Just wanted to take a brief moment to give you guys a little idea how we do it here at paddle and fin podcast. We use the anchor dot f m-- recording platform super easy distributes our podcast too many many different platforms. There's creation tools to allowed you to record and edit podcast right from your phone or a computer check out anchor dot f m orDownload the free anchor app to get started. Welcome. Welcome back to another episode of The Reel down. I'm Brad Hicks and tonight. We got Brian Schiller filling in for crankbait Johnny. Yeah, buddy. How you doing? Good, man yourself. I'm doing good. This is kind of weird me and you being together on the same podcast. Yeah. I'm usually listen to you and you usually listen to me. So yeah, it's nice to change it up. But I mean most importantly we got a legend on the line man. I mean dude got the man the myth the legend mr. Kurtzman. Well, thank you guys. That's awfully nice of you to say that. Yeah, man. Nah, this is this is special for me when I when I heard crankbait Johnny couldn't make it tonight. I was like, yeah, I'll I'll jump on the call. No problem. Oh, no, it's cool man. It's you know, I think it's been a long time coming. I've definitely wanted to meet you and talk to you. So this is going to be cool for me. Well, of course, it's really mine man. Thanks for having me on guys. Really appreciate it. Absolutely man. Absolutely. So yeah. Yeah, I'm just filling in here. So you know Hicks is taking the lead and I'm just I'm just I'm just being a fan boy back here. So all right. Well, we were going to talk to you about your pro side win at East and West Harbor was that like a week and a half ago? I think yep. Okay, go ahead. Okay. I was just going to ask you how many how many days did you pre fish? So it was therefore I got up there on Wednesday said three days to pre fish for it. Um, you know, I'm pre-fishing went really really good. I got to say I mean it it's a different but it was a different bite this year. Definitely a different bike because the water was a lot higher I think those causes some problems with it, you know in years past the bite was just significantly different. I mean, I don't even know how to describe how it was different. I mean they were both like you still fish weed lines, but the ones that were productive completely changed their so yeah, but Carlos me and my friends we all man. I mean we smashed it during pre-fishing. It's awesome. Yeah, and it was it was a good time. It really was do you know just notice catching any of those fish more shallow with the water being higher, you know, I found it to be actually the opposite was catching fish deeper and you know, and you know, this Harbors receive a lot of pressure they have weekly bass boat tournaments monthly ones. I mean, there's all types of tournaments up in the area. So this Zig impounded a lot, you know because they're you know you go in there and you can pull out like a five-pound Largemouth. That's a pretty big kicker when the other guys are bringing in small mouth. Right? I mean, I know the Smallmouth of huge up there I might take anything away from them. But you know a big large mouth you son of a is this more of an opportunity to catch a big large mouth. I feel like you know, gotcha. That's cool. So let's go down and let's go into the breakdown of each day your pre-fishing. Okay. I mean I got there on Wednesday. Day, and I went to the spot where I want it last year and I pre fished and within like 45 minutes. I had 92 inches of fish. So and it was the exact same pattern. I mean it was to the T that mean literally the same places. I mean, I can't even describe the feeling that it invokes when you go back to a place that you did. Well, right and Then you go back and it is like the exact same base same scenario. Everything man. Same docks. I mean literally remember the bow, I remember the dock and I mean it's the same ones we're producing and you know, and I felt and that pattern I took that everywhere in West harbored. So all the different docks and all the docs that have similar stuff near them. Like I was fishing it was the exact same pattern. So I felt like I could go anywhere in that Harbor. Brr, and so I did 92 inches there the first day right? So within an hour, I did 88 at another spot. It was it was mid-80s at two other spots. I can't remember the exact numbers 8485 something like that. I mean, I think I need to go fish East-West Harbor. That's what I think. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I really like that event because there's so many good quality fish up there. I mean, it's like everybody gets on them. You know what I mean? Yeah. It's a great place to fish. That was day one. I was Wednesday and if any finished it off I met with my buddy Bert and we went and had dinner and was we're having dinner or no viruses Adam Shepherd the guy who got stuck in last year and we're fishing side-by-side showed up and I was not expecting him to show up. I thought he's going to have to miss this event. So it was awesome. And I mean I was really happy to have him there, you know, we spent the we spent the rest of the time pre-fishing together. So it was killer and it's for day one was like a lot of memories made. You know me good fishing good friends. It's hard to beat that. Yeah, not at all man. That's what it's all about. That's for sure. That's for sure. So, you know, are you going to plead the fifth on this one is the question like what what kind of bait were you thrown? If you don't mind me asking now? I don't mind you asking and I'll tell you so I had it working on a small worm Texas rigged quarter ounce way light wire hook. I had it working on a creature Bay. I had it working on a swim. me What was the other one? Oh, yeah, and then a weightless like fluke style bait and a stick bait anchor weightless. You know what I mean? Yes. Hey it's painful to do but oh, yeah, you know, it caught fish caught quality fish. You know what I mean, you know wacky rig was working too. That was the thing man. I mean once they establish the pattern I could use like six or seven Bates to catch the fish that do whether it was, you know, a swimbait. That was a moving baby. You know, I was using the Looks a little bit like a jerkbait, you know, yeah confidence. I mean, I really had a huge amount of confidence. The whole thing is a little bittersweet because of that be you know, because I got seventh in the trail event. Yeah six guys ahead of me. But yeah, I won the pro event. I love the wind on the pro event man, you know what I mean? But there's still six guys that were ahead of me at that that's already the hats off to Sean Skidmore, man. He smashed it 88 inches is really hard to do. Yeah. Yep. We're going to I to get him on with you and talk simultaneous simultaneous simultaneously with you guys. I thought that would have been cool but he couldn't make it tonight. So it is what it is. I know the feeling man. I took I took 2nd at Madison chain Dylan Fuqua took first. Well, I took second in the Pro but I ended up I think it was eighth in the trail, you know, so it almost didn't feel right. So I kind of feel where you coming from, you know what I mean? Because Are there was those other guys that did better, you know, but because you know, we're fishing the pro which is you know, and I guess that's a great question to you just because you're so experienced in this is you know, it's kind of like a side pool right this year just because they're trying to get it going. So I mean, I guess my question behind that is is how do you feel about that? Like are you you know, just doing it just to help grow the pro tour or you know, I mean, I'm not trying to get controversial or anything with you. But I mean I've had mixed emotions on