It seems like there’s always a little controversy over lake information off-limits regulations for bass tournaments.
Prior to this year, the no information rule went into effect once the schedule was announced. This year, it’s 28 days before the event.
None of that affects me because I’ve always modeled my career after Rick Clunn, who never sought information and did quite well doing it on his own. I was his biggest fan while growing up and dreaming of being a bass pro.
Looking back on my career, I started pro fishing with the FLW circuit that had no limitations on getting help, yet I still subscribed to doing my own thing.
And let’s be clear — I don’t have a problem with someone who seeks help providing they do it within the rules.
It’s just not my thing.
And believe me, I could have gotten all kinds of help over the years from sponsors who offered to put me in touch with someone who was a good stick on a given lake.
But I always respectfully declined. I wanted to be like Clunn, and to this day I can say that there isn’t anyone who can say they helped put me on fish.
I suppose that has hurt me on the business side of pro angling, but I got to where I am now by doing my own thing.
It’s me against the fish, not me vs. Joe Blow. Call me quirky, but I like going to a lake and rolling around while trying to figure it out. That’s one of the many aspects of bass fishing that drives me. I have great tools, from my boat to electronics, rods and reels and lures. I don’t need someone to tell me where to make a cast.
I don’t do a lot of pre-fishing either. I get on the water and fish the moment. I don’t want someone else’s info in my head.
Strange as it may seem, I like starting practice without knowing where to fish. It eliminates pre-conceived notions and will help me land on a productive spot that has never been fished by another angler.
One thing I’ve learned is that tournaments are seldom won the way locals think they will be won. It’s kind of funny, I will run down the lake and not see a boat for miles, then come upon an area where 10 anglers are fishing.
Apparently, the word was out that it was a good area, and sometimes it can be.
Not for me. I’ll head back to that area where nobody was fishing and start looking.
Admittedly, I don’t like fishing around others. I like fishing in solitude. I don’t have to be on the largest school of bass when fishing in an area that I have to myself; it allows me to micromanage my fish.
There’s no question that a guy can get help, win a tournament and make a name for himself. But relying on help leads to a lot of peaks and valleys.
If you do it on your own, you tend to be more consistent, and that’s what has worked best for me over the past 25 years.
