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The Reality of an Aging Angler

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:21:45 GMT

The Reality of an Aging Angler

If I have learned nothing else over my many years of tournament bass fishing, it’s the fact that it’s a young man’s sport. Being young has its privileges, especially when it comes to energy levels and mobility. At the age of 65, I don’t hop around the boat like a rat on crack anymore.

Now I’m a little more cautious in making sure I don’t hang a toe getting up on the front deck of my Caymas boat. I’m just trying to maintain my balance and make sure that I don’t fall in the lake!

I’ve also noticed that the older I have gotten, the further it seems to be from the driver’s seat console to the front of my boat. Just putting the trolling motor in the water also requires a little more energy even with high-tech lift-assist-systems that trolling motors have today.

Even tying on a new lure can be a challenge as now I need my reading glasses just to see what I’m doing. Threading fishing line through the eye of a hook requires skill that used to be automatic; now it’s an adventure and a test of my patience!

One aspect that today’s young anglers seem to do a better job of is covering water and fishing as many places as they can in a day’s time. Older guys tend to stay in one area longer and fish it thoroughly just because we don’t want to take the time or exert the energy to move.

I have also noticed the younger generation of today are not very likely to offer much help for the older guys who might be launching their boats by themselves.

This was something I was always conscious of during my younger days. If I saw an older gentleman trying to launch his boat by himself, I always offered a helping hand. I think it’s just the way my generation was raised by always looking out for the elderly.

But even today, and now that I’m the older guy at the ramp, I’ll still offer ANY angler assistance. It’s just good manners.

In today’s tournament world, I find myself trying to stay in better shape just so I can compete with these young guns. But to compete on any tournament trail, you must spend time on the water.

A good angler will practice eight to ten hours a day on the water trying to locate as many schools of bass as they can. It’s not uncommon for the really good anglers to practice from sunup to sundown. Again, nothing will make you a better angler than time on the water!

These are the anglers who will not only cash more checks but will also be holding up the trophy at the end of the tournament. You cannot compete in today’s bass fishing world by taking shortcuts or only fishing for a few hours a day, no matter how good you think you are.

Another issue at my age is that some days fishing is literally a grind and a test of your patience. The bass don’t always bite all day long and there are only a few small windows of opportunity where the bass will feed. If you’re not on the water, you will miss those opportunities.

There will be some days that you will ask yourself, “Why am I out here?” But these are the days that will separate the good anglers from the average ones. The good anglers will stay on the lake and make every attempt to figure out how to make the fish bite.

This is called persistence and determination which can go a long way in having tournament success. It’s also called focus, which I find is a lot harder to maintain as I’ve gotten older. Focus ensures that you don’t miss those windows of opportunity when you get that unexpected bite.

To wrap this up, one thing that has not changed, even at the age of 65, is my desire to compete. I’m still that same competitive sole who gets so much joy in a high finish and beating the younger generation. We’ve all heard, age is just a number. That’s true until you reach what you think is that age….then reality sets in.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Why Do So Many Anglers Hate the Red River?

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:19:02 GMT

Why Do So Many Anglers Hate the Red River?

Why does this body of water garner such hatred? What is it about the Red that makes anglers blood boil like it’s the worst place on earth to fish?

For the life of me I have never been able to figure this out! But before we answer these questions, let’s take a look at some history of this great river system.

Before the great floods of 2015 and 2016 and from the time the locks and dams were implemented, the Red River became a fishing and hunting paradise. There was great duck and deer hunting along with some awesome bass fishing; fishing so good that both major professional bass fishing organizations like the FLW (now MLF) and the Bassmaster Classic held championship events on the Red.

Well-known backwater areas like the Jungle, Little Jungle, Knee Knock, Sutherlands, White House and Goose Pond, to name a few, offered some of the best bass cover imaginable. Lush green acres of lily pads and hydrilla along with plenty of standing timber and laydowns just loaded with bass.

Then in 2015 and 2016 the Red River went through two major floods of Biblical proportions. These were truly 100-year events that took the Red River system years to recover.

So much of the main river was destroyed with small islands totally wiped out. Tree lines along the river were completely stripped of the timber that once stood tall.

Backwater areas off the river that held good vegetation like reeds, hydrilla and lily pads were all wiped clean. There was little to no cover left behind after these devastating floods.

Just to give you an idea of how massive these back-to-back floods were, the water reached record levels of 25 to 30 feet above pool!

There was also a huge fish die off during the floods but give credit to the Red River Waterway Commission for developing a restocking program that has brought the river back to life with quality bass being caught once again.

Ok, enough history. Let’s get back to why do so many anglers hate the Red River. Well first, it can be a tough place for a bass boat to navigate especially in some of the backwater areas. It’s full of stumps and laydowns that can do damage to an outboard engine’s lower unit, not to mention the fiberglass damage that can occur to the boat. It is a very unforgiving body of water if you don’t know how to get around.

Additionally, there are underwater rock jetties. Knowing where these are located is VERY IMPORTANT, especially along the main river system. Some of these jetties are not visible and run straight off the bank several yards underwater. If you cut the corners too tight or run the river too close to the bank, you can hit these rocks and do major damage to your outboard motor. But if you stay between the red and green buoys that line the main river, you’ll be just fine.

But let’s talk about the fishing! Some anglers really struggle to catch fish on the Red River, especially anglers who have never fished a river system. Rivers are a different animal than your man-made lakes. Fish relate a little different in a river system than they do in a lake.

Current and moving water can be a big factor in catching bass with any river system. Bass relate to current breaks like sand bars, big laydowns, and rock jetty points, making the main river current very important. However, the backwater areas do fish like any other lake.

So, between the difficulty of navigating the Red and the challenges of river fishing, the weigh-ins are a cry fest of guys complaining about coming to fish here! Tournament directors are inundated with complaints from the guys who can’t stand a Red River event.

So, here’s my advice to all the whiners, “Get your butt in the boat and learn it like you would any other body of water!” It’s no different than going to a new lake; you have to learn it! STOP YOUR WHINING!

Another reason some anglers hate coming to the Red is the fact that it levels the playing field. Every lake has a handful of local guys who you must beat when you back your boat in the water, which can make it more difficult for a lot of anglers to compete for a win. But the Red River is an equalizer and gives a lot of anglers a shot at winning.

Here's my personal viewpoint. I absolutely love the Red River and everything about it! It’s a great fishery with both backwater and main river habitat. It’s a body of water on the rebound as local tournaments are now taking over 18 pounds to win.

After the two major floods of 2015 and 2016, it used to take 14 to 15 pounds to win. But now, due to the impact of the restocking program, good fishing has returned with more quality bass being caught!

From the very first time I fished an event here, I was hooked! I have loved the Red River ever since and made it a priority to learn it. As an angler, some of my greatest tournaments have been on this body of water. To all those who hate it, take the time to learn it and it will probably become one of your favorite places to fish!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Getting to the HEART of the Issue

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:16:18 GMT

Getting to the HEART of the Issue

Well, well, well, you just never know what life will throw at you until it does. In early June of this year, after going through a few cardio tests like an EKG, ultrasound and a stress test, we (Dr. Chris Ingram and I) felt like everything was going to be okay.

Nothing really showed up during the tests that was alarming. Then a few days later, Dr. Ingram looked at my imaging and saw a shadow that got his attention. During my consultation, I could tell by his reaction while going over the imaging with my wife and I that he was very concerned.

Now my first reaction, like anyone else who thinks there’s nothing wrong, was that it can’t be that bad. I mean I’m only 65 years old and fit as a racing horse that’s been put out to pasture.

But then reality set in and after a heart Cath two days later, doctors discovered that there were seven blockages! That’s right, seven! Two in the back that had almost 100% blockage and 5 frontal arteries with partial blockage.

Finally, they had my attention and no longer could I deny that there was an issue. I then knew that this was something that would require extensive surgery to fix. My summer plans were now going to be altered dramatically.

It also explained why I was having the issues I had been experiencing during my last two bass tournaments. During and after both event’s, exhaustion does not describe how bad I felt.

I had major muscle fatigue and tightness across the shoulders. Leaning over to pick up a rod on the deck of the boat resulted in almost total black out, especially once the heat of the day set in from noon till 3:00. At first, I chalked it up to maybe being dehydrated or just getting too hot.

But at the end of my last tournament on the Red River with thirty minutes left before weigh-in, the rod I was holding in my left hand felt like it weighed 20 pounds. No chest pain, no arm pain, just extreme muscle fatigue.

But the worst part was when I had to beach my boat at the weigh-in and walk up the long 50 yard boat ramp to retrieve my truck and boat trailer. It felt like the walk of shame as I glanced around hoping no one was watching me. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other.

As I got in my truck, I just sat there for ten minutes trying to recover. Then once I got my boat on trailer, I had to climb into the back of my boat and get my fish out of the live well and into my weigh-bag. Then tote the bag of fish to the scales, which really pulled my energy level down to zero.

Once again, I got back in the truck to head home but sat there for at least fifteen minutes trying to catch my breath and recover. I knew something was wrong as I’ve never experienced this kind of fatigue even during my worst two-a-day football workouts from my high school or college days.

It got worse, as I arrived back home and parked the boat, I basically rolled out of the truck and walked into the house where I literally collapsed on the floor. My wife walked in and asked if I was ok to which I responded, “No!”

She then realized I was not good and got me a cold towel for my face. I laid on the floor for about forty minutes just so I could get enough energy to take a shower.

My thoughts and reasoning were, “It’s just hot (95 degrees). Maybe I didn’t drink enough water and just got too hot.” But as it turned out, there were some major issues going on internally. Problems that could not be fixed with medication or more exercise.

I owe a huge thank you to Dr. Chris Ingram and my personal physician Dr. Anil Matta for their persistence and due diligence in putting me through tests that, at the time, I thought were unnecessary.

After all, based on MY many years of medical experience and watching You Tube videos on heart related issues, I just knew nothing was wrong! Yeah right! Ha, a typical man who thinks he knows more than any doctor.

So, here’s the moral of this story. First, listen and pay attention to what your body is telling you. Understand your symptoms and what they mean. Second, trust your doctor and follow the directions he or she gives you on what needs to be done because it will probably save your life.

Update: It’s been over a week (June 29th) since my quadruple bypass surgery and I’m doing much better. Still a long way to go but making progress every day. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers during this tough time.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Journey of Finding Your Purpose in Life

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:13:32 GMT

The Journey of Finding Your Purpose in Life

Have you ever questioned why you’re here? Ever wondered what am I supposed to be doing with my time on this earth? Each of us has a calling but it may take a while to discover what it is. As a child, I questioned a lot of things that took place during my younger years, especially as I started school.

It became very apparent as I started school that the classroom was going to be a challenge. The biggest problem was that I had no guidance, no one to make sure I did my homework or that I even got up every day to go to school.

But there was one day in my life that I will never forget. It was the day they had Little League baseball tryouts. Even though I was not old enough to play Little League, I still showed up with glove in hand and ready to show anyone that I could play this game.

I rode my bike up the street to a local ballpark where the tryouts were taking place. I hopped off my bike and ran onto the field and got in the first line of players I saw as they were taking ground balls and throwing them back to a coach.

Well as my turn came around, the coach hit the ball to me, and I scooped it up and fired it back at the coach. I’ll never forget his reaction as he waived me over to talk to him. Then he uttered words that I will never forget.

“Son, I don’t think you’re old enough to play Little League, but I can tell you one thing for sure. You’re going to be one heck of a player when you get older.”

Disappointed that I was not eligible to play baseball yet really hit me hard mentally. Finally, it was something that I knew I was good at! Baseball was going to give me purpose!

It would be on a baseball field that I would shine. It would be through baseball that my confidence and self-esteem would soar. The baseball field was where I was supposed to be!

School on the other hand would continue to be difficult as I was diagnosed with Dyslexia going into the 2nd grade. But because of a couple of great teachers by the name of Mrs. Mickey Sinclair and Mrs. Elwanda Carpenter, my world in the classroom was turned around.

From the third grade on, school curriculum would not be as challenging, but I had to work hard to make passing grades. Studying was a necessary evil in order for me to do good in school and get to play sports.

My parent’s understood school was a challenge but expected nothing short of A’s and B’s. Cs were not acceptable and there would be consequences for bringing home a C. Mother would threaten to pull me out of sports when a C was brought home on a report card.

But again, I figured out early in life that sports, especially baseball, would be my purpose in life. It would be my calling and my saving grace for me as person. It gave me a feeling of confidence that nothing else could.

Today when I speak to youth, this is one of the topics I’ll discuss. No matter what it is, find that one thing you’re good at and make that your purpose. Make that the reason you get up every day. Make that your passion whether it’s sports, education, music or, maybe if you’re lucky, it’s bass fishing!

Life can offer us so many opportunities but it’s up to each of us to take advantage when those opportunities roll around. I truly believe that God has a purpose for each of us.

It just might take some of us longer to figure out exactly what our purpose is, but isn’t that what life is all about….the journey.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Anglers and Home Field Advantage

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:11:11 GMT

Anglers and Home Field Advantage

In sports there’s nothing better than playing at home. Doesn’t matter if it’s a regular season game or a playoff game, playing at home in front of your home crowd can make a huge difference in the outcome of the game.

But there is one sport where the “home field advantage” doesn’t always pan out. In fact, it can actually be a disadvantage! The sport would be tournament bass fishing.

When you’re the “local” angler, you are usually considered the favorite due to the amount of success and knowledge you have about the lake/river.

Anglers always look forward to fishing an event on their home water. It’s an opportunity to sleep in your own bed, eat a good home cooked meal and everything is very routine. You tend to be more relaxed, but you also feel the pressure of being the favorite.

Then as you prepare for the tournament, you put a game plan together that usually involves looking at past history. This is where things can go wrong!

Just like people, anglers are creatures of habit and tend to lean towards fishing the same way we have in the past, especially when we’ve been successful on our home lake/river.

When you are fortunate enough to have an event on your home water, you want to make a good showing and hopefully bring home a win.

But why is there so much pressure on the angler who is fishing his home lake? Here’s the problem. Because you know the lake/river so well and you know so many good areas that hold fish, you can’t decide which area you should hit first.

Do you go where you caught them last year at this same time, or go where you caught them two years ago where you won the tournament? Too much history on a body of water can really clutter the brain and destroy a game plan.

Then you decide to go with your gut and start in area A where you’ve done well in the past. But after you start fishing this area on tournament day with little to no success, you start to question your decision.

Now confusion or panic sets in and you really start thinking too much! So, then you decide to fall back to plan B to try and salvage the day and just make a good showing.

Too much knowledge on any body of water can be detrimental to putting a good game plan together and is the fear of every angler who fishes their home water, especially in a big event.

Sometimes you’re better off throwing history out the window and approach the lake like you would any body of water you’ve never fished before. This is why scouting before an event is so important. Pay attention to what the fish are doing at that particular time and make your game plan around that.

All anglers at some point make fishing complicated. We tend to try and outsmart the fish and end up outsmarting ourselves. While I’m not sure who said it, but the words “keep it simple stupid” are very fitting for bass anglers!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

How in the World are These Guys Doing It?

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:08:56 GMT

How in the World are These Guys Doing It?

Nothing is harder to swallow than when a younger athlete comes along and replaces the older more experienced player. Egos are shattered and feelings are sometimes hurt. No athlete likes to be put out to pasture. But in today’s bass fishing universe, that’s exactly what’s happening!

To say the young guns of bass fishing have arrived would be an understatement! No matter what sport you play, there comes a day when someone wants to take your spot. They respect you because of your experience and time you’ve given to the game, but they are the ones pushing you out of the sport you love.

Today, a younger generation is making its mark on the sport of tournament bass fishing by utterly dominating tournaments with catches that no one has ever seen before. This past month a young buck, Andrew Rickman, 24 years old from Canton, Texas, made his presence felt by catching a record setting B.A.S.S. Nation record of 95 lbs. 15 ounces over a three-day period.

Now to some this may not resonate, especially if you’re not familiar with tournament bass fishing. But what this young man did is nothing short of incredible! Maybe this will help you understand; he caught 15 bass over the three days and averaged over 6 lbs. per fish. Something that has never been done before in tournament competition.

What makes this more amazing is the fact that he had never seen or fished Toledo Bend in his entire life! Most anglers could add up three years of tournament catches and not even come close to 95 lbs. of bass. This kid did it in three days with zero experience on the lake!

It’s just another testament to how good so many of these young anglers are. They are doing things and catching fish in ways the older generation of anglers have never dreamed of.

One thing that is very noticeable about the young anglers of today; they spend a tremendous amount of time on the water learning new techniques and studying their electronic units like Forward-Facing Sonar so they can get better.

So many of these young anglers (due to forward-facing sonar) have been unfairly labeled as “scopers only”. But it’s a little unfair to put a blanket label over all of them because so many have been raised with old school techniques and can catch bass with or without Forward Facing Sonar.

To put a bow on this topic, if changes or FFS restrictions are not made with regards to bass tournaments, I highly suggest that the older anglers spend more time on the water learning how to use FFS during the off season and less time in the deer stand if they want to be competitive with the young guns that are on the rise in the bass tournament world.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Shhhh… Don’t Tell Anybody!

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:07:41 GMT

Shhhh… Don’t Tell Anybody!

No one has more secrets than bass fishermen, especially tournament bass fishermen! If you’re an angler fishing for bass, crappie or anything else, there are certain things you never reveal. For bass tournament anglers, it’s considered a cardinal sin to reveal how and where you’re catching bass. Since the beginning of competitive bass fishing, anglers have always been very secretive about what they know.

So why are anglers sworn to such secrecy and not telling others about what they do and how they do it? Well one example would be, it’s about finding fish and making sure other anglers don’t figure out where their secret locations are.

For tournament bass fishermen, the practice of being hush hush has gone on forever. The problem is some anglers can’t find their own fish and will resort to whatever means necessary to poach another angler’s location.

One thing that separates a great angler from an average one is their ability to find bass. Guys that develop this skill have a major advantage over those that can’t. Some anglers who are desperate will pay other anglers or fishing guides for waypoints and locations that hold bass.

Some anglers are very tight lipped about where and how they are catching fish. Forever, anglers have exercised their right to remain silent about information that someone can use against them in a tournament.

So why are anglers so compelled to withhold this valuable information or sometimes try and mislead other anglers they are competing against with false information?

First, it’s the money and prizes anglers are fishing for today. Some tournaments offer cash payouts while others offer both cash and prizes like a new bass boat! Isn’t it funny how when there’s money involved, morals and ethics go out the window.

Several circuits have high payouts with the winner taking home $100,000 or more for a win. Also, if it’s a high-level tournament trail, it’s not just about the money, but it’s the points they can earn that allows them to qualify for a championship at the end of the season.

Pretty much every circuit has a points system that will reward anglers who finish in the circuit’s top 20 or 30 percent at the end of the regular season, with an opportunity to fish for a championship which has an even greater payout.

One thing that has been practiced forever on all tournament trails is the bond between small groups of anglers who, in most cases, room together on the road. These are guys that trust each other and feel confident that no matter what information they share, they know it won’t leave the group.

Now with this being said, there are a few exceptions on who an angler will tell where and how he is catching bass. The thing about tournament bass fishing is that it creates a comradery among a select few anglers who TRUST one another.

They trust the fact that while they might give away locations and how they are catching bass among each other, they know no one in their group will encroach on the location they have been told about during the tournament. But they will take this information and try to find a spot similar and catch their own fish.

This secrecy among anglers is what makes the sport of tournament bass fishing so unique, along with the comradery that is seen in only a few select sports.

But this trust or bond can be a problem if just one angler decides to go outside the group and share information they promised not to tell. It’s like a marriage, once the trust is broken, the relationship is over! Bass tournament anglers are no different!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Bass Tournament Anglers have Walked Away!

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:06:17 GMT

Bass Tournament Anglers have Walked Away!

I’ve always heard the saying that “some things never change,” but that would not be the case for bass tournaments. When you look back at tournament participation over the last 10 years, one thing is very apparent; anglers have walked away from bass tournaments.

Let’s look at some of the reasons that might explain why participation is down. But understand this, you can’t point your finger at just one reason. First and foremost, we are living in a different time as compared to the hay day of tournament bass fishing that was the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

After the conclusion of the COVID outbreak in 2021, for some reason tournament participation has gone south. Tournaments were at full strength during COVID as anglers were looking for an escape from isolation. Bass boat sales were out the roof nationwide with people retreating to the outdoors.

All the major tournament trails were filling up with a maximum number of entries anywhere from 200 to 300 boats or more. But a couple of years after COVID, for whatever reason, anglers quit showing up.

That was about the time forward-facing sonar became an issue. Nothing in the last 40 years has had as much controversial impact than forward-facing sonar.

Now I’m not pointing the finger at this alone because it may be just a coincidence that anglers were dropping out of tournaments. But for the last 5 years, anglers have come up with other reasons for not fishing competitively.

Some say it’s the economy, but I’m not totally buying into this idea. One thing about bass tournament anglers, they will do whatever it takes to make sure they can still compete even if it means selling their youngest child or their wife getting a second job in order to save enough money for them to fish the next tournament.

While I’m joking about them selling their youngest child, there is one thing that seems to be a common variable to anglers not showing up: gas prices! Back in 2014 when a tank of gas cost you an arm and a leg ($4.00 a gallon), anglers decided to park their high dollar bass boats.

While gas prices can have an influence on whether anglers fish or not, presently we are once again on the verge of anglers parking their boats as gas prices continue to rise due to the war with Iran.

Here’s a major concern of mine that I think is having a negative effect on tournaments…cheaters! Over the last two years, there have been more anglers disqualified for rules violations and more people who have been caught cheating.

This has given the sport a black eye and is just another reason anglers are thinking twice before entering a tournament. They just don’t trust that someone is not cheating! Even on local weeknight shootouts, there have been anglers caught cheating just to win a couple hundred dollars.

So, even with all the reasons we’ve mentioned, one angler recently summed it up as to why tournament participation is down nationwide: “It’s just not fun anymore!”

Very few of us fish for a living and love tournaments because we enjoy the comradery and the competition. Most guys are perfectly happy if they just get a check to help cover their gas, hotel and food.

But it’s sad that we live in a world today where there will always be a couple of bad apples that can ruin it for everybody. I just hope that one day anglers can look forward to fishing a tournament and not have to worry if someone is cheating.

Hopefully the hay day of tournament bass fishing is not over. But it’s going to take time for some anglers to return to the sport they love. Tournament organizations are in a pickle today trying to figure out the formula that will encourage tournament anglers to return.

Every tournament trail is always attempting to get more anglers to enter their events. But their dilemma is trying to figure out who should be their target demographic group. Should they cater to the younger generation (18 to 34) or try to get the 35 and older anglers back? But there’s one key component they’ll need to factor in when getting more anglers to return; they must gain their trust again.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Choose Your Friends and Travel Partners Wisely

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:04:50 GMT

Choose Your Friends and Travel Partners Wisely

I was always told as a kid growing up that you are judged by the company you keep. In other words, it’s important that you choose your friends wisely. This is also important when it comes to tournament bass fishing.

In each tournament, especially multi-day events, it’s important to have the right guys in the house you’re staying in. Guys that you trust and have the same moral and ethical values as yourself. Anglers that will come to your rescue on and off the lake if you have a problem.

Over the years I have fished all over the south and I have chosen who I travel with very carefully. There are several traits that make good roommates on the road. First and foremost, you have to trust the people you’re sharing a house with. I’m not talking about stealing or tearing the place up, but a person who when he says something, you can trust he’s telling the truth.

Now some guys like to share information, but you must be careful and proceed with caution with the info you receive even from the guys you’re staying with. There are anglers that will lead you astray and send you down a rabbit hole just to eliminate you from being in contention.

Understand this, bass fishermen are a different breed of people and love nothing more than winning. Oh, we all hope everyone in the house does well, but rest assured, each one of us wants to win!

The next trait I’m looking for in a good roommate on the road is attitude. Nothing is worse than having a guy in the house that has a poor attitude or rubs people the wrong way. It can make for a very long week of fishing when there’s one guy who the rest of the house can’t stand.

There are some guys that are always negative and like to drag others down with them. Fortunately for me, I’ve never had that experience before. But that’s because I choose the guys I’m traveling with very carefully.

The final thing that is very important in a good housemate is if he is financially stable. This can be a problem if one guy can’t pull their weight and pony up the money necessary to take care of house expenses.

I’ve always said, “If you can’t afford the expenses involved in tournament fishing like house rent, food, boat gas, entry fees, insurance etc., then you don’t need to be fishing tournaments!”

No one, and I mean no one, has been as fortunate as I have when it comes to great housemates on the road. I have never had one angler that I would say, “He’ll never stay with me again!”

For the last ten years the guys who have been a part of our road crew are Brett Hortman, Walt Stevens, Adrian James, Brennan Flick and Cole Garrett. These guys are as good as gold and guys that I have nothing but great respect for. Not one time have we had an issue with anyone in the house. I’ve also had the privilege of staying with Albert Collins and Clayton Boulware who are both great anglers but even better people.

We’ve all had some great tournaments and some that weren’t so good. But the one thing I always knew, I could trust each and every one of them no matter what. Whether it was fixing a flat tire or making repairs on our boats, I could always count on these guys.

I always felt that if one of us was in contention to win, the rest of the house would help in any way we could. Finding guys like these is hard today with so many anglers fishing selfishly.

To wrap this up, if you’re a young angler and getting into tournament bass fishing, choose who you travel with wisely because it will give great peace of mind knowing that if you have a problem, one of your guys will go out of their way to help you.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Close Encounter with Mother Nature!

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:03:36 GMT

A Close Encounter with Mother Nature!

There have been a few close calls for me while fishing the big waters of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn. Each of these bodies of water are completely different in terms of how rough and dangerous each can be, whether it’s due to high winds or approaching storms. But one thing is the same; they will both scare you to death.

Over the years, I’ve had several close encounters that had me kissing the ground once I could put my feet on dry land. Even with these two lakes being close to each other as the crow flies, navigation for boaters can be totally different due to the fact that one has boat lanes and the other is pretty much wide open.

Let’s start with Toledo Bend. Geographically, this lake runs true north and south. So, a wind coming straight out of the south or directly from the north can make for extremely rough boat rides. Even a north or south wind of 5 to 10 MPH can have this body of water rocking and rolling.

Sam Rayburn, on the other hand, is a different kind of lake in that it runs northwest to southeast. Meaning if you get a strong northwest or southeast wind, navigation can be really tough. But wind in any other direction allows anglers to run one side of the lake or the other and avoid rough water because there are no boat lanes you have to run like you do on Toledo Bend.

The problem with Toledo Bend is the fact that you must run the pre-charted boat lanes due to all the underwater stumps and debris that engulf this entire 72-mile-long waterway. Once you get out of the boat lanes you must idle to ensure safe boating navigation.

But this also puts you at the mercy of Mother Nature and limits your ability to ride the waves that make navigation easier. Nothing is worse than driving your boat and going with the waves rather than against them.

When possible, it’s always easier to go against the waves which can sometimes allow you to run from one wave (once on plane) to the next if the crest of each wave is not too far apart.

I had one trip a few years ago that turned into one of the worst boat rides of my life. The tournament I was fishing was going out of Fin & Feather Resort on the south end of Toledo Bend. On this particular morning it was blue bird skies with zero wind in the pocket we were taking off from.

But oh, how quickly things changed! Unbeknownst to any of us fishing this event, there was a strong 20 to 25 MPH wind dead out of the south that morning and when you reached the main lake boat road to head either north or south, you were met with 3- and 4-foot rolling waves.

It was so rough that anglers were losing rods and reels and anything on their boats that was not tied down. It was so bad all day that some anglers lost either a trolling motor or their electronic screens off the bow of their boats as they ran back in for weigh-in.

I personally had fish located in the back of Negreet Creek on the Louisiana side of Toledo Bend and realized quickly that there was no way I was going across the lake in that kind of wind!

Like so many other anglers that day, I quickly switched to plan B in order to try and salvage my tournament day by pulling into the first cove I came to. I was simply going to fish new water and try and catch a solid limit of bass.

My co-angler for the day asked me if I had ever fished in this pocket before. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “No, but take a good look at it because you’re going to see it all day.”

Then around 1:00 that afternoon, it was time to start thinking about heading in for the weigh-in at 3:00 even though we were only 2 miles from the boat ramp. I was thinking it would take at least an hour, as the wind was now getting worse blowing 30 mph still out of the south.

As I came out of the pocket and tried getting the boat up on plane, it was very apparent that this was not going to be possible and that the only way to make it back was to idle the entire two miles.

One hour and 30 minutes later, we finally made it back to the weigh-in with only a few minutes to spare before we would have been given a late penalty which was 1 pound for every minute you were late.

I actually did better than I thought I would as I weighed-in a little over 15 pounds and finished in the Top 15 for the day. But there were a lot of sad faces back at the ramp as guys loaded their boats, short a few rods and reels, along with trolling motors hanging off or electronics completely gone off their boats.

Tournament directors today have a very difficult job and are very conscious of sending anglers out on a body of water with either high winds predicted or the forecast of severe weather rolling in on tournament day.

I know some anglers get frustrated when these directors make the call to cancel or postpone an event, but they’re just doing what is in the best interest of the anglers and making sure everyone gets back to their loved ones safely. After all, we do this for fun, not for a living!!!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Dog Days of Summertime Bass Fishing!

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:02:04 GMT

The Dog Days of Summertime Bass Fishing!

If you have ever experienced a summer bass tournament, then you understand the downside of one of these events- IT’S HOT! As a kid, I loved summertime, but as an adult I probably dread this time of year more than any other.

I’ve always said that I would rather fish on a 30-degree day than a 95-degree day. Why? Because I can put enough clothes on to stay warm in the winter, but I can’t take enough clothes off to cool down in the summer.

Early mornings are usually not as bad, as temperatures will range from 75 to 80 degrees. Then as the morning warms up, by 10:00 you’re starting into the hot zone of 88 to 90 degrees. Then around noon, you’re looking at 90 to 95 degrees and starting to fry like a Natchitoches Meat Pie!

Sweat is now running down your back and into places we won’t mention. It’s dripping off your nose every time you bend over to lip a fish or change a bait. You have now entered the “miserable zone” of summertime fishing.

The problem is there’s no shade to retreat to unless you’re lucky enough to find a bridge somewhere on the lake. But the problem with bridges is that’s where all the crappie fishermen are as they too are retreating to shade.

But there are ways to help you stay cool, or should I say cooler, depending on how you dress. First, a good wide brim hat is a must to help keep the sun and it’s intense UV rays off your head and neck region.

Next, a long sleeve hooded shirt with built in UV protection like the ones I wear produced by Columbia Sportwear. They offer a variety of great UV protection shirts, but there’s one I wear that it is truly unique; it’s made from plastic water bottles and is called the Columbia Omni Shade!

This shirt is like wearing an air conditioner, especially when you crank the big engine and run across the lake. It has a way of cooling you down quickly and giving you much needed relief from the heat all while protecting you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Even when you’re not running across the lake, just a slight breeze will help to cool you down with these shirts.

Next, I wear long lightweight pants from both HUK Apparel and Columbia that also have built-in UV protection. The key to staying cooler on those upper 90-degree days is keeping the direct sunlight off the skin.

Now most people can’t comprehend or even imagine wearing long sleeves or long pants on a hot summer day and I used to be one of those guys. But ever since my Melanoma diagnosis in 2023, I have come to realize that long sleeves and long pants not only help me to stay cooler but also protect me from the sun’s UV rays.

While I still hate fishing a tournament on hot summer days, I have found ways to cope with those high temperatures from June through August.

I’ve also found that I maintain a better concentration level throughout the day by wearing clothes to help keep me cool. Nothing is worse when fishing than being too cold, too wet or too hot, as it can make for a long miserable day. Till next time, good luck and good fishing!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Changes Must Be Made to Save Dying Industry

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:00:21 GMT

Changes Must Be Made to Save Dying Industry

Right now, the world of tournament bass fishing has reached a crossroads. If the powers that be (tournament organizations) do not address the key issues that have created this massive drop off in tournament participation, the entire fishing industry is on the verge of collapse.

Now this may sound a little harsh, and maybe a little over blown, but the time has come to save an industry that needs saving. Bass tournaments, no matter how you look at them, are a necessary avenue for product invention and promotion.

This is how the fishing industry gets the word out about a new lure, or any product related to bass fishing. No other group has the power of promotion more than tournament anglers all across the country, and even the world, simply by word of mouth.

Look at Japan and how it has impacted the bass fishing community. No other country has been more creative and responsible for new lures and techniques than the Japanese. They have sent their best anglers to America for the sole purpose of promoting their market and the products they produce.

How have they done it? By winning tournaments here in America. It seems like every year a new Japanese angler arrives on one of the high-level tours and has an immediate impact either by winning or finishing very high in every tournament.

But getting back to the problem at hand, why has tournament participation dropped like the stock market crash of 1929? It hasn’t just fallen off a little, it has plummeted! Anglers have literally walked away overnight with zero signs of them coming back.

So how can we fix the problem? First, we must recognize the problem before we can figure out how to correct it. It’s similar to an alcoholic; they have to realize they have a problem before they can fix it.

Anglers leaving the sport they’ve loved so much basically started right after the COVID 19 pandemic. But during this time tournament participation was high with most events running full fields of 200 boats or more. Today those same events are drawing less than 100 boats while others have lost over two thirds of their participation.

Also boat sales during COVID exploded to the point that there were one year waiting lists for all major bass boat brands. Manufacturers struggled to build bass boats fast enough to satisfy the demand.

So, what happened after COVID and why did tournament anglers load their high dollar bass boats and go home never to return? Well, there’s only one thing that’s had a major impact on the bass fishing world – the invention of Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS)! Bingo!

This hit the bass fishing market like nothing else ever has. Just like American politics, it has also divided us as consumers! Not just a little bit either, anglers around the country continue to argue over the negative impact FFS has placed on our bass fisheries. Some issues have been substantiated, and others are now considered myths.

Most anglers will agree that forward-facing sonar has been a tremendous invention that has totally changed the bass fishing world. But the true anglers that are considered to be purist, feel that this new technology has no place in bass tournaments.

The PGA Golf Tour has faced similar technology issues lately with better golf clubs and golf balls that are flying farther than ever before. These advancements have caused major concerns for the PGA Tour and even causing certain golf courses to become obsolete.

So, the PGA Tour decided to implement new restrictions on manufacturers and how far golf balls can fly. They did this for the good of sport and the future of the sport. Maybe B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF) need to take a page from the PGA Tour.

Let’s take away FFS for all bass tournament competitions and get back to using acquired skills anglers need to have in order to compete at the highest level. You don’t have to eliminate it totally; allow anglers to use it for practice only. But it has no place on the professional level and should be eliminated on tournament day.

The biggest concern at this time is with the lower entry-level tournaments like the BFL’s, Toyota Series and the Bassmaster Opens. Is it too late to make changes or eliminate FFS for tournaments on the lower levels?

Not really. Every year tournament organizations make changes to their rules, and this would be no different. I just hope the powers that be (B.A.S.S. and MLF) wake up and do the right thing for 2027 in order to save a dying industry, that being tournament bass fishing!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Cheaters Have No Place in Bass Tournaments!

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:58:49 GMT

Cheaters Have No Place in Bass Tournaments!

For some reason ever since someone came up with the concept of competition, man has always looked for a way to gain a competitive edge even if it means cheating! In any contest, there are rules and just like records, some feel that rules are made to be broken. Today, we are going to look at some of the worse bass tournament cheaters to ever wet a hook, and how these incidents should be handled.

Years ago, an angler got caught cheating in a bass tournament on Lake of the Pines called the KYKX Big Bass Splash. In one tournament when the polygraph examiner questioned if the catch was legit, he was unsure on whether to pass or fail the guy. So, the tournament director decided to award him with the victory despite questions surrounding his catch.

Then the following year, the same angler was in position to win again but this time the polygraph examiner failed him. Then a man came forward and told the tournament director how and where this angler was getting his fish.

He was pulling his bass out of a basket under a dock just before weigh-in. Convicted of fraud, this guy paid a price with a prison sentence and a heavy fine.

Then there was the story of Elro McNeil who, in 1983, tried to weigh-in a bass that he purchased from Florida. It was rejected, but the bass was then frozen and thawed at his Louisiana home before being turned over to another angler for weigh-in at a Tyler Texas tournament.

The saddest part of this story was that one of the anglers involved in this elaborate scheme was found shot to death at his favorite fishing hole. At first it was considered a murder, but it was later ruled a suicide.

But what may be the best cheating scheme ever was orchestrated by Japanese angler, Yuming Gao, a few weeks ago during a Bassmaster Open. This dude took cheating to another level as he was placing air tags inside other angler’s bass boats so he could track them and learn where they were catching their fish.

The one thing I’ve learned over my many years of seeing guys that cheat in bass tournaments is, most of the time, it wasn’t about the money they could win, but more about their ego and wanting to be recognized as one of the best bass fishermen in their region.

As an angler, the only thing you have is your name. Once you cheat and get caught, not only is your fishing career over, but you’ve now lost the reputation you had as a person.

All anglers want to be recognized as one of the best, especially on whatever tournament trail they are fishing. But for some, the need to cheat can be so strong that no matter what the consequences are they just can’t stand winning the right way. I guess they think they won’t get caught… until they do.

But here’s the deal; if you’re an angler looking to bend the rules in order to gain a competitive advantage, you’re already a loser! You have no place in tournament bass fishing, and I hope the next time you decide to cheat, the hands of justice come down on you with both prison time and a hefty fine, along with a lifetime ban from all fishing tournaments.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Just When You Think You Have It All Figured Out

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:57:35 GMT

Just When You Think You Have It All Figured Out

I don’t care what sport you play, there comes a day when the Gods of that sport will humble you. So many times, as an athlete, we think we have everything figured out. We think we know more than anyone else and that we are invincible. We have the attitude “you can’t beat me!”

That’s when we get a little too comfortable in our own skin and things start to unravel and go south. For bass tournament anglers, you never know when that day will be coming. But rest assured, it will happen!

My humbling moment has occurred more than once in my 30-year fishing career but there is one that stands out more than any other. It took place about five years ago on Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma/Texas border during one of those late February events with temperatures in the upper 20’s and lower 30’s.

Over the years, I’ve had several tournaments on Lake Texoma and have done well there in the past. It’s a lake that I feel very comfortable with. I have a lot of confidence each time I drop my boat in the water at this famed Oklahoma/ Texas fishery.

If you’re angler who likes to power fish with buzz baits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits, Texoma is the place for you. But there are times when you will question if there’s any bass in this lake as the fishing can get really tough.

On one of my recent trips to this impoundment, I found out firsthand just how tough Texoma can be. I was preparing for a three day event while pre-fishing in some very frigid temperatures. To say that the bite was tough would be a huge understatement.

As day 1 of practice began, I knew that the only way I was going to get a bite was by slowing down my presentation. Bass is cold water conditions are very lethargic and slow to react to a bait.

Well at the end of practice on day 1, I had absolutely nothing figured out as I put my boat back on trailer after a long 9-hour day with zero bites. That’s right, I had zero bites the entire day!

So day two brought the same cold temperatures but sunny skies as daytime temperatures rose into the upper 40’s. So I thought with temperatures warming as the day went on, that maybe there would be a good afternoon bite. Well my thinking was wrong as I once again as I loaded my boat on day 2 of practice with zero bites.

That’s right, I had fished for a total of 18-hours and had yet to set the hook on a single fish! So, as I laid in bed that night, I thought that maybe I need to speed up my presentation and throw some type of reaction bait like a rattle-trap which is very popular during cold weather tournaments.

Well as the final day of practice rolled around, I was actually a little excited and was looking forward to trying something different. So I tied on a ¼ oz SPRO Aruku Shad in the popular chrome with a blue back. When I say I threw the paint off that bait, I mean I stayed committed to my plan and never put it down pretty much all day long.

But as only the bass fishing Gods can explain, I once again came off the lake 9 hours later with zero bites! At this point, now I’m as frustrated as I’ve ever been going into day 1 of a tournament.

To cut this article short, I’ll just go ahead and tell you that over the next two days of tournament competition, I had one bite and never caught a single fish I could weigh-in.

For the first time in my tournament career, I fished on a body of water I’m very familiar with and caught only one bass over 5 consecutive days!

So, for all those up-and-coming anglers, listen up, if you fish tournaments, there will come a day when you question if you really know anything about how to catch a bass.

With this frustration, you might even want to sell everything you own that’s related to bass fishing! But hang in there as sooner or later, grey skies will fade, and sunshine will return as you catch bass like never before.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Bait that Turned the Bass Fishing World Upside Down

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:55:56 GMT

A Bait that Turned the Bass Fishing World Upside Down

All our lives we’ve heard people say, “I was there when” Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record. I was there when Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in a World Series game. I was there when Dale Earnhardt crashed in turn four and died at the Daytona 500. Well, there was one event that I can say “I was there when” one particular fishing bait was introduced to the bass fishing world.

It was on Lake Okeechobee in 2006 when the concept of a new bait took bass fishing by storm….the ChatterBait! This was a bait that has become a staple for all bass tournament anglers. It’s a combination of two of the best baits ever made, a jig and a spinnerbait.

It’s a skirted jig with a small blade attached to the head of the bait. It has an unbelievable vibrating action that bass cannot refuse. Over the last 20 years, there have probably been more bass caught on this bait than any other.

I remember the day that I first heard about this new bait. I was fishing an FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee in South Florida and the word was out about this new bait that was catching bass like crazy.

Anglers were scrambling to get their hands on just one of these baits! Some guys would pay as much as one hundred dollars to get one. But for this event, Roland Martin Marina was the only tackle store where you could get one. Every day for three straight days I walked into this store and every time all the pegs were empty.

Finally with only one day left in the tournament, I asked Mrs. Mary Ann Martin (Roland’s wife) to please put one back for me and I would pick it up after I weighed my fish on the final day.

Turns out pro angler Bryan Thrift, in his first professional bass tournament, won this event and the ChatterBait craze began. For a couple of years, he tried to keep his secret bait under wraps but the folks that make the ChatterBait asked that he please let the cat out of the bag.

It was on stage during that FLW Tournament weigh-in on Lake Okeechobee that Bryan introduced the world to this revolutionary bait. From this event in 2006 up till today, there’s probably not a single bass angler on a body of water that does not have some form of the ChatterBait tied on.

The company behind this bait is known as Z-Man and they have not only perfected this bait over the years but have come out with more versions. One thing about the fishing business; it’s a copycat industry, as other companies have tried to emulate this bait, but none have had the impact of the original ChatterBait.

While Z-Man has a patent on this bait protecting their blade design, there are other brands on the market that have had a little success, but no one has been able to capture that same magic that a ChatterBait produces.

While it’s not often that many of us can say “I was there when” a special moment took place, I was actually there when one of the greatest bass fishing lures hit market….. the ChatterBait!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Regrets and Joys in Life

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:54:05 GMT

Regrets and Joys in Life

We’ve all heard the words, “You need to stop and smell the roses.” Which actually means we need to take the time to enjoy the moment. We need to be mentally present. Some of the best times in our lives are not always moments of fireworks going off.

Sometimes it’s those less important events that we get just as much joy out of. Today, I’ll go over a few events in my life that I truly cherish, along with some I regret.

Looking back, there was one moment of regret which occurred during my Little League days. Even though I played all sports, I was also a dedicated Boy Scout. Being a scout during the 1970’s was very common for a young boy.

But the one regret I have is the fact that I was one project away from becoming an Eagle Scout and never completed it. This is the highest achievement a scout can earn. It means a lot to become an Eagle Scout and looks good on a job resume. It gets the attention of an employer looking to hire you as it shows your ability to commit to a task and follow through.

I’ll admit that my baseball career, which was more important to me at that time, got in the way of my accomplishing the goal of receiving an Eagle Scout badge.

One event that’s given me a lifetime of both pride and joy was being a member of the 1978 Class 3A State Baseball Championship team. I think anytime you can share the experience of winning a state title, especially with your closest friends, it just means more.

I can remember our head coach giving us a post-game speech after winning the state title. He said that this victory would mean more to us later in life than it did that day. How right he was!

That Texas state title whet my appetite for wanting another one the next year. But nothing is harder than defending a state championship and regretfully we came up one game short of a repeated trip to the state tournament.

Another joy also comes with some regret. The day I got drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1983 brought so much joy. But after two seasons of playing in their minor league system, it was very apparent I had zero chance to make it to the major league level with the Expos.

Montreal at the time had three MLB All-Stars playing in their outfield with Tim Rains, Andre Dawson and Warren Cromartie which may have been the best outfield in Major League Baseball at that time. There was no room to move up in the organization unless one of these three got hurt or traded. But my regret after leaving the Expos, was turning down a double A contract from the San Francisco Giants extending my baseball career.

While sports have been a huge part of my life, nothing has given me as much joy as bass fishing. As a kid growing up on a ranch, there was no shortage of stock ponds to fish. I basically learned on my own, along with reading Bassmaster Magazine, on how to catch bass.

I have spent hundreds of days fishing the banks of 5 different stock ponds loaded with good bass. I was always so proud to bring a stringer full of bass back home for a good fish fry.

Tournament bass fishing has given me much joy over the past 36 years especially with all the friends I have met and shared so many good times with while fishing tournament trails over a span of 36 years and fishing some of the best lakes in the country.

Another joy in my life has been the creation of the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show. This was a brainstorm of mine back in 2007 that I felt was much needed. Nineteen years later, the show is still going strong! Each week for 52 weeks out of the year I get to sit and talk about issues related to God’s great outdoors. But it’s my relationship with my two other co-hosts, Gary McCoy and Mike Echols, that makes doing the program so enjoyable.

But my greatest joy came the day I signed a scholarship to continue my athletic career/education to Northwestern State University where I met Sherrie, my wife of 44 years. We then celebrated the births of our three children Brittany, Meredith and Brandon.

To this day, the raising of these three blessings has been my greatest accomplishment and one that has ZERO regrets!

Each of us has so many events or situations over the course of a lifetime that we can look back on with either joy or regret. As life continues to give us both good and bad times, just the fact that we are still waking up every day means we have so much joy to look forward to, and hopefully no regrets.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

You’ll Need to Get a Job

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:52:49 GMT

You’ll Need to Get a Job

As a youngster growing up, my parents fully supported my athletic career. But they also believed in hard work and understood that free time for a teenage boy was not a good thing. To say my teenage years were structured would be an understatement.

While they never kept me from playing whatever sport I wanted to play, they had a rule that if I was not playing a sport, I had to get a job after school and on Saturdays. Now our family was in no way desperate for money as my dad was superintendent for an oil drilling company.

They wanted me to understand the benefits of a good work ethic. At the age of 10 my first job outside the family ranch was picking up trash on the mornings following all the baseball games the night before.

They believed that many of life’s lessons were learned through working. For me personally, I understood early in my childhood what a good work ethic was while growing up on a cattle ranch where there’s never a shortage of things to do.

Jobs that included, but not limited to, building barns, vaccinating cattle, building fences and hauling hay. Owning a cattle ranch is a seven day a week job that requires a lot of commitment and dedication. It’s like raising kids; everyday someone must do a head count while making sure they are fed.

My last three years of high school, I had a job that I really enjoyed, working at Foxworth-Galbreath Lumber Yard. While I played three sports in high school, football, baseball and track, it was during basketball season that I worked at the lumber yard after school.

I learned a lot from that experience like how important it is to be on time. It was good that I answered to someone who held me accountable. I learned about the different grades of lumber and plywood as well as inventory control and how a lumber yard is managed.

This also gave me a sense of independence as the job provided dating and gas money. It taught me how to be responsible and how important people- skills are in order to work with others. It also motivated me to continue my education and get a degree.

These are lessons that many of today’s younger generation have not mastered. Many of today’s youth have no idea what it’s like to work for what they have. To answer to someone else who doesn’t accept excuses for being late or not doing the job right.

Every job I ever had, and I’ve had my share, taught me something. In high school and college, I not only worked at a lumber yard, but I also worked construction with Brown & Root, unloaded box trucks for a shipping company at 4:00 AM each day, lined fields and kept the books for Dixie Youth games every night and was an engineer’s assistant for the Texas Highway Department.

Each one of these job opportunities taught me a lot. But the most important lesson it taught me was accountability, which is an important ingredient for being successful in life. So, if you’re looking for a purpose in life, maybe you need to get a job!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Another Bass Tournament Disqualification to Start the 2026 Season!

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:51:29 GMT

Another Bass Tournament Disqualification to Start the 2026 Season!

Well, here we go again! Only a month and a half into the new year and controversy prevails in the bass tournament world. After a 2025 season full of controversy and one disqualification after another, in the first tournament of the year on Sam Rayburn, once again we have another disqualified winner. As a tournament angler myself, I’m not even sure I can put this into words.

Are you kidding me? Why and how does the BFL (Cowboy Division) season start off with someone breaking the rules? I would say I’m surprised, but with so many disqualifications this past season, I’m not.

I’m beyond the shock value of someone getting caught cheating or failing a polygraph. This was something that basically never happened from when I started tournament fishing (1990) till 2020. But over the last 6 years, it’s becoming the norm, especially in 2025.

So many anglers today either can’t read or they’re just plain dumb. Tournament bass fishing is not a difficult sport to understand. It’s really quite simple; as an angler all you have to do is READ THE RULES!

I have been a part of the tournament bass fishing world for over 30 years and never have I seen so many rule breakers and cheaters! Anglers who are willing to do whatever it takes to get into the winner’s circle or cash a check.

The sport has become a “win at all costs” mentality. But what’s making me nervous is there seems to be a trend that’s taking place in ALL bass tournament circuits nationwide. Is this a reflection on our society or just the fact that so many anglers feel the odds are in their favor when it comes to NOT getting caught?

Some bass fishing trails offer random polygraphs to a handful of anglers in the tournament no matter what their place of finish is. It’s normal for the first-place angler to take a polygraph while other anglers are selected at random by computer.

There are some organizations that don’t offer polygraph testing due to the cost involved with paying an examiner. These are events that I tend to shy away from, as I’ve seen first-hand that there are anglers out there that will cheat even on a local weeknight 3-hour tournament for a $200 first place prize.

On a sadder note, one angler this past year got caught cheating in a Fisher’s of Men tournament! An organization that is basically an outreach program to bring anglers closer to Christ.

If you asked those who have cheated why they did it, if they’re honest, I’ll bet it wasn’t just about the money, but more about being recognized as one of the best anglers in their region. Like so many other athletes in sports, it’s all about their ego!

Now understand this, there is a difference between a cheater and rule breaker. Not all violations fall under the category of cheaters. For example, all anglers are required to wear a lifejacket when the big engine is running or the boat is on plane so, if an angler forgets to put on his lifejacket while running from point A to point B, he’s not cheating, but rather he has broken a rule.

Webster defines a “cheater” as someone who violates rules dishonestly. Bass Tournament organizations define it as someone who knowingly decided to break a rule on purpose with the intent of gaining a competitive advantage.

So, where are we in terms of getting rid of the cheaters in a bass tournament? First, there must be severe consequences for those that choose to cheat instead of playing by the rules.

Second, tournament organizations and judges must make examples out of these lowlifes by prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. After all, once they walk across that stage and receive a check, they’ve just committed fraud.

It’s also up the angler’s themselves to help police these bass tournaments by reporting anything they see that would be considered breaking a rule or cheating during the tournament.

If you see suspicious activity like an angler putting fish in a basket under a dock or you find bass that have been tied to a stump on a shallow flat, make sure to report all suspicious activity to the tournament director immediately.

We can only hope that one day anglers will show more integrity and honesty by following the rules. After all, it’s only a bass tournament, not a matter of life and death.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Days of the Average Angler Making It Are Gone

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:50:02 GMT

The Days of the Average Angler Making It Are Gone

Lately, during the extremely cold weather that we experienced a couple of weeks ago, I took some time to watch a few fishing podcasts. There are a handful of programs that I follow from top anglers within the world of professional bass fishing.

One of these is “After the Cast” with Major League Fishing pros Andy Montgomery, Edwin Evers and Ott DeFoe, strong personalities and great reputations for not only being outstanding anglers, but good Christians.

Their podcast is a behind the scenes look at the daily rigors that tournament anglers go through from the travel they face, to practice and tournament days.

But they’ll also sit down and talk about hot topics going on in bass fishing. They’re not afraid to voice their opinions and share their thoughts which makes the podcast very interesting to watch.

Another podcast I follow is “Zaldangerous,” also known as “The Bilge,” a program with Elite Series angler and Texas pro Chris Zaldain and his wife, Trait. Now these two do not shy away from controversial topics and are not afraid to challenge the establishments of B.A.S.S. or Major League Fishing (MLF) when it comes to rules violations or recent decisions that have been made with regards to a tournament organization.

Both podcasts, “After the Cast” and “Zaldangerous,” are programs that anyone would enjoy. They’re both great at shedding light on the hot topics in professional bass fishing while discussing possible solutions.

These are people “living the dream” by fishing for a living. They travel like gypsies and caravan across the country, fishing the best fisheries in America. They discuss today’s angler and how to navigate the demands of professional bass fishing.

But their biggest concern is trying to provide for their families as a pro fisherman. So many of today’s anglers face obstacles that previous generations did not. First and foremost, how to navigate social media. This is a problem the older generation of anglers never had to deal with.

All three professional bass tournament organizations required that all anglers participate in social media. This can be in many forms like a podcast, Facebook page, You Tube videos, Tik Tok or maybe an Instagram account.

In today’s business world, it's important that anglers have a social media presence as a way of promoting sponsor product and themselves as well. Of course, we all know that social media can be a place of controversy with people who are looking to discredit or cast blame on others for a particular situation.

