5 In The Box with Casey Martin

Casey is on the road when I call him.  Is there truth in the rumor he has a golden horseshoe in his pocket right now?  Maybe.  But it certainly wasn't given to him.  And while he's so nice he might very well give you the shirt off his back, don't expect him to give you that horseshoe...

What's it like, being so hot that it's rarer that you don't place in a tournament?  You're hotter than a two dollar pistol right now!

HAHA well I put a lot of hard work in.  I've spent the past two years fishing as a co-angler and trying to learn from the best of the best in the sport.  I've been fortunate to have fished with some really amazing anglers like Gary Yamamoto and Jason Christie and that can really cut down your learning curve.  I've learned so much in the past two years and it probably would've taken me over a decade to learn all that on my own.  I was never a great flipper and I got paired up with Jason and he was flippin the day I was with him and I just watched him, watched what he was doin, and he told me a little bit about what he was lookin for during practice and stuff like that.  You can go from not really having a clue to bein' way ahead of the game on a certain technique.  When I was on Lanier I was with Brent Ehrler, and I set my rod down and he let me come to the front of the boat and he showed me on his graph:  this is brush, this is fish inside the brush, things like that, and you would never know that unless somebody pointed it out to ya.

It certainly helps to have people who are willing to teach you what they know, that's for sure.

Yeah it's really just been an amazing couple of years, I'm still kind of in awe of it really.

So what are you planning to fish in 2013?

I'm fishing the FLW Tour, The Southeast Everstarts, and possibly The Northern Opens.

You're from Canada, so you grew up fishing cold water like I did, and when I say cold water I mean lakes that either freeze over, or that just don't provide year round bass fishing the way that Guntersville or Armistad or Okeechobee do.  What do you find to be the biggest difference?

Well to me the biggest difference is pressure.  In the south you can find fish on a ledge or a rock pile and you might pull up and fish it for an hour and not get bit but those fish are there and someone else pulls in after you leave and they catch 30 pounds.  Whereas up north on St. Claire or Erie I mean it just seems like when you pull into a spot like that if those fish are there they're gonna eat, the fishing up there is just so good but there's not the same kind of year round pressure up there that you have in the south.  Okeechobee, where I just got done, you better have them dialed in:  what kind of bait, what time of day they eat, where and when they set up; cuz if you miss it then you can go from having 30 pounds to not getting a bite.

While we're talking about north and south, I have always insisted that the smallmouth bass up north are different than they are down south, that they just seem to have an attitude up here and are generally a lot meaner and when I tell people that who haven't fished up here they look at me like I have three heads.

(Laughing)

Would you agree?

Oh yeah absolutely I don't know why they're like that but smallmouth up there seem to be 10 times stronger than the southern smallmouth even though smallmouth like at Pickwick and Wilson Damn down here in Alabama--they're strong, but they are nowhere near as strong.  Those smallmouth up north just never quit.  You can get them to the boat and they'll just start runnin' again.  I don't know why they're so mean maybe it's from living under the ice.  I had one on Erie that went from being down 25 feet to the top of the surface in like 2 seconds, jumped like 6 feet in the air, spit my lure, and was gone just like that and there was nothing I could've done!  It's almost like Tarpon fishing!

 

Was fishing something you did with your dad or siblings or did you just kinda find it on your own?

I grew up fishing with my Dad and my Grandfather.  I fished with my mom a little bit too but mostly it was my Dad and Grandfather.  Most of the time when we went out we went walleye fishing.  I mean the Detroit river system is great for walleye, it's great for bass too don't get me wrong, but it's a great walleye fishery and that's really what we fished for.  That or perch.  I didn't really start fishing for bass until I got into high school.  I'd fish with a couple of buddies and we'd go look for bass after the walleye shut down just for fun, not like any kind of tournament.

Is there anyone now that you look at and try to learn from or call for advice since you've been fishing competitively?

