me start with this. He never lost a fish. Every fish that he hooked up
On all three days that I was with him, he landed every single fish. Never had one. I don’t think I’m almost positive he landed every fish that he that bit his bait. And he didn’t have these magical baits. I mean, he had you know, I don’t I don’t believe that that whole concept
Is based around the bait. I really don’t. Tungsten obviously plays a role in the visibility on the graph and it shows up better. And I think that’s where the market’s probably going to you know, it’s already going that way. They’re just making sonar visible baits more visible because it’s so important.
And I truly believe that his casting ability is probably what makes him different. And he knows how to make them bite. And for him to make them bite, even a neutral a neutral fish, he makes it by by getting the cash right in front of their face. And it’s with surgical precision.
I truly believe that it’s the exact same. In my opinion, watching him is the exact same as watching Greg Hackney besiege around trees. I mean, and there’s no for a lot of people, myself included, forward facing sonar technology. I have to there’s a mathematics I go through in my head.
I market fish 60 feet away. I’m like, my boat’s 20 feet long. It’s going to be three of these. And that’s where I cast. And that’s about right, right. For Greg Hackney, when he sees a cypress tree, the bend of a tree, the knee of a tree, he hammers it.
He doesn’t stop to do that calculation, He doesn’t stop to think. And a lot of people would that kind of a technique do because that because they’ve just done it thousands and thousands of times. That’s what it’s like watching Curry in my opinion. You know, it’s not there’s no it’s he’s dead on.
He hits it every time and no different than it’s so important to hit that exact right spot in the tree. It is just as important to hit that exact spot in front of the fish 100%. That’s when, you know, I’ve been back and forth on this whole whole basic sonar thing because,
You know, some of my friends are against it, so my friends are way for it. And you just go back because you can see both sides. There is there is some there is some some mental and emotional validity to both sides of it. Okay. There’s that’s that’s undeniable. I don’t
I don’t argue with anyone about it. But when someone says that’s not fishing, that’s when I start to disagree based on what I’ve seen particularly, you know, recently at the end of last year and the beginning of this year already, it is absolutely fishing. And yes, that gives them the opportunity
To make casts at fish that they know are there. That’s the that’s the advantage that front facing sonar has. But it’s not like every single one of those fish bite every single time they cast. They probably I bet you the ratio is is what, 10% or less on on getting bit.
And it’s even getting harder because those fish have had more pressure on them now. I mean, you know, I have a whole story with Ben Milliken that he pulled up to a tree that he knew there was going to be. Get there. We’ll get to know. I know. There’s so many amazing stories
We’re never going to finish. Okay. Tell the Ben Millikan story. I shouldn’t have stopped you go. No, no, I’ll wait. Because if you don’t tell, people will be pissed. Okay, Make a note, Jake. Okay. So you mean then or now? I don’t know. You back to let me get back to you?
Yeah, I’ll just say. Okay, so it’s absolutely fishing because they have to be so precise with their casts. And then the the, the jiggle and the bait, I think has a lot to do with it. Keeping that bait a 16 ounce, you know, jig head with a three inch minnow on it
At 12 feet, not 12 and a half feet. Not I mean, right in front of the fish face. There’s not easy you know, they’re guiding their rods to keep the bait right where they want it to. And I think that’s where he’s dialed into all this. And and, again, you know,
I don’t argue with too many people about what side of the fence they sit on with front facing sonar. But when people start saying it’s not fishing, I agree it’s not their traditional way of fishing in the way that they grew up. It’s not power fishing, but it’s still fishing.
We we went to a gathering the other night where me and you were talking and Brandon Feeney was there, young bass, master, videographer, friend of yours, obviously, Protegé. I would say, you know, 21 years old. And we you know, and I turned to him at one point. I was like
That whole it’s not traditional, but it’s but everything is going to be that way. Like, that’s just how how the world has evolved. And again, not saying it’s right or wrong, I am so thankful I’m not Chase Anderson and have to figure out the direction of this, the future
Because it is not cut and dry. But you can’t penalize a generation for not doing it the exact same way. I mean, I know how to read maps. I know how to get to places. I asked Brandon. I’m like, Why didn’t you read a map when you need to go somewhere?
And he didn’t even have an answer. He’s like, What? But why would I don’t have to? That’s just not how I grew up like. And I think that people So getting to this, does anyone get to a location and be like, Hey, you got here the old fashioned way, right? With a map,
You know, you got confused and wandered around town for a while, refused to ask people directions. No, nobody judges you better for that. You know what I mean? It’s it’s a different. Sure. I mean, I don’t know. Half the streets I’m on nowadays just says turn right now. And I do right.
So yeah it’s know I think that’s also what allows them to trust it more. Remember when you didn’t always trust Jeeps? I do. I remember when I didn’t always trust my graph. I remember. You know what I mean? When things just but random find in all of these young guys.
That’s what they’ve grown up with. That’s. You know what I mean? They don’t they find it funny that we used to carry calculators or people use to have a calculator because they’ve got it all in one device. You know what I mean? Like, it’s Oh, yeah, they don’t know what a CD is.
Yeah. And why, why would they go? I asked Brandon on the way home. I said, Man, I had the we talked about the comparison between what I went through. I say me because I’m just speaking for myself. What I went through with digital camera technology from film and the transition.
I remember the very first digital prosumer digital video and and still camera on the market that came out. It was called the Sony Maverick. And I bought one and the media was a three and a half inch floppy. Okay. And I asked Brian, I said, Do you know what a three and
A half inch floppy is? And he was like, Oh, I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know what that is. So and that was, you know, that was really it was only about 15 years ago, I think it was actually 2003, 2000, two or 2003 when that came out. So it’s
Been about 20 years since digital cameras have come out. And I remember I want to I want to say this because I think this is important when I’m when I’m comparing what I’m talking about to what the older guys that aren’t necessarily, you know, happy about front facing sonar and tournaments
And all that stuff, I remember feeling the same way. I remember when digital camera technology really started to become a prosumer level. And all these people from, you know, from YouTubers and everywhere else started coming out of the woodworks because they thought what I did was really cool
Film and hunts all over the world, taking pictures of cool people and all that stuff. And they wanted to be a part of that and it was inspiring to them to watch what I was doing, watch what Overstreet was doing, say, Go, you know, the list goes on. And it was overwhelming
When we got overrun with young guys with digital cameras that they bought at Best Buy or be in a video or wherever, and coming into the world, watching YouTube tutorials, learning how to do it overnight. And all of a sudden they’re they’re they’re sandbagging the market from a day rate perspective
So they can get jobs. And we were standing there going, what the hell we’re going to do? We just had to adapt. I had to I had to do the same things. I had to go out and buy because I was further along in the industry than they were.
I had a little more income than they did, so I could afford to go out and buy a red camera, which took me above and beyond what these young guys were using. So I think there’s a parallel there, you know, and and I’ve talked to Lee I talked to Lee about this
A lot on Sunday before and Darren, weigh in. And you can tell who worked on their front facing sonar skills in the off season one being Stetson Blaylock. Look what he just did. And Justin Atkins had, you know, they they, they they’re tuned into it. And Lee and I talked about this.
He goes, you know, whether I like it or not, if I want to continue to to to provide for my family and the sport that I love so much, I have to adjust. So that’s what he’s doing. You know, we got into them forward facing sonar leads again, didn’t we?
I know, but it was he was going to be inevitable, right? I mean, this with these first two tournaments was all about. Yeah. Yeah, it is. And I guess I’m shocked that it just exploded the way it did. Like, it just seems like all of a sudden people were like,
Well, you know, like, look at this Aldin video where he goes and tours guys boats and sees what they have in there. And you see in that video, I mean, but but it’s been coming and nobody was surprised to see that. I mean, how many times did I say the word
Forward facing sonar, electronics, arms, war, whatever. We were referring to it all through the winter. But it really feels like it just exploded this week, like in these last few weeks. And I don’t know I don’t know what the right way is. And I know people every time you say you don’t know,
I mean, there’s a lot of different concepts and things that are floating around about what the future is. It’s also new. And it caught us. It caught everyone off guard. I mean, it was like a tsunami. It was like, holy crap, Like we’ve known about it. But all of a sudden
It’s like, wow, this is this is this is unbelievable, you know? But I think we knew I’ve thought about this. I know. I’ve really obviously we’ve all thought about it a lot, but I’ve thought about this like, why did it why is it the kettle boiled really slow and then it really exploded.
But you look as far back as Patrick Walter’s when on Lake Fork, that was a big coming out for it. Any of the Sinclair tournaments for Smallmouth. It was a big coming out for it. But I feel like is it wrong to say that in some ways
People are more offended by it now because you have people that are riding it and people that are it. That is their power fishing. That is what they do. When you had Jason Christie going in and out at the classic can do in both ways. People just forgot about the morning.
I mean people just talk about him fictional docks and is it that these kids are that good with it and that’s all that they do? They’re fine to put their hand on their hip and cover water looking for bass because they know that their odds are up. You know, Is that
Is there any truth to that? I don’t know. Like, I, I don’t know either. But I would tell you this. You know, I’ve covered high school and college national championships for quite a few years now for Bassmaster. And, you know, when when the critics come out again, I’m not choosing sides.
I’m just saying what I’ve seen. Okay. And and when I covered I covered a Tucker Smith win national championships in high school. I covered Hayden Marr. But, you know, when national championships in high school and then again we’re national championships at the college level, go to the college brackets, all those things.