Having a great social media presence is all about how many “clicks” or “likes” you’re getting with the posts you’re making. A really good account can translate into valuable dollars. It’s also another avenue where anglers can make money to help supplement their income.

But here’s a question, can the average angler make it as a professional bass fisherman today? The biggest issue facing anglers today are with sponsors; there just are not enough to go around. Sponsors are a critical part of how anglers make a living and provide for their families. Tournament winnings are just a bonus for anglers and are not factored into their annual budgets.

The fishing industry in general is just not big enough to support all the anglers looking to fish professionally. Most are stretched very thin with regards to how many anglers they can afford to sponsor.

The industry is spread very thin on sponsorship dollars with there being three major professional bass fishing organizations including Major League Fishing (MLF), B.A.S.S. and the new National Professional Fishing League (NPFL).

Anglers today are having to think outside the box and look at nonendemic companies that may have never had a presence in the bass fishing market.

Back during the old FLW days (2000 to 2012), there was Walmart, Land of Lakes, Kellogg’s, Snickers, Castro Motor Oil and many more that sank huge amounts of money into many of the old FLW Tour anglers.

But ever since the demise of the FLW Tour around 2012, these sponsors have chosen to walk away and are no longer interested in this market, leaving a huge sponsorship void for anglers to pursue.

Less sponsors means a bigger strain on angler’s budgets as they try to navigate the costs involved with making a living as a professional angler.

Bottom line is this, with a shortage of sponsors it makes it very difficult for the average angler to participate on the professional level. It’s sad but it’s starting to look like only those anglers who have money, have a good financial support system like mom or dad, or wealthy grandparents will be the anglers who can compete on bass fishing’s highest level.

As the old saying goes, “Money can’t buy happiness,” but it can buy you a spot on a bass pro tour!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Lessons We Learn Through Sports

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:48:15 GMT

The Lessons We Learn Through Sports

Over the years of playing both baseball and football, along with fishing tournaments, so many of my life’s lesson have come from participating in sports. Some lessons we learn the hard way and some we learn through experience. Today, we’ll look at a couple of lessons I learned even when things didn’t always go the way I wanted.

This first lesson I learned came very early in my baseball career. In my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, my baseball playing days started at the age of 7 in what was called Pee Wee League.

Spending my first summer (1968) in MP with my aunt and uncle, we lived on the west side of the town. It was an awesome neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Every day we played baseball on a sandlot or on one of the neighbor’s side yards. Several windows were broken during these summer battles and like most kids our age, trouble wasn’t far behind.

Then the day came for Pee Wee League tryouts. There were six teams in the league with a lot of very good players. This is where a man by the name of Coach James Stansell shaped and instilled confidence in me to be the best baseball player I could be.

The day before tryouts, he asked me to pull back during the evaluation. He wanted me to “look bad” so that other coaches would not draft me onto their team. Being the new kid on the block, he did not want the other coaches knowing the ability I had.

Now this was hard for me to go out and miss ground balls and look silly on fly balls as if I had never played before. But I played along and pretended I could not even throw a baseball much less catch one.

Well low and behold, Coach Stansell called later that night and told me that I was going to play for him and the Yankees!

The best part of all this was that our entire neighborhood, including my best friend Kevin, was going to be playing for the Yankees. And oh, how good we were! Over the course of two seasons, the Yankees went 24-0 for two straight years and won back-to-back city championships!

Then at the age of 9 it was time to move up to the next level called Minor League. But once again, there was a draft, and this time there was no fooling the coaches into thinking I could not play.

When it came to the draft, the team that finished last in the league the year before got the first pick of the draft, which meant that would be the Tigers.

Tigers Head Coach Ted Leach took advantage of this opportunity and picked me first in the draft. This was the last team I wanted to get picked by because they were horrible and for the previous two years hardly ever won a game.

When Coach Leach came to my house and told me I was his first pick, I wanted to cry but didn’t. They were absolutely the worst team every year! But he assured me that these Tigers were not going to be losers.

Then later that same night, Coach Stansell came by the house and explained how he was not able to draft me. But adding salt to the wound was the fact that Coach Stansell was able to get every Yankee player that went 24-0 over those two years, including my best friend (Kevin), to play for him and the Cardinals.

When he told me this, the tears began to flow, and I thought my world was coming to an end. How in the world was I going play without all my buddies? How was I going to face them daily on the sandlot while being the only player not on the Cardinals?

I was going to play for those losing Tigers while the Cardinals and all my friends would probably dominate the league and win the championship. I was crushed and did not know how to handle this. I was now the neighborhood outsider as a Tiger and not a Cardinal!

But this is where one of life’s lessons began to take shape. After my first practice with the Tigers, I realized that maybe we weren’t going to be that bad. In fact, we might actually be pretty darn good. This is when I took ownership and decided I would do whatever I could to help my team win.

Well low and behold, at the end of the season we played the Cardinals for the City Championship. We had one loss on that season and even won a game in the best of three championship series as I pitched and beat the Cardinals. But in the end, the Cardinals prevailed, and we finished league runner-up both years.

So, what was the lesson I learned? Things are never as bad or as good as you think they are. You must believe in yourself and always think you’re just as good as any player on the field. Believe that “you” can make a difference on whatever team you’re playing on. Go out, compete, and prove to yourself that you are and can be a winner no matter what team you’re on.

Over the years I’ve heard how kids quit playing a particular sport because they did not like the coach. This comment has always bothered me and one thing I’ve always told these kids and their parents is, “It doesn’t matter who the coach is, because you don’t play for the coach; you play for yourself and your teammates.” Adolf Hitler could have been my coach, and it would not have changed how much I love the game or how hard I played.

The next lesson learned was to be positive and have a good mental attitude, no matter what. Some things in life you cannot control, but the one thing you have total control over is your attitude.

Playing sports has taught me that life doesn’t always go the way we want, but going through trials and tribulations help shape us into the kind of person we want to be.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Father I Never Met

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:45:32 GMT

The Father I Never Met

Today, once again I’m going off the rails and taking a break from fishing. Those of you that have read my articles from the very beginning know about my history as a kid. Growing up on the streets of Rosenburg and Houston, Texas, made me a little tougher than most kids my age at the time. I knew first-hand by the age of 8 what it was like to be foot-loose and fancy free running the streets till all hours of the night with zero guidance.

While my biological mother was more concerned with her modeling career and surviving the beatings she took at the hands of my stepdad, I was just trying to survive. I was the one sneaking into people houses looking for a quick meal. But the one thing I always wondered, where was my real dad during all of this and why did I never get to meet him? Why was he never involved in my life?

Was this his choice to avoid contact with me or was there some kind of a mutual agreement between my mother and him that he was to never reach out to me for any reason.

These are questions that I’ll never get the answers to until the day I’m reunited with my dad and the loved ones who have crossed over to the other side. But as a father myself, I cannot imagine having a child in this world and not knowing who or where they were.

I’ve always heard that my athletic abilities came from my dad. I’ve heard stories from my older brother, Mike (we share the same mom and dad), on the kind of dad he was to him and how he supported him and his athletic career.

But the same question continues to go through my head today even at the age of 64. How was it that we never met and why didn’t he reach out to me?

Every kid wants that relationship with their dad. A dad plays an important role in the development of a young boy growing into a man. He also provides a sense of security to all his children that no matter what, dad always has their back.

He provides advice and guidance for life’s troubled journey and teaches how to navigate those trials and tribulations. He’s the man who jerks a knot in your tail when you need correcting or get out of line. He’s the rock you look up to and hope to make proud one day. He’s the man you only hope you can be one day.

But for me, that connection was never made as the years went by with zero contact from the man that I only heard about from relatives. From what I’ve been able to learn over the years, he had a good side and bad side.

I’ve been told that he enjoyed his Friday and Saturday nights at local taverns, but he also had wandering eyes for the ladies and traded one for another frequently. Guess this is why he and my mother divorced while she was pregnant with me. All total, he was married seven times (the legal limit in Texas) and once to the same lady twice.

So, maybe those that knew him thought it was in my best interest NOT to have a relationship with him; that nothing good would come out of us having that father-son bond that a boy wants with his dad.

But looking back, he missed out on so much of my life’s great experiences. Things that a dad is supposed to be there for like a high school state championship, graduation, signing an athletic scholarship, getting married, being drafted by a major league baseball team and so much more! He missed out on so many of my life's ups and downs and three great grandkids.

Growing up, I had the best childhood a young boy could ever ask for while being raised by my aunt and uncle in an awesome small town in East Texas. My uncle, who I called dad after being adopted, was a great provider and taught me about responsibility and hard work while growing up on a ranch. He assumed the role of a loving father as best he could, but it’s just not the same.

There’s something about having a relationship with the man you share the same DNA with as it completes the internal connection. The connection that only a father can have with his children.

So, I know the day will come when I’ll get all my questions answered. I’ll finally get to meet the father I never met. But in the meantime, I’ll do my best to be the best father I can be to all three of my children.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Next Big Thing in Bass Fishing Technology

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:44:25 GMT

The Next Big Thing in Bass Fishing Technology

Nothing has shaken the bass fishing world more than forward-facing sonar (FFS). While I’ve given my perspective on this technology and how it’s affected the bass tournament world, I’m now wondering what’s next? Understand, this is my perspective, as I have no inside knowledge from anyone.

One thing that we know for sure, the big three fishing electronic companies (Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance) are not going to stop building a better mouse trap. Their engineers are paid to be innovative and are aways looking to make improvements and advancements with regards to their technology.

Today’s sonar units are crazy good! You can literally see the swimming action of the tail on a bass. No fish is safe anymore and no fish can hide from today’s electronics.

One thing that is probably coming next will be the ability to identify the fish you’re seeing on the screen without guessing. Is that a bass, crappie or a carp? Knowledgeable anglers can do that today if they’re really good with their electronics and if they have studied and understand fish behavior.

But I think these companies are going to figure out a way to tell you exactly what species of fish you are seeing on your screen. They are going to continue to simplify the visual aspect of what you’re seeing on the screen.

Next, get ready for live video! This already exists with a company called Aqua-Vu. (It’s just not allowed in tournaments.) These have been out for a few years and to let everyone in on a little secret, several bass touring pros already use this unit for scouting, but don’t want the public to know.

Look for new camera units from one of the big three electronic companies, probably in association with “Go Pro Cameras,” to be the first to introduce this new way of seeing fish on our screens.

So many people are asking the question, “Where does all this stop?” Here’s the bottom line. There’s no stopping technological advancement. It won’t stop until people quit paying the prices they are asking for all these electronic advancements. If anglers are willing to pay, they will continue to build bigger and better units.

Here's the problem; just follow the money! All these electronic companies are pumping thousands of dollars into these professional bass fishing organizations as sponsors, forcing B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF) to allow pro anglers to use forward-facing sonar.

I think we are getting to the point where these organizations are going to have to decide what’s more important…sponsorship support or the integrity of the sport? They also need to ask themselves if this new technology is good for the sport in the long run on the professional level.

You can say what you want, but forward-facing sonar (FFS) in bass tournaments is destroying the sport. I’m personally not against FFS for the everyday angler. I think it’s great tool for fun fishing and catching crappie.

I’m even okay with it for local bass tournaments on the amateur level. But when it comes to professional anglers using it on pro tournament trails, not a fan and should be disallowed.

This is the same as Major League Baseball allowing the use of aluminum bats. It’s just not good for the sport of baseball! Hopefully the pro tours will do the right thing and eliminate FFS completely.

The biggest complaints about FFS come from the older generation of anglers, not the young guns on the rise. The young kids today have been raised with FFS from day one and really understand how to use it, giving them a huge advantage over the older anglers.

This could all playout another way. Pro tours may just wait out this issue with FFS and let this older group of anglers walk away or retire because 5 years from now, FFS won’t even be an issue at all.

So, what’s the next big issue going to be? Probably something totally different, as the electronic companies continue to make improvements and advancements with their electronic units. Only time will tell!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Not All Bass Anglers are Created Equal

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:43:00 GMT

Not All Bass Anglers are Created Equal

I’ve always wondered what makes one athlete better than another. Why do some excel more than others? Is there a secret pill or an exercise regimen that makes them better? Well today we’ll ask the same questions about bass tournament anglers.

I’ve heard for years that no angler has learned anything without another angler telling them. While this might be true in a few cases, I’m not sure that’s the case with everyone.

So many of today’s anglers have learned so much through the internet and on You Tube. You can literally learn any technique and know when to use it simply by watching a You Tube channel.

Want to learn how to use your electronics? Watch You Tube! Want to learn about a drop-shot, Carolina Rig, or how to flip a jig. Watch You Tube! Want to understand how to fix an issue with your boat. Watch You Tube! It’s an endless resource of information.

But the older generation of anglers, like me, have learned through trial and error. We’ve learned from other anglers who came before us on how to get better or how to fix an issue we’re having with our boat. We didn’t always have the internet as a resource. But there was one resource that came by mail once a month: Bassmaster Magazine!

This was my generations internet, and every issue addressed everything from different ways to catch bass, to how to replace a water pump or change the oil in the lower unit of the motor. Today, I’m still a subscriber to not only Bassmaster Magazine, but another publication called B.A.S.S. Times.

But just like great athletes, there’s something different about anglers who win more than others. The first thing I have noticed is their confidence level is usually high. They believe in what they are doing to catch bass and they understand bass behavior.

Another trait I’ve noticed is how the top anglers tend to think outside of the box. They don’t follow common trends or thought patterns other anglers do. Most of these winning anglers tend to do things a little different.

I also believe that the great anglers like Kevin Van Dam, Dustin Connell, Jacob Wheeler and the late Aaron Martens, each possess a sixth sense. They tend to think a little differently than the average bear. They don’t always follow traditional thinking when it comes to how they should be catching bass.

A phrase commonly used by these exceptional anglers is that “they let the fish tell them what and how they want the bait.” Now this saying to the average angler means nothing, but to the great anglers, it explains a lot.

They don’t try to force a technique onto the bass. Every angler always has a game plan going into the tournament based on what and how they caught bass in practice. But on tournament day, the great anglers are not afraid to abandon that game plan and change their approach in the middle of the day.

I’ve also found that great anglers are really good at reading the water. To those who don’t bass fish, this is something that’s a gift that not all anglers have. They can literally walk up to the edge of the lake and tell you how they will catch them on that day just by looking at the water.

The great anglers have abilities just like great athletes. They have intangibles that make them special that some call the ‘it” factor. You can’t coach “it”, you’re born with “it”.

While all anglers can get better by spending time on the water, reading magazines or watching You Tube videos, there will always be those anglers who possess something that cannot be measured…God given talent!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

In the Tournament Bass Fishing World, 2026 will be HUGE!

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:33:28 GMT

In the Tournament Bass Fishing World, 2026 will be HUGE!

In the tournament bass fishing world, 2026 will be HUGE! Over the past 3 years, tournament participation has fallen off dramatically mainly due to forward-facing sonar (FFS). Organizations have made rule changes with the hope of bringing tournament anglers back. Some have eliminated (FFS) all together, while the Major League Fishing (MLF) trails like the BFL’s and the Toyota Series have put a time limit (3 hours) on how long FFS can be used on tournament day.

While there’s no pleasing all the anglers, some tournament trails are hoping that the changes they have made will encourage anglers to come back and fish. They’ve made compromises for both sides, those who are in favor of FFS and those who want it eliminated from the sport all together.

Some anglers feel this new technology has no place in pro tournament fishing. It’s a great tool for the weekend warrior and an awesome tool for scouting. But for tournament use, others feel it is damaging the integrity of the sport. It’s made touring pros out of average to below average anglers.

Where organizations feel they have lost co-anglers, it turns out the boater/pros are also walking away. Early registration for the upcoming BFL (Cowboy Division) on Sam Rayburn indicates that they have more co-anglers signed up than boater/pros. This is a big problem for the parent company Major League Fishing (MLF).

So many factors are at play when it comes to getting anglers back. Economy, price of boats and too many tournament trails are creating problems, not to mention the FFS issues.

To use a political hot word for 2026, “affordability” is a big concern for a lot of anglers. One tournament director of a major fishing organization made the comment that anglers are not having “fun” anymore. This is very much a true statement!

For me personally, I would agree with this comment. The fun days of showing up at a particular body of water and competing with guys you respect and have good relationships with are gone.

We, as anglers, never really thought about anyone cheating. But with so many issues this year with rules violations and failed polygraph tests, it’s now the first thing that pops into our heads when we back our boats down the ramp.

COVID, I feel, has also played a hand in the drop-off of angler participation as well. Back during the pandemic, the structure of tournaments changed. Anglers that fished during this period know that tournament directors focused on making sure we kept our distance from each other due to COVID restrictions.

The rules for a weigh-in changed as you had to stay in your boat and bring your fish to the scales one at a time. No more gathering of anglers at the weigh tanks.

Once you weighed in, you were expected to leave immediately, and winning checks were often mailed. This took all the fun out of tournament fishing and eliminated the connection anglers had developed over the years.

But during this difficult time, it was truly a lifesaver and a boost to anglers’ morale as they were excited just to have bass tournaments. Anglers appreciated the efforts organizations and directors put forth just so anglers could compete. Connections and comradery are very important to bass anglers. That’s what makes it fun!

Hopefully 2026 will bring a new beginning and a resurgence of anglers coming back to fishing tournaments. My hats off to all tournament organizations as they try and navigate the new technology with FFS while trying to please as many anglers as possible.

I’ve always said the worse job in the world would be trying to make bass fishermen happy! Best wishes and tight lines to all anglers for the upcoming tournament season!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Trying to Keep Fishing Fun

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:32:06 GMT

Trying to Keep Fishing Fun

As athletes, and no matter what sport you play, the day comes when you must ask yourself, “Am I having fun?” For me at the age of 35, softball was a sport I truly enjoyed, and I was fortunate enough to play on two National Championship teams while making friends for life.

But after winning the last championship, I knew my time was up as I walked out the gate of the USSSA Men’s Softball World Series in Shreveport, Louisiana. I knew this because it was no longer fun. Additionally, my kids were now playing sports as well and it became my time to give back and start coaching.

Tournament fishing is very similar in the fact that there comes a day when you are no longer having fun. Once it becomes a grind and more like work, that’s your cue to do something else.

Being competitive on any tournament trail requires commitment and time on the water, otherwise you’re just donating to the rest of the field. In today’s tournament world, the competition is so good it’s ridiculous.

Twenty years ago, out of 100 anglers in a tournament, maybe 15 were a legitimate threat to win. Today, out of 100 anglers there are probably 40 guys who are capable of winning. The competition level has totally changed with young anglers on the rise and having access to so much information while taking advantage of their ability to use their electronics so much better than the older guys.

Then there’s the mental side of bass fishing that can really take a toll on an angler’s ability to compete. Just like any other sport, you have to believe in yourself as much as you believe in the bait you’re throwing in order to catch bass.

There’s so much thought and preparation that goes into a tournament that it can be exhausting. The research it takes to get ready for an event can be overwhelming, especially if it’s a new body of water you’ve never been to.

That’s why for an angler, it’s important to make sure you enjoy what you’re doing. Never take an event for granted no matter how many times you’ve been to a specific body of water. Have fun and enjoy your practice days because the only way to stay focused is if you’re enjoying the process.

When fishing becomes too much like a job, it’s time to get out and do other things with your time like playing golf or going camping. Do something that you enjoy! Do something that you look forward to and not something you dread.

For me, tournament fishing is still fun, and I enjoy the competition probably more today because at the age of 64, it’s pretty satisfying knowing that your beating guys half your age! But most importantly, I enjoy my time with the guys I travel with as we share our times and experiences on the water over a good meal.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and happy times! Make sure to stop me and say hello the next time you see me at a boat ramp or on the lake.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Wrapping Up Some Hot Summer Tournaments

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:30:54 GMT

Wrapping Up Some Hot Summer Tournaments

Last week I expressed my feelings about summer bass tournaments. This week we’ll breakdown and go over the results of my last two ABA (American Bass Anglers) summer events.

First, the Texas Pro League event was held on Lake Tyler on June 21st as hot temperatures and high winds made fishing difficult for some, but not for everyone.

It seems that no matter how difficult the fishing might be in any bass tournament, someone will figure out how to catch a big bag. It doesn’t matter if there are 200 boats or 20, somebody will figure it out!

That was pretty much the case for the Lake Tyler event, as Zach Fogal (2024 Angler of the Year) decided to show out a little as he came to the scales with 5 bass for over 36 pounds! That’s right, you read it right- 36 pounds! To put this in perspective, the next closest angler was Wyatt Frankens of Corrigan, Texas, with 27.84.

This event was dominated offshore by these two guys who are really good with forward facing sonar. It’s just another example of how good some guys are with this technology.

For me, this was a tough tournament as I struggled to catch a five fish limit and only brought four fish to the scales. But the fish I caught were descent size fish as I managed to finish 9th with a little over 13 pounds and got some good points, keeping me in the Top 10 (7th) in the overall points race.

Next was the ABA Solo 150 held June 27th & 28th on Lake Palestine. Once again, Longview, Texas native Zach Fogal backed his boat in the water and blew the field away as most everyone knew he would. Some anglers are just on another level and Zach is that guy!

Turns out, Zach came to the scales and spanked all of us with a two-day total of over 56 pounds winning this event by an amazing 18.4 pounds! Catching this kind of weight in June used to be unheard of, but not today with forward-facing sonar as it’s becoming more of the norm no matter what lake it is.

This event for me was the tale of two days, as on day one I came in with 15.80 lbs. and was sitting in third going into day 2. But what a difference a day makes! Day two was filled with one lost fish after another, as I lost a four-pounder on the first dock I pulled up on. Then I lost two three- pounders in ten minutes, not to mention the 8 pounder I lost four feet from the boat on day one.

I wound up in 6th place overall, as I had a two-day total of 25.47 pounds. Day two really hurt me, bringing in 5 bass just under 10 pounds. The fish just didn’t seem to take the bait as well. Several guys complained about losing fish on day-two.

Bass fishing is a funny sport that sometimes defies explanation! You would think in a tournament this time of year (summer), and with no major weather change, that the fishing would be the same day in and day out. But no, for some reason the bass decided they just weren’t as hungry on day two as they were on day one.

But make no mistake, I still hate summertime bass tournaments! It would not bother me in the least if tournament trails suspended bass tournaments for the months of July and August. It’s just not worth everything you have to go through as anglers with the heat, babysitting fish all day, and constant fighting against recreational boaters.

Hope everyone has a great summer and please be safe out there with regards to the heat. Heat exhaustion can creep up on you quickly if you’re not paying attention. Make sure to always drink plenty of water the night before you hit your area lake, either for fishing or just having a good time.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Summertime Bass Tournaments Can Be a Nightmare!

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:29:31 GMT

Summertime Bass Tournaments Can Be a Nightmare!

Today, I’m going to hop on my soap box! There aren’t many things that I truly hate, but summer bass tournaments would be at the top of the list! Now why would this be? For several reasons that I’ll get into later, but the most obvious one….IT’S BLAZING HOT! It’s a time of year where anglers become babysitters, trying to keep their 5-fish limit alive for eight hours in a live well.

Summer bass tournaments in the South are a grind for both anglers and the bass, as the fishing is good the first hour, but can be horrendous the rest of the day. With daytime temperatures reaching the mid to upper 90’s and humidity levels over 90%, it takes all the fun out of fishing especially during the months of July and August.

A few tournament trails have or will drop their daily fish limit down from five to three which really helps in so many ways. For one, it allows for better survival rate, as there are less fish to manage in your live well and it means less bass being handled at the weigh-in.

Some anglers hate the three fish limit tournaments as they think it levels the playing field too much. They feel anyone can get lucky and catch three good fish. But if you go back and look at three fish tournament results over the years, it turns out that the same guys who win with a five fish limit are still at the top of the tournament standings with three fish.

Now, my personal reasons for hating summer tournaments would first be the exhaustion you feel at the end of the day fishing in high temperatures. Fishing in 95 degrees plus temperatures drains the life out of an angler! Next, I hate it when sweat is dripping off my nose or running down my butt! The heat just makes fishing difficult and unenjoyable.

But what I really look forward to the most is nighttime cramps that occur after fishing in the hot sun all day! There’s nothing more fun than waking up in the middle of the night as your calf muscles or hamstrings decide to tighten up like a guitar string. Thank the Lord above for pickle juice, as there’s pretty much nothing better for eliminating cramps!

Next, everything in your boat is blazing hot and will leave a mark on your butt if you sit on one of those latches that’s a part of the storage lockers. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up being branded like cattle at a stockyard.

Then there’s the wear and tear on your electronics which are large investments, as these units can cost up to $5000 each. It’s also hard on your rods and reels and the fishing line spooled on each reel. Nothing is harder on your equipment than the hot sun!

Even as anglers, we must take precautions to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful UV rays. As a Melanoma survivor, I can attest to all the things I have to do in order to fish in high temperatures. These days, I always wear long sleeve UV protective shirts, a wide brim hat, long pants (most of the time) and plenty of sunscreen.

But my main reason for hating summer bass tournaments…it’s just not fun! It’s a miserable way to spend your day sweating to the oldies on the front deck of a bass boat! ZERO FUN!

The next issue (as if I need anymore) would be dealing with all the crazy recreational boaters like pontoon boats, jet skis and those awesome stupid wake boats that put out four-foot-high waves and disrupt everyone and everything on the lake! Sorry wake boaters, but there should be a limit to the size of the waves you all put out!

One rule I would like to see implemented strictly for wake boaters would be that they are not allowed on the lake until after 2:00 PM. This way there would be no conflict with bass boaters and wake boats being on the lake at the same time, as most summer bass tournaments are over by 2:00 in the afternoon.

Now I know I’ll get some good fan mail over my wake boater comments, but at least I’ll know they read my article! Just kidding wake boaters, hope y’all have fun as well, but keep your wakes down please! Till next time, enjoy your hot summer days on the lake as I hope and pray you won’t see me out there very often.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A New Chapter in Life and Leaving Home for the First Time

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:27:51 GMT

A New Chapter in Life and Leaving Home for the First Time

In August of 1979, I loaded my ’71 Buick La Sabre and headed for Louisiana and Northwestern State University. The opportunity to continue my athletic career was a scholarship offer to play both football and baseball at NSU. To say I was nervous would be an understatement, but I was also excited and scared all at the same time.

Back then, the NSU football staff would send you a workout program at the beginning of the summer that you needed to follow in order to show up in shape for two-a-days. Being a new incoming freshman and not knowing what to expect, I showed up in the best shape of my life.

That summer I held down three jobs. One was working from 5:00 AM till 7:30 each morning for a company called Tex Pac, which was similar to FedEx today. Then I would head for the Texas Highway Department from 8:00 till 5:00. My evening job was working for Dixie Youth from 6:00 till 9:30 keeping score and general field maintenance. Then I would do my NSU workout in the dark from 10:00 till 11:30 PM at the high school track/football field.

Let’s just say that sleeping was not a problem for me during this time. I will also admit that a Tex Pac co-worker who was a close friend of mine (Bill Curry) had to knock on my door a few times to makes sure I got up. But everything considered, I was fairly responsible at making sure I was on time for all my summer jobs.

Then the day came to load the car and head for Louisiana. Little did I know at the time that this would be the greatest journey of my life. It would alter my life in ways I could never imagine.

It was a three-hour drive from Mt. Pleasant, Texas, to Natchitoches, Louisiana and NSU. I can still remember asking myself, “Am I good enough to play on the division 1 level? Will I be able to compete with these guys? Will my teammates accept me for the person I am, and will I fit in?”

These are questions every athlete asks themselves when making that jump from high school to college. But as I arrived in the parking lot at the football dorm on NSU campus, I was immediately greeted by a couple of Demon football players. Both offering me a solo cup of ice-cold beer that was being iced down in three horse troughs.

Now being from East Texas and a dry town, I was raised on Kool-Aid and sweet tea, along with a daily glass of milk. For me, the thought of a beer just did not set well and even over time, I never developed a taste for beer.

It did not take me long to realize that I was no longer in East Texas anymore! Coming to Louisiana was a culture shock for me personally, to say the least, but one that I would embrace. All the guys (teammates) were so welcoming and supporting that it helped to make the transition easier.

Leaving home for the first time in 1979 and being on my own really helped me to grow up. We all thought that when we turned 18, we knew everything, and our parents knew nothing. We thought we were ready to tackle the world, and while most of us were, we still made dumb decisions. But this is all a part of the maturation process that each of us goes through, and hopefully survives, coming out a better person on the other side.

Looking back, my college experience was awesome as I played football and baseball with some of the greatest athletes that ever played at Northwestern State. It was an experience that changed my life forever. I met my wife (Sherrie) of 44 years, and we raised three beautiful children and continue to live in Natchitoches to this day.

When we’re young, we don’t always recognize how great an opportunity is until it’s all over. To every athlete out there that gets the opportunity to play on the collegiate level, don’t waste it!

Take advantage and make the most of your time in college. Additionally, make sure to show appreciation to those who granted you that chance to extend your athletic career. But more importantly, thank them for the opportunity to get a college degree!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Why is Getting Information Such a Big Deal?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:26:07 GMT

Why is Getting Information Such a Big Deal?

Welcome to 2025 and the information highway known as the internet. Here a person can explore, search, and check vast amounts of useful and useless content. There’s literally nothing a person can’t find on the worldwide web. But for bass fishermen, it’s also an unlimited source of information that can help an angler understand any body of water with just a few clicks.

But the word “information” can be a tricky term for tournament anglers. In some cases, you might say it’s a dirty word and can get a tournament angler in a lot of trouble. Bass tournaments have a plethora of rules that can boggle the mind of the intelligent.

How, where, and from whom the angler gets his tournament info is critical to being able to pass a polygraph test. This is a test given at the end of a tournament in which an angler is asked a series of questions pertaining to the rules of a particular tournament circuit.

Not all tournament trails are the same and each one may have a few rules that might not apply to another trail. For example, the rules for team trails will be a little different than those of an individual pro circuit in which the angler fishes by himself.

But of all the rules in the tournament world, the “no information” rule might be the most abused, as there tends to be too much grey area depending on how the rule is written. It’s similar to the Bible in that it can be open to interpretation.

It’s also the rule that anglers tend to bend or break as they search for anything that can help them win a bass tournament. Some circuits do not allow anglers to talk to anyone or receive information about tournament waters from someone who is not in the event.

For example, hiring or calling a lake guide during the dead water period can be a major no no; and yet they do it anyway and feel they can pass the polygraph no matter what. Everyone is ok until the day comes when the tournament director calls their name to take a polygraph test.

One thing I’ve been seeing on the high school level for years is how parents or boat captains are hiring full time fishing guides, not to teach them how to find fish, but showing them where fish are! This is not helping these youngsters to learn anything. In fact, it’s handicapping them for future success!

Look, we all want our kids to succeed and have success, but wouldn’t it be better if they did it on their own and not because the parents had the money to hire the best guide on the lake? What lessons are we teaching these young anglers by hiring the best guides on the lake?

The best advice I can give all the up-and-coming high school and college anglers is to learn to find fish on your own. Don’t rely on a guide or another buddy for information. It’s much more gratifying when you win with fish YOU found rather than just catching another angler’s fish.

Always remember, it’s not easy catching another angler’s fish. Never rely on other’s fishing information because it’s usually old and unreliable. The reports you read, even on the internet, are more often than not two to three days old. With bass fishing, a lot can change in two or three days.

Learn to trust yourself and your ability to locate schools of fish on your own. Because in the end, tournament fishing is all about you versus the fish, not you versus the other anglers.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

How Do We Know When It’s Time?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:24:18 GMT

How Do We Know When It’s Time?

During the span of a lifetime, we are met with this question. For example, when is it time to change jobs, get married, have kids, or retire? Everyone has a different timeline for each of these questions. But the one thing we ALL want is the ability to make these decisions when we are ready and on our own terms.

Everyone that has played a particular sport, especially at a high level, wants to walk away when they are ready, not when someone tells them they are no longer good enough.

I’ve always wanted to be in control no matter what, and the one thing I’ve always told myself was, “When it’s no longer fun or I’m no longer competitive, it’s time to walk away.” I have applied this rule of thumb throughout my athletic career and will do so with regards to my fishing career.

I’ve been fishing tournaments since the early 1990’s and have enjoyed almost every minute of it! Sure, there’ve been some ups and downs just like any other sport, but the friends I have made and the good times I’ve shared with so many can never be taken away.

Another aspect I still enjoy today is trying to figure out how to catch bass. This never gets old for me. And the feeling I get when it all comes together for a tournament, well there’s just no better feeling in the world! It’s what motivates me and drives my competitive fire!

Over the years, people who don’t know or understand the sport of bass fishing think it is all luck. Nothing could be further from the truth because if that was the case, why are the same anglers always near the top of the standings.

They say luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Well, I’m a firm believer in that saying because if you want to compete with the best anglers on any circuit, you have to do your homework and spend lots of time on the water. In bass fishing, “time on the water” is essential to being successful.

So, to answer the question of, “How do we know when it’s time?” For me it will be when I can no longer compete with the young guns of the tournament bass fishing world or when it’s no longer fun.

But if all my fishing buddies continue to fish, I’ll still hang around. For me this has become the main reason I’m still competing today. I’ve been blessed with some of the best dudes an angler could ask for when it comes to travel partners.

We’ve shared in some awesome times, ate some great meals and told a lot of fish stories, some true and some just pure lies! These same stories have been repeated time and time again and are told as if it was the first time we have ever heard them. But that’s ok, it’s all a part of the memories being made that makes every trip special.

One thing about tournament anglers, they are unique in many ways and are a little stingy when it comes to fishing information. We’ll try and help each other a little, but may not always reveal every detail on how we are catching fish.

There’s also a great bond with all anglers that travel and stay together on the road. Each are always willing to help the other in their time of need whether it’s a boat breakdown on the water or a blown trailer tire on the road. They are like the Marines; no man will be left behind!

For me, this is why I’m still doing it at the age of 64 and will continue as long as my health is good, can still get bit, and hopefully cash a check once in a while. Till next time, here’s to wishing all anglers tight lines and good times fishing!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Where Did the Big Bass Craze Start?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:22:42 GMT

Where Did the Big Bass Craze Start?

To answer the question of where the big bass craze started, here in Louisiana all we need to do is look at our neighbor to the west…Texas! No other state has done more for bass fishing world than the Texas Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (TDWF). Texas has led the way for how all other states should manage their fisheries, especially when it comes to producing huge largemouth bass.

In the 1970’s, tournament bass fishing was starting to take root and anglers wanted to catch more and bigger bass. The first lake that started producing huge bass was a power plant lake near my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, Lake Monticello.

By the mid 1970’s, this is where the big bass fever infected Texas and the bass fishing world. Monticello was a hot waterpower plant lake which gave bass a long and productive growing season. Here bass started spawning in December and as word spread about the size of bass being caught, Monticello became a destination for all bass fishermen!

Then in 1980, one of the greatest bass fisheries in America was impounded…Lake Fork. This lake was a game changer and lit the fuse for an explosion of huge largemouth bass. Every bass angler that has ever wet a hook has dreamed of catching either a new world or state record bass and most felt Lake Fork was the place that would give anglers the best opportunity.

It presently holds 12 of the Top 20 bass ever caught in the state of Texas! It recently showed out this past May when the Bassmaster Elite Series showed up. It took a four-day total of over 128.00 lbs. to win this event. The winner, with his best five, had a daily average just over 6 lbs. per fish!

Today, there are other lakes in Texas that are starting to produce record size bass with the most recent being Lake O.H. Ivie located just south of Abilene, Texas. Here double-digit bass are becoming the norm with 8 to 10 lb. bass not even turning heads.

In the last three years, O.H. Ivie has produced 39 bass weighing 13 lbs. or more, all caught between the months of January and March. In Texas, all fish caught over 13 lbs. become a part of what is called the Legacy Class Program.

This is all a part of the Texas ShareLunker Program where biologist retrieve these huge bass from around the state and take them back to the hatchery in Athens, Texas. Here they will breed these lunker fish with other lunker bass over 10 lbs. which in turn will be used as a part of their stocking program for other lakes.

In 2023, bass caught in O.H Ivie made up 83% of the Legacy Class Bass caught in the state of Texas. Today, this lake continues to produce lunker bass like no other. This year (2025) the lake has produced 8 Legacy Class Bass over 13.00 lbs. and 14 bass over 10.00 lbs. as part of the ShareLunker program.

For lakes in Louisiana where an angler might catch a double-digit bass, you may want to check out Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake, Caney Lake or Bussey Break. Till next time remember, the only way to catch big fish is if your lake has big fish!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Now, I’m the Older Guy

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:19:04 GMT

Now, I’m the Older Guy

They say age is just a number and that’s probably true. When we were young in our 20’s and 30’s, we grew up thinking that people in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s were old. Then the closer I got to each of these demographic age groups, they didn’t seem so old anymore. But when anglers you’re competing against start addressing you with the word “sir” included, that’s when it’s time to recognize the date of birth on your driver’s license.

In the tournament bass fishing world, anyone over the age of 50 is considered old. For years I never even thought about my age, but for some unforeseen reason turning 64 this year has hit me a little harder than other birthdays. This year for the first time, I’ve noticed I need stronger reading glasses, my balance is a little off and it requires a lot more effort to get up from my boat seat.

Younger anglers are now asking me if I need help launching my boat. When this first started taking place towards the end of last season, I was caught off guard and kind of offended. I mean, does it look like I need help? I thought maybe I need someone to video me launching my boat so I can see firsthand if I look old and unsure of myself.

I have noticed this year that it does take more effort for me to climb onto the back of my truck, step down onto my boat trailer, unhook the boat strap, climb over into the boat and back the boat off the trailer. I used to hop around with ease like a jungle monkey going from tree to tree. But not anymore, as the muscles in my body don’t respond with the strength and quickness I once possessed.

Even getting around in the boat is more of a challenge! I used to jump from the front deck to the back deck in single bond like Superman leaping over tall buildings. Today, it’s basically a Texas two-step with one more step added to get from the front deck to the back deck, with a high possibility that we might hang a toe and fall flat on our face.

Another area that’s becoming a difficult challenge is running the trolling motor especially in rough water. At one time in my younger days, I had the balance of a cat walking on the top bar of a chain-link fence. But today, I need the pedestal butt seat in position up front so I can have something to lean on in order to stabilize myself.

Currently, I feel like I’m only a couple of years away from needing a walker to navigate around my boat! While I haven’t fallen into the lake in years, I know that day is coming again really soon, and it will all be due to my inability to control the trolling motor, especially when it’s on high. This is why I always keep a complete change of clothes in the boat, just in case I decide to take an unexpected swim.

Just like any other sport, there comes a time when you start to wonder if your time as a tournament angler is up. Is it time to load the boat for the last time and drive away? Tournament bass fishing has and will always be a young man’s sport. The energy, time and commitment required to compete at a high level is designed for younger anglers.

But for me, I still have that burning desire to compete! While I don’t practice 8 to 10 hours a day for an event like I used to, technology like forward-facing sonar has allowed me to be more efficient when scouting, saving me a lot of wasted time searching for bass.

While I know my days of possibly winning an event are slim, now I’m trying to be reasonable with my expectations and hoping for top 10 finishes. This younger generation of anglers coming up are really good, especially when it comes to using their electronics.

I guess that now I’m the old guy on the tournament trail, maybe I’ve earned the right to allow these younger anglers to help an old man in need! I might accept a little assistance when I’m trying to load or unload my boat. But I hope they don’t take my need for help as a weakness as a competitor…because I’ll still kick their butts every chance I get!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Are We Talking About Practice?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:17:52 GMT

Are We Talking About Practice?

As an athlete growing up, I always heard that practice makes perfect. Now we all know that statement might not always hold true. I’ve had a lot of practice over the years at such things as golf and bass fishing, but I’m still searching to get better at both. Today, we’ll look how practicing for a bass tournament has changed in the last 5 years.

As former NBA great Alan Iverson stated one time in a press conference when asked about his practice habits or lack thereof, “Are we talking about practice? I mean we’re talking about practice! We’re talking about practice man!”

While he was obviously frustrated when the media questioned his practice habits, the point he made was that on the NBA level, it’s not about practice but rather what you bring to the floor on game day.

Tournament bass fishing is pretty much the same way. You can go out and catch all the fish you want during practice, but the only thing that matters is what you bring to the scales on tournament day.

Some anglers are great in practice and will tell the world how well they are catching them in practice. But for some reason, when tournament day rolls around, they never seem to have the fish they need to win.

There’s one thing I learned early in my career from a couple of mentors who took a liking to me and were willing to pass along a little of their knowledge that would help me become a better angler. They both told me that it makes no sense to sore mouth the bass two days before the tournament.

They taught me how to cover my hooks with clear IV tubing on my spinnerbaits and jigs in order to make sure I didn’t hook fish while practicing. Because once bass are hooked, it may take up to 5 days before they will bite again.

They educated me about shaking fish off in order to make sure they are not hooked. They taught me how to use a screw lock which allows an angler to fish soft plastic worms without a hook, therefore guaranteeing they would not be hooked before the tournament.

But fast forward to 2025 and you’ll see young anglers today scouting without a single fishing rod on the deck of their boat. They are totally tuned into and observing the electronics on their boats.

Today’s younger generation of anglers simply idle around while sitting behind the console of their boat looking at two or three computer screens scanning and marking schools of bass and baitfish they will return to on tournament day.

These anglers are so good with their electronics that they can tell if the fish they are looking at are quality or not. They will never wet a hook or even pull out a rod during practice! (Which for an old school angler like me, is insane!)

But there are still a few old school anglers who will hook and catch every bass that bites during practice. They want to look and see the size of the fish that might be in a certain area they will be fishing on tournament day.

No matter how an angler practices for an event, he or she still must find and figure out how to make those fish bite. But this is what makes practice so important and is how anglers win tournaments. Practice, practice and more practice!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Is Social Media Good or Bad for Competitive Bass Fishing?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:13:38 GMT

Is Social Media Good or Bad for Competitive Bass Fishing?

In today’s tournament bass fishing world, if you listen closely, you’ll hear the music to the popular soap opera TV series “The Young and the Restless” or maybe “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Today we’ll take a look at all the drama tournament bass fishing is going through that would make any soaps fan jealous.

If you noticed, I was not specific to professional bass fishing. That’s because there’s drama on all levels of tournament bass fishing. Whether it’s a local bass club event, BFL’s, ABA’s, Toyota Series or a benefit tournament, no event is immune to drama.

People have often asked why all the drama today? Well, I personally think a lot of this started when the Bassmaster Elite Series decided to split with over 80 anglers jumping over to the newly formed MLF known as Major League Fishing.

Tensions were high during this split in 2018 as anglers made career decisions on whether to stay with B.A.S.S. or go to MLF. Friendships were lost and enemies created over these decisions.

This split was similar to what happened with professional golf as the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour created a lot of drama as golfers made decisions based on the opportunity to earn more guaranteed money.

Social media has thrived with controversy swirling around tournament anglers. Disqualifications for rules violations by highly regarded anglers has had both of the professional organizations dealing with constant negativity.

The “no information” rule has also been a problem as anglers have been failing polygraph exams. There’s also been controversy with anglers cheating when catching bass outside the mouth when site fishing, which is a rules violation.

But in today’s world, bad behavior is rewarded with social media clicks. Anglers know that it’s all about how many “views” or “likes” they can gather on social media which draws more attention to them and their sponsors.

It goes back to the adage, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Sponsors of both B.A.S.S. and MLF have learned to turn their heads when it comes to bad behavior with anglers not following the rules.

So, back to our original question…Is social media good or bad for competitive bass fishing? It all depends on who you ask. As far as the sport of bass fishing goes, I think it has been both good and bad. The good part has been the amount of information anglers can get about a particular body of water. It can also be a great place to share fishing information and celebrate a recent victory or a high finish.

The bad side of social media is when people spread gossip; most of which is not true. They use it for what I call “feeding the beast.” It has also been known as a place where people vent their frustrations and express their feelings waiting on anyone to respond so they can engage in hate.

Like so many other things in today’s world, social media divides us and has become a landing spot for negativity. It’s up to us as individuals if we want to participate in the hostility or just keep on scrolling. Till next time, good luck with your fishing and stay safe.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Conquering Our Demons From Within

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:11:55 GMT

Conquering Our Demons From Within

The recent Masters golf tournament was a true test of will and determination by Rory McIlroy. The entire tournament was a roller coaster ride of emotions, highs and lows, and wasted opportunities. Rory, who came into the event as one of the favorites to win, had a history of not fulfilling his dream of becoming a Masters Champion.

But after 17 failed opportunities to win the Masters, he finally reached his goal of putting on the green jacket which is given to everyone that wins the Masters.

Rory, as a kid, did not come from a privileged family with country club money. His family was lower middle class, but his dad recognized at a very early age that Rory had a God given talent on how to hit a golf ball.

One day, a young Rory asks his dad if they could go hit some range balls. His dad, who lived paycheck to paycheck, knew he only had one token for the range which was good for 30 balls. So, he told Rory to pretend he was at the Masters and to make every ball count since he could not afford anymore tokens until the following week when he got paid.

Rory has never forgotten all the sacrifices his family made in order for him to have a chance to become one of the world’s greatest golfers. But on this year’s final round of the Masters and a one-hole playoff with fellow European friend Justin Rose, Rory’s emotions came to the surface as he made a 4 foot birdie putt to win the most prestigious tournament in the world….The Masters!

After making the most important putt of his life, Rory dropped to his knees and sobbed as all the stress and pain of 17 failed opportunities to win this event came rushing to the surface. Finally, he proved all the nay sayers wrong and would no longer have to answer media questions on why he hasn’t won this event.

All of us at some point in our daily lives have had things hanging over our heads or that we have carried around for years and never seem to overcome. It could be something as simple as finding the perfect job or losing weight. Maybe it’s a bad habit that we’ve carried for years like smoking.

No matter what our issue might be, there’s pretty much nothing each of us can’t overcome with a little encouragement from family and friends, or in some cases, professional help. But when that day finally arrives where we have conquered our demons, the pressure lifted off of us can be absolutely incredible!

Like Rory McIlroy winning the Masters after 17 tries, it’s important that we never quit. Just keep fighting those demons each of us carry deep inside, and through perseverance and determination, hopefully the day will come when we get to celebrate our own personal victory and put on our own green jacket just like Rory McIlroy.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What Does an Angler Have to Do to Be Competitive?

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:10:39 GMT

What Does an Angler Have to Do to Be Competitive?

I heard a song the other day that said, “Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield.” Well so far this fishing season I’ve been the bug as my tournament success looks like I have no idea what I’m doing! I’ve been about as competitive as a high school kid fishing against a full-time professional angler. But for me, my confidence remains “hopeful" that I’ll turn this season around.

In 2024 in the ABA Texas Pro League, I was runner-up for the Angler of the Year. Oh, what a difference a year makes, as I’m not even close to being competitive, much less winning an event in 2025, with my highest finish being a 12th place finish at Sam Rayburn. So why has this year been such a grind? Why am I not catching the quality bass I caught last season? I mean I go to church, say my prayers, and do things the right way!

I’ve never cheated in a bass tournament and always want to represent myself and sponsors I’m affiliated with in the proper manner. I don’t ask other anglers for their waypoints or for any other help! One thing I came to the realization of a long time ago as a tournament angler is that it’s hard to go and catch another angler’s fish. Even if you have his waypoints, it’s still hard to catch them.

Is this a God thing? Is He trying to prove a point to me? Or is this just a phase all anglers go through? Whichever way, something must change quickly with only a few tournaments left on the schedule.

Tournament fishing is one of those sports that can bring even a great angler to his knees. It might be the most humbling sport there is. But one thing I like about the sport is the fact that there is no one else to blame for my failures or success than myself.

It’s truly you against the fish and Mother Nature! Excuses are a dime a dozen when things aren’t going an angler’s way. They range from maybe it’s a weather change to the lake is low or too high. It could be that maybe the water temperature is too hot or cold or maybe the spawn is taking place and fish just aren’t biting. Oh, wait a minute, it could be the phase of the moon we’re in or the fact that there are too many anglers on the water! Ha!

But one thing I will never do… is quit! I still find bass fishing to be such a mental challenge and look forward to every day I get to spend on the water. But there are days that I wonder why I’m out here trying to catch bass that don’t want to cooperate.

So, I guess the best thing I can do for now is to put my favorite rod in my hand, shut up and keep fishing hard! If you see me on the lake or at a local boat ramp, make sure to stop me and say hello. Till next time, good luck in all your fishing adventures.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Sacrifices of a Mother

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:09:12 GMT

The Sacrifices of a Mother

One of the greatest pleasures in life is watching our kids grow to achieve their dreams or reach their goals. It’s one of the many things that gives us so much fulfillment in being a parent. From the day our kids are born, we as parents want nothing more than for our kids to be happy. Today, I’ll talk about some of the sacrifices my parents (especially my mother) made for me to have the life I’ve enjoyed so much.

Most of you already know my story from past articles. But in case you haven’t, my aunt and uncle rescued and adopted me at the age of ten and turned my life completely around and literally saved me from the streets of Houston, Texas. They put me on the path to success with sacrifices and dedication of their own free will.

Again, the good Lord above blessed me with some athletic ability that only He can give. But it was my parents who made sure that my talent did not go to waste. So many days my mother made sure I was at every practice and every game on time.

She sat in a hot car for hours waiting on practice to be over, knowing she still had supper to cook, clothes to wash, another child to tend to, and a husband to take care of. Getting home after 7:00 each evening, she cooked dinner and made sure our homework was complete before ushering me and my brother off to take a bath.

She made sure uniforms were always washed and ready for the next game. She had very little time to herself as she worked full time as a nurse at a local clinic. But not one time did she fail to make sure I was where I needed to be whether it was a baseball or football practice or a Boy Scouts meeting. Mom sacrificed!

You never fully appreciate these sacrifices until the day comes when you have kids of your own and realize the effort it takes to make sure your kids are where they are supposed to be. She did this not just for me, but for my younger brother Chad as well, who was about six years younger than me.

My entire life growing up, we never took a vacation as a family. Mom never took one of those much needed “get aways.” Sure, we made the occasional trip to Six Flags in Dallas or maybe to see the Texas Rangers play, but never a trip to the Caribbean or the mountains of Colorado to enjoy the scenery.

Pretty much every trip we took revolved around my brother or me playing baseball with All-star playoffs. Even as I got into high school, she followed me to every game (home or away). She made the trip to Austin as we made the baseball State Tournament and won our first State Championship in 1978.

Not one time did she ever complain or say “no” to any sport I wanted to play. Her devotion was unlimited, and her sacrifices were intentional, all to make sure I had every opportunity to achieve success!

I think it goes without saying that I was one of the lucky ones who had parents wanting their kids to have the best…the best opportunity to achieve and be successful in life. Sometimes I think we forget just how important those sacrifices are.

But at the time, we just think that’s how it’s supposed to be, but in reality, that’s not true. It takes parents willing to make those sacrifices unselfishly and make their kids a priority and their main focus.

For parents, the reward comes much later in life when they sit back and brag about all the accomplishments their kids have achieved, all because of the sacrifices made. In the end, it’s worth every second and hour we set aside to make sure our kids are the priority!

Without sacrificial parents, kids don’t stand a chance! So, to all you young adults out there looking to have children of your own, make sure they are your top priority. And from me, “Thank you, Mom, for your dedication and commitment to ME!” Remember, sacrifice is unspoken love.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What Changes Our Perspective?

Mon, 05 May 2025 14:07:58 GMT

What Changes Our Perspective?

So much of our life is unpredictable even though we think we have a game plan. We are constantly making plans for the future even with so many variables out of our control. We’ve all heard how we as humans are truly creatures of habit. But sometimes life takes us down a path we weren’t expecting. It may be a road that if we had a choice, we might not have gone down.

Let’s look at my years of tournament fishing. As a former athlete that has played all levels of baseball and football, my competitive fire still burns strong. I not only want to win, I also want to kick your butt in the process.

But as I’ve written before, tournament bass fishing is a very humbling sport. I think the only sport comparable would be golf. Just when you think you’re “the man”, bass fishing reels you in and makes you realize that you have no idea what you’re doing!

For me personally, as I continue to pursue championship stringers, even at the age of 64, tournament fishing still gets my blood flowing. Competing against so many of today’s younger anglers just motivates me even more and keeps me feeling young.

I used to lose sleep over my performance in previous tournaments. Like a lot of anglers, I self-analyze every tournament and try to learn from my small victories on the water to my biggest mistakes.

But a turning point in my bass tournament perspective came when I was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma in June of 2023. Everything changed after my dermatologist called to let me know my biopsy was positive. Next thing I knew, I was sitting in the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston with the finest doctors in the world, putting together a plan of attack with immunotherapy that would hopefully cure my cancer.

It was at this point that my outlook on winning bass tournaments changed dramatically. After several treatments and numerous PET scans and MRIs over the last two years, my cancer has disappeared and hopefully will stay that way.

Today when I show up for a tournament, I’m so happy that I can continue to participate in the sport I love. I’m probably more excited today to fish an event because I realize my battle with Melanoma could have been a lot worse. While I’ll continue to go through more blood work, PET scans and MRIs the rest of my life, I’m so thankful to be able to experience life to the fullest.

My cancer scare has been a reminder of how precious life really is and how blessed I am to get to continue to enjoy my fishing. Several times I have shed a tear or two as the national anthem is played before we leave the boat ramp for a day of chasing those little green fish we call bass.