Oh definitely the way I kinda came up through the ranks, fishing the BFLs, having to make it on my own so guys like Jason Christie or Bryan Thrift, I look more towards guys like that.

What's your favorite technique?

I'd have to say whatever the fish are biting!  Honestly that's the truth.  I think the co-angler deal kinda helped me become versatile.  The problem is I'm not an expert at anything.  Let's say I go out and I catch 'em all on a 5XD, I'm in LOVE with the 5XD after that!  And then I'll buy every one I can get my hands on.  I think I have a short-term memory, so whatever's working at that point, that's kinda what I'm focused on.  If they stop eating whatever I'm throwing I'll lose confidence in it fast, but I gain confidence in something else fast too so I think that helps me.

What's your favorite lake?

I'd have to say my favorite lake to fish is St. Claire in Michigan.  I've had horrible, well, not horrible, I've had really not great tournaments up there, so I kinda have a passion for revenge.  But it's also a great place to just fun fish.

What's your least favorite?

I'd have to say any shallow/stumpy place, like the Washita River.

Like Santee Cooper?

Exactly, Santee Cooper is another one (laughing).  I hate that place.  Driving around there is hard enough.  I was there last year and it was one of those deals where I either cashed the last check or just missed it but I was just happy to get out of there!

If you weren't on the Tour, what would your dream job be?

You mean other than fishing?  My dream growing up was to be a professional hockey player but that doesn't turn out for too many, HAHA.

OK Casey, time for 5 in the box!

1.  What's it like on a Sunday morning when you're not fishing, and it's just you and your girlfriend?

Church, watch a movie, maybe go to dinner.  I really like to cook, I think another profession I might've chosen would've been a chef.  I spend a lot of time grilling out and just enjoy being in town.

2.  Do you have any pretournament rituals or superstitions?

I don't really have any that carry over, but if I catch 'em real good one day I'll try to do the same thing the next day like get up at the same time, eat the same thing, not mess up the routine.  I don't have a lucky t-shirt or anything like that.

3.  If you had to guess where your best finish would be in 2013 where would it be, and where do you see yourself struggling the most?

I'd have to say probably I'll struggle the worst at Beaver Lake or Seminole.  I've never been to Beaver Lake, but last year I bombed at Seminole.  I found some fish but they weren't there in the tournament.  I'd have to say my best would be Chickamauga because it's a Tennessee River lake.

4.  What's the one body of water you would fish in 2013 if you had your choice?

 Lake Champlain or someplace down in Mexico like Sugar Lake.

5.  What's one thing that nobody knows about you?

I dunno, I'm a pretty open book.  I speak French, not many people know that.

Thanks, Casey.  Good luck to you in 2013! 

5 In The Box with Greg Vinson

Ever wonder what it's like in the mind of one the hottest anglers on the Elite Series?  Greg Vinson was kind enough to tell me about The 2012 Bassmaster Classic, his fastball, and being ready to go to war...

 

 

 

Who introduced you to the sport of fishing?

 

My dad certainly had the strongest influence.  He was a hard-core federation angler when I was growing up.  I grew up on the lake too; me and the other kids in the area fished a lot for fun.

 

Does fishing competitively change it for you in terms of being able to just go out and fish for a few hours with your buddies or is it still relaxing for you in the ways that it is for most people who enjoy just sitting on a bank in a lawn chair with a coffee?

 

I absolutely enjoy fishing for fun, even for bass.  Tournament fishing and fun fishing are two different mental places for me.  But, I fish hard when I fun fish.  I still want to catch as many, and as big a fish possible.  It's my competitive nature coming out.  The challenge is what makes it fun.

 

What is your favorite technique, and who do you turn to or watch for tips or pointers?

 

I really enjoy shallow-water power fishing, especially when they're biting a jig or soft plastic.  There's something special about the challenge of making accurate casts to visible targets that all too often become obstacles when a fish is hooked up.