They were fishing traditional ways to Jamie Keeney knows how to go catch fish the traditional way that’s just that’s an internet I know it’s a it’s a critical it’s a critical point of interest. That to me, is it true? And I just wanted to make that clear because those guys
Take some heat for something that’s actually not very true at all. They know how to bash fish. I’m not saying, you know, they would have won a tournament and they’ve been doing that now yesterday or the day before. But I’m saying they know what they’re doing. They’re very well educated
And they understand how bass work, which is, you know, part of what they’ve integrated into their front facing sonar system. And while you take Lake Champlain, that big open water logic by that they were on there and then you turn it around and you bring it to Toledo Bend
Or Lake Fork, or even better yet, take it to Lake Okeechobee. And what Steve Kennedy did last year and what Scott Martin did in that open this year when he won there, you know, those electronics played a big role in in two and three and four feet of water. Yeah.
So what I see happening are these guys are adapting to all the different water levels. It started out in the open water and in front of the creek, in the mouth, you know, where the creek meets the main lake. That’s where it started and that’s where the the primary focus is still now.
But these guys are moving into shallow water and they’re understanding it better. They know what they’re looking at. And to me, it’s just going to continue to adapt because we’re still so early in its in its birth of the technology that every single day that they go out there, they learn something new
About a fish that they saw. And yeah, I can’t wait to tell you the story about Bent Milliken. You are teasing this strong. Stay with us, folks. Here’s the other thing, though. Like, if you really pull it apart, they’re doing exactly what has always been celebrated in this sport. You know, Jeff Gustafson
And what he does with the Marabou jig that started literally took 20 years to win a class, to become a big thing, you know, And obviously he was more open in the class. But you know what I mean? Like the the Baraboo jig was a little secret, but that’s
What’s been rewarded in tournaments when you’re doing something that not everybody else is committing to. So whether we go far, as far back as flipping, you know, Rick Glenn talks about Dee Thomas coming in, people saying they want that to be legal. It was all the same narrative. It is. That’s not fish
And that’s not the fish and I grew up doing That is barbaric. That is this. This is different. Obviously, it’s a technology. But they’re doing they’re on the leading edge of what’s getting the biggest bites right now. And that is always been whether it’s Kevin Van Dam being a master of the ledges
The way he was long before people, whether it was David Fritz with a flasher, you know, it’s been that and then other people big baits when swim baits became a big thing you know out in Clear Lake and stuff like that, it was the person who did it first that gets rewarded
And they’re doing this first, committing to this first. And it doesn’t feel like they’re getting rewarded. But again, like, dude, it’s it’s the wildest freaking topic ever because it’s like it never ends. Like, I don’t think like I agree, it never ends. Dude, here’s the where where do you draw the line
That that’s the question like I mean Bill dance this is a really interesting story and this is something I’ve been saving to tell Ben Milliken because we and I were kind of talking about the change. What what, what advancements have changed the game of bass fishing. Bill Dance told me one time
This was two years ago. I was shooting an interview with him. He told that a story about Kentucky Lake where I grew up, Camden, Tennessee, in Beaver Dam Harbor, where I grew up. We were this this common denominator that we had. And he knew this area of the lake so well.
And he goes, Jake, let me tell you a story about what happened to me in Beaver Dam. He was in a tournament, I believe it was 19 May, and it was like mid seventies. Okay. He was in a bass. Bass his tournament on Kentucky Lake and his trolling motor died on him
Like his trawler motor died. He didn’t his batteries in dies Chaloner did So he went into Beaver Dam resort, used a payphone to call his wife in Clarksville, Tennessee, which is about 2 hours away. And asked her to ship him overnight, ship him a prototype trolling motor that he had at his house
Because he didn’t have a spare and was like day one of the tournament. So instead of shipping it to him, she she unpackaged it got to take it on a Greyhound bus, got on the bus, rode up to Camden, Tennessee, on a Greyhound with a trolling motor in her seat
Because it wouldn’t fit in the overhead or underneath compartment. She had to sit with the trolley motor on the bus, got to Camden, Tennessee, loved the game, gave it to Bill. He hooked it, he mounted it on his boat, and then he realized this was the first prototype of a 24 volt
Trolley motor system because everything else was one run on one battery. So he had to go and find another battery. He bought another battery, fired it, hooked it up, fired it up on his boat. Literally, the next day he went out and never ran out of remote, never ran out of battery
On his trial motor. He ran the entire day and helped him. I believe it helped him either finish in the top five or win that tournament. I don’t remember what he said, but it helped him vastly in that in the success of that that tournament. And then after that,
Everybody saw what he did, wanted a 24 volt system on their boat so they wouldn’t run out of batteries. So where do you draw the line? Where does technology start? Where does it end? I have no clue. I don’t know. I don’t know. And here’s the weird narrative that has gotten so popular
And end up once again, I’ll get roasted for this because I work for bass and and I’m and I’m going to say, I mean, me and Davey talked about it last week. We’ve never been given a narrative. We’ve never been told, you can say this about it, you can
You should say this about it. The narrative that’s out there that the bass is forcing this to happen is the furthest thing from the truth. Absolute garbage. And it’s really lazy because and a few people said to me this past week where they were like, Well, we’re being forced to do this.
And I’m like, Well, no, no, nobody’s being forced. And these weren’t anglers like they were. They were other people I was talking to, but they said they’re they’re being forced. They’re not being forced. I mean, remember who put them on there At no time did Bass say put forward
Facing sonar or on your boats. They just started showing up at events. And guys, some guys loved them. A lot of people ignored them and they are what they are today. But there is no part of me like bass is the big monster pushing this technology. Bass way is the monster
That has to deal with this technology. I’ve never asked him, but I can guarantee you that if Chase Anderson, if somebody said, Hey, how about like this forward facing sonar is never invented, he’s probably just as happy because the narrative that, okay, well, well, they’re they’re getting sponsored by these companies.
They were sponsored by these companies before there was forward facing sonar. You know what I mean? So they’re in a weird position. So God knows what the future is and I’m sure we’ll hear about it all in the comment, because it is it is a topic, like you said,
That is all over the place. I have people on both sides. I have friends on both sides, and I feel for both of them, like honest, same veterans that are like, Man, this isn’t the 30 years of knowledge that I had and all this. I agree. Yes, you’re right. It’s not it’s
It’s a totally different thing. But at the same time, I look at those rookies and I’m like, they shouldn’t be getting hammered for chasing their dream and being successful. They’re not doing anything wrong. No, they’re doing everything right. I mean, they’re not and they shouldn’t they shouldn’t have to deal
With the criticism that they are because they’re just doing what they know and what is legal within the parameters of the system. And it’s not just Bassmaster. It’s basically all the tournament circuits right now. Sure, some new concepts are going to be popping up now that there’s so much controversy behind it,
But they’re not doing anything wrong. They’re just doing what they think is the right way to go about it. And they’re winning tournaments and the bags are bigger. I mean, we can’t I mean, do we just had ten frickin sentry belts? Yeah. Yeah, that’s insane. It’s insane. The bags are bigger.
The and part of that, I mean, there was a drought there and now the water is up and there’s there’s other reasons that play. But it definitely is a an effective way to catch monster fish. I just think I mean look do look at Sierra Leone since forward
Facing sonar started to become a thing, Texas Parks and Wildlife does an incredible job. But there’s been more Sri Lanka’s court use in an effective way to catch giant fish, which, hey, what was before swim baits were effective? Way to catch giant fish, man. What we’ve always kind of looked for.
But bottom line, it’s just a if you don’t think Bass is working on it, you’re nuts because it is literally every meeting, every level, every department is talking about every conversation backstage, every no one wants to step in it either. But we have to because it’s technology and it’s obviously
Making a big splash in the industry. And, you know, everyone wants to say, well, this is all about money. Well, you know, it’s easy to say, but at the same time, you if you watch the cast this new series that, you know, we put out it based on Air Force
One about the history of of basically Ray Scott’s vision tournament bass fishing that entire series is about is about understanding where we came from and where it started and why it happened. And it’s all about the advancement of technology. Even when Ray Scott hired Helen Severe and Bob Cobb, initially
That was about marketing through print, print, publication and how to market the brand and how to brand it. And then once they established that it was all about growth, it was all about having to set everybody in the same boat in the first classic with the same electronic X,
With the same exact equipment. And we’ve just advanced from there, you know, like we’ve talked about before, why do we have 250 horsepower limits on the outboards? Why do we have power poles and raptors and talons? Why do we have why do we go from flat? I mean, dude, it’s
It’s it’s almost exhaust steam. It’s like thinking about how deep the universe is. There’s no there’s no clear and to it. Right. Well, and here’s one thing I can guarantee just by us having the conversation the way we’ve had it probably pissed some people off because people want to hear a stance.
They want to hear you are for it and you were against it. And and if you are for it and therefore it they’re on your side. And if you’re against it, they’re against it. They’re on your side. If you’re in the middle, they think you need to choose a side.