it. Yeah, I gotta say I got mixed emotions on it too man. I and honestly, I don't like it. I don't like that their simultaneous man. They should be separate. It's a different. It's a totally different gig and I hate that their piggy backs. Yeah. Yeah, you know because it is a different gig because you don't really know who you're fishing against, you know, there's a lot more other Anglers there. So there's a hundred and thirty Anglers But there was only like 30 grows there something like that, right? Okay. There's another hundred guys that are taken away from my fish. You know what I mean? Yeah. It's a different deal man. I really want to see the best guys brought together in small groups like 30 or 40 guys and just let us lay it down man. Yeah. Let's check out the big sticks and let's just be big guys about it and Sportsmen and just go out and lay it down head-to-head and it just water is a day. Down a little bit, you know, but you know next year is going to be different the yeah, you know Chad and kbf I haven't talked. I haven't really talked to him about it. So I don't really know what their feelings are on it exactly that, you know, they're they're trying to do the best that they can with how things are set up right now and hopefully, you know, next year's going to be different, you know, I mean as with everything with kbf, you know, there's improvements every year. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh good. I was going to say from what I've heard ya next year is going to be a lot. Front and it's not supposed to coincide but I mean again, that's all hearsay. But you know, I feel the same way because well at least you guys in the East, you know, you guys have quite a few angler signing up for your pro events. Where is the central? You know, it's like I think well the one tournament I didn't make was up at the Michigan one Sinclair. There was quite a few that signed up for the pro. But other than that. That all our other events have been like eight guys, you know what I mean? So it's almost like, you know, is there a point to this? You know, so that that's why I was asking, you know, I know you guys have a heavier field over there in a lot of good sticks. I'm good, man. Think of it this way though. Let's say you only had eight guys again, but it was just eight guys on a killer lake. Yes what she can do when there's just eight of you ma'am. That's like that is a little different even that right there man gets me fired. Turn it up because now I'm like I can spread out I can fish a little bit more how I want to fish sure trace it in when you get to a spot that someone else found you both you both the people they are going to fish that spot differently because now there's another person there righteous. They stood when you can spread out a little bit man that changes things. Yeah. Definitely. It's like the tenement a tional type type deal. Yeah. Yeah exactly. That would that would be awesome if they had something bigger like you said. Third 30 Anglers but a bigger one and have it like different places every month or something. Like that would be awesome. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Thanks for the provent sides going to turn into next year. You know. Yeah, that's that's what it sounds like, you know again, I don't know I don't have the whole inside scoop. I'm just going off of hearsay. But let's hope man. Let's hope I love to donate donate some money to kurtzman's pocket. It's not that easy man. I know I know well, I know you're friends with who I've become friends with this year Alan Reed, you know, I just donated some money to his pocket this past weekend. And what a good dude man. What a good dude and great stick great stick and I love competing against him and he's and he's a great guy man. I mean, you know, Let's face it. Not not everyone you meet in. This sport is going to be the great guy man and to have a guy like Alan who isn't really from fishing for say, you know the style of fishing to work his butt off. Yes, you learn it man and to work his up way up through the ranks, right? He was in kvl. Right? Let's face it that was minor leagues man. I'm not bashing on them. But that's what it was. It was minor leagues, right? Yeah, you know, he now he's in the he's in the Field he's in the Central Division. He's winning them and he just needs you know, there's only really one more step to make and that's to meet up with the guys who were doing the Southwest right? I mean, yeah, let's face it. You know Matt's the field to beat right there. Yeah. Yeah, man, I mean and when you see how it works out with how they had all the regions set up man all the space. That's the called a hammer is right down there. Yeah, and that's one reason is that I felt like I was you know, Ohio got a little raw. Rob the region right? You know what I mean? We're stuck in the Northwest and man, you know, so there there's a trail event there this weekend's 12 hours away man. Yeah, that's undoable for a trail event for me. No, I I know the feeling man. I first event for us was Kansas and that was 12 and a half hour drive for me, you know, and I'm on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin. So yeah. Yeah, you know, that's how I feel. Well, I think we had some guys come down from Minnesota. Even you know, it's just like those A Jack to you know, I've done that drive a couple times this year like that time frame, but you know, there's only so many I can pick you know what I mean? I have to pick my battles. I don't have an infinite checking account to read every single event. I hear you. I hear you. So let's get back to East-West. Sorry. I didn't mean to can track sidetracked. It's all good good conversation. So let's go over your tournament. Rica day recap. I know you had some early struggles going on and then When I read that you posted on your Facebook that you were saying something about your day spun out of control and then I don't know about two hours later. I look at the leaderboard your backup at Ford's place. It's a go through that whole process man. I mean it pre fish so good. Right and I should have known with how good the pre-fishing was that I was going to end for an ass-kicking during the tournament man. I just should have known. Because it was you know, I had like eight spots. They were all over 80 inches. I'm like done man. I was I was so confident and that's when you get bit in the ass. Yeah, because when you have that type of confidence leading into the tournament is when you get bit in the ass because you know for whatever reason my bite has shut down. I mean, I went to the spot I wanted the year before right where I have already put in well over 90 inches there right and man I had Don't have a single bike in two hours and that spot was a morning bite spot. So I was I mean I left I went to another I went to I went over and I was in West and went over to East Harbor, right and I went to a spot that I called over 90 inches there again two hours. No fish man, man. So now I'm like, I'm like wow, this is really horrible. Right? So now I'm like I'm gonna launch again, so I pack up again and I go back to Wes. And I launched a different launch on Wes it going to a different completely different spot on the way there my wife text me. You know, when will you be home, you know and right then the thought crossed my mind was like me. I can be home in four hours. I mean I could be home before the award ceremonies done. Right? I mean I could be sitting there drinking cold Cokes. Yeah, but then I was just like, you know, that's just not how I roll man. You know what I mean? I'm in it to the end. The very bitter end is just It's just a deal so I run to my third put in I get there. It is so packed, right? Because the new it's a