Elite's on Kentucky Lake

[homie452]

dave be carefull some of the guys on here might say you were hole sitting for a pro rather than being a gentleman that you are
an now for the real question for dave
dave you are "KING" on ky lake could you beat these guys on your home lake or are they that good to just walk in an take over???

[Dave Stewart]

dave be carefull some of the guys on here might say you were hole sitting for a pro rather than being a gentleman that you are
an now for the real question for dave
dave you are "KING" on ky lake could you beat these guys on your home lake or are they that good to just walk in an take over???

First of all, I am not the "KING" on Ky Lake. It is possible I may be the most widely known full time bass guide on both these lakes but the fact that I am the only full time bass only guide probably has something to do with that.

One thing I learned a long time ago. Just because I am the guide in the boat, doesn't mean I am the best angler in the boat..that applies to professional anglers and recreational anglers.

These guys that fish this series are very good or they would not be there. No doubt some of them like KVD are the best tournament anglers in the world. I would note here I have had some recreational anglers in my boat that have never fished a tournament that have been very impressive in their knowledge and abilities.

As far as me competing against these guys...glad I don't have to do so to make a living.

[jcb]

dave be carefull some of the guys on here might say you were hole sitting for a pro rather than being a gentleman that you are

When you have a forum where dudes start calling a guy who posts amazing catch photos a liar, and rag him about supposedly using live bait, I doubt if Dave would lose any sleep if that happened.

[Spider04]

I just sat in the boat with several of these pros as a marshal and I will tell you what I saw and what their comments were. I post this because I know I was interested in how this all worked at one time and I am sure others are interested too.
Takahiro Omori had many spectator boats on day 2. He was fishing a found spot, and for a while. When he thought he had broken the school up on it he moved to his only other found spot. Found spots to these guys are spots where they can catch 20+ lb bags. Three pounders don't help them much. The other spot had another pro on it. Tak had not fished there since the 2nd day of practice and was really disappointed. I found out later that pro had fished that spot only on the first day and had 22 lbs off of it. So we went back to the first spot. One of the spectator boats had moved up on the spot and both guys had fish on when we arrived. At least 10 times on the day with him, we heard the GPS beep as people pulled up. Here was Tak's take on it 'The GPS'ing doesn't bother me as much as knowing they will be fishing spots I spent 14 hours a day during practice to find before my tournament is done. And I don't have any other spots found that can win this tournament.' As for their ability - Tak pulled out a very non-traditional ledge bait in the last hour and caught a 4 lber and a 7 lber to finish his 2nd 20 lb day. I was seriously impressed.
Cliff Pace had folks GPSing him too. He was really irritated with it. He didn't comment much or specifically though.
Keith Poche is a rookie I went with on day 3. He too found two spots and he spent the entire morning running and gunning other stuff to stay away from spectator boats because he thought his spots were afternoon bites and didn't want to show his hand. He made the final 12 cut.
I did hear stories of some pros doing unfair things to prep the tournament but I can't really comment on it because it was hearsay. I know what I saw. They don't like the idea of someone simply pulling up on a spot they spent a lot of time to find and ruining their tournament. I went with Terry Scroggins, Randy Howell, and Denny Brauer last year and remember the same kind of attitude.
I asked about the use of guides and many of them do it. But they do this many months in advance of a tournament usually. Sometimes even right after a tournament (for the next year). This helps point them in the right direction of why bass do what they do on that lake. For instance, the bass on Ky Lake and the bass on Clarks Hill have different tendancies because of different environments. When practice time comes, they do a lot of searching and are out long days. My buddy and I saw KVD out fishing a main lake ledge at 8pm Sunday night. And he was fishing hard. One of the reasons these guys are so good is how hard they work at it. Physically. It was over 100 degrees heat index Saturday and KVD busted his butt to win.
By the way - Takahiro Omori was a joy to watch. His attitude is awesome. His techniques are cool. And he really knows and takes care of his equipment. If you don't know his story, you should look it up. A great example of how a person who works hard enough in our land of opportunity can make it, without handouts. Good guy. And if you don't know who Keith Poche is, look him up. Genuine good guy who is going to be good.
Just my input. Also, been out with Dave too. You can not go wrong there. An investment that lasts a lifetime in fishing knowledge. Wish I had done that years ago.
Jason

[walkeraviator]

how does one become a marshall on these tourneys?