And I think the fact that we are all in love with fishing and we’re forcing people to take it’s an insult. It’s an insult to to have people who say things like, you need an asterix on this and that dude, that is gross, that is showing no respect
To the pros that came after you. I would never say something years. You know what I mean? That’d be like me walking across the stage and being like Kevin van Dam’s Angler of the year titles. His seven are worth more than Roland Martin’s nine, because when Roland Martin did it,
He was one of the only dudes doing it for all time. And Kevin did it against the majority of anglers that were doing it full time. So you would assume, No, it’s the time your job is to do as good as you catch the five biggest fish you can catch
With everything that’s legal. And will this change in the future? Maybe. But it’s not changing this year. I mean, they all agreed, as far as I know, they’ll never change it. In the middle of season. They might make an announcement, Hey, we’re going to do this in the future if they decide to.
But everybody signed up under the same rules. It’s not fair to to take it away enough. Let’s go back. You you got are you got something you want? I was going to say I want to give a guy credit for bringing the 22 inch meaty Marine screen into the into the Marine,
The front facing sonar world, too. It was actually Jacob Fouts. Do you remember that? Yeah. Yeah, I remember that. It was on the St Lawrence River. I remember he had it and I was like, Oh my goodness, can you? I was just joking. I’m like, Can you like stream
The football game in on that? And he’s like, Yeah, I can actually split screen this, watch football and, and my graph at the same time. So and I patted him on the back on I think it was day three he made he’s made I think both cuts these first two tournaments
And I patted him on the back when he was standing in line at the tanks at Lake Fork. And I said, congratulations, You brought the 22 inch screen to all this mess. And there’s a lot of them out there. All right. Let’s move on from from that video. It’s so endless.
Does he ever you said he’s incredibly focused, like, does he ever is there ever a relaxed moment in the boat like he was? I think he was. He like he likes my posts now on on Instagram. Like he’s got this practice. Yeah, that’s how I feel about it. I think.
I think it made him feel comfortable. He ate a lot more than most of the other Japanese anglers that I’ve been with. He didn’t eat as much as Kenta. Kimura drinks Red Bull, but he ate. He ate a stop to eat a few times and he does relax. But man, when he’s
When he’s got that thing going, he is he is frickin dialed in. And you don’t want to. You don’t want to like I didn’t even want to eat potato chips in the back of the books. I don’t want to distract him. Really? Yeah. I mean, did you distract him at all?
No, I never did. I’m careful like that. And. And, you know, he did cover. I will say this. He had his back, so he’s got three grass, a hummingbird and two garments on the console. It’s a driver’s seat. And then he’s got a 22 inch and then like 315
Inch screens on the front of his boat. Is that right? Yeah, that’s right. And he covered when we pulled up to every spot. If we moved, he all he used, he used his graph to navigate and possibly look for baitfish. But then as soon as he pulled up to his spot,
He was going to get up to the front of the boat. He put his garment cover on the on the console graph so that I couldn’t film what he was do. All right. And that’s not criticism. He just has things that he knows he does
And he doesn’t want the world to see it. And so there was nothing I could do about that other than just, you know, zoom in on his front 22 inch screen. Do you think that start to become a pattern where anglers try to cover that stuff up?
I think the Japanese people always do it. There you are. I am so glad that you’ve Japanese lineage because you are really profound with a lot of them. I’m okay. I’m okay with it. It’s just something I noticed. They’re very secretive and you know, we’ve talked about this Brandon Pollen, Aiken
And Lee and other other anglers, they come from such a high pressure fishing society that and they follow trends so quickly. I mean, as soon as you do, you start a trend in Japan, if you want to get rich, go to Japan and start a trend, you’re going to get rich
Because everybody follows the lead. And I think that’s why they’re so secretive. And I still can’t pinpoint what kill you Fujita does that so secretive that makes him that much different than everyone else other than his casting accuracy because his baits aren’t different than everybody else’s. I promise you, it’s not the bait
He’s just better at. He’s just better at it. Yeah, exactly. Tuned in. Was he? Do you see any nerves in him or anything. I mean, on stage he just seems rock solid. I mean the only thing he actually honestly seems uncomfortable with is when you have a mic in his face, which. Understandable.
If I was in Japan, you put a mike in my face, I’d probably be a little uncomfortable too. Yeah, I think again, I think that’s just a cultural and language barrier. He’s he’s scared he he’s going to say something wrong or not know how to explain something.
But I think I will say this. His English has improved a ton big this year from last year. He did. He studied the language during the off season and that’s pretty apparent that he he worked on that so that he could get better at it. I really like him. I don’t know.
I mean, I don’t know if anyone, you know, likes or doesn’t like him in the circuit, but I like him. And there’s very few people that I have any sort of, you know, negative comments to make about throughout the circuit and all the this is my 13th season at Bass
And I still have yet to have a really bad experience with anyone. And and Fuji is the same way. Yeah. Yeah. No he’s and I don’t hear say anything. I mean there’s people that are against the way he fishes. Other than that, I’ve not heard anyone say anything negative about him.
I mean he’s a, he’s like anybody that is in his position. I mean he’s going to try and protect whatever he has. And and what he’s done is amazing. I mean, I’m unbelievable. Ten events and he had five top tens or No, that’s a six, six, six top tens to victories.
I mean, and two century belts. It’s ridiculous. Insane hundred pound. What do you win with £100? And I wrote it down 13 ounces. So he was the only body into the band that cracked the Century belt. And I was honestly shocked. We didn’t see a ten pounder from Toledo,
But I expected us to see a double digit. I mean, it was that being said, it was a phenomenal tournament with giant believable. Unbelievable. I’ll let me add this about Korea as well. So on day four, he ran out of fish and I felt like he was going to because Patrick Walter’s Fujita
Pat slapper was around that area. I’m trying to think of there were a lot of boats in that big. And what was that? Was it called the house or house cove or house pocket or. Yeah. Yeah. House. Is it housing, Is it whatever. Whatever it is. There’s a lot of people in there
And lots of locals. Locals are locals fishing. Yeah. Those same spots, tons of it. And no one was getting out of the way. And so I felt like, okay, if there are all these guys, I think there was eight of the top ten in that cove to start day four and Curia.
I could feel him getting a little nervous because the fish weren’t biting. He was still seeing the same fish. But they were either, you know, they were fish that had been caught before. They weren’t big enough because, you know, if you catch in four and five pounders and you filled your
You filled your limit with five pounders, you didn’t have enough. You need to go find six pounders to win that tournament. Right? So he moved. Day three was the first time he really moved and he made a big run. I don’t even know where we went. We made like 15 or 20 stops.
He would put his trawl motor down, scan a few times, make a or two. He felt like that was a negative, but we picked up and moved on and then we finally came to a spot at like 130. He had three fish in the well at like 130 in the afternoon.
He pulled up on a spot and he made, I would say, ten or 12 cars. He caught a four and a half and a six pounder, and that put him back into the top five going into weigh ins for championship Sunday. So then after he ran out,
Kind of ran out of fish on Championship Sunday on day four, he moved around the corner not far maybe, maybe, maybe a mile, if that into a pocket, into this creek pocket. And he pulled up and he turned around, he looked at me. He goes,
He said, I’ll say it like he said it. So it’s more authentic. Okay. This is no slight on him at all. Yeah. He said today this spot, same as practice weather. And I said so you mean you mean today’s weather matches up to what you saw during practice? He goes, Yeah, yeah, yeah.
He said, No, no. Day one. No, day two, no day three have same pattern for this area. And he said many six pounders here, many, many, six pounders and dude, he caught for like within the next hour he caught four six pounders, boom, boom, boom. Called almost everything he had in his life.
Well, and then all of a sudden he was like, well, he’s getting ready to win this tournament. And it was one move into a spot where he matched the weather conditions to what he saw during practice and frickin won that tournament right there it was. That was bad ass.
Yeah, it was an awesome victory. Him and Chopper had been had been fishing in the same area the whole time. And it’s funny because on going out on day three, Chopper was like I’m worried that it’s got too much pressure is too many locals fishing it and he said that
And he got them on day three but they for his fish seemed to to burn out and and obviously had that spot that that that won the tournament for him and watch out for slop or in the future. I mean he’s a great angler he’s proved that in qualifying for the
Through the opens and the Bass nation. But one of the cool things when he responded I texted him after the weigh in on Sunday and I texted him, I said, Dude, I know this hurts. And yeah, sorry. Yeah, sorry. It’s building towards something. And Swapper responded, he said,
And I thought it was cool at takeoff where he said, I want Trey in this top ten because other people are avoiding him. He’s I know he’s the target. He’s the best at this right now. And so I thought that was cool. But then when I texted and he said, I’m
Not as good as him yet, I’ll keep training and I’ll get there. But four for slop or to look at it like that, you know, where I mean, anything I’ve ever lost. I come up with a bunch of excuses for him to respond like that shows a lot about the kind of
Freaking animal that he is. And I think because he’s soft spoken, in some ways, people kind of discount him. But Chopper is is the real deal. I think winners I think really good whatever sport it is like let’s just take I remember when Georgia got thumped by Alabama in the national championship
Football game several years ago and everyone said that’s what it takes. You have to go in and get stomped by the by the king to understand where you are and what you need to improve on to get to that level. And I think this is the same thing that he was saying,
You know, with you, hey, man, you know, this is where this is. This is where you have to be to beat that guy. And and it is and it does build It’s just you go back to Jason Christie’s, you know, classic win. That’s the classic example of how much better you feel
When you win after, you know, after tripping up a few times. Yeah. Yeah. So it was a great event for you. Obviously, the prince ran away with this team. Wasn’t the king. He was the prince that dominated. That’s all you got for T bench, right? Yeah, I think so. That was.