brand-new put in. It's just this little tiny gravel law. It is so packed and one guys parked a little funky and he's blocking one parking spot man with his trailer, right and people are double parked and triple parked in this parking lot. I'm thinking that they're going to get towed but I see that parking spot like I could almost get into I grabbed this trailer and I'm Start pulling on it. And what we Act was able to move his trailer like a foot over and just could barely get my car in there and then I pulled the trailer back. So when he got came out, he must have been like how the yeah, you know, there's no way you can only physically fit in there and so I put in there and I had two spots in that area that I hit and one spot. I caught a cab for you like a 13 inch fish or something and then and then the final the fourth spot I went to It was that was the deal man. I got there and it was almost a every other cast but it was like I was catching a lot of fish really quickly. That's ha ha and it just made it worked out. I mean, luckily I had a bunch of spots and that's what was going through. My mind was like son of a bitch man. I caught so many good fish so many different places one of these places has to be produced still biting. You know what I mean? I don't know what the deal was why I changed. I mean there wasn't a weather change their the water. Didn't change directions like it does sometimes in those Harbors right? This Harbor is they have this flow to them and sometimes it's coming in. Sometimes it's going to none of that changed. Nothing change. I don't know what it was, but that's why it's fishing, right? Yeah. That's awesome. I can relate to that. I mean, I just experienced that at Mark Twain. I mean the two days of pre-fishing I had I caught fish in pretty much every spot I fished and I heard everybody like talking about I'm not catching anything, you know Granite some of the spots were smaller fish and I started off my morning and I had for 15 ish fish on the board and I was in like fourth place. I mean the fish out there weren't very big. I mean there was some big fish to be found for sure. But you know, I know Brad it message me and he was like Brian's got one more to go. I could not find another fish. I went to two different ramps after I left there. I couldn't catch a 12 inch fish. And I mean that just and I guess here's a great question like mentally that really screws with you on tournament day, right? I mean, how do you overcome that? If you know just keep keep ficci keep grinding. I'm the same way as you two is like, you know, I'm not give up, you know, I had the same thought. I was like four and a half hours. I think it was away from home and I'm like screwed I can jump in the truck right now and be home by the time these guys, you know, like I had the same exact. Thought you had yeah, and I was just like I you know, I don't know man. How do you just keep grinding away and hope for the best or you know, and then I guess after the tournament ends and say you do come up short like what what goes through your mind? Do you have a mental frustration or you just brush it off and move on to the next one? Well, so it's really like two questions there, right? Yeah. Yeah. The tournament then how do you deal with it after the treasure? Yeah, so during the tournament man. I don't know how to say this. You know, I'm really stubborn, right? So a lot of times when that stuff turns bad and I've spent so much time preparing role that does is ignites me to try harder sure. You know what? I mean? It's like when someone's pushes you and your first reaction is to push harder back. That's just all I'm thinking about is I just got to fish Hardman. What how can I fish are where can I fish batter? You know, I don't spend any time thinking about the fish. I lost. Or they're not biting. Why aren't they buying full two hours tells you they're not biting their I mean, they might fight there sometime that day maybe but if you're in a morning spot that you caught him in the morning and not the afternoon and that's how it's been for years, right? You just know to move on and it just it just fires me up. I mean I'd say that's how I felt during this term and I was just like I was going to keep moving from spot to spot and so I ran out of spots or time. It was just going to be one or the other and I wasn't going to run out of spots at eight spots. There's no way I was going to run out of spots to hit. So I was like, I only got two for right. I mean, I'm still four more to go sit somewhere in their fish are biting. You know, that's just that's what fires me up. I just know some place the fish are biting man. And then when I do come up short man, there is that, you know drive back to check. yep, and that's where I think I'm at Milo's right if I come up short, I mean But I quickly turn that into knowing that I did absolutely everything that I could humanly possibly do plus two things that humans can't do on top of that right? You know what I mean? I know I did absolutely everything plus and then I quickly turned around and I start looking how could have I had a had a better day and you start talking to other Anglers a check in you starts. They start here and how they call them. Hopefully the winners cool and he's you know speaks about how Did it right then? So everyone can kind of learn like what what they could have done better and that's really how I deal with it man. I just try to turn it around and use it for a couple positive like growth time man for fishing. That's Glory of War when you do worse than you do better. Absolutely. It's funny, you know because I had the same exact thoughts going away in and everything and then we all knew, you know, you know I camp out with Alan Reed Sam Jones Dillon Fuqua every tournament it seems like so Since stop to or something, but you know saw Aaron right away and I was like did you did you seal the deal come on you so you seal the deal, right? And he's like, I don't know we're waiting we're waiting, you know, because they turned off the standings and I was like, well, what did you catch him on and you know sure enough he always throws a big tube and I don't want to get into that because we're going to have him coming up talking about, you know his recap from Mark Twain and stuff but He caught his big fish on a tube and then his smaller fish on a on a TRD and you know, it's it's funny because I didn't have a tube tied on but I had a big TRD tied on I talked to somebody else. They were throwing a book Black buzzbait. I had that tied on you know, so it was just like Man, like why didn't I pick that up and throw it? I had it tied on I had my boat and I never picked it up because I was on I was on a jig bite and a creature bait bite and it just I don't know it's frustrating, you know, so and I'm newer to the tournament game. So I was wanting to pick your brain on that just because you know, I'm trying to overcome that frustration right now, right? So it's it's kind of cool to know that my mentality is in the same spot as a guy. He's a seasoned veteran. Right and and that's exactly it. I drove that four and a half hours home and I'm like, all right. Well, what did I learn from this experience? Like if when in doubt pull something else out, you know, and and that's what I didn't do and I think the beginning of the year I did that a lot and that's why I was successful in the beginning of the year. And that's why I've been kind of slacking on these last two. So interesting inside appreciate that place added pressure of you in the angler of the Year standings doesn't help that Yeah, well, you know is what it is or why damn it, you know, whatever it is what it is man. There's two more term. It's left. There's the trail championship and