Story by Todd Goade | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
There hasn’t been a tournament this season on the NPFL where I’ve started with less than 10 rods on the deck of my Skeeter. As the day or event unfolds, I may change that scenario but to start I want to have everything I need ready to roll with whatever circumstance is presented to me based on my practice and my game plan.
On the water, every cast brings a different scenario. A point may come up, there might be a rock on a bank that you stumble upon, a fish may have just busted the water, or you suddenly see a brush pile come up on your Lowrance that you just ran over. The list of different fishing possibilities goes on and on, most of which require a different presentation depending on the circumstances. As a result, having the bait of choice at your feet ready to be picked up and fired out there could result in a game-changing bass.
I love tournament bass fishing. Time is money! The less time I spend re-tying lures and the more casts I make with “productive” baits, the better chance I have to perform well in an event. By “productive,” I mean a bait that fits the technique I’m using for a particular presentation.
I’m also a guy who doesn’t like having a pile of baits on the deck or floor of the boat at the end of the day. If I have to make a lure change, I put the lure back in the box it is supposed to be in. Staying organized and efficient makes my brain work better, and I think it helps me catch more fish.
In the past, there were countless times throughout a single day of fishing when I would be casting just to cast while my trolling motor was on high heading to the next objective – whether it be a dock, lay down, point, etc. I have found that in the past few years, picking up a fast-moving bait to throw in between those special targets can result in a bonus fish or two. For an example, if I am fishing a row of docks and they are 50-plus yards apart, I’ll hit the key sections of the dock, then kick my Lowrance Ghost trolling motor to 70 percent and throw a small swimbait or a crankbait suitable for that depth, maintaining bottom contact until I reach the next dock.
The point is, when you’re fishing competitively you have to be ready for any and all scenarios and be prepared to deviate from the script at a moment’s notice. Ultimately, that’s what separates the good anglers from the average ones.
Todd Goade – Angler Profile