While all of us at some point in our lives will have health issues, sometimes it takes a life altering moment to make us realize there are things more important than winning a bass tournament. Just the fact that I get to go fishing is a true blessing and one I no longer take for granted!

Let’s not get this twisted, I’m still competitive and will continue to critique myself after each event in my desperate pursuit of championship stringers! But it’s no longer the most important part of my life and does not define who I am as a person.

Till next time, enjoy every opportunity you get to wet a hook and go fishing while spending time in God’s great outdoors.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Critiquing the 2025 Bassmaster Classic

Mon, 05 May 2025 14:06:23 GMT

Critiquing the 2025 Bassmaster Classic

Are the “good ol’ days” of the Bassmaster Classic behind us? Has the Super Bowl of bass fishing lost its luster? Have we lost a generation of fans who refuse to watch a Bassmaster weigh-in? Has real time live coverage become a deterring factor in people wanting to attend the Classic weigh-in? Here’s my perspective on whether it’s time to address some of the issues facing the Bassmaster organization.

There was a time when the Bassmaster Classic was the event of the year in the world of professional bass fishing, and it still is but in a different manner. People around the world tune into this event as more and more top anglers continue to come across the pond and fish against the best anglers in the world.

For years, arenas were packed to the roof to watch a Classic weigh-in. Crowds up to 20,000 were so big, they had to turn away fans due to the limited capacity of the arena. It wasn’t just a weigh-in, it was a show! It was where celebrities showed up, including Presidents, to watch the best anglers in the world at the biggest event in the world of professional bass fishing.

It was a sponsor’s exposure dream show with truck and boat wraps highlighting their company logos. Every Bassmaster Classic with its huge video board honored champions and the history of the sport. But it was the drama of not knowing who would be leading at the end of the daily weigh-in.

Then what most thought was the greatest thing to happen to the sport of professional bass fishing, ESPN purchased B.A.S.S. (Bassmaster organization) and offered live daily coverage. This took the sport to another level, but it eliminated the suspense of the weigh-in because people already knew what each angler had based on the live coverage they watched all day.

Even when the daily live TV coverage stopped, people switched over to the internet where live coverage continued up to one hour before the weigh-in. So, they (B.A.S.S.) once again eliminated the suspense and the drama that comes with a Classic weigh-in.

Attendance is down for a lot of major sports across the country as live TV/internet coverage has allowed people to stay home and watch it from the comfort of their favorite chair with their own supply of snacks that don’t cost a fortune.

No longer do fans have to sit in long traffic jams or wade through thousands of people trying to enter a stadium. No longer are they willing to pay up to $50 for parking as host cities abuse and take advantage of people wanting to attend a Classic. It’s just easier to watch it from home!

So how can the Bassmaster organization fix this problem? First, if they are going to continue with live coverage, maybe move the weigh-ins back to the lake. Or they need to make sure the Expo show is at the same location as the Classic weigh-in so that fans don’t have to pay double parking to attend both.

When it comes to live broadcast, maybe they need to shorten the coverage so that fans don’t know exactly what the anglers have until they watch the weigh-in.

If I remember right, the Classic weigh-in used to be delayed a few hours and aired at night. But with social media today, I’m not sure if that’s even possible. With respect to live coverage, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.

The time has come for B.A.S.S. to re-evaluate the Bassmaster Classic and how it’s being covered. While live coverage has been a game changer for the sport of professional bass fishing, B.A.S.S. now has the task of trying to figure out what’s more important…people attending a Classic weigh-in or continue with live up to the minute TV and internet coverage.

Till next time, keep your hooks wet, fresh line on your reels and go fishing every chance you get.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Things Don’t Always Go as Planned

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:05:02 GMT

Things Don’t Always Go as Planned

Tournament bass fishing is sometimes about as predictable as the weather. Every single day is different, even when the weather doesn’t want to cooperate. This is why anglers must be flexible and willing to adjust. The anglers who can pivot at the right time are usually the guys who win. Just because you caught bass one way on Thursday, does not mean you’ll be able to catch them the same way on Friday. So many factors come in to play when it comes to bass biting.

The weather is probably the biggest factor in how bass react daily. Of course, they bite best during low or falling barometric pressure days and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over my many years of tournament fishing, it’s that timing is everything. No matter what body of water it is, bass are biting somewhere! You just have to be in the right place at the right time. This is where practice pays off, but you as an angler must pay attention. If you caught fish in a certain area on Friday at 10:00 AM, there’s a good chance those same fish will bite about an hour later the next day.

But almost every tournament day, anglers must adjust on the fly. Conditions can change hourly, especially during the spring, as cold fronts come through more often than any other time of the year. During the summer months, bass are more predictable as weather patterns tend to be more consistent and stable for days at a time.

There are days however, when anglers are left scratching their heads and questioning the bait and technique they are using. It’s a running joke with anglers that memos are sent out to all bass on the morning the tournament starts. It’s like they’ve been notified to be aware that there are bass fishermen on the water today looking to jerk them into a bass boat.

Therefore, bass should avoid all artificial lures and be alert for anything that resembles live bait and approach all food sources with caution! While we all know bass can’t read, there are times when it seems someone has made them aware that anglers are on the water.

Sometimes, I think we as anglers give bass way too much intellectual credit, but with so much fishing pressure on our lakes today, bass are becoming more educated and can be difficult to catch. Day after day, hour after hour, bass are seeing so many lures that they have become warry of anything that doesn’t look like natural forage.

This is the challenge that I absolutely love about bass fishing! How can I put together a recipe to catch these little green creatures we call bass. Because the ultimate goal is to put a heavy five fish limit in the boat that will allow me to either win or cash a check.

But so many times, the tournament never goes the way you planned. There comes a point during the day that you must rethink your strategy and approach. This is when the word “adjustment” comes into play.

Like so many professional anglers will tell you, bass fishing is all about decision making. Anglers that make the right adjustments at the right time are usually the ones holding up the trophy at the end of the day.

Bass fishing is becoming more and more difficult even with all the great lures and equipment we have as anglers. The days of going out and catching a hundred bass in a day are pretty much gone. Why? I feel it’s all because of one word, “pressure.”

Boat ramps that used to be empty Monday through Thursday, are now full seven days a week. The bass never get a break from the pressure with so many anglers on the water every single day. Also, we now have Livescope, a tool that allows anglers to go after every bass.

Today, there’s no longer a safe haven for bass to retreat to and get a break from all the fishing pressure. Daily, bass are chased and pursued all over the lake with no time to recover.

This is why so many tournaments today are won by anglers who make the right decisions and adjustments in order to put themselves in position for the win or cash a check. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear your life jacket every time your big engine is running.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Living in the Present but Yearning for the Past

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:03:33 GMT

Living in the Present but Yearning for the Past

I’ve always enjoyed remembering how things used to be, and I look forward for what the future holds with regards to the tournament bass fishing. Today we’ll step back in time and look at how tournament fishing was in the early days.

As I’ve noted in past writings, my tournament days go back to the early 1990’s. To say that times have changed is truly an understatement. Things are different today in several ways and the first thing that comes to mind, is how anglers had respect for each other on the water. Anglers were always conscious of fishing too close to another angler and never wanted to invade another their territory especially if he was leading the tournament. THAT’S NOT THE CASE TODAY!

To use an old phrase, “back in the day,” anglers showed respect for each other by not fishing areas on the lake that someone found first. Unfortunately, anglers today tend to hold no regard or respect for another angler’s area.

Many of our younger anglers tend to think that all water is open for anyone to fish any time during the tournament. But I’m not going to throw shade just on our youth for all the issues taking place in tournaments. It’s not really their fault, as 95% of both high school and college anglers have never been exposed to the unwritten rules of tournament bass fishing. Etiquette has been forgotten and not being taught.

Another issue today that anglers have is the disregard for the “no information” rule. At no time has this rule had more attention than it has this season. Several touring pros have been disqualified for violating this rule in 2025. Most tournament trails have a written rule that does not allow anglers to receive information about a particular body of water within a specific time frame. Without a doubt, this is the most abused rule on every level!

Anglers back in the day, were held to a higher standard than they are today. Some tournament organizations are turning a blind eye to some of the infractions and are not holding anglers accountable. This is why anglers continue to bend the rules and is one reason tournament entries are down nationwide.

Until organizations decided to preserve the integrity of the sport, and drop the hammer on these rule breakers, nothing will change. Some anglers will stop at nothing to gather information like waypoints, best areas to fish, and what baits to throw from guides and other resources.

While there are ways to gather information legally, some anglers ignore the rules and show no regard for doing things the right way. Once again, back in the day if an angler violated a rule, he was pulled aside by other anglers and asked to explain himself. The older generation held each other more accountable.

Oh, how I yearn for the days of old where you did not have to worry about who or how someone was possibly cheating or bending the rules. Your reputation as an angler was more important than winning any single event. You would rather sacrifice a win and still have the respect of your fellow competitors than to cash a check doing something shady.

But the philosophy today, is to win at all costs no matter what the consequences. This is pretty much true in all sports, especially on the high school and collegiate levels. Today it’s all about the money being made and if a kid is not happy where they’re at, they transfer to another school that is willing to pay them even more. They even paid in advance on potential and not on their body of work!

I’ll wrap up this gripe session with this; if we as anglers don’t start demanding organizations enforce ALL the rules, nothing will ever change. We must demand transparency from all tournament organizations. Till next time, go fishing every chance you get because you never know when it might be your last.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Lessons Learned Growing Up On a Ranch

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:01:53 GMT

Lessons Learned Growing Up On a Ranch

So many things impact our lives as individuals, but nothing more than hard work. Growing up as a kid on a ranch, I learned many of life’s lessons through the chores that had to be done. It wasn’t always something I enjoyed, but was things that were necessary in order for our ranch to operate properly.

First, let’s look at the ranch I grew up on which was located about 10 miles east of Talco, Texas. My dad and his brother were partners of this property known as Graf Brothers Ranch. Now my dad’s brother (Uncle Bill) lived in Ft. Worth and was the owner of a major trucking company, while my dad worked full time in the Talco oil field as the superintendent for Vick Well Service.

Uncle Bill was mainly a financial owner of the ranch as dad did 90% of the work that took place. On the ranch, we raised several breeds of cattle including Herford, Angus and Brahmas, and at one point we even ran a few Charolais. The ranch was known for producing high quality crossbred calves, all due to one awesome Angus bull by the name of “Doc.”

Doc was a pure black Angus bull that became famous for the calves he produced, which landed him on the cover of Texas Farm Magazine. My dad truly loved this bull and had a special relationship with Doc who was his favorite bull that we ever owned.

A ranch requires a lot of work and there were many chores that had to be done, some I dreaded and others I looked forward to. But nothing was worse than what my dad called “picking up chunks.”

This was a job that took place anytime dad decided to clear some of the timber on our property in order to create more pastureland. We owned a D8 Caterpillar dozer that was used exclusively for clearing property and building stock ponds.

Once the timber was cut and piled up ready to burn, there were a lot of “chunks” of wood that had to be picked up by hand and placed in small piles also to be burned. I do remember having a few choice words every time I heard the words, “Pick up chunks.” It really was the worse job in the world!

One thing about working on a ranch, there was never a shortage of things to do. Whether it was building or mending fence, bailing hay, bush hogging, barn repairs, or doctoring cattle, there was plenty to do!

The greatest lesson I learned from growing up on the ranch was work ethic. Our ranch was our family business and required plenty of attention. Being a young teenager, a lot was expected by my dad when it came to getting things done, as he worked full-time in the oil field six days a week. Therefore, Sundays were always dedicated to any and all jobs needing to be done on the ranch.

But this place, was also my playground for hunting and fishing. It’s where my passion grew for both hunting and fishing as I spent hours upon hours fishing our stock ponds or hunting ducks and squirrels.

Looking back at my time on the ranch brings back some great memories. It helped shape me into the person I am today and motivated me to continue my education as dad reminded me often that if I did not go to college, I would be working seven days a week on the ranch. That was something I DID NOT WANT!

Till next time, enjoy every opportunity you get to wet a hook or enjoy the great outdoors and remember, it always a great day when you get to go fishing whether you catch fish or not.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Packing Everything Plus the Kitchen Sink?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:00:33 GMT

Packing Everything Plus the Kitchen Sink?

Remember the days when you had babies, and you needed to bring so much stuff when you headed out to visit family or go on vacation? Then the day came when the kids were grown and the days of packing the entire house were over.

Anglers might be the worst group when it comes to needing something they forgot to pack. Which then means, they must find a local tackle store or place an internet order and have it drop shipped directly to their tournament site…. no matter the cost.

It never fails that whatever soft plastic bait you start catching fish on, you never have enough to get you through the tournament. But back home in your fishing man cave, you have several bags hanging on the peg board screaming, “Why did you leave me!” But, if you ever want to see a mini-Walmart on wheels, check out the back end of a tournament angler’s truck.

There you will find extra rods and reels, box after box of different types of crankbaits, tubs full of soft plastics organized by different brand types, baggies full of special baits, and other tackle like spool after spool of fishing line in all sizes.

You might also find a spare prop for the outboard motor, extension cords, a boat cover, spare life jackets and probably a spotlight for doing pre-rigging around the boat after dark.

It's no different than taking a baby on the road. You need everything you can possibly pack because whatever you left at the house is exactly what you’ll need for the tournament.

This is why it’s important for anglers to make a checklist for every tournament before hitting the road. Most of the time they already have a preconceived idea as to what they might need for a particular event based on the time of year and the weather. But the checklist is crucial to bringing the right gear for the event. Without it, something will be forgotten!

While life on the road can be a joy, it can also be stressful especially when you forget to bring something that you know is critical to your success for the next tournament. But with today’s great product distribution from Tackle Warehouse, Tackle Attic, Amazon and other distributers, the product you need is only a click away.

So many times, I have seen anglers drop ship product to the address of the house they are staying at during the tournament. I’ve also seen tournament anglers drive for over an hour to the nearest tackle store just for a bag of worms in a specific color.

So, the next time you’re packing the house and loading everything into the car for your newborn child, remember, bass fishermen will do the same thing; they will leave NOTHING behind!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and make sure you have a checklist the next time you hit the road for a fishing adventure. Hopefully you won’t need the kitchen sink, as this will cost a fortune to ship!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Competition Makes Everyone Better, or Does It?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:59:04 GMT

Competition Makes Everyone Better, or Does It?

From the day I started playing sports on a competitive level, I’ve always heard the expression, “Competition makes you better.” Is this fact or fiction, and can we prove this theory? Today we’ll break down this concept and determine for ourselves if this is true.

Growing up in East Texas, our community had a summer program called “Park Recreation” that was headed up by a former high school coach by the name of Sam Parker. The concept of this half day program for ages 8 through 12 was designed to create competition through different types of physical games like tug of war, piggyback fights, and capture the flag. Then halfway through the morning after a short donut shop break, we would divide up and play a baseball game until noon.

This program was all about competition and instilling toughness. Yes, there were many days when guys went home with shirts half torn and a bloody lip, but the games were fun! Many times, you would have to compete with guys older than yourself, which makes you better.

This in my opinion is what made me better as an athlete…playing guys older than myself. These games brought out the competitive fire to show all your peers that you were tough and hated losing. It showed no matter who you were up against, you never gave up. It taught you how to compete!

Bass fishing, like other competitive sports, is no different. As far as I’m concerned, there are only two ways you can really get better as an angler. One is to fish and compete against guys better than yourself. Or two, spend as much time as possible on the water learning new techniques.

My philosophy has always been to learn as much as I can from every person I get in the boat with. No matter how good you think you are, there’s always room to improve. Over the years fishing with others, I’ve pick up a lot of information ranging from new techniques to organizing tips.

Obviously, you’re not always going to learn something from every single angler you fish with. But it’s important to keep an open mind to the idea of learning something new. You must leave your ego on the bank in order to become a better angler.

One thing that I have learned about the sport of bass fishing is that you never stop learning, even if you’ve been doing it for 30 years. It’s an ever-evolving sport as new technology and innovation continue to develop every year.

To answer the question, “Does competition really make us better?” The answer is a definite yes, but only if you’re willing to be open minded and are looking to get better. So, no matter the sport, competition makes us better.

Till next time, keep your hooks wet and your gun powder dry. Enjoy your time on the water and make every cast count.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Why Do Anglers Feel the Need to Cheat?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:57:45 GMT

Why Do Anglers Feel the Need to Cheat?

Times sure have changed here on Walton’s Mountain as bass tournaments have become a magnet for anglers looking to cash a check and make some money…. illegally. In a few cases, it’s just about fulfilling their ego by being the so called “best” angler on their designated lake. These are anglers who want you to think that they are the best fisherman on the planet! Well, let’s look at why cheating has become the preferred technique when it comes to tournament bass fishing.

If I had to speculate on why this has become a problem nationwide, I would first look at the money involved. Bass tournaments today are offering some big money and prize packages. For example, the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash Series offers a prize package valued at over $100,000 for the biggest bass caught in their event. THAT’S $100,000 FOR JUST ONE FISH!

Numerous trails with both team and individual formats are offering anywhere from $10,000 up to $75,000 for first place. But the cheaters aren’t just showing up at these major tournaments, they’re also backing their boats in the water at your local Thursday night three-hour shootouts, which is really sad!

If it’s not for money, then what other reason would someone have to cheat? For guys that like to race, it’s the need for speed that’s the addiction, but for bass anglers fishing for a couple of hundred dollars on a three-hour event in the middle of the week, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the reason for cheating.

Once you’ve been labeled a cheater in the bass tournament world, your reputation is gone, and everyone knows the kind of person you really are. It’s just not worth losing your pride and dignity.

Are the anglers who cheat just a sign of the times and the world we are living in? A lot of people today are looking for a shortcut and no one wants to earn their keep. Nobody wants to work for what they have! They either want it given to them or they will cheat to get what they think they deserve.

I’ve even witnessed first-hand guys who thought it was okay to cheat in a golf tournament by turning in a score that wasn’t a true reflection of their actual score. This was all for a $200 gift card to the local pro shop! This seems to be especially prevalent with the younger generation, which is very disturbing to me.

Where have we gone wrong with raising kids that think it’s okay to cheat or stretch the truth, or is it a “social media” thing? Now we just might be onto something here, as both young and old people love to post their accomplishments on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. I guess they think it gives them instant fame and credibility on their ability to achieve success.

All I know is this… IT HAS TO STOP! People who fall into the “cheaters” category need to be taken out behind the woodshed and taught a lesson. I’m wondering when the day will come where tournament anglers take a page from the NASCAR guys and hold kangaroo court in the parking lot.

The next thing that must happen is when these guys get caught cheating and committing fraud, judges need to come down harder on them with automatic jail time and a lifetime ban from fishing tournaments. All fishing tackle including rods and reels, their bass boat and any other equipment needs to be forfeited.

I’m personally tired of going to tournaments and asking the question, “Did they cheat or was their catch legitimate?” The problem is that no event is immune from someone cheating. Even the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail, a Christian anglers tournament trail, has delt with this issue lately. How sad is it that someone thinks it’s okay to cheat in a Fishers of Men event!

Besides the issues with forward facing sonar, cheating is just another reason honest anglers are walking away from bass tournaments and refusing to pony up entry fees. They’re tired of worrying about that 2% of anglers out there that don’t want to play by the rules. Both issues are having a negative effect on tournament organizations trying to provide a reputable bass fishing trail.

Here's my concern. One day something bad is going to happen to one of these low life cheaters when they show up at an event and anglers decide to take matters into their own hands. I just hope they have good medical insurance!

Till next time, keep your boots dry and your hooks wet. And remember, if you must cheat to win, you’re really a loser!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Looking at “What If”

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:56:16 GMT

Looking at “What If”

After much soul searching and really being appreciative of the life I’ve had, I thought it would be a good time ask the question of... “what if?” With today’s article I’ll throw out a few scenarios as to what might have been “if” certain things had not happened in my life.

First, what if my real mom and dad would have stayed together and never divorced. For sure my brother (Mike Comer) and I would have grown up together and probably would have been lifelong buds who both shared a passion for sports and fishing. A brother who could have led the way for me and gave me direction. I would also have had a relationship with my real dad, who I never met, which is something every boy wants and needs.

What if my aunt and uncle never came to my rescue during my early struggles in school and life itself. I’m pretty sure I would have ended up in some juvenile detention center. At some point, I would have gotten caught sneaking into people’s houses, which over time, I’m sure would have lit my fuse for theft of items other than food.

What if I had never moved to Mt. Pleasant? I would have missed out on being raised on a ranch and the lessons I learned from that experience. I would have never met my best friend growing up, Kevin Owsley, who I still miss today. I would have missed out on some of the best coaches and teachers a young boy could ask for.

I would have missed out on all the camping trips to Daingerfield State Park with my buddy Kevin. I would have missed out on the awesome summers of playing baseball and going to Park Recreation with Coach Sam Parker.

What if I had never moved to Mt. Pleasant? I would have missed out on the best four years of my life at MPHS! What a great place to go to high school, a place with so much school spirit and pride, a school with the best sounding band from Tiger land and an athletic program second to none. So much I would have missed out on like being a member of a state championship baseball team.

What if I had chosen to go to a different college other than Northwestern State? Would I have met the love of my life and raised three awesome kids in a family-oriented community like Natchitoches? Would I have had the same success at another university? Would I have gotten the opportunity to play professional baseball?

What if I had never taken up tournament bass fishing? Well, with regards to this question….I would definitely have more money in the bank and I would have missed out on so many of the friends I’ve made through tournament fishing, friends for life and people I can count in a time of need!

What if I had never started the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show, which has become one of the best outdoor radio programs on radio. The people I have met through this program after 18 years is endless. The two co-hosts that I share a mic with each week, Mike Echols and Gary McCoy, have given me so much pleasure and happiness than any one man deserves.

Gary and Mike, with their whit, humor, and outdoor expertise, make it worth my drive to Shreveport each week. Love these two more than you can imagine! Hook’N Up & Track’N Down would not be the same without these two!

We can all “what if” our lives all we want, but what’s important is that we don’t look back at what might have been, but look forward and be proud of the life we have led.

So, I think it’s obvious my life has been full of joy, sadness, disappointment and success which I guess can be summed up as a journey. Everyone has a journey with some having more than their fair share of ups and downs, but that’s what life is all about, the journey. It’s like one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” That’s exactly what mine has been….a wonderful life!

Till next week, see you at the boat ramp! Good luck, good fishing and if you’re not sure it’s a bite, set the hook! If you see me on a lake near you, make sure to stop and say hello.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Who Would Have Thought

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:54:13 GMT

Who Would Have Thought

I’ve been tournament fishing since 1990 and the changes I have seen in equipment are staggering. From electronics, rods and reels, bass boats to bait and tackle, it’s amazing how far the sport of bass fishing has progressed. Let’s look at a few of the changes that have made the sport so much better.

First, who would have thought the electronics used today would be comparable to something you would see on a NASA spaceship. The biggest difference between depth finders today versus the 1990’s would be the visual detail you see. Today you can literally see every individual fish and how they’re positioned on a rock or a brush top.

You can watch fish attack your bait in real time! You can see and learn so much about the mood of the fish and how they are reacting to whatever bait you’re throwing.

Next, when it comes to rod and reels, top name companies like Daiwa are constantly looking at ways to make everything better with both innovation and technology. Whether it’s the materials or components used, they are always trying to make a better rod that’s lighter and stronger for greater hook sets and reels that will cast smoother and farther while giving anglers so many options for different retrieve speeds.

Now let’s look at the most expensive item an angler can invest in…the bass boat. Next to the trucks anglers buy to pull these luxury boats, bass boats have become ridiculously overpriced and over designed.

Back in 1998, a top-of-the-line Ranger bass boat listed for about $30,000. Ranger, who has been a leader with innovation in the bass boating world, continues to add and perfect the modern-day bass boat year after year with innovations like hull design, digital switches and gauges, cushioned casting decks, and adjustable/softer seats with tilt steering wheels. They were the first to add live wells to a bass boat which were all made and built by hand. Who would have thought that today there would be a keyless ignition system and heated seats with leather wrapped steering wheels.

Today, with all the new innovations and perks all bass boat companies are creating, who would have thought the average price would jump from $30,000 in 1998 to $140,000 in 2025! A tournament angler today will more than likely have a minimum of $175,000 tied up in just the truck and boat alone.

So, as you can see, bass fishing has come a long way in terms of technology and innovation, as well as cost. This does not include the 30 to 50 rods and reels tournament anglers bring to each event, along with all the tackle like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastic worms and fishing line.

Has bass fishing become a rich man’s sport? Well, that depends on how serious the angler wants to be. Does he want to be a weekend warrior and fish for fun, or does he want to compete in tournaments at a high level? To fish competitively today, the electronics on the boat may be the most important feature. If you’re not good with reading and using the depth finders on your boat, you’re probably just donating your entry fee.

Who would have thought that to be a professional bass fisherman on a major tournament trail in 2025, you would have to pony up over $50,000 up front for entry fees before you ever even wet a hook.

Who would have thought that some anglers would take out a second mortgage on their house just to fish professionally. The sad part is, only a handful will make it. By the end of year three, a lot of anglers are bankrupt, in financial ruins and maybe divorced.

While a lot of what I’ve just covered is depressing, I have never seen bass fishing as popular as it is today. The sport is attracting a huge number of young anglers fishing on high school and college teams. There are still many anglers age 40 and above, but the younger generation is quickly taking over the sport due to their ability to maximize the use of electronics, especially when it comes to forward-facing sonar.

Today, who would have thought that bass fishing would be as popular as it is in 2025! We should thank people like Ray Scott (founder of B.A.S.S.) for creating a professional tournament trail and the Super Bowl of bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

We should thank the legendary anglers of the sport like Rick Clunn, Gary Kline, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Hank Parker and Forest Wood (founder of Ranger Boats) for taking the sport to a level anglers could only dream of.

Till next time, I want to say thank you for taking the time to read my article each week. It truly means a lot to me, and I really appreciate your feedback, both good and bad.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Nothing Like that Special Bond Between Anglers

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:52:17 GMT

Nothing Like that Special Bond Between Anglers

I’m not sure where to start to describe the impact bass fishing has had on my life. I think it’s safe to say that I have gotten a lot more out of bass fishing than probably any of my other hobbies combined. It’s a sport that has provided me a lifetime of great memories and has allowed me to make some of the best friends a man could ever ask for.

Let’s start by going way back to my early days of fishing on our ranch in East Texas. What a great training ground it was! I was basically self-taught after being introduced to bass fishing by my best friend’s dad (who also sparked my interest in hunting as well.)

By the age of 10 (in 1972), I was a subscriber to Bassmaster Magazine which really lit my fuse for basic bass fishing information. What a great publication full of tips and tricks with full scale color drawings on how, when and where to catch fish. I would literally sit by the mailbox with excitement waiting on each issue.

For a young boy who was not an avid reader and struggled with dyslexia, if it wasn’t for Bassmaster Magazine, I’m not sure I would have learned how to read at all. This magazine gave me a purpose and a reason to learn how to read!

I remember the first tackle box I ever saw; it belonged to my dad. I was enthralled with going through it and handling all the funny looking baits. Some I had learned about through my Bassmaster Magazine, while there were other baits I had never seen before.

Now many of these baits never made it back to dad’s tackle box because I lost most of them on a stump or a log in one of our stock ponds on the ranch. Dad was never much of a fisherman, but he would do inventory occasionally to see just how many of his lures I had lost.

He never really got upset about the lures lost in action, but I could tell he was disappointed that some were missing. I guess he was just happy I found something I was passionate about other than baseball.

Well, baseball did take up much of my time up until 1985. It was then, during a routine physical, that my doctor randomly asked me what I was going to do to fill the void of my baseball playing days. I told him that I would probably play a little softball, a lot more golf, and bass fish.

Little did I know, it would be a friend of mine who would introduce me to tournament fishing by asking me to fish a night tournament on Lake Bistineau. This was life changing for me and ignited my passion for competitive bass fishing.

After fishing local and regional team trails up until 1998, I decided to take my fishing to the next level by fishing the highest level on the FLW Tour as a co-angler. But I also jumped in the BFL’s (the lowest level of FLW) and fished as a boater/pro while also entering the FLW Everstart Series (now Toyota Series) and Bassmaster Opens, which for the last 20 years has been my passion.

For the last 8 years, I’ve basically been dedicated to a couple of tournament trails within American Bass Anglers Organization: one called the Solo 150’s (their highest level) and the other called the new Pro League. Both I have truly enjoyed and still look forward to fishing.

But, over the years, I have made some lifelong friends and connections with some of the biggest names in the bass fishing world. These people, who have achieved so much, also introduced me to others who have had a huge impact on me as an angler and a person.

There’s something about the bond anglers have that is so special. These are guys who will come to your rescue in time of need on and off the water. Guys you can share information with and that you can trust to keep that info to themselves.

At each tournament, memories are made. Stories are told over and over of situations we have been in before and stories of great days on the water both during practice and the tournament. But understand, anglers tend to exaggerate or stretch the truth occasionally.

But the bonds you share with other anglers is what makes bass fishing such an enjoyable sport. Till next time, keep on fishing and keep on setting the hook as you never know, the next fish you catch just might be the fish of a lifetime.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Love Hate Relationship Anglers have with Sponsors

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:50:16 GMT

The Love Hate Relationship Anglers have with Sponsors

When it comes to bass tournament anglers and sponsors, the winds are changing, and the opportunities are diminishing. Today we’ll take a look at what many young anglers are facing with regards to landing sponsors while trying to compete on one of the professional bass tournament trails. If you’re looking to fish for a living, pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you.

First, let’s address why sponsors are necessary; without them the decision to fish professionally can be next to impossible unless you have parents or grandparents willing to foot the bill. To fish at the highest level requires lots of money up front even before you ever wet a hook. Without great sponsors, it’s almost impossible to make the dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman a reality.

In today’s professional bass fishing world, there are only so many sponsors available as anglers are constantly competing for what few there are. Not all sponsors are created equal, as some are willing to pay the angler a salary, while others just give product such as a bass boat, fishing tackle, or possibly a truck in exchange for the angler’s promotion of these items.

But before an angler needs to worry about sponsors, he or she needs to learn how to find fish. The one mistake I see with many young anglers on the rise is that they are too worried about how to obtain sponsors rather than learning how to find and catch fish.

Kids today are star struck by the fancy sublimation shirts that really do turn heads. But it goes without saying that unless you can catch fish, you won’t have to worry about landing sponsors. Tournament success is still important!

Another thing young anglers don’t understand in today’s professional bass fishing world, it’s not just about catching bass, it’s also about an angler’s ability to promote a product. Most sponsors could care less if you can catch bass. They’re more concerned with your ability to communicate and sell product for them.

They want an angler who will represent their brand in a professional manner by attending boat shows, fishing seminars and doing a great job with social media promotions. My first advice to any angler looking to fish professionally is to take speech and learn how to sell yourself and communicate with people.

Here's the truth…once you sign with sponsors, you’re now obligated to them and must respond to their beckoning call. They’re not paying you to fish, but rather to represent their brand and promote product.

Here’s where the love hate relationship comes into play. Every angler will tell you that when it comes to sponsors, it is a double edge sword. With success comes more responsibility and commitment to the sponsors you’re connected with.

This means more time off the water and less time practicing, which can interfere with your ability to compete at the highest level due to the fact that your sponsors are pulling you away from what you really want to do the most….go bass fishing!

But sponsors are a necessity for a fulltime professional angler, and they hold all the cards in an angler’s ability to make a living. Every angler will tell you there’s no way an angler can make a living just off tournament winnings. Anglers must draw a salary and get help with expensive tournament entry fees in order to make a living for their families.

So, the next time you see a professional bass fisherman wearing one of those great looking sublimation shirts with all the different company logos, understand that each logo comes with a high level of commitment and dedication, not just to the companies he represents, but his family as well.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and always believe that the fish are going bite tomorrow. The power of positive thinking is the most important ingredient an angler can have in order to achieve success.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Wrapping Up an Incredible Journey

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:48:39 GMT

Wrapping Up an Incredible Journey

Today I’ll wrap up my life’s journey and how I have become the person I am today. While fishing and the outdoors have been a huge part of my life, sports have been my saving grace. It has all been due to great parents, teachers, and coaches that have had the greatest impact on my life.

Although my biological mother made a tough decision to walk away from me in the summer of ’69, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. My life turned 180 degrees as my aunt and uncle made it official in 1970 by adopting me.

A year or two before adopting me, they decided to adopt a child from birth and named him Chad, who was 6 or 7 years younger than me. Now this young boy was super smart, funny with a great personality who never met a stranger. Was class president and class favorite throughout his entire junior and senior high years. He was a good athlete, a team player, and very mechanical minded who could fix anything.

As I stated earlier, I had a younger stepbrother (Kenny) who I have lost contact with but did very well for himself as he graduated from Texas A&M and became a navy captain on a nuclear submarine. Last time I heard, Kenny was working for Texas Instruments out of Dallas. Hats off to my bio mom as she decided to raise Kenny herself and it appears she did a pretty good job. After her second divorce, she finally found a good man in her third husband (Bill) who gave Kenny some direction and discipline being a former military man himself.

Now according to my aunt, who I later would call mom, it turns out that it took me a little while to adjust and eel secure, as I still hid food under my bed for about a year. Based off what a phycologist told her, this was considered normal behavior because I was still in survival mode. This would eventually stop as I became confident that I was going to be taken care of.

There was another obstacle I had to overcome early with my education. I was diagnosed with Dyslexia going into the 2nd grade. Every day for both the 2nd and 3rd grade years, I would leave my mainstream class during the English period and go to Mrs. Carpenter’s classroom as she slowly turned me around with my ability to read. I owe a lot to Mrs. Carpenter who did an outstanding job of getting me on the right path.

My Junior High years offered a different kind of challenge especially athletically as the skinny bean poll kid, which is a perfect description of me at that time, went out for 7th grade football. I was so skinny that extra small pants were loose on me. I was still a good athlete but did not have any lead in my britches so to speak. As good as I was at baseball did not translate to being that good at football initially as I started the season as a third team running back. Not first or second string….. third string!

But by the end of my 8th grade year, I had moved up to second string. Then as I got to high school in the 9thgrade, I was moved to starting quarterback and never looked back as my body started to fill out and with great coaching, my confidence soared.

But the one thing I was never lacking, was confidence on a baseball field. This is the one area of my life that I always felt I was as good as anyone who stepped on the field. After a great Little League and Dixie Youth experience, I was ready for high school and the best four years of my life!

My high school (Mt. Pleasant) had the reputation as one of the top programs in Texas. The 1970’s were some glorious times for the Mt. Pleasant Tiger Athletic Program in all sports. During this period, Mt. Pleasant was the winningest all-around program in the state of Texas, only behind Odessa Permian which many of you know from the movie, “Friday Night Lights.” It did not matter what sport; the MP Tigers were a state contender in all sports throughout the ‘70’s.

Then during my junior year in the spring of 1978, it all came together for a group of guys who had grown up together playing baseball. After a couple of disappointing finishes from the previous two seasons, we finally got the job done going 26-4 and winning the ’78 Class 3A State Baseball Title. Mt. Pleasant’s first state championship in any sport!

Then came my senior year, which was a year of highs and lows, as the ’78 football season would be a true trial and tribulation for me mentally and physically as we struggled the entire season with a new coaching staff. To this day, I still have mixed emotions about that year as it was probably the most difficult season I would ever endure as an athlete.

Compounding a difficult football season, I lost my best friend Kevin Owsley. He was a brother from another mother for me and we shared some good times together growing up playing ball, hunting and fishing. Kevin was one of those people everyone liked due to his infectious personality. He was also our starting second baseman on our defending state championship baseball team and losing him really put a huge damper on our attempt to repeat as we came up one game short of a trip back to the state tournament in Austin.

But there was one great thing that came out of my senior year, an offer to play in college on the division one level. While I had several division 1 offers, it wasn’t until a coach by the name of Al Miller (former NFL strength coach for the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons) came to my house and made an offer to continue my athletic career and education at Northwestern State University.

Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, committing to NSU turned out to be the best decision I ever made. This is where I met my wife of 43 years, Sherrie. We have celebrated life together and raised three awesome kids Brittany, Meredith and Brandon. I cannot imagine where I would be today had I not gone to NSU.

After graduating from NSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology/Engineering, I was blessed with the opportunity to play baseball on the next level after being drafted in 1983 by the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals). Playing in the Expos minor league system and trying to reach the major league level was truly a great experience and one I am thankful for.

The friends I have made through my college experience is priceless. I had the privilege to play with some of the greatest to ever wear an NSU Demon uniform, several that went on to play in the NFL with great success. The level of talent at NSU during the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s was incredible!

In 2009, I had the greatest honor you can receive from your alma mater, being inducted into the Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Fame as a two-sport athlete and in 2023 going into the Mt. Pleasant High School Hall of Fame.

The good Lord has blessed me in so many ways I’ve lost count. The early years of my life were merely a test of my determination and perseverance. I’m a true believer in the words, “God had a plan.” Over my lifetime, so many families, friends, teammates, coaches and teachers have had an impact on my life that I cannot even begin to list them all.

Most of them know who they are and all I can say is “thank you.” Thank you for believing in a young boy who had all kinds of issues and challenges he had to overcome to achieve success. Without each of you, none of it would have been possible.

If you haven’t already done so, make sure to thank those that have impacted your life before they are no longer with us. Next week we’ll get back to more stories and experiences of the great outdoors as tournament fishing season is upon us. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt…. set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What an Incredible Journey it has Been (Part II)

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:45:57 GMT

What an Incredible Journey it has Been (Part II)

Last week we talked about the early journey of my life and the difficulties I faced before the age of 9. Today we’ll continue this journey of perseverance and determination, along with two people who changed the course of my life forever.

At the ripe old age of seven, and with my Little League baseball career on hold due to an age issue, I truly struggled in school the entire first half of the school year. Then that Christmas in 1968 my aunt and uncle (Laverne and Loyd Graf Jr.) came to Rosenberg, Texas, and brought me to their home in Northeast Texas…Mt. Pleasant.

My aunt enrolled me in school there and I spent Christmas break and the entire spring and early summer trying to get caught up so I could finish out the first grade. I was also blessed to have a 1st grade teacher by the name of Mickey Sinclair who played a huge roll in me passing and moving on to the 2nd grade.

This was when my life began to change for the good. I passed the first grade and spent the entire summer of ’68 there with my aunt and uncle working and playing on their ranch. It was an awesome summer as I made new friends and met my best bud…. Kevin Owsley. We took swimming lessons and played on the same Pee Wee League team, the Yankees!

We had some great sleep overs and camping trips while becoming as close as brothers. I also learned how to fish and what it meant to do chores on our ranch. It really was the best summer of my life! It was also the beginning of my baseball playing career and it didn’t take me long to realize, this sport was going take me places. God had blessed me with athletic ability and a good throwing arm. Turns out, sports gave me a purpose in life and a sense of belonging.

At the end of the summer of ’68, my bio mom came and picked me up and took me back to Houston where I started the 2nd grade. I really missed my aunt and uncle, along with all my friends back in Mt. Pleasant. Once again, there I was at the age of 8 and back into the same bad environment, struggling in school, but this time my mom had moved us to Houston.

I was staying out till all hours of the night and running the streets of Houston while living in an apartment complex that did not have the best people living there. With so much freedom and mingling with thieves and drug dealers on a regular basis, bad temptations were a constant. I was actually smoking cigarettes and if you’re wondering, Marlboro was my choice of sticks. Now instead of just looking for food in the neighborhood, I’m also looking for smokes.

During my time in Houston, I always knew that the people I was hanging with were not held in high esteem. For some reason, (only God knows) I separated myself from them and tried to keep my distance. One thing that came out of this, was the fact that I became street wise at a very early age and learned how to read people pretty quick. No doubt that the Lord above was looking out for me at this time of my life as I was headed down the wrong road.

Failing the 2nd grade at Christmas…again… Aunt Laverne and Uncle Jr. drove to Houston and picked me up and took me back to Mt. Pleasant for good. Once again, I found myself doing extra schoolwork during the holidays and the following spring of ’69 to get caught up and pass the 2nd grade. But for me, my biggest joy was the fact that I was back with my friends and playing baseball once again for the Pee Wee League Yankees. By the way, the Yankees in two seasons under Coach James Stansell, were 24-0!!!

Then a day that's burned in my memory occurred. At the end of the summer of ’69, my bio mom showed up and was planning on taking me back to Houston. But my aunt and uncle stepped in and said “no” and felt it was better for me to stay with them permanently. So, I remember quite vividly the day my mom gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and told me how much she loved me as I watched her with sadness in my heart, drive away for the last time. Even though I talked with her maybe a handful of times, I never saw her again until the day of her funeral.

To this day, I can’t imagine how hard this must have been for her, but looking back, she knew it was the best thing she could ever do for me. As a parent myself with three awesome kids, I cannot even fathom giving up any one of them for any reason! Sadly, my bio mom was just not capable of raising two boys on her own since she had already divorced for the second time. But for me, I finally had some consistency and direction in my life, and all was good!

Next week I’ll wrap up this incredible journey and give credit to the two people who made a commitment to a young boy and put him on the path to success. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What an Incredible Journey it has Been (Part 1)

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:44:07 GMT

What an Incredible Journey it has Been (Part 1)

Over the last two years, I’ve tried to write articles that I thought would be interesting to read. Most have been stories about my fishing experiences, and a few have been about whatever is on my mind. But for the next three weeks, I’m going to introduce you to the writer who was born in Richmond, Texas, on March 7,1961.

As a child between the ages of 5 to 8 years old, I grew up in the Houston area. We lived in the small town of Rosenberg, Texas, until the age of 8. As you will see, this is a story about a young boy who overcame a lot to get to where he is today. So, pay close attention because this road was filled with a lot of potholes and obstacles that had to be overcome.

To understand my life’s journey, you must understand how it all began. My biological mom and dad divorced in 1960 while she was pregnant with me. My dad was in the military stationed in Germany when they decided to part ways for whatever reason.

While I never got to meet my dad, I’ve heard stories about him from other family members over the years. He had great athletic talent and enjoyed a beer or two while chasing the ladies on Friday and Saturday nights. Ah ha…. Probably the reason they got divorced!

My biological mother was not the mother who raised me. The lady I would eventually call mom was actually my aunt (biological mother’s sister). My bio mother was a beautiful lady who also had an extravert personality and was the life of the party wherever she went.

She lit up a room when she walked in with her smile, charm and beauty. She had a career as a model and traveled frequently while trying to raise two boys: Kenny (my younger stepbrother) and myself. Sadly, she was not a responsible parent as we spent a lot of time with babysitters including families that did not speak much English.

My brother and I were often split up during her trips out of town for days at a time. Sometimes she would leave us two to three days longer than she was supposed to. There were several occasions where the sitters would call the police scared to death that we had been abandoned!

Before my delivery date of March 7th of 1961, my bio mom had another son (Mike) five years before me who she walked away from after the divorce. Mike was raised by our grandparents on our dad’s side. He (who I eventually reunited with in 2016) was a great athlete and was a product of Sam Houston High School and went on to have a successful college football career in the mid 1970’s as a running back for East Texas State (now East Texas A&M).

During my early childhood in Rosenberg, I started the first grade and really struggled due to the lack of guidance from home. My mother, who was never home, remarried to a wife beating cop who I despise to this day. My stepdad could have cared less about his only son Kenny (my stepbrother) or myself.

Several times I witnessed my mother’s beatings…. something a 7-year-old should never have to witness. Kenny and I were pretty much on our own and raising ourselves. Being the big bother and part time caretaker, I literally hid food under my bed to make sure we had something to eat! I made sure we never went without food. According to my aunt (eventual adopted mom), I continued this practice for the first year I lived with her and my uncle as well.

Always looking for our next meal, one thing I became very good at during this time of survival was sneaking into people’s houses and helping myself to whatever food was within reach. That’s right, I was the neighborhood brat who nobody liked. But one thing was clear, there was no one better at sneaking around a house than me.

At no point was I ever seen or caught while navigating through our neighborhood houses on Rosenburg’s Walger street. I never stole anything of value, only food. But had I stayed in this environment, I’m sure I would have ended up in juvenile detention before the age of 10.

Friends were never a part of my early days in Rosenberg, except for maybe one or two, but their parents didn’t like their kids hanging around with me. I never understood why people didn’t like me knocking on their door at 6:00 in the morning wanting little Johnny to come out and play.

Even with all the challenges I faced on a daily basis, there was a day that changed my life forever. It was the day I realized God had blessed me as an athlete and the ability to play baseball. One early spring day I heard they were having baseball tryouts for Little League. With my baseball glove on my handlebars and so excited, I jumped on my bike and rode to the local park where the tryouts were taking place.

After arriving, I jumped off the bike and got in line to take ground balls like everyone else was doing. But there was one thing that got my attention; these guys were a lot bigger than me! But for some odd reason, this did not seem to faze me.

As the coach hit a ground ball my way, I scooped it up and made an impressive hard throw to the coach. Seeing the shock on his face he called me over for a talk. I knew I had made an impression as he asked how old I was. I told him seven going on eight, thinking this would not be a problem. He smiled and said, “Son, you’re going to be a great player one day, but your too young to play Little League at this time.” He told me to come back when I was old enough.

Crushed, disappointed, angry and crying, I got back on my bike and road home upset over how they wouldn’t let me play. I mean I was almost eight years old and just couldn’t understand! Obviously, a seven-year-old child does not have the ability to reason. After all, I knew I was one of the best players on that field that day and couldn’t wait to show all of them what the future held for me!

Unfortunately, none of them ever knew the success that would eventually come my way later in life since I moved from Rosenberg to Mt. Pleasant, Texas, before I could play Little League.

Next week I’ll continue my life’s incredible journey so make sure to follow-up with next week’s article and see just how blessed I have been and how two people would change my life forever.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Hunting and Football Make it a Thanksgiving to Remember

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:41:39 GMT

Hunting and Football Make it a Thanksgiving to Remember

There are a lot of hunters that can look back on Thanksgiving with fond memories. It’s not just about the food and football, but about their hunts as well. While some hunt ducks, quail or squirrels, others head for their favorite deer stand on Thanksgiving morning. Today we’ll go back in time during the early ‘70’s on a hunt I’ll never forget.

Every year as far back as I can remember, my favorite time to go hunting was on Thanksgiving morning. There was just something special about this day and waking up early knowing that three good things were going to happen that day. First, I was going deer hunting looking to shoot a good buck. Next, I knew there would be one heck of a Thanksgiving spread waiting for me after the hunt.

This would be a meal that would include my mom’s tasty cornbread dressing, fresh brown gravy, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, hot butter top rolls, deviled eggs, and either a pan roasted turkey or, every once in a while, she would shake things up with oven baked Cornish hens. To wash all this down you could choose grape Kool-Aid or sweet tea. For dessert, there was a choice between sweet potato or pecan pie, along with mom’s famous fruit salad (which was better after day 3) covered in homemade whip cream topped with walnuts.

As you can see, there was no shortage of food. But the third thing I looked forward to, that Thanksgiving Day would not be complete without, was a Dallas Cowboys victory. Nothing was more satisfying after a great meal than watching the Cowboy’s destroy their opponent.

But let’s talk about a Thanksgiving hunt I will remember forever…my first buck at the age of 12. This particular morning the temperature was in the mid 40’s with sunny skies predicted. A great morning for blowing smoke as you sat on your deer stand. But this day had a different feel, a feeling of anticipation because I had already seen the buck I was after the weekend before.

It appeared to be a solid mature eight-point buck that I hoped would make his presence known. But for some odd reason, I decided not to sit in my stand which was in the woods at the top of a hill overlooking a creek. There was also a game trail crossing this creek that deer were using on a regular basis.

So, I set up at the base of a huge pin oak tree just 20 yards off the game trail. It wasn’t long (30 minutes) before I heard the sound of something crashing through the woods headed directly in my direction. As I peered through the dense wood cover, I saw the huge buck crossing the creek and coming straight at me. Then halfway up the hill, the big eight point stopped and locked up as if he knew something wasn’t right.

I knew at this point the deer had probably gotten wind of me. I sat motionless with the buck looking in my direction about 30 feet away pawing at the ground. At one point it was as if we made actual eye contact. While this seemed like an eternity, I don’t think I took a breath for at least two minutes.

Finally, the buck looked back in the direction he came from and that’s when I raised my Remington 308 rifle and fired one shot. The buck jumped in the air and whirled around and headed back across the creek. I thought, “Surely, I didn’t miss that buck!” I mean he was the biggest buck in the county in my eyes! But then I heard him hit the ground confirming that I had made a clean shot.

The man I was hunting with, who was a good friend of the family, heard my shot and came immediately. We slowly walked towards the deer as we crossed the shallow creek and there he was, a really nice mature eight-point buck that I thought was the same deer I had seen the weekend before.

To say this was my favorite Thanksgiving ever would be an understatement! I was so excited and could not wait to show the deer to my family and friends. This is just one story of many that so many hunters get to experience during this time of year.

It’s also another reason for all of us to be thankful, not just for the opportunity to go hunting, but for the time we get to share with each other. Till next time, good luck, good hunting, as I would like to wish each of you a happy Thanksgiving!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Coldest Tournament I Ever Fished

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:39:56 GMT

The Coldest Tournament I Ever Fished

Now that we southern folks are slowly headed for what we call “winter” fishing, it’s a reminder of one FLW event I fished back in the early 2000’s. There’s nothing worse than fishing in the freezing cold unless it’s a wet freezing cold. This tournament took place on the Tombigbee Waterway in Tennessee and today we’ll look back at just how cold and difficult this tournament was, and the lesson learned.

Let’s set the stage… it’s early March and a major cold front had made its way into the deep south. Several days of sleet, snow and freezing rain prior to this tournament, made it a test of one’s will and determination. It wasn’t about winning or getting a check, it was truly about surviving the brutal conditions.

For me personally, keeping my hands warm has always been the difficult part of a cold day on the water, especially after they’ve gotten wet. Some guys can wear gloves, but I’ve never been able to do that because I have no feel for making a cast. In this event, even the eyes on your fishing rod would freeze up, forcing you to dip your rod into the water frequently to thaw them out.

Now for all FLW Tour events at this time, as a co-angler you could bring your own boat and pre-fish on your own, get to the tournament early and pre-fish with one of the pros, or just show up and fish once the tournament started. Call me a soft Suzy, but due to the extreme weather conditions, I decided to forgo the pre-fishing and just be ready when the tournament started. Just getting to this tournament was a challenge with the road closures across the south.

The night before the tournament, I was paired up with my day 1 pro partner from Granbury, Texas. As we sat and talked at the pre-tournament meeting, he told me how tough the fishing had been. He said he only had one bite in three days of pre-fishing!

Now this is not what you want to hear from your pro the day before the tournament starts, but I tried to stay positive and just fish the conditions. My mindset was to fish slow and to get three bites because all I needed as a co-angler was a three fish limit.

Day 1 rolled around and even though the sleet and snow had stopped, temperatures for the day were in the low 20’s with a wind chill factor of 15 degrees. One thing I learned very early in my fishing career is that if you dress in layers, you can stay warm and get through the day.

Finally, it was time to fish, and my pro partner made the comment that we were going to start on the only spot he had a bite during his three days of practice. It was a 30-yard stretch off a backwater point. On this point there were three underwater stumps about 15 yards apart.

Over my many years of tournament fishing, I’ve developed major confidence in one bait, a Black Emerald Zoom Trick worm rigged with a 3/16 oz. slip sinker. This turned out to be the perfect lure with the water being very muddy and cold. I prayed the dark colored low-profile worm would be the answer to me getting the bites I needed to be competitive.

Well, my prayers were answered, as it was only 10 minutes into the tournament when I made a pitch to the first stump I saw and set the hook on a four-pound largemouth bass. My pro was so excited and going nuts over what I had just caught! He made the comment that I just might lead the co-angler side of the event with just that one fish!

With a good fish in the live well and my chest sticking out, three minutes later I pitched my favorite worm onto the next stump and set the hook on a three-pound largemouth bass! Less than fifteen minutes into this event, I had over 7 pounds of fish with just two fish. My pro was speechless and could not believe what he was seeing!

It only got better when ten minutes later, I made a cast on the third and final stump on this stretch and caught another four-pound bass! At the end of the day, just as my pro predicted, I was leading the tournament on the co-angler side after day 1. To be clear, that was the only three bites I got all day!

To wrap this up, I caught one fish on day 2, but it was good enough to make the Top 10 on the third and final day as I went on to finish 4th overall.

Turns out, fishing in this tournament was extremely difficult as there were 90 pro anglers out of 150 that did not catch a single fish the entire tournament. But the lessoned learned was that even in the most extreme weather conditions, bass will still bite. You just need to figure out exactly what they want, and how they want it.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and make sure to wear your life jacket especially when the big motor is running.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Mexico Dove Hunt to Remember

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:38:10 GMT

A Mexico Dove Hunt to Remember

If you’re ever presented the opportunity to go on a dove hunt in Mexico, don’t turn it down! It’s one of the greatest hunts you’ll get to experience! But a hunt in Mexico is more than just about shooting a lot of doves, it’s also a humbling experience and one that will make you appreciate this great country we live in.

One of the great perks about my days as Louisiana Director of Manufacturing for Holloway Sportswear was the opportunities it presented for taking part in some good hunts, as well as getting to play golf at some of the best golf courses in America like Pinehurst, North Carolina and Old Waverly in Mississippi.

But I’ll never forget a hunt we made at La Paloma Resort in Mexico about two hours south of Harlingen, Texas. You’ve heard the expression, “Half the fun is getting there!” Well, that was definitely the case on this trip.

