Gerald Swindle is professional bass fishing’s funniest man, and one of only 11 men in history to win the prestigious Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points title more than once. Swindle is also a former 3-sport athlete from Locust Fork High School in Alabama, and he took time just before blast-off Friday morning to talk bass fishing and football.
Q: As a professional angler, you’re your own head coach and quarterback on the water. What was your best ‘play call’ yesterday?
Swindle: I’d say it was my decision to keep moving around as much as possible on this little 7,000-acre reservoir. Not staying in one spot very long.
Q: When it comes to rods, reels, and lures – who were your most valuable players on Day 1?
Swindle: A Quantum Smoke HD baitcasting reel with a large spool full of 30-pound braided line to help me cast a Rapala topwater walking bait a long way, and a Shaky Head on a Quantum 6’ 10” Vapor spinning rod were my two star players yesterday.
Q: September is one of the toughest months of the year for bass anglers throughout much of the Southern U.S. – give fans some advice on how to beat bass fishing’s “September Blues.”
Swindle: No matter how hot the weather may be during the day, just remember, the nights are getting cooler, and that means there’s always going to be a few more bass moving shallow each day. So don’t give up on the shallow bite, and also expect to take advantage of schooling fish with a topwater in September too.
Q: You started fishing about half-a-football field away from the official tournament launch ramp yesterday, will you start there again today?
Swindle: Yep, because I know that a lot of local tournaments release bass from this ramp, so I’m not ashamed to fish for bass that have already been caught, I’m just putting myself in a high-percentage patch of water to start the day.
Q: What was your best position as a high school football player for the Locust Fork Hornets?
Swindle: I played a little bit of everything, but cornerback was probably my best position.
Q: Will the Alabama Crimson Tide go undefeated this season, and win another National Championship?
Swindle: Yes.
Q: Baker Mayfield helped the Cleveland Browns get their first win in 635 days last night. What do you think about that?
Swindle: Yea, I saw that, but I’m still not a Mayfield fan.