By Dave Wolak

Editor's Note: Please help me welcome good friend and bass pro Dave Wolak to the F&S blog roll. Starting today, and every Monday from here out, Dave will be injecting this blog with all sorts of bassy goodness. He has more than 20 combined B.A.S.S. and FLW top-10 finishes, has collected more than $1 million in tourney winnings, and has fished more bodies of water than most of us ever will. I'm pumped that he's going to be sharing his bass knowledge here. - Joe Cermele

OK, so I didn't go to the Bassmaster Classic this year. It’s not like I’ve never been. I’ve fished it 5 times, and even years when I wasn’t fishing the tournament, I usually went just to shake hands and kiss babies (kidding about the babies). It’s just good PR for a bass pro to be on site at the biggest tournament of the season, but this year I needed a break. Being a bass pro isn't always a cakewalk like many people think. It’s a job with some of the highest highs and some of the most grueling lows. Many of these are experienced one way or another during Classic week. So to kick off my blogs, I thought I’d open my mental logbook of past Classic experiences and share some of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good: Checking out new tackle and equipment, new boats, and frolicking among a sea of colorful tournament jerseys.

The Bad: Listening to countless pitches about why I should be using product X. I just politely tell these people I already have a bagel hole puncher that also tunes crankbaits.

The Ugly: In years when you’re working the floor instead of the lake, getting the famous question over and over: "Why aren't you out there fishing today?" The stock answer usually involves some scientific excuse like blaming barometric pressure for your crappy season.

The Good: The smell of outboard exhaust the first morning of the tournament. The fog lifts. The early morning sun hits your face. It's go time.

The Bad: Making it to day three by "saving fish,” which means trying not to self-plunder your fishing locations and leaving some for catching on the last day. Then you show up on the last day and all of your saved fish become no fish for reasons you can't explain.

The Ugly: Finishing last or close to last in a Classic. Been there, done that. The feeling resembles studying for a test for a whole semester and getting a big, fat F.

The Good: Meeting great people and sharing some epic experiences. I'll never forget my on-board observer's reaction when I caught back-to-back 5 pounders on a swimbait at Lake Hartwell with 1 hour left the final day. It was just surreal.

The Bad: A day after the tourney, you get a little sore throat. Those visions of confetti falling around you in the winner’s circle begin to turn into memories of close-talkers that cornered you at the expo discussing proper ways to make homemade garlic scent.

The Ugly: Three days later, you’re sweating with shivers in bed living off Wonton soup deliveries, Nyquil, and watching Redbox movies you already saw.

But if it sounds like I’m complaining, I’m not. Truth is I wouldn’t trade any of it, because I've met so many great friends and learned so much in almost 10 years of pro tournament fishing, along with getting to fish with tremendous anglers on world-class bodies of water. A lot more good, bad, and ugly will be bundled up in these weekly rants, bass fishing tips, tactics, and whatever else pops into my head. I am really looking forward to sharing it all with you, and I hope you'll read on and let me know what you think. And if you need some advice or have any bass questions, fire away, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Comments (16)

from buckhunter wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

Dave, Thank you for some tournament trail insight. I have one question. What are your favorite on board snacks?

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from TopperFanLuke wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

Great article! Looking forward to these becoming a regular post. I do have a question though. Got any tips for teaching someone to use a bait casting reel? My grandfather made it seem so easy when he taught me, but I'm having a difficult time passing on the knowledge and cutting out birds nests is getting old!

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from Dcast wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

Topper, It is easy once you get out of your own head. Quit trying tricks to figure it out. Just spend hours practicing it and less time getting frustrated. Don't start off casting start off pitching once you figure it out, casting won't take you much longer to figure out. I practiced in my house from January - March severalyears ago just pitching and I got it down pretty easily after that. Finally don't cut you line when birdnesting just start pulling at the loops until you find that one that is the key to unraveling the mess! Look for your main line going out and you'll see the loop wraped around it that is causing the problem pull on that then start pulling your line out of the reel you'll have to repeat several times but it is quicker and cheaper then cutting line. It's easier to show than explain, but you'll figure it out.

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from David Wolak wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

My favorite on board snacks are protein bars and meal replacement drinks....but I do like fruit too, even bananas. thx guys

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from deanlikes2fish wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Wait, bananas? Aren't you afraid of an epic boat explosion or something? Anyway, what age did you start competetive fishing? Not for me but, I would love to get my kids starting on the next level of fishing.

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from David Wolak wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Oh yes, bananas in the boat. Embrace your fears and try it....nothing happens.

I fished my first tournament at age 15. I brought one spinning rod with a wacky worm, it all got crazy from there. I would advise beginning to fish tournaments when you can appreciate earned money, otherwise a youngster may want to give up early during the day not knowing the day's value. Or even better, fish for no money, just have 5-10 buddies fish for a small trophy or bragging rights. Then he or she knows the value of winning or the agony of defeat, and how to learn from it.

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from buckhunter wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Are nets legal in tournaments? If so, why do you not see more of them?

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from David Wolak wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Only in some tournaments they are legal. Also, sometimes it's just easier to quickly get the fish in

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from Chad Warnol wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Great article on the pros and cons of the classic! As a pro, when your just getting on a lake/river what would you say is the biggest component to finding fish?