Just going through gun check at the Mexico border was a little intense and took several hours to get approval. The one thing you don’t want to do is make the border agents mad or question what is taking so long. You’re better off just going with the flow and trying to survive the process.

It’s funny how hard it is to cross the Mexico border from the US side, but so easy to get back into the United States. You would think it would be the other way around! But hopefully our border crises will be solved now that we’ve elected a new President.

There’s only one way to describe a Mexico dove hunt…. unbelievable! For anyone who has ever shouldered a shotgun and shot a few doves, I cannot put into words how incredible this hunt is. Doves fly over, not just as one here and there, but in clouds one wave after another! There are so many doves flying that it can be difficult to pick one out to shoot.

Here's another example of just how many doves there are. It was not uncommon for every hunter in our party to bring in over 100 doves each on a two-hour hunt. During each hunt, every hunter is given two bird boys (or retrievers) to make sure all the doves that were shot are not left in the field. These bird boys ranged in ages from 10 to 18 years of age and will stop at nothing to retrieve a bird.

Each boy was incredible at going and getting every bird that was knocked down. They would go through barbwire fences and brier patches to get a downed dove!

Each bird boy was paid $50 per hunt, and it was encouraged to tip them as well. The impressive thing was that the money paid to them was not for a new PlayStation game, but for school supplies and clothes for the upcoming school year.

No dollar was waisted! So, I made sure my boys were taken care of by tipping them at least another $50 each per hunt since I knew the money was being well spent and they earned it!

Another way to describe how great these hunts are is that each hunter in our party, over three days, went through almost 2 cases of shotgun shells. One case is 10 boxes of 25 shells per box. So, 2 cases would be the equivalent of 500 shells shot over the three-day period. This turns out to be just over 80 shells shot per hunt. You shot so much, that you could not touch the barrel of your gun because it was so hot! That’s why you needed two guns on each hunt so you could alternate guns.

My best advice if you go on one of these great dove hunts is make sure to leave your 12-gauge at the house and bring two 20-gauge shotguns instead. Funny story… as we loaded (owner) Randy Holloway’s private jet in Dallas to fly to Harlingen, Texas, my peers all laughed at me for bringing two 20-gauge shotguns…called me a wuss! But I knew if we shot as much as I had heard we would, that by day two my shoulder would be more than just a little sore.

Well guess how many “sore shouldered” guys in my party came to MY room on the morning of day 2 asking to borrow one of my 20-gauge shotguns? Every one of them! That’s right, I could have auctioned off one of my 20-gauge shotguns for more than the price of a Rolex watch, as each of them finally realized what I already knew. LEAVE THE 12-GAUGE AT HOME!

Turns out, I shot more doves than anyone else in my party over those three days because my shoulder was just fine! Guess I wasn’t the wuss after all! Till next time, good luck, good hunting and stay safe. Remember, that if you were born on or after September 1, 1969, and plan to hunt, you will need to take a Hunter Safety Course.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Nothing like Hunting Wild Quail

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:36:43 GMT

Nothing like Hunting Wild Quail

Back during the 1980’s and ‘90’s, I had the pleasure of making several quail hunting trips to west Texas. Just like any hunt, some are good, and some are not so good. But a trip to Seymore, Texas, was one for the books. Today, I’ll recap one of those hunts where we termed the phase, “Seymore to see less,” that also turned out to be an education in how some ranches manage their quail.

These quail hunting trips over the years were always unique in their own way. Each one was always a little different depending on the terrain or ranch we hunted. The west Texas landscape can be unforgiving with cactus and every bush or tree loaded with thorns.

It really is some of the toughest terrain a hunter can encounter. Some land is hilly with steep bluffs and plateaus, while other areas are flat lands and valleys used for agriculture and growing everything from wheat to soybeans.

One thing about quail hunting, you never know if the quail will be on top of the plateaus or down in the valleys. But once you jump that first covey of quail, then you can understand what the birds are relating to as it’s all about their food source.

The first thing you do after shooting the first bird is check their crawl (stomach). This is how you determine what it is they are feeding on which tells you where you need to focus your hunt.

Now I was the new kid on the block on this particular hunt as the guys I was hunting with had been going out to west Texas since they were knee high to a grasshopper. Over the years, they had compiled a long list of ranchers whose places they had hunted before. But this trip was on new place called Ranger Creek, located just west of Seymore, Texas, and we were the first hunters they had ever hosted.

Each year one of our guys would make phone calls to several different ranchers. One thing we learned over the years was that when you called these ranch owners and asked if they had birds (quail), they always said yes; whether it was true or not, they just wanted your money.

We also learned how these ranch owners like to control or protect their quail populations. If it’s a three-day hunt, prepare to not find very many birds on day one as they send you to an area with little to no birds.

On day two, they take you to a place that’s a little better and some hunters might limit out. Then on day three (final day) you’re hunting in quail paradise, and everyone shoots their limit. Now this practice of bird control, or rather hunter control, is common as ranchers don’t want hunters to overhunt one particular place.

Quail are like any other commodity; they have value and Texas ranchers figured out that hunters will pay good money to hunt them. Why is quail hunting so popular? They are one of the best birds that have ever graced a table. It’s a white meat bird, that when wrapped in bacon, grilled in lemon butter and served with wild rice, just might be the best table fare there is.

Another thing that’s great about quail hunting, it’s like a dove hunt, it’s a social hunt. Over the years I’ve made great memories and shared in some great hunts with some awesome guys. And this Ranger Creek hunt was just one of many great hunts we enjoyed.

Another memory I have about our Ranger Creek hunt is that after a long day of chasing bobwhite quail, a man can develop quiet an appetite. The owners of this ranch had processed a steer the day before we arrived and cooked this side of beef all day long over a rotisserie pit.

Let’s just say, next to wild quail, a fresh barbequed steer is very satisfying after a hard day of chasing those miniature feathered helicopters. The Ranger Creek folks really knew how to cater to their guests and were nothing but gracious host.

This is just one of many quail hunting trips I’ve experienced and even though some hunts were better than others, each hunt was special in its own way. It’s not always about the kill, but it’s about the overall experience and the good times shared with great friends.

Till next time, good luck, happy hunting and may all your hunts be fulfilling and enjoyable. But more importantly, be safe and make sure to take a hunter’s safety course.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Everything is Going to be OK

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:35:06 GMT

Everything is Going to be OK

Today I come to you with concerns about the state of mind of so many Americans due to our recent Presidential election results and other issues. Over my 63 years of being on this earth, I’ve never seen an election carry so much weight in terms of how Americans have reacted, or should I say overreacted. I’m not here to say that your reaction was right or wrong, but rather to suggest how you might possibly move forward in life and maintain your mental wellness.

Athletes are taught very early in our careers how to handle a big win or a disappointing loss. My coaches always said that you have 24 hours to celebrate a victory or a loss. Then you must move forward and prepare for the next game. Don’t dwell on the loss of a game you can no longer play.

Another saying I’ve heard over the years, “Once the hay is in the barn, it’s time to move on to the next chore.” Well today many Americans need to move on to the next chore and exercise their right to either celebrate or stew in their loss, but only for 24 hours. Sometimes we must accept things we can no longer change or control. The first step to moving forward is accepting the results.

Whether it’s a game, an election, or in my case a bass tournament, no matter if it was a victory or a loss, I must move on and get ready for my next tournament. Sure, I’ll evaluate what maybe went wrong or how I made a bad decision on tournament day and then I’ll do my best to NOT make the same mistake moving forward.

Nothing is more important than our mental health, as it can affect not only our own personal wellness, but those around us daily. How we handle defeat or victory can impact our family and friends in a negative or positive way. It’s all about how you as an individual recognize the situation and choose to move on. But it is a choice!

Years ago, a former boss of mine gave me some great advice on how to handle “butt chewings” from the man who was the CEO of the company I worked for. This CEO was a former marine and could peel the paint off the wall once he got bent out of shape on a particular issue. He told me that you can’t control what he says to you, but you can control how you receive it.

This resonated with me, and even though I only had a couple of chewings from this CEO over my 14 years of working with him, it made a huge difference on how I reacted to him. I think my athletic background played a huge roll in how I handled any blunt critiques because a few of my coaches were famous for their hard style of coaching.

So many kids today that play athletics, don’t or can’t handle hard coaching. Kids have gotten soft in the last twenty years and take criticism personally and will often choose to walk away from the team even though the coach is only trying to make them a better player. They think the coach doesn’t like them and would rather quit the sport rather than be coached.

We, as a society and parents, need to get back to tough love with our kids and do a better job of preparing them for life’s challenges. Stop teaching them to quit just because an election, a game, or their job didn’t go the way they wanted. Teach that everybody does not get a trophy! Instead, teach them how to handle and overcome a loss, a tough coach or maybe a hot-headed boss. Teach them that you don’t play the game for the coach, you play because you love the game!

All the above has been on my heart recently now that I’ve seen how distraught some people are after the recent Presidential election. People have literally lost their minds over something they have very little control over other than a single vote. Here’s some food for thought…. no matter who is the sitting President of the United States, when we wake up tomorrow, we will still go about our daily lives and routines the same way we have for years.

While we might not ALL agree on certain polices or who is running our country, one thing is for certain; trials and tribulations are headed our way and it’s up to us as Americans on how we handle them. Tonight, when you lay down for a peaceful night’s rest, just remember, everything is going to be ok. May God bless each of you and this great nation we live in, he owes us this because we have never turned our back on him. Ha!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Swimming with the Gators

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:33:43 GMT

Swimming with the Gators

Nothing is more exciting than the day a bass fisherman buys his first bass boat! For me, that was 1990 when I bought a new Pro Gator from Cary’s, a dealer in Ville Platte, Louisiana. It was an 18-foot boat with a 150 Yamaha and was loaded with the best electronics money could buy, for a boat at that time. But if you own a bass boat, then you know first-hand all the trials and tribulations that come with being a boat owner.

At the time of my purchase, I was working for an apparel company by the name of Holloway Sportswear. They were an outerwear/jacket manufacturer based out of Ohio. They had 6 cutting and sewing factories in Louisiana, one of which was in Ville Platte where I was plant manager at the time of my boat purchase.

I was one happy camper the day I picked up my new Pro Gator bass boat! It had all the bells and whistles that I could want. Being the plant manager at this facility meant I had to spend a couple of nights a week in the apartment located inside the Holloway factory.

But just outside of Ville Platte was Chicot Lake, loaded with good quality bass that anglers crave. So, one day after work and with plenty of daylight left, I decided to take my new boat to Chicot Lake and give it a good test run.

I was so impressed with this boat and how it handled. It was great for bass fishing. After catching a few bass, I decided to head back to the boat ramp about an hour after dark.

Once I returned to the dock at the ramp, I tied off my boat and went to back my truck in the water so I could load my boat. Funny thing about owning a boat… sometimes things happen that defy explanation.

Well after backing my boat trailer down the ramp, I put the truck in park and walked back down the dock to get the boat, only the boat was not there! Looking around I noticed the boat had floated away from the dock about fifty yards. All I could see were the running lights in the pitch-black darkness! Yet there it was floating all alone like a lost puppy waiting for me to save the day and bring it back.

Now, one thing that I remembered as I left the dock to go fishing earlier that afternoon was that there were several alligators sunning on the shore of the bayou that my boat was now floating in. So, after a lot of thought and consideration as to what my options were, I decided the only way to get the boat back was to swim to it.

So, I took off my shirt and shoes and laid my wallet on the dock. I got a good running start and sprinted down the dock and dove into the lake headfirst… (which looking back was probably not a very good idea as I could have landed on a stump and suffered a catastrophic injury; but the good Lord above was watching out for me.)

Those of you old enough might remember the Olympic gold medal swimmer, Mark Spitz. He won a record seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics. But that night, not even Mark Spitz could have out swum me as I had visions of alligators chasing me! Nor has anyone ever leaped into a boat quicker than I did that night.

So, what’s the lesson I learned that night? Always make sure you tie a good knot anytime you’re leaving your boat by the dock. There’s nothing like owning your first bass boat even when it means you have to risk your life swimming with gators!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and make sure to introduce a kid to the great outdoors. Kids that hunt and fish, don’t deal and steal.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Bayou is Not a Very Hospitable Place

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:32:21 GMT

The Bayou is Not a Very Hospitable Place

Over my many years of traveling the country and fishing tournaments, most places and the people that live there are usually friendly. Texas has always held a special place in my heart since I’m from there and there’s nothing like Texan hospitality. Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Arkansas also have some fine folks, but there’s one place you need to proceed with caution; that would be south Louisiana down on the Bayou.

Now let me clarify the last statement. South Louisiana folks, or Cajuns as they like to be called, are some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. Most have never met a stranger and most have a big heart willing to share their dinner table with anyone.

But when you get into the swamps and bayous of south Louisiana, the demographics change over to a different kind of soul. These people who live on the swamp see the outside world as infringing on their way of life and do not welcome outsiders with open arms.

I learned this firsthand during a bass tournament just outside of Morgan City. There’s an area down there where Bob’s Bayou Black Marina is located and was the host for this tournament. The minute you pull up to this marina, it’s like going back in time. It has an earie feel to it and reminds you of the movie, “Deliverance.”

It has a feel that makes you very uncomfortable just getting out of the truck and going inside to pay the boat ramp fee. Locals at the ramp give you a look that simply asks, “Are you lost?” But as I entered the store, I noticed a photo on the wall that was signed by Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin Van Dam (greatest bass angler of all time) which did make me feel a little more at ease.

Now being new to this area, I was looking for information; not about what the bass were biting, but where I could and could not run my 20-foot Ranger bass boat. I had heard stories about anglers getting in trouble in the swamp by fishing areas they were not welcome in.

The gentleman who owned the marina was more than willing to show me on a wall map the areas I should avoid at all costs. Due to horror stories of the past that were embedded in my brain, he had my full attention.

So, now that I had a good idea as to where I could and could not fish, I dropped my boat in the water and, without fear, headed out for a day of fishing looking for the winning stringer of bass.

Now if you want to get lost and test your navigational skills, venture into the swamp and bayous of south Louisiana! All I will say is this, “Thank the Lord for GPS!” Because I can now understand the stories I’ve heard of anglers getting lost. It truly is a maze of waterways and canals that seem to branch off in every direction like a state road map.

While fishing a stretch of a canal, I noticed a house, on stilts of course, just about 50 yards in front of me. As I approached this house, a man walked out holding a 12-gauge shotgun and looking at me in a not so friendly way. He asked me, “Son, are you lost?” I responded with a very kind, “No sir.”

He then informed me that I had two options, “Leave now or stay for dinner and never be heard from again!” I chose the first option and left that area never to return! It was nice of him to offer me dinner, but I did not want to stay for dessert.

I’ve also learned through other’s mistakes when dealing with these so-called swamp people. One such unwritten rule is to never enter a canal that has a gate at the front of it. Another fact is that one place you do not want to be after dark would be the Louisiana swamp! Ask Elite Series Pro Gary Kline who found out firsthand just how spooky the swamp can be when the sun goes down.

Gary also found out first-hand how unwelcoming swamp people can be when he was shot at while practicing for the Bassmaster Classic. So, the next time you’re headed for the bayous of south Louisiana, make sure you know the lay of the land and what areas you might want to avoid.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and just because it’s December, does not mean the fish won’t bite. You just need to slow down with your presentation and be a little more patient. You might not get as many bites, but the ones you catch will be good ones.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Wild Adventures on the Road

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:29:48 GMT

Wild Adventures on the Road

One of the best things about traveling and fishing across the south is that you never know what or who you might encounter. Sometimes you come across some nice folks who like to strike up conversation with you at the gas pump. Then there are times when you just want to get back to the truck and get the heck out of there! But either way, it’s all a part of the so called “road time” that all anglers must endure.

While most of my experiences have been positive, there’ve been a few that I would rather forget. The worst trip I ever had to make was an 18-hour drive (one way) to Lake Okeechobee in south Florida. The drive alone was brutal, and this is where I developed a major respect for the guys that fish for a living.

While traveling, I’m not one to stop and spend the night at a hotel especially pulling a bass boat, as you can quickly become a target for theft. So far, I’ve been very fortunate to have never been taken advantage of. But I feel safer pulling into a rest stop occasionally for a quick power nap.

Traveling all hours of the night, I seem to do well driving after dark. All I need are sunflower seeds, a large sweet tea, and I’m good to go! But there was one occasion where I guess you could say I hit a bump in the road.

While traveling back from Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee, I had a blow out on my boat trailer. This has happened to me several times, so often that I could probably try out as a tire changer on a NASCAR pit crew.

But on this particular night, my pit crew would have fired me! Let me set the stage for my debacle. It was in the wee hours of the morning, around 1:00 AM, as I was coming through Birmingham, Alabama, when I felt a major vibration in the steering wheel. This usually means one thing…a blown tire on my boat trailer. So, I pulled over in an area where there was some major highway construction taking place. Keep in mind that it is very dark and the only light I had was a weak cell phone and the headlights of passing cars.

After emptying the entire back end of my truck so I could get to the floor jack and my pneumatic wrench, I slowly started the process of changing the flat tire. Now understand, there’s a right and a wrong way to put lug nuts on a wheel. Each lug nut has a beveled edge that is supposed to go on the wheel one way.

Turns out, this is very important but when you’re changing a tire in the dark, some things you just don’t pay attention to. I was just wanting to get this tire changed and back on the road as quickly as possible.

Getting the job done in record time that any man would be proud of, I was back on the road and headed for Louisiana. One hour later I needed gas, so I pulled into a Love’s Truck Stop (which are great) and hopped out of my truck and began to fill the tank. As the gas was flowing, I decided to do make sure the tarp on my boat was secure.

Well, was I in for a shocking surprise! As I got to the trailer tire that I had changed out, I was amazed to see that the entire wheel was completely gone! OMG…where is the tire I replaced about an hour ago? It was obviously somewhere on the side of the road just west of Birmingham, Alabama!

Still in shock, I pulled into the garage area of the Love’s Truck Stop and asked the mechanic if he had a trailer tire that would fit my boat trailer. Of course, he did not, but did know a local tire dealer who would. So, he made the call and the tire dealer sent me his store address that was luckily only ten minutes away, and told me to meet him there.

Being 2:00 in the morning, I really hated to wake someone to get me a tire so I would not have to limp all the way back to Louisiana on just three tires. But this guy was not just a tire dealer, but the member of a local band that had just got in from a gig.

He was so gracious and told me that one of two things probably happened for me to lose the wheel off my boat trailer. I either put the lug nuts on backwards, or I just didn’t get them tight enough. Of course, I blamed it on the dark and the fact that I couldn’t see what I was doing.

Either way, this gentleman saved the day, and I pulled into my driveway 8 hours later. Again, this is all a part of the adventure of traveling and fishing some of the best lakes in the country. While things can get interesting quickly, you just have to stay positive and enjoy the drive…….most of the time!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

North Louisiana’s Best Kept Secret Lake

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:27:58 GMT

North Louisiana’s best kept secret lake

When it comes to bass fishing, there are a lot of great lakes in our region of the country that are loaded with trophy size largemouth bass. Several lakes come to mind; Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Caddo and Lake Fork to name a few. Louisiana has another lake that would fall into this same category….Caney Lake!

Located in the heart of Northeast Louisiana just north of Winnfield and south of Monroe off Hwy 34, Caney Lake pretty much dominates the landscape and holds many of the top ten record bass ever caught in Louisiana waters.

It’s a 5000-acre lake created by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries in 1986 as a part of its “Trophy Lake” program; and boy it has not disappointed. Caney has seen a lot of changes over the years especially when it comes to grass (Hydrilla). It also has a great supply of coon-tail moss, dollar pads and milfoil, creating plenty of quality cover for bass to hide.

From the beginning, as part of the Louisiana Trophy Lake program, a slot limit was introduced from 15 to 19 inches. This slot allowed for good quality fish to spawn and reproduce. This means that any fish caught inside the slot must be released immediately.

But it was only a few years ago that Caney was anything but a trophy lake as grass carp were introduced and almost destroyed this great fishery. Today, it has rebounded and is loaded with solid areas of grass (Hydrilla) with good structure as well.

The bass have responded with record fish being brought to the scales. In order to win a tournament on this lake, you’ll need anywhere from 22 to 28 pounds with your best five fish. On December 28, 2023, a new state record for the largest 5 fish stringer came in on Caney as Colby Dark and Gage Struben of La. Tech Bass Fishing Team weighed-in an incredible 48.6 pound stringer!

But this lake is much more than a bass fishery, as the crappie and bream population is extremely strong. The problem is with great fishing comes a lot of traffic, as anglers from all over the region compete for the better places on the lake. There’s also a good selection of boat docks if that’s your preferred choice of cover.

The lake is such a beautiful place to go fishing but understand that you may have to sit in line to launch your boat. This is especially true during the peak fishing season of early spring, but there are plenty of ramps to choose from around the lake.

It’s also a great family lake with plenty of room to ski, tube or just go swimming. Jimmy Davis State Park is an excellent place to set up camp for a long weekend and enjoy a great playground and a really nice beach area. The State Park also offers campsites and cabins along with two large family lodges.

All of this is a testament to how good Caney Lake is today, and it doesn’t appear it will be slowing down anytime soon. But if it’s the big bass you’re after, the best time to catch one of these Caney lunkers would be from December through April.

To wrap this up, if you’re looking for a great place to enjoy the great outdoors and maybe catch the biggest bass of your life, take the time to explore Caney Lake. It truly is a hidden gem in Northeast Louisiana and due to the recent national TV exposure and publicity from Major League Fishing (MLF), it’s no longer a secret! To learn more about this awesome fishery, go to caneylakelife.com.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Someone has Finally Banned Forward-Facing Sonar!

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:25:44 GMT

Someone has Finally Banned Forward-Facing Sonar!

Well, the day has arrived when one of the professional bass fishing organizations has made a major decision that will impact a lot of professional anglers both young and old. This decision was to ban forward-facing sonar. Finally, someone has grown a set and decided to level the playing field….or have they, and will it?

Let’s first look at who has decided to step up and save the sport of bass fishing as so many legendary pros think needs to be done. The NPFL (National Professional Fishing League) recently announced that forward-facing sonar will NOT be allowed for official practice or tournaments in 2025.

It will not be allowed for scouting (practice) or at any other time. It must be removed from your boat, along with the black box and the transducer. As one joyful pro angler said, “Time to go back to old school fishing!” No longer will anglers be able to look at bass on a screen like a version of Xbox and catch fish.

Is this good for the sport or is this decision holding the sport back? Well, the answer you get will depend upon what angler you ask. Majority of the old school guys will defend this decision and say “yes” it is good for the sport. Most compare this decision to the banning of the A-Rig (or umbrella rig) which many of the pros thought was an unethical way to catch bass by using more than one bait or hook. Old school anglers feel the same about forward-facing sonar in that it’s an unfair advantage for the anglers versus the fish.

I tend to agree with the old school anglers now that I’ve been a user of forward-facing sonar for the last two years and understand how it works. With this device, no fish is safe anywhere on any body of water. It allows anglers to select and zero in on the bigger bass in a school or swimming solo. This is not good for any fishery and could have lasting consequences as anglers do what I would call selective fishing by targeting larger bass.

Let’s face the facts with this electronic device. It has made champions out of anglers who have never won a tournament in their life. It’s become an equalizer or advantage for the younger or less experienced anglers that are fishing on the professional level. It has allowed them to not only compete but win with little to no experience compared to the guys that have paid their dues and taken years to acquire the knowledge they possess.

Nothing has leveled the playing field quicker for the younger generation of anglers more than forward-facing sonar. Anglers competing on the NPFL will have to rely on finding fish with more traditional ways by locating fish either by catching them or using side scan or down-imaging. No longer will they be able to just ride around on a body of water with three or more transducers and locate bass in real time.

While all organizations will not ban this new technology, there will be others that will follow. It’s still hard to understand how the three major electronic companies (Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance) will move forward.

These companies will not sit on their hands and stop developing new technology. So, what’s next? Will the next advancement be banned as well? If so, how will these companies continue to survive without innovation and advancements in technology?

Here’s my perspective…. we can’t just continue to ban every new piece of technology that comes out! Tournament organizations need to adapt by altering the rules presently in place; rules that work for both boaters and co-anglers. At some point, they will have to figure out how to make forward-facing sonar and any future innovations work for the benefit of everyone.

But understand this, just because it’s banned on the professional level, does not mean it will be banned for the everyday angler or anglers fishing on the lower levels of competition.

I do agree that anglers on the professional level should be held to a higher standard; that’s why they’re called professionals. It’s the same reason Major League Baseball does not allow aluminum bats. Hitters would have too much of an advantage over pitchers and it would completely change the game.

But with regards to forward-facing sonar, only time will tell if it is doomed or if it will return. I personally think at some point, it will once again be allowed. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to enjoy some great fall fishing as lakes are less crowded now that hunting season is upon us.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

It's Great When a Good Plan Comes Together

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:23:31 GMT

It's Great When a Good Plan Comes Together

There is absolutely no better feeling for an angler than when he puts a plan together and it becomes reality. Tournament bass fishermen spend countless hours fishing and scouting in order to try and formulate a game plan that he hopes comes to fruition. Hopefully this plan will either put him in the winner’s circle or in position to cash a check. Today we’ll wrap up and put a bow on the 2024 Texas ABA Pro League Series.

This time of year (September & October) is when so many bass tournament organizations schedule their championships. ABA (American Bass Anglers) held their two-day championship on Lake Sam Rayburn on September 14th & 15th. This is a tournament where only anglers that qualified could fish this event.

Let’s first start with how practice went and took place on Thursday and Friday before the tournament began on Saturday. Thursday and Friday’s practice was not too bad but was pretty much hit and miss as it was difficult to put any kind of pattern together. But one thing I felt I could count on was where I was catching most of my fish, which was on main lake points.

The lake level was pretty much pool level or about 3 inches low while the bass were very shallow and could be caught with a couple of techniques….flipping a soft plastic trickworm or casting a spinnerbait. Turns out, every fish I weighed for both days actually came on one particular spinnerbait. Now this played right into my hands as I would consider myself a shallow water angler.

I was able to catch a lot of bass on the trickworm, but catching quality was an issue. I just wasn’t able to get a big bite when flipping cypress trees or anything else. They were good solid keeper fish (2 pounders), but not fish that would get me a check. Then on day 2 of practice I spent most of the day with one specific spinnerbait in my hand.

My blade of choice (as some anglers call a spinnerbait) was one that I have had great success with especially on the Red River and Sam Rayburn. This is a quarter ounce white Hummdinger with a small gold willow leaf blade and a small silver Colorado blade. But I think the real magnet for this spinnerbait was the 3-inch paddle tail trailer I used in a ghost shad color. Turns out, it matched the baitfish the bass were feeding on perfectly.

Not only did it catch fish, but every bass I brought to the scales both days came on this one spinnerbait. So many fish were caught on it, that I had to put on a new one for day 2. Twice I had to replace the back blade on this spinnerbait because they were breaking off as the wire just got so weak from all the fish I caught on it.

I finished 7th overall with over 28 pounds of bass during the two-day event, with 16 lbs. on day one and 13 lbs. on day two. Of course, there’s always the one that got away as I broke off a bass over 5 pounds on day one on of all things, a topwater bait called a Zara Spook.

Turns out, it was my own fault as the line on this reel was over a year old. This is why fresh line is so important on tournament day! This one mistake cost me leading the tournament on day one and left me with a day two deficit of just over 2 pounds.

But in the end, it was all good as I wrapped up the 2024 ABA Pro League as runner-up for Angler of the Year. Just the fact that at the age of 63, I proved that even without being a forward-facing sonar expert, you can still compete with those that are. Chalk one up for the older guys!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and take the time to enjoy some of the best fishing of the year as bass start their fall migration feeding period.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Forever Linked Together

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:19:38 GMT

Forever Linked Together

This week, I would like to go back in time and reflect on a group of guys who shared a championship season and were the first team in school history to win a state title. Not only were we teammates, but this group was truly something special. This group was the complete package of talent, attitude and commitment. We were players/friends who would forever be linked together.

Last week, I had the opportunity to reunite with this group of guys that would do something very special in 1978 by winning the Texas Class 3A State Baseball Title, the second highest level at that time. As an athlete who has played on all levels, high school, college and professionally, I’ve been blessed to be a part of several championships.

But the one common thread for every team I’ve played on, was the personal connection to the players. The 1978 team was different and will always have special meaning for me personally. This was a group of guys who grew up together in the small East Texas town of Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

During the 1970’s, MP was a prideful community that was very athletic minded. The mindset here was about winning and anything short of that was not acceptable. But before the early 70’s, MP was just another small town that had minimal athletic team success. Then a coach by the name of Donnie Laurence showed up and began to develop not just a great football power, but a solid all-around high school athletic program.

Along with Coach Laurence, several high-quality coaches arrived including two baseball coaches, Marion Giesecke and Steve Rippee. These coaches help build MP into the second winningest all-around program of the 70’s, only behind “Friday Night Lights” Odessa Permian. It was a very special time in MP Tiger history.

Then in 1978, MP Tiger baseball would be the first team sport to ever win a state title. This was accomplished by a special group of guys who played loose and confident and never walked on a baseball diamond expecting anything less than a victory. These guys played with heart and determination and no matter how bleak a moment was, they never wavered or faltered.

To understand how good they became, you first must look at where they came from. These young men grew up with great success coming up through the Mt. Pleasant Dixie Youth Program. They had great coaching early in their young careers from a handful of special men like James Stansell, P.A. Thomas, Pat Sisk, Joe Traylor and many others. These men knew the game and taught this group how to play the game the right way.

The 1978 Tiger baseball team was built around six seniors, eight juniors, and two sophomores. This was not an average group of players, but guys with an immense level of talent. The skills included great pitching, defense and the ability to hit the baseball. To illustrate the level of talent, this group had three players drafted: two by Major League Baseball and one by the NFL and several that went on to played collegiately.

What made this group so special? Most of the guys on this team were members of the previous 1977 Tiger baseball team. A team that had great talent but underachieved mainly due to the amount of internal pressure that was placed on the shoulders of each player. From my perspective looking back, it seemed like we had a team meeting every other week talking about what we must do in order to make it to State.

As the ‘77 season progressed, the pressure continued to build to the point that the team played tight and did not even win district, therefore being left out of the playoffs. The only year of my four years at MPHS that we did not make the playoffs. Again, this was a team with as much talent as any team I ever played on.

But the 1978 team, guided by great senior leadership, made a group decision that there would be only ONE team meeting before the season started. We committed to play loose and have fun! We knew we had plenty of talent, we just had to relax and let our talent take us to where we wanted to go……. and that it did!

This MP team made it to the regional finals, having to play a best of three series against Fort Worth Boswell. MP hosted the first game of the series, and the mighty Tigers came up short. With the odds stacked against us, the remaining two games were to be played in Fort Worth. We had our work cut out for us; either sweep a double header or go home like so many other MP Tiger baseball teams had done in the past.

But ’78 Tigers made it happen with great pitching, defense (zero errors in the last 4 games) and timely hitting and defeated Boswell twice and advanced to the State Tournament in Austin! As they say, the rest is history as we shut out top ranked Brazosport 10-0 in five innings in the semi-finals and defeated Burkburnett 5-2 in the title game and finished with a record of 26-4.

I cannot describe the bond athletes have that get the opportunity to win a state championship. It’s a connection that forever links you as players. I remember Coach Giesecke’s locker room speech after our huge win. “Fellows, this is a victory you will cherish more later in life, than you do now. You will forever be remembered with this win.” Truer words have never been spoken! He was spot on with his statement!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

To Be a Great Angler, You Must Be Able to Find Fish

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:18:09 GMT

To Be a Great Angler, You Must Be Able to Find Fish

Over my many years of tournament bass fishing, I have had the privilege and honor of sharing a bass boat with some great anglers. Some of these are 1997 Bassmaster Classic Champ Dion Hibdon, three-time FLW Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt, and MLF Champion Kelly Jordon who all have the ability to not only find bass, but catch them as well.

Sure, there are videos and some great fishing magazines that can help point you in the right direction, but nothing replaces experience and time on the water. Today, we’ll go over what makes a great tournament angler and the skills necessary to compete on a high level.

Just like any other sport, some athletes are just gifted and have great ability. Some are the complete package and have not only great physical talent, but they possess a great mental aptitude for whatever sport they are playing.

But in the tournament bass fishing world, there are certain skills one must possess in order to compete. First, would be the ability to cast a lure and put it into places where bass live. He or she must be versatile and able to pitch, flip or cast the bait where they want. It’s like a baseball pitcher being able to throw the baseball with precision and accuracy in order to get batters out. If you can’t cast, you won’t be competitive.

But one of the most overlooked skills necessary to be a successful bass fisherman is the ability to locate fish. Finding fish is probably the hardest skill to learn but with today’s high level of electronics, the task has been made much easier.

Today’s up and coming anglers have it too easy with all the new fish locating tools they have at their disposal like down imaging, side scan and, yes, the new controversial forward-facing sonar. Anglers a generation ago had to learn this skill the hard way by understanding water clarity, water temperature, habitat or simply by getting on the water and making cast after cast to try and locate bass.

Back in the day, anglers had to cover a lot of water fan casting a lure for hours trying to locate bass. But most anglers today never have to wet a hook to locate bass. Today’s angler will spend countless hours idling around the lake watching their sonar screens searching and GPS marking good structure or cover like laydowns, brush piles, hydrilla (grass) or more importantly…. baitfish!

All the pre-fishing they need to do today is on a 10- or 12-inch screen. It’s a known fact that some anglers will never make a cast before the tournament starts. Ten years ago, if someone showed up at a bass tournament without pre-fishing, they were just simply donating to the rest of the field. But oh, how times have changed here on Walton’s Mountain!

So, here’s my advice to all the young anglers coming up today. Learn how to find fish on your own. Don’t rely on someone else to send you waypoints or show you where they are catching fish. Rely and trust yourself to find fish! There are no shortcuts or a magical formula for being successful. One thing has remained true from the very beginning of tournament bass fishing, there’s no substitute for time on the water!

Till next time good luck, good fishing and always wear your sunscreen and good UV protective clothing. Melanoma is the number one killer of all forms of cancer. Don’t roll the dice when it comes to your health.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Anticipation of Hunting Season

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:16:19 GMT

The Anticipation of Hunting Season

Every year there are certain seasons that people look forward to: week one of the NFL, opening day of baseball season and for me it’s the arrival of both the spring and fall seasons. But for most outdoorsmen, it’s hunting season! This is like Christmas morning for anyone who enjoys chasing a squirrel, dropping ducks from the sky or finally shooting that trophy buck of a lifetime.

Today let’s look at what hunting season means to so many outdoorsmen. Let’s start with dove season which is basically a tailgate party with guys carrying shotguns. Dove season, like football season, kicks off the new year for all hunters. They gather in small groups and enjoy some time in the field hopefully where there are plenty of birds passing through. Dove hunts are simply a social hunt and a great way to introduce kids to hunting.

Next comes teal season (mid-September) which brings out a totally different kind of hunter. These guys are serious about shooting what just might be the hardest duck to hit on the fly. Teal are the F-16’s of the duck hunting world and can do a fly-by quicker than some hunters can get a gun up. Teal are also a great tasting bird and make great table fare.

But the first of October is the official start of deer season as bow hunters take to the woods in search of some good venison backstrap. Bow hunters are very committed and put in a lot of time practicing in their back yards or on a bow range. Deer hunting in general, is probably more popular than any other wild game that’s pursued.

Bow hunting requires a lot of skill in order to be effective and take a deer with good arrow placement. The popularity of bow hunting is due to the fact it’s a throwback to how our ancestors used to hunt. Bow hunters might be the most dedicated group of hunters there are due to the amount of effort and skill required.

Now let’s fast forward to mid-October. Opening day of rifle season triggers a landslide of deer hunters taking to the great outdoors in search of that monster buck they’ve been watching on their trail cameras for the past two months. No other wild game opening day is more popular than the opening day of gun season as deer camps are overflowing with both excitement and the anticipation. It’s like a child waiting on Christmas morning; they literally cannot sleep!

Today, there are so many traditions that revolve around different types of hunting seasons. Deer camps have been a part of family traditions for decades and most would give up their home before giving up their deer camp.

Many outdoorsmen plan their entire year around their favorite hunting season. It determines when they will take their vacation or request extra time off from their daily jobs. They are literally consumed with everything that revolves around hunting.

They plan Thanksgiving and other holidays around hunting season. It’s like people planning their lives around their favorite football team; nothing else is more important! If you’re one of the fortunate that have a great hunting camp; count your blessings and never let it go. Because once it’s gone, you will have a hard time replacing it.

Till next time, good luck, good hunting and to all outdoorsmen, have a great hunting season!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Why Anglers Are Not Good at Sharing

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:15:07 GMT

Why Anglers Are Not Good at Sharing

Bass fishing can be frustrating and winning tournaments is even more frustrating. But when it comes to anglers helping one another, that’s a whole different story. Today, I’ll give you an angler’s perspective on why tournament bass fishermen don’t like to give away or share information on how they are catching bass.

The main reason for angler secrecy is because in today’s bass tournament world that is so competitive, it’s hard to make a top 10 and tougher to get a win. There are times when an angler might be catching fish and doing good enough to get a check but not good enough to win. The difference between getting a check or winning can be something as subtle as what size line you might be using.

Example, if you’re doing good and catching fish in 10 to 12 feet of water on a crankbait and using 17-pound test line, but you find out after the tournament that the guy who won the event, also caught his fish on the same crankbait using 12-pound test line. Why did line size make a difference? It’s because 12-pound test allowed his bait to dive down deeper into the 15-foot range where the bigger bass were set up. But I was catching smaller bass higher in the water column at 12 feet The bigger fish were deeper in 15 feet of water.

When it comes to sharing, tournament anglers are worse than a kid sharing his new toy on Christmas morning. They laugh at the idea of sharing their new toy! It’s like asking Vice President Kamala Harris a difficult political question. All you’re going to get is a kackling laugh. Anglers are no different; they are the worst at giving out any type of information that they feel might give their opponent an advantage or a leg up on their competition. When I say it’s every man for himself in tournament bass fishing, that’s exactly what I mean!

Now there are few exceptions on information sharing and this is where the buddy system kicks in. I’ve got a small clique of three or four anglers that I trust when it comes to information. These are usually guys that I room with on the road or have been friends with for a long time.

These are guys that I eat dinner with and if I have a mechanical break down on the lake, I can make one phone call to any one of these guys and they will come to my rescue. But these are guys that I trust and would like to think won’t lie to me. Now they might leave out a couple of key details on what they are doing, but that’s just the way ALL anglers are when it comes to information. They’ll share, but only in small amounts.

I have other friends who I fish against, and most are great guys. While they won’t necessarily lie to you, they will send you down a rabbit hole with bad information. Oh, they’ll give you information, it just won’t be anything that will really help. We as anglers call this information “dock talk.” This is what tournament anglers want to stay away from because the information they are giving out is designed to throw you off.

I’ve also learned over my 34 years of tournament fishing, that the only person you can really trust is yourself. Don’t rely on other anglers to feed you information that might or might not help you land more fish. Do your homework (scouting) and trust yourself to go out and find your own fish. Because at the end of the day, once all the fish are weighed in and you’re in line to get a check, the only name on the check…. is yours!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take advantage of some great fall fishing while all the deer hunters are in the woods and not on the lake.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:13:29 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Attention all anglers, if you believe in scent, here's a great tip to make it more effective. Every bag of soft plastic lures I own, gets scent added to it before it's ever hung on my peg board. Over time the scent added to the bag will seep into the soft plastic lures and create a better bond that will last much longer when you start to use those baits. It also helps to conserve those expensive bottles or cans of scent by just adding a small amount to the bag. Whether you're using an aerosol spray or a squirt bottle, either will help to hide or eliminate any unwanted odors. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:12:52 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Save those fingernail polish bottles.... That's right, tell your wife or daughter or co-hosts to save one of their fingernail polish bottles for you. Last week we talked about a way to eliminate wasting your scent. Fishing scents are expensive but effective. Take the fingernail polish bottle, clean it out really good and then pour your favorite scent into the bottle. Now instead of wasting your spray on scent, you can use the brush to apply the scent and have zero waste. This has been your Seaguar & Avon Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:12:01 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Are you one of those old school anglers who still uses a toothpick to peg your sinker? Come on man, don't risk losing that fish of a lifetime by pinching your line with a toothpick!!! Use a bobber stopper from Elite Tungsten. Maybe one of the best inventions ever for bass and crappie anglers. So the next time you want to peg your sinker, use the Pro peg system from Elite Tungsten. Your fishing line will thank you and maybe reward you!!! This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:11:28 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Dip-N-Dyes are great and can make a big difference in getting bass to bite a lure. The most common and popular dye color is chartruse and is very effective. But don't be afraid to try other colors like black, blue, orange or red. Bass see chartruse daily, so use something the fish aren't seeing. It just might be the key to catching a lot more fish by showing them something..... they aren't seeing. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:10:14 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Well, it's that time of year when lakes start their annual drawdowns. Some lakes start earlier than others but just check the current lake level before you go. Once on a low-level lake, be careful!!! Stumps and other debris can be just under the surface of the water and will cause major damage to your boat or lower unit. Most damage occurs while taking off or coming off plain. My advice is similar to anyone who fishes the Red River for the first time. If you're not sure where you're at... IDLE!!! It may take you a little longer to get around, but your risk of damage is a lot less. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:09:35 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

The purpose of a spinnerbait is to imitate baitfish and the flash of the blades is crucial. During the Fall transition months, bass gorge themselves on baitfish in order to fatten up for the winter months. One problem with spinnerbaits is how over time, the blades can become dull and tarnished. Bring those blades back to life with a good jewelry cleaner. Take the spinnerbaits and immerse the blades for a minute or two in a good jewelry cleaner. Remove from the cleaner and wipe dry and BAM!!! Spinnerbaits that look like new!!! So rather than replace or even worse throw good spinnerbaits away, clean the blades. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:08:50 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

As we enter September, that means the bass will be starting their fall migration up the creeks and chasing shad. If you want to put the odds in your favor, match the hatch, tie on shad-colored traps, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. This fall migration can be some of the best fishing of the year. So pick up your favorite crankbait, Rat-L-Trap or spinner bait and have some fun...just make sure they are a good shad imitator. This has been this week's Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:07:59 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

With hot temperatures, anglers are waiting on cooler weather to wet a hook. Now is a great time to organize your tackle in the boat and your fishing man cave. Whether you're a tournament angler or a weekend warrior, being organized can save you time and frustration looking for a certain bait. A good label maker is worth its weight in gold and is essential in labeling your tackle boxes. So stop wasting time looking for tackle...get your boxes labeled. This has been this week's Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week!!!

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:07:22 GMT

Seaguar Fishing Line Tip of the Week

With daytime highs hitting the 100 degree mark, now is a great time to push your bass fishing into the nighttime hours. Cooler temps at night make not only the fishing more tolerable but the bite can be awesome. Toledo Bend can be a great place to go for a good night fishing trip. So beat the heat and treat yourself to some great fishing by launching your boat after the sun goes down. This has been this week's 13 Fishing Tip of the Week!!!

What is God Given Talent?

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 13:04:39 GMT

What is God Given Talent?

We’ve all heard the expression he or she has God given talent. There are singers like George Strait and Celine Dion, golfers like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicholas, along with baseball players like Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. So, what does it really mean and what exactly is talent?

I am a firm believer that each of us has some form of talent but not everyone has established what that talent might be. It may take years before we realize we do possess a skill that we may deem as talent. Some people can dance and some can sing, and even though you might not physically see the talent, doesn’t mean you don’t have a talent.

For me personally, I figured out early in my life that God blessed me with athletic talent, especially in baseball. I was born with skills that not everyone possessed, and I took advantage of those skills. But it was through this talent that it gave me the confidence I needed to compete on a baseball diamond at a high level. It allowed me to play in high school, college and later in professional baseball. But it gave me something much greater than being good at a sport, it gave the confidence and the foundation I needed to be successful in life.

But let’s look at a bass fisherman and someone who is considered the greatest bass angler of all time….Kevin Van Dam (KVD). Now this is talent and is a great example of God given talent as there are legendary stories of Kevin’s abilities as a bass fisherman. KVD was born with instincts very few anglers have.

For years KVD made decisions that baffled other anglers including his own family. His brother Randy gave me an example of KVD’s talent as they often fished together growing up. He told the story of how Kevin, Randy and their dad were all fishing together one day and struggling to catch fish. Then after a lengthy time of no bites, out of the blue Kevin decided to pick up a jerkbait for no apparent reason and started whacking them.

When asked why he thought that was what they needed to be doing, KVD said “it just felt right”. That’s instincts or God given talent that very few anglers have. It’s knowing when to change baits or change locations, it’s a feel for doing the right thing at the right time. This talent is what separates the great anglers from the average anglers.

Now some talent can be enhanced and developed, whether it’s in a particular sport or a concept like singing. An athlete for example, can be made stronger, faster or quicker with proper training, but there needs to be some resemblance of talent from the Lord almighty to work with. You can’t turn a sloth into a tiger or if you take the stripes off a Zebra, that doesn’t make it a thoroughbred.

Once again, we all have some form of talent. It just might take a awhile before we realize or recognize what that talent might be. God has blessed each of us in different ways and wants you to take advantage of whatever that talent might be. Talent comes in many different forms and what someone may deem as unsubstantial, may truly be a gift from God. But with proper guidance or coaching, an individual can figure out the best way to utilize that talent.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and if you want to become a better outdoorsman, tune into the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show every Wednesday live from 11:00 till 1:00 on AM 1130 The Tiger, our Facebook page or catch us on our YouTube channel.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

There's a New Kid on the Block

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:03:37 GMT

There's a New Kid on the Block

For decades there has basically been one professional bass fishing organization called B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) founded by Ray Scott. Then during the 1990's another organization appeared under the name of FLW, named after the late Forest L. Wood the founder of Ranger Boats. But in 2011 MLF (Major League Fishing) bought out FLW and created major dissention as a huge portion of anglers left B.A.S.S for what they thought would be bluer water.

Both organizations have set a high bar for professional bass fishing over the years and allowed more anglers to pursue their dream of fishing for a living. But now there's a new kid on the block making a lot of noise.

Introducing the NPFL (National Professional Fishing League) an organization offering anglers another avenue to possibly fish for a living by offering top level money of $100,000 for first place. Anglers are scrambling and sending in resumes applying for a spot in this new circuit. As of the writing of this article, there are at least 18 B.A.S.S professional anglers doubling their tournament commitments by fishing the NPFL.

Now what does this mean for anglers looking to fish at the highest level? Is this another avenue for young anglers on the rise to have the opportunity to make a living fishing professionally? Is NPFL in it for the long term and are they ready to challenge B.A.S.S. and MLF?

While only time will answer some of these questions, the one complaint professional bass fishermen had several years ago and was the number one reason for 80 anglers jumping over to the MLF from B.A.S.S., was the fact the anglers had no say on specific issues like where and when B.A.S.S. held a tournament. Anglers wanted their voices to be heard and as of today, it appears B.A.S.S. is still not listening.

One thing different about the NPFL is the process anglers get accepted into their league. You must have established yourself as a credible angler with good sponsorship support and you must have had success on a high level. Just because you have the money to enter an event ($5000), does not guarantee you a spot in the NPFL.

So, what we are seeing now is that several pros (18) have decided to double up on their fishing schedule by fishing the new NPFL. One thing I'm seeing now is that more and more anglers are trying to stay independent and not wanting to commit to just one tournament organization. Probably a very smart move from an angler's standpoint which offers them a better opportunity to provide for their families.

Is the NPFL going to be just another failed attempt like so many organizations that have come before? Is there room for another professional bass fishing circuit? I say yes, but at some point, It's similar to Louisiana High School Football playoffs where just about everybody gets in. At some point it's just too watered down and not good for the sport.

Till next time good luck, good fishing and I want to say thank you for all of those who have reached out with comments about the articles I've written. Your feedback and input is greatly appreciated!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

My Favorite Places to Wet a Hook

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:02:43 GMT

My Favorite Places to Wet a Hook

In 2004 I decided to take my fishing to another level by fishing as a co-angler on the defuncted FLW Tour, now called Major League Fishing (MLF). I fished this level for two seasons while expanding my bass fishing knowledge. To fish with the best anglers in the world was quite the privilege and made me realize just how lucky I was to get in the boat with pro anglers like Clark Wendlandt, Dion Hibdon, and Kelly Jordon. But I also got to wet a hook in some of the best bass lakes in America.

One of my first favorites would be Lake Okeechobee in South Florida. This is a place like no other I have fished in my entire career. It is a great fishery, but also intimidating with its massive expanse of wide-open cattails patches and hydrilla grass beds.

To navigate this lake without GPS would be a nightmare and almost impossible to return to an area where you caught fish the day before, as the entire lake looks the same. But when it comes to big bass, this lake is in a class all to itself where massive largemouth bass in the ten-pound range are fairly common. It's not unusual for a tournament angler to bring in a 30-pound 5 fish limit.

Next, Kentucky Lake! During the early 2000's this lake was on fire and a magnet for major bass tournaments due to its great fishing. Two things played a key role in what made this lake so good.... current and ledges. Kentucky Lake is known as a great current lake as bass set up on these deep-water ledges waiting to ambush just about any lure an angler might want to throw. It's also one of many great lakes along the Tennessee River chain. While the lake was on the decline a few years ago, it has now rebounded, and the fishing is once again really good.

Another great lake I fished during my FLW days was Beaver Lake Arkansas. This lake is a structure fisherman's dream and was where the "shaky head" craze first started. The shaky head is a small ball head jig (usually 1/8 oz. or 3/16 oz.) with a light wire hook.

This technique is usually fished on a spinning rod with light line anywhere from 8 to 10-pound test. Known as a bottom dragging bait, this technique is great for catching finicky bass. Beaver Lake is where this technique started and has become a main stay method for catching bass all across the country.

Closer to home, and a place that just might be the best bass lake in America as named a couple of years by Bassmaster Magazine, is Lake Sam Rayburn! Located just across the Louisiana/Texas state line in East Texas, Sam Rayburn is the crown jewel of the bass fishing world. Anglers commonly weigh-in 30-pound stringers almost year around.

Whether you like to fish deep or shallow, Rayburn offers you the opportunity to fish anyway you desire. It is a great deep structure fishing lake, along with plenty of shallow cover for bass to hide. Probably the number one technique used here is the Carolina rig. This is a drag the bottom technique with a ¾ or 1 ounce tungsten weight with a 3-foot leader using a baby brush hog in watermelon/red.

Rayburn is also the second biggest lake in Texas and gets more tournament fishing pressure than any other body of water. It's truly amazing how each week this lake gets pounded but continues to put out 20- and 30-pound stringers.

Other great lakes that I've had the pleasure to fish include Lake Hartwell and Santee Cooper South Carolina, Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma and South Alabama, Lake Chickamauga and Old Hickory in Tennessee, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork and a lake I grew up on Lake Monticello located just outside of Mt. Pleasant, Texas. But one of my newest favorites is East Texas' very own Lake of the Pines. This lake has been a sleeping giant but in recent years has really become a very popular bass tournament lake.

While some will disagree, another place that has a special place in my heart is the mighty Red River! This body of water has become one of my personal favorites. I've had quite a bit of success on the Red River and it seems to suit my style of fishing.

I guess you could say I have been truly blessed to get the opportunity to fish some of the best fisheries in America. Along the way, I've made an endless list of friends of both professional anglers and weekend warriors. It has been through this list of anglers that I have been able to sustain a great outdoors radio/podcast program for 17 years called Hook'N Up & Track'N Down.

But I've also had a little help with two great co-hosts, Gary McCoy and Mike Echols. Together we have been able to put together an outdoors program that's both highly entertaining and educational.

To wrap this up, we are lucky to live in a country with so many great places to wet a hook in the many lakes and rivers loaded with great fish catching opportunities. Not only can anglers bring in great stringers but can make some great memories just as I have done!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to introduce a kid to the great outdoors.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What's On My Mind

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:01:15 GMT

What's On My Mind

The dog days of August are upon us and unless you live in Alaska, no one wants to be outside. But there's still a lot to talk about and I've got a few things on my mind that I need to get off my chest. So today, I'll give you my perspective on some topics that are both good and bad.

Football season is right around the corner which is hard to believe. NFL teams are right in the middle of training camp while college teams are reporting as we speak. High school teams are going through physicals and preparing to start their preseason training. But no matter who your favorite team is, the fact that August is here means fall and cooler temperatures are coming soon, which is my favorite time of year!

With the coming of fall, it's also the time of year where bass tournament anglers who have had good seasons are now preparing for their championship events. Fall fishing can be awesome and is probably my favorite time to fish, mainly because the lakes are not as crowded since a lot of guys are getting ready for deer season.

Next, what changes will tournament organizations like B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF) make for the 2025 season? Of course, we are talking about the hottest topic of 2024 with regards to forward-facing sonar. B.A.S.S. has decide to limit the amount of overall screen size per boat to 60 inches. Meaning you'll be limited to the number of sonar units you can have on your boat.

So instead of 16- and 18-inch screens, some anglers will go back to five 12-inch screens. Another change for 2025, anglers will only be allowed one transducer per boat instead of three like some anglers have been running. This will have a bigger impact on the anglers than limiting their screen sizes. The jury is still out on MLF with regards to forward-facing sonar and we'll keep our ears open and will report any changes.... if they make any at all.

Next thing on my mind is the amount of cheating going on in tournament bass fishing today. Come on guys...really! If you must resort to cheating in order to win or do well in a bass tournament, you're a loser anyway. But until judges drop the hammer on these guys and really make them pay for their actions, cheating will continue.