then the big Championship. So what's your qualified for are ready? Right Kurt? Yep. Yeah. Awesome. I'll see you there. Perfect. Very cool. Very cool. So yeah. All right. Get back. Get back to you moving your Moving to different boat ramps and stuff on East and West Harbor. How long did that take you exactly to jump spot to spot. I don't even know man. I was driving. It was funny. It might and the gas mileage of my car. I was so happy. I got like 25 miles to the gallon up there and after that day from moving spot to spot I was getting like 19 miles to the gallon or something because I was just I mean, I was just trying to get there as quick as I could Sherry. I don't want to see I was panicking but you know every second you're in that car you're Thinking I could be fishing man. Right? I need to get there. I need to get in the water. You know, what's you know, and I'll try and trust me it moving. All those spots was not my game plan. That was know how my day to go. You know, I went to a spot where I thought You know one way or another I was going to catch my limit early and quick. Yeah, you know, but yeah, you know and just sometimes it's the way it goes. Yeah, absolutely man. Absolutely. So how many people were signed up for the pro tour at that event? Like there was 30 something like 36 or something. Don't quote me on that. I'm gonna wow forget it was a few fair amount of people see I wish they would have a separate leaderboard for that. They do did they I can never find it. It's it's on tourney Acts. Just go to kbf Pro Tour instead of the kbf trail series when you go to tournaments and you can see the two I can never find it. Yeah, it's on tourney X gotcha. No. Yeah, pretty cool. And that I love I love how he is. He did that man. Yeah, heck. Yeah, man. Well, you know, you could like we talked about at the beginning, you know, you could be kind of slacking in one. But hey, you look at the other one. You're like, hey, I'm in first place I can get I can dig. At least some first place somewhere, right? Yeah, you know and it was funny. I was talking to Kody Milton about it and I was kind of bummed out. You know, I'm like there were six other people including Kody who forgot to sign up for the Pro Tour righto know you're always signs up for it. Yeah one place ahead of me man. Right so he would have he would have won. He's such a nice guy and he know he does. Yeah, yes, but you know, it's a nice paycheck though man, you know, and I'm like no, you're right nothing. There's nothing be bummed out and you get to get out. And you to walk with Paycheck? Yeah, definitely. So what if you don't mind me asking what did first place take with 30 some Anglers? So I had I think four hundred dollars from the Trail the trail event, right? Yes, I think it was 1610. Yeah, nice silicate three spots though. No matter what, right? That's how they're concentrating is a bigger bigger by in right? Right. Right, right. So we're getting all the money up there. Yeah. It was great to have my other Dakota teammates up there to Cody lithium teammates up there. I think all three of them like we like took the ProSeries podium. Nice, very cool. John John was all excited about the he that's all he could talk about when we were talking about it. He's like man that Dakota lithium team those guys are awesome. He loves you guys Man Killer team man. This guy's travel around the pack to from the Northeast that are on that team. You know, that's awesome. I know he's pretty bummed that he couldn't make it tonight he but it is what it is. Yeah, very cool. Um, Let's go through your routine. All right, you just caught a fish. Let's go through your routine of submitting that fish to the leaderboard. Oh. Okay, you know as soon as I catch the fish and he's in the net right immediately put the net down in my hou be right. My PA would says little bit of a side wall to it and I'll turn the net sideways so that wraps the fish in the net so he cannot jump out no matter what that fish does. You cannot leave the net that's when I grabbed my catch board and get my catch board all set up in the bottom of my PA never put it in my lap. And that's when the nicest things about fishing have a pro angler, you know in This is that you have some pretty high side walls on this if you put that measuring board down the bottom of it. You actually had a chance to keep the fish in there pretty good. You know what I mean? If it flops out and jumps out and gets away from you. So that's what I do is set my board up man. I get my phone fired up and that's why I take the fish out as after I'm all set up with everything else and I get him set up on the board. Right and I get and lay them down and get the longest length. You can with the mouth closed and it makes your hands in the right place. I take one picture with my And on it, we're a couple and then I try to take my hand off and get one without my hand on there. Right because the judge is always like no handed pitcher. I mean, there's no better picture than no handed pitcher, but you can't do that on every fish right because sometimes as soon as you as soon as you let go a fish is moving, right? Yep, so you just can't always do that. But I always try to give them get that get that picture for him. That's awesome. That's it man as soon as soon as I'm done he's back in the water I'm like at the bakery tied and you know try to get right back on do you do you submit those pictures white right away or do you put them in live well, how do you how does that work so I don't submit him right away usually if I'm fishing and I think I might go on a small bite where I'm going to get a couple quick ones back to back I will not stop and take time to submit them. You know, I mean if I think there's a bite happening I'm fishing the body. But soon as that bites done, I'm submit them. I'm not the guy to save them. You know, if you see me what looks like saving my pictures to the end. That just means I didn't have service, you know. Yeah, I don't play the sandbagger game. You know what I mean? Yeah, those guys can say it's effective. But you know you learn that you just fish to the end man, right? Yeah here it it doesn't matter what the leaderboard says matter of fact. I don't even look at the leaderboard if I can get away with it. And you know, I mean I want time I look at the leaderboards to make sure my Fish have submitted properly missile only time I look at it, you know and of course you see where you're at, but man I don't sit there and get transfixed by a tall man. I fish to the very end if you're in the lead or not, man guys, like Matthew Scotch. He always holds to the end, right? You know what I mean? If he's in 15th, you just you guarantee that his 14 inch. This is a 20 this is guarantee. You never know. Who's who? We have service, right? You know, you didn't have service who does you know, he's never know on the same way. I got a fish till the end. I have to I can't hold onto those pictures either because I do not trust technology. Yeah. Yeah, something give you a perfect example of why not to hold onto him, right that happened to me. So we're fishing a buckeye kayak fishing Smallmouth only tournament and we're fishing this sweet little riffle man. I meet Lee catch for good ones as soon as we get to the Riffle there. They were actively feeding chasing stuff. I mean it was like sight fishing Smallmouth so killer right? That's awesome. So pumped up me. I hop back in my kayak. I'm super pumped up, you know in the flow of the river was pretty good that day and I caught another good one that's puking up all these crawdads and some kind of leaning over my PA not paying attention where I'm floating look at these crawdads or floating in the water, but the Smallmouth just kicked up and the side