 

Although I know I've learned a lot in the past 10 years or so, I will never quit learning new things that will help me catch more fish.  For that reason, I am always willing to listen to any other anglers regardless of what level they fish at.  Thinking you already know everything will get you beat because the sport is always evolving.

 

 

 

What's your favorite lake?

 

Guntersville.

 

What's your lease favorite lake?

 

Clarks Hill.

 

What do you have planned for 2013 both on and off the water?

 

I have my tournament schedule and practice schedule planned out.  I want to make time to spend with Stephanie and Gaige otherwise.  I'll be doing some filming for several people too along with some fun fishing.  The calendar seems to fill up quick these days.

 

I remember watching The Classic last year and routing for you.  What did you learn at The Classic in 2012 looking back at it almost a year later, are there choices you made then that you second guess now?

 

Missing the win in The Classic was without a doubt a heartbreaker.  Most importantly because of what it would mean to me and my family over the course of a career.  That being said, I'm very proud of my performance, my decision making, and my composure throughout the event.  I've had a lot of time to think about what I might have done differently and I wouldn't change a thing.  I was dialed-in and had the perfect area.  It came down to who got that one big bite in the end.

 

 

 

If you weren't an angler, Greg Vinson would be a ____________.  Why?

 

Realistically, I would probably be working for The State of Alabama monitoring the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams as an Environmental Scientist.  That's what I did before I went pro and it was a good job.

 

Ideally, I would be a pitcher in the major leagues...LOL!

 

Time for Five In The Box!

 

1.  What's it like in your house on a Sunday morning when you're not fishing?

 

Most of the time I'm cooking a good breakfast and we're planning what we will do as a family that day.

 

2.  Do you have any pretournament rituals or superstitions?

 

Not as much as I used to.  I seem to lock-on to a particular hat or t-shirt during the course of practice that's giving me good vibes.  When I have a bad day on the water I change to something different.  It's a mental way of wiping the slate clean I guess.

 

3.  If you had to guess where your best finish would be in 2013 where would it be, and where do you see yourself struggling the most?

 

The natural answer would be the Alabama River in Montgomery, AL; I live ten minutes from there.  But I know how good the Elite guys are and sometimes being a local and work against you.  I want to prepare for each tournament in a way that I can win on any given lake at any given time.  That's what I did for The Red River in The Classic.  I had never seen it before and I worked very hard to learn it well so I could choose my area based on the conditions and fishing pressure. 

 

The Northern-most fisheries like The St. Lawrence are the scariest to me right now.  Northern waters fish much differently than southern reservoirs and rivers.  I hope I can turn that into a positive and work extra hard this year to improve my game in that area. 

 

 

 

4.  What's the one body of water you would fish in 2013 if you had your choice?

 

I would probably have said Falcon Lake whether we were fishing it for the Elites this year or not.  It's been the hottest lake in the country for awhile now and I've never had the opportunity to fish it until I went there to pre-practice in November.

 

5.  What's one thing that nobody knows about you?

 

I'm pretty laid back most of the time, but "when the lights are on" so to speak, I'm ready to go to war.  I'm an intense competitor and some people miss laid back side because they see me in "tournament mode" most of the time.

 

Thanks for giving us a chance to see the laid back side.  Good luck this year and thanks for your time.

 

 

 

 

 

5 In The Box with Allison Shaw

Allison Shaw is relaxing at home in California watching the Everstart weigh-ins live at Lake Okeechobee, Florida's "Big O".  Our initial greeting is interrupted by us both being shocked at the weight of the current leader, Ben Todd, who is currently waaaaaaaay ahead.
Allison
"Dude that's a six pound average...God I wanna be there right now!!!"

We laugh; hers is more of a giggle really, but it's infectious and makes you want to laugh more when you hear it.

Q:  Allison, why do you fish?

I got the bug, I grew up fishing, I caught a huge, I mean I caught a 7 pound bass when I was 8 which is huge for any 8 year old, and I've been fishing ever since.  My Dad and Pappa (my grandpa) taught me how to fish.