I’m glad we went back there. It’s been a while since seven or eight years since I’ve been to Toledo Bend and I’d heard that it would kind of went downhill and it’s obviously making a huge comeback, finishing wise. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it was it was great. Always awesome.
Like when you go there and you see the same volunteers at parking and everything, they’re just awesome people. Just massive crowd, bigger than we’ve had. Like it’s always a big crowd there. But I’ll say outside the Sunday crowd this time around was even bigger and Thursday’s crowd was big.
Yeah, it was big every day. Like I was shocked when we came in on day one, like, Wow, this is frickin big, big crowds can be big problems, big crowd. It can’t be here, especially in Louisiana. Well, let me tell you what happened to me, because I’ve been saving this story
For you guys. Only a very select few group of people know what happened. And it was everybody in the media trailer. So giant crowd there. I think this was Saturday or Sunday might have been Saturday I think said it doesn’t matter giant crowd there. I’m in the media trailer
Working with all those folks and it’s just we should have a podcast from the media trailers tomfoolery all day We have a lot of fun but anyways I needed I need to take a leak that and it’s before Wayne and I go and there was no backstage portal or anything There was one,
There was a bunch of bathrooms, but they were all like out in the expo. So I go to go and there’s a giant lineup and I’m like, Damn, I won’t. You know what? I’m not going to stand out in the lineup. I don’t. It didn’t know if I had enough time.
We’re getting close to way in time. So as we get close, a more pressure. I need to go. I need to take a leak. Right. And I’m like, It must have been Saturday. It must have been Saturday, because Sunday I wouldn’t worry. It’s ten anglers.
I can you know, I can get through that. So I’m like, man, I really need to take a leak. And I looked around and I’m like, Where? Like, is there any alternative means? And there was no alternative. There was there was bathrooms out there, all of them with giant lineups.
And I could be a, Hey, can you let me go and see who wants to be that douche? Sure. So I’m just like, what am I going to do? Like, and it’s getting closer. And now, you know, I’m like 5 minutes away from Wayne, and I’m like,
I got, I’m going to pee during way. And if I don’t be like, and I don’t have a choice, the line is bigger now. And to get out there, I mean, there’s just massive amounts of people. And so we get broken in the trailer because I’ve been whining about needing to pee
For like 20 minutes in there, like there’s a red solo cups up there. Use those and we’ll see. That’s what ended up happening. I go in front of the trailer and get a red solo cup and I have like I mean, over one year. Well, I did.
And then I went back a minute later. It was like, I better get another one just in case. So I have like this little area that me mean over here in the trailer, our office, which just it’s like a broom closet. We get in the back, but I shut the door
And I go in there and I. I fill up two red solo cups. Right. Good thing I brought a second one. So I fill one up, set in the table, put the other one down there and. And nobody. I mean, it’s all set. Nobody knows. I mean, I told them
What was about to happen in here, so nobody’s walking it, trust me. So I fill up these red solo cups and now I realized that I’ve got two red solo cups full of pee because Red Solo Cup, I filled it up. I’m rest in peace Toby Keith. So I filled them both up,
And I have these red solo cups. So what am I going to do? Like, I mean, I can’t leave them back here. And they’re still a giant crowd. Like, as soon as you walk out of the trailer, there’s people right there. I mean, it’s kind of roped off, but they’re like right there.
So, I mean, it’s it’s not like I can just open the door and dump them or whatever. And this was like a party crowd. The Louisiana party crowd showed up. So, yeah, dude, I gave out a solo cups. I come out of the trailer and I’ve got these two red solo cups
And there’s a group of people, I hope they’re listening to this because they see me and they’re like, Mercer Double fisted. And I’m like, Hell yeah! And I hold up the cups and then I’m like, Well, I can’t just dump them now. I had to walk down
Away and I got rid of said solo cups and dealt with it. But yeah, yeah, the public life isn’t for everyone, you know, Taylor Swift gets rolled around in a popcorn box or whatever she gets around. The reason I have to pee in Red Solo, but it was great.
It was great. It worked out. At least you got to relieve yourself and yes, yeah, you do have to cut in front of lines and be rude and you got back out to the no to the take off. I think it’s going to be a routine now. I think I’m just going to
I was that way in or take off. No way. And I mean take I mean the crowds are I mean you could I could get now that was right for sure. So. Sure. Yeah. That’s that’s my embarrassing story from Toledo Bend that nobody but the media trailer knew.
And I kind of joked I’m going to tell that in the podcast they’re like, Oh, you’re not. There you go. I did. So next event, Lake Fork always a freaking special event for me personally. That’s where I mean, if it wasn’t a tour to Texas, best classic,
I don’t have the job. I have it best. That was the biggest event, the first big event I ever worked in the United States. Wow. So going back to Fork to that community. It’s weird. Like, there’s so many people that I’ve known for so long. It’s a special place and that new facilities
Have been river authority built like, Oh man, I thought of all the people I work with, thr TTBC, like, I mean, we had mudslides. We had we shut down the venue one year because it was, you know, unsafe because there was so much rain. And then now it’s been river
Authorities built like this world class, 700 acres of land and all that pavement and everything that I mean, it’s right up there with green pond landing and all the world class facilities. So kudos to them. Congrats to them, to all my friends. See TTBC days Octagon Gulf States Toyota, wherever you’re from,
Would have been a lot easier with all that concrete. But but without that city B.S., I don’t think I’m here. I don’t think that facilities there, you know what I mean? It kind of was the kickoff to world class national events and the elite series turned out to be the first
National event held there at the games. The new facility, location area. Yeah, that’s a cool place. Actually, I was incredible place. And a lot of people said this is what, you know, Lake Hartwell did with Greens Pond. It’s the same like you said they invested in it.
It’s going to pay off for them. Would it take them four or five years to build that thing and only $16 million. Who I mean, they, they carved out the cove so that the boats could get in and out of the wind. And there’s a plenty of land space for the boats
To come in and pull down and get up on the bank. I mean, that place is, is world class and I mean Toledo bands to be the Toledo bands location are are a location is is way up there team man that’s a nice place Yeah no it was both great venues
And and incredible crowds day one like for who you with Lee Livesay the homeboy that new champion. Nothing could stop him. I knew I was going to be in his boat on day one and obviously looking forward to a big day knowing it’s a different like than we’ve had in the past four
Or five years because of the water levels and all the cover that’s grown up and and all that stuff. So it was you know, it was interesting going out to see what was going to happen and I don’t know what happened. Lee I think he caught three fish for about £8.
He had a, you know, a like a two pounder, a one pounder and a three and a half or a four pounder. And that was his whole day. I think he missed he might have missed one or two, but nothing big. And everyone asked me when we came in, you know,
I think they were scared to ask Lee because of, you know, what were his mindset Was that because that that has got to be a difficult position to be in when you’re on your home. Like the expectations are high and you don’t do well. Of course, we all know he’s one.
They’re big in big ways. And to come back like that was, you know, it’s humbling and it’s a big pill to swallow. And there’s no nothing crazy happened. I mean, he was around, people catch and fish. He did it both ways with with large scope. And he he went shallow.
I think he had a little more success early on after his first location failed, he went to some shallow water and started casting us a swim jig around and chatter Bay and it just never happened. And I don’t know what else to say other than the fact that he just couldn’t get bit
And it was one of those days for him. I even Jason Williamson was in a spot where he caught he had like 22 or £23 early that morning. And, you know, Lee knows all the ponds, underwater ponds on Lake Fork And Jason said, Man, go over there, I’m done. He went out there.
He went out there to where Lee had just come from, literally casted a chatter bay into this little clump of grass and caught, you know, a three or four pounder. And then Lee went into the pond where Jason had just come from openly and made a bunch of cash, Never,
Never caught affairs, never got bit. We went into the bank to see if there were any up there spawn in and there were lots of fish up there swimming around. He just couldn’t get beat. There’s no excuses for no reason or rob to it or rhyme or reason it.