of my kayak caught this riffle that I should have been paying attention to and flipped me. So guess you didn't submit their pictures because they were biting my phone was gone. And you know, luckily I was able to explode with some of my buddies so I caught some more fish that was like third or fourth place fish. I couldn't duplicate that mean. You know what? I mean? That that bite that happened was just real quick and it was a good window, you know. Yeah, but you know, and that's me not even holding it right not even holding it for till the end or anything that happens to so many people man. I've heard multiple. People who like to sandbag get burned from and I'm just like yeah, you wouldn't be burnt from it. And the really good guys aren't none of them are holding back. Right? Right. I mean, none of them are going to hold back till the end. They're just going to lay it down the whole time. You know, what I think is funny. Sometimes is guys hold back fish in there in the Big Bass Pro and then they wait till the last hour to upload their fish when they could have one big bass, but because they waited till the end they end up losing, you know, that that opportunity to win that. That you know 50 bucks or whatever it is because they sandbags it's like what's the point of signing up for the big bass prof. You're not going to you know participate and I think that's part of the reason why they put that into effect right is just so that it would encourage guys to continue upload their fish, you know, and not only that it makes weigh-ins or you know, the end of the day tournament results to come out even longer because now the judge has got to go through, you know, a hundred photos instead of doing them all throughout the day. Yeah. So I don't know but I like it man. I dig it. You got any more questions for Brian. Nah, man, I am sorry. I sidetracked you a little bit from your actual notes. I mean, like I said, I was Fanboy over here, you know, so I you're but you know, there was some questions I wanted to ask and get thrown in there before. I didn't have the opportunity, you know. So are you going to be at the FLW? Maybe FLW cup. No, unfortunately, I just could not get the funds together man, you know, they came out with that stuff so late in the season. I have already allocated all the money I could to tournaments, you know, so when they came out with that stuff, I mean, I just I can't come up with just 500 dollars out of it are, you know plus Travis on next next year? Now they're gonna have it out early at someone be able to plan for you know, I really hate I can't tell you how much I hate missing. Yeah. It's a shame bow to miss it man. This paint on the misted over, you know, I've learned. Well, I'd love to see you in it man. Local local guy repping us. That'd be all Whelan's in it. We do have a all those guys are in it. It's going to be an amazing event man. You know, I mean, it's really I'm excited to watch it. You got a prediction on how many inches are going to know how many inches it's going to take to win. No, I don't mean I do not know that lake at all when they said where it was I couldn't yeah, I was like what? Yeah. Heard of it every town I had to look it up watch at oh what? Yeah, it wasn't like Nikki Jack right out of least. I've heard it right jack. Yeah. Yeah, you know, I've never heard of this place, you know. Yeah, that's what the reason it's gonna be fun to watch man. Let's see what these guys can do man, you know what I mean? Absolutely. None pressured leg to it's not getting pretty fish for the FLW, you know, I mean, that's killer right, right. Yeah, I know. I saw Sam Jones caught a nice one today put up a little video of it getting released. I don't know if Alan posted anything. But yeah, man, I know there's there's a lot of good names. I wish I was down there as well man. I was in the same boat as you I just you know funds were dry committed to too many other things and you know is what it is, but we'll see you man. I think it'll be a great event and an interesting like, you know, for sure from what I've you know read up on it. So I'm predicting it'll probably be a hundred eighty inches at least for two days. Yeah today starts. I would imagine it has to be somewhere around there that likes think you said it all. Yeah. Yeah a lot of water a lot of water look at the octopus on their looks cute. It is for sure man. Also my think it's all we have with you tonight. So we appreciate Coming on and talking with us congrats on that Pro side win at least one is Harbor. That's it guys. Thanks for having me on yeah. Absolutely man. We're good guys follow you and stuff, you know, social media things like that shout-out to your sponsors all that good stuff. Yep. You can follow me on Facebook. I'm on Curt Smith some Facebook Smitty Fisher on everything else on YouTube and Instagram big shout-out to strictly sale Hobie torpedo. Yak attack jig master. Lithium, I always forget someone catch catch that steam, right? Yeah. I think that I see right there. Yeah, can't forget Duke, man. You cannot forget Duke. I cannot forget is a good dude. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Very cool, man. It was a pleasure talking to you and I can't wait to meet you at the trail event or the trail Championship. So it's definitely absolutely Solutely, man. Thanks again. All right, man. So let's get into some Recaps now. Yeah, absolutely. Let's do it man. All right, I was gonna go over the kbf, Ohio monthly challenge this month because that's when I was participating in and I know a lot of people in this area follow those leaderboards. So heck yea my kbf monthly for July with the winner was Wayne snack. With ninety eight and a quarter inches. He also won big bass of the month with 22 and a half. That's a tank dude. Yeah, and I think that came out of Snowden Lake. I'm not exactly where that is in, Ohio, but I have heard of it. That's awesome. That's a big fish man. Yeah it real big fish for a while. So second place was Michael Bruning with ninety five and a quarter inches, and then third place was Michael Pano with ninety five and a quarter inches, so they tied I don't I don't know how the tiebreakers worked. You know exactly. I'm usually it's a big bass big bad stuff. Yeah, whoever had the bigger bass out of the whole bag and then say like say that they both had their big bash was like 19 and a half then I'll go to the second biggest bass and this song so that's what I thought. Yeah hundred percent sure but 95 inches man. That's a 19 inch average, you know, yeah, so that's that's a lot of big fish. Fish I had a pretty good month though. I ended up 10th place. I think with 87 inches. That's nice. It went it went to bad is one of my better months fishing. I you know, I'm still learning. So it's like a 17 and a half inch average dude. Yeah. I caught quite a backup three over 18 last month. So nice. All right, I'm not used to that. That's why we call you sticks. I don't deserve the name yet though man, getting their brother you get in there for the second one. I picked a Massachusetts kbf monthly challenge. For some reason. This one's stuck out to me because they put up huge numbers. It has Massachusetts is not a big state. It's not a state that I think of when it comes to Bass Fishing. Yeah. Well, I'm through their challenge. I was blown away. The winner was Paul oedema Reyes jr. With a hundred 1 inches That's over 20 in average. Second place was Cameron to bill with a hundred and a half inches and then third place was Dominic. No with 99.75 inches That's crazy. Dude. Yeah, and then I think the whole leaderboard. I'm pretty sure let me check here the top the top 13. We're all over 90 inches. That's insane. Yeah, so I think I'm we need to go to Massachusetts to