The "PRO JOCK" Corner
Here it is! The place where we will answer all the questions you didn't know you had. Lot's of information, no BS. Okay, maybe some BS, but it wouldn't be fishing without it.......
Today we're going to talk about "running". No, not with your new Nikes but with your boat. At the last BFL I learned a valuable lesson: just because your boat can go that far and get back doesn't mean it's a good idea. I have long thought that making a long run was a sign of genius or desperation, my run fell in the latter. My Triton and Merc combo ran flawlessly from Elizabeth Park to Fawn Island and back. Don't get me wrong it was a great ride in the boat, but I spent most of my time driving and not fishing, which is cool if the fish are there, but sucks if they're not.
So before you make that big long run next time, think of this:
-If you're gong to burn more gas in than first place pays, don't go.
-If you need to apologize to your co-angler before you leave, don't go.
-If you're back hurts from the run you made 3 weeks ago, don't go.
-If a guy that knows a guy, who knows a guy, says he heard they are "on fire", don't go.
-If that little voice in your head (the normal one, not the sick one) says "Don't Go.", listen to
him and fish at the launch. It almost always works out better.
Mike Elkins
-Pro Jock Basser
Not everyone has the answers all the time, and few of us have the time to find all the answers. So what is the key to being a competitive angler every time you hit the water? Well, I have learned some important and instrumental lessons that changed the way I approach tournaments, and that have had a huge impact on my success. I believe that the biggest key to being a top fisherman, whether its as a boater or co-angler, is to take advantage of what you are given. I'm guilty of it, and many others as well, have put themselves in positions where they feel they have to win to justify their participation. As if competing against 120 of the country's best anglers on their body of water isn't enough, now you have hinged your financial well being on the outcome of a tournament. I avoided the pressure this year, and took the road less traveled. It's sometimes a hard pill to swallow, but don't let your ego get in the way of your happiness. Competing as a co-angler in the BFL Series may have cost me the respect of some of my peers, but I only have to answer to myself. And not only did I lessen the financial burden of pursuing my dream, I increased my confidence in my ability to catch fish under any circumstance, and compete with the best. You never know, you may come out just as I did. I can say with complete certainty that I learned a lot about fishing, and a lot more about myself. So for anyone who says co-anglers are less than the rest, I'd like to see you try it.......
KDawg
-Pro Jock Co-Angler
Ok,
The season is over and if you are from Michigan, you are trying to figure out how in the world you
are going to make it through to spring. Cold, ice, and the like are gonna kill me if I don't get to fish.
A really good option is to sign up to fish a southern tournament, either as a boater or a non boater.
Last year I fished the BASS Elite Tournament on Lake Kissimme in Florida. My folks live about 5 miles
away form the launch, so I flew down, spent time with them and got on the water. It was awesome - I learned
a lot Got good sunburn and charged my batteries. This year, neither the Elites nor FLW tour are going to
Florida, but there are several good chances to fish in the warm weather this January or February in the southern
states as a boater or a non boater. I think the BASS made a mistake in getting rid of the co anglers this year.
First I am disappointed because it really was something to fish with these guys, all positive in my book.
They've talked about taking the sport to the next level, that the co angler was an X factor sometimes
helping sometimes hurting the outcome of the tournament. While that may be true, they are after a fish
aren't they? Aren't bass the ultimate X factor? You know the smallies that moved last night, the
largies that won't bite today even though you know they are there? Seems the CO's were a very
small part of the equation and like Rick Clunn recently said "I feel like the Elites have
lost something, not gained....."
Mike Elkins
- Pro Jock Fisherman
February 26, 2009
I'm sitting here wishing I were fishing looking outside at the piles of snow and ice; won't this Michigan winter ever stop? I think the less I fish the more I sit and think about it, I’ve done map study till my head hurts. I've just about worn out the Google Earth deal, I think we need to send up a satellite just to get good views of fishing spots. We've sent them up for a lot more useless reasons. I did find something that may help with the winter cabin fever if you’re a diehard like me. It a $20.00 computer program called Navionics Explorer. Basically it has all the maps in the country that Navionics puts on chips and lets you look at them on your home computer. Gonna fish a new or old lake, spend some time on the Explorer, find a new spot get the GPS location and program away. I bought mine at D+R Sports in Kalamazoo; it might just save you till spring arrives. Also Luke Gritter, local Kalamazoo boy qualified for the BASS Elites through the opens and will be leaving for Amistad in Del Rio Texas. Keep an eye on him, he reminds me a little of another Michigan kid about 20 years ago.
Mike Elkins
- Pro Jock Fisherman
April 4, 2009
It’s on!!!!!!!!!
After 4 months cooped up in the house it’s on! KDAWG and I are headed to the East Coast to jack some Largies in Chesapeake Bay. Just for the record some of the best bass fishing of the year is right now, sometimes the bass are deep but sometimes they are shallow too. Try something new each year.
It’s hard for me to work without thinking about the trip and the season. I think I’ve rationalized the season like this. I’m going to first have a good time, lots of money on the line but at my age I’ve figured out its about the journey and not the finish. I’d rather keep a friend or make a good friend than hold a big check over my head. Lets face it, I’m not going to quit my job at 53 years old and go fish the Elites even if the stars lined up and I got the chance. On the other hand I’d love to pull off the big win someday. I think the Bay is the best chance for that because not a lot of the BM Opens guys have fished it before. I’ll let you know how it all shakes out.
In the meantime get out and “enjoy the ride”.
Mike Elkins
- Pro Jock Fisherman