He just didn’t get bit. And that was day one. Yeah. Tough tournament for Lee. I mean, I think he weighed in £25 the next day. He did. He actually went scope and he said to get that top and maybe that’s the tail of the story you know like
We did have a big cold front move in maybe those fish I mean it sounds like those fish were up there. And then something changed and all of a sudden, you know, they worked. So obviously there was a bit of a cold from pushed him back and scope and ended up
Dominating that tournament. And although you weren’t with Lee on day two, you found yourself right into the leader’s boat. Takymi Ito, Would he catch £39 on day one? Yeah, they won £39. Biggest bag of the tournament. Well, here’s some irony for you. So we roll out of take off. I’m with Taku and
And we we pull up to the first spot and to my surprise, we went to the same exact spot that Lee Livesay won two years ago on same exact spot, literally the same trees in front of the same trailer houses. I mean, it was the same exact spot
That Lee won that term and on. And I’m pretty sure between that and that back cove, there’s a little bridge back in the back end of this cove where Justin Adkins and a few other guys that ended up making the top ten were catching big fish. So I think both locations
Contributed to that £39 day that Taku had. But, you know, he had enough weight on day one where he didn’t do as well on day two. And he slipped down he slipped down the top ten list, but he stayed in it. So I think what did he catch on
Day on day to like 22 or £23? Taku Yeah, sounds about right. And so he slid down to like third or fourth, I think, in the lineup on four, four, day three. But you know, it was again, fairly uneventful, but he was live scoping in the trees and
He caught quite a few fish. He just couldn’t catch the same fish. He caught on day one. But I thought it was interesting. He went to that same spot that lady won on two years ago. Do you see any similarities between him and Fujita, the way they fish or I mean, are
They as different as their personalities are? I think they’re as different as their personalities are. And I thought about that, who Taku has his own style and, you know, he’s like a little kid in the boat. He’s running around. He hooks up, he’s very verbal and communicative. And, you know, he gets
He gets shook up when he gets hooked up, especially when he’s big, when he always has big one. Big one. Oh, no, no, no. Not so big or whatever. He says he’s always entertaining. Whereas, you know, Kyoya is much more serious. And who he reminds me more of is desc. Aoki Yeah,
Their their personalities are more similar than than Taku, for sure. Their personalities don’t allow them to order pizzas from the water like he talked about pizza so much that the social team Blue L.A., who is incredible, the bass master, social media person. I was going to say social media girl,
But it sounds weird. She’s doing a great job. Incredible. She does incredible stuff. Killing it, killing it. So ironically, they were going for pizza. I had no idea about it and I was rushing back to the venue or something and I wasn’t going be able to eat
So as to where to get pizza because I thought, I’ll grab a slice somewhere quick and she’s like, She just told me about, I’ve got pizza here, but it’s not for you, it’s for Takumi. So I had to give said pizza to Takumi And I didn’t I didn’t get a pizza, but sometimes
I don’t need her. John Crews stole the pizza out of his hands. Did he? Frank Tally took Mine. I mean, I took one of the bites and I take it two bites of it, and I set it on a nice clean spot on the way and I mean away from anything.
And I watched it and I was like, This thinks it’s warming up in the sun. It’s going to be wonderful. When I walk to the stage, Frank Talley saw it and grabbed it and I slapped his hand. They still eat it right off the ground. I mean, that shows you
How hard a competitor he is. We tell you how the pizza conversation started is very similar to how small mouth Disneyland started up on Lake Ontario and that he caught he catches a fish and he’s talking about the baits. And he goes, I said, I said, like, does that make you happy?
And he said, Yes, very happy, Tucker. Very happy. Like, I want to eat a pizza and he started talking about how I think I heard Davey or someone mention what he was talking about with pizza and how he related to how children like it. It’s like Christmas for them.
And so I heard the commentary, I think it was Davy or someone said that thinks that they have pizza in Japan on Christmas because that’s what he was talking about was really he was talking about was they don’t they don’t get to eat pizza very much in Japan.
So when his son, his son loves pizza and when they have pizza at home, his son gets all excited like it’s Christmas morning. That’s what he was relating that to. And that’s how the whole frickin pizza thing started. So then I asked Taco, I said, Well, what’s your favorite kind of pizza?
He said, I like a he said veggie, but he couldn’t understand what he was saying. I can’t even I can’t even say it like he said it. But I said, So you want veggie pizza? He goes, Yeah, pepperoni. Okay, everybody love a pepperoni. But I like a veggie pizza.
I like it all over my pizza. Veggie. That’s how the whole pizza thing started. Well, he got a pizza. He got a pizza out of it. So obviously you ended up out of his vote. Spent the first two days with our first, second and third day with him. And then Milliken, who
Clearly you have stuff you want to talk about. I was I was really, really I always have fun with talking. And that was fun. But day three was a little quieter because his fish, his his weight went downhill after that. And on day four, I newmarch seen my assignment. The night before
I was going to be a Milliken’s boat. And while I haven’t officially met Ike, I’ve never gone up and said, Hi, my name’s Jake Lautner’s. Hi, my name is Ben Milliken. We’ve kind of known about each other because he and Lee Livesay are friends and when I was in Texas last winter
With Lee fishing, you know, he had been on speaker phone and of course, social media. Ben’s a fan of of of the Mercer Show. So he’s seen Jake’s take and you know we can’t we kind of knew each other We didn’t really. So I was really
I was really excited to get into boat because of who he is, what he’s done, you know, and all that surrounds him and and I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew that this was going to be a fun day and he was going to catch fish. So. Okay.
And so how did today feel? Like there’s more to it and how did the day go? Yeah. So it started out slow. He he was catching his fish, but he didn’t have the way that he wanted to. And he kept talking about he kept talking about this location
That he called the money tree and he goes, I’m just waiting for, you know, waiting for the day to warm up if I really need to go to the money tree, I’m going to go to the money tree. That may be my one of my last stops. So
One of the things that I’ve learned about about Ben is how much he knows about the details and what he’s seeing on front facing sonar. And so he uses a 22 inch NBT screen, but he’s also got a 50 can get a freakin free screen or what
Got on with your work in it. I love you of work. And it continues. And so he’s got a 15 inch Garmin screen that’s on perspective mode. So he’s run one front facing sonar on the big screen. And then on another fairly large screen, he’s got perspective mode running at the same time.
So he pulls up to the spot. I think it was his first spot and on perspective mode. He wasn’t hiding anything. He had nothing to hide. He said, You could film whatever you want. Alex playing. What I’m seeing as we’re going through the day, no problem. He’s all about educating people,
Which we know is what he does with his YouTube and seminar hours and all that stuff. So he’s like, Jake, can you see this? Can you see this perspective mode screen? And I zoomed in on I said, Yeah, and there’s like 20 beds in deep water that you can clearly see
On this perspective mode and you can see the females skirting the perimeters of this bedding area and the males in there running each other off and stake in their claim to the beds and doing what book bars do pre spawn. And you know, he catches a few fish out of there.
But what I found to be so intriguing was much he knows about just the positioning of the fish and how to read his graphs and what to do when he sees a certain scenario and then make those cas. It’s it is it’s you know, like it or not, it’s fascinating watching him
And listening to him explain what he’s seeing on that screen. So he obviously had a good I mean, didn’t win the tournament, but had a a great event. I mean, great made it made the cut in the first two athletes. I mean, him and Trey are Cotai co-leaders in both the progressive
Bassmaster Angler of the Year and the Dakota Lithium rookie of the year and obviously that is not something we’re used to seeing. No, I mean, but, you know, I don’t think it’s any I don’t think I mean, is it really is. Are you surprised to see been sitting where he’s sitting right now
And in the elite with the success that he’s had over the past two events? No, no, of course not. And I think I’m more surprised by if you look at our Angler of the year leaderboard, I’m more surprised by some of the names that aren’t up there. I mean, this has definitely been
A big shift in things as the only way to explain it. I mean, there’s a lot of angler, but but I’ll say this. There’s a lot of anglers that went into some of these terms with a very different mindset than I’ve seen from them in the past. Right or wrong, there they are.
I mean, most super successful anglers, never mind that super successful people that I know spend a lot of time not worrying about others. They and I don’t mean that in a negative way. They’re focused on whatever their task is. Sure, they’re there. There’s never been a time in the Elite series
Where I’ve had more stuck, you know what I mean? Like, and again, I’m wherever you are, there’s no right or wrong. Everyone’s it’s just opinions. But there’s a lot of opinions floating around right now. And there was a lot of people going into events that were thinking about
What other people are going to do. I don’t know, dude. I mean, I’m really it’s one of those weird. Do you ever remember it feeling like this on the Elite series? By far the most hated rookies that we’ve ever had. Like, Yeah. Hate. Yeah. Hate is a strong word. I get it.
And I get some of Dude, When I started my job, it turned out there was there was a breaking through period with some anglers. You know what I mean like you’re the new guy in the factory so I understand some of that but it’s it’s it’s different. It’s a wave.
It wasn’t like when, you know, Brandon and Paul and Nick and Justin Lucas came into the league. There’s a few guys. I mean, there’s always been a, you know, new trickle of new guys coming up from the Open’s into the league. But this is a wave and it’s not just this year
In the AQ qualifiers qualifiers that made it into the elites this year. If you look into the Open’s they’re all standing there waiting in line and they’re competing at a high level in the opens to get to this. So we’re looking like do next year there’s going to be nine
More of them and next year there’s going to be not you know it’s like it’s an endless wave of people. And so that’s really intriguing. But I would like to say two things about Ben Milliken that that that I that I was was fortunate enough to spend the day with him.
And one is I want to get to the money tree because he went he finally went to the money tree and he he put his trial motor down and he he he eased in on it because he knew he told me, he said, we’re going to pull up on this tree
And you won’t see there be 7 to 10 to 7 to 10 pounders under this tree and it’s this little patch of of timber where all the trees are vertical. And there was one in there that was leaned at a 45 degree angle. And that’s where those fish were laying
Suspended right underneath it. So we ease up to it and he drops his trauma and he pulls up and he goes, There they are. And they’re all lined up like like a like a, you know, like a batting line up in order. And they’re all humongous fish. You can just tell.
And and so he makes a few casts. There’s totally no positive reaction whatsoever. So he changes direction and goes all the way around. He gets his bait up on a lamb and he’s like, you know, dang it, that’s not what he said. But Hook.
And he rolls in there and he’s he goes in to get his bait and he goes, Look, they all scattered. He scattered the fish. And he’s like, well, maybe this is maybe this is you know, this could turn out to be something interesting because now all these fish they’re laying under this log
Are all neutral. Now they’re scattered back out into the open water. They’re probably all going to come back to this tree and settle in again once they’re not spooked by the boat. And I’m pretty sure he made a cast out there on to one of those fish that he found that had scattered.