will go to East-West Harbor and then shoot up to A Massachusetts to find some big bass man. Sounds good. That's insane. Yeah, I'm starting to like look through these leaderboards and just notice a little things like this message crazy. Definitely on my list. I got a Carolina kayak Anglers. They had a tournament on I didn't write the I didn't write this stupid leg down cursed Scott Lake see the winner was Keith McGee with 50 inches. This was a three three fish. Yeah. So 50 inches Keith McGee second place was Melvin Yang with 47 inches and then third place was Cory coffee with forty six point seven five inches and then big bass was a bob Danton with 21 inch bass. That's a tank. Yeah, they caught some real good fish down there on That lake so yeah seems like it. I'm surprised that out to see that was a three three fish limit. Yeah interesting and then we have the kbf series Trail Mark Twain. I was going to let you go over that since you were there. Oh, man. Well, you know, we briefly talked about it with Kurt there for a minute and man. It was crazy, you know, so, you know my my traveling Buddies Obviously Alan Reed Sam Jones and Dylan Fuqua, right? And you know, you're talking three three good sticks. I know you know, we had Sam on the OG show and he's a good dude, man. And he's had some struggles where you know, he was on good fish pre-fishing and then just come tournament day like, you know, and I think one of his best turnouts of the year was at the FLW kbf cup, I think he was And in like 12 place after day one and I forget where he ended up day to but regardless, I knew Alan Reed was on good fish. I think it was. Friday night he caught it 19 and a half in my biggest fish. I caught Thursday evening was a was a 17. So I knew Allen was on some kind of bite. I wasn't really sure where he was fishing. We don't share that information with each other until after the tournament all four of us. It's always funny because we're always like were you fishing where you finish? What are you throwing and you know, it's funny like, you know, This week we had the Dylan Fuqua episode and you know, he's always like, you know, I was throwing the banjo minnow, you know, we joke with each other like that. We don't fill each other in so but I knew Alan was real confident and he was on some good fish and same thing with Dylan Dylan thought he would throw together, you know, because we always talk like hey, what do you think you're going to come up with tomorrow? And we hate throwing those predictions out there, but we still kind of you know, I think Dylan thought he was going to throw at least 75 Up to 80 inches which 75 inches I think would have put you in like fifth or sixth place. Yeah, but Alan Reed one with 82 and a half. Yeah, he had 82 and a half in I know he he had five fish and then he upgraded to throughout the day and he started off his morning with that 21, which I mean what a huge confidence boost you start out your morning with a 21-inch fish like you're like yeah came on, you know, but It was a tough bite man. I know you know, I caught fish during pre-fishing. Like I said and then come tournament more in I got four right away in the morning and then I just struggled to find another fish and I knew I know that was a common theme or guys were finding fish. But the biggest ones they were catching were 14 inches. But yeah Alan took first in both the trail. And the pro so yeah, it was super cool for Alan. He had a first-place prowin at Kansas, but I think he took third in the trail at the beginning of the year. So I know he was really wanting that first-place win. And I think that should put him in first place for the Central Division for aoi or you know, it'll be a battle between him and Richie McMichael because they've both done really well. And that's the thing to Richie took third. I know he was in second all day, but he he tied for second and third place but he must have had this Jerry Cornelius took second. So he must have had a bigger bass. But you know the big struggle with that Lake was is it's dropped. I've heard mixed things but I heard like 20 or 30 feet it drops, but I like level in two weeks and it's crazy because I know Alan had a conversation with a local and he was like you see that bush up there on the hill. I pulled 15 Keepers out of that two weeks ago. He's like now I'm struggling to find three, you know, so and that's crazy that whole lake is Rock. It's just Solid Rock there's deep or steep Ledges all over the place and it was kind of tricky finding fish. You know, like I said, I was I was throwing some creature Bates And jig with a crayfish trailer and that's how I caught all my fish pre-fishing and then come tournament to a I cut those for on a creature bait, you know, but yeah, it was a tricky one and definitely tricky one. So shout out to all those guys that did really well, you know, I came up one fish short, which would have put me in the top 10 so is what it is. Yeah. Alan Reed got the trifecta on there. He won the tournament Pro side and big bass. He took the money. I think he might be the first one to take that Trifecta. I could be wrong though, but I know Dylan's taken first in both the pro and the trail at Madison, but I don't know if he had big bass for the event. I don't think he did. It seems like it's really hard to do. That's crazy. Yeah. Yeah. I saw I saw the leaderboard he posted that 21 inch fish. I'm He's going to win it. Yeah. Yeah, he ended up winning it sir. Yeah, man. All right. I got a Massachusetts kayak Bassin Bassin Tournament Trail. They had a they had a tournament at I didn't write the leg down again upper and lower Mystic Lake. Yeah. Okay. The winner was Kevin Amaral with 90 inches. Second place was Bruce Levi with eighty nine and a half inches. Third place was Kenwood with eighty seventy eight point seven five inches and then big bass was Kevin Amaral Junior with 20 and a quarter inch bass. What a jump from third to Yeah, I noticed that too. That's huge Edith 9 inches. Hey, it's not like that. Yeah, that's it. And not only that but like so between first and second you got a half inch difference man. Like I'd rather lose by two or three inches than a half inch, you know, that just hurts more. You know what I mean? Like that's crazy going through a lot of these tournaments week-by-week man. It's like the top three are always really close. I've noticed a couple tournaments over the last few. Weeks they've been within like an inch of each other an inch and a half of each other and the Orcs first and second place or a quarter inch so it's just crazy. Well, I know I know so if I would have caught a 12 inch fish that would have jumped me up into like I think seventh or eighth place at Mark Twain and that was a thing like other than Alan all the rest of the guys were so close in that top 10 as far as inches go which was it easy man. There's there's been a lot of tight down-to-the-wire tournaments lately it seems oh, yeah, it's pretty awesome. Heck yeah, man. So next one I have here is a Hobie bass open satellite you've been day out. They were also in Missouri this past weekend along at kbf Trail Lake Mungo. Is that how you pronounce it? Yeah Mozingo, I think yeah, they they had one this past week in August 3rd. The winner was Pat lastic with 86 inches. Second place was a David Cruz seventy nine and a half inches and then third place was Joshua Workman with 79 and Quarter inches which I've heard his name before. I don't know if you have or not. Yeah. Yeah, I think man, what is he fish? Normally, I've heard that name numerous times. I have to Bart I think I think he fishes kbf usually. Yeah, he might that's probably where I've heard it from but big bass went to David Cruz 20 inches. So he want he got second place and big