[Spider04]

Check out the ESPN website and look up Bassmaster. You will see info in there when you dig around on how to become a marshal under the Elite Series stuff. I really have enjoyed it and learned a tremendous amount.
As I have stated before here - the best money I have spent in fishing wasn't my equipment or lures. It has been time purchased with Dave Stewart, money spent to be in a good bass club, and the money I used to be a marshal. With that said, Dave commits all of his time to you while you get smidgets of time with the pros or other club members as they are working to win. Dave gives you knowledge you can use at any lake. I seriously recommend him.
Jason

[wishniwasfishn]

I just sat in the boat with several of these pros as a marshal and I will tell you what I saw and what their comments were. I post this because I know I was interested in how this all worked at one time and I am sure others are interested too.
Takahiro Omori had many spectator boats on day 2. He was fishing a found spot, and for a while. When he thought he had broken the school up on it he moved to his only other found spot. Found spots to these guys are spots where they can catch 20+ lb bags. Three pounders don't help them much. The other spot had another pro on it. Tak had not fished there since the 2nd day of practice and was really disappointed. I found out later that pro had fished that spot only on the first day and had 22 lbs off of it. So we went back to the first spot. One of the spectator boats had moved up on the spot and both guys had fish on when we arrived. At least 10 times on the day with him, we heard the GPS beep as people pulled up. Here was Tak's take on it 'The GPS'ing doesn't bother me as much as knowing they will be fishing spots I spent 14 hours a day during practice to find before my tournament is done. And I don't have any other spots found that can win this tournament.' As for their ability - Tak pulled out a very non-traditional ledge bait in the last hour and caught a 4 lber and a 7 lber to finish his 2nd 20 lb day. I was seriously impressed.
Cliff Pace had folks GPSing him too. He was really irritated with it. He didn't comment much or specifically though.
Keith Poche is a rookie I went with on day 3. He too found two spots and he spent the entire morning running and gunning other stuff to stay away from spectator boats because he thought his spots were afternoon bites and didn't want to show his hand. He made the final 12 cut.
I did hear stories of some pros doing unfair things to prep the tournament but I can't really comment on it because it was hearsay. I know what I saw. They don't like the idea of someone simply pulling up on a spot they spent a lot of time to find and ruining their tournament. I went with Terry Scroggins, Randy Howell, and Denny Brauer last year and remember the same kind of attitude.
I asked about the use of guides and many of them do it. But they do this many months in advance of a tournament usually. Sometimes even right after a tournament (for the next year). This helps point them in the right direction of why bass do what they do on that lake. For instance, the bass on Ky Lake and the bass on Clarks Hill have different tendancies because of different environments. When practice time comes, they do a lot of searching and are out long days. My buddy and I saw KVD out fishing a main lake ledge at 8pm Sunday night. And he was fishing hard. One of the reasons these guys are so good is how hard they work at it. Physically. It was over 100 degrees heat index Saturday and KVD busted his butt to win.
By the way - Takahiro Omori was a joy to watch. His attitude is awesome. His techniques are cool. And he really knows and takes care of his equipment. If you don't know his story, you should look it up. A great example of how a person who works hard enough in our land of opportunity can make it, without handouts. Good guy. And if you don't know who Keith Poche is, look him up. Genuine good guy who is going to be good.
Just my input. Also, been out with Dave too. You can not go wrong there. An investment that lasts a lifetime in fishing knowledge. Wish I had done that years ago.
Jason

Great stuff Jason, really glad you shared your experience with the Marshall Program, sounds like it is well worth the $100.00. I havent said anything yet, but to watch a pro catch a fish, mark the spot, wait for him to leave, and then start fishing it, knowing he is going to come back to that spot later is just as bad as robbing a man of his fishing equipment after you watch him load it in his truck, and walk into his room. Sorry, but if you have no more morals than that, you have bigger issues than not knowing how to find your own fish. If you want to mark the spot and come back after they finish the tournament, more power to you, but to pull up on it after he leaves it, knowing he will be coming back is unthinkable.

[smashdn]

Great stuff Jason, really glad you shared your experience with the Marshall Program, sounds like it is well worth the $100.00. I havent said anything yet, but to watch a pro catch a fish, mark the spot, wait for him to leave, and then start fishing it, knowing he is going to come back to that spot later is just as bad as robbing a man of his fishing equipment after you watch him load it in his truck, and walk into his room. Sorry, but if you have no more morals than that, you have bigger issues than not knowing how to find your own fish. If you want to mark the spot and come back after they finish the tournament, more power to you, but to pull up on it after he leaves it, knowing he will be coming back is unthinkable.

How is that any different than going down a bank 150 yards behind someone?

[wishniwasfishn]

because they are on a specific spot, that is holding a school of fish that will probaly stay in that area the whole time they are there, and they spent 3 days finding them, and more than likely will spend every day fishing that exact area, and everyone knows that. Following him down the bank is totally different, in my opinion.

[Dave Stewart]

Thanks for the kind words Spider. Sounds like you had a great time at the tournament and was very observant as a Marshall during the tournament.

[Spider04]

Kind words earned Dave. You have helped my fishing tremendously.
I had a great time. Prior to the registration for the tournament a buddy and I caught some nice smallmouth night fishing Sunday and Monday nights over on the LBL side where you pointed me to. I haven't ever fished Dale Hollow, so I don't know about the comparison, but catching 15-20" smallmouth on spinnerbaits in the dark of night is seriously cool. They were knocking 3-4' of slack in my line on some hits.
Me likey!!
Jason