And he got bit he lost it. And it was a big one because he had his rod way up that that fish came unbuttoned. But I think he learned something. We all learned something new there where he scattered those fish and then they became a little more active, a little more aggressive
Because they weren’t where they were. And I found that to be extremely fascinating. And like I said, you know, even guys that have been doing this for a long time, they all learn something new every time they go out with their with their with their scopes. It was it was
I just thought it was unbelievable. And as we went around the tree, he told me he goes, watch. And again, we talk about, you know, when you see a big bass on our front facing sonar, it a lot of times it looks like this. Okay. Minus that part, it’s just a hot
Lot with deep, dense, bright, hot spot on it from the light and the scope. And as we were going around the tree, you could see they always stayed elliptical like that. They always stayed vertical like that. Every now and then you’d see us, you’d see a tail
Come out of the back side of it to tell how big it was. But the point that he made with me was, watch, they know we’re here because we get all the way around this tree scoping him the entire time. And they were facing us the entire time. Those fish turned
And faced the boat the entire time. That was the story that I wanted to get to because. I felt like, you know, those fish, they know they’re there. They’re facing us the entire time, knowing that that was a sketchy situation. There’s a boat in front of us and they didn’t bite.
Tony scattered them. Wow. How cool is that? Very cool. Very, very cool. Oh, the fact that he put the fact that he pointed that out and he was vocal about it and he wanted us to learn from it tells you really what you what you want to know about Ben Milliken.
He had nothing to hide and he does. And he doesn’t shy away from debates or controversy or anything. He’s he’s there. He’ll meet anyone that that wants to talk to him anywhere, any time on the dock or wherever to talk about whatever they want to talk. He is so open with his information.
And I found that to be very refreshing and relieving of what you might think about Ben Milliken based on what his haters might say about him. He’s not. Did I just want to clear the air about him? I like Ben Milliken and I like what he was all about.
I like what he stands for. He’s a family man. He’s extremely involved with his wife and children. And he’s just another guy that found a way to make a living in the sport. And he’s doing a really good job at it and he’s great for tournament. I mean, to be tournament fish.
If I’m part of the elite series, I want as many people like that as we can get, you know what I mean? And that’s not because he’s new. I mean, I’m on his bench. Gerald Swindells I want as many. Carl Jacobson’s I want. I mean, I hate even naming anybody Brandon Palaniuk
Like you just keep going on and on. You know, the elite series get stronger because Jordan Lee came back, you know what I mean? As many people as bring their fan base with them. And in my experience with, Milliken the exact same where even when he was doing the opens. It’s incredibly refreshing
That he doesn’t hold back. Like when you talk to me, like, how’s fishing? He’ll tell you exactly what he’s seen, what he thinks will play out in the tournament. And for the most part, he’s been dead on. And now he has two events like, I mean, just when we start talking about his
Record being, you know, so incredible. And it is you got to start talking about Milliken and Trey McKinney. And, you know, I mean, there are a lot more events ahead. They fish to tournaments. That’s it. On the Bassmaster Elite series. But it’s been pretty impressive so far. Ban Milliken’s move.
We talk. I used to live in Nebraska. I lived on Lake McConaughey for ten years. So we had that common denominator going to just to talk about the state of Nebraska where he came from. And his move to Texas, in my opinion, was so smart because he went down
And while he stumbled across, you know, H-Ivy and no one knew about it. No, he didn’t know about it, that was a complete. Yeah, he talked about that spontaneous situation. It was an accidental he tripped into the water because that’s the only he could get his boat in at the time.
It for him to go out and find what he found there to me was fate like that that you don’t just, you know whatever you believe in is a higher being. To me, that was just like that. To me, that was fate. And so what I relate his knowledge to
And what I felt like I was expecting getting in his boat on the last day it for was this guy has seen so many double digit bass excuse me, £10 or ten plus pounders that he knows because the detail and front facing sonar is understanding what you’re looking at and then being able
To execute the cast and, you know, creating the by and all that stuff. But you have to know what you’re looking at first and he’s seen so many double digit bass on front facing sonar now from Oh Ivy to the others lakes that he’s explored
Since he moved to Texas that I knew in my expectation was was he’s going to know he’s probably going to bypass smaller fish and he’s going to know when he’s in the 7 to 10 pounders, which is what you needed to win that tournament. And that is exactly what we got.
And I knew that when we went to his first location and he went back in this creek where the fish were starting to spawn, and he could tell he’s like, Oh, yeah, there’s a whole bunch every single one of those fish right there that you’re looking at on my graph,
Those are all seven, seven and eight pounders right there. He knows what they look like. And that to me is is a huge advantage. And it’s not the technology. It’s understanding how to read the technology. Yeah. And and it’s and it’s knowing I mean, it’s the exact same
When we talk about watching Lee Livesey land eight pounders he lands eight pounders like somebody who has landed a lot of eight pounders and experienced Milliken move while everybody thought it was all about content. I mean sure, he’s got a lot of content, but obviously his dream all along is to be here
In the elite series. And Freaky Dream is coming true in a two week time with Trey McKinney, who he speaks incredibly highly of and has the whole way through the opens. They actually room together for the fork event. I think for one of the first events together. But did you ever think
We’d have a 19 year like I mean, when Jay secure at one a couple of years ago I’m like, yeah it’s going to be to to have someone younger than that when an elite series event. Well Trey McKinney wins it in his 19th birthday not just 19
When as a 19 year old but it’s he turned 19 the Sunday before. It’s his first weekend as a 19 year old. And he’s out there winning an elite series event. Yeah, I mean, if you go back in time, you talk about if you ask Cody
And he was 18 when he came into the professional ranks, right? No, I don’t think so. I think it was like 21 maybe. He pitched the tournament when he was 19, but he did horrible is this tournament was like 198 or something. Bill Dance came in when he was 18. You know,
There was never a ten year player. Yeah. And like a hundred years ago. Sorry, Bill, But, you know, my point is, is that, you know, there are some legendary anglers came in at a really young age, sustained careers over a long period of time. And those are people
That that wrote their own history chapters in in the, you know, the history books of of the cast and BASSMASTER So, you know, like, like Trey said on stage when you were talking to him, when he won. You know, he’s he’s very well spoken. He’s very you know, he’s too polished.
He’s older than 19. He does. And and he said it, you know, he said it best. He said, you know, I hope I hope there’s no arrogance about him whatsoever. He knows what he’s doing. And he said up on stage, he said, I just hope you know, this turns into a
I’m happy to be here. I’m humbled to be here. But I hope this turns into, you know, a long career for me. And and I think we both know that it probably is going to. Well, I mean, and he’s one of those there’s a few of them that float around,
But he’s one of those that we’ve been hearing about for years. I mean, Terry Brown talked about him years and years ago about this young kid and how he’s different. I mean, I talked to his grandfather at takeoff and his mom and and it’s like this has been a family goal.
That’s just his goal. But they’re supporting their kid. And it’s pretty awesome to see I mean, it’s only weakness that I’ve exposed is early mornings. Like a lot of 19 year olds, not much of a morning person like he shows up to take off and his hat’s all up his hair’s everywhere.
And he’s just is is a train wreck. But by the time we talk to him on the microphone, everything is so polished and so put together. Lord knows what his future is. But but there’s a ton of those. Like I mean, you look at all of these rookies, JT Thompkins, AP, Thompkins, Tyler,
Tyler Williams is to me, I mean, he’s incredible. He’s the Fozzie Bear. Somebody told me that he’s the Barefoot Buddha. There’s there’s all sorts of different things, but that’s why I started calling the main event, because he’s the only angler from Maine. And dude, people are going to love this kid.
He’s the he’s great. The perfect mixture of John Cox, Greg Hackney and Kenny Powers. And the funny thing was I asked him, I called him that on live and I said I actually called him a chunky Kenny Powers and they said, Does that bother you? And he said, No, no,
It doesn’t bother me. And and I said, You know who Kenny Powers is? Like, I have no idea. Doesn’t even know who is these kids? Wesley Gore. I mean, he made a top ten the last event, 11th in the other event, like literally every name on that list.
And this is two events after a season where we had four rookie wins. Both titles were taken by rookie anglers out of nine events last year. And you’re like, Yeah, this is never going to happen again. Well, what’s happening right now? We had five of five rookies make the cut in in four,
And I think two are not cut, but the top ten cut on fourth and then two of them made it on the same team and a not the same two, two same two guys made the cut, which was wasn’t just for rookies. It was obviously Coop, who is a year into his career,
And Ben both made both cuts. But it’s incredible. Like and here’s the other thing that we don’t while everybody’s arguing about technology, here’s one thing we don’t hear anymore. Remember ten years ago when people were like, it’s not a lot of kids in this sport. Is this popular today die
Because there’s no kids in it? Well, now people are saying this to me because of them. Like the kids are killing it. And it’s strange times really, really is. I talked to j.t. Thompkins backstage before Trey, you know, where he pulled around to weigh in? And I said,
You know, I say, congratulations, man. What you guys are doing is really phenomenal. And dude, he looked me, he looked at me, and he looked straight in the straight in my eyes and said, You don’t you have no idea. This isn’t even the best rookie class
That’s going to come out of the open year. There are some frickin hammers back there like you don’t even know about yet. And I was just like, okay, I mean, he know and, and I, I didn’t whatever I thought, Wow, that’s incredible. And I want to tell you a little story
About Cooper a lot, too. This is a pretty cool story. So at what time was it? 2:00 or 145 on day four? He is the only one in the top ten that doesn’t that has surpassed the century built market. Right. But before that, to get into the top ten, he caught his
He knocked out Matty Wong to get into the top ten on Saturday semifinal Saturday at 254. So much minutes before he had to check in club what happens okay now listen to this clutch. So it’s like 145 or I don’t even remember what it was like. It was like,
Dude, he’s not going to get it. And how how, how bad is he going to feel on stage being the only one in the top ten that didn’t get his century built right? So he finally catches it and I’m actually silently, I’m watching bass track and I’m like, Yes, because I heard it.