Q:  Is it different now?  Does the pressure of competition take the fun out of it?

It's different but if anything it's more fun.  I'm competitive by nature.  I don't have all day to just lay around, get a tan, wait for the bite and reel it in, and that requires an understanding of the science and biology of fishing:  migration, prespawn, postspawn, and you'll never know everything.

Q:  We've talked before about techniques and presentations and I know you love to throw a drop-shot whenever you can.  Who do you watch or read about to get better?

I watch a lot of Aaron Martens videos, in fact I watched a few of his the night before my first day of filming The World Series Of Bass.  I mean I know how to drop-shot for the most part, but just watching someone do what you like to do the most is really helpful.  There are so many different ways you can throw it, bring it in; there are a million different things you can do with that one simple bait.

Q:  Some people have said that you're the Danica Patrick of fishing, how does it feel to have your name said in the same sentence as someone who's had such a tremendous impact for a whole world of women on what has for years been considered a "male dominant" sport and what do you see as your responsibility to other women who look at you and see an opportunity that maybe they didn't see before?

Ever since that all started when I was back in college (people referencing her to me) I've interpreted that to mean being an advocate.  It's really flattering to be put in the same category as her, I mean honestly I'm nowhere near her level yet but if I help promote this amazing sport to other women then maybe I'll have an impact on them in some small way that will lead them to trying to positively impact others.

Q:  Along with that likeness to her comes the image of you as being just a sex symbol as opposed to a real threat to compete.

Yep.  That's always been a concern.  There are advantages to being a woman, of course.  But I was lucky enough to show people in college that I'm not just trying to take pictures with fishing rods.  I watch videos and read and practice every day to get better and to become a better angler.  I'm from LA, I'm not from the country, though I am at heart and spent my summers fishing at my Grampa's.  But honestly, at the end of the day my goals are the same as everyone else's on the water:  catch big fish and win. 

Q:  What's your favorite lake?

That's tough.  I love The Delta because I like the idea of having tides in fresh water I feel like it adds a whole different dynamic and it really offers many different places for you to fish your strengths.  But at the same time when I was in Texas I had an opportunity to fish Lake Amistad and oh my goodness it was like Lake Mead on steroids and there are huge fish.  The water is really clear and the landscape is breathtaking. 

Q:  What do you have planned for 2013 other than fishing?

I was a child development major in college, and this year I've started a program called "My Mom said there's nothing I can't do".  Basically I'll be travelling to elementary schools all over the country, talking to them about pursuing their dreams, working 100%, and not letting anyone tell them they can't reach their goal to be whatever they aspire to be.  I mean, a girl from LA, who would've thought she would be competing professionally with all these guys from the south?!?  So if I can do it, and I'm in my fifth year now, then clearly anyone can do it.

That's really great.  I have always given back to my community so I value that in others.

Yeah there are a couple of charity tournaments that I'm going to be at as well.  One of them is in Newtown Connecticut, there hasn't been much detail released yet, but it'll be coming out soon and I know it's going to be a great event.  And the other is The Indy Bass Club there are two people who are members of that club who have been diagnosed with cancer and they wanted me to come out and be a guest speaker at their fundraising event.  I'm going to record some footage from everywhere I go and put together a sort of memoir that should be really cool to watch because it'll show that you really can accomplish a lot if you want it bad enough. 

Q:  You're an artist too, right?

Yeah, (laughing).  I paint anything:  horses, people, babies, dogs, pets, pictures from trips to Fiji, poems, really I can paint anything.  I paint a lot at Holidays or as gifts.  I paint with my fingers.  I put white on my pointer finger, black on my ring finger, and the color that I'm using on my middle finger, and that, in my opinion, is the best way to blend water-based acrylics.  That's how I taught myself.  Then when I'm done I go back over everything with a really, really fine painter's brush.  It takes me between 18 and 30 hours per painting and I am taking deposits all the time. 

Q:  How do people contact you if they want something painted?

