Reed: Carolina rigging
Elite Series pro Matt Reed is best known as an east Texas power fisherman, given his roots around the big waters of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. However, he has proved over his career that he's one of the most versatile anglers in the sport today.
Robinson: Catching bass
There are certain times when Elite Series pro Marty Robinson likes to fish fast. While the prop on his trolling motor may be barely spinning, the South Carolina pro is burning and turning on the front deck, making long casts and reeling as fast as possible. When watching this technique in action, it appears to be pure madness. But Robinson explains that there's a reason for the speedy retrieve.
Robinson: The double Fluke rig
When the band Three Dog Night covered the song "One Is the Loneliest Number," it's safe to say that they weren't singing about fishing a soft plastic minnow bait called the Fluke. However, the way that Elite Series pro Marty Robinson fishes a Fluke, the 1969 hit might be applicable.
Reed: Contending with turnover
We've all heard the term "turnover" used to describe an annual fall event on many of our favorite lakes. Bubbly water, floating vegetation that's generally related to the bottom of the lake or a stagnant sheen on the surface are all clear indications that the lake is experiencing turnover.
Robinson: Pencil Popper
Big baits are nothing new in bass fishing; 8-inch swimbaits, 12-inch plastic worms and big crankbaits are now commonplace in both professional and recreational anglers' tackleboxes across the country. But when it comes to topwaters, the biggest lure in the tacklebox is often a 5-inch Zara Spook.
Reed: Standing timber
Standing timber and bass fishing go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, that idyllic vision of bass nirvana can become skewed as winter approaches, given that many anglers abandon timber in favor of more typical wintertime haunts.
McClelland: Hook Sets
Elite Series pro Mike McClelland's name has become synonymous with dragging a Carolina rig or football jig around the bottom for bass. In fact, you might say that the Arkansas pro wrote the book (or at least a chapter) on deepwater structure fishing.
Menendez: Targeting Larger Bass
For the tournament bass angler, a successful day on the water is measured by the total weight of the best five bass and not the number of bass caught. Culling through scores of smaller bass means more time spent unhooking and re-rigging, and less time with the bait in the water. Even the causal weekend bass angler can appreciate a pair of 4-pound largemouth compared to a dozen "dinks."
Niggemeyer: Subtle Color Changes
A trip to the local tackle retailer will reveal a plethora of color options in similar swirls, laminates, flecks and hues. It leaves one wondering if such subtle color differences really matter that much when it comes to catching bass. Elite Series pro James Niggemeyer has developed a loose system to help simplify his color selection.