best friend tournament. Yeah, and I think David Cruz runs that pain Warriors tournament series, I think right I'll donate the Nationwide. Yeah, the Nationwide pain Warriors tournament and then they usually have like a battle against the pro or whatever the big name. I know Jackson nor did it once I think maybe Jody queen or something. I could be wrong. But usually he gets like a bigger name and kayak Bass Fishing a battle it out against, you know, all the people that sign up for those tournaments and I think they do it by regions, but I don't know too much about pain Warrior, but I've seen it and I'm pretty sure he runs that or he has something to do with that which is pretty cool. Yeah. I've seen the pain Warrior thing as well, but I haven't really looked into it. That might be Want to check out for ya recap on for sure. Definitely. Yeah looking at that. Yeah, because I think the way they do that is it's I think you're not limited to five fish. I think it's the most fish you can catch or the most inches. Like there's no limit to the number of fish. So, I mean, that's the thing too. It's kind of like MLF where the guys can go out and bang a bunch of two and three pound fish and then you got some guys that are just going after the Giants to get that weight real. So I think it's kind of a similar format again. I don't know a hundred percent about it, but I thought I read something like that, which I think is really cool. So I'm going to look into that for next week. Yeah, that sounds that sounds interesting. Yes. Check it out, man. I have one more here and then a couple shout outs New York kayak Bass Fishing Trail had one on Onondaga Lake. I think that's how you pronounce it big. Shout out to Josh Smith. I've been talking to him on Facebook quite a bit. He's a listener. So Josh if you're listening to this episode shout out to you man. Yeah, I think Josh and I are Belizean fishing rod teammates. Oh, okay. Yeah, that's I remember seeing that on his profile. Yeah him and I are both on Elysium. Okay, shut it all to Josh. Yeah, then also wanted to shout out Justin hawser. He's the tournament director for New York. Kike Bassin nice. He he's on the National Pro Staff Jackson. So oh very cool him and him and Jay probably are familiar with each other. Sure. Sure. Sure. Sure. So I wanted to give him a shout out. We're actually going to have him on the show next week to talk about that tournament. True. Awesome. Very cool, man. Shout out to those two guys, but they had was a three fish tournament. Um, it's got to believe so yeah, I believe so. I'm not 100% sure. Because it doesn't see right here, but it has to be but the winner was Jake molten with 56 and a quarter inches. So yeah, it was - yeah, it's three fish. Yeah, second place was Ryan Swartz with fifty four and a quarter inches and third place was Adin Blake with 54 inches and then a big bass went to Jake molten with 19 and a half. So he won the tournament and big bass and I believe this Aiden Blake guy, I believe he's a young To I don't I'm not sure I don't want to I don't want to say for sure but his picture looks like he might be a younger younger. Yeah, so that that is that's real cool on his profile. He's got a hog. Yeah, it does that thing looks like it's at least a pounds. That's cool. Very cool. Yep, and one more shout out here because this is pretty impressive what he's been doing this year. Jody Queen he's had consecutive wins back-to-back weekends on the New River. You want to talk about a legend dude? Yeah, that's a guy look up to and he's on the bona fide team. I know you're on the bona fide team dude, and that's a guy look up to man. I heard I think it was on like one to Chad Hoover's Vlogs one time and you know, if you look at his profile like the number of wins second place third place top five top ten finishes like That guy's got a ton and I forget who it was asking. Like what's the key to your success? And he's like just spending as much time on the water as possible. And I've always remembered that. I think that's that's a huge huge chunk of advice man that I think a lot of people can take away. You know, I mean I can I can testify to that, you know, when I spend a lot more time on the water. I'm more focused and you know more in tune and I think that's part of my problem with these last two terms. Moments, I fished you know, Mississippi and Missouri man. I just haven't had as much time on the water as I normally do. So yeah. Yeah I could attest for that. Also. I'm I've spent I probably spent more time on my cat kayak this year than I have passed two previous years combined. Yeah. Well, I'm starting to see like me building, you know, like those building blocks and then like, yeah, I'm starting to figure things out and it's And it's because I'm spending more time on the water. Sure heck. Yeah, man, dude, you're putting those blocks together and yeah building building up your repertoire. So it's just yeah, it's just hard because when you're spending so much time on the water. It's just it's hard to like. Juggle other priorities, you know, I mean sure sure sure sure. That's that's that's the problem coming in facing this year. So there's a little bit of learning curve to that as well. Yeah, trust me man. I've been going through it too. You know, I mean, I you know, I didn't fish anything kbf related last year, but I did fish there's something called kayak Wars I think and shout-out to The Godfather he had found it online and We were both kind of fish in it. So I kind of got my feet wet with like taking pictures and upload and pictures and reading through rules and how to you know, get fish submitted and things like that. So, you know, I think that's a that's a key thing, you know just practice that and like like Kurt talked about, you know, his I thought that was a great question that you brought up was like, you know, what's your system for getting a fish? Yeah photo taken and uploaded and he talks about How he's got his net there so that fish ain't getting out of the boat and things like that. And that's key man. I mean that's what kind of always hate Circle and back to this but had I stuck to my system. I would have never lost my phone at Nikka Jack, you know what I mean? Yeah, if if I would have stuck to my system that would have never happened. That fish would have been no we're clear close to my phone as I was typing in measurements, but you know, you live in your learn man, that's that's part of it. So that's there. That's why I bought that don't or not donkey leash but phone yes. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah weird about that. Yeah that helps man it because you can get all situated why that fish is just chilling and relaxing on your leash and then you take it off get the photo and you know, you can put it back on your leash while you're sitting there typing in your measurements to go and upload it, you know, so it's a key thing. I mean, I don't use a leash. I just throw it in my net and keep my net in the water. Water so the fish can just kind of swim around while I'm doing that and then once I get everything submitted and uploaded I let it go. So yeah, very cool. Yeah that that I use that leash on top of the phone leash. So when I catch the fish, I'll put it on a leash and then I'll take out my phone open the camera and let my phone dangle because I hook yeah, that's I let it dangle get my board ready. So yeah, I do the same thing. I do the same thing. I get I get the app open like I get that. Camera app open and I get it ready to take the photo and then I'll pull the fish out put them on the board while wet the board first and put the fish on it and and then grab my phone while it's dangling there grab the photo throw the fish back in the net look at the