AlabamaSpothunter

Happens to us all, Ott Defoe zero'd today on the final day of a MLF event on a legendary big Bass factory in Guntersville. If it came happen to a Classic champ, it can happen to us. At least you put yourself out there, challenged yourself, and enjoyed a day on the water. If we didn't have anywhere to grow, life wouldn't be enjoyable.

Lol, first thought when I saw the pic earlier today....."Wallhead cheaters" ?

Grab that belly, pull that hand grenade pin, I DARE YOU! ?

As a guy who was mentored by a true OG Texas Bass fisherman, you're spot on, he always pegged it w/ a toothpick, and that was the way it was done his whole life, much of it spent living in Texas.

This is much bigger problem than I think we really understand. It's hard to calculate the immense fishing pressures on some of these fisheries when we're only out there when we fish. Ed the Diver is a guy's name IIrc, and he dives popular fishing lakes, it's nothing short of incredible the amount of snagged lures he recovers. Lots of times a fish straight up steals your bait and ingests it right there and then, other times your plastic gets thrown during a fight and at some future point the bait appeared alive enough due to current most likely that fish eat it. I've heard of sick or dead Bass having non-biodegradable plastics caught in their GI tracks. Senkos are likely the worst offender. I get about a fish per Senko, and they are thrown off during the fight most times.

We really do share a brain, just 5 minutes ago I was pondering the fact that a top 20 angler in the world, a Classic winner, and dude fishing on an epic big Bass factory can be blanked at 130pm. Makes me feel better about my pathetic game though ? Wall boat flipped that Glide fish like a boss ?

Yeah you were right as usual in our conversation earlier today, dude is an industry unto himself. He's different from every other pro I've learned about, he's about building an empire along with trying to be the greatest in the sport. He's quite the talented man.

Awesome, and thanks for taking the time to explain it all. That's a lot to explain. Wheeler is just dominating this thing now. I noticed MLF pays out 3k+ for 41-80th place, think BASS stops at 40. That's a pretty good deal for those who decide to fish MLF vs. BASS. That 3k+ I'm sure goes a long way to keeping them on the trail.

I don't know, but Ben Milliken who I think is the greatest in the world at these baits literally throws them in a big tupperware.

lots of people use swimbait wraps, I just keep them in the original packaging as long as possible because I'm a redneck ? Swimbait Underground Hybrid 12” Bait Wrap - OD Green | Black

Looks like a two horse race, still have to figure out how these MLF events work, they been fishing since Weds., there is fishing periods, groups, knockout stages. Just fish 4 days and have a couple of cut lines, some of us are stupid lol. These final weights appear to be only one day + today?

Nice ones, that cat would have made me quite upset lol. Crazy it hit a topwater.

DAYGUM SLAUNCH! Magnificent fish sir, certainly worthy of your new PB. Don't get any better than that, congratulations, and enjoy the high! Change that avatar, moving on up in the world, cue the music ?

We all have such different situations, and it's always changing as is life. However since the beginning of August when I got re obsessed with the sport, I've spent on avg. 5/7 days. Or about 240/270 days. Some days it's for only a couple hours, other days it's for 4-6hrs, almost never is it a full day of fishing. It's easy for me to be on the water within 10mins of wanting to be. If it was 30mins-1hr, I'd be staying longer, and going less days I'm sure. If you want inspiration, let Pat Cullen guide you ? 1,113 Giant Bass… And Counting – Georgia Outdoor News (gon.com)

It's the cheat code brother, most simply don't have what it takes to do it. Fantastic fish, you earned that one!

Earlier this Spring I heard a pro say that pegging your creature during the spawn is the way to go because you don't want those fish hitting the weight first. Then I notice all the pros on the elite level, and the guys I'm following on youtube doing it when either directly bed fishing by sight, or fishing for bedding fish but not by sight, just pitching to high percentage bed locations. Then I peg D Bombs and start pitching to high % bed locations, and my 5lb+ valve magically turned on. Could it have been just the D Bomb T-rigged alone, sure, maybe even likely. Will I ever throw anything in the spring that's not pegged in the future, nope. Confidence has been established, snake oil in my head has been created. Take this reply for what it's worth ?

Brother it's America, I'm sure you work hard, and honestly for your money.......so if buying tackle til the monkey says uncle makes you happy, then dismiss anybody who doesn't like it. I'd be smiling ear to ear for months if not years on end with your tackle collection, the fun of buying it, the fun of tweaking things, always looking for the better mousetrap, and ultimately my experience has shown that presenting new baits on pressured southern fisheries is the deal.

And that fish would have just eaten the two I caught earlier like peanuts ? It's a beautiful fish, and the fact you only got one confirms the fact you were fishing the right way for big fish imho. She's a coming for you, I have absolutely zero doubt about that.

I bet his new bait is something like Milliken's Hover Juggle

Just got another 6.8 Not a huge fan of the MLF format, but I do enjoy watching big Spots and LGMs being caught ?

That was freaking epic, he posted the video of the catch on his FB account. Lay is gonna take big Bass after the series went to the Big O, Murray, Santee, Seminole.....lol ? I'd be lying if I didn't say I threw a whacky rig for the first time in 20yrs this week after being inspired by him, and mainly Brandon Cobb. Cobb is going to win AOY on that stupid whacky rig ?

Thanks Dwight! Can't wait to see the giants you produce on this bait. It's a blast to fish with, and a buddy recommended putting a "tracer" on the forehead of the bait which I'm going to do. Also need to play around with suspend dots as it won't take much to get this bait to suspend. Again looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this bait. You're absolutely right Katie, I've caught some otherwise perfectly healthy fish this last year that look to be true survivors of some pretty traumatic injuries. Can't wait for the report, I hope while I'm typing this you're boating a giant in the most secluded beautiful bog ?

Agreed, but man I thought here we go again after the 7th. We need to string some wins together now, that road trip was brutal. Game was full of fielding gems, Braves should have had a few more runs, and they should have had at least one or two. That Ronnie grab in the OF was stellar as well. He stays healthy, he's a no brainer MVP, he's the best player in MLB including Shohei at this moment imho. Pure electricity. He's like Bo Jackson, even the best athletes in the world are in awe of him.

Flashback Mini with a 3" Damiki Armor Shad trailer. Throw past the bait and reel the thing as slowly as you can still feel that tiny blade hunting. This is the best and easiest thing I've found, it's super finesse-e, and yet generates more than enough attention to get a Bass's attention amongst thousands of Shad. Damiki Axe Blade is deadly too when it's a bit colder MegaBass Vision 110jr and 110jr+1 are both killers but when it's a bit colder Buzzbait produces the best out of all the topwaters for me in these situations in the warmer months, in the winter months they won't hit it. Lastly, a Scrounger head with a matching bait profile size trailer is dynamite as we go into summer.

Wow Snickers tried to blow that game, @Jar11591 I know you would have pulled Elder after the 6th, and for sure after he gave up the double to lead off the 7th. This is one thing that drives me crazy about Snick, overall I think he's fantastic, but he'll cost the Braves several games a year by giving the pitcher the benefit of the doubt. I still remember when Matt Harvey wouldn't let the Met's manager take him out late in a WS game, sure enough he comes out and blows the game. Lost all respect for that manager that night, probably why I can't remember his name. That Royals team was so much fun to watch.