Choosing the Right Rod

It seems that everywhere we turn someone is trying to sell us some new piece of tackle. We’re all jaded enough to drown out the advertisements during the Sunday morning fishing shows but now its in the forums, blogs, and even in the headers above our private emails. That said, its not really the advertisements that get me. If they were handled differently I might not be so put off.
I don’t mind being shown new product or concepts but I hate to be told what I need. I’m part of the generation that wants to be shown why, how, and when things work so that I can make an educated decision about what is right for my style.
I get emails daily asking questions about swimbait rods. I thought that perhaps instead of constantly telling people what they should get I would simply show the differences amongst the rods. What you see in this video are 3 of my all-time favorite swimbait rods. There is a 4th rod but I won’t be answering any questions about that one, not yet anyway. When its ready you’ll be the first to know and then you can decide if its right for you.

Its important to understand that we don’t all have the exact same style. These are the rods that perfectly fit my style. I’m not telling you that the rods you use are wrong, but if you’re losing fish, not feeling bites, or uncomfortable while throwing swimbaits for long hours it may be time to take a look at what I’m talking about.
The 3 rods discussed can all be found on this page at tackle warehouse.

How to Properly Cast Big Baits

When people first started discussing the topic of “properly” casting baits to avoid injury I didn’t think anything of it. Even when the requests started coming in to get my opinion on the topic I really wasn’t interested. That is, until I woke up one day with a shoulder injury.
No, don’t worry about me. I’ve since recovered and am catching more than my fair share of fish but the whole incident got me thinking. I started looking at how I throw big baits, how other people throw them, and how much of a difference it makes by the end of the day. Just like there is a science to catching big bass, there is a science to keeping your joints functioning year after year.

There may be people who watch this video and think its ridiculous (I would have) and that’s okay. But for those of you with open minds who want to start taking care of yourself, pay attention. HOW you cast is as important as the bait you choose to throw. Feel free to chime in on this one, I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Gary Dobyns: Passion wins tournaments

Over the next few weeks I plan to do a series on the mindset behind winners. It doesn’t matter if you’re out to win a tournament, catch a trophy bass, or just make it big amongst your friends. No matter what your goal, preparing your mind to win is a huge part of consistently coming out on top. In this video Gary Dobyns talks about his win at the 2009 US Open, the most prestigious tournament on the west coast.
What does it take to win the biggest tournament in the West? What makes one angler so much better than the rest of the field on a given day? Was it preparation, some secret spot no one else knows about, or is there something more? The first aspect of a “winning mindset” that we will discuss is PASSION.
Listen to what Gary has to say about the US Open but as you hear it listen to the underlying theme. Though Gary never used the word “passion”, it is woven through everything he says. After you’ve watched the video consider if you have that kind of passion. Would you be willing to do what it takes, whatever it takes, to win?

If you want to consistently win and don’t have passion you need to develop it before you take another step into the bass fishing arena. While passion is only one aspect of a successful angler it is incredibly important! Watch for a few more videos on this topic in the weeks to come.

Mike Long on Swimbait Rods

Thanks to Hooked Up for lending us this video. When it comes to swimbaits and big bass, Mike Long is someone that just can’t be argued with. In this video he shares a few brief insights into his signature series of Dobyns Swimbait Rods. I credit these rods directly for keeping my hookup to land ratio so high. Give the video a watch and learn from the the man that inspired the design.