I heard it on Comm two that he caught. I think it was a five and a half to get him over that mark. And I was like, yes, I love Cooper. He’s he’s a great kid. And so we’re backstage after he had already weighed in and we’re standing to your stage, left
Behind the behind the screen. And he goes, I said, Congratulations, said, I’m really glad you caught that fish. And he goes, You want to hear something really crazy about it? I said, Yeah. He said, I caught that fish on a jerk bay. I was like, Open. I threw a jerk bad out there.
I caught it. I got it to the boat and the the line broke like ten inches up the leader when I caught it and it got away and I stayed on him with my life scope and I followed him around until he settled down. And I cast another jerk bait out there.
And I caught him again with my jerk bait in his mouth. And that was the fish that got him over the century. Mark And that was his last fish that he caught that day. How cool is that? And even crazier, it happened twice, right? We I mean, Trey McKinney, our eventual champion,
I think it was day three, did the same thing, or two or three. He did a similar thing where he had broke off a fish and ended up catching that fish a half hour, 45 minutes later, and it has his jerk bait in its mouth. So those kids are pretty good
At that scoping stuff. So they really they really what what is going to happen with it in the future? Nobody knows. I don’t I don’t I don’t know. There’s days where I’m like, yeah, it it’s it’s not the bass fishing I grew up with. It’s not it’s never going to be
Steve Kennedy catching a fish on a frog. You know what I mean? An eight Like all of those moments. But it’s a lot like we have 1010 century belts this week. You know what I mean? Like, I don’t know. I don’t know. Christy. Just the electricity in the crowd wasn’t like
There is any sort of let down. I mean, it was exciting and I felt the crowd I felt like the crowd was into it. The electricity was in the air. I mean, the end of four, it was felt like a huge I mean, it felt like
And it had every reason not to like, think about it because you don’t freeze the scale like they used to in TVC days. Trust me, I thought I lost. If you freeze the scale and I’ll remind people, just imagine how exciting that way it would have been is if we freeze the scale
With 2 hours left to go. If you look at how many things ended up changing and different, you wouldn’t have known Coop gotten the Century Club. You wouldn’t know in any of these things. And then boom, it would have been revealed on the stage. Could have been even better than the moment.
But you’re right, it was an electric way in. But I mean, I’m not going to lie. They’re still just the crowd is no different than the anglers. They’re divided too, because you will get some people up there that will mention they don’t like skeet scoping and then you’ll get
I mean, at one point I forget who was somebody. Yeah they man brother. It was just like, there is some people so you can feel like there’s a part of the crowd that doesn’t like it. There’s a part of the crowd that does like it’s it’s a freaking crazy time in the sport.
But what’ll happen to. Sure, who knows? But I think we got to be thankful to for what it I mean, dude, we just had two incredible events with monster weights and monster crowds and you got younger anglers than ever before showing up. So those are all positives. I think two things.
One is I had a high number of people sending in feedback on my social media accounts that were saying I think I had one or two people that were negative about it and they were very respectful with their negativity. If they if I can say it that way.
But the rest of the the the the comments that I got back and private messages and even in in the public were positive and even one guy said he’s been watching this for a long time and that was Sunday at Lake Fork was the most entertainment day he’s ever seen on Bassmaster log.
That’s what he told me. I’m not saying whether it is or it isn’t. That’s just what he told me. Pretty damn entertaining here. It’s now it’s in. Here’s the weird thing about all the social crap that’s going on about this. There’s one group that we hardly hear from, and that’s the group
That thinks it’s great. You know what I mean? Like, they’re the group that wants it gone is very vocal. But the moment just say a genie landed in bass said tomorrow it’s going to be illegal moving forward. You can only use it in three. Fish can’t compete with it or whatever
That other group is going to rear up and we’re going to hear from them. It’s it’s a weird, weird time in the sport, but there’s a lot to be thankful for. And it’s the only time I’ve ever talked about a post tournament and realized a bunch of people that I’m friends with
Are going to watch this and they’re going to judge me because I went one direction or the other. You know what I mean? Like, I just in defending the rookies, I know there’s going to be people that are like, well, I just think it’s just sad. We’re just calling it like it is.
Or like, well, we can’t even say we’re calling like it is. I’m calling it like I see it right now. Sure. Same. And that’s the whole the one thing about this debate that’s bothered me is there’s a lot of people out there presenting opinions as facts, and they’re not
When if they do become facts, one day, that’s a different story. But it is a polarizing topic. The guy that I always go back to excuse me, the guy that I always go back to in the comment that I always go back to when I start going back and forth on it
Is the guy that’s seen it all and that’s Rick Clunn and his opinion about it, where he’s open to it and in embracing it because he’s seen the changes, the technology, all the advancements, you know, through I mean, even so, sorry. Yes. Even the professional even the the comment that he made about
About Ray Scott wanting to ban flipping that that that when he you know, when you guys talked about that on your podcast that was intriguing to me because I don’t know that Ray Scott wanted to do Oh I thought he did. Ray wanted to ban it. I’d have to go back and listen,
But I just felt like there was people that want to ban it. But maybe it was. Ray watch that podcast and we’ll find out. I feel maybe you can probably look better than me. You I can stop if I’m wrong, but I feel like what he said was it.
Ray is actually the one that wanted to ban it from his tournaments and he decided not to. And so again, know where does it end, Dave? I don’t know. I don’t I don’t really care. I just know that Bassmaster is growing. It’s Unbelievable how how things have transpired in the last
Five years, really, And what’s going on now and how how exciting it is. How exciting, Dude, I have a lot of friends that are actually going They’re driving from different places from Alabama that like ladies that I know that are don’t have anything to do with bass fishing that are literally driving
To Tulsa to go to the Bassmaster Classic this year just from sheer exposure and excitement of the sport itself. Yeah, yeah it’s there’s a lot of excitement around it. It’s I’m going to love bass fishing always, regardless of what it is. I love the sport. Everything evolves and everything changes.
You know, you can’t I don’t know what I mean, dude. I am so like I don’t even know what to say because there’s no right way to deal with it. Like, it’s. It’s just a weird, weird time and. And there’s people who look at it black and white. Be you can’t you.
You know what I mean? You can’t like, I don’t know like I mean, there’s been times in people’s businesses and I’m sure people are listening to this. I remember years ago, people that were friends with my parents, stuff like that. And I remember listening to them as a kid
Complaining about these hotshot employees that came in and didn’t really know the job. They were doing it on computers. And they don’t they don’t really didn’t really know like they did. They didn’t really get their hands in the dirt, so to speak, salespeople that these kids are using the GPS to get around,
You know, the automated cold calls, which, yeah, like they’re new kinds of stuff. It’s weird, dude. Like the fact that we’re talking to each other on essentially the Jetsons video phone video when I was a kid seemed like it is never going to happen and we wish we had one so bad.
We were kids. You would have like the Jetsons like it did when you were a kid. If your parents had, you know, somebody with a video phone, you would have traveled friggin hours just to see said video phone. Now you can do it from like I mean, literally
The only thing The Jetsons got wrong was the flying car. And what the hell is it? I mean? It’s about time. And they’ve got drones now that are that are they’re. They’re dumb. Don’t speak too soon. We’ll be covering tournament jetpacks It’s going to fly on over here. Gerald Swindell
We’re already doing it with drones. Yeah. Austin Barstow Like look at in just the period of their lives been around which isn’t that long. Let’s look at how it went from anglers hiding their baits to helicopters having to cover them to drones. And now when I’m at a Bassmaster event, it’s more often
There’s a drone above me that there isn’t a drone above me like take off. And they’re not just bastards, they’re everybody’s. And people quit looking up like they don’t even look up at drones anymore. When you hear like a car, fly the flying weed eater come in, you don’t look up anymore
Because it’s so calm. And there’s one last thing I wanted to ask you about was about the guy sitting in the Porta John watching the Mercer Show. Allegedly. Allegedly. I mean, first of all, I know you go ahead. Good. I want you I want you to retell me the story
In your short version, and I want to give you a final result on that. Okay. Well, first of all, thank you to all the Humphreys. They continue to come up at events and everything. It is amazing. You guys are awesome. I’m humbled every time to meet everybody
That you take your time out of your week to listen to our tomfoolery. Thank you. Yeah, but I’ve heard from several of the judges. They said, Were you doing a live podcast this morning? And I’m like, No, no. I just been here announcing boats and they said, Well, it was being broadcast.