photo. Make sure it's all good. And then, you know, if I got to retake I'll take the fish back out or you know, whatever. Yeah, very cool. It's awesome to compare different routines between Anglers This helps everybody. Yeah, I think it's a great question for for all of the guests we have on you know, because that's that's always the thing man. Like something is a little as having that nut in place or open in that camera app before you pull the fish out to put on the board. I think that's that's key in a lot of people can pick up on and make their own system out of all these little different intricacies between all the different Anglers for sure. I remember that was one of the questions I've been saving in the Because I remember a video that Dusty Acker posted on Facebook. I'm just like it just got me thinking about it. Like what do I need to do make my routine better? So yeah. Yeah. No, I hear yes. It's all about having a routine. So that way you can stay on top of things and you know get it going. So, yep. So I got three upcoming events that I was going to share and then I think that's going to be all we have for tonight. Of course, we talked about it earlier, but we got the K BF F LW Cup coming up. Hot Springs, Arkansas August 9th and 10th bunch of big names in that term it I'm not going to go over shoutouts because I mean you can read the whole list and Shout out everybody. So if you want to check out the leaderboards, make sure to check it out on tourney X we got Great Lakes kayak fishing series. They have a tournament at big and little Arbor Vitae lake. Is that how you pronounce it ARB Evita Arbor Vitae? Okay, I might head up. There I don't know yet. I was about to ask her. I know you know a few guys in that tournament. Yeah, my teammate from Rock Town Rodney Hicks is going up there. I was looking for his name. I didn't see it. I believe Susie roll off from the paddle and fin podcast is going to be up there. She usually is a director for that and judges all the fish and stuff. So I'm pretty sure she'll be up there. Actually. I know she'll be up there. I already talked to her about that. Derek Derek Aiken and I'm sure there's a few other people that I'm missing. But yeah, it should be a good turnout man. And that's that's Northern Wisconsin. Minocqua is like, you know, one of the vacation destinations for Northern Wisconsin the Northwoods, so it should be a good tournament decent numbers and everything coming out of there. So for sure. Awesome. And then the last one I have here is a the kbf trail, Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire August 10th. I think that's how you pronounce it. I'm awful with pronouncing some of these other. Yeah, I think I think you're right. I think it's Winnipesaukee is what it is. Yeah. Yeah. So if I pronounced it wrong and you guys live in New Hampshire, forgive me, and then let's see. I don't know. I think that's a Northwestern region Northeast Northeast. Yeah J'adore theist that's what of that so if you want to follow that leaderboard make sure to check out tourney X as well and I believe that's all I have because I don't think the Hobie bass open has won this coming weekend. So we're not getting any of those right on man. Yeah, some good tournaments to follow for sure for sure. Definitely. So We got a few podcast shoutouts if you want to go over those Yeah, man. So guys check out paddling fin.com the website. We've been doing a ton of revamping. I know we've all posted some blogs up there some of the new guys myself. I got another blog to post up there about my tournament recap and things like that and just talking about the mental Tournament game. You can obviously get some And Finn swag on there. You can send us questions. You can leave comments on our blog post see the gear were using all that good stuff plus, you know, all these people were about to shout out. You can get two links to their websites off of our website on the Affiliates page. So check that out. Definitely give us follow on the social media app paddling Fin and Facebook Facebook and Instagram is at paddling Finn if you guys going Any questions for the real down episode, please email pmf real r or L at gmail.com or paddle the letter N infinite gmail.com. And also if you want your Tournament Trail recognize send me an e-mail send me your Tournament Trail information. All that stuff will work. Yeah. We love covering, you know auton of trails man. I mean that was the whole idea behind this whole segment. And I think you and crankbait Johnny have been doing an awesome job. So kudos to you guys, man. I mean you guys have been really covering some Trails. I know at first it was it was hard getting getting some info and then we all kind of talked about it and you know, we started connecting with some of these tournament directors or people that were fishing the tournaments and everybody has had a great response about it. So let's just help grow the segment even more man. I mean, you know, if you win a tournament reach out man, we'd love to give you a shout out. Out or you know, you helped run a tournament. I mean you guys deserve recognition for what you guys do. I mean tournament directors don't have it easy or anybody involved in any of these small clubs. I mean, it's a ton of work. So yeah shout out. Shout out to you guys man. No tournament Trails too small either. Yeah. Yeah for sure man, whether you got 10 guys or honor guys, it doesn't matter. Yeah. We'd love to love to talk about your Trail man. Shout out to rock Town Adventures. Leveling canoe and kayak Hammer lures recycled Plastics program guys. Obviously, you guys hear me talk about this all the time. Mr. Hicks talks about it as well such a great program and you know take your use Plastics from this season. Save them up mail them to the address in the show notes are man Eric Richard melts down makes new baits out of them donate some to Heroes on the water, which is just a great cause and a great way to give back instead of Given to the garbage dump. Boom Coyote sunglasses. Overstock.com sunglasses overstock.com. I believe it is our stock. Sunglasses.com. Okay, you can use promo code paddle in fin 10, or is it paddle Fin ton? I always forget I think it's out on fintan. Yeah paddle and fin 10, you get 10% off Coyote sunglasses any polarized glasses. They're pretty slick. They float. You know, so even if you drop them in the water, you won't lose them. Shout out to fish ma blue or Southern Lake. Oh and of course our segment sponsor, Michigan, Ohio kayak Anglers call which they have a tournament coming up. Yeah Championship, right? Yeah. Yeah. Very cool. Hey man, thanks for having me on the real down segment. This was fun. This is a little bit different. Ace yeah, not chatting with rickets and Randall might have to come over to the real time real down full time. It's fun. It's fun man. I love Bob bouncing around and helping everybody out dude, it's cool. It's it's different. Give me a different case and you know any way I can help out feel free to reach out definitely or if you can't make it and I got to fill in with crankbait Johnny. That would be an exciting one. That would be awesome. You might have yeah, so I'm going on vacation the end of the month right on right now. Very cool, man. Yeah, you got anything else to drop in here man. Nope, I'm good. All right, brother. Well, thanks again. And as always guys tight lines and smooth paddling.
Sticks and Brian talk with 2017 KBF national champion about his recent pro side win at KBF trail East/West harbor. They dive into Kurt's mental approach to tournament fishing as well as some pre fishing success and tournament day high and lows. The boys also recap tournaments across the nation as well as some big upcoming events next weekend. 