AlabamaSpothunter

D Bomb no doubt about it for me. 1. Bruiser Flash 2. Super Bug 3. Toxic Grape I've burned through about 12 packs the last couple of months. Recently switched over to the D-Stroyer for a bigger profile for night fishing though.

There was nothing boring about watching a 5lb 12oz Spot caught in the last 1.5hrs on the final day to win an Elite Series event imo. Wasn't boring watching one of the Elite Series most liked anglers win a trophy Wasn't boring watching Steve Kennedy do his thing with a big glide on day 2 First two days were dominated by non FFS techniques. Only when the shallow bite died the last two days did the scope become the winning technique. It was worth watching just to see Taku's baits, and powders. If I had to pick I'd choose traditional Bass fishing, but sadly I don't have a pick. I can either accept the current state of professional Bass fishing with regards to FFS or move along. The tech isn't going anywhere, there is no putting that genie back in the bottle.

Can't make everybody happy, but I can say this fan loved every minute of this derby! So happy for Taku!

LOL....

I already loved Jake's take on Mercer podcast, but I can't wait for this weds. now. He's the real MVP as far as the fan is concerned. The fact he was able to bring this fish catch to the world is amazing, hopefully he gets the credit he derserves. Not to mention Taku will always have this memory to look back on. What a fish! ETA: Caught using a dropshot fuzzy dice.....peak Japanese bait awesomeness 😎

Imagine catching a 5-6lb Spot on the final day of an Elite Series derby to win it. I got chicken skin just watching all that. I didn't think Fork could be topped, but this one has been just as exciting for me. And to think we still have SLR left.

Absolutely EPIC catch....Jake's camera went down and he still captured it all on his cellphone. Absolutely unreal, most exciting catch of the year. Second place goes to Hamners 11+ on Fork. UNREAL!!! Never heard Jake that excited.

Let's GOOOOOOOOOOO! Taku time just caught 5.4 😮 Please let that be a Spot. This thing might just be over after that fish.

Really hate to hear that buddy, just said a prayer for you guys.

When you listen to the interviews from guys like Taku and Carl J on Mercer's podcast, it's incredible to see what they've achieved. It's dang near impossible to become an Elite Series angler as an American but imagine doing it leaving your entire universe on the other side of the globe.

Really want Taku to win it, but I'd be okay with Robert winning as well. I don't won't anybody but those two to win it though. Those two are arguably the most likable guys on the Elites. The Japanese anglers fascinate and impress me the most, just look at the baits Taku is using. Two rigs I've never seen before, I've seen the baits but never rigged that way.

That was so cool watching Cory see that big Stripe on FFS and drop down 30ft and watch the fish spin on it and eat. FFS might be bad for the sport, but man is it some crazy cool technology.

Come on Taku!!!!!!!! I'd have to say him or Cox are my favorite pro anglers.

Man that's a soul crushing blow. That 7 minutes potentially cost him a blue trophy, AOY trophy, and $200k ETA: and it cost him the Crush City monster bag....would have been tough to top 16lb+ WOW......his weight was just now DQ'd for the entire day because a family member actually called him on the phone and alerted him he was late. He self reported. Absolutely mind boggling. McKinney's Day 2 weight disqualified at Smith Lake - Bassmaster Finished 93rd.

The crazy thing is I watched him every event last year in the Opens, and I can't recall him being penalized for anything.

Really is inexcusable, same with him not watching a Bassmaster rules video earlier this year. Very simple things, not like he's Poche out there getting penalized for gray areas. For a guy that makes catching Bass look easy, it's hard to imagine him making these massive mistakes. ETA: Dude could have won the derby, especially with his bag today. Now he won't even make the cut. Wild!

WOW.....Mckinney with a 7lb late penalty for being 7 mins late. This dude is off to a terrible start with regards to penalties and his young career.

Pro Bass fishing is the only sport I've watched where I want almost all the competitors to win. This sport attracts some fantastic human beings, these weigh ins always remind me of that fact. Hope that young man makes a full recovery!

G-Ratt Sneaky Pete in a Bass pattern he painted himself. ETA: Could also be the smaller sized Pistol Pete

Yeah it was a big soft swimbait IIrc. He spent like $10k on big swimbaits right after that event, said he still has some left 🤣

Steve Kennedy shows the world why the big swimbait is the most exciting bait in Bass fishing. If those two catches don't fire you, you aren't a Bass angler He won on Clear Lake with some stupid amount of weight with CA's hooked in the mouth rules being enforced. He had to throw back a DD that ate his big swimbait but ended up being hooked outside the mouth because he added a stinger hook to the bait.

The War Eagle Bill Dance 😁 The Auburn fingerprint on the Elite Series is pretty cool, you got Kennedy, Jordan Lee, and Logan Parks. I might be leaving out another as well.

Watching Steven Kennedy shake after catching a huge Spot on a swimbait is what it's all about. Whole wolfpack of big Spots followed the fish in. Awesome camera work.

Hackney is in 77th and Walters is in 51st.

Never seen the weights as tight as this, this one is going to be super exciting!