Pro Angler Advice

[frogflogger]

I'm interested in what type of lure not what specific brand.

[scaleface]

When Guido Hibdon wins a tourney on a home made plastic crawfish , I pay attention . Or Denny Brauer with a generic tube .  Most of the time I dont pay that much attention though . If the lure supposedly has a quality that I think will help me catch  fish I'll give it a try . Like the Red Eye Shad having action on the fall. 

[jbw252]

16 hours ago, Zeeter said:

How much credence do you put into the recommendations of pro anglers when it comes to gear?

Very little, if any at all.  They have sponsors for one main reason = $$$.  We all know that fish are finicky, so what Pros say works there may not work here where you fish. I know one thing for sure - fishing gear catches more fishermen than fish. The bait monkey has proven that many times.

[chattooga_ basser]

I read all top patterns and lures articles that FLW and Bassmaster put out. I'm pretty set on the gear I like and fish with so I pay more attention to the style or philosophy that pro used. I.e. Jesse Wiggins fishing deep during springtime in FL, or Jon Cox fishing shallow in the Cup when everyone started out deep.

The stuff that goes against the grain or gets overlooked .

["hamma"]

  I may "learn" a new technique, or trick. But the specifics as far as the actual companies lure used, I take with a grain of salt. Meaning: I will learn a tip while, say dropshotting, but the actual bait hanging off that hook? Im not so inclined to run out and buy. I may employ that tip, but use a bait of "my" choice while doing so

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, Brayberry said:

Years ago, I had a buddy win a Bass Invitational, he led wire to wire.  I read every article I could on the tournament, as I personally knew the guy, and had already spoken with him and knew all the details on the win.  Every magazine, including Bassmasters, said he won the tournament with 2 lures, a "unidentified bait" and specific Shad Rap.  Technically True,  but the unidentified bait they had a picture of and it was obivious to everyone is was a old Smithwick Rogue (not a sponsor), and the Shad Rap (Rapala was a sponsor).  The articles led you to believe the Shad Rap did most of the damage and the Rogue just caught one here or there, in reality it was the Rogue that caught all of his keepers, and the Shad Rap he only threw for 5 minutes on the last day just to catch something on it to say it caught fish.  After that I never trusted the magazines or pro's.  I jut watch what they are doing, not what they are saying

 

News Flash - The entire Media as a whole, works just like that.

A-Jay

[Zeeter]

Ok, so I don't sit around making a list of every item that the pros use so I can get it all at BPS. However, if I see a guy catching things on a creature bait and he's using a certain technique I may buy that particular bait just so that I can emulate his technique. Sometimes it's the exact same bait. Sometimes it isn't - just depends on the price and sometimes the brand. We all know there are some bargain brand baits out there that just don't hold up as well as the more costly but stronger ones.

 

Of course I listen to what the folks in here have to say, especially the people who live near me. But if I want to take it to the next level then I want to hear from the pros. As I noted above, there has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of information that the pros give out in their videos. In the early 2000s you were told to pitch into light cover and flip/punch into heavy cover. Well now they don't just tell you to do that - they show you how to set it up your rig and how to use the particular technique. And every guy is a little different.

 

Using my analogy up several posts ago, if I want to learn to do what Scott Martin is doing then I should get at least similar gear as he is using. And since the creature bait he's using is only $3 a pack I may as well get it. I never used a flipping hook and know nothing about them. He recommends a certain brand that he uses and is probably sponsored by. May as well get it since I don't know better. On the other hand, he recommends a particular brand of tungsten weight. Well, I don't see how the different flipping weights can be much different so I'll get the cheapest one made by a major manufacturer. And I never heard of the rod and reel he's using - I've always been a Shimano/G. Loomis guy. So I'm not going to get the Okuma rod unless I come in here and people say yeah - that's a better rod for flipping than the equivalent G. Loomis rod.

 

So to me the answer to the question is - look at what the pros are using and if they are doing something I want to do that is dependent on the gear then I need to get that gear. Otherwise, use my brain and the brains of the folks in here and get what will work best for me.

8 minutes ago, Zeeter said:

And I never heard of the rod and reel he's using - I've always been a Shimano/G. Loomis guy. So I'm not going to get the Okuma rod unless I come in here and people say yeah - that's a better rod for flipping than the equivalent G. Loomis rod.

 

 

By the way, does anyone know anything abotu the Okuma rods? Is there a significant drop-off between that and G. Loomis or is he just pushing his sponsor?