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from Joe_Cermele wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Hey guys, I think when Dave said he'd try to answer any questions, he meant throughout the entire course of his blogging, not just following this particular post. We're going to file a lot of these questions away, and don't be surprised if they're answered down the road in a full post dedicated to topic.

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from buckhunter wrote 14 weeks 4 days ago

Joe, I was just warming this up for some good serious questions.

Here's one for a later date:

What advice would you give a bass fisherman who has never fished a lake before?

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from deanlikes2fish wrote 14 weeks 4 days ago

Thanks, my kids like bananas so I will allow it from now on. :)

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from nuclear_fisher wrote 14 weeks 4 days ago

Welcome Dave, great to have you on board, I look forward to learning from your experiences. In the future, I wouldn't mind hearing some of your thoughts on enjoying your days off, on the water. To be honest too much Pro TV has left a bad taste in my mouth for tournaments, Pros, etc... No doubt that you guys (as they say) have already forgotten more bass fishing knowledge than I will ever know, but it seems that putting a dollar value on every fish makes it impossible to turn around and enjoy the little things - for example one of my favorites is just sitting on a rock mid stream watching the water roll by. I hope I'm wrong and I hope I don't sound like too much of an *&#.

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from nchuntinfishin wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

looking forward to your new blog spot hope you have some tips on Falls lake spring bass p.s. like the Durham bulls hat

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from nchuntinfishin wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

looking forward to your new blog spot hope you have some tips on Falls lake spring bass p.s. like the Durham bulls hat

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from 2Poppa wrote 14 weeks 1 day ago

Anticipating your Monday Blg!

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from buckhunter wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

Dave, Thank you for some tournament trail insight. I have one question. What are your favorite on board snacks?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dcast wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

Topper, It is easy once you get out of your own head. Quit trying tricks to figure it out. Just spend hours practicing it and less time getting frustrated. Don't start off casting start off pitching once you figure it out, casting won't take you much longer to figure out. I practiced in my house from January - March severalyears ago just pitching and I got it down pretty easily after that. Finally don't cut you line when birdnesting just start pulling at the loops until you find that one that is the key to unraveling the mess! Look for your main line going out and you'll see the loop wraped around it that is causing the problem pull on that then start pulling your line out of the reel you'll have to repeat several times but it is quicker and cheaper then cutting line. It's easier to show than explain, but you'll figure it out.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from David Wolak wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

My favorite on board snacks are protein bars and meal replacement drinks....but I do like fruit too, even bananas. thx guys

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from David Wolak wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Oh yes, bananas in the boat. Embrace your fears and try it....nothing happens.

I fished my first tournament at age 15. I brought one spinning rod with a wacky worm, it all got crazy from there. I would advise beginning to fish tournaments when you can appreciate earned money, otherwise a youngster may want to give up early during the day not knowing the day's value. Or even better, fish for no money, just have 5-10 buddies fish for a small trophy or bragging rights. Then he or she knows the value of winning or the agony of defeat, and how to learn from it.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 14 weeks 4 days ago

Joe, I was just warming this up for some good serious questions.

Here's one for a later date:

What advice would you give a bass fisherman who has never fished a lake before?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from nuclear_fisher wrote 14 weeks 4 days ago

Welcome Dave, great to have you on board, I look forward to learning from your experiences. In the future, I wouldn't mind hearing some of your thoughts on enjoying your days off, on the water. To be honest too much Pro TV has left a bad taste in my mouth for tournaments, Pros, etc... No doubt that you guys (as they say) have already forgotten more bass fishing knowledge than I will ever know, but it seems that putting a dollar value on every fish makes it impossible to turn around and enjoy the little things - for example one of my favorites is just sitting on a rock mid stream watching the water roll by. I hope I'm wrong and I hope I don't sound like too much of an *&#.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from TopperFanLuke wrote 14 weeks 6 days ago

Great article! Looking forward to these becoming a regular post. I do have a question though. Got any tips for teaching someone to use a bait casting reel? My grandfather made it seem so easy when he taught me, but I'm having a difficult time passing on the knowledge and cutting out birds nests is getting old!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from deanlikes2fish wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Wait, bananas? Aren't you afraid of an epic boat explosion or something? Anyway, what age did you start competetive fishing? Not for me but, I would love to get my kids starting on the next level of fishing.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Are nets legal in tournaments? If so, why do you not see more of them?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from David Wolak wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Only in some tournaments they are legal. Also, sometimes it's just easier to quickly get the fish in

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Chad Warnol wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Great article on the pros and cons of the classic! As a pro, when your just getting on a lake/river what would you say is the biggest component to finding fish?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Joe_Cermele wrote 14 weeks 5 days ago

Hey guys, I think when Dave said he'd try to answer any questions, he meant throughout the entire course of his blogging, not just following this particular post. We're going to file a lot of these questions away, and don't be surprised if they're answered down the road in a full post dedicated to topic.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from deanlikes2fish wrote 14 weeks 4 days ago

Thanks, my kids like bananas so I will allow it from now on. :)

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from nchuntinfishin wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

looking forward to your new blog spot hope you have some tips on Falls lake spring bass p.s. like the Durham bulls hat

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from nchuntinfishin wrote 14 weeks 3 days ago

looking forward to your new blog spot hope you have some tips on Falls lake spring bass p.s. like the Durham bulls hat

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 2Poppa wrote 14 weeks 1 day ago

Anticipating your Monday Blg!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.