Slapping these cheaters on the wrist with a small fine and picking up trash on the side of the road is not enough of a deterrent. Jail time should be automatic with heavy fines and a lifetime ban on fishing. Sounds harsh? These guys are committing fraud and should be punished accordingly.

We'll wrap it up with this. This year, it's come to my attention that more and more anglers are being diagnosed with skin cancer/melanoma. I continue to see a lot of anglers ignore or refuse to take any precautions by protecting themselves from the sun's harmful rays. Guys, I am an unfortunate example that we are not bullet proof and you need to do a better job of protecting yourselves.

Every angler out there should be making regular dermatologist appointments because the key to beating Melanoma is catching it early. Please take the time to protect yourself and find a dermatologist who can detect and treat any skin abnormalities. These regular appointments just might save your life.

Change how you dress for outdoor activities by wearing sun protective clothing and sunscreen. You might think it's overkill, but now is the time to change your apparel habits so that you can protect yourself from the number one cancer killer....Melanoma.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and if you're not sure it's a bite, set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Only In Louisiana

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:59:40 GMT

Only In Louisiana

Being from the great state of Texas, it was instilled in me from day one how important it was to follow the laws of the land, especially when it came to hunting and fishing. The last thing you wanted was a Texas Game Warden knocking on your door because you violated a wild game law. Today I'm going to reveal an incident that took place over 30 years ago that will illustrate that not all states have the same respect for the law as others.... even the guys enforcing the laws!

Growing up in my neck of the woods, there was one particular game warden that had a nasty reputation like that of Buford Pusser from the movie Walking Tall. To protect the innocent, we'll call him Billy Ray. As like Buford, he walked tall and carried a big stick. He was the game warden who took great pride enforcing the laws of East Texas great outdoors.

Billy Ray had the reputation for getting a little rough with those who decided to try and skirt the rules. There were many stories about him that were legendary with how he caught those who did not follow the laws of hunting or fishing. You might think you were going to get away with breaking a law, but Billy Ray would eventually track you down.

Upon my arrival to Louisiana back in 1979 as a tall skinny teenager looking to continue my athletic career/education at Northwestern State, I found out quickly that Louisiana laws were pretty loose when it came to hunting and fishing. During this time, Louisiana had what was known as an open range law which meant you did not need permission to hunt on another person's property as long as it was not posted.

Being from Texas, this was shocking to me that I could walk onto another man's property and hunt. Because where I'm from, this would never even cross your mind to set foot on another man's property without permission, unless you wanted to answer to Billy Ray later on.

But on one particular dove hunt I was invited on, I realized that some Louisiana game wardens were above the law. Now a good friend of mine owned a big track of land that had a great amount of dove waiting on someone to take a few shots. My buddy called the night before the hunt with the invite. I asked him if the field was baited because he had the reputation for also skirting the laws on dove hunting. He assured me that all was legal and that I had nothing to worry about.

So, the next day as I and another buddy drove up on the field and began to spread out, I once again asked about baiting. The property owner said, "Well there might be some scattered seed out in the middle, but he felt we were good to go." Now that I was nervous and anxious, my buddy decided to let us know that if we see a green truck with a red light on top come over the levy, run into the woods and hide.

Well sure as shoot'n, thirty minutes into the hunt the green truck with the red light rolled over the levy and onto the property. Heart racing, my friend and I hit the woods on a dead sprint hoping to evade the game warden. Then the game warden emerged from the truck and shouted out for our buddy who invited us on this outlaw hunt. He wanted to know who else was hunting with him that day. My buddy promptly cranked the bus and ran over us by replying that me and my friend had run into the woods.

The game warden called for us to come out and announced that it was okay to hunt. He also pulled out his shotgun and began to hunt with us....over a baited field!!! Only in Louisiana!

Now we all know that there will always be good cops and bad cops, but today I feel things are different in Louisiana. Personally knowing several Louisiana game wardens, I don't think this would happen today.....or at least I hope not!

Till next time, good luck, good hunting and the next time you're invited on a dove hunt, do what you're supposed to do....inspect the field yourself.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Remembering Those Hot Summer Days of My Youth

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:58:35 GMT

Remembering Those Hot Summer Days of My Youth

Now in the latter years of my life, I've developed a hatred for summers and the high temperatures that come with it. No longer do I look forward those hot summer days the same way I did as a youth.

But today we're going to turn back the clock on what was one of the best time periods of my life.

Growing up in my house, there was no such thing as "sleeping in." Pretty much every day of my life the light switch was turned on in my room no later than 6:30 in the morning. Growing up on a ranch in East Texas was a great privilege of mine and it taught me so much about hard work and responsibility.

But it was also my playground for hunting and fishing and is where my passion for the outdoors started. I literally spent hours and days transversing the woods and stock ponds of our ranch. This is where I learned to hunt squirrels and deer while our stock ponds were loaded with bass and catfish and was my training ground for fishing.

But directly across the street from our house a few miles out of town, was the property of Mr. Rayford Jones who was a cattle rancher with a couple of really good catfish ponds. This is where a good friend of mine (Malcolm Jones, Rayford's grandson) and I spent the majority of those hot summer days fishing for catfish.

Since we did not have cell phones back in those days, we would make arrangements the night before to meet at the one of those catfish ponds just after daylight. We tried to beat the heat by getting out there early but most often we were there until around noon or until we got tired of catching fish.

Now the worst part about catching catfish was that someone had to clean them, and it didn't take long for us to make the decision to just enjoy catching and releasing the catfish back into the pond so we could catch them again on another day or you could say, we were just lazy.

One thing about fishing for catfish, it requires much patience but is a fun way to fish. In order to catch catfish, you need bait. Now bait can be in the form of several different things as catfish will eat just about anything including the kitchen sink.... but that's hard to get on a hook. Some people use what is known as blood bait, which is not only nasty, but stinks to high heaven as well. Frozen shrimp also make great catfish bait along with hotdogs and earthworms.

But we liked to double our fun by using what is known as cut bait. This is where you first catch a few small bream with crickets or earthworms and then cut the tails off and use that for bait. Every now and then, we had so much fun catching the bream, we would just forget about the catfish.

I've often wondered is it hotter today than when were kids? Probably not but we were just acclimated to the heat better since we spent every waking hour outdoors and not inside an airconditioned house. Our parents insisted you stay outside even if you were thirsty. Thank the Lord for whoever invented the garden hose because this was a survival tool for kids of my generation.

Shade trees were not just a part of our front yard, they were a gathering spot to get some relief from the summer sun. The only thing better than a shade tree, was a fruit tree. There were several pear and apple trees in the area along with a couple of fig trees that were all used for survival. A lot of people back during the 60's and 70's planted fruit trees; something you don't see much anymore.

I miss these days and really enjoyed growing up the way I did. If we weren't fishing, we were playing baseball on a sandlot or any backyard we could find. Yes, there were a few broken windows, but our sandlot games were fun and a great training ground for developing our baseball skills. If was too hot to play baseball, we went to the local swimming pool in order to beat the heat.

I know it was a different time, but back then we had freedom and the ability to go wherever our bikes could takes us. We did not need or have much favor towards babysitters. We also never complained about it being too hot, we beat it with a Wham-O Water Wiggle or a Slip-N-Slide.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to wear your sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all cancers so take the time to protect yourself.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Do You Believe In Guardian Angels?

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:57:43 GMT

Do You Believe In Guardian Angels?

We've all heard the stories about how people claim to have been saved by a guardian angel. For years I never really bought into this notion that someone is actually watching over us, that we all have an angel making sure we don't die before our time is up here on earth. There've been several movies depicting the idea of guardian angels like, It's a Wonderful Life, The Preachers Wife, Heart and Soul, Always, and The Family Man.

It's a Wonderful Life is my all-time favorite and a must watch every Christmas Eve. The plot is based off the idea that a guardian angel (Clarence) is trying to earn his wings by showing George Bailey how fortunate he has been during the course of his lifetime and how important George has been to so many people within the town of Bedford Falls, NY.

Like George, so many of us take for granted the impact we have on family and friends. We forget that each of us leaves a lasting impression of both good and bad. We don't realize how much we help shape the lives of those around us.

But occasionally God shows us through a life experience that maybe there really is someone (an angel) watching over and protecting us in ways we might not recognize at the time.

This happened to me one evening in the mid 1990's while working for a company called Holloway Sportswear. My job at this time required me to travel daily to six different factories all across Louisiana. Travel time averaged about two to four hours per day depending on the location I was going to on a particular day. The daily drives were the worst part about the job, but the good far outweighed the bad when it came to the job overall.

One evening as I was leaving one of the factories, I hit the road for what was only about a forty-minute drive home. About halfway home, something told me to buckle up. Now this (the mid 90's) was at a time when there was a push nationwide to always buckle up. Well, me being in my mid-thirties and bullet proof, I resisted this movement with a passion. I hated someone trying to mandate that everyone must buckle up!

But it was during the drive home that day that I heard the words, "Buckle up!" Normally these words would have been met with resistance. But on this particular day, there was something different about this voice and without hesitation I grabbed the seat belt and buckled up. For some weird reason it wasn't even an afterthought. One minute later I was involved in a head on collision and rolled my car four times off into the woods. I remember the initial collision but was knocked unconscious upon impact. I was awake again as the car came to a rest upside down.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured which was a miracle in itself! One witness, who had a front row seat to this accident, said he did not want to come to my car because he knew I was dead. After being checked over and released from the local hospital, I went home where it hit me just how lucky I was to survive such a crash.

Then I began to break everything down and analyze what had happened. I asked myself, "What made me buckle up? Why and who was that voice telling me to grab the seat belt and buckle up?" This was intriguing, especially since I was THAT GUY who never liked to buckle up, who literally hated someone telling me what was best for me!

This is when I knew that there was something of a higher power at work here. It was my guardian angel who made sure that my time here on earth was not up yet, that there was a bigger plan for me than what I had realized.

Sometimes it takes a life experience to confirm that there really is someone out there looking over our shoulders and making sure we are taken care of. Even when we think we are in control, we're not!

So, the next time you hear that little voice in your head telling you to do something that might be in your best interest....listen!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Sometimes You Just Want to Go Home

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:56:27 GMT

Sometimes You Just Want to Go Home

Occasionally, as a tournament angler, you ask yourself, "Why am I out here? Why can't I figure out a good fish-catching pattern?" These are just a couple of questions, and many others, I recently asked myself during a mid-June tournament on Sam Rayburn. Then I started trying to make excuses as to why I was not catching fish, like the lake is 7 feet too high, the wind is not blowing, and there are too many people on the lake. The excuses were endless!

For me, and this might be an age thing because I hate summertime fishing for one main reason....it's too damn hot! I would rather fish in 30-degree weather than fish with temperatures in the mid to upper 90's. I can put enough clothes on to stay warm and comfortable, but I can't take enough off to get cool. Nothing is worse than when sweat is dripping off your nose, running down your back, and down the back of your pants.

This is when you must fight through all the negative gremlins running through your head and refocus yourself. But nothing helps your mindset more than when you start catching bass, even if they are not the size you need to win the event. Just getting bites gives you reason to have hope that at some point you'll find some bigger bass. This tends to keep you in tune and alert, making it easier to stay in the right frame of mind. But when you're not getting bites, and it's hotter than a frying pan full of Crisco, frustration starts to set in, and your mind starts to drift.

It's also when you are constantly trying to figure out what technique will work the best. Should I be throwing a topwater bait, a crankbait or maybe a spinnerbait, or do I need to tie on a good Texas rigged worm and go to work? Do I need to be fishing shallow or deep brush tops in 20 feet of water? But no matter what I decide, nothing seems to be working and did I mention IT'S HOT!

Summertime fishing can be more of a mental challenge than any other time of year. It's the time of year for tournament anglers when we go "trash fishing." Now what is trash fishing? This is when you cannot seem to figure out any sort of pattern but can still catch fish on several different baits using many different techniques.

For me at Sam Rayburn this past June, I was totally locked in on a trash fishing pattern. I caught fish on a topwater bait, a spinnerbait, a crankbait, a Texas rigged worm and a jerkbait. Five different baits employing 5 different techniques! Here's the remarkable thing about this particular day. Five times during the day, I picked up a different bait and caught a bass on the very first cast with that bait! That has never happened to me before!

But that's what trash fishing is all about, catching bass on several different baits. It is a typical summer pattern, if you even want to call it a pattern. So, the next time you're struggling to catch fish on one of those hot summer days, don't load the boat and go home, tie on ALL your favorite baits and go trash fishing.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and be sure to wear your sunscreen and good protective clothing because Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

July 3, 2024

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 12:55:10 GMT

July 3, 2024

Every bass tournament is a series of decisions. Some will either make you or break you depending on which direction you decide to go. Some decisions are small while others are huge and can be the difference in winning or getting your butt kicked.

But one thing is understood. The decisions we make as anglers on the water, we must live with, as there's no going back or asking for a redo. Today we'll look at one of my last tournaments on Toledo Bend where I made the right decisions.

Let's first look at practice and where my plan came together. One of my favorite areas that I like to focus on is the mid-lake region. By mid-lake, I'm talking about an area known as the 1215 area south to Negreet Creek. This is a huge portion of Toledo Bend and is highly regarded as some of the best fishing on the Bend.

During practice, Toledo Bend Lake levels were up about 1 foot above pool which is 172. For me, this meant that flipping bushes would come into play which is what I love to do. Nothing gets my juices flowing more than pitching a jig into a bush and pulling out a four- or five-pound bass; it's a rush I really can't describe!

Well, I fished an area where I have had success over the years and only caught one four-pound bass. It was an area known for holding quality fish, but for some reason the bass just were not setting up on them.... yet. So, I then switched over to plan B and started fishing cypress trees on main lake points.

I quickly realized that this would work but didn't feel like I could fully rely on this pattern as the lake level was starting to fall. I then switched to another pattern that I like especially after the spawn is over and that would be boat docks. Boat docks are a great place to fish as bass will seek refuge on docks as they recover from the physically draining spawn.

Now all docks are not created equal as some will hold bass when others will not. But I have found over the years that the docks closer to deeper water tend to hold bass better than the ones on a big flat.

As day 1 of the 2-day tournament approached, I decided to start on an early morning point fairly close to our take-off. The day before, I shook off over 15 fish on this one 40-yard stretch and thought this be a great place to get an early limit. Well, the good Lord above had different plans on day 1 as my great starting spot turned out to be a big fat zero.

So, I immediately switched to plan B once again, and started fishing a couple of stretches of boat docks I had gotten some quality bites on in practice. I ended the day with over 14 pounds and was sitting in the Top 10 after day 1.

Day 2 was pretty much the same routine, but with only a little over ten pounds in the boat at 12:00 noon, I decided to head north and flip bushes. Again, I only had 1 bite in the bushes in practice, but I just thought with the blue bird skies and the sun shining strong, that the bass would be looking to seek cover in the form of bushes.

Best decision I've made this year! My third cast into a bush with a jig resulted in a 3.5-pound bass and the culling party began. I was also able to get a few frog bites, but my main bait was the jig. In two hours, I had culled every fish in the livewell and came in with a bag just shy of 16 pounds for a two-day total of 30.81 lbs. and a 5th place finish.

Again, every bass tournament is a series of decisions. Some days you make great decisions and on others, you make bad ones. Most of the time with bass fishing, it's all about timing. Some areas of the lake will turn on when other areas turn off. To be successful on tournament day, you must be in the right place at the right time.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and be sure to wear your sunscreen and good protective clothing because Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

July 3rd Weekly Tip

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 12:54:18 GMT

July 3rd Weekly Tip

With summer temperatures reaching the upper 90's, it can make fishing absolutely miserable. Nothing is worse than fishing with sweat rolling off your nose. But there's one way to beat the heat....fish at night!!! Bass become a lot more active after the sun goes down which can make night fishing very rewarding. It's also a great time to catch a big fish as bass move up in the shallows and feel more secure by the cover of darkness. Buzzbaits and big worms are probably the most effective baits at night that produce quality bass. So during the next two months of July and August, schedule your next bass fishing trip in conjunction with the full moon. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

June 26, 2024

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:53:41 GMT

June 26, 2024

I believe 2016 was the last time Toledo Bend was on fire. Well, 2024 has been very similar to that year so far. The Bend is once again an awesome fishery that is putting out not only quality bass, but bass over ten pounds. This past May during the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash was the proof that anglers were looking for.

Now understand, all lakes go through some periods of decline and most rebound with good management. It's like a deer lease; the only way to have quality deer is to manage the herd. It's been through the coordination and dedication of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Management (TPWM) that Toledo Bend has been able to rebound and become one of the best fisheries in the south.

Here are some numbers from mid-May's Sealy Big Bass Splash that will illustrate just how good the Bend is fishing at this time.

Over the course of three days anglers brought in 94 bass over 6 pounds with 35 of those over 7.00 pounds.
For the first time in years the top 4 bass of the event were over 10 pounds....10.06, 10.52, 10.58, along with the winning bass of 10.64 lbs.

All Sealy events also have an hourly payback for the top 15 bass each hour. Here's what it took just to make the Top 15 each hour.

Friday - it took a 4.16 lb. bass to make the Top 15.
Saturday - it a 4.13 lb. bass to make the Top 15.
Sunday - it took at least a 3.72 lb. bass to make the Top 15.

Now to the average person these numbers may not mean much, but to an avid bass fisherman they are eye popping. The numbers show just how good of a fishery Toledo Bend is currently. Additionally, it proves that the lake is putting out quality bass and that will encourage tournament organizations to schedule more events on the Bend.

Now there are other factors that have helped the Bend to become, once again, one of the best bass lakes in the country. Over the last year, there has been a resurgence of grass or what biologist call hydrilla. Both ends of Toledo Bend have good grass beds from Blue Lake (north of San Miguel) down to Housen Bay and Six Mile areas. Lower water levels of 2023 and early 2024 have also been a factor due to the fact it has allowed more vegetative growth in the shallow water areas.

One thing is clear, Toledo Bend is once again in the category of "Best Lakes in America." While Mother Nature is the determining factor on just how good this lake will be in the future, it's up to all anglers to do our part with fish management. It's our job to take care of our catch on tournament day and make sure the fish we release back into the lake are in great condition to be caught again.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and let's all try to practice catch and release on all our waterways. Keep what you can eat and throw the rest back to be caught another day.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

June 26th Weekly Tip

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:52:10 GMT

June 26th Weekly Tip

A lot of anglers love throwing topwater baits and crankbaits. These baits sometimes have up to three sets of treble hooks which we all know can be good or dangerous. But one thing is a fact, you must have good sharp treble hooks in order to catch fish. While anglers are overly conscious about everything else from the line they use to the condition of their reels, they probably don't pay as much attention to how sharp their treble hooks are mainly because they can be difficult to change out. But angler's who pay attention to this minor detail, will take the time to replace old worn out rusty or dull hooks in order to give themselves the best opportunity to land that fish of a lifetime. So anglers, continue to be diligent with all aspects of your fishing gear, but don't neglect your treble hooks. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

The Unwritten Rules of Tournament Bass Fishing

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:39:04 GMT

The Unwritten Rules of Tournament Bass Fishing

Last week we covered some of the issues going on with anglers on our lakes and waterways. We talked about the confrontations taking place daily as guys compete for water space. Every angler, of course, wants an area of the lake to themselves. Twenty-five to thirty years ago, this might have been possible but not in 2024! Since the Covid pandemic, it is crazy how many people have taken to the outdoors, and specifically the water, for either fishing or just pleasure boating.

So, with so many people on our lakes and rivers, competition for water space is at an all-time high. Today, I'm going to grab my whistle and put on my coach's cap and teach anyone willing to listen (boat captains and high school anglers) on the unwritten rules of tournament bass fishing. Actually, these rules should apply to all anglers!

Rule #1: Don't back your boat down the ramp if you're not ready to launch. This is a major sore spot with anglers as so many times some anglers will block the ramp by loading all their gear, putting on the running light, loading their rods, removing the trailer bar and unhooking all the trailer straps. Do all this before you get to the ramp! Same goes for pleasure boaters; do all your prepping away from the ramp. Now when you get to the ramp, you're ready to drop the boat in the water and get out of the way.

Next, brush piles....Rule #2: You don't own a sunken brush pile. This might be the most controversial topic among tournament anglers and can be a major source of tension. But you must understand, that even though YOU spent hours sinking brush piles all over the lake, in reality, you do not own them. Once anything is sunk on a public waterway, it is no longer YOUR personal fishing spot, it's public. YOU DO NOT OWN THAT OR ANY OTHER BRUSH PILE! Anyone and everyone have just as much right to fish that brush pile as the person that put it there.

Now, with all this being said, if I know that an angler in the tournament put out a particular brush top, I'll honor him by not fishing it. Also, if I see a good friend fishing a particular brush pile, I'll check it off my list of places to fish out of respect for him.

Here's the thing about brush piles; most lakes have hundreds of brush piles all over the lake. All you have to do is use your electronics and go find them. Which leads us to Rule #4: Go find your own fish! Don't rely on another angler to find fish for you! Find them on your own! You'll get a greater satisfaction from fishing when you do it on your own.

Rule #4: Don't cut another angler off! This is the most controversial unwritten rule there is and the one that has created the most verbal wars on the water. Nothing sets a bass fisherman off quicker than another angler cutting them off. If you see a boat going down a stretch of boat docks, grass line or tree line, don't run in on him and start fishing a few hundred feet in front of him. THIS IS A MAJOR NO NO! Give the angler his space and go at least 300 yards or more before dropping your trolling motor. Or start behind the angler and go away from him which is what he would prefer anyway.

Rule #5: Don't run up on another boat and shut down on top of them. This is more of a problem on lakes that have a defined boat lane with little to no wiggle room. If another angler is fishing close to the boat lane, shut down at least 40 yards from them and idle by him a few yards before getting back on pad.

In some cases, anglers will motion you with a hand signal waving you on to stay on pad and run by them. I personally would rather have someone just run by me on pad rather than shutting down and throwing a 2-foot wake on me. A running boat produces a smaller wake than one with a fast idle. But it's always good to be courteous and let the other angler tell you what they want you to do.

Rule #6: Never drop waypoints with your GPS of another angler's fishing spot. This one is a major issue with all tournament bass anglers. Just because you see one of the local favorites on a particular body of water fishing a specific spot, does not mean you should idle by him and drop a waypoint. I've seen anglers go out of their way to mark another angler's location only to return and fish the same spot. If you can't find your own fish, don't enter the tournament!

Rule #7: At no point should an angler have a pair of binoculars in their boat! This really makes an angler using them look pitiful. It shows you're spending time sitting and watching other anglers catch fish while you're waiting for them to leave so you can fish that spot. Don't do this! Binoculars have no place in a bass boat!

The next two rules (#8 and #9) apply mainly to anglers fishing a pro/am tournament. Rule #8: Don't throw past the front of the boat. This is actually a written rule, but also the most overlooked or ignored rule by co-anglers. Some co-anglers think they can cast anywhere they want, but that's not the case. The co-angler should fish the water from the imaginary line from the middle of the boat to the back of the boat. My advice to co-anglers...if you want to fish in front of the boat, then sign up as a boater/pro.

Rule #9: Make sure to help the boater/pro with gas on tournament day. Most guys will never ask for the money, so it's up to you (co-angler) to offer. It's pretty much understood that unless gas prices are high, $40 is a good offer. Some boater/pros may not take it, but it's a courteous gesture on your part to offer, especially if you covered a lot of water that day.

Finally, Rule #10: Your bass boat is not a rocket ship! You're not impressing anyone on the lake by going fast. So SLOW DOWN and be courteous and respectful of all boaters. In the words of former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Jimmy Johnson...speed kills! Now obviously he was talking about football, but the same rule applies for going too fast in a bass boat.

Whether we think it or not, we (anglers) do not own any portion of the lake. Everyone is entitled to all areas of any public lake or river. So be respectful of all boaters using the lake. As hard as it can be, exercise patience and try to be nice.

The rules listed above have been passed down to me by previous generations of anglers during my many years of tournament experience. These are things that all bass fishermen need to be reminded of from time to time.

We all get frustrated, but today our lakes and waterways are overrun with boaters and it's up to us to educate each other as to what is considered acceptable behavior on the water. If you know of anyone, like a boat captain, high school angler or someone new to tournament bass fishing, please share this information with them. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt...set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Too Much Bass Tournament Drama Today!

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:37:54 GMT

Too Much Bass Tournament Drama Today!

What the heck is going on in the bass tournament world? Drama, drama and more drama, tournament after tournament! It’s worse than watching daytime soap operas and it’s on every level across the country. It includes grown men who have become overly sensitive about people fishing too close, to those who think forward-facing sonar is ruining the sport, to people who think cheating is okay. What’s that old saying…”If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying!” I mean enough is enough with all the chit chat, griping and complaining about every little thing!

Anglers are taking to social media like bees going to honey, giving their side of an incident that took place at their last event. They’re attempting to explain their thought process and why they did what they did. Every little thing, every incident and situation are now public knowledge. Cameras are rolling in every boat so that these incidents can be posted on social media. Nothing is private anymore!

So why has bass fishing all the sudden become an episode of the Jerry Springer Show? Is it intentional, and a way to get more social media likes and followers, or is it just a sign of the times where we as a society are looking for just any little thing we can share with the entire world?

Part of the problem is the amount of money anglers are fishing for today. Whether it’s a big bass tournament or a team fishing circuit, the money anglers are fishing for in a lot of bass tournaments is insane.

The next issue: today’s lakes and waterways are more crowded than a Rolling Stones concert. We aren’t just talking about bass fishermen either. There are a ton of pleasure boaters and jet skiers who have the same rights to the lakes and waterways as anglers do. Now most anglers won’t agree with my last statement, but it’s the truth.

So, with so much money at stake and more people on the water now, conflicts are bound to arise from time to time. But excluding the recreational boaters, why are so many bass anglers having conflicts on the water? One reason is the lack of what is called “on the water etiquette.” These are the unwritten rules that today’s younger generation of anglers (high school and college) have not been taught.

Just like Little League, many dads or coaches are volunteers, and some have never played the game so they are not familiar with how the game should be taught. Don’t get me wrong, I love that there are people who will step up and take over a team that needs a coach. Volunteers are critical to the success of any sports league, but sometimes they need coaching themselves. This same rule applies for today’s high school boat captains; they need some coaching.

Here's where the problem comes in. Some dads/coaches/boat captains have a disease known as an “ego” and will let this get in the way of allowing them to be taught on how to be a better coach/boat captain. Trust me when I tell you that tournament bass anglers suffer from the same disease! They hate being told (me included) that we did something wrong, especially on the water! But once in a while, we all need reminding of how to act on the water.

But my generation was taught, and we listened to the older guys when we started our fishing careers. We had the utmost respect for the older guys and would seek out their knowledge frequently. We were always looking to them for advice because we all wanted to be better anglers.

I have yet to have a young angler, or a boat captain come up and ask me anything about the unwritten rules of the water or for any advice. If there’s one area high school bass fishing is failing, it is dad’s or boat captains not knowing the unwritten rules of fishing etiquette and aren’t asking for advice from the older guys.

Now I will admit that I have gotten a little testy with some high school anglers and boat captains. I have lost my cool with these guys more than once, and occasionally still do, especially when I see an experienced boat captain who fishes tournaments himself making dumb decisions on the water and setting a bad example for the young anglers in their boat.

My message to ALL anglers is this; if you’re doing something that you think might not be right, trust your instincts and don’t do it! If you’re not sure about a certain situation, ask an older angler for advice. It all boils down to one thing…. respect. Respect is not only for other anglers, but for the sport as well.

Coming soon, I will go over the unwritten rules of tournament bass fishing, and I hope my readers will share this very important information that all anglers need to hear. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt…set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

June 12th Weekly Tip

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:36:53 GMT

June 12th Weekly Tip

Well now is a great tine to throw a buzz bait and the number 1 question asked; do I throw with braid or monofilament? Both have their place but for me but I like the Seaguar Smackdown braid. Designed for strength and durability but is also great for casting. I use this in combination with the Santone Braid Buzz which is designed for braided fishing line. This combination is good whether your fishing in heavy cover or open water. The Seaguar Smackdown braid has no stretch which allows for solid hook'ups and getting fish out of heavy cover and into the boat. So if you want to increase your hook'up ratio with a buzz bait, spool your reels with Seaguar Smackdown. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

Just How Good is Lake Sam Rayburn?

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:36:19 GMT

Just How Good is Lake Sam Rayburn?

The Ark-La-Tex region is blessed with some of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. Toledo Bend, Lake Fork, Caddo Lake, Lake of the Pines, Caney, Bussy Break are all area lakes that continue to make the Bassmaster Top 100 lakes in the country every year. But there’s one that has emerged as the best of the best…. Lake Sam Rayburn!

Located in the heart of East Texas just east of Lufkin, Sam Rayburn continues to defy logic and mystify marine biologist. By that I mean, no other lake in this region gets more pressure and hosts more tournaments than Rayburn and yet it continues to put out huge stringers of bass week after week. Today I’ll give you some statistics that will illustrate just how good Sam Rayburn is at this time.

One way to judge a lake is to look at tournament results. It’s a great barometer to determine how healthy a fishery really is. One recent tournament was the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash which is held annually on Sam Rayburn in the month of April. Anglers from all over the country make their way to this famed reservoir each year for one thing…to catch big bass! This year the Sealy event did not disappoint as record numbers were caught.

Here's some impressive numbers to back up why Sam Rayburn is truly the best. These weights reflect the total bass weighed over the three-day event.

Friday - 41 bass weighed in over 7.00 lbs. with 9 of them over the 9 lb. mark including the winning fish of the event coming in at 11.30 lbs. Saturday - 34 bass over 7.00 lbs. came to the scales with 14 coming in over 8.00 lbs. Sunday - was a good day but not as good as the two previous days, which is normal for a three-day event, as only 13 fish were weighed in over 7.00 lbs.

With all Bob Sealy events, there’s an hourly payback, as well, that pays the Top 15 places per hour. Here’s what it took to just get an hourly check or 15th place each hour.

Friday – it took a bass weighing 5.38 lbs. to get 15th place each hour.

Saturday – you needed a 4.66 lb. bass to make the Top 15.

Sunday – a 4.20 lb. bass put you in the Top 15.

To the average person who does not fish, these numbers mean nothing, but to an angler, these numbers are off the chart impressive!

What makes this even more amazing is the fact that from January through the end of September, there’s not a single weekend where Rayburn isn’t hosting at least two tournaments.

Most lakes with this kind of pressure will have a drop off in the quality of bass caught. But not Sam Rayburn and that’s a testament to the hard work of the Texas Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. No other state does as good a job of producing great fisheries than the state of Texas!

If you’re looking for a place to go and catch big bass, look no further than Lake Sam Rayburn! Till next time good luck, good fishing and when in doubt, set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

June 5th Weekly Tip

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:35:15 GMT

June 5th Weekly Tip

This past weekend I had the chance to fish a great benefit tournament. As an angler who has grown up in shallow water, it was a great opportunity to learn a few things with my team partner who has great experience fishing out deep. Even if you think you're pretty good with your electronics, watching someone who knows more is both educational and enlightening. Realize the importance of understanding how to read the mapping on your units. To be a great deep water angler, you need to understand contour lines and how to recognize small subtleties. These insignificant features a lot of the times become major spots that fish will set up on. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

Does Color Really Matter?

Wed, 29 May 2024 19:34:41 GMT

Does Color Really Matter?

If there’s one debate in bass fishing that has gone on for decades, it’s the age-old question: Does color matter? What we are referring to is the color of the bait you’re throwing when fishing for those elusive largemouth bass. No other topic in the bass fishing world has a difference of opinion more than this topic. Today I’ll give you my perspective that could lean you in either direction.

If you ask any angler with years of experience, some will say, “Yes, color does matter,” while others will say, “No,” that the color of your bait has no bearing on if a bass will eat it. Occasionally, I will agree with the guys who say “no” because there are occasions where bass are on a feeding frenzy, otherwise known as “schooling,” and will bite just about anything you throw at them. But I’ve also seen instances where if you don’t throw something that is very close to the forage (baitfish) they are chasing, and I mean in both size and color, you will not get bit. This rule of “matching the hatch,” so to speak, pretty much applies 90% of the time.

Here's my perspective when it comes to color. I say “yes” color does matter, if for no other reason than confidence. I know we’ve talked about confidence in the past and there’s nothing more important to an angler than his confidence, whether it’s in a particular color or a select bait. This is always a part of my message when I speak to high school or college anglers. It’s important for young anglers to gain confidence in a particular color because when the fishing is tough, you want to fish with something you have a lot of confidence in.

When it comes to soft plastic baits, color can make a huge difference on whether you catch bass or not. My argument has always been if color is not important, then why do manufacturers make so many for anglers to choose from? Some will say that is because companies are trying to catch anglers and sell lures. That might be true, but they also make so many colors because of the many different types of water clarity we have all across the country, and certain colors are designed to match different types of forage bass feed on.

All I know is this, over my many years of chasing those little green fish we call bass, more times than I can count, I made a color change and suddenly, I started catching bass. Was this a coincidence or was the new color I switched to closer to the forage they were feeding on? Only a bass can truly answer this question of whether color really matters, and until bass learn to speak, the world may never know.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

May 29th Weekly Tip

Wed, 29 May 2024 19:33:50 GMT

May 29th Weekly Tip

This time of year bass tends to feed upon shad to regain the weight they lost during the spawn. While a chatter bait has become the go-to bait these days, the spinnerbait is still a great lure. The spinnerbait comes in several blade and skirt combinations; each designed to attract bass through both sight and vibration. The combination you choose depends on water clarity. For muddy water choose bright or dark colored skirts with big Colorado or Indiana style blades in order to maximize vibration. In clear water conditions, white or translucent skirts tend to work the best with willow leaf blades. The main thing you want to do when spinnerbait fishing.... you want the illusion of bait fish without allowing the bass to get too good a look at the bait itself. It's also a great way to introduce youngsters to bass fishing because it a great chunk and wind bait. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

A Salute to a Fishing Legend

Wed, 22 May 2024 19:33:03 GMT

A Salute to a Fishing Legend

Not many people reach legendary status. But there’s one man who lives just across the Louisiana/Texas line that falls into the category of a legend. He’s a guy who for years has conducted the greatest bass tournaments in the world. He’s become so big that National Geographic came to East Texas and did a one hour special on his amateur bass tournament trail. His name…Bob Sealy! He is the owner and creator of the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash Series.

Back in the 1980’s, Bob had this great idea to conduct a big bass tournament on Lake Sam Rayburn as part of an initiative to bring tourism to the lake area. Little did he know that 40 years later it would explode nationwide, and now globally, as anglers all over the country and the world come and compete in one of his many big bass tournaments held all across the south.

Bob was also the guy who sat down with Ray Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), and convinced him to bring a professional bass tournament to Sam Rayburn. This brought national exposure to the area as Sam Rayburn became one of the legendary lakes in America with its reputation for producing huge bass and 30-pound tournament winning stringers.

Why so much success over a bass tournament? What has been the reason so many people have come and continue to make their way to all Bob Sealy events? It’s all due to a simple formula Bob figured out a long time ago. He realized most anglers will never have the opportunity to make the kind of money professional bass fishing offers. That’s when he came up with the slogan, “Where amateurs win like the pros!” As they say, the rest is history!

Another reason for the Sealy success is the fact that Bob does what he says he will do. Early on when he started these big bass tournaments, he took a few financial losses mainly due to the promises he had made. There were times when he did not have enough entries to cover the amount he was giving away. Bob still wrote checks and borrowed money from the bank in order to make sure everyone got paid.

Another example of why Bob has had so much success is his willingness to give. There’s one aspect of all Sealy tournaments where he offers $5000 each day for any angler that weighs an exact 3.00, 4.00, or 5.00-pound bass. Even if no one weighs in an exact size bass, he will put all the entries from the tournament into a hopper and will draw a random name to give away three $5000 checks. Most tournaments would just pocket this money and move on. Not Bob Sealy, he wants anglers to walk away with money in their pocket!

These are just a few reasons why Bob Sealy has so many participants follow his tournament trail. Bob does what he says he will do, no matter what the cost. This is the key to any successful bass fishing circuit. Anglers only want two things: enforce the rules and make sure the payout is exactly what each event says it will be.

Today we salute Bob Sealy on his commitment and dedication to making this tournament trail so successful. Sealy events are for all weekend warriors who love to fish. It’s also about family by offering something for all ages with plenty of food, entertainment and kids fishing division. As a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Outdoors Hall of Fame, Bob continues to set the bar for all bass tournaments.

This article would not be complete without recognizing and thanking the entire Sealy Outdoors staff and volunteers who coordinate and make all Sealy events possible. Without these folks, the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash would not be possible.

To learn more about the Sealy Big Bass Splash Series of tournaments go to sealyoutdoors.com. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt…. set the hook.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

May 22nd Weekly Tip

Wed, 22 May 2024 19:32:00 GMT

May 22nd Weekly Tip

As anglers, we tend to complicate things by over thinking the situation. We try to impress ourselves with our own knowledge and outsmart a creature that has a brain the size of a dime. Especially when it comes down to; what color worm we should be throwing? If there's one thing I learned quickly in 2004 fishing the FLW Tour as a co-angler, the pros don't get caught up in color. They pretty much keep it simple by throwing earth tone colors like black and blue, black with red flake, watermelon and watermelon/red but there is one color that dominates for most all pro anglers....green pumpkin. Tournament in and tournament out, the green pumpkin will catch fish pretty much anywhere in the country. So the next time you're just stumped on what color to throw...tie on anything as long as its green pumpkin!!! This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

That’s Right… We’re Talking About Practice!

Wed, 15 May 2024 19:30:53 GMT

That’s Right… We’re Talking About Practice!

Just like NBA Basketball player Alan Iverson once said…. ”We’re talking about practice?” Yes, today we’re talking about practice and how important it can be for an angler to be successful. With my recent 11th place finish at Sam Rayburn in the ABA Pro League, it was a reminder of just how important practice can be.

The problem with practice this time of year (spring) is that conditions can change overnight, or worse, by the hour. But nevertheless, we will see how time on the water is important to being successful and how we as anglers must keep an open mind, especially on tournament day.

Let’s start with day one of practice, as conditions were very mild with warm daily temperatures reaching the lower 80’s and a mild northwest wind at 5 to 10 MPH. But one thing that would be a definite factor in this event was the rising water level.

The East Texas region had been inundated with torrential rain the week of this event with as much as 10 inches falling just north of Sam Rayburn. This created a much-needed steady rise all across Sam Rayburn. The lake had been approximately 6.5 feet low prior to this tournament, creating all sorts of obstacles for anglers to navigate around making for some nervous boat rides.

So, I made a decision to go shallow and shrink the lake by limiting my options and fishing fairly close to the tournament site. I wanted to really get into an area, learn it, and figure out what the bass were doing in this particular part of the lake. This proved to be a very productive move on my part as there was plenty of cover with patches of lily pads and hydrilla in several pockets I had chosen to concentrate on.

Now with rising water on any lake, bass have a tendency to move up with the rising water and head for the shallows. First thing I realized on day 1 of practice was there were a good number of quality bass roaming the shallows as I caught a few fish in the 3-to-4-pound range. Based off a previous event I researched from the week before, I noticed the weights were down and that 12 to 14 pounds would probably be good enough to get a check.

Over a two-day period of practice, I found three areas holding quality fish and decided to rotate through each over the course of my tournament day. But one area was especially promising as I caught three good fish and shook off 10 others late on the final day of practice. So, what does it mean to shake fish off? It’s where an angler fishes a bait with either a bent over hook or fishing the bait hookless, making sure he never hooks the fish.

Years ago, a fellow angler showed me this tip that I now use when practicing for a tournament and I don’t want to hook fish prior to the event. It's called a screw lock and allows me to fish a soft plastic bait, like a worm or creature bait, without using a hook. The fish still bite the bait and in most cases I can see or feel if they are quality fish or not.

Hooking bass a day or two before an event will cause them not to bite. Anglers call this “sore mouthing” them. But there are times when I’m on a new body of water that I’m not familiar with that I will hook a few fish just to see what size bass are in that area.

During my 2 days of practice, it did not take long for me to figure out that a weightless fluke, a speed worm with an 1/8-ounce weight, and a chatterbait would be my top baits for this event. Wind was a huge factor as well and was an important key to certain areas being more productive than areas with little to no wind.

As tournament day rolled around, I headed for my best area that I felt I could catch my five fish limit rather quickly. This held true as I boated 5 decent keeper fish before 8:00 AM and began to cull up for the rest of the day. The day started out with calm winds, but that all changed by 11:00 AM as winds shifted out of the south at 20 to 25 MPH for the rest of the day making it tough to place the bait where you wanted.

But it was on those windy banks or pockets, with scattered hydrilla patches in 2 feet or less, where fish seemed to be feeding heavily on shad. Therefore, the chatterbait became my main bait for the rest of the day. I was able to cull several fish, but my culls were only in ounces and not in pounds. I finished with around 13 pounds total for this event placing me in 11th overall. Most events are decided by who gets the kicker or bigger bites of a 5- or 6-pound fish. That big bite never came for me in this tournament which is why I finished 11th.

The best part of this event for me was that I moved up in the ABA Pro League Angler of the Year standings from 27th to 7th. Only the top 10 for AOY at the end of the season qualify for the Ray Scott National Championship which will be held at Lake Eufaula, Alabama in April of 2025. So, from my perspective, this was a very important event and now I must continue to do well in order to put myself in position to make another Ray Scott Championship.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt…. set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Where Have All the Dads Gone?

Wed, 08 May 2024 19:29:42 GMT

Where Have All the Dads Gone?

Today, we’ll once again venture off topic just a little. I have something I must get off my chest. This might be a little painful for some to read but it comes from my heart and it’s not only my perspective, but it’s the truth. I’m talking about dads. Where have all the dads gone that should be raising their own kids?

Mother Nature and the animal world understand how to raise their young to be independent and teach them to fend for themselves in the cruel animal kingdom. They are taught responsibility at an early age in order to survive and once the mother feels they are capable of going out on their own, she pushes them away or in the bird world…. out of the nest.

But let’s look at what has transpired in the last 20 years with regards to the male version of the human race, known as dads. As a dad who has raised a son and two daughters, I am aware that there are a number of men walking away from their responsibilities. They are no longer committed to raising their own kids and expect grandparents/teachers/coaches or the wife (they’ve walked out on) to raise these young kids.

A lot of the young kids today no longer have a dad’s perspective on how to deal with some of life’s tough issues. They have no idea on how to navigate the difficult day to day problems that arise. So, who are these kids turning to for advice? Well in some cases, it’s people that we don’t want giving them advice. One thing is for certain, kids will turn to whoever is willing to give the time they so desperately desire.

Kids don’t always make good choices when seeking out a male role model mainly because they are looking in the wrong places. This is where a dad is supposed to point them in the right direction. You would hope they would want to look at their own dad as the person they should be trying to emulate.

So, what is the result of this lack of guidance? First of all, it has led to a weaker generation of young boys and girls who have lost the ability to lead. It’s a generation that has little to no toughness or determination to compete in today’s brutal world. It’s a generation that has no respect for any type of authority.

Many of today’s youth have been raised in a society where everyone gets a trophy. They have no understanding of how to handle defeat or rejection when they lose a game or interview for a job. Learning how to handle rejection is a part of life and growing up. Rejection teaches us that we need to work harder in order to achieve the goals we have in life.

So many student-athletes are coming out of high school as an all-district or maybe an all-state athlete and think they should be a “starter” in their sport their first year in college. They don’t want to accept the fact they have to earn that starting position. This is also why the so-called “portal” that exists in college athletics is out of control and full of athletes that don’t want to compete for a starting position because they think they are entitled to that position due to their past success before they got to college.

So back to the question of the day: where are the dads that should be teaching many of life’s lessons? In my eyes, many have CHOSEN to walk away due to their own selfish wants or needs. They have rejected their responsibility of raising their kids to be respective and productive citizens.

If this does not change, our country will continue in a downward spiral led by people who don’t know how to lead. Step up dads and do your job! Do the job that is your responsibility! Teach your kids good work ethics and how to take defeat or rejection and turn it into something positive. Teach them that dedication and hard work are still the backbone for having success.

Till next time, be a dad and do what you were put on this earth to do…raise your kids!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

May 8th Weekly Tip

Wed, 08 May 2024 13:05:24 GMT

May 8th Weekly Tip

If you want your boat to perform at its optimum level, you better make sure its pack and loaded correctly. Balance is the key to a great boat ride and performance. I like my heavy tackle (crankbaits, topwater baits, terminal tackle, etc...) stored in the front center storage area. My rods, soft plastic baits and a few spinnerbaits stored in the outside storage areas. Then I place all my rain gear, Dude Wipes, boat towels, cull rings, Fuel additive, etc.... in the storage boxes behind my seats. But if you really want to get the maximum performance out of your boat? Look into lithium marine batteries that are 1/3 the weight of traditional lead-acid batteries. So if you want your boat to reach its maximum potential, make sure all your gear is stored correctly. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

Wrapping Up the 2024 Ray Scott National Championship

Wed, 01 May 2024 19:28:47 GMT

Wrapping Up the 2024 Ray Scott National Championship

This being my sixth straight year qualifying for the Ray Scott National Championship, I’m always amazed at just how good some anglers are. This year was no exception, as the tournament was on a body of water that very few of its participants have fished…. Lake Seminole Georgia. Turns out for me that it set up very similar to the backwaters of the Red River. It was defined by a river system (the Flint, Chattahoochee, and Spring creeks) that feeds this body of water. It had massive stump-filled flats with a great mix of vegetation. But this tournament also brought to light just how invasive some anglers can be today.

Before I get on my soap box, let me first congratulate two of my roommates for this event. Brennan Flick (West Monroe) and Walt Stevens (Bernice, LA) both had top 10 finishes, Brennan finishing in 6th with a great day 2 comeback of 18.99 for a two-day weight total of 32.20. Walt also had a great event and was leading after day 1 with 23.24 but had some bad breaks on day 2 to finish 8th.

Both guys did a great job of fishing this event and making daily adjustments that allowed them to finish in the money. But they also had some issues with opposing anglers coming in on their territory.

Tournament fishing is getting to be a test of an angler’s patience, as some anglers think it’s ok to bump another angler’s boat. That’s right, bump another angler’s boat! How in the heck does this happen on a body of water with over 37,000 surface acres?

While fishing on day 1, one angler had a competitor with an Auburn University boat wrap actually bump his boat during competition! At first, he was in shock that an angler would even make this mistake due to the fact there is a rule that states no fishing within 50 yards of another competitor anchored or not. But it’s just another example of how anglers are conducting themselves on the water today. It’s about winning at all costs no matter who or how anyone gets in their way.

Walt Stevens also had an issue on day 2 with anglers coming in on his territory and not respecting the fact that he was in first place going into the final day. Young anglers today no longer show respect for any angler who has a chance to win a multi-day event. This probably cost him the Ray Scott Championship due to the fact that other anglers saw him catch his fish on day 1 and decided to invade his territory. Three spots that he had all to himself on day 1 were inundated with anglers who knew where he was fishing.

This kind of conduct used to never happen, but with so many young anglers on the water today, most have never been taught the unspoken rules of fishing etiquette. Today, it’s not unusual for anglers to have unkind words for each other when one angler decides not to respect another angler’s area. This is why it is so hard to win a bass tournament today. So many young anglers have no respect for anyone and just don’t care.

For me, this event started out with high expectations with a very good three-day practice. I felt really good going into day 1 with three areas holding quality fish. But the loss of two fish over 5 pounds on day 1 really put a damper on what I felt was a promising event. The key to high finishes is not losing fish. There’s no making up for losing a 5 pounder or in my case two.

But I was proud of myself for a good day two comeback with over 14 pounds, which allowed me to finish in 27th out of 104 competitors, missing the check cut off at 25th place. Just to show you how important it is to not lose fish, the weights were so tight that the two fish I lost on day 1 would have placed me in the top 12.

My final thoughts on this event….ABA (American Bass Anglers) does a great job of putting on this event every year. Tournament director, Chris Wayand of Shreveport, does an outstanding job of running this event. A special thank you goes out to ABA and their entire staff for their commitment to making this tournament special. Looking forward to hopefully making my 7th straight Ray Scott in 2025 as it will be held on Lake Eufaula in Alabama for a third time.

Till next week, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt, set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

May 1st Weekly Tip

Wed, 01 May 2024 19:27:56 GMT

May 1st Weekly Tip

Most anglers run from the wind, we tend to look for a place with little to no wind most of the time. We seek refuge in a pocket or cove where the wind will allow us to fish the way we want. But great anglers figure out how to make Mother Nature work for them. They look for the windblown banks and pick up a crankbait, spinnerbait or maybe they just switch to a heavier sinker. No matter what the technique, anglers have learned that wind blown banks tend to have active fish. The wind stirs the water column and moves plankton which in turn brings in the bait fish which then brings in the bass. So the next time you're tired of fighting the wind, don't fight Mother Nature, use the wind to your advantage and look for a wind blown bank and you just might be rewarded with a live well full of bass!!! This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

I’m Sick and Tired of Talking About It!

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:26:49 GMT

I’m Sick and Tired of Talking About It!

It’s finally time to put the topic of forward-facing sonar to rest. Last week I gave a great breakdown on this topic. Now, I’m tired of all the debates of banning this new technology. I’m tired of hearing all the whining from anglers who either can’t master it or just refuse to learn it. It’s time to put this topic to rest and move forward!

This controversy is no different than any other issues that have risen in other sports. This is not about some drug that is enhancing an angler’s ability to perform and fish better. It has nothing to with any one angler having a bigger advantage over another. Why? Because every angler has the right and access to the same technology as the next one.

The problem with this controversy is the fact that it’s not the young anglers who are complaining. It’s the guys who have helped build the sport of professional bass fishing into what it is today. It’s the legends of the sport and guys who have made a good living fishing with B.A.S.S. or Major League Fishing (MLF).

They don’t like the fact that today’s young anglers are stepping out onto the big stage and not just competing with them, but winning tournaments. They feel that forward-facing sonar is the only reason this is happening. So rather than get on board and get better with it, some have chosen to file complaints.

I relate to this topic the same way I had to become a better hitter in order to get the opportunity to get drafted by Major League Baseball.

One thing that separates an average hitter from a great hitter is the ability to hit the curve ball. This one thing has kept more baseball players out of the highest level than any other baseball skill.

Until I got better and learned how to go with the pitch, I was only an average hitter. But I spent two years of my college career getting better with countless hours hitting in a batting cage and working off a batting tee. This was hours of what is referred to as soft toss and programing my body to hit the curve ball and go with the pitch.

I didn’t go and complain to Major League Baseball and push for a “no curve ball rule!” No, I worked at it and got better by putting in the work! This same effort needs to be applied by these fishing pros. Instead of using the offseason to go hunting, it might be a good career move to get on the lake and get better using forward-facing sonar.

Here's some food for thought. If the older anglers on tour were winning with this new technology, would anyone be complaining about it? If Rick Clunn or Kevin Van Dam was kicking everyone’s butt with it, I’ll bet a dollar-to-a-donut that all pros would be figuring out how to get better with forward-facing sonar!

So, for all the anglers that just can’t seem to grasp this new forward-facing technology, you’ve got two choices: either get better with it or load your boats and go home. You cannot stop technology in an age where a new computer today is out of date before the end of the month you bought it.

It’s like any other advancements in the bass fishing world, forward-facing sonar is here to stay. Stop waiting on B.A.S.S. or MLF to make rule changes to accommodate the older anglers. In the words of my team partner who got tired of my negative complaining, “Shut up and fish you big baby!”

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

April 24th Weekly Tip

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:25:45 GMT

April 24th Weekly Tip

In 1979, while guiding a client, Rick Clunn discovered a bait that would change his career. A bait and technique so effective that a handful of pros tried to keep quiet and went as far as to buy every one of them up across the entire southwestern United States. The lure was the Rebel Pop R, a 2-inch concave chugger topwater bait with a white bucktail on the rear hook. This bait was responsible for several major wins by both Rick Clunn and Zell Rowland but never got the great exposure it deserved because they tried to keep it a secret. What amazed Clunn was how his client was fishing the bait. A slow steady retrieve instead of a popping retrieve that he thought ALL chugger style baits should be fished. It was a bait that Clunn realized would catch fish under many different conditions pretty much year around. So this weeks angler's tip: It just goes to show, that no matter how good you think you are, you can always learn something from even the most novice anglers. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Angler's Tip!!!!

Is It Time to Retire or Join the Party?

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:23:27 GMT

Is It Time to Retire or Join the Party?

For every athlete the day comes when you’re no longer able to compete either due to age or a career ending injury. Well, for today’s senior bass pros, or what most call the legends of the sport, that day might be approaching a lot sooner than many of them had planned. Today, let’s look at why so many of these elderly pros are looking to load their boats and go home….for good.

Just like any other sport, athletes come to a point in their careers in which they start to contemplate retirement. There comes a day for all athletes where you just can’t compete anymore. So many of today’s bass fishing pros are at that point, mainly due to a technological advancement called forward-facing sonar (FFS). Nothing has impacted the bass fishing world like this latest form of technology.

So, why is this technology having such an impact on the older anglers? Well, I guess it’s the fact that FFS has played right into the hands of the younger generation of anglers moving up into professional bass fishing. They have embraced this technology and taken it to another level which has cut their learning curve and their ability to find fish by 75%. Today’s young anglers all grew up playing video games and FFS for these young anglers is nothing more than just that… a video game.