[3dees]

I never buy based on what a pro is using. if you do, you better have deep pockets. fishing shows today are commercials with a little fishing thrown in.

[Zeeter]

7 minutes ago, 3dees said:

I never buy based on what a pro is using. if you do, you better have deep pockets. fishing shows today are commercials with a little fishing thrown in.

 

I wouldn't say never. If it makes sense to use it and I'm not familiar with another brand of whatever they are using then I'll get it. Obviously if it's a high ticket item I'll do some additional research.

[scaleface]

I wont buy a lure because a pro says its really good and everybody need a couple . I will buy one if it fills a niche . I just bought six crankbaits David Fritz was hawking because   supposedly they dive a couple of feet deeper than comparable sized baits .

[CaptMikeStarrett]

I find this thread very interesting. My theory is, if looks like I could use it, I buy it and test it well, for the year. Then if it is not working for me or my customers then it becomes Fishing Flea Market fodder. Every now and then I find something in a lure or a reel that says quality and it works. Then I buy five more. Because I always have to have an even number.. OCD

 

Capt Mike

[.ghoti.]

None.

[Deeare]

When you are sponsored,  your job is to sell their products!!  Bottom line is that you need to increase their bottom line.   I think that sums it up.    

[Hawkeye21]

I will admit that I've bought a few lures based on what a pro was using.  I don't usually go by what they promote on TV but read articles that discuss how they won tournaments.  After reading how KVD won a tourney mostly using a chartreuse, black back square bill crank bait I made sure I had one in my tackle box.  This was one time that it really paid off because I've caught a ton of fish on that one lure.

 

Other than that I usually will look to see what types of lures they are using and the techniques.  I don't really care about what brand it is because I'm not always willing to spend the money on their brand.  I'll find a similar style lure from another brand that's more affordable and use it. 

[Zeeter]

3 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I will admit that I've bought a few lures based on what a pro was using.  I don't usually go by what they promote on TV but read articles that discuss how they won tournaments.  After reading how KVD won a tourney mostly using a chartreuse, black back square bill crank bait I made sure I had one in my tackle box.  This was one time that it really paid off because I've caught a ton of fish on that one lure.

 

Other than that I usually will look to see what types of lures they are using and the techniques.  I don't really care about what brand it is because I'm not always willing to spend the money on their brand.  I'll find a similar style lure from another brand that's more affordable and use it. 

 

Kind of my thoughts on it, too. If what he's using to win tournaments is relatively inexpensive versus similar products I may get what the pro used. If he's using a high priced item and there's almost the same exact bait made by another company for half the price I'll probably go with the lesser priced item. To this day I think the BPS senko clones are just as good, if not better than the Senko brand.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

 

We all buy so much "stuff', I can't imagine why you would not buy the winning lures from every Classic.

I suspect this would only be a small portion of your collection and who knows, those particular lures might

just be the ticket!

 

[BassAssassin726]

Honestly not much. They're just doing what they're paid for, promoting their sponsors gear. 

[TOXIC]

Totally depends on the pro.  For example, KVD really throws the cranks he designed.  When it comes to something like a senko, it's not like every plastic manufacturer doesn't make a knockof.  The next question is that bait a senko or a sticko? 

[sully420]

90% of all fishing gear is good enough to get the job done. I would rather spend 20bucks to get 3 crank baits that cover 3 different colors or depths than spend 20 on one crank that makes sounds or whatever. I have bought GY Senkos for 6.99$ and caught fish then went and bought 2.99$ yum dingers and done just as well. I know some baits just work better than brands but you figure it out as you go.

[SneakyPete]

I like getting info more local fisherman and not the pros

[TOXIC]

Every bait made sponsors someone so somebody has to be telling the truth.  

[Zeeter]

Kind of like I mentioned before. These guys make a living fishing. They're out there every day. They could take just about any lure and make it work for them, so it doesn't matter who supplies them as a sponsor. I could never fish with a Quantum reel, but KVD can. If I was out on a boat every day like he is I could make it work for me.

[Chance_Taker4]

I know right after KVD won his last classic in Louisiana you couldn't find a SK KVD 1.5 in stock anywhere for months so I think it depends on the pro.

[geo g]

I like MLF because you can see what their throwing, and how their working the bait.  The B/S stops there!

[lmbfisherman]

When I watch a pro, I try to listen to how he fishes a certain technique, I tune them out when they talk about their sponsors.  I definitely learn a lot more from everyone here though.