How and why this video was made:

We live on the spawning grounds at Thomas Mill Creek off Lake Eufaula - one of the most heavily fished tournament lakes in the nation. There is a major, minor, state, or local bass tournament here literally every week of the year. The amount of money brought in to the local businesses and Alabama tax revenue is astronomical (documented with bass facts in the description).

For 4 years now, we’ve had an up close view of what the various classes of fisherman do.

We see what the pros do. We see what the newbies do. We see what the wannabe’s do. It’s vastly different, and almost comical in a way.

The pros (decked out to the nines, shrink wrapped impeccable boats, camera operator on board) film here - within 1/2 mile of the boat ramp they can get shots with a residential background, bridges, open lake, and creeks with forested background. That’s about it for them, they’re fishing the lake deep for female bass that have the weight to win. If it’s dangerous windy on the lake, they’ll fish the bridges for resident lunkers and deep cuts for staging females if spawning season. I can’t remember ever seeing them snatching fish off the beds. Just doesn’t happen from what we see.

The newbies fish the shallow water for spawning bass (and oddly remove themselves from any contention) almost exclusively. Boat after boat will make the predictable loop in the shallow basin here, all dropping various plastics on the beds.

The wannabes (have the money for nice boats and premium equipment) are harder to figure - they come in, dabble here, dabble there in the spawning grounds, fire up and speed to spot after spot with who knows what on their minds. They remove themselves from contention in my mind as well since every minute they’re not doing what the pros do is wasted time. They are really the oddballs of the bunch - doing a little here, a little there, and not doing much of anything at all.

I guess my main point is this: if you’re going to be a “pro” - then do what they do - not necessarily what they tell you to do (to win a tournament they’re also in). They fish for fish that will win. We see them going to areas that will have those fish in number (deep timber, submerged houses, channel & creek mouths) and play the odds. The more large females they can find in number that are in shape to bite - the more chance of getting the weight they need.

As for the video, spawning bass and the rest, it is what it is I guess. The hatchery will take care of it and we need the money dropped.

Good luck fishing.

uhhhhhh......what?

lol exactly my thoughts

Two minutes of my life I will never get back

This guy hit his head falling off the short bus.

This has the feeling of someone that likes to stand by his or her dock and harass every angler within shouting distance.

Welcome back Big O

well played!

Glad it wasn't just me wondering about this.

I fished a BASS tourney as a non-boater back in the day. I watched a lot of pros up trying to catch them on the bed. Spent a day in the middle of a spawning cove throwing traps but lots of guys (and some big name ones) worked their way around the bank trying to catch bedding fish, so things must've changed, or this guy is clueless - one or the other.

So, in other words...GET OFF MY LAWN and leave my spawning fish alone!!!???

This thread has potential

Following

Is he gonna cry?