The old school anglers have not embraced this technology nearly as well as the younger guys and it shows in the tournament results. For proof, look at the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings and you’ll see names like Matt Herren, Lee Livesay, John Cox, Greg Hackney, Jason Christie, Michael Iaconelli, and the 4-time World champion…. Rick Clunn. As of this writing, all are in the bottom 50 of the AOY standings.

So why are the older anglers not accepting FFS? Some feel that FFS is not good for the sport in the long run and would like to see some restrictions or rule changes made to help level the playing field and protect the fisheries. But most will tell you that this technology is here to stay as some of the older anglers are now starting to question if they are going to try and get better with FFS or just get out of the sport all together. Most of these anglers will wait and see if B.A.S.S. or MLF make any major rule adjustments to their circuits regarding FFS before they decide to leave the sport they love so much.

My conversations with several professional anglers have revealed there is some resentment to these new young anglers taking over the sport. The legends of the sport don’t like the fact that these young up-and-coming anglers haven’t paid their dues and are not just winning but dominating events immediately. The techniques that used to work for the older guys and how they have fished their whole career is now no longer allowing them to be as competitive as they once were. This has been a shock and blow to their egos.

For the older anglers, it took years of time on the water to obtain the knowledge they possess while these young guns are doing a better job of adapting to the new technology that’s available. No longer do young anglers have to go through the painful task of fishing daylight till dark in order to compete with the legendary pros.

For the young anglers on the rise, the game has changed as the word scouting today means something totally different than it did 10 years ago. The anglers who are proficient with FFS will spend their day idling, scanning, and marking schools of bass that they can come back to on tournament day. Some are not even having to wet a hook in practice in order to save their fish for the tournament. A recent example is 33-year-old pro angler, Jason Hamner, who spent 14 days on Grand Lake prior to the Bassmaster Classic doing nothing but idling and marking brush tops without ever wetting a hook.

With all this being said, will this force many of the older anglers to retire and idle off into the sunset? Several have told me that it’s something they are considering as they are frustrated with both B.A.S.S. and MLF officials for not doing more to address the (FFS) technology issue. They feel that this new technology will ruin the sport over the next 5 years, as fish today no longer have a safe haven due to FFS.

Fact is, all of our lakes are under assault as more anglers across the country are purchasing these high dollar forward-facing sonar units. It’s not just bass that are being affected, it’s crappie as well. So many crappie guides have told me they are concerned as well, since these FFS units are targeting the bigger breeding population.

To put a bow on this topic and from my perspective, it appears that the senior anglers of both B.A.S.S. and MLF have a choice to make. Either get on board with FFS and get better with it or take their tackle boxes and go home because I don’t see anything changing with regards to this new technology. I truly believe it’s here to stay.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Some Secrets I’m Willing to Share on Bass Fishing

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:22:15 GMT

Some Secrets I’m Willing to Share on Bass Fishing

Over my many years of tournament angling, I have either heard about or created some very helpful tips that just might come in handy. Some are designed to save you money and to be more efficient with your time. But some are just a few ways that can make you a better angler. As anglers we are constantly looking for ways to improve. Today we’ll look at how we can become a better fisherman in ways not related to a fishing technique.

First, let’s look at how to become better organized inside our boats. A bass boat is like a business office or mechanic’s shop. Everything has its place, and in order to be efficient on the water our tackle must be easily accessible and organized. Time is a critical factor on tournament day, and you can’t waste it looking for tackle! Confucius once said, “If hook not in water, you no catch fish!”

Small utility boxes are all the rage and are perfect for segmenting all our different types of tackle. But to use these smaller utility boxes, we need to label each one, making it easier to locate tackle on tournament day. That’s where a good Dymo label maker comes in handy as it makes it easier to find the particular utility box you’re looking for.

Next, we’ve all heard the saying, “Make sure you use protection.” Well, this is a different kind of protection than where your mind went to start with! That’s right, it’s about protecting your treble hooks on all your crankbaits and jerk baits. Unprotected hooks can get damaged or dull even if just sitting in a tackle storage box.

This is where “Safety Caps” made by Owner Hooks will ensure your hooks are always sharp and ready for action. The only drawback with Safety Caps is that your lures tend to take up more space by using these perfectly made hook protectors. But they are well worth the small price of $2.99 for a package of 13.

My final tip involves the debatable topic of scent. Some anglers think scent is just a scam and has no affect when fishing for bass. In my humble opinion, “they” could not be more wrong. Years ago, I did an experimental study using trickworms where I took a bag of Zoom Trickworms which have no scent when purchased and compared the number of bites I got with another bag of Zoom Trickworms with scent. A friend of mine went with me to perform this test. He started out with the unscented bag while I used the bag with scent.

I caught 5 bass to his 1 and then we switched bags and positions in the boat. He went to the back of the boat with the scented bag while I fished off the front deck with the unscented bag. Same results…the scented worms caught 5 bass to my 1 confirming that scent can make a difference.

It was from this day forward that I have and will continue the practice of adding scent to every bag of soft plastic baits I own. To this day, there’s not a single bag of soft plastic worms hanging on a peg in my fishing cave (Graf Mart) that doesn’t have scent added.

I once asked the GOAT, KVD (Kevin Van Dam), if he believed in scent? His reply caught me off guard when he turned the question back on me and asked if I believed it works. My reply was yes and KVD said then that’s all that matters. If you believe it works then use it because bass fishing is a mental game and when you believe in something, you tend to fish that bait better and with more confidence, making you a better angler!

Next week I’ll have a few more tips that I would like to pass along to help you become a better angler. Till next time good luck, good fishing and when in doubt if it’s a bite, set the hook anyway! Make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

April 10th Weekly Tip

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:20:55 GMT

April 10th Weekly Tip

Let's take a look at some of the myths surrounding Fluorocarbon fishing line.

MYTH: All 100% fluorocarbons are created equal.

FACT: No. Just because the product says 100% fluorocarbon does not mean it is just like any other on the market. Only Seaguar makes fluorocarbon lines and leaders from beginning to end without any outside companies involved. The difference of quality varies from brand to brand.

MYTH: All fluorocarbons are stiff.

FACT: No, Seaguar produces incredibly soft and cast-able lines.

MYTH: All fluorocarbons have weak knots.

FACT: Originally, knot strength was the weakest part of fluorocarbon. With Seaguar technology, knot strength is not a factor.

MYTH: Pink fluorocarbon will disappear just as well as clear.

FACT: No. Actually adding color to 100% fluorocarbon makes it weaker, as the dye pigments mix with the fluorocarbon resins. It remains visible until sunlight is completely removed. Originally the color red began showing up on lures, then on hooks. It is believed that the red mimics a wounded baitfish. Red line then became popular, following the whole red theme. The claim is that since red is the first color in the spectrum that loses its color as sunlight is withdrawn, it will become more invisible the deeper it goes into the water column. The color red actually appears gray, as it is not reflecting the red rays from the sun. The simple test is: put the red line in the water and see if it becomes harder to see.

This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Angler’s Tip.

Holy Cow!!! Have You Looked at Today’s Bass Boats?

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 19:18:38 GMT

Holy Cow!!! Have You Looked at Today’s Bass Boats?

Today’s bass boats are nothing short of incredible and expensive! The accessories you can add to a bass boat are really cool and can make a huge difference in your ability to fish effectively. But which of these inventions has truly had the greatest impact on the sport of bass fishing? Today, we’ll do a walk-thru from the front to the back of the boat and go over each of these features and their importance.

When you buy a bass boat today, it’s very similar to buying a new truck or car. There are all kinds of accessories that you can select to make your boat even better. There are some you might consider a luxury item while others are a necessity if you want to compete.

Let’s first look at the very front of the boat and talk about the trolling motor. Nothing, in my opinion, has had a greater impact on the sport of bass fishing than the trolling motor. In 1934, O.G Schmidt invented the first electric trolling motor in Fargo, North Dakota. This invention revolutionized bass fishing by allowing an angler to navigate a body of water with ease without having to run the big engine. This device is used not as the primary means to propel the boat but makes navigation much easier especially in shallow water. From its inception, the trolling motor has served one purpose….to move the boat around quietly without spooking fish and is a standard feature on today’s bass boats.

Today, these high-tech trolling motors can lock a boat down on one spot in open water. It will literally hold the boat in one position automatically with the push of a button, allowing the angler to fish an area or a spot more effectively. The days of using an anchor to hold a boat in place are gone with today’s new trolling motor technology.

Also located on the front deck of the boat are high-tech electronic fish locators. These units have made bass fishing so much easier, not just for professional anglers, but the novice angler as well. They allow anglers to see fish as far away as 100 feet on a screen the size of a small TV. They give great detail about the structure and contours of the lake bottom. They show water temperature, depth, GPS coordinates, timber, and grass and will tell you the composition of the bottom as to whether it’s hard or soft.

Why is this important? Hard spots are where bass like to set up, especially during the spawn. Today’s sonars show debris from lay down logs and rocks to brush piles along with clouds of baitfish. The detail is so good that an experienced angler can tell if the fish he’s looking at are bass, white perch, or catfish.

Moving further to the back of the boat, let’s look at the dashboard. Today’s top of the line bass boats are mostly digital. Your gauges, including the speedometer, RPM, and temperature gauges, are all digital. Some have gauges that monitor the gas, oil, and battery levels, while some boats have a water temperature gauge for the livewells, ensuring that you can maintain a good temperature level for your fish in order to keep fish alive for weigh-in.

Another advancement, that might be the best safety feature ever invented for a bass boat, is the hot foot. The hot foot is a gas pedal that allows the angler to drive the boat just like a car or truck, with both hands on the steering wheel. It also allows for better boat control when navigating rough water conditions.

There’s also another feature that has become one of the best accessories you can put on a boat…. a shallow water anchor system called Power Poles or Talons. Power poles are made by a company called Power Pole while the Talons are made by Minn Kota. Power Poles fold out from the back of the boat while Talons are mounted on the back of the boat and descend straight down. Both are really good: it’s like comparing Ford or Chevrolet; which one do you like the best?

Both are great tools and will do exactly what they are designed to do, anchor you down in one spot. The only drawback to these units is that they are only designed for shallow water of 12 feet or less. When they first came out, I was a skeptic and thought it was a waste of money until I added one to my boat and realized how useful it was to have these on your boat. They come in handy when you’re having to sit down and retie or cull fish. They also come in handy when you are launching your boat or docking up for a weigh-in.

As you can see, bass boats have come a long way since the days of stick- steering banana style boats. The features you can add are nothing short of incredible, but they do come with a cost. Major boat brands like Ranger, Skeeter, Caymas and Triton all have boats that fall into the $90,000 plus range.

To compare how far the price has jumped in the last 23 years dating back to the early 2000’s, a fully loaded bass boat back then cost around $30,000. But today, some boats are hitting the crazy $100,000 mark! Why? The cost of building materials and the high level of accessories it takes to build a bass boat today have increased.

So, if you’re in the market for a new bass boat, prepare yourself for sticker shock as companies continue to improve and upgrade these high-tech water rockets that can reach speeds of 80 MPH.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Teaching an Old Dog a New Trick

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:17:12 GMT

Teaching an Old Dog a New Trick

Forward-facing sonar is how 95% of today’s tournaments are won! The young Japanese anglers, as well as the younger American anglers, have already taken this new technology to a level never seen before. Recent professional Elite Series tournaments on Toledo Bend and Lake Fork saw the top 10 anglers advancing to the final round by using forward-facing sonar. In a matter of minutes, anglers were able to locate bass and catch them with precision casting in real time. Today we’re going to ask a few questions about where this new way of fishing is headed and what it means for the professional angler.

I’ve always heard that tournament bass fishing is a young man’s sport, but now that I’ve reached that older angler status, I’m wanting to prove that quote is simply a myth. If you’re wondering if the game has changed, let me go ahead and confirm one thing….it has! The legends of the sport, guys that have set the bar for what we know as the Bassmaster’s, are struggling to make not just top 10’s but top 20 finishes as well. No longer are anglers required to have years of experience to compete against the best anglers in the world. All they need is forward-facing sonar and the patience to chase bass in open water.

What does this mean for the older generation of anglers who have spent years and decades developing their bass fishing skills? Why is their style of fishing no longer good enough to win or, in some cases, even get a check? From this angler’s perspective, it’s a case of young anglers understanding how to use the new technology better than the older generation of touring pros. They have adapted and mastered forward-facing sonar at lightning speed while the older anglers have been a lot slower about jumping on board this new way of fishing. It’s kind of like trying to teach an old dog a new trick; there's always going to be a little bit of resistance.

Will this force many of the older anglers to consider retiring way before they originally planned? Or will this new way of catching bass be like so many other new techniques that over time tends to fade away? One thing about today’s bass fisheries, they are getting a lot more pressure than they did 20 years ago. Bass are becoming educated more quickly due to this fishing pressure. Therefore, new techniques in the last five years don’t seem to last as long as they used to.

After two Elite Serie events, I looked at the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings and was totally surprised. What got my attention and was shocking for me to see was that legendary anglers who have had major success were sitting in the bottom 50 of the AOY. There were anglers such as Michael Iaconelli, Scott Martin, Greg Hackney, Rick Clunn, and Gerald Swindle to name a few. This is new uncomfortable territory for this caliber of professional anglers. These are guys who have won Bassmaster Classics, Angler of the Year titles and numerous Elite Series championship events.

As this controversy continues over forward-facing sonar, older anglers will be forced to either get better with it or decide if they no longer want to fish for a living. Or maybe they just ride out this new wave of bass fishing and try to hang on until the next technological advancement comes along. But 2024 has been a very frustrating year so far for so many of the older anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series as the young guns have made their mark.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

March 27th Weekly Tip

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:15:21 GMT

March 27th Weekly Tip

As Mike Echols has pointed out before, in order to figure out the best way to catch fish, sometimes it requires a little adjustment in your approach. No matter how good your practice days are, conditions can change from one day to the next. Good anglers approach every day with an open mind and let the conditions dictate what they should do. During practice this past weekend, I was catching fish out of the bushes under sunny skies. Tournament day started with bright sunshine then around noon, the clouds rolled in and the bush bite died. Still two fish short of a limit, I switched from a creature bait to a speed worm out in front of the bushes, and finished out my limit and culled twice. So like Mike Echols has said before, the fish are still there but they may have repositioned themselves. I took Mike's advice and made a slight adjustment on my approach which allowed me to have a high finish and collect a check. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Angler's Tip.

Technological Advancements Come with a Cost!

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 19:14:40 GMT

Technological Advancements Come with a Cost!

While I’m all for the sport of bass fishing growing, at what cost? Professional anglers are taking the new forward-facing sonar technology to levels that may not be good for the sport. Our lakes and waterways are under assault as we speak. Lakes are being invaded with sonar technology that has all species of fish on high alert. Today we’ll look at the impact this may have on the industry in general.

To understand where we are with today’s technology, we must first look at where we came from. The first fish finder device was developed in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1948. Then in 1957 Lowrance released the Fish-Lo-K-Tor that was designed for recreational fishermen. These first fish finding units were hard to operate and were difficult to read unless you had a good understanding on what you were actually looking at, but they were prone to misinterpretation.

But today’s electronics can be read without any misinterpretation as anglers watch on a 12-to-14-inch screen on what can only be described as a high-tech video game. This technology has played right into the hands of the young anglers on the rise looking to compete with the best anglers on the planet.

Their learning curve has been fast forwarded to warp speed like the Star Trek’s Enterprise. No longer do they have to spend years developing a feel on how and where to find bass based on weather conditions. No longer do they have to spend years understanding how to read water. They no longer need the instincts that the older generation of anglers used to compete with on the highest level.

This being said, how will this new technology affect the industry overall? It appears to me and many others that we are developing a group of young anglers without the fishing instincts so many of today’s top professionals possess. These seasoned anglers took years of time on the water to develop instincts and skills necessary to compete with the best anglers in America and across the globe.

One facet of bass fishing that will be truly affected is the bait and tackle industry. With the popularity of forward-facing sonar has come a new series of minnow style baits. These baits are all the craze right now and are winning tournaments consistently. So, what about all the crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs that have made up a huge part of bass fishing sales over the years? What will become of all these baits that have been the bread and butter of all major bass fishing companies? Will they just sit on the shelf and collect dust, or will it all come back to life after this forward-facing sonar obsession is over or possibly banned?

For tackle store owners, there’s got to be a sense of nervousness as dealers all over the country do inventory on baits that are just hanging on pegs waiting for anglers to pull one off. It’s almost like land of the misfit toys in the Christmas movie “Rudolf.” They are just waiting for the day when they will be wanted again.

Like anything new, we wonder if this new unbelievable technology is here to stay. Is this just a fad like bellbottom jeans and silk shirts with white dress shoes? Or is this like the Pet Rock and Ty Beanie Babies that some thought were the best ideas ever! The one unknown factor at this point is IF tournament organizations will ban these new fish-finding units. If this does happen, maybe things will get back to what we used to think of as normal.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What am I Doing Wrong?

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:13:38 GMT

What am I Doing Wrong?

In previous articles I’ve talked about how anglers question themselves after a bass tournament. Bass fishermen are their own worse critics when it comes to how they performed. While I still go into every tournament wanting to win, the reality is I probably won’t. But I do feel I’m still good enough to make the Top 10! My effort and heart are still there, and I’ll do my homework before each event, but I’m continuously reminded that this is a young man’s sport. Today is my perspective on what happened after my recent ABA Solo 150 15th place finish at Lake of the Pines in East Texas.

Today’s tournament anglers are very good at catching bass. It all starts with the equipment they are using today. Fishing reels are so much more advanced today than when I first started tournament fishing back in 1990. Reels that we used to consider high speed with a 7:1:1 gear ratio have been replaced by super high-speed reels with a gear ratio of 10:1. The fishing rods also are state of the art with so many different designs for every type of fishing known to man. Many rods today are so sensitive you can actually feel every single pebble on the bottom of the lake.

So, with all this great equipment, why is it that everyone is not a great angler? In my opinion, it’s just like any other sport. Some anglers are just naturally better and more talented than others. The days of someone getting lucky to win a tournament are long gone! Anglers still must do their homework, spend time on the water and pre-fish before each event.

For this Lake of the Pines ABA Solo 150 Tour event, I made several trips to the Pines to scout weeks before the tournament. Of my first three previous trips leading up to the week of the event, I was catching not just a lot of fish, but quality as well. I was feeling pretty good about being able to have a Top 10 finish. Then tournament week rolled around and all the time and effort I had put in was all for naught, or was it?

One thing about early spring bass fishing is conditions can change almost daily. It might be the hardest time of year to pattern fish since conditions are constantly changing with passing cold fronts. This time of year, bass are constantly on the move looking to head for shallow water to spawn. For this event, I had what I thought was a good area where I felt bass would stage before coming in for the spawn. These spots can be a true honey hole and can put an angler in great position to do very well.

But that did not happen for me on this event, and I had to adjust my game plan and go to plan B early on day 1. But that’s what tournament bass fishing is all about….making adjustments. Long story short, I managed to bang out a 5-fish limit just shy of 17 lbs. on day one. Now for 80% of most events, this would be considered a great start. I felt confident I would be in the Top 10 for sure or maybe the Top 7.

Wrong!!! After all anglers weighed in on day 1, I was sitting in 12th place. Now that’s nothing to be ashamed of, but two of my competitors caught over 25 lbs., with one over 27. After the shock was over, I asked myself, “What the heck am I doing wrong?” I knew that the anglers who were leading were really good anglers, but I was heading into final day with a 10-pound deficit. I knew that there was no way I could make up that kind of ground on this group of anglers.

But day 2 for me was not very good as I struggled to get a limit of about 11 lbs. in the boat before 11:30 that morning. It was a small limit, but I continued to put my head down and fish hard hoping to get two or three quality bites (four or five pounders) that might put me in range to maybe get a check. As day two came to a close, I ended this event in 15th place overall.

Over my 34 years of tournament fishing, I have logged in thousands of hours on the water looking for those little green fish we call bass. While I still have the desire to compete and win an event, I’m a realist as well. These young anglers today are good, and I mean really good, especially with today’s advanced electronics. They are just better than me and that’s hard for me to say!

But one thing I have come to terms with is that at the age of 62, and a melanoma diagnosis that so far I have overcome. I’m happy to be able to wet a hook and continue to fish on a competitive level. It’s funny how your perspective changes when life throws you a curve ball and reminds you how precious it is to have our health. Winning is no longer that important. What is important is that I still enjoy the camaraderie we anglers share as a group. It’s the friends I’ve made because of bass fishing that makes it all worthwhile.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Great Outdoors is Good for the Soul

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:12:34 GMT

The Great Outdoors is Good for the Soul

In today’s fast paced world, people are busier than ever. They are looking for ways to reset and decompress their brains. To maintain our overall health, we need to slow down both our thought and physical exertions. Today, we’ll look at ways so many people are getting the relief they need in order to function at a normal level.

More people today are taking part in counseling sessions to release tension and make sense of everything going on around us. But sadly, for some who are at an extreme high level of tension and depression, drugs are needed. Nothing is more important than our overall mental health. Whether it’s our jobs or just managing our families, stress creeps into our lives in different ways.

During the Covid 19 pandemic, boat, RV and ATV sales were out the roof nationwide. People turned to the great outdoors to get away from the stress that was associated with this dreaded disease. People were stuck working at home creating too much togetherness. Depression was also an internal fight for so many during this time, as lives and job careers were literally turned upside down.

For myself and so many others, we discovered that in order to maintain our metal health, fishing or any outdoor activity was good medicine. There’s just something about the peace and tranquility of sitting in a boat and wetting a hook. So many times, fishing guides have told me that some of their big city business clients told them that they don’t care if they catch a fish, they just want to get on the water and relax; catching fish is secondary.

There is absolutely nothing better for your soul or will give you a better perspective on life than being on the water watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. There’s no better feeling than running across the water with the wind blowing through your hair on a cool brisk morning headed for a good fishing hole. It’s a great way to release whatever thoughts and tensions you might have.

The concrete jungle environment that so many people work in pushes stress levels over the top with traffic jams and work-related issues. No wonder the fishing guide business is so lucrative today as people continue to look to the outdoors to regain their sanity.

As people turn to the outdoors, they are realizing what so many of previous generations already knew. The outdoors truly is a sanctuary for both young and old. It’s a place someone can decompress and regain their mental capacity to fight through life’s daily struggles. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to get outdoors and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Tennessee Nightmare

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:11:25 GMT

A Tennessee Nightmare

I would like to preface this article by letting you know it might be a little long, but worth the read….enjoy!

Over my many years of fishing Pro/Am bass tournaments, I have run across some very interesting characters. For me, one of the most intriguing parts of fishing these types of tournaments is the people you meet, anglers you get to spend eight hours with inside a bass boat. It’s an opportunity to learn even if they are a novice angler in terms of skills. Most are very cordial and pleasant to be around. But then there are the ones who you can’t get out of your boat soon enough.

I’ve only had two that fall into the category of “get off my lawn” or in my case “get out of my boat!” One angler I had the pleasure of drawing was at a National Championship event on Red River. That’s right, a huge event in my backyard and I was in position to win. After day one, I was sitting in 3rd place going into the final day just a little less than three pounds behind the leader. My day one partner (co-angler) was an awesome guy and we both had good 5-fish limits as he was sitting in 4th on the co-angler side of the event. We had a great time and a great day while enjoying each other’s company.

Then day 2 rolled around and I drew a Tennessee co-angler who turned out to be the co-angler from hell. For me, it usually doesn’t take long to get a feel for how someone will be simply by his demeanor. Unaware of this co-angler’s crazy reputation, I had a bad feeling from the second he “jumped” into my boat, and I literally mean “jumped” into my boat. This guy was hyped up on some kind of drug or he must have had 15 cups of coffee that morning.

He had 15 rods and 4 tackle boxes along with a huge thermos ( I can only assume was coffee), almost a complete change of clothes, and enough food to feed a small nation. It was as if Boy Scout Tennessee Ted was now in my boat and prepared for any and all situations including an attack on US soil.

You must remember, this was at a time in my life when I had zero patience and a low tolerance for craziness…. which will be revealed here shortly. As I helped the angler get situated with all his gear, he started talking and pacing on the back deck of my boat at such a high rate of speed, I thought my carpet was going to catch on fire. He also spoke a language that I think was a combination of Italian and southern slang. Either way, we had trouble communicating from the start.

I was already frustrated with this guy, and we had not even left the boat dock yet. It was all I could do to prepare myself mentally for eight hours with the crazy man from Tennessee. Finally, it was time to go fishing which meant I would get at least ten minutes of peace while we ran to our first fishing spot. We stopped on the river to fish a certain piling next to a rock jetty.

This one specific piling for some reason held a good bass on it every time I fished it and was a great place to start each day. Sure enough, on my first cast I hooked a 3-pound bass and as I swung the fish into the boat Tennessee Ted decided to make a cast past the front of the boat to the same piling.

Now there are rules in most Pro/Am tournaments that don’t allow for a co-angler to make casts past the pro/boater in the front of the boat. But he decided to ignore this simple rule and proceeded to catch a 4-pound bass off the same piling, which really irritated the hell out of me! I expressed my displeasure with him and reminded him of the rule. He sincerely apologized and I reluctantly forgave him, but also reminded him to please not do that again.

So, now that he had been reminded of the rules, we made stop number two on a cut just off the river. I made one cast into the cut and caught a 2 ½ pound bass! Well low and behold, Tennessee Ted struck again by flipping his spinnerbait into the same cut past the front of the boat and catches a 3-pound bass! Now I’m really ticked off and proceeded to reprimand him with a few extra choice words that you might hear in a locker room. Once again, he gave another full apology for his bad judgment as I continued to pull the trolling motor up and head for my next stop.

Then on our fourth or fifth stop, not sure due to my state of mind, I hooked a four-pound bass on a spinnerbait and as I swung the bass into the boat, I hear a cast go within inches of my ear as his bait hit the water twenty feet in front of the boat! After I dropped my fish into the livewell, I simply reached up, grabbed his fishing line with my hand and bit his line in two! That’s right, I was done and so was the bait at the other end of his line that fluttered to the bottom of Red River like a wounded baitfish.

Tennessee Ted was in shock as I quietly stepped back onto the front deck and began to make a cast as if nothing had ever happened. I truly believe, for the first time in his life, he was speechless. He then asked me why I did that? I told him that after three warnings, I had run out of both patience and forgiveness and needed to make sure he understood what I meant by “do not cast past the front of the boat!” He was then told that if he continued to break the rules, I would not sign his weigh slip at the weigh-in, therefore getting him disqualified.

Sometimes you must take matters into your own hands (no pun intended) in order to make a point. He finally calmed down, which I think was due to the fact his thermos was empty, and he did not have a whole lot to say the rest of the day. This was music to my ears as I continued to fish hard trying to win this event. While I caught my limit for the day, I was unable to overcome the three-pound deficit, falling short by less than a pound.

Ever since this event, I have made it a point to remind all my co-anglers about specific rules they may have forgotten. So far, this has worked in my favor, saving me and my sanity, by making sure they know the rules. It’s also saved my co-anglers a few baits by getting their line bit in two! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and I hope you never have to fish with a Tennessee Ted!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Best Training Ground

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:10:38 GMT

The Best Training Ground

Over the years of doing my radio show, Hook’N Up & Track’N Down, we’ve had some great outdoorsmen who have shared their expertise on both hunting and fishing. They have come from all sorts of backgrounds across this great country. With each guest we have always made a point to ask one specific question: “Who had the biggest influence in you becoming an avid angler or hunter?” Most have said either their dad or grandfather, but some have named other important people in their lives who are responsible for their passion of the great outdoors.

Today, we’ll step back in time and look at how and who is responsible for my passion of the outdoors. At the age of 8, I was first introduced to hunting by my best friend’s dad. Tracy Owsley, or Uncle Tracy as I referred to him, was an avid outdoorsman who took the time to take his son Kevin and I on our first squirrel hunt. It didn’t take long for each of us to inherit the nicknames lead foot and stumblebum. Not sure who was which, but I’m sure we earned those nicknames based on our inability to navigate through the woods quietly.

First, he taught us the importance of gun safety. We learned what direction to point the gun when hunting with others, how to leave the gun on safety until time to shoot, how to properly load a gun, how to cross a fence with a gun and to never point your gun at another person no matter what. These are just a few of things he took the time to teach us.

Today’s young kids and teenagers are not as mature as my generation of the ‘70’s. By the age of 9, I hunted or fished by myself more times than I can count. I can’t imagine a 9-year-old kid heading into the woods with a shotgun or rifle today without supervision. Parents of my generation allowed their kids a lot more freedom than parents of today.

This freedom allowed us to grow up and develop life skills quicker than kids of today. We also had more common sense than today’s youth, a trait which has virtually vanished over the last 20 years. We understood a good idea from a bad one. Now that’s not to say we didn’t do stupid things, because we did. But we knew there was a fine line between dumb and crazy decisions that might not end well.

My fishing background was developed on what is known as farm ponds or tanks, as they are referred to in Texas. Our ranch had a total of 5 fully stocked ponds that became the training ground for my obsession with bass fishing. I also had a cousin who I spent many a day with walking from one farm pond to another all day long catching largemouth bass. He too was an avid angler who introduced me to Bassmaster Magazine. By the age of 10, I was a subscriber to this publication that was full of great tips and techniques on bass fishing. I became a student of the sport and today I still subscribe to this same magazine, along with the B.A.S.S. Times.

Make no mistake, to this day I still have a deep passion for the outdoors, but more on the fishing side since I decided to start fishing tournaments in 1990. I will still make an occasional trip to the woods, but I’m not as hard core on hunting like I used to be.

The problem today involves a time factor. There are just not enough hours in a day any longer to get things done. Today, we are too busy and no longer have the so-called “free time” when the world moved at a much slower pace back in the 1970’s. While I still enjoy an occasional hunting trip when time allows, tournament bass fishing tends to consume a lot of my time since I want to be competitive. And believe it or not, my wife occasionally has a honey-do list of household chores that needs to be taken care of.

It’s always good to take a moment to look back at where we came from. This is how we grow both as people and as outdoorsmen. It’s the experiences of our youth and training ground that help to shape us into the people we are today. Whether it was a dad, uncle, grandparent or a friend, someone took the time to introduce us to the hunting and fishing world. Without these mentors, we would just be lost souls wondering throughout the world looking for something to do.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Cowboys Continue to Disappoint Their Fans!

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:09:49 GMT

Cowboys Continue to Disappoint Their Fans!

Once again out of frustration, I am going off course today and away from fishing to express my discontent with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. From the day I completed potty training, I was a Dallas Cowboy fan. I learned how to spell Cowboys before my own name.

Since being labeled “America’s Team,” they have become the most valuable franchise in all of sports. The Cowboys set the standard for winning all through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with 5 Super Bowl Championships. So why am I so disappointed with “MY” Dallas Cowboys?

Let’s first begin by looking at their history. They have the all-time highest winning percentage in the history of the NFL at 57.4%. The Green Bay Packers are #2 at 57.2% followed by the Baltimore Ravens at 56.1%. That being said, the Boys have not won a Super Bowl since January of 1996. That’s a drought of 28 years by a franchise that prides itself on winning Super Bowls.

So, what’s the problem? Why are the Cowboys no longer winning Super Bowls? Not only are they not getting to the Super Bowl, but they also aren’t even getting to the NFC championship game which determines who goes to the Super Bowl. Despite all the coaching changes since the late 90’s, Dallas is not any closer to winning a Super Bowl.

Of all the issues and the many excuses over the years, what is the one constant? We don’t have to look far…. it’s Jerry and Stephen Jones. I’m all for family-owned businesses, but every now and then you must be able to recognize your weaknesses and be honest with yourself.

After so many years of failure, you would think they would look in the mirror and realize it’s time to bring in a real General Manager that knows football and can make educated decisions about selecting the coach and draft picks, and recommendations on who to hire for key positions within the organization. They need to put their ego’s aside and do what’s right for the organization. They owe that much to their fan base.

Ever since the worse divorce in all of sports between head coach Jimmy Johnson and team owner Jerry Jones, the Cowboys only have 5 playoff wins. Egos played a huge roll in the divorce, as neither were able to set aside their differences. Champaign bottles have remained in the wine cellar for 28 years since their last championship victory. We could dive deeper into the reasons Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson parted ways, but that would be a story for another day.

Since Jimmy left in 1995, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl the following year with head coach Barry Switzer. But it was Jimmy’s talent that allowed them to win their 5th Super Bowl. Since then, the Cowboys have hired one head coach after another looking for the secret recipe to winning a championship. Five other head coaches have come and gone including a coaching legend in Bill Parcells. The Cowboy fan base thought Coach Parcells would be the answer since he had won multiple Super Bowls and was a proven winner.

After being let go by Jerry Jones, the greatest departing quote ever heard came from Coach Parcells when he made the following comment at his final press conference, “They want me to cook the dinner, but I can’t shop for the groceries.” What a great analogy and shot directly at the owner Jerry Jones for his controlling and meddling of football operations. This is why the Cowboys need to hire a true General Manager.

For Cowboy fans, I think we are destined for failure as long as the Jones family is in charge. In 2008, in one of the last conversations I had with my dad, he said Jerry Jones would be the demise of the Dallas Cowboys due to his controlling nature as an owner. Sixteen years later, he’s been right so far.

The Cowboys have had great success in the regular season over the years, but for Cowboy fans that’s not good enough. Their recent three straight 12-4 seasons is not good enough. Most NFL organizations would be shouting from the roof tops with that kind of regular season success. But when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, they are judged on winning Super Bowls, not just divisional titles.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Not as Mad as I Used to Be!

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:08:42 GMT

Not as Mad as I Used to Be!

Age, I’ve always been told, is just a number. But the older I get to whatever number is next, my feelings change on certain topics. Now headed into my mid 60’s, one thing that has suddenly changed in me is my level of patience. All of the sudden the man who had little to no patience, has the patience of Job (whatever that means). Father time, as some call it, has a way of adjusting your attitude. You begin to look at life a little differently and appreciate whatever amount of time you have left.

As an athlete growing up, you think you’ll always be able to leap tall buildings with a single bound. You’ll always be as fast as anyone on the field. But then the day comes when someone tells you that you’re no longer good enough to play the game. All that time and energy you spent developing skills that made you the player you were is now a distant memory.

Bass tournament fishing is the one sport that allows you to compete at a high level even into your late 70’s as Jimmy Houston, Tommy Martin, and Rick Clunn have all proven. It’s a sport where, in many cases, age can make you better as you continue to gain more knowledge. Or does it?

Like most sports, age is usually the determining factor that sends us home to relax in our Lazy-Boy or dust off our old trophies. For a bass tournament angler, I’ve learned over the years that tournament fishing really is a young man’s sport. It’s so draining with all the travel, practice and speaking engagements. During my 30’s and 40’s, there was a time when I would pre-fish from daylight till dark.

Rain, shine, sleet or snow, my boat was in the water looking for bass as I prepared for my next event. Then around the age of 55, my competitive fire and perspective began to change. No longer was it as important as it was when I was 35 to go out and try to win a tournament. My priorities changed as other areas of my life became more important and I was happy just to get a check. If I finished in the money, I was perfectly happy.

Simply put, I still wanted to win, but my desire has waned over the years when it came to braving the elements and fishing on those days when it was hotter than Hades or colder than the Artic Circle. I just wasn’t as mad at them (bass) as I used to be!

At the same time, other things in my life began to interfere with my desire to be on the water. My priorities changed and it became more about the friendships and camaraderie with the guys I traveled with. It’s sitting on the water before takeoff watching a beautiful sun rise and visiting with other anglers, some who were friends and others who were competitors. I love fishing when the conditions are good, and temperatures are mild. Yes, that’s right…. I am now one of those fair-weather anglers that I used to make fun of.

Back in the day, I didn’t care how hot or cold it was because I wanted to beat every angler that backed a boat in the water. My competitive fire was very high during my early years. After a tough tournament, I was an emotional wreck on some of those long drives home asking and critiquing myself on what went wrong and how could I learn from it. This is how anglers get better! You have to be able to be honest with yourself and recognize your mistakes whether they're physical or mental.

One great thing about the sport of tournament bass fishing is you never stop learning from your first day on the water till the day you load the boat on the trailer for the last time. It’s a constantly evolving sport no matter how good you are. But if you ever stop learning and gaining knowledge, that’s when you’re no longer relevant in the bass tournament world.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt, set the hook!!!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

February 4th Weekly Tip

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:07:39 GMT

February 4th Weekly Tip

With cold temperatures this time of year, there are two things you need to check often; your tire pressure on your boat trailer and the water levels in your batteries. Cold temps can drawn tire pressure down and create issues especially when traveling long distance. Another thing you should always do when cold weather approaches, put your batteries on charge. Cold air is hard on batteries and can reduce the life of your batteries if they are neglected. Make sure the water levels are good as well in order to get a full charge on your batteries. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Angler's Tip.

Knowing When to Change

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:07:00 GMT

Knowing When to Change

Decisions, decisions, decisions…. that is something both coaches and tournament anglers have in common. For a baseball coach, he must decide when to make a pitching change. If he waits too long, the opponent will take advantage and push runs across the plate. For a football coach, calling the right play at the right time can be the difference between winning or losing.

But for a tournament bass angler, he or she must make the right decision all the time or they’ll get to watch someone else walk across the stage collecting the check that was meant for themself. For anglers, it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Timing in bass fishing is everything and it’s important that the angler plan out his day and try to be in the right location approximately at the same time he might have caught them the day before, give or take an hour.

Some anglers keep a log of every practice day and make notes on when, where, and how they caught fish. Some anglers use what is called an iSolunar Chart which is a predictor of daily wild game activity. This chart is based off the position of the moon and its location in the sky. For example, when the moon is underfoot or overhead, game activity is supposed to be at its peak. I’m a firm believer in this chart and it has proven itself to be fairly accurate over my many years of fishing and hunting.

Now don’t misunderstand, it’s not an exact science but it is based off science. The way I attempt to use this chart is to make sure I’m in one of the better areas I found in practice during the predicted peak time the chart says. The problem with using this type of logic, or science, is that if you don’t catch them during this so-called peak period predicted, it can cause you to spin out or lose confidence, which is something all anglers try to avoid.

For tournament bass fishermen, confidence is very important. You must believe in and try to execute whatever game plan you’ve put together. Whether they believe in moon charts or horoscopes, an angler’s mental state of mind is crucial for their success. But the one constant that great anglers tend to have is the ability to adjust their game plan depending on changing conditions that mother nature presents.

In bass fishing, every day is a new day and how you caught them in practice may not be how you catch them on tournament day. Bass fishing is a constantly evolving game depending on the conditions. No two days are hardly ever the same except during the summer months when the weather tends to be stable with less fronts coming through.

Once again, tournament fishing is all about making the right decision at the right time. Like a poker game, you must know when to hold them or when to fold them. Till next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to apply your sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all types of cancers. Don’t take any chances, wear good UV protective clothing, and use sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

January 28th Weekly Tip

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 19:06:08 GMT

January 28th Weekly Tip

With the different types of fishing line available, monofilament, fluorocarbon and braid, one of these can be a problem. The problem begins at the very tip...the tip of your rod. Line guides on your rod or the wrong kind of guides are susceptible to being damaged or cracked with a sharp groove especially with the use of braided line. Braided line can act like a saw and with a lot of use, can actually damage all the line guide on your rod. What's the solution? Ceramic guides.... these guides are resilient and can hold up against the abrasive resistance and friction that braid creates. The best thing about ceramic line guides, they work great for all types of fishing line. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Angler's Tip.

January 21st Weekly Tip

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 19:04:30 GMT

January 21st Weekly Tip

Everyone has a tackle box full of lures. And everyone has at least one lure that they want to tie on when they really need a bite. For some it might be a jig or a worm, or maybe a spinnerbait or it might even be their favorite crankbait. But there's one thing all successful anglers have that's not in their tackle box...."Confidence!"This is what makes a good angler a great angler! They believe in their ability to catch fish when other anglers fail. Always remember, no matter what's in your tackle box, nothing is a greater tool for success than the element of confidence. This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Angler's Tip.

As an Angler, You Must Listen!

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:03:51 GMT

As an Angler, You Must Listen!

Have you ever seen the movie Dr. Doolittle starring Eddie Murphy? In this movie Eddie plays the role of a doctor who discovers he can communicate with animals. Now we’ve all had a conversation with our own pets, but the difference is they can’t talk back. But deep in our hearts we know, or at least we think, they truly understand what we’re saying. I’ve often wondered what a bass would say to an angler if they could talk. As an experienced angler who has engaged in several conversations with bass, I’ll give you an idea as to what they really think.

Bass are like people; they all have different personalities. Some are quiet and shy, some are aggressive, and some like to be a part of a gang or school (as we call them). The bigger fish called trophies, six pounds or larger, like to isolate themselves and tend to be loners. That’s why you’ll catch larger fish out of brush tops or isolated clumps of hydrilla and stumps.

As an angler growing up, I’ve always heard other anglers say that if you’ll listen, bass will tell you what they want. What anglers are referring to is how to catch them. The first fish you catch can be a clue on what, how and where you need to be fishing that day. For example, if you catch a bass off the very end of a boat dock in 10 feet of water, near a creek channel, you might want to find other boat docks with the same characteristics. This is what we would call a pattern.

So far over my many years of fishing and listening, not a single bass has verbally conveyed anything to me that would help me solve the fishing puzzle….or have they? The key is you have to listen and pay attention. Now it may require some interpretation, but if you’re focused and observant, it will all come together.

One professional angler who is known for his ability to talk to the fish is the legendary pro Rick Clunn. Considered by many as the greatest angler of all time, Rick has won 4 Bassmaster Classics (the Super Bowl of bass fishing). Now Rick is a unique kind of bird as he tends to do things a little different. He’s a guy who likes to stay away from other anglers at an event by camping out and getting as close to nature as he can. In his words, he wants to become one with nature.

Not all anglers take this approach, but it has served Rick Clunn well as he has amassed over $2.6 million in winnings. That means after 496 tournaments fished, he has earned over $5000 per event! Rick has even written articles about what he calls “zenning” which is a form of meditation and mental state of mind. It’s his way of getting what athletes call “in the zone.”

Whether you take Rick’s meditation approach or come up with one of your own, it is important for a tournament angler to be focused. Bass fishing is as much a mental game as it is physical. A lot of anglers are good at many different techniques and can catch fish. But the anglers who are strong mentally are usually the ones who are the most successful.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and always remember, that if you’re not sure it’s a bite, set the hook anyway. Because it just might be the fish of a lifetime!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

January 14th Weekly Tip

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 19:02:46 GMT

January 14th Weekly Tip

If you're headed to the boat show this weekend and looking to purchase a new or previously owned boat. Here's the first question you want ask yourself "What kind of water will I be fishing?" Are you fishing small bodies of water like our local cypress tree lakes or are you fishing BIG water like Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn. The bigger the body of water the bigger the boat you should purchase. If you're fishing the BIG water lakes, I would look at nothing less than a 20 or 21 foot boat as they will handle rough water a lot better than a small 18 foot boat. But if you're fishing the smaller bodies of water, your perfectly fine with an 17 or 18 foot boat. The main thing is... just make sure the boat you are buying can handle the water you're fishing safely!!!! This has been your Seaguar Fishing Line Angler's Tip.

Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:01:59 GMT

Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

As humans, we all want to be a part of a group. We want to feel like we belong to something, someone, or somewhere. Even as kids, it is important for one’s self-esteem to be a part of a click. Nothing is worse than to be excluded from your friends or co-workers. Today, we’ll talk about just how important it is for tournament anglers to be a part of a group and to have guys they can trust.

Trust is the key ingredient or the glue that all anglers must have within the click they run with. To be successful on the pro level, it’s important that you have a handful of guys that you can talk to about anything. Anglers you can trust to tell you the truth about how they might be catching fish. Guys that aren't trying to lead you astray and send you on a wild goose chase.

But one thing an angler must avoid during the course of a tournament is listening to what is called “dock talk.” This is where guys are standing around a boat ramp, weigh-in, or at dinner and spreading false information about how they are catching fish with the intention to lead another angler down the wrong path. The best advice I’ve ever been given as an angler is never trust an angler you do not know and proceed with caution on anything they tell you. It’s a game anglers play every tournament hoping to give themselves an advantage. Anglers are the best liars on the planet and will do or say anything to gain an advantage.

This is why it is so important that an angler find a group of guys he can travel with and trust. These are guys who will come to your rescue when you break down on the water or on the highway, guys who are willing to share their tackle when you need a bag of worms or a particular bait, guys you trust to tell the truth about what and how they might be catching fish.

Finding that right circle of guys can be a challenge and it may take some time. But when you do, it can make your tournament experience so much more enjoyable and productive. Let’s face it, you’re never going to win every tournament, but your goal is always to finish in the money and collect a check.

But understand, there’s always competition within the group. Even within your own click, you want to be the guy that finished the highest. The best clicks are the guys that will help one of their own to win a tournament when they are in position to do so.

Tournaments today are highly competitive and it’s very difficult to be successful on your own. Anglers that have that circle of guys they can rely on, will have a greater chance for success. Even though pro fishing is not always a team sport, having guys you can share accurate information with is a huge advantage.

For years we’ve all heard how the key to success is to surround yourself with the right people. Professional bass fishing is no different and now you can see that being a part of the right click can lead to success on the tournament trail. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and when in doubt, set the hook!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

January 7th Weekly Tip

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 19:05:05 GMT

January 7th Weekly Tip

Last week we talked about re-spooling your reels with fresh line. Today we'll talk about the importance of cleaning and lubricating your reels. Now some guys like to clean, oil and grease their own reels and that's fine, if you can put them back together properly. But there are people who will do this for you. If you're looking for someone, ask your local tackle dealer. The good thing about hiring this process out; if there are parts that need replacing, they usually have the parts on hand for the most common reels. Either way, it's something that should be done on an annual basis in order to keep the reel performing at its best. Trailering with your reels on the front deck of your boat, subjects them to a lot of road grime which can creep inside the reel especially the worm gear. A year ago I started trailering with my reels in the cab of my truck and what a difference it made. I was amazed at how clean they were this past December when I started cleaning mine. Reels of today are very technology driven and the cleaner they are, the better they'll perform.

Getting Your Sanity Back

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 19:01:01 GMT

Getting Your Sanity Back

Today I am going way off topic to give my perspective on what has become my own hot button issue….my sanity! The country we live in today is not one any of us thought we would ever see. The division, turmoil, and lack of respect for one another is off the chart.

People have lost their moral compass and the ability to see clearly. This has led to an erosion of our society and our sanity. But what can we do to change our own mental health? Is there something each of us can do to improve our outlook on life?

America has become a society of selfishness and what can you do for me. Our young generation of Millennials, for some reason, has no regard for our history, nor do they care. Everyone wants to erase our past, both good and bad. They don’t understand that destroying statues and monuments does not change the past. The only thing we can change is the future, by not repeating the same mistakes we made before.

On my weekly radio show, Hook’N Up & Track’N Down that’s been on air for the last 16 years, I made a promise to myself on three things. One, the show would not seek or promote alcohol companies for sponsorship. Two, I would not use the show as a political platform to express my personal viewpoints. I’ve always felt that no one wants to hear MY opinion on how they should think when it comes to political issues or who to vote for. The only exception to rule number two is if there’s a hot topic infringing on our right to hunt and fish. Three, I would cover all things related to God’s great outdoors by educating and entertaining our loyal fans.

With so much negativity going on in this country, the question is, “How do we maintain our sanity?” I’m going to give some great advice on what you can do to help eliminate the depression and anxiety you feel. It’s a simple answer…. stop watching the news channels! Every day we are exposed to all the bad things going on, not just here in our country, but all over the world. You start to worry and stress yourself on things you have no control over.

Sure, we all want to make a difference, but if our own mental health is not good how can we help others? TV is the root of a lot of our mental health issues. Every single day, seven days a week, we are bombarded with political division, mass shootings, wars, and issues that it seems none of us can agree on or resolve. Every news station like CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, or any of the big three CBS, NBC, or ABC, has their own agenda and want you to think like they do whether it’s a conservative or liberal viewpoint.

A good friend of mine gave me some great advice one day as we talked about some political issues over lunch. Even though we don’t agree on many political viewpoints, I still respect his views because I respect him as a person. Sometimes we both have to agree to disagree, but we don’t hold our viewpoints (however different they might be) against one another. We can actually have a decent conversation about Trump or Biden and not walk away enemies. But one day he gave me some great advice as he told me to stop watching Fox News, even though they seem to fall more in line with my conservative views.

So, I decide to take his advice and take a break from ALL news stations. We should all take this advice and eliminate the fog in our brain that inhibits our ability to reason and make good decisions. After taking this advice, I found my mental outlook improved in a rather short time frame. Now I still watch the news channels, but in small doses. This doesn’t mean you can’t stay up to date on what’s taking place in our world but try watching more shows that promote good mental health.

For me that would be hunting and fishing shows, along with collegiate and professional sports. For others, it might be cooking and home fixer up programs or if you really want that warm fuzzy feeling, watch the Hallmark channel!! This will always put you in a great mood especially during the holiday season where the leading man or woman ends up meeting the mate of their dreams and living happily ever after….ON EVERY EPISODE!!!!

From now on I’ll try and stick to writing more about my fishing adventures, but today I felt like this was something I needed to get off my chest. Till next time, remember…stop watching all the news channels and watch more programs that make you feel good. Your mind will thank you and you’ll get your sanity back.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

January 1st Weekly Tip

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 18:59:47 GMT

January 1st Weekly Tip

It's that time of year....time to re-spool all your reels and get ready for a new season of bassfishing. There are so many variables we can't control when it comes to fishing, wind, rain, sunshine, or clouds are just a few. But one thing you can control is having new line on your reels. Fresh line can be the difference between landing that fish of a lifetime or telling the story of the one that got away. One brand that I have found to be one of the best is Seaguar. My preference has been Seaguar AbrazX especially when its come to fishing heavy cover or around rock jetties. No matter what your line preference is, new line will help put fish in your boat or it might just help you win a tournament. So don't cut corners or save pennies with old fishing line, re-spool today and eliminate one variable you can control...fresh line. To see the entire line up of Seaguar fishing line, go to Seaguar.com

The Greatest Bass Tournament Ever!

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:57:47 GMT

The Greatest Bass Tournament Ever!

Over my many years of tournament bass fishing, there have been some really great events. Some of the best tournaments today are benefit events where the proceeds go to a particular person or group with special needs. These types of tournaments are usually team events with entry fees ranging from $200 to $400. A lot of the time anglers who win will donate their winnings back to the event depending on the cause.

But once upon a time, there was a bass tournament like no other. It was a tournament that was held with high regard in North Louisiana, one where anglers would literally sleep on the sidewalk outside Reeves Marine in Shreveport the night before registration just to make sure they got in since there was a limit of 100 boats. It was the Reeves Marine All-City Championship!

What an event it was, as anglers were treated like royalty. It truly became a prestigious event and was such an honor to win. It was the best of the best in the Shreveport/Bossier area including top anglers who could compete with just about anyone across the country. One thing I figured out in the early to mid 1990’s was that the Shreveport/ Northwest Louisiana area produced some great anglers who not only had success locally, but on a regional stage as well.

The Reeves Marine All-City Championship was a team event and started out on the shores of Cross Lake. Over time it moved to the Red River for a brief period before it finally came to an end in the early 2000’s. Why was this tournament so special? Well for starters, there was a team/rules meeting the night before the event where anglers were fed a great catfish dinner with all the fixings. There were some really good door prizes given away like rods, reels, tackle boxes, and some of the latest and hottest baits on the market. Skeeter Boats was a major sponsor of this event as well and gave away a lot of products from rain gear to lifejackets.

But this tournament was very different in the fact that it was a two-day back-to-back weekend event. All 100 teams fished the first day with only the top 20 returning the next weekend to decide the winner. Just to make the Top 20 was quite an accomplishment! These teams received some nice embroidered All-City Championship jackets and tote bags. Everyone who made the final-day Championship got a check.

Winning this event put you and your partner in select company and more importantly, you had bragging rights for a whole year. There was a huge four-to-five-foot trophy that stayed on display at Reeves Marine where the individual names of the winning team were engraved and placed on the trophy forever. There were TV and newspaper interviews and a wealth of exposure. There really has been no other tournament since then that has had the prestige of the Reeves Marine All-City Championship.

Today many anglers would love to see this event return to its former glory days, but alas, it’s now a different time and a different era. Back during the 1990’s and early 2000’s there were only a handful of tournaments all year long, so it made the All-City Championship a little extra special. Today, you can fish a tournament every single weekend from January through September. Therefore, it probably would not have the luster it had in the beginning where guys slept on the steps of Reeves Marine just to secure a spot in the event.

Maybe one day, someone will be able to bring an event of this caliber back to Northwest Louisiana and give recognition to some of the best bass fishermen in the country. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen as Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What’s Wrong with People?

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:56:51 GMT

What’s Wrong with People?

Now that I’m in my early 60’s, I’ve noticed that my level of patience is deteriorating rather quickly. The one area really being tested is with the human race and their level of disrespect and stupidity. Now it’s no secret that I too have had my share of crazy moments that I’m not very proud of. But we now live in a time that, for some reason, people have forgotten how to act. The word courtesy has disappeared from the American vocabulary.

About a month ago, I was fishing the American Bass Anglers (ABA) two-day divisional championship on Lake Sam Rayburn. It was during our morning take-off that one human being decided to show just how big a butt head he could be. He CHOSE to make it all about himself instead of being courteous.

