Pros Behind the Curtain

[FlatsNBay]

As an outdoor writer, I get the opportunity to spend time in the boat or fish with many top level pros. It's pretty cool being able to take a peak behind the curtain to see what tackle and baits that they really use and what the behind the scenes of professional fishing is like when the cameras are off. Here's a couple of my personal observations.

1) There are certain lures that many of the pros that I covered really use, regardless of their sponsors. An example is a Jackhammer chatterbait. It's such a great lure that many pros will use it over their sponsor's version of a bladed jig.

2) Out of convenience, many pros will order tackle from online retailers instead of directly from their sponsors for free. Even though they get so much of their tackle for free, sometimes it takes a while to order replacements directly from their sponsor. Ordering tackle overnight from Tackle Warehouse is much easier and quicker. Convenience and delivery speed is much more important than free.

3) Many of the pros that I've observed are not ultra organized. It often looks like a bomb went off in their boats and they often have difficulty finding stuff.

4) When many pros are not competing and they are fun fishing, so much of their tackle is in need of repair and they keep fishing without it being bothersome. Bent hooks, rusty hooks, chipped paint on lures were all pretty common.

5) Tackle subtleties are extremely important to pros. They notice everything and all of the small nuances make a difference. It's next level awareness that separates pros from the rest of anglers. It's pretty cool witnessing this awareness in person.

[D.W. Verts]

Been there, and done/seen all of that. I used to do some Ghost writing back in the day for several well known pros. Some stories there, too.

Dale

[big g]

Flats thanks for this.  I would love to here more.

[Princeton_Man]

It's comforting to know there are many pros just like us in some ways. With their schedules, I don't see how any of them could be ultra organized. It does surprise me a little that some will fish their preferred bait while promoting their sponsor's bait.

[topdsm0138]

They are just normal people like us, just enjoying their sport.

Tiller Mafia.