Most people contact me through Facebook or they can email me.


OK Allison, it's time for the 5 in the box:

Q:  Let's start with the obvious, the one that I'm sure a lot of guys want to know:  Who is Allison Shaw dating?

Allison Shaw is dating herself (giggling).  I'm being selfish for the first time in a while.  Everyone thinks it's really cool to date a tournament angler until they actually date one and for the moment I need to focus on myself.

Q:  Tell me one thing nobody knows about you?

(Laughing) I was on two really lame MTV dating shows when I was in high school. 

Q:  Do you have any pretournament rituals or superstitions?

I have a wooden fish key chain that my Gramma gave me that I always take with me.  I always used to have it with me as a kid when we would fish as a family and have a contest to see who could catch the first fish for a dollar and I had it with me when I qualified for the National Championship in College.  (Between giving this interview and it being written almost all of Allison's gear was stolen out of her boat, including that wooden key chain.)

Q:  If you had to guess where your best finish would be in 2013 where would it be, and where do you think you might struggle?

Probably The Delta.  Oroville is closer to Chico but I only fished Oroville once.  And I really wanna do well on The Delta.  Clear Lake will definitely be the hardest for me just because I've never fished it before.

Q:  What's the one body of water you would pick to fish in 2013 if you had your choice?

I wanna go to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.  I heard it's really beautiful there.

I'm sure they'd love to see you there.  Good luck this year, Allison! 

Thanks, Jim.  You too.  And a huge thanks to Hennessy Funds (Title), ATF Fishing News, My Webfix, Topwater Clothing, ATX wheels, YoZuri, Heroes on the Water, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Dobyns Rods, Rod Glove, PCI, Phoenix Bar and Irish Gathering, Golden State Orthopedics, Rayjus Jerseys, Oakley Big Bass Tour, Salamander Sinkers, Pizz Customs, Lake Fork Tackle, Lazer Trokar, Damiki, Bass Hookups, Pink Fishing, and all my family and friends for supporting me!

Drop the Hammer with this Rig!

 

Yellow Hammer Lures Brings Strength/Reliability

If you're like me then you really don't have thousands of dollars to spend on fishing lures, and you REALLY don't have thousands of dollars to spend on fishing lures that break.  I learned growing up to appreciate what you have, to work hard, and to be dependable.  I was also raised to expect the same.  I found at a young age that I could buy a cheap pair of boots, but they would wear out after 6 months and I would need to buy another pair.  After doing the math it became pretty clear that 5 pairs of cheap boots cost a lot more than 1 pair of quality boots.  Translation:
Buy Quality=Reward, Saving $$$

This is EXACTLY what I learned about the Yellow Hammer Rig the first time I spoke with team who developed it.  They looked at the other Umbrella Rigs on the market that were made with cheap components, mass produced, and sold for $7 and realized right away "We can do better", and that's EXACTLY what they've done.
The Yellow Hammer Rig is built to withstand the harshest conditions imaginable.  We can all agree that the odds of any of us ever throwing an umbrella rig with 5 swimbaits attached and actually hooking 5 bass that each weighed in excess of 5 pounds is highly unlikely.  But highly unlikely is NOT impossible.  And if your components are, let's just say for example, made of 5 lb leaders, are they going to withstand that level of torque over the long haul?  Are you really willing to take the chance?
My guess is that if you're a tournament angler, or just a very serious weekend warrior who thrives on bragging rights you're not into taking those kinds of risks.  Risks involved in finding fish, sure.  But in landing them, never.  That's one of the major points that defines a winner from a donator.
Higher quality components, hand made, hand painted, all in the US.  Why put your trust in anything else?

 

The best part about these rigs is that you can get them in any size, shape, color, bladed, unbladed, or other design that you want.  Contact the crew at www.bigbassheaven.com, or grab them from eBay.  You won't be disappointed in the craftsmanship of these lures.  No other umbrella rig has this kind of quality put into the design and production, I guarantee you.