Take-off is where the tournament director calls out boat numbers as anglers head out for a day of competition. These take-offs take place next to a boat dock as anglers drive their boats past the dock with their live-wells open. As the boat passes the dock, the director makes sure you have no fish in your live-well and that your aeration system is working properly. It’s basically called a rolling start and is very common among tournament circuits.

Our tournament director, Chris Wayand, who does an outstanding job, was getting ready for take-off when he approached a gentleman fishing off the dock. Chris explained to the man that he was about to release the boats for the tournament, and they would be driving by the dock where he was fishing. Chris politely asked the man if he would like to reel his line in while we drove by so that no one would cut his line with their boat motors.

This is where things went south in a hurry as the boat dock fisherman went off on Chris with a foul language outburst and stated that he had just as much right to fish off that dock as we did to drive by it. Chris acknowledged the man’s point of view and agreed that he did have the right to fish off the dock, but that we would be out of his way in 10 to 15 minutes. Chris was very nice and never even raised his voice even after the guy was rude and inconsiderate.

Recognizing that the dock fisherman was not going to reel his line in for take-off, Chris made an announcement to the tournament anglers and asked that we try and veer away from the dock as quickly as possible so as not to run over the man’s fishing line.

As Chris began to call boat numbers and anglers idled by the boat dock, it was about boat #3 that the moment got really ugly. Boat #3, due to inexperience and inability to control their boat better, managed to run over the dock fisherman’s fishing line and cut it. The angler jumped out of his chair and ran down the dock cursing Chris Wayand while shaking his finger in Chris’s face. The angler used pretty much every curse word in the English language to express his displeasure with his line being run over and that us tournament anglers think we own the lake.

While none of us actually had ownership over any part of Lake Sam Rayburn, this old man (probably in his mid 70’s) was still giving Chris a piece of his mind as I approached the dock as boat #11 during take-off. If I could have the opportunity to talk with this gentleman, I would ask him a couple of questions. Why was he so uncooperative and refused to show a little respect for our take-off that morning? Why was he so set on continuing to fish knowing that the odds of him catching a fish were basically zero while bass boats were driving directly over his fishing area?

For some reason the dock fisherman decided to try and make a point by refusing to cooperate and show a little courtesy to avoid a confrontation. Instead, he CHOSE to make a public scene and show everyone just how uncooperative he could be. What is wrong with people today? Why do some folks choose to be selfish rather than use just a little common sense? Why can’t people be respectful and get along? Where did we as a country lose our respect for one another?

But this one incident is just an example of the country we live in today. IT’S ALL ABOUT ME! Till next time good luck, good fishing and let’s all try to get along and regain respect for each other.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Please Watch Your Language!!!

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:56:01 GMT

Please Watch Your Language!!!

First, I would like to preface this article by saying please don’t judge me for how this article is written. I’m only trying to show the verbal nature of a particular co-angler I fished with a couple of years ago and that I do not condone the language she used.

In a recent American Bass Anglers (ABA) regular season two-day championship on Lake Sam Rayburn. What made this event unique was the fact that it was the final event in which ABA allowed co-anglers. Let’s define what the term co-angler means. This is an angler who fishes out of the back of the boat and is not allowed to fish off the front deck because it is strictly for the boater/pro. The co-angler is only fishing against other co-angers while the boater/pro is fishing against other boater/pros.

Over the years, I’ve had some co-anglers who were great anglers and I’ve had a few who had no clue what they were doing. Some get in the boat looking to learn while others are there to get your fishing locations so they can come back later and fish everything you showed them. This is a major no-no in the tournament fishing world and there are even rules in place to discourage co-anglers from such behavior. No co-angler is supposed to share the information they learned while fishing with the boater/pro. But there are no rules in place for language.

In one particular event, I had a co-angler, who we shall call “Karen,” who threw me for a loop and tested my patience. Not because she talked too much, but rather how she talked. Over the years, I’ve only had a female co-angler maybe twice. But for this event, Karen would be my co-angler and would be one I’ll never forget.

On the Friday evening before an event, the ABA tournament director sends out who your partner will be the day of the tournament via a text message, along with their contact information so you can call them and make arrangements on where to meet on tournament morning. My very first conversation with Karen was one to remember. As I made the call to introduce myself, her response was, “Mr. Steve, how the F*** are you?” Well rather than continue to go over every conversation we had for our two days together, I’ll cut to the chase. Turns out, she was not able to complete a sentence without an “F” bomb or two thrown in to make her point clearer.

Understand, I grew up in locker rooms and understand foul language. For some, it’s just how they were raised and that’s the only language they know. Hoping Karen would take a hint, I tried to steer the conversation by asking her what church she went to? Even though I already knew the answer, I was hoping it would bring light that I’m a Christian and attend church on a regular basis. Now I’m not a saint and have my own issues from time to time with a damn or hell occasionally, but she took foul language to a whole other level. It was by mid-morning on tournament day that I said to myself, “I wish she would shut up!”

Being paired up with someone like this makes for a long day on the water. It’s a true test of one’s patience as she continued with her obscene language all day long. To make this day even worse, we had a late weigh-in time of 4:00 rather than 3:00. So, the joy for me was knowing I had an EXTRA hour of “F” bombs! But it all came together when she told me how she was raised. Now off the top of my head, I was thinking she came from an abusive home life with maybe an alcoholic parent or maybe she spent time as a child in a juvenal detention center. No. Turns out that she grew up on a bull riding ranch in Texas. Ha! Now it all came together; she was raised by cowboys!

Rodeo cowboys are a species unto themselves and have their own language limitations. If you ever watched the hit TV series, “Yellowstone,” you’ll understand how cowboys communicate. There’s a reason someone wrote the song “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” Look, I realize it takes all kinds to make up this world, and I’m not one to judge, even though I do.

To wrap up my day with the queen of obscene language, Miss Foul Mouth ended with these comments as she decided that her fishing day was over. As she sat down in the passenger seat on my boat, she made this profound statement, ”Mr. Steve, I’m done and let me tell ya what I need right now. I need an F***ing cigarette, an F***ing beer and a F***”ng toilet, and not necessarily in that order!” I was now beyond the shock value of Karen’s statements but could not wait to get her out of my boat. Rather than make an issue out of what her most recent demands were, while shaking my head, I just decided to say, “Me too!” I pulled the trolling motor up and cranked my engine to head back for the weigh-in. This was something I’d never done before…come in from an event 30 minutes early.

Over the years, I’ve had some long days on the water, but none longer than this one. It just goes to show, you never know who or what kind of person you’re going to get in a Pro/Am tournament. You just hope and pray that Karen is not your partner for the day. Till next time good luck and good fishing! Please make sure to check out our Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Facebook page for all kinds of tips and tricks to help make you a better angler.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Tackle Box Full of Chocolates

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:54:17 GMT

A Tackle Box Full of Chocolates

In the movie Forest Gump, he talks about how life is like a box of chocolates. Well bass fishing is very much the same. In every tackle box there are a plethora of baits to choose from. So how does an angler know what to choose? There are so many factors that go into selecting the right bait. One is the time of year, which has the most influence on what you should be throwing most of the time. But there are exceptions and sometimes the fish will bite anything you’re throwing. In fishing, timing is everything and what to throw and when to throw a particular bait is what makes fishing so difficult.

Just like the box of chocolates, soft plastic fishing worms come in a variety of colors. Now I’ve never been able to figure out how fishing worms got certain names, but the color wheel for soft plastic worms in the fishing industry is weird. Here are some examples: Redbug, Plum Apple, Gleason Candy (one of my favorites), Green Pumpkin, Watermelon, Watermelon Red, Hematoma, and Sprayed Grass to name few.

I remember as a kid finding my dad’s old tackle box which truly was a box of chocolates. He had baits that I had never seen before or even knew how to use. Even though it was a tangled mess inside this tackle box, I separated out the baits that I wanted to try. For some reason this got me excited, and I could not wait to take them to one of our stock ponds and give them a try.

While I wish I could say that I caught a boat full of fish on these old lures, truth be known, most got hung up and never made it back to the tackle box they came from. Dad never really asked about any of these old lures, but I’m pretty sure he knew why they were missing.

One thing I have learned over my many years of tournament angling is that there is usually more than one way to catch bass. For proof of this, all you need to do is look at the final results of what the top 10 anglers used to catch their fish for a particular event. Bassmaster magazine does a great job of summarizing each event and will give you the secrets of the top 10 anglers and how they caught their fish.

It always amazes me at how many different techniques and baits are used by the higher placing anglers. It can be as many as ten different baits by the top 10 guys. You would think that most of these anglers were probably doing pretty much the same thing, but very seldom is that the case.

While everybody has their favorite chocolate, anglers have their favorite baits as well as a favorite color they like to throw. Most will fish with the baits they have the most confidence in and over the years, there’s one particular bait that has put money in my pocket and has played a big role in my tournament success…. a Black Emerald Zoom Trickworm. There is nothing exciting or special about a Trickworm, but this particular worm and color has long been a go to lure for me. It’s basically a six inch straight tail worm with very little built in action. But when paired with a 3/16 tungsten weight and a 2/0 hook, it WILL catch fish.

The color Black Emerald is best described as a black worm with green metal flake with a few sprinkles of red metal flake mixed in. Another worm that I really like in this same color is the Zoom 10.5-inch Ol’ Monster. I discovered the color Black Emerald while fishing as a co-angler on the FLW tour back in 2004. I found out that no matter where the tournament went from Florida to the Carolinas and back to Toledo Bend, this color would catch fish. I think part of its success is the fact that not many anglers throw that color, and the fish don’t see it very much.

So, there you have it. Fishing truly is like a box of chocolates; you never know what or how you’re going to catch fish. Till next time good luck and good fishing! Please make sure to check out our Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Facebook page for all kinds of tips and tricks to help make you a better angler.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Front Porch Education

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:52:42 GMT

A Front Porch Education

Oh, how I remember the days where people sat on a front porch and watched the world go by. The latest generation has no idea of what it means to sit and talk about issues facing our country with grandparents or a neighbor. The front porch used to be an educational platform where you learned the opinions of others (usually the elderly) and how they would do things if they were running for mayor, judge or even President. You were exposed to practical thinking and common sense that has been totally lost in today’s society. You were exposed to the facts of life and how you should act. Everything Mr. Jones said was so profound and accurate. He gave great life advice while pushing his viewpoints on all sorts of topics.

I had the pleasure and fortune to have Mr. Jones as a neighbor who lived across the street from our house just north of my hometown. We lived out in the country and the Jones family lived across the street. Mr. Jones, as I called him, was a kind old soul who had a huge garden and a few cows to keep him busy. He allowed me and my younger brother to fish his two stock ponds as often as we wanted. We spent many a day fishing those ponds and roaming his pasture while sharing some good times with one of his grandsons who lived just down the road.

Our conversations were always enlightening as Mr. Jones would rehash the day’s news and give his perspective on what our world was coming to. He was a staunch Republican who loved his country and did not like where it was headed. We talked about the Vietnam War, and he shared his feelings on how it was a war we would never win. We talked about cattle prices and how great his garden was doing. He talked about local politics and his dissatisfaction on how they were running things. He was also a big Texas Ranger fan and loved to talk baseball with me.

But the one thing he truly cared about was his local high school….the Mt. Pleasant Tigers and their sports teams. He was so excited and loved to rehash our Tiger football games and discuss the good and the bad from the previous game along with my quarterback play. He was a stats geek and could tell you how many yards I threw and ran for each week. He knew my punting average and had a firm grasp on the number of injuries our team was dealing with. He was always so positive and believed in me as an athlete and had a profound influence on enhancing my confidence.

Then the day came that I would no longer get to sit down with him and hear his stories or his opinions. Mr. Jones passed away a few years after I left for college, and I really missed my times with him as he was a huge fan of mine and always had good words of encouragement no matter how bad or how good I played. He was my one constant reminder of how to keep things in perspective. Nothing was ever as good or as bad as it seemed at the time it occurred. But the one thing I always remembered were these words as I walked off his front porch…. ”Remember Steve, you’re only as good as your last play.” He was the first person I ever heard that quote from.

Mr. Jones was a man who had a wealth of knowledge and was willing to share it with anyone who set foot on his front porch. There, he taught me how to use and catch fish with Catawba worms. I even made some good pocket change on his front porch as he would pay me a penny for every fly I destroyed with one of his flyswatters or rolled up newspapers.

Front porch lectures have disappeared from the American landscape, and I hate that for future generations. Because the things I learned on that front porch are things you can't learn from a book.

Till next time good luck, good fishing and find a front porch and spend some quality time with an elderly person like a grandparent or a neighbor and pay attention, as you just might learn something!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Dark Secret of Tournament Anglers

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 18:51:48 GMT

The Dark Secret of Tournament Anglers

Tournament bass anglers have all kinds of quirks and superstitions that they believe in. But one thing bass fishermen are not….is honest. They would rather lie than tell the truth especially when it comes to how they are catching their fish. Tournament anglers are constantly looking for an advantage over their competition. There are many ways they will try and deceive their fellow competitors. It’s very much like a disease that has no cure! Let me give my perspective on why.

The biggest thing affecting tournament anglers today is called greed. It’s all about the money and the hundreds and thousands of dollars tournament trails are offering. Ever since mankind started using currency, he has looked for ways to get more than the next guy. Over time we have learned, money makes people do strange things and is the root of all evil. Some tournament bass anglers look for ways to put the odds in their favor by deceiving other competitors.

Let’s start with rods and reels. It's very similar to shoes for women, you need one pair for every outfit and every occasion. But, on most occasions, when an angler has 10 to 12 rods on the deck of his boat, that usually means he is struggling and has no definite game plan yet. The angler you have to be afraid of, is the angler who only has three or four rods out on his deck especially the day before the tournament. This guy has a game plan that he feels very confident about. But if you see an angler with several rods laying on the deck of his boat, don’t be miss led. To the untrained eye, it’s just a bunch rods with baits tied on. But to a tournament angler, it reveals the many possible techniques that a particular angler is using to catch his fish. One thing anglers are known to do; walk up to a fellow competitors boat and hawk eye the front deck in order to see what that angler might be using to catch their fish. They’re looking for what baits they’re throwing and possibly what colors they are using.

But when you approach another man’s boat, you need to be little warry. In some cases, it’s a smoke screen and an attempt to lead you astray. That’s right, some rod and reels on the front deck are there as decoys to make you think that’s how the angler might be catching his fish. It’s kind of like a magic show, there could be some deception going on. Certain rods stay in the rod locker until time to come in for the weigh-in. These are the decoy rods, and the rods that he is probably using to catch his fish, are put away in the rod locker before heading for the weigh-in. He’ll do whatever is necessary to protect everything he is doing.

But, there is one aspect of secrecy that a tournament angler/pro can’t control …. a loudmouth co-angler who he has fished with all day. I can’t tell you how many times a co-angler has ruined a pros day by revealing to his buddies or other competitors what, how and where that angler was catching his fish. In one recent tournament, I actually had a co-angler storing waypoints on his phone so he could come back and fish my spots later. This is a major tournament violation and states in the rules that a co-angler is not to share any information or locations of the angler he fished with that day. But most just can’t help themselves, they must tell someone or they will explode from a disease called “information concealment.”

On multi-day events, some tournament anglers/pros will go as far to pay off the co-angler they had that day to keep his mouth shut. Some will even offer the co-angler a package of their secret baits just to keep the co-angler quiet. They might even buy them dinner if necessary!

As you can see, tournament anglers are just like a great illusionist, they want you to think and see one thing, but they are really doing something else. So, the next time you hawk eye another competitors boat, be cautious as it goes without saying “Never trust another competitor or tournament angler if you’re looking for information.”

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to set the hook. You never know when you might catch that fish of a lifetime!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

When Nobody is Watching

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 18:51:05 GMT

When Nobody is Watching

When it comes to being great, some people are gifted and blessed while others must work at it to be great. It’s one thing to have talent, but it’s sad when people waste that God given talent. During my athletic career, I have seen some very high-level athletes that never took advantage of the talent they were blessed with. Why is this? Is it a lack of self-confidence or is it that no one ever showed faith in them as a player or as a person? Could it be a lack of determination or competitive fire that all great players possess? Even though this article is not related to fishing, today I’ll give you my experience and perspective on not what makes a great athlete, but what makes an athlete great..…when nobody is watching.

Years ago, there was a youngster from East Texas who was a talented athlete especially in baseball. But talent alone only goes so far. It must be groomed and nurtured. As a kid living in the country, this young boy was always looking for ways to improve his baseball skills and be the best. Daily he would retreat to his backyard and spend hours throwing a rubber baseball off a big fallen tree to work on his fielding skills like one-hoppers that baseball players often get when playing the game. He worked on making backhanded plays and fielding every ball with great technique. He did this daily…….when nobody was watching.

Then one day he was looking for a way to improve on his hitting. So, he took an old blanket his mom offered and hung it on a clothesline out behind his house. (This is how people used to dry their laundry before everyone got automated driers.) Putting his creativity to work, he took an old Folger’s coffee can and cut a three-foot piece of PVC pipe and cemented it into the coffee can. Then he found an old piece of radiator hose (that was very flexible) and slid it over the top of the PVC pipe. BAM!!! There it was….the perfect batting tee. He would hit for hours off this tee so he could become a better hitter. He hit so much that he wore the covers off the balls he was hitting into that blanket…….. all when nobody was watching.

Today, batting tees are available at pretty much any sporting goods store. But back in the early 1970’s, no one had even heard of a batting tee! But this young man used his creativity and designed his own batting tee in order to become a better hitter. Through this extra work he accomplished so much and developed his baseball skills when nobody was watching that he landed a scholarship which eventually led to him being drafted in the 1983 major league baseball draft.

Another great example of doing more than what was required would be a former high school teammate and friend of his by the name of Maury Buford. If this name sounds a little familiar it should, as he was an outstanding punter in the NFL for over 8 eight years during the 1980’s and 90’s. He was the punter for the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Now as a youngster growing up, Maury discovered at a very early age that he had a talent for punting a football. He spent hours on a sandlot working on developing his punting skills. He went on to become an All-American at Texas Tech and had a great NFL career. Maury’s dedication and work ethic was on another level and allowed him to accomplished great things ……when nobody was watching.

This is how athletes become great, doing the little things and putting in the EXTRA time to develop their skills. A lot of kids today do not understand this concept and they think that the time they spend at their scheduled two-hour practice time is enough to be a great player. But great players are different. They realize that if you want to be great, you must put in the extra time away from regular practice. So remember, if you want to be great at anything like golf, tennis, basketball or tournament fishing, it’s the extra time you put in when nobody is watching that makes you great.

Till next time, if you have any comments about this or any other articles I’ve written, go to my Facebook page and give your feedback. I really appreciate all of you that take the time to read my articles. I hope in some small way you gain either knowledge or comfort in what you read.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Where is Bassfield USA?

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 18:49:53 GMT

Where is Bassfield USA?

As an angler, we are always looking for the best bass fishing lake in the country. It’s our dream to catch ten-pound bass on every cast, but we don’t want anyone else to know about our secret destination. It begs me to wonder, “Where is the holy grail of bass fishing?” Is there really a Bassfield USA and if so, is it a destination all anglers should put on their bucket list?

This topic came up at lunch the other day with my so called “Lunch Bunch” crew. We are a sad group of guys that eat lunch together at least twice a week to discuss everything from LSU Football to the prettiest women of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. It is a group of both Republican and Democratic loyalists with a couple of Independents mixed in who have the answers to most of our country’s political issues. It was during a conversation about a former NSU Demon that someone asked where he was from? Turns out, he was from a town by the name of Bassfield!

After some lengthy discussion, someone finally Googled it to discover that Bassfield is in Mississippi, located in the northeast region of the Magnolia State. Now my peer group of misfits (Lunch Bunch) thought it was funny that “I” did not know where Bassfield was since I am a bass fisherman. While I failed to see the humor in their delinquent accusation, they just could not understand how I could call myself a bass angler and not know the location of Bassfield, Mississippi! They pretended to be disappointed in my lack of knowledge, but I thought they were juvenile!

However, this topic did raise a question with me…are there any other towns called by another species of fish like catfish? Or might there be a town by the name of Sac-a-lait, otherwise known as a white perch to most southerners. How many fish towns are there? Turns out, after extensive research and a waste of my time, there are at least eighty-one towns between Canada and the good ol’ USA that have a name associated with a particular fish species. Some include Catfish Paradise, Arizona; Fish, Georgia; Fishkill, New York (Love that one); Marlin, Texas; King Salmon, Alaska; Sturgeon, Pennsylvania; and one of my favorites…Jack Fish, Ontario, Canada. There’s even a Trout, Louisiana located in North Louisiana’s LaSalle Parish. Did you know there are three other town names with the word Bass in it? They are Bass Harbor, Maine, Bass Lake, Wisconsin and Bass River, New Brunswick, Canada.

So, there you have it! More useless information that no one really cares about! But at least next time when my “Lunch Bunch” asks about a town with a fishy name, I’ll be able to hold my head high by spouting off the location of several. It pains me to waste my valuable time on such trivial information, but when you have friends like the ones I have, you need all the ammunition you can get since these guys are ruthless when you don’t know the things “THEY” think you should know.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and when you get that bite of a lifetime…don’t forget to set the hook!!!!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

What Can You Do for Me?

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:49:05 GMT

What Can You Do for Me?

It’s always been a part of human DNA to be a little selfish. While we try not to be, it’s human nature to want more than the next person. All of us are trying to keep up with the Jones’s and I don’t mean the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. The Lord tells us in James 3:16, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” As humans, we try to obey God’s command, but the sinful side seems to prevail more often than we would like to admit.

Today’s professional anglers have a tough time trying to avoid being selfish with so many anglers seeking sponsorship from specific companies. There’s only so much money companies are willing to part with to sponsor an angler, and the pool is shrinking.

Twenty years ago, anglers could go out on tournament day, catch a good five fish limit and cash a big check in order to draw the attention of sponsors. But times have changed. Fast forward to 2023 and that’s no longer good enough. Anglers now must have a personality and the ability to talk to people. They need good communication skills and must have a big social media presence.

Sponsors today want anglers who can sell a product and can represent their sponsors in a good way. Catching fish on tournament day is secondary. When anglers approach sponsors today, it’s not about how good an angler you are or how many tournaments you’ve won. Sponsors want to know what you as an angler can do for them and how much product you can sell. It’s all about what the business world calls ROI (return on investment).

These companies can be very demanding of an angler’s time by using them for promotional events like boat shows and speaking engagements. Catching fish today is not high on a sponsors list of what’s important to the sponsorship agreement. These anglers today are paid and, in some cases, paid extremely well to represent certain companies. But these demands can put a strain on an angler’s ability to compete consistently and can hinder his or her ability to prepare for an event. So, there must be a happy balance for both the angler and the sponsor.

During my time going around and speaking to high school fishing teams, the first question asked almost every single time is, “How do I get sponsors?” My response is always the same. First, don’t worry about sponsors. Learn how to find fish and develop your fishing skills so you can be competitive. Next, take speech in high school and college. Anglers today must have the ability to talk to people, make a good impression and sell a product. Then make sure you have a strong social media presence with a lot of followers. If you can do these things really well, sponsors will come to you.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen! Melanoma does not discriminate!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

The Parallels of Bass Fishing and Football

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:48:06 GMT

The Parallels of Bass Fishing and Football

Today we’ll look at the correlations between tournament bass fishing and the greatest game in America…football! Now this is an area that I can relate to very well. As a former coach/player/angler nothing comes close to matching what football and tournament fishing gives you. Football is a team sport that’s made of eleven guys working together as one. But if only one guy does not do his job, the other team will make you pay. Bass Fishing on the other hand is all about one guy…the angler holding the rod!

No other sport in my opinion requires the emotional level that football does but tournament bass fishing is a close second. There are just as many emotional highs and lows on tournament day as there are in a four-quarter football game. One play or one cast can completely change the outcome.

Another word that describes both sports and is often overused…. Momentum! One minute you have everything going your way and scoring on every possession then your quarterback throws an interception, and everything goes south. Same goes for bass fishing as you get an entire school of fish fired up catching fish on every cast, when for some unforeseen reason, they quit biting. Momentum can even carry over from one tournament/game to the next.

No football game or bass tournament can be won without one important detail…. a game plan. Your football game plan can change not just on every series but on the result of just one play. An angler’s game plan can change on the very next cast. You spend hours preparing for your next opponent or tournament and all the sudden, you have to punt and regroup. Then there are days that everything you planned works like a charm and your game plan pays off with a championship win or collecting a check on tournament day.

Then there are times as athletes or anglers that we call a grind. Those days when nothing you planned goes right. Everything you thought would work, does not. Every play/cast is a struggle, and the game/tournament seems like it will never end. Just trying to get a first down or catch that 5th fish for a limit just seems to take forever and some cases you can't get it done. This is where heart, grit and determination come into play and the player/angler that has the most, will usually prevail.

In football, they say defense wins championships. The same can also be said for tournament bass fishing. With football, you go and scout an opponent to gain an advantage. In bass fishing sometimes you go and catch fish in areas you know you’re not going to fish on tournament day because you don’t want to beat up your own fish. It’s not something you do to intentionally hurt a specific angler, but it’s a strategy anglers employ in order to play defense. Every once in a while, you’ll find an area by accident simply by fishing defensively in areas you otherwise might not have fished.

The final comparison with football and tournament bass fishing that just might be the biggest difference between winning or losing…. decision making. Some point during a football game a coach has to make a decision to go for it on fourth and goal or kick a field goal. One is the safe play while the other is a huge gamble. Anglers must also make major decisions during a tournament day like; do I make the long run for bigger fish and hope they’ll bite, or do I stay where I’m at and wait them out? One has high risk while the other is a safer play. Anglers for instance will most always take the risk because it has the highest reward.

There’s no better time of year as football season kicks off and it’s also when most tournament trail championships take place. Football and tournament bass fishing; two sports that have so much in common and appeal to so many fans. Now you have an angler’s perspective on how these two awesome sports parallel each other. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, apply your sunscreen and drink plenty of water.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

My Perspective Has Changed

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:45:53 GMT

My Perspective Has Changed

Now that I’m in my early 60’s, I’ve often wondered what kind of person I would have become without the people who mentored me, the people who influenced my thoughts and the things I believe in. I am a believer that each of us has a destiny that only the Big Man above knows who we will become. Everyday growing up we were exposed to people around us like teachers, coaches, preachers, aunts, uncles, family friends and more importantly, our parents.

For me personally, each of the above had a big impact on me in so many ways, but my coaches probably had the biggest impact because I was around them more than anyone else. During my generation, coaches were tough and, in most cases, feared. You respected them because they demanded respect. They taught you what it meant to commit to a task and complete that task. They taught mental toughness and how to overcome what the mind was telling the body when the going got tough.

They taught the concept of being a team player and how to work together to conquer an opponent. Team building, as they called it, was a crucial ingredient in the recipe for team success. No one was bigger or better than the team itself. If you thought you were special, my coaches had a way of bringing you back down to earth. How did they do it you ask? Well, a few examples would be 100 yard bear crawls or barrel rolls, up downs for what seemed like hours but was only for a few minutes, or maybe they just ran you until you either threw up or just couldn’t go any further. They pushed you to limits you thought you could not achieve. Today, the ways my coaches got your full attention would be called child abuse and would not be tolerated. More than likely, you’d end up in court dealing with a lawsuit.

Even though my days of competing on the football and baseball fields are long gone, fishing bass tournaments has replaced that competitive fire that I still have. Over the years and now into my early 60’s, my mindset has changed. No longer do I pre-fish from daylight till dark five days straight before an event. I’m just not that mad at the fish anymore and my competitive fire is not as strong as it used to be.

Today, you have to fish smarter not harder and utilize your time on the water more effectively. With today’s high-tech electronics that bass boats possess, it has made searching for bass a lot easier. We used to spend all day casting to find fish, but now all we must do is idle around looking at a screen in order to mark and locate schools of bass.

There a few other things you can do to help prepare for an event like having good line on each reel and making sure your hooks are sharp. Another thing that can help give you a slight advantage, adding your favorite scent to every bag of worms can sometimes make a difference in the number of bites you get in a day. Does it really work? As any professional angler would tell you…if YOU believe it works and gives you more confidence, use it!

To wrap this up, don’t mistake my lower level of commitment to a form of weakness. My desire to win still burns and it hurts just as bad today to lose as it did twenty years ago. All anglers play armchair quarterback on the drive home and question what they could have done differently that might have resulted in a higher place of finish. No one plays devils advocate more than bass fishermen!

Tournament bass fishing is not so much about what bait or color you’re throwing, it’s about the decisions you make on tournament day. Making the right move to a different location at the right time is the difference in catching fish or not. TIMING IN BASS FISHING IS EVERYTHING! The anglers that make the right moves at the right time, are usually cashing a check.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure you wear sun protective clothing and sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all the cancers and it’s one that can be prevented.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Is It the Bait or The Angler?

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 18:44:38 GMT

Is It the Bait or The Angler?

As an angler, there’s one question that I’ve always wondered about when it comes to catching bass. “Is it the bait or the angler” as to why they catch bass? Ever since I started bass fishing back in the late 1960’s on our farm ponds, having the right bait has been important or so I thought. Just like other sports, some people are just more gifted than others. They have natural ability that only the good Lord above can give. They might be faster, stronger, or just mentally tougher than their competition. Some people just have a higher level of determination and refuse to lose. So, “Is it the bait or the angler” is similar to the age-old question…. which came first, the chicken or the egg?

The man who is considered the greatest bass angler of all time is Kevin Van Dam, a man who has amassed over 7 million in winnings since arriving on the professional bass fishing circuit in the mid 1990’s. I had the chance to talk with Kevin’s brother, Randy, as we discussed what makes him so great. Randy stated that ever since Kevin could pick up a rod that he possessed skills and instincts other anglers don’t seem to have. He said it was commonplace for them to be on the lake fishing when Kevin for no apparent reason would switch to a different bait and start catching fish immediately while everyone else in the boat could not even get a bite. That’s called instinct and it’s something you can’t teach; that’s God given.

During a recent interview I had with KVD, I asked him what the number one bait in his tackle box was. Now I’m anticipating to hear him say something earth shattering, and without hesitation he responded with an answer I was not expecting. His number one bait in his tackle box is……confidence! Now I was looking to hear something like a homemade spinnerbait, a secret crankbait or maybe a special-colored jig. But to my surprise, it was not a specific bait or color at all.

So, after this interview is when I began to wonder…when catching bass, “Is it the bait or is it the angler?” If confidence is the most important tool in an angler’s tackle box, then the bait nor color must be as important. Over my years of fishing the BFL’s, Toyota Series and ABA events, I’ve heard that the many different colors that bait companies offer are designed to catch anglers instead of bass. It’s amazing how there are hundreds of different colors, especially when it comes to the soft plastics side of fishing. I’ve seen colors like bubblegum (pink) that catches fish and I’ve always questioned, “What does a bass think that is?” It looks nothing like anything natural in the bait fish world. But I have caught a lot of fish with that particular color. So, it’s not the color but how you fish it!

Many pros that I’ve interviewed over the years have all said that color doesn’t matter as much as the ability to fish the bait properly. This is where KVD says the confidence part comes into play. If you believe and have confidence in a bait and the color you’re using, you’ll fish it differently than you would a bait and color you don’t believe in. Now from this angler’s perspective, I do have one color trickworm that I have a ton of confidence in. If I’m struggling in an event and having trouble putting fish in the livewell, I will and have always turned to my confidence bait. It is a black emerald trickworm with a 3/16th ounce tungsten weight with a Gamakatsu 2/0 Skip Gap hook. This combination has saved the day for me several times and helped me earn a check in many events when I was struggling.

When I get the opportunity to speak to a group of young up-and-coming anglers today, the one thing I tell them is how they need to figure out early in their career what their “confidence” bait is when the fishing is tough. What can you tie on that gives you the most confidence to catch fish? For some it might be a certain colored jig or spinnerbait or maybe it’s a specific crankbait. But whatever it is, make sure you believe in it! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook. Also make sure to wear your sunscreen and good UV protective clothing.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Best Job I Ever Had

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:43:54 GMT

Best Job I Ever Had

With zero fishing going on due to the hot weather we have been experiencing, today we’ll look at my working career. After walking away from my athletic career in the late ‘80’s, it was time to get a real job. It was time to put my college degree (Industrial Engineering Technology) to good use. One reason I chose this as my major was due to the number of IET graduates the oil and gas companies were hiring out of Northwestern State in the mid ‘80’s. This was my original plan, but the oil and gas industry tanked, and they no longer were seeking graduates with this degree.

Now one thing I’ve learned over the years from the many different jobs I’ve held was that each job helped prepare me in some way for other positions I’ve held. These included car salesman, supervisory role at CONAGRA Poultry, and high school and college coaching. Nothing gave me more satisfaction than coaching did. Working with kids at the high school and collegiate level was truly rewarding and enjoyable. But the hours you put in on the college level are insane and was not a good fit for me personally or my family. I was not willing to make those family sacrifices that college coaches make.

Then in 1990, I decided to apply for an engineering job at a textile company, Holloway Sportswear, based out of Ohio but with factories in Louisiana. Best job I ever had! It was a company that made athletic outerwear and high school letter jackets. Holloway was the Mercedes of the athletic apparel world; they made the best. If you ever earned a letter jacket in high school, there’s a good chance it was made by Holloway who was the original letter jacket company.

After two years with the company, I was promoted to Louisiana Director of Manufacturing overseeing six factories across the state. The job was demanding, but the people were incredible.

Then around 1998, President Bill Clinton signed what was called the NAFTA agreement with Mexico. This was the beginning of the end for Holloway and all textile companies in Louisiana and across the country. It was at this point that my boss and I made several trips to Mexico to set up sewing factories. Then one by one we slowly pulled styles out of Louisiana and sent them to Mexico for production. This was the hardest thing I ever went though as an employee. It was my job at this point to tell all Louisiana employees they no longer had a job.

Many a day after making these announcements, I shed a few tears on the drive home knowing that I had just made life a lot tougher for so many women, many of whom were single moms. Many had no other skills than sewing. Some women were making as much as $14.00 an hour due to their ability to sew. This was good money back in the ‘90’s and there were no other jobs offered in these small communities that paid those kinds of wages.

All the employees were offered the opportunity to go back to school and learn a new trade. But many were in the age bracket of 40 and above and had no desire to go back to school. Many of these ladies had never done anything else their entire life but work in textiles.

It was sad to see the impact this had on the people I cared so much about. People with a strong work ethic and dedication to go to work every day. People who took great pride in making Holloway Sportswear the best company it could be were now being sent home… for good. Some locations that had been in operation since the mid 1970’s were now being shut down.

The old saying, “Nothing lasts forever,” comes to mind when I think about my Holloway days. Again, this was the best job I ever had that came to an end in 2004. Even during those stressful days when I questioned was it worth it, the people were the reason I stayed. One thing about Louisiana people, they take great pride in doing a good job and are very loyal and dedicated to whatever job they’re doing.

After walking away in 2004, Holloway was sold and is now under the umbrella of Augusta Sportswear in Georgia. The Holloway standard is still alive and well today as they have retained their name and reputation as the best.

Next week we’ll get back to more fishing topics as we prepare to head into the hottest month of the year…. August. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen and protective clothing.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Cheating Rocks Pro Bass Fishing... Again

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:43:04 GMT

Cheating Rocks Pro Bass Fishing… Again

And the saga continues. Once again anglers are taking advantage or blatantly ignoring the rules of their sport. Major League Fishing has brought to light a controversy that took place at the Stage 6 tournament on Lake Cayuga, New York. Four anglers have been under investigation for alleged cheating by not following the rules for “sight fishing.”

On Wednesday June 21st, Major League Fishing (MLF) announced that they were investigating accusations that four anglers may have violated sight fishing rules. For those that have no idea what sight fishing is, it’s a technique where anglers visually see a bass sitting on a bed looking to spawn and will try and entice these bass into biting their lure. But one very important rule must be followed. If you are sight fishing, you are required to hook the fish inside the mouth. If the fish is hooked outside the mouth, the fish is considered an unofficial catch and must be returned to the water immediately. This rule is in place so that anglers don’t go out trying to catch fish by snagging them.

Some analysts think it’s immoral or unethical to fish for bass on beds, but it’s not that big an issue since the MLF Bass Pro Tour is a catch and release format. Meaning, as each fish is caught, they are weighed, recorded, and released immediately.

But here’s what the accusations are. Some anglers were not following the protocol when they brought their catch on board the boat. Anglers who are sight fishing are required to show their on-board Marshall (an observer who weighs and monitors each fish caught, making sure anglers follow the rules) that the fish is hooked inside the mouth. If not, it must be released and is considered an unofficial catch. But in this event, some anglers were being discreet and hiding their fish as they brought them on board the boat so that the cameras nor the Marshall could see how the fish was hooked. They would just unhook the bass and proceed to weigh it without confirmation it was hooked inside the mouth.

MLF officials are now having to go back and review video footage of the four anglers in question in order to make sure the rules were followed. If they find rules have been violated, then MLF officials will have to decide to what extent they should be punished. This is where things could get a little weird and revealing. MLF has got to come down hard on this if they find violations were made. No longer is a slap on the wrist a strong enough punishment for violating the rules.

Could it be extensive punishment like suspension for the next event or even worse….suspension for a full season? The best way anglers will get the message that cheating will not be tolerated is to hit them in their checkbook. But disqualifying their days catch and dropping them in the standings a few places is not strong enough. A message needs to be sent that will make anglers think twice about cheating. Yes, I said cheating! Since its inception, MLF has basically turned a blind eye to certain violations. Just like NASCAR, drivers are always trying to push the envelope and dabble in the grey area of the rules. Bass tournaments are no different as anglers are always looking for an advantage over their competitors. Due to the amount of money involved in today’s bass tournament world with thousands of dollars up for grabs, anglers are thinking outside the box and looking for any type of loophole in the rules they can find in order to be successful or gain an advantage.

But now the time has finally come for anglers to be held accountable for their actions. While 98% of the anglers do a great job of self-reporting and holding each other accountable, it’s the other 2% that need to be made an example of. With the increase in live prime time TV coverage and national exposure, it’s important to preserve the integrity of the sport and show the anglers and their fans that rule violators will not be tolerated.

I hope MLF officials will come down hard on the angler or anglers if rules were violated. Nothing will bring the sport down faster than anglers who insist on cheating. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and always read and follow the rules for any tournament you’re competing in.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Where Have All the Kids Gone?

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 18:42:00 GMT

Where Have All the Kids Gone?

When I look around today, and drive by the city pool, school playgrounds, sandlots and youth baseball complexes, a question often pops in my head. Where have all the kids gone? Yes, I know it’s 2023 and I understand it’s a different time than when I grew up during the 1970’s, but why is that? Well, there are several reasons why we don’t see kids out playing like we did. The number one reason…protection.

Today’s kids are growing up in the age of social media like You Tube, Twitter, Instagram and up to the minute news. The ‘70’s had basically three channels, NBC, ABC and CBS all of which only had two news broadcasts a day at 6:00 and 10:00 PM. Today, there are numerous 24-hour news channels where anything and everything is known about in a matter of minutes.

Kids today are sheltered and protected from the dangers of the world we live in due to the fears of what people see every day on the news. Parents today have a much tougher job of raising kids and worrying about the different types of dangers and challenges than existed for my parents.

Even though there were dangers when my generation grew up, it was a different time when so many bad things were never seen or heard about. The world was still a bad place, but no one really knew because of the lack of news coverage. The news was much simpler back in the ‘70’s and mostly void of daily murders or drive by shootings. The worst thing we heard about was the weekly death toll from the Vietnam War. We learned of the passing of Elvis Presley and updates on the Watergate scandal involving President Nixon. We heard about the nationwide gas shortage and the long lines at the pumps. But even then, there was almost always a feel-good story.

During my generation, parents trusted their kids to behave and play with responsibility. Now this was not always the case as kids have historically had a propensity to get into trouble. Common sense is what kept us alive as we understood what was risky versus what was just plain dumb, something kids today seem to lack. During my younger days, the main form of transportation was a bicycle. We rode our bikes around the entire community for miles, seven days a week. We spent countless summer hours outside every day no matter how hot it was.

No one stayed in the house because you weren’t allowed in the house. We played outside because our parents did not allow you to come inside unless you had a medical emergency. If you needed a drink of water, you turned the water hose on until the water got cold enough to drink. A water hose during my generation was necessary for survival! It not only kept us hydrated but was a great form of entertainment when it came to water balloon fights and a slip-n-slide.

Hungry? Well, we could usually find a fig, pear tree or black berry patch with good fruit on it to satisfy our craving. Sometimes we hopped on our bikes and went on a coke bottle run collecting as many bottles as we could find in ditches and trash cans so we could turn them in to the local country store in exchange for candy or maybe an ICEE.

It’s sad today to look around and see empty playgrounds and sandlots. You never see groups of kids riding their bikes anymore. You don’t see kids playing chase or climbing trees. Kids today have no idea what a treehouse really is! They have little imagination when it comes to playtime unless it involves a joystick. Because of the level of protection kids have today, they’re just not as mature as my generation was during the pre-teen and teenage years. Imagine your 18-year-old today having to go fight a war in hand-to-hand combat.

What concerns me the most is that the days of kids being free to play outside will never happen again. Kids are too busy on social media sites worrying about someone saying something negative or starting rumors. They are consumed with self-indulging issues that really don’t mean a thing. I only wish parents would take more control and give better guidance. In the meantime, I will continue to pray for kids to experience good fishing, good bike riding and good tree climbing, while not forgetting their sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Black Eye for Fishing

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:41:17 GMT

A Black Eye for Fishing

Over the years, every sport has been given a “black eye.” No matter what sport it is, people are always looking for some form of illegal or unethical issues that they can bring to light. Recently, professional basketball had the controversy over a referee who was betting on games he was calling. Baseball has the infamous Pete Rose controversy with his betting on baseball. Football and baseball over the years have both gotten black eyes over the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. But when it comes to tournament bass fishing, the sport continues to battle with the never-ending effects of bass dying after a tournament.

Now this is not due to a lack of concern about keeping their catch alive, as there are times when no matter what you do, you will still have a fish die in your livewell. It’s actually very important to the anglers in general because dead fish can cost them a lot of money. A dead fish can also hurt an angler when it comes to Angler of the Year (AOY) standings which usually has a cash bonus for the winner at the end of the year. So, it’s important for tournament anglers who participate in this sport to be conscious of how they take care of their catch.

Admirably, 98% of all bass tournaments do a great job of implementing rules that penalize anglers for weighing dead fish. Some events deduct anywhere from a quarter to a half pound penalty for every dead fish weighed in. While this doesn’t sound like much, it can be the difference between finishing first or tenth. It’s the difference between getting paid or going home with nothing.

Just like so many things in our world today, there are always people watching and looking for a reason to create controversy that will help their agenda. In the fishing world that would be PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). This organization continues to target tournament bass fishing and would like to see the sport discontinued. They show up at boat ramps all across the country wearing fish costumes and making their presence known while protesting bass tournaments.

But what they refuse to see is how well and to what extent anglers go to keep fish alive. On the professional level or other high exposure events, fish care is critical. Nothing upsets an angler more than losing a fish in their livewell. I’ll give you an example of how much attention I give to fish care while they are in my possession.

In the fall, winter, and early spring months, it’s unusual to have a fish die in your livewell due to the cooler water temperatures. Hot water is the enemy of tournament anglers and during the summer months this is hard to combat. This is why I hate summer tournaments! You spend so much time babysitting your catch and constantly checking on them to make sure they are in good shape as the day progresses; it’s a job! Here’s what I have found over the years that can make a huge difference in fish care and that has worked extremely well for me.

When an angler first launches his boat on tournament morning, he should immediately fill his livewells with fresh cool water. This is because the water is at its coolest point for the day. Next, put G-Juice or any other good additive into the water to help add slime back to the fish after they have been handled. It also reinvigorates bass and keeps them in stable condition before weigh-in.

After doing these two things, turn your livewell on recirculate. The next step is crucial to keeping the water cool and is where anglers often make their biggest mistake when trying to keep fish alive. When the livewell is recirculating, add ice, or in my case, frozen water bottles. For me, I’ll mix G-Juice into bottles of water and freeze them so that I can drop one bottle in the livewell every hour. I remove the bottle cap which allows for the gradual addition of more G-Juice while simultaneously maintaining the water at a cooler temperature the entire day. DON’T ADD HOT FRESH WATER TO YOUR LIVEWELL DURING THE DAY! This is a recipe for disaster!

If anglers want to continue to have bass tournaments, they have got to become more diligent about taking care of their catch. The problem is, when people show up at a boat ramp where there was a tournament the day before and see dead fish floating, photos are taken and posted on social media for all to see! This is nothing but ammunition for organizations like PETA who want to eliminate tournaments all together.

To sum this up, tournament anglers and tournament trail organizations need to do a better job when it comes to fish care if they don’t want the sport to get another black eye. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and be conscious of taking care of your skin by using plenty of sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Pre-Fishing Can Be Frustrating

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 18:40:26 GMT

Pre-Fishing Can Be Frustrating

Preparation is the key to doing well on any tournament trail. But in the tournament bass fishing world, it can also test an angler’s patience. Anglers spend hours and days pre-fishing for schools of quality fish that will help put them either in the winner’s circle or at least in line to get a check. There’s a saying with bass fishermen that “time on the water” is critical to being competitive.

Let’s look at another famous quote with bass fishermen…”What a difference a day makes!” There’s no telling how many times anglers have found quality fish during practice, only to be left wondering on tournament day, “Where did they go?” My last tournament on Sam Rayburn was a prime example. The fishing overall was tough and summer temperatures were hitting the mid 90’s. Not only was it hot, but there was little to no wind which makes fishing difficult on any body of water. When you tell people it was a beautiful day, in bass fishing terms that means the fishing was probably not very good. Pretty bluebird days do not usually equate to great fishing days.

This tournament, my electronics played a big role in me locating a school of bass offshore in 15 to 18 feet of water. It had a high spot of about 10 foot that was holding a solid school of bass. During my final practice day after coming across this little honey hole, I made two casts onto this spot with a big redbug colored V&M Straight Wild worm when the rod loaded up with a solid 3.5-pound bass. This was what I was looking for! Anytime you can catch fish over 3 pounds on a spot, that’s a good thing. My next cast resulted in a 4 pounder and now I’m excited. Realizing that quality fish were present, I pulled the trolling motor up and left the scene, counting on this spot for tournament day.

But guess what? The same thing that happens so many times when you find a good group of fish on one spot in practice, overnight they get smaller! For some reason my 3- and 4-pound fish I found the day before turned into 1.79, 1.74. 1.72. 1.59 and 1.76. Five fish that were just under 9 pounds total. Every fish I caught looked like it had come out of the same mold! One thing you must understand about bass, they tend to group up the same size as others in the school. Again, this is not unusual in that it often happens that bigger bass will leave a spot only to be replaced by smaller ones. It’s as if a memo was sent out the night before my tournament alerting all the good fish to move off this hump.

After catching and culling three times with a worm, I decided to show them something different as I picked up a Strike King 3XD crankbait. Immediately I started catching fish and hoped they would be bigger fish. But no, they continued to be in the 1.75-pound range which was not helping me at all. My co-angler who was fishing out of the back of the boat was also catching fish, but of the same size I was. We both tried different techniques, but the results were still the same…. small fish!

I finished in 18th overall in this event but should have finished much higher IF my fish had not gotten smaller or if the good fish hadn’t read that stupid memo. That’s what makes tournament fishing so frustrating. You spend hours and days trying to find quality bass and for whatever reason, they just disappear. Sometimes all the preparation in the world doesn’t help if the fish don’t cooperate. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and please wear good sun protective clothing and your sunscreen. If you think you’re immune to getting Melanoma…think again!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

A Bandit in the Night

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 18:39:26 GMT

A Bandit in the Night

Over my years of traveling all over the south from one tournament to another, I’ve had a few funny and sometimes difficult encounters. Most of the time it’s something mechanical like a flat tire, a wheel bearing going out on my boat trailer, or motor trouble with my outboard engine like a lower unit going out. But sometimes Mother Nature decides to invade my territory with a snake trying to get into my boat or an occasional alligator who likes to make his presence known. But one recent event at Toledo Bend was a different kind of incident.

As anglers, we spend all day searching for fish we hope will put us in the winner’s circle or at least get a check. Practicing for an event can be physically exhausting and mentally draining. So, a good night’s sleep is very important for an angler to be able to function at a high level. The last thing we want is for our sleep to be disrupted in the middle of the night.

Well on the night of May 25th at Toledo Bend, I was in my deep sleep phase when I heard something outside my bedroom window. As anglers, we are all paranoid about someone stealing things out of our boat and are on constant alert. On this particular night, I awoke to a loud noise like someone was outside. There were three of us staying together at this VRBO house and we each had our own boat. The area we were staying in seemed to be a very quiet neighborhood, so to think that someone was outside going through our boats got my full attention.

Just like the Night Before Christmas, “When out on the driveway there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the back door I flew like a flash, threw open the door to see all the trash.” Well, there he was, standing in the trash and enjoying some leftover wings from the previous guest. It turns out that the bandit was a massive raccoon who decided to order trash can wings. Now as I opened the door, you would think this raccoon would scurry away. But not this guy; he was not intimidated by me at all. He actually had the look on his face like, “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m eating?”

Not looking to abandon the buffet of chicken wings he had found, he let me know really quick, as he stood up on his hind legs, that I had better back off if I knew what was good for me. Now I’ve come across a few raccoons during my 62 years on this earth, but none as bold or as bad as this one. He was not going away easily, and it would take my best bluff to send him down the road to another feast.

It was at this point that I reached down and grabbed the lid of the trash can he had destroyed, and I started banging it and ran towards him. At first, he didn’t seem to even give me a second thought as he continued to devour his order of wings. Then I decided to get on his level as I bent over, with my lid for protection, and gave him a hardcore stare which turned out to be a game changer for some reason. I had gained the advantage over this wing eating bandit as he scurried off and headed back to the woods.

Understand, raccoons are smart and very persistent, and I knew he would probably return to face me again, maybe with back up. I was right! As I got back into the bed, the bandit returned and began to attempt to open another trash can by literally running and jumping on it. It was so loud that I could not believe my two fishing buddies weren’t getting up to see what was going on! They slept right through all the commotion and never even rolled over. Once again, I headed to the back door and faced this evil doer for the last time. As I opened the door, I ran directly at the chicken wing bandit and this time he ran off for good as I shouted, “And never come back!”

You never know what will transpire on a fishing trip, but sometimes you must sleep with one eye open just in case a bandit of the night shows up. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Angler’s Perspective

Oh, the Shame of Zeroing

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 18:37:47 GMT

Oh, the Shame of Zeroing

It doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how many tournaments you have won, there will come a time where you just can’t figure the fish out and you come to the scales with nothing. This is the number one fear amongst all anglers who fish tournaments. Anglers will literally wake up in a cold sweat at night when they have this nightmare. But let’s take a deeper look at the psyche of what goes through an angler’s mind as the day unfolds and they come in with no fish in the live well.

Very few times has an angler left the ramp on tournament day that he did not feel good about his game plan. Most anglers usually have a good idea about what and how they’ll catch them on that particular day. But as the day unfolds and the clock is ticking, if an angler does not have fish in the live well by 10:00 AM, at some point he starts to second guess his game plan. He starts thinking (which is usually not a good thing) about how he should have started out deep rather than shallow, how he should have thrown a topwater bait early instead of a worm. Maybe he should have run up the lake instead of staying on the south end or how he should have fished the grass instead of the bushes. But no matter what, pressure starts to build especially when the clock strikes one o’clock with no fish in the box and a weigh-in time of three o’clock. For me, I tell myself, “If I’m going to catch them, I’ve only got two hours to figure them out!”

Then next thing you know it’s two o’clock and you still have nothing to show for all the casts you’ve made. It’s at this point most anglers start to panic and start to visualize coming to the weigh-in with a big fat zero. You start to fish too fast and make bad casts, you get hung up more often and have to go and retrieve your bait in places you can’t get to. So then you end up breaking off whatever bait you’re throwing, with the internal clock in your head moving faster, as you waste even more time looking for another bait and having to re-rig. It’s during these high-pressure times that you backlash a reel so bad that you have to put it away so that you can cut the backlash out when you get home. Then with only minutes to go, you hook the fish of a lifetime, only to watch it come off and swim away right before you get ready to swing it into the boat. A fitting end to a very frustrating day!

Then it’s time to head for the weigh-in and you hope everyone is gone by the time you get there…but that’s never the case. It’s funny how when you have twenty pounds of fish in the live well, no one ever asks how you did. But when you have zero, it seems everyone in the tournament, including their grandma, wants to know what you’ve got. But oh, the shame and embarrassment of having to say, “Zero!” It just doesn’t get any worse than that! So, it’s at this time you head straight for the boat ramp, load your boat, tuck your tail between your legs, pull your cap down low so maybe no one recognizes you, and head home. If you want to see who did not catch fish that day, watch the parking lot at the ramp and see just how fast an angler can load his boat and get out of there.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about the misery of what an angler goes through on those days when he just doesn’t catch them. But the thing that’s great about the end of a tournament is it means there’s an opportunity for redemption at the next event. Forget it and move on because that tournament is over and there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome of that event. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Put Up or Shut Up

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 18:36:48 GMT

Put Up or Shut Up

Today I’m writing this article based on my personal experience as a tournament angler. Over the years, I’ve come across a lot of anglers who have always talked about how they should be fishing tournaments because they “ALWAYS” catch fish every time they go fishing. All I have to say to these anglers….”You’re a liar!” These same people will try and tell me how good they are as a bass fisherman and that if they fished tournaments, they would probably be standing in the winner’s circle at the end of the day. To these same anglers I say, “Put your money where your mouth is!”