I’m like, being broadcast. They said, Yeah, in the like with the fancy portal, let it text. It’s like the, you know, the VIP ones with stairs up to them and such in that portal that allegedly in the morning they were playing this podcast, not this episode, the previous episode,
But people are listening to it and I was like, you need to give me a video. They checked the next day and it was not that that was playing, but I wanted a video just so I could say we are number one in the number two business. What more so? So Dave,
The Marshall that I had in my boat on day four at Lake Fork was the guy that was sitting on the toilet in the porta potty watching Mercer because he told me he was like he was talking about how much he enjoyed the show and all that stuff.
And he told me he goes, I was in the porta potty, and I could hear someone ask me if I was watching the Mercer podcast from the other porta potty. It was him. Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that. Yeah, it made quite a stirring. So thank you.
So we’re officially for at least for that guy, number one in the number two business, we probably pissed some people off. Jake. That’s great. Do you think we made anyone happy? I don’t know, Dave. Even the rookies, I didn’t mention Kyle, Patrick and a whole bunch of others. I feel like we’re just
The guy in the portal that was happy, right? Yeah, he was very happy. And Taku was happy with his pizza. Trey McKinney was happy with his trophy. There were ten people very happy with their new belts, and Curious Fujita was very happy with his win. So congratulations to all those people.
That was an exciting ten day span. That was incredible. And I can’t wait to get to the classic. I’m really looking forward to it. What do you think is going to happen? Lord, I knew you were going to do that. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
But I did like when I some people were bitching at me about the rookies, I was like, Well, here’s the great news. Hardly any of them are in the class. Okay, that’s right. But Milliken is and Kyle Patrick is, and Tyler Williams is. And C again, I probably forgot somebody else that is.
Is Trey in it? No, he didn’t win an open 2 seconds last year. He did not win, but he’s going to be busy. You might know. But look, here’s the weird thing. You’re 19 years old. You just won an elite in one of the weirdest, most controversial times in the sport.
And the next event is the Bassmaster Classic that you’re going into. You’re not even fishing, but you just happened to be leading Dakota Lithium Rookie of the year co leading Dakota lithium rookie of the year and co leading progressive bass master angler of the year in year 19.
I would be a freaking like dude as no Edman Oh yeah he’s probably going to get more out of this his first year being at the expo than he would be out on the lake fishing gear. It’s going to be insane for him and that was me.
I’d probably not make the second day I got me the first day of the expo and then it would just I’d implode and too tired and I got exhausted. Tough to do. Hey, I got to say one other thing. I was. I’m distracted by that one bobblehead in the back there.
Is that Jake beside the pat, the new pat slapper bobblehead? Oh, yeah. Jace From, from Jace. From, from butt Commander. Yeah. Duck Commander right behind him. Bob Marley. Okay. Alan. Jace I thought it sounds. Jake Well, you think that you, you self-absorbed. No, no, no, no. I don’t look like that guy.
I actually look more like the Bruce Lee when on the top shelf. Bob Marilyn Monroe than I do. Jace Oh, yeah, sure. I actually often do look at your bobbleheads when we’re, when I’m looking at your screen, that’s how entertaining I am. You look right through me into the bobblehead.
Well, this has been a fun chat. You’ll be back here again in the future. We got the classic coming up. And thank you. Now let’s read the comments. They’ll be entertaining. Yeah. Thanks, Dave. Thanks, everyone. You made it. He made it. We’re at the end. Thank you so much for sticking with us.
Either you really enjoyed this or you just fell asleep listening to it. Either way, I thank you. And if you enjoyed this, make sure you like comments. Subscribe leave reviews in all the streaming platforms and help keep the growth going. You have made this little podcast something that I’m pretty dang proud of
And I thank you guys for that. Have a great week. Enjoy being around until next time. Bob Cobb take it away. Thanks for watching. Please like comment and subscribe. Because Bob Cobb, the bass masters, told you to, you hear? you hear?
38 Comments
Great show Dave!!! You are lucky to have the Clint Eastwood Bobble Head… That's a rare one!!!
The interviews with Trey was great. Hes a good young man. But I have to say I was riveted by Jake's commentary. Jake was extremely interesting, observant and clear speaking. He should be a BASS commentator. Thanks for having him on.
The best take I've heard on what's gone on so far this season at BASS…. you guys got it right, a well balanced insight into FFS and the current tournament fishing environment.
Man I could listen to Trey talk for hours. Gunna be fun watching him!
I'm for FFS and hope BASS doesn't ban it.👍👍👍👍👍
So the guys with 30 years experience talking about how ffs is taking away from their experience I think they forget when they were rookies had an advantage with tech knowledge over the guys who had 30 years experience back then
Keep the grow going!
I’ve been following Ben sense he was working a 9-5, sometimes says some things people don’t want to hear but he sticks to his guns and he is real and keeps it 💯. Dude can fish and am so freaking proud of him and it’s so cool to watch him make 2 top 10s in a row and this guys time has come and he has put in the work the last 10 years with YouTube and a lifetime of loving the sport of fishing….just really refreshing to see a real one make it to this level and if anyone deserves it it him. I put him up there with Polinec and Carl and Lee and swindle….he is funny and real and I think Mercer called it he is the Next Big Thing!! He is here to stay
And Ben has the best freaking fans!!! MFers hahahha
How many red 402 jerseys were in the crowd
Watching last weekend with my 7 year old son, I asked him who he wanted to win the tourney. He said 'Trey Mckinney'. Definitely somebody I approve my children looking up to. Great interview Dave!
Trey seems like a good young man. Realizes that all good is from God.
Great show! That young man is impressive on and off the water. I wish I was that composed and focused at 19. That kid is a machine with a very bright future. Jake's take…great as always!
Always like jakes take. Thanks Dave!
My favorite shows are when Jake is on.
I watch tournaments to learn to fish better. I don't have any electronics. Livescope is the only fishing technique I can't replicate any other way. I can use a canoe instead of a boat. I can use a rock on a string instead of a depth finder. I can use a cheaper bait instead of $25 hard baits. But with FFS, there's nothing I can replicate on my own, which makes watching the tournament almost useless.
Great talk as usual! Definitely not a shity show!!😅
Dave it was a long one but a great one. 😂 Trey is going to be a top notch player on the Elite’s. Love all the inside info Jake gets to share. I’m going to try and look you up at the Classic expo. Keep bringing the 🔥
Great podcast! Love listenin to these!
Great shows big dog missed commenting on Davey last week. You I love your shows. Jake’s the man. Unreal the wealth of knowledge he has gotten and will continue to get. Jealous. Love you guys
Got drones that will carry a deer out of the woods. Lol
Great podcast again Dave. It's funny to see how much FFS makes its way into any fisherman's conversations at some point. It's literally exhausting. That being said it is absolutely amazing technology and friggin' wild to watch. I'm actually babysitting my nephews livescope at the moment. Had it out a couple weeks ago fishing crappies on Lake Nipissing. Did great so decided to get back at it last weekend and figured the hell with the livescope. A real pain to haul that heavy thing around in a sleigh and just used the traditional flasher. That was tough. Still did great but felt like I had stepped back in time 10 years. 😂
In the words of Ish Monroe…."this industry owes you nothing"… To those that have made the statement of being forced…your not.
Just started this weeks show but I’m ready for it. I’m 35 and just started fishing last summer. It’s so cool to hear from guys with so much talent and experience, even if they are younger.
Wow! Trey is an incredible young man. His knowledge at 19 is scary.
Great content DM ! Jake is the man…
Great podcast as always 🎉keep it going
Yes, the bags are bigger, but some of the guys fussing aren’t catching their 18-21 lb. bags per day that’s needed to compete. Even when the FFS guys are fishing “new/different” fish.
Seeing what these guys are able to do with live scope in a derby is simply unreal!! The sheer amount of information about the habits of bass that they are unlocking is astonishing.
Great show as usual!!
I didn't know what anything meant at 13 lol
Jakes information on Ben is fascinating.
Thinking about the other podcast with Rick Clunn. Talking about embracing the new technology back in the early days and D's flipping stick. Think about this, you could still compete against flashers, flipping such. But now for the mid to older guys this is potentially the tool that is going to force them into early retirement or others never having the career they could have because of it, I do have it but I don't know. Just a thought.
Automatic thumbs down for the nasty roll tide comment .
Go Dawgs!!!
And AGAIN an Awesome podcast! Trey will be an excellent “face of BASS” for years to come! Always look forward to Jake’s Takes. He has so many stories, experiences with his Elites. Great job of bringing that back to your podcast for us to enjoy! Two hours not long enough!
My brother in law had a great idea I believe on limitations. We limit the amount of batteries one angler can have on their boat, and whatever they decide to use those batteries for is up to them. Want all the graphs? Okay you have to run a 12v tolling motor. Want a 36v trolling motor, okay then run one graph. The angler can decide how to use their power source
It's difficult to hear a guy I respect compare f.f.s. to lures and techniques. I don't care if you're for it or against but it is an insult to compare fishing a big swim bait, jig, or any number of techniques to spotlighting the fish. It's completely fine to respect and appreciate anglers who use it and the people who condemn pros winning with it are aiming their anger in the wrong direction. Blaming the anglers is like blaming military members for going to war. But to try to pretend that lures, or techniques are in the same category as ffs is just absurd. I respect guys who are good at it but it is not the same as flipping a jig or burning a spinnerbait. Just bc something's legal doesn't mean it's right and the opposite can also be true
Awesome, this is my favorite podcast.
Freaking awesome pcast