sregsvsrt

Start fly fishing. You'll catch more browns with flies.

Believe it or not I've had a lot of luck with rattle traps in the winter. I use a yo-yo retrieve. They'll hit it on the fall. I guess they can't stand to have something that looks like a shad drop right in front of their face.

I was fishing from shore the first time I used it and caught the 3 pounder.

I love Bass Pro Shops. I live in Cincinnati so I am very close to one. I worked there for 3 years but got let go because they wouldn't let me off to fish a tournament. Needless to say I fished the tournament. I really hate to say it but I've had really bad luck with their reels. Spend the extra $20.00 and get a Shimano Curado. They are the smoothest casting baitcaster for the price. (In my humble opinion) I just looked after posting this. Did Shimano do away with the green Curados? Nooooooooooooo! I just looked on Ebay! They did! That's not good at all. I loved these reels for the price. Here's a link for one on Ebay..... http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-CURADO-200_W0QQitemZ150073940170QQihZ005QQcategoryZ108153QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Making your own lures is fun. I have a couple of Ohio River spinnerbaits that I've done extremely well on. I actually caught 7 fish in 7 casts on the Ohio River with one particular one I make. When you catch a fish on something you make yourself you get a serious feeling of accomplishment. I go with Jann's but haven't really done research on any others.

I worked at Bass Pro for 3 years. Everytime they had combos on sale I bought one. Like someone said the combo price is awesome. I have the Woo Daves crankbait set up, totally awesome. It's now the only rod and reel I use for a crankbait. The Spring Classic is coming up and it should be on sale for $160.00. It might be a little more with inflation. The Shimano reels are $120.00 by themselves.

I love Berkley Power Worms when it's raining or shortly after.

I'm also just getting in the planning stages of my fishing career. It has been a long time dream of mine but earlier in life I didn't think I could really make it a possibility. I started fishing what was the Red Man in 99. I have been studying and learning what it takes to make it. One thing I have learned is it does take a whooooole lot of money and a whooole lot of hard work and determination. My expenditures thus far have far exceeded my winnings. It has been a fun learning experience. I went without even a serious girlfriend for 5 years just to spend as much time on the water as possible. One thing I have done is I started out on my own workwise. It's tough right now but getting better. I am in the process of planning how my business can still run without me there. I'll be hiring an answering service and subcontracting the work. I'm going the FLW route instead of BASS. It just seems an easier way. If I'm wrong please correct me. I believe it's good to dream huge and if you make it halfway there you're still doing well. I'm trying to make a 10 year plan to win the FLW championship. I'll be almost 50 then and still in competitive shape. Dream on Dreamers!

One thing I might add is to keep your bait as straight as possible. The way I do that is by using a palomar knot and looping the tag end back through before putting on the weight. My first experience with a drop shot.... I saw a stump that looked like it should hold a bass. I ran a spinnerbait by it a couple of times. I ran a tube by it a couple of times. I then pulled out a drop shot rig for the first time. I pitched it by the stump and let it sit in one spot while just barely twitching it, keeping the bait suspended by keeping the line semi-tight. The line just started walking off real slow. I set the hook and up jumped a 3 pounder. I think the main thing with drop shotting is keeping the bait in one place while "dancing" your lure. I prefer minnow imitations. I have a real tough time using the drop shot because I believe it should be used slowly. I only really use it in deep water or when the bite is slow. It is extremely effective when the bass aren't moving and are looking for an easy meal that they can just inhale.

Marketing and more sales and marketing. That's what you're doing when you are sponsored. You are marketing your sponsor's products. I know Brent "Brody of the Lake" Broderick fairly well and his major in college was marketing. I believe he said he had a minor in business administration. He got most of his sponsors because of his intelligence and his degree. He is definitely "living the life" now. He also stands out in a crowd. When I first saw him the first thing I noticed was his pony tail. His sponsors told him not to cut his hair because that's what made him who he was. Most of the pros who have sponsors that I've met have a very outgoing personality. You have to be a salesman. That's what the sponsors are looking for is someone who can sell their products. For the most part they really don't care how well you do in tournaments. Of course it is a big plus for them when you pull out a top ten. Tournament fishing is an extremely tough sport. It may not seem so, but when you start putting in 10-15 hours a day on a lake prefishing it really takes a toll on your body. Good physical conditioning is a big plus.