I came across one such angler one day on Toledo Bend, who in his mind, was the best angler on the lake or maybe even the greatest angler of all time! During one of my practice sessions on the Bend, this guy came up to me at the boat ramp. While loading my boat he eased over to me and proceeded to talk about how many fish he caught that day and that he quit counting at 100. I’m not sure why, but for some reason some anglers feel the need to exaggerate how they caught 100 fish in a day. In reality, they probably really caught about 30 to 35….not 100. If you think about how many casts you make in a day, to catch 100 bass in a day is about 1 bass every 4 casts. That would be an awesome day by anyone’s standards and a day all anglers dream about.

Now during my conversation with this angler at the ramp, he asked me if I was getting ready for a tournament. My answer was yes, and he said that he would probably win it if he decided to fish it. My response to him, with a sense of sarcasm of course, was that if he was on that many fish, he’d be crazy not to fish the tournament. And, that I might as well just give him my entry fee! This is what we call baiting someone!

Well, low and behold he showed up Saturday morning and put up his money (donated). I was a little surprised he showed because most of these “great” anglers never show up. He actually pulled up beside my boat before takeoff that morning and began to tell me how many fish he had caught the last two days and put in the freezer. It was at this point, I knew he was in trouble. After a tough day of fishing, as the fish did not bite very well at all, I pulled up beside him at the dock and asked how he did? Let me go ahead and state the obvious; he was not a happy camper (angler) due to the expression on his face. I was the last guy he wanted to talk to since he had talked so much trash on how he “always” catches fish every time he goes fishing. He finally answered me by saying how he just couldn’t understand what had just happened. He’s never gone fishing in his life and not caught fish! He was very confused and had that bewildered look (so many anglers have had before) as to what just happened.

It was at this time with a smirk on my face and a wink, I said, “Welcome to tournament fishing!” It just proves that no matter how good an angler you are or think you are, there will be days that you just don’t figure them out. Oh, and with a slight chuckle, I reminded him that the fish he caught the last two days and put in the freezer won’t bite on tournament day after they’re frozen. That’s why tournament anglers practice catch and release. I never saw this guy at a tournament ever again! Guess you could say he got humbled; tournament fishing will do that to an angler. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen. Take it from me, Melanoma does not discriminate!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

How the Pro Anglers Relax

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 18:34:16 GMT

How the Pro Anglers Relax

So, you think you want to be a professional bass fisherman? Well, we’ve already covered this once, but today we’ll look at what and how some of the greatest anglers in the world spend their off season or down time. After being on the road for weeks and months at a time away from family, pro anglers are looking to slow down and catch their breath. Because of the everyday grind and dedication it takes to compete at the highest level, anglers need to recharge their batteries. Let’s look at the different ways these guys re-energize themselves and get ready for another long season of fishing.

Most professional anglers grew up either in the woods or on the water. Most have an extensive past of hunting big game, ducks, squirrels, or hogs. Most cut their teeth, and might have even been in diapers, when they shot their first deer. But nothing brings them back down to earth more than spending quality time at their favorite hunting camp. It’s not about the kill as much as it is about just getting away from the pressure and demands anglers are under during the regular season. It’s going out and sitting in a deer stand where all you can hear is the wind blowing, squirrels barking, and the cracking of the sunflowers seeds they’re eating. Yes, it’s true they do fall asleep once in a while when the deer aren’t moving, but that’s okay. They take no phone calls and are unavailable for interviews. The only calls they take are from their publicist or from one of their many sponsors….oh and maybe their wives or children. Sometimes they won’t even talk to their friends! But it’s the time back at the camp talking to their hunting buddies about the big deer they saw or missed, while enjoying some of the great meals, that make a hunting camp special. It’s the stories they tell year after year about previous hunts, stories they’ve already told time and time again. But no one really cares, because the stories (lies) just get bigger and better with every passing year.

Amongst the many professional anglers, some would rather hunt waterfowl and sit in a duck blind for hours…again telling more stories about how many ducks they’ve killed over the years, or they discuss why there’s not as many ducks as there used to be. But one thing that makes a good duck hunt…the biscuits and sausage they cook and share in the blind while waiting on the next group of birds to come into the hole they are sitting on. One common theme for any hunting trip is the food. For some reason, hunting camp or duck blind food is always better than any meal you can get anywhere else on the planet. Not sure why, but it’s true!

But one thing I’ve always found strange is another way some of the pros relax; they go fishing! Yes, I said fishing! Who would have thought that since these guys are on the water trying to make a living from January through September, that fishing would be a way for them to relax? Let me help you understand this. There’s a huge difference between fishing tournaments and fun fishing. Some of the pros use this time to test new lures they’ve been involved with designing for the companies they’re representing like Strike King and Berkley. This is something pro anglers really enjoy…designing baits that will hit the market one day with their name on it. But fun fishing for some of these guys is a trip into the marsh or saltwater fishing for speckled trout and redfish. This is when they can be with their family or friends and just enjoy a day on the water without cameras or a boat official watching their every move.

The life of a professional bass fisherman can be a hectic one. There’s a lot of pressure to not only perform at a high level but put food on the table for their families. The stress is off the chart for all of these guys because if they’re not successful, they will be eliminated from the pro tour and replaced by another up and coming young angler. Just because you make it to the highest level of bass fishing, does not guarantee you a spot for life. Anglers still must go out and perform. This is why they need that down time to relax and get away from the everyday grind it takes to be a professional bass fisherman. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Educating Today’s Young Anglers

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 18:32:50 GMT

Educating Today’s Young Anglers

Last week we focused on some of the fishing etiquette issues pertaining to today’s up and coming anglers. We looked at “cutting off another angler” and “asking for permission to share a spot.” Today, we’ll continue to spotlight more of the etiquette issues that are taking place on all our lakes and waterways. In the world we live in today, there’s a wealth of ways to gain knowledge…reading, the internet, video archives or someone actually teaching and showing you what you need to know. By going to school, we learn, or at least have the opportunity to learn, and become educated. In the bass fishing world, 75% of what anglers learn is by someone teaching them or showing them how, why, and when…how to find fish, how to catch fish, how to maintain your boat, what techniques to use and when, along with why bass react the way they do in certain situations. But the one area we have failed as older generation anglers is teaching these young anglers fishing etiquette.

In this article, we’ll focus on a couple more of the unwritten rules of bass fishing. Let’s look at how to handle angry dock or landowners. Nothing gets my blood boiling quicker than a private dock owner who comes out of his lake house and tells me I can’t fish his dock. Legally, as long as you stay in your boat and never step foot on his dock, you can fish it. It’s a public body of water and the dock owner does not own the water underneath his dock, despite what he thinks. When I come across this scenario, I always have to take a deep breath before responding to his aggressive statement. I do much better when the dock owner “asks” me not to fish his dock. If he's doing maintenance work on his dock or the family is out on the dock enjoying themselves, it is best to pass it up anyway because of all the noise they’re making. While trolling by, it is nice to always make a point to speak and say hello and wish them a good day. It is better to leave a dock owner with a pleasant experience rather than a negative one. But when the owner comes at you with aggression and threats, try to calm him down by saying hello and asking him why he doesn’t want you to fish his dock. Bottom line is this… it’s a good practice that if you see the dock owner, ask him if it’s okay for you to make a couple of casts in and around his dock.

With this approach you’ll meet some really nice people who don’t have a problem with you fishing their dock. But there is that 1% out there that will be total butt heads and make all kinds of threats from shooting a hole in your boat to calling the local authorities. Either way, it usually ends in a war of words between the angler and the dock owner. Best advice I can give on this topic…be nice and move on.

One thing that’s actually making our lakes and waterways more dangerous is speeding boats! I’ve had a few near misses on the water and 100% of all these incidents involved speed. Today’s bass boats are literally high-speed water bullets that young anglers have no experience or the skills to drive. Most tournament bass rigs today are 18-to-21-foot boats with motors ranging from 200 to 300 horsepower engines. Most tournament trails today have a motor size limit of 250 HP. But today’s young anglers think they need to run 80 MPH to get to their next fishing spot. I get it…when you’re young, you love speed and think it’s cool. But there are two people you need to be conscious of when running across the lake…the partner in your boat and other anglers you’re running by. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. It’s no different than driving a vehicle, you can be distracted and lose control quickly. SLOW DOWN!!! There’s no reason to drive at top end speed when moving around the lake. Be smart and conscious of other anglers on the water.

To wrap this up, I hope everyone who reads this article will take the advice I’ve given free of charge. The only way we can expect the younger generation to do things the right way is to teach them the right way. Most of the issues we’ve discussed are basically common sense. But as I’ve learned over the years, even common sense must be taught. Till next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to apply your sunscreen… Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Educating Our Younger Generation of Anglers

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:31:42 GMT

Educating Our Younger Generation of Anglers

When you take a look at the landscape of both high school and college fishing, it’s obvious that up and coming anglers of today are not being taught the ethics or etiquette of bass fishing…the unwritten rules of the water! Young anglers fishing today are falling short in knowing how to handle certain situations in several areas. In this article, we’ll educate and go over a couple of these scenarios and who’s to blame for the younger generation not knowing.

One thing about being young and ignorant… it’s someone’s responsibility to teach you the knowledge you’re lacking in order to learn. Young bass fishermen, on the rise and looking to compete at the highest level of professional fishing, need direction and guidance. This guidance is not just on how to find and catch bass, but how to handle themselves on the water… what anglers call “etiquette.” Now understand, there is no rule book on fishing etiquette. There is no sign hanging at a boat ramp on how to handle situations on the water. Someone must teach these young anglers what the expectations are. A few of these are kind of common sense and others are unwritten rules that have been established over time by anglers who came before us.

First let’s look at the phrase “cutting someone off.” This has become the number one problem on our overcrowded lakes and waterways today! This is when an angler runs past another angler who is fishing down a stretch of bank and cuts in front of him on the same stretch of bank and starts fishing…in some cases as close as a few feet to less than 100 yards. Once again, there is no written rule preventing an angler from doing this. But in the bass fishing world, this is considered bad etiquette. If you want to see an angler get upset, cut in front of him on the stretch of bank or tree line he’s fishing. Always avoid cutting in front of another angler for the purpose of fishing. Good rule of thumb… if you have to think about or try and justify if it’s wrong to cut someone off, then you probably already know you shouldn’t do it. A good example of this would be if someone is fishing down a row of boat docks, don’t go in front of him two or three docks to start fishing. Go ten to twelve docks down and respect his space.

Next, let’s address asking for permission to fish a certain area with another angler. This can be a little touchy, as it all depends on the angler you’re asking. If you pull up on an underwater hump or wind row (line of treetops) and you see another angler already fishing this spot, ask for permission to fish the area with him. He’ll either say, “Sure,” or he’ll say, “No, I’d rather you didn’t.” He’s really not obligated to say yes, especially since he was there first. So always ask if it’s ok for you fish the area together. Now most touring pros will automatically pass up a spot if someone is already on it. But sometimes depending on who the other angler is, especially if they are close friends, the other angler might say it’s ok. But in some instances, they have already talked about the spot that both might have found during practice, and they have made an agreement on fishing it at the same time. Again, always ask for permission to fish, don’t just hop on the front deck and start fishing.

So other than reading this informative article, how does someone learn these unwritten rules of the water? It’s up to us as experienced anglers to teach the younger generation of high school and college anglers how to handle certain situations that they may encountered. It’s our job to share and teach these youngsters the right way of doing things so that in the future, we have less confrontations on the water. Next week, we’ll continue this discussion on the unwritten rules of bass fishing with a hard look at how to deal with dock owners, a hot topic nationwide. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Controversy Again on the Red River

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:30:42 GMT

Controversy Again on the Red River

It never fails, if there’s a bass tournament on the Red River, there will usually be some kind of issue or controversy. But for some reason, with most events on the Red, crybabies seem to come out of nowhere and want to complain about something they heard or saw someone do. Probably every tournament director that’s ever put on an event on this body of water has had to deal with accusations about an angler who THEY think did something illegal. Now they won’t necessarily have any proof, but they will complain hoping it will lead to the angler being disqualified from the event.

This year’s Bassmaster Central Open out of Red River South Marina was no exception and not without controversy, as former Natchitoches, Louisiana, resident and Major League Fishing Pro Keith Poche took top honors and finally conquered the mighty Red River. This was Keith’s first win on the Red River after several top 10 finishes. The Red fits Keith’s style of shallow water fishing and this is the reason he’s had great success. But a few years ago in a previous Central Open event, Keith was accused of cutting a pipe in front of a culvert down in Pool 4 to gain access to backwater…. which was proven that he never did. Some anglers just can’t stand it when another angler outsmarts the rest of the field by thinking outside the box. “Outsmarts” may not be the right word, but more that they took a risk other anglers would not.

In this year’s 2022 Central Open event, Pro Angler Keith Poche decided to fish out of the same 18-foot aluminum boat with a 90-horsepower engine that he has used all year. While the rest of the field fished out of twenty- and twenty-one-foot fiberglass boats with 250 horsepower engines. These bigger boats limit anglers as to where they can fish, especially when it comes to reaching certain backwater areas that are true honey holes that the Red River is famous for. But this 18-foot aluminum boat did allow him to do just that….get into backwater other anglers could not. There was nothing illegal about what Keith was doing.

Understand, B.A.S.S. does not restrict what size boat you can fish out of in a Bassmaster Central Open event. However, there is a rule that states, “Whatever boat you start the season out of, you must finish the season in that same boat.” For Keith, that was the case, as he’s fished out of this same aluminum boat in all of his previous Bassmaster Open events.

Here’s the controversy that occurred. With Keith leading going into the final day, someone decide they were going to make it awfully hard for him to win this event. Another angler or anglers (not yet determined) who did not make the final day cut launched their boat at 11:00 PM the night before the final day and went to the rock jetty cut Keith was going through off the main river and placed big rocks at the mouth. This prevented Keith from being able to go through it and get to his backwater area. As Keith arrived at the rock jetty cut on the morning of the final day, he saw that someone had tried to eliminate his only path through the rocks. Now there is a B.A.S.S. rule that states, “At no time may an angler get out of his boat in order to gain access to any backwater area.” But a strange thing occurred as Keith called the tournament director and informed him of what had taken place. Two suspicious observers who had followed Keith to this cut on the final morning voluntarily got out of their boat and moved the rocks. At no point did Keith ever ask these guys to do this, and he said they were acting very strange. So then he began to wonder, could these be the guys who actually tried to sabotage the cut in the first place? In the meantime, Keith just had to make sure he did not violate the rule of physically getting out of his boat in order to gain access.

Now from this angler’s perspective, it would be a great way for these two guys to look innocent by attempting to help Keith out. I mean, who would ever suspect the two guys who got out of their boat to help Keith by removing the rocks! Not really sure, but maybe they felt guilty and realized what they had done the night before just was not right. Maybe they wanted to try and make things right by being good Samaritans and moving the rocks. Hmmm, now I don’t pretend to be Sherlock Holmes, but it is something to think about.

For this Central Open event, Keith committed himself to the idea of staying in shallow water and getting into backwater areas that other anglers could not. These were fish that had not been pressured by other anglers during the official practice period. Keith did his homework and found a way to make it happen and got the job done to secure the victory. But some anglers really did not approve of the way he secured the win. So rather than going the extra mile like Keith Poche did, they chose to take unadvised action by doing something immoral and unethical. In the end, Keith Poche prevailed and conquered a body of water, that as Keith put it, “has been a thorn in his side.” Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Love Hate Relationship of the Red River

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 18:29:40 GMT

The Love Hate Relationship of the Red River

In the tournament bass fishing world, there are certain bodies of water that anglers both hate and love. It’s kind of like the Dallas Cowboys, you either love them or hate them, there’s not much in between. The mighty Red River falls into the hate category for a lot of anglers, but from my perspective, I love it!

Here’s why… if there’s one thing the Red River does for a bass tournament, it levels the playing field. It’s truly a body of water that can really frustrate anglers due to its unpredictability. Bass on the Red are like a magic act, they can literally disappear. The fish you find today cannot be counted on for tomorrow since the bait fish have a tendency to move. When the bait fish relocate, the bass go with them. Another issue with the river is its reputation for burning anglers who try to go back to the same fish two days in a row. Professional angler, Chris Lane, proved this theory to be correct when he was asked what pattern he used to win the 42nd Annual Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in 2012. Chris said the key to his victory was to not fish the same areas two days in a row. He discovered this during his practice time preparing for this event.

When anglers are asked the best way to catch bass on the Red, they’ll make reference to what bass fishermen call “junk fishing.” This means that anglers will use a plethora of baits from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwater to soft plastics all in one day just to fill their limit for weigh-in. This is what makes the Red such a unique body of water and tends to level the playing field for all anglers.

So why do so many tournament anglers hate the mighty Red River? For starters, it has been known to be very hard on a boat. Too many lower units on outboard engines have been destroyed due to guys running in areas they should have been idling through. Rock jetties and sand bars, that at times can hide just under the water’s surface can create a navigation nightmare. The river is a constant changing entity as the water can fluctuate several feet depending on the time of year. This will create and rearrange sandbars all up and down the river system. But the number one problem is when boaters cut corners too close to the ends of rock jetties. It’s just like any other body of water that you’re not familiar with… if you’re not sure what lies beneath the surface….idle! So many anglers have boat damage because they don’t take the time to learn where you can and cannot run. The golden rule for boaters coming to the Red River…stay between the buoys on the main river and when entering the backwater cuts off the main river, idle through the first time so you can see how deep or shallow the cut really is.

With back-to-back historic floods of 2015 & 2016, the Red River underwent a complete flushing of its ecosystem. This flood devastated the river and destroyed all vegetation that bass need to thrive. Before the floods, it was common to see five fish limits tipping the scales in the 16-to-20-pound range. But since the flood, the weights have really dropped off with anglers weighing anywhere from 10 to 13 pounds as evident with the recent B.A.S.S. Central Open event. The recovery has taken longer than anyone expected, but it appears better days are ahead as bass habitat is returning to the backwater areas that held so many bass.

As of October 1, 2021, thanks to the Red River Waterway Commission, the river is on the rebound as they have implemented a $100,000 bass restocking program for all pools 1 – 5. Pools one and two get 10%, pool 3 gets 20%, pool 4 gets 25% and pool 5 gets 35%. Each pool delivery will consist of 20% F1 hybrids and 80% pure Florida bass. That’s 72,000 pure Florida’s and 18,000 F1 hybrid largemouth bass being stocked all up and down the Red River.

Over the years, Red River has been very good to me with a few wins, a couple of runner-up and Top 10 finishes. For me, it really is like the Dallas Cowboys….I love the river! Every angler has what they call their “home water,” and for me it’s the Red River! I hope you’ve enjoyed this angler’s perspective on the love hate relationship anglers have for this awesome body of water. Understand this, fishing the Red or any river system is a different animal and requires a different approach than fishing a lake. But the best advice for anyone fishing the Red River, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to try different baits. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

A Thankless Job

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:28:33 GMT

A Thankless Job

Over the years as a tournament angler, I’ve noticed some guys never get the credit they deserve. No one ever tells them “Thank you” for what they do or how they do it. Housekeepers, healthcare workers, lunchroom ladies, childcare workers or even caregivers all seem to be invisible, mainly because we don’t see them or recognize the job they do. Yes, in most cases they are getting paid, but sometimes the pay doesn’t make up for the job itself and what is required.

Well, that would also be the life of a bass tournament director. Each and every tournament trail in the country has one person who has to deal with anglers who think they know the best way to run a tournament trail. Yes, I’ll say it…bass fishermen have huge egos! Shocker! One thing anglers are guilty of is making suggestions that usually only benefit the angler who made the suggestion. They all think they know a better way to skin a cat or run a bass tournament.

Tournament director, Chris Wayand runs all the ABA (American Bass Anglers) tournament trails like the Open Series and the Solo 150 Tour. Mike Echols has run two of the best team trails in the Ark-La-Tex region like the H&W Team Trail and the Thursday night Cash Splash. Both of these guys do a great job of setting the standard for what all tournament directors should strive for. They are tough and will make sure the rules for each tour are followed. There’s no grey area with either of them. Whatever the rule states is exactly how it will be implemented. Anglers may not always like a certain ruling, but they will respect it. This is what makes a great tournament trail…consistency!

A tournament director’s job is to make sure that all anglers in an event are treated fairly and that all rules are followed with no exceptions. He must plan and schedule where the tour will be going the next season a year in advance. He has to secure boat ramps and make sure that there’s plenty of parking. Securing a boat ramp is not something to just skip over. This has become a major issue for all tournament directors, especially in the state of Texas. Every fall, the new schedules are released by all tournament trails. Every director must work around each other in order to make it happen. There are basically only four weekends in a month and at least eight active major trails, but for the sake of time and ink I won’t list them.

Now imagine you’re a tournament director and trying to schedule around all these different circuits, truly a nightmare! But still there’s always an angler that thinks they know a better way and wants to question why the director scheduled an event on a specific weekend. Didn’t he realize it’s the opening weekend of college football? Didn’t he know that there’s a high school tournament that same weekend? Didn’t he know it’s the President’s Birthday? You get the point! This is what a director has to hear over and over again… people questioning why he put a particular tournament on a specific Saturday!

Today, we’ll give praise to all tournament directors who do a “thankless job” and attempt to make every angler a happy camper. These guys give up their weekends so all of us future Kevin Van Dam’s can get a on a given body of water and compete. Yes, it’s true they do get paid, but there’s no making up for the time they sacrifice away from family and friends in order to run the best tournament trail possible. Today we salute and say, “Thank you,” to all bass tournament directors for a job well done! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Fall Feeding Frenzy

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:27:30 GMT

The Fall Feeding Frenzy

Get ready! It’s the time of year that all anglers look forward to… the fall feeding frenzy…where bass gorge themselves to the point that it looks like they ate a football! It’s official, the bass buffet is now open for all bass, large and small. October in the south is probably one of the best months of the year to go out and catch a lot of bass as they migrate up the creeks chasing shad. This fiesta occurs each year as the days get shorter, triggering largemouth bass to start fattening up for the long winter months.

Probably the first question: What baits should be thrown in order to give yourself the best opportunity to catch these hungry bass? Well, that’s a million-dollar question, but today you’ll get an angler’s perspective on the best baits that will put the odds in your favor. First, you have to understand the prey you’re trying to mimic because bass can be a little finicky this time of year. Bait fish, also known as shad, are the main thing they are looking for as the bass head up the creeks. They will travel in small wolf packs rounding up and forcing balls of shad (bait fish) into shallow water where they will ambush them with force. Remember, they won’t bite just any old bait, it must be something that looks similar to what they are eating.

One of the best baits for this style of fishing is a crankbait. Several come to mind like a Bandit 100 or 200 series in a shad pattern they call pearl/black back. Strike King also makes a great crankbait in what is called the KVD Series (designed by pro angler Kevin Van Dam). Their best colors are a green gizzard shad or what they call sexy shad. Both are great shad imitators and will get the job done. Remember, it’s not complicated, just try to throw something that looks like bait fish or shad. The next great choice would be a spinnerbait, as nothing mimics shad better than a skirted spinnerbait with either double willow blades or a three bladed spinnerbait. The three bladed baits are very popular and productive this time of year.

Now let’s look at two great baits for topwater action. A Heddon Zara Spook or the Zara Puppy in a clear or shad color should be your first choice when it comes to a walking style bait. This is a bait that literally walks side to side when being retrieved. It mimics bait fish running across the top of the water and bass just can’t stand it; they have to eat it! Next bait of choice for topwater is a buzzbait. This is a bait that looks similar to a spinnerbait but is fished as a topwater with a big propeller type blade. Most will come with a skirt just like a spinnerbait, but this time of year it’s better if you take the skirt off and replace it with some type of white wide tail grub, a twin tail grub, or a Zoom Horney Toad. Again, you’re just trying to mimic shad or bait fish scurrying across the water in order to trigger bass into biting.

I hope these suggestions will help you this fall as you head for your favorite body of water looking to take advantage of this awesome time of year. Another great thing about fall fishing is the fact that many of our lakes and waterways are bare of anglers since many of them are headed for the woods looking to put meat in their freezer with a deer or two, or maybe a few bushytails. Some days, you’ll literally have the lake all to yourself; that’s when the fun begins! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen. Take it from this angler, Melanoma is not something you want to deal with.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Remembering a True Fishing Legend

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:26:29 GMT

Remembering a True Fishing Legend

On November 4th of 2021 the bass fishing world lost one of its greatest ambassadors in Aaron Martens. After a long 19 month battle with Glioblastoma, Aaron loaded his boat for the last time and headed into Heavenly waters. Aaron was a proud husband and father of two who cherished the time he shared with his family. The life of a professional bass fisherman is tough especially when it comes to missing a lot of quality time with family. But Aaron never took that time for granted. He loved them so much that he and wife Lesley took their home and family on the road and lived the gypsy life of the Bass Pro Tour.

All anglers want to make an impact and leave a legacy. Aaron Martens did just that by sharing his knowledge of what we call finesse fishing. This style of fishing really did not exist when Aaron first arrived on the Bass Pro Tour. A former California resident, Aaron was an expert in how to fish light tackle. He brought with him the western style of finesse fishing that consists of light line, spinning reels and small baits. He was well versed in techniques like the shakey head, drop shotting, Neko rigs and small finesse jigs. Aaron thought outside the box and used his finesse techniques to take the tour by storm. He had immediate success and gained the reputation as a super tough competitor.

Just how good was he? Well, he was a three time Angler of the Year, a four time Bassmaster Classic runner-up (The Super Bowl of bass fishing), had over $3.8 million in winnings with 11 pro tour victories, 82 Top 10’s, and 114 Top 20 finishes. To say he was one of the best to ever wet a hook, is an understatement. This guy was one of the Top 5 all-time anglers ever. He was an angler that others feared as they backed their boats in the water. His ability was truly God given and Aaron acknowledged that. Some guys are born to be scientist, some to be doctors or lawyers but Aaron was born to be a professional bass angler. Aaron was also a fitness guru as he enjoyed running, mountain biking, hiking and camping; a true outdoorsman.

But Aaron had a softer side, he really enjoyed sharing his knowledge and helping any and all anglers he came in contact with. He, unlike so many other anglers, was always willing to share his knowledge. Guess you could say he had an open door policy and enjoyed teaching. I personally got to know Aaron through my radio show Hook’N Up & Track’N Down. He was a guest on the show several times and never turned me down to do an interview. He was a very personable guy who had a unique and quirky personality. But his IQ was off the chart and all you had to do was spend five minutes with him and you knew immediately, this guy is highly intelligent.

One memorable encounter I had with Aaron was at the ICAST Show in Orlando. ICAST is the international fishing show that displays anything and everything associated with the bass fishing world. Each year the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show would do a live show from ICAST and after arriving early one morning to set up for the radio broadcast, Aaron saw me and asked if he could sit in with me. Of course I’m not turning down a chance to sit with Aaron Martens and talk bass fishing! But what was amazing about this interview as we kicked off the show, a crowd of 25 to 30 people began to gather in front of my broadcast. Aaron had their full attention as they hung and took notes on every word he said as we talked about finesse style fishing. Aaron is the kind of interview that all you have to do is point him the direction you want him to go, and he’ll take it from there. It’s an interview that will be filed away in my memory forever.

Again, on November 4th of 2021, we lost a true legend of the bass fishing world. Aaron is a person that will always be remembered for his intelligence and abilities to catch bass but more importantly, as a genuine and courteous person who cared more about others than he did for himself. Aaron, the bass fishing world loves and appreciates all you did and we will never forget you. We wish you a lot of Heavenly hook sets my friend. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen. Take the time to take care of your body by applying sunscreen and wearing the proper clothing. Remember, Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Will Bass Fishing Exist in 100 Years?

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:25:33 GMT

Will Bass Fishing Exist in 100 Years?

Today we’ll take a serious look at what bass fishing might look like 100 years from now. How will anglers of tomorrow look at anglers of today? Will they question our ethics? Will they question our techniques? Are we the pioneers of the bass fishing world of tomorrow? Will bass fishing even exist 100 years from now? These are just a few of the questions that I’ll try to answer from my perspective as one of today’s avid anglers.

As people, it’s human nature that all of us want to be liked or admired in some shape or form. All of us want to leave a legacy, whether it’s for our family or maybe a particular interest we had growing up. For some it might be a civic organization, job, or maybe a hobby that was near and dear to our heart. We can only hope anglers of tomorrow sit around a fire pit one day and talk about how innovative and creative our generation was in breaking down some of the barriers of bass fishing…how skilled and dedicated we were with techniques, baits, and tackle…how we spent hours and days on the water preparing for tournaments. They’ll laugh at how much fuel we ran through our trucks and boats just to find and catch largemouth bass…how we fished for 8 to 10 hours on a tournament day and competed not just against each other, but the elements of Mother Nature. Fishing in rain, sleet and even snow, nothing stopped us from chasing those big green fish known as bass.

Tomorrow’s anglers will either question or admire the creativity we had when it comes to tackle and lures. They will admire the color schemes and all the options we had in terms of soft plastic baits or worms. But they’ll wonder what the purpose was of all the many different colors, when 100 years from now, a handful of colors is all you’ll need. They will figure out that 75% of the baits and color options created, were actually designed to catch anglers, not necessarily bass. They’ll be amazed at the technology we had that allowed us to actually see fish swimming on a small screen the size of notebook. Our bass boats will be legendary in terms of the power we had with 250 horsepower engines that would push a bass boat in excess of 75 MPH. They’ll wonder how in the hell, did those anglers ride in those fiberglass boats in three- and four-foot waves compared to the boats they’ll be driving, that will be like hovercrafts.

Today we have GPS for navigation and locating brush tops and underwater structure. But in the future, they will have boats that will be programmed to drive themselves. Their trolling motors will be built into the hull and will automatically deploy once the main engine has been turned off. Anglers will wear glasses that control the trolling motor by site, so that wherever they look, the trolling motor will head in that direction. Also with these special glasses, anglers will be able to cast a lure and place it in a one inch square at 30 yards, allowing for precision casting like never seen before. One hundred years from now, boats will have touch screens to move from one section of the lake to another. The anglers simply touch the map screen, and the boat will automatically drive itself to that location, avoiding all the underwater stumps due to their Debris Avoidance System or DAS technology. This technology will allow future anglers to never worry about destroying a lower unit ever again!!!

Today, we are the true pioneers of the sport of bass fishing and one day generations from now, anglers will look back with admiration and amazement at how dedicated and committed we were as bass fishermen. The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will be full of guys from this generation that built an industry not just here in America, but worldwide. But as with anything in the future, there is the possibility that bass fishing may not even exist. With today’s political circles and the far-left, anti-outdoorsmen, there’s reason to believe that the pleasures we so cherish and value in the great outdoors might be a thing of the past, a past that future angler’s will only be able to dream about. The rights of all outdoorsmen may be taken away whether it’s fishing or hunting.

These anti-hunting and fishing groups are gaining momentum and support from government activists who can’t wait to save Bambi from the big bad hunter. The future goal of both anglers and hunters, is that they understand the importance of taking game and fish as a form of conservation management. Otherwise, these populations will explode and create an unbalanced ecosystem. But in reality, who knows what the future may hold. So, till next week, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen. Melanoma doesn’t discriminate; it can create life threatening issues if precautions are not taken.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Earth Shattering News for Anglers

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 18:24:22 GMT

Earth Shattering News for Anglers

Anglers who are trying to reach the highest level of professional bass fishing just had the rug jerked out from under them. For any serious bass fisherman, their dreams as youngsters of making it to the highest level of professional bass fishing (the B.A.S. S. Elite Series) are no different than those kids dreaming of making it to baseball’s Major League level. To put this in perspective and to illustrate how difficult this task can be…. less than 2% of all high school athletes get the chance to play on the collegiate level. Making it to the highest level of professional bass fishing is on par with this same stat.

To say the odds of making it to the Elite Series of professional bass fishing are not good is an understatement. I will say this, many anglers have gone bankrupt and kept divorce attorneys quite busy over the last 30 years trying to achieve this dream. Not to say it’s not possible, but the odds are not in your favor. Today, there are so many anglers pursuing this goal that our lakes have gotten very crowded with guys looking to make it. They’ll work (or fish) their way up the food chain anyway possible in order to get that one opportunity. Now let me make this clear, some will lie, cheat, steal or sell their first born for this one chance of making it as a professional angler.

B.A.S.S. (Bass Angler’s Sportsman Society,) which is home of the Elite Series, has just made a change to the path, or yellow brick road, of getting there. Originally you had to fish what was called the “Opens.” By fishing the “Opens” first you had to commit to all three tournaments in one of three divisions called Southern, Central and Northern. If you finished in the top 3 in the Angler of the Year standings for your division, you got an invitation to fish in the Elite Series. You then had to decide if you would accept the invitation or pass. This is where guys would refinance their home, take out major loans or maybe sell their own blood. But if you accepted the invitation, now you had to put up the entire season’s worth of entry fees ($5000 per event) and prepare for life on the road for a total of 9 events all across the country.

You basically have over a $50,000 investment into this tournament trail, and you have not even wet a hook yet. Guys scramble to hopefully convince businesses to help them offset this cost by becoming a sponsor of this individual angler. Anglers are then at the mercy of these sponsors who made this commitment. The sponsors will use these guys for advertising and promotional needs of whatever product or products they offer. Today’s sponsors are looking for anglers that can sell and have great communication skills. They must be able to sell, or the sponsor doesn’t need them.

But this past July, B.A.S.S. changed the game plan. Now for 2023, anglers must commit to ALL NINE events of the newly formed Bassmaster Elite Qualifying Series in order to qualify for the Elite Series. For the average working man or weekend warrior, their hopes and dreams just got hooked and reeled in. The average working man can’t take off work or ask for 9 weeks of vacation. My perspective on how this came to be…B.A.S.S looked at how many anglers fished all nine Opens in 2021 and saw that 83 anglers made that commitment.

This is when the so called “lightbulb” moment took place. They thought if we are already getting 83 anglers to fish all nine, then those guys are the ones who are serious about being professionals. So, we’ll just make it a requirement in order to make it to the Elite Series. This is when so many anglers’ dreams were shattered. Now I’m not condemning B.A.S.S. for making this move; it actually makes a lot of sense. Now, anglers that are truly committed to being a pro angler will have fewer anglers to compete against in order to do so. The field of competition just got a lot smaller!

B.A.S.S. is a great organization that has granted a lot of anglers the opportunity to pursue their dreams. They are, and have always been, the gold standard on bass fishing organizations. They have set the bar very high and have a great reputation for changing the financial fortunes of so many pro anglers, along with their affiliated sponsors. Many other organizations have challenged B.A.S.S., and many have failed to knock them off the top of the mountain. They are, and will continue to be, the big dog, unless another organization can promise and deliver a better product. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Good Ole Days Part II

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 18:23:22 GMT

The Good Ole Days Part II

Picking up where I left off last week on the “good ole days” of my generation, I’ve always felt that I grew up during the best time a kid could ever ask for. The Vietnam War was ending in the early 70’s and the crazy 60’s were behind us. Life was simple, people had jobs and worked hard. Being labeled “middle class” was not a bad thing. It meant you worked hard for a living and took pride in what you did and who you were. You weren’t necessarily judged by how much money you had. You were judged by the kind of person you were and your character. You did not want to do anything to disgrace your family name or embarrass your parents.

My generation respected our teachers and coaches, as these were some of the most influential people in my life. They gave homework (which I hated,) but they pushed you and challenged you to learn. My coaches taught us what hard work and determination could lead to. They taught us to never quit or give up, and to fight through adversity, not to transfer to another school because the competition got a little tough or things didn’t go our way. My coaches made me feel proud to be a Mt. Pleasant Tiger. This made me play harder because as a player you represented your town, school, coaches, and parents, but most importantly….yourself. Yes, we won, and won a lot, including a State Championship, but you had a sense of pride if you were an MP Tiger and you never wanted to let the community down.

Hard work was expected at my house as I grew up on a ranch where there was always something to do. I hauled hay, doctored cattle, built barns, fixed fences, and cleared land for pasture or for hay meadows. There was no sleeping in at my house! Sleeping in meant you got to sleep till 7:00 AM. Many mornings, especially on weekends, my bedroom light came on at 5:00 AM as dad would inform me as to what work had to be done that day at the ranch. But one thing that dad did every single day of his life, and even for me on the days I worked with him, was cook breakfast…two eggs over easy, two pieces of bacon and two pieces of toast. This was as automatic as the sun coming up!

Looking back, I wouldn’t trade my days growing up for anything or any other time. The freedoms we had as kids was nothing short of incredible. Growing up in a small town in Texas was great. Everyone knew everyone and their business. You learned a lot at the local barber shop, everything from who was having affairs to if a coach was going to get fired. Nothing was off limits at the barber shop!

People helped each other in time of need, whether a storm had come through or a family member passed away. People cared about each other and would help any way possible when someone needed it. You were friends with all your neighbors and never worried about locking doors. You slept with windows open at night to let the cool breeze flow through the house. When’s the last time you heard of anyone doing this? Moms cooked dinner every night and you ate as a family while discussing how your day went. This is when communication took place, as dad would break the news as to what chores needed to be done the next day. Family dinners back then were the equivalent of a zoom call today…it was when you asked for permission to borrow the car, go on a date, or maybe go camping with your buds. But at my house, you better make sure you had your ducks in a row before you asked for permission on anything, because the answer you got was not negotiable. You had better state your case right the first time because there were no second chances after the answer was given. I learned, “Don’t shoot from the hip because you will get shot down.”

As you can see, I had a great childhood and upbringing. I would not change a single thing about it. For those reading this, I hoped it reminded you of some great times and the good ole days! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Good Ole Days

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:22:26 GMT

Critiquing High School Fishing

As a kid who was raised in the outdoors of East Texas, my days growing up in Mt. Pleasant were filled with fun, fishing, hunting and work. A water hose was more than something you watered the garden with; it was a survival tool while we played outside all day. You had freedom as a kid as long as you made it home before the streetlights came on. We were up at sunrise and hated sunsets. Our childhood was spent outside and not inside the house. We lived in the great outdoors and found many ways to entertain ourselves. Today, we’ll go back in time and take a good look at what it was like growing up in the late 60’s and early 70’s…the good ole days.

Kids of my generation were made and told to get outside and play…and play we did! We played in the ditches, streets, and creeks. We climbed trees for fun and ran barefoot and shirtless daily. Sunscreen did not exist, and we cut the grass barefoot until a parent caught us and made us put on shoes. Our main form of transportation was a bicycle, and we rode our bikes five to ten miles daily. We raced, jump ditches, and ended most of our days by riding our bikes behind the city mosquito fogging truck at dusk as it made its way through town. It’s a miracle we did not die from lung cancer or get run over by a car.

We met at the city swimming pool at least twice a week hoping to get a glimpse of the high school girls sunning and putting on tanning oil. We challenged ourselves to go off the high dive and survive! We peed in the pool because it was convenient, while looking around to make sure no one saw us. We played piggyback wars in the water and dove for money on the bottom of the pool. But no one wore a bathing suit…we wore cut-off jeans which I believe are banned at pools today.

Every afternoon we sat under a shade tree listening for the music coming from the ice cream truck as it came within hearing distance. Then we raced into our houses and begged for money and quickly ran back outside just in time to stop the ice cream truck before he got out of sight. We were so out of breath that we could hardly order what we wanted. Some days under that shade tree, we ate watermelon that had been put on ice earlier in the day. But a watermelon feast was not complete without a seed spitting contest, which I excelled at! Just another talent God blessed me with! We made homemade ice cream by turning the handle on a wooden bucket. Yes, it was hard work, but the reward was worth it!

I learned to hunt at the age of 8 by hunting squirrels with my best friend (Kevin) and his dad, who I called Uncle Tracy. Not really related, but for some reason I always called Kevin’s mom, Aunt Nancy, and his dad, Uncle Tracy. Uncle Tracy was a great squirrel hunter and taught us how to do it the right way. He took the time to not only take us hunting but teach us gun safety as well. He taught us how to stalk squirrels while keeping an eye out for snakes. There were days when Uncle Tracy would go by himself, and I believe it was so he could get his limit. Due to our inability to stalk quietly, Uncle Tracy gave us nick names…lead foot and stumblebum. Not sure who was which, but I’m pretty sure the names were fitting.

Uncle Tracy was a great teacher as he taught us how to be patient and take a good shot. I learned to shoot with a single shot 410 and I think that’s why I became pretty good with a shotgun later in life. My idea of duck hunting was sneaking up behind the dam on our stock ponds at our ranch and shooting ducks while they were sitting on the water. The problem was, after I shot them, I had to wait for the wind to blow the ducks closer to shore so I could retrieve them. But one thing was for certain, I never left behind a single duck no matter how long it took for them to drift to the shore. A good hunter doesn’t condone wanton waste.

Next week, I’ll go into more detail about my youth and how my generation was shaped by the time we spent in the great outdoors. Till then, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Critiquing High School Fishing

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 18:21:51 GMT

Critiquing High School Fishing

Before I give my unsolicited opinion, understand one thing; I love that high school bass fishing is really taking off. I think it’s great for the sport and these kids are the future of bass fishing! These young anglers today are quick learners, especially when it comes to the electronics side of fishing. These mini computers on bass boats today are information superhighways and short cuts on how to catch bass. Operating these units is second nature for the up-and-coming generation of young anglers.

But I’m tired of watching You Tube videos where the dad, uncle or professional fishing guide tells them where they need to fish and what bait they should tie on. The sport has become who can hire the best pro or guide for their kid’s team. This is not good for the sport down the road and it’s simply not a level playing field!

Here’s what I question about high school tournaments on tournament day: Are kids being taught the right way? Are they being taught the ethics of fishing bass tournaments? Are they being taught how to find fish rather than a boat captain telling them where they need to make their next cast? Are they netting their own fish or is the boat captain? Are they making the decisions on tournament day or is the boat captain making them?

First, let’s look at this from my viewpoint as a self-taught angler that has fished tournament trails since the early 1990’s. This viewpoint is not only mine, but many other tournament anglers all across bass fishing. One thing that’s really starting to get under my skin is how parents or grandparents are employing pro anglers or fishing guides as their kids’ boat captain. So, if you’re the parent of a kid who wants to fish high school tournaments, please stop doing this! I understand boat captains can be hard to find and I appreciate anyone who volunteers to be a boat captain and take kids fishing.

I look at boat captains the same way I look at Dixie Youth or Little League coaches. Some have no clue on how to teach or play the game of baseball, but they are willing to volunteer their time for the sake of the kids. I applaud all volunteers who do this! But the purpose of the boat captain should be to drive the boat and make sure the kids are safe on the water, not to take kids out and show them exactly where the fish are! Baseball coaches can’t hit or pitch for their baseball teams, then why should a boat captain make decisions or net their kid’s fish.

The toughest thing to learn as a bass angler is how to find fish. So, when a pro guide or a seasoned tournament angler shows them exactly where to cast and how to catch the fish, then the kids haven’t learned anything. I’m not against the boat captain explaining why the fish are there after the kids have found them, but the teaching part should be done during the practice session…not on tournament day!

Next, the boat captains should not be allowed to net the fish the high school kids are catching. This too is part of the learning curve all young anglers need to learn to master along with bait tying, bait selection, map reading and how to cull their catch. These are TEAM tournaments and I emphasize the word TEAM! Let the kids do their own netting and learn to work together. Let them learn how to read the water and know what baits they should be using based on their observations. The reward for them personally will be so much greater than having a pro/guide or boat captain doing these things for them!

While I sound a little harsh, that’s my intent! I want kids to learn on their own. This is how the two “C’s” are built….confidence and character. I want kids to be able to stand alone as an angler years from now, whether they are a touring pro or just fishing open tournaments. When you learn on your own as an angler, it makes you a better fisherman. Do I want to see these kids have success? Absolutely!!!! But I want to see them learn for themselves and make their own decisions as a TEAM with no outside influence from a boat captain. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

It’s Too Hot to Fish!

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 18:20:45 GMT

It’s Too Hot to Fish!

So, with temperatures exceeding the 100-degree mark this summer, that means it’s too hot to fish! From an angler’s perspective, anytime temperatures are above the 95-degree mark, I need to be doing something else besides wetting a hook. Today we’ll look at a few ways to pass the time and get some things done around the house…projects or “honey do’s” that maybe you’ve been putting off from this past spring when the big ones were biting.

The first place I start is by cleaning up and cleaning out my boat. I always like to remove all the rods and empty all storage boxes in the boat. Then I vacuum the entire boat, front to back. I like to clean my livewells while I’m in the cleaning mode. I use a livewell cleaner by Fish Care Products that does a great job of getting those water ring stains out and will make your livewells look like new. I’ll also clean my cooler with another great product called Cooler-D-Funk. It totally cleans and deodorizes the entire cooler.

Now is also a great time to do a job that many anglers hate; check the water levels on your batteries. The biggest problem in most boats is getting to the batteries. One thing boat manufacturers have not figured out yet is how to build a boat where things are more accessible, especially in the back well of the boat. As much as I hate this job, it is a great time to do this chore before I head into the fall fishing season, and it will prolong the life of your batteries.

After this, I’ll check for wrapped fishing line on the props on both the outboard engine and the trolling motor. This is something I do often during the fishing season due to the fact there are so many anglers on the water now which means more fishing line in the water. Nothing can do more damage to your trolling or your outboard engine than old, discarded fishing line. It will totally eat the seals up and cause major damage, not only to your motors, but your pocketbook as well.

Now other than boat maintenance, I’ll do a few other things like reorganize my fishing cave, or what I call “Graf Mart,” which is a total disaster after the spring is over. I’ll also check the dates on every rod to make sure I have fresh line on each before I head to the fall tournaments. Several anglers have noticed my dating on each rod and wondered why I do it. Two reasons…first, I always know what size line is on each reel and I label the month that line was put on. This way I always know if I have old or fresh line on every reel. Always remember, the most important connection between you and the fish is your fishing line.

These are just a few of the things I do during the dog days of summer when I have no desire to be on the water with sweat dripping off my nose and running down the back of my shorts. While I’m thinking about it, it’s also a great time to see your dermatologist and have those suspect areas checked. Even though I’ve been very conscious about protecting my skin with sunscreen, clothing, and proper headwear, I still had a spot turn into Melanoma. You don’t want this to happen, so don’t put this off and think it will just go away. Bad skin spots will turn into something deadly very quickly. I’m one of the lucky ones in that I only had one spot on my upper left ear where Melanoma had set up camp. Which, by the time you read this article, I will have had part of my upper left ear cut out. The good news…after a full body PET scan, everything was negative internally. What a blessing that we caught it early! Don’t take skin protection lightly! Till next time, good luck, good fishing, wear proper clothing and don’t forget your sunscreen!!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Makings of a Great Angler

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 18:19:54 GMT

The Makings of a Great Angler

Bass fishing is a funny sport that can and will test a person’s mental stability. It’s comparable to golf in that there’s no one else to blame for your failure or success more than yourself. YOU determine your own fate with skill, determination, and effort, with effort being in the form of spending hours on the water. There’s no substitute for time on the water and the anglers who fish daylight till dark will be the guys who are hard to beat on tournament day. Today, we’ll look at what really makes an angler great and why.

Bass fishing is just like any other sport; it requires great skills. Needed are skills like casting and being able to put a bait in places the average angler would not even attempt. You also need to understand how certain baits should be worked in order to the get the most action out of that particular bait. You need an understanding of fish behavior during the different seasons of the year. One more skill, that not all anglers have, is the ability to read water. Knowing how to read the water and what baits will work best under certain water conditions is essential to an angler’s success.

Most anglers fall into two categories…guys who like to fish deep or shallow. If you’re a deep-water angler, you’ll need to have the ability to read your electronics, interpret topo maps and know what you’re looking at. Deep water anglers need to learn how to find brush tops and look for good structure. Structure is not the same thing as a brush pile; it’s about the contours, humps, and undulations of the bottom.

There’s one tool that has really leveled the playing field and helped an average angler to become a great angler. It’s forward-facing sonar, that both Humminbird and Lowrance offer. Today’s forward-facing sonars come in handy when fishing in water eight feet or more by giving you the ability to target bass in schools or suspended over a brush top. Ok, yes…it’s like playing a video game, and the anglers that can do this well have a distinct advantage over those that can’t.

But the one thing that separates the great anglers from the average ones is decision making. THIS is the key ingredient that not all anglers possess. Knowing when to stay in an area and knowing when to leave can be the difference between making a top 10 or finishing out of the money. Knowing what time of day fish will bite in certain areas is huge. There’s a saying among anglers, “Somewhere on any given body of water, fish are biting.” That’s why scouting is so important! If you caught fish in a specific area at 10:00 AM the day before, you need to be back in that same area the next day around that same time or a little after.

As you can see, bass fishing is like any other sport. It requires skill, determination, effort, and the ability to make good decisions. But the advancements in electronics have also helped speed up the learning curve for today’s young anglers.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Worm Fishing Is a Little Tricky

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 18:18:52 GMT

Worm Fishing Is a Little Tricky

Fishing with plastic worms has been around ever since Nick Crème stunk up his kitchen and poured the first soft plastic worm in 1949. This one bait revolutionized bass fishing forever, and it became, and still is today, the number one way to catch bass.

Anglers like Roland Martin and Larry Nixon made a great living winning tournaments with the plastic worm. In the beginning, there were mainly three colors to choose from: black, blue, or purple. But over the years other manufacturers like Zoom, Strike King, Berkley, and V&M now offer worms in a multitude of colors and sizes. Today let’s look at a couple that have made their mark on the bass fishing world.

One worm that has withstood the test of time is the 6-or 7-inch straight tail worm, or as Zoom calls it, a “Trick” worm. More fish have been caught on a straight tail worm than any other worm ever made. Over the years, no bait has brought more fish to the scales or put more money in the pockets of anglers. It’s a bait that allows anglers to use an array of techniques to fish it. A shakey jig head, drop shot, Texas rig, or a Carolina rig are the most popular ways to fish it, but it’s also a great bait when fished weightless.

The straight tail worm will flat out catch fish when other lures will fail. Why? I think it’s because it can be fished so many different ways, and it always seems to look natural in the water. One key for me when fishing this bait is to not over-weight it. Simply put, don’t use a real heavy weight with this worm, as it tends to take away the action of the worm. My personal set up for a 6-or 7-inch “Trick” worm is Texas rigged with a 2/0 Gamakatsu Round Bend Hook and a 3/16 Elite Tungsten weight fished on 14- or 15-pound fluorocarbon line…but I will go to a ¼ ounce weight if the wind is blowing.

Another worm that has caught fire is an oversized version of the Zoom Trick Worm called the “Magnum” Trick Worm. It’s an 8-inch worm and is 2 inches longer than its cousin, “Trick” worm. This bait has really come to the forefront of bass tournaments in our region. There’s a saying among anglers, “Big baits catch big fish.” Well, if you think the 8-inch Magnum Trick Worm is good, tie on a V&M J-Mag 10-inch worm! This worm defines what a big worm really is and will put fish in your livewell that any angler would be proud to have. Either of these big straight tail worms will work. Some days they seem to want the smaller 8-inch version, but then are days when the big fish want that bigger 10- inch bait. You just have to try both to see which one they want.

Both of these, when Texas rigged, may require a heavier weight like a Tungsten 3/8 or ½ ounce. I like to fish either of these in shallow or deep water conditions. So, if you want to upgrade your catch and put quality fish in the boat, tie on either the 8-inch Magnum Trick Worm or a V&M J-Mag 10-inch worm. Nothing gets me more excited than catching bass on a worm. There’s just something special about getting a Texas rigged worm bite and you feel that slight “tick” and you set the hook! Warning: this type of fishing may cause heart failure! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Don’t Take Chances with the Sun

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 18:17:54 GMT

Don’t Take Chances with the Sun

When I started this article, my intent was to share information and give advice on protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Over the years on my radio program called Hook’N Up & Track’N Down, I’ve always made suggestions on how to dress and protect yourself. I’ve always encouraged people to wear long sleeve shirts with sun hoodies built-in and with fabrics that have SPF 70 protection or better. I’ve always suggested you wear a wide brim hat in order to protect your head, neck, ears and face better, not to mention that I stressed how important sunscreen is. But little did I know after years of making sure everyone else did the right thing, that I would be the main subject of this article.

Yes, I have been diagnosed with Melanoma skin cancer, the worst kind of skin cancer you can get. But at the time I wrote this article, I had just had a biopsy performed on my upper left ear. This spot has been treated off and on for over a year. It was a spot that started as a scratch while I was trimming trees one day. Then over several months, the spot just never really healed. After a visit to my dermatologist, she prescribed a cream regiment over a 6-day period that had a profound effect on the spot as it disappeared.

Then one day in March while getting a haircut by my sister-in-law, she asked me if I had ever had this spot looked at. I was not aware at the time that it was back due to the location of it on the backside of my ear. But this time it was a black spot that did not look good. That’s when my dermatologist decided to try to the cream regiment one more time. One month later the spot was getting worse and at the time of the biopsy had turned a dark purple color.

Once it was sent off to Birmingham, Alabama, for testing, the results came back positive for Melanoma. The wheels are then set in motion for surgical removal of the spot and testing to make sure it has not spread to my lymph-nodes or other parts of my body. Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this article, I will have better news and will have had the surgery needed to take care of this issue.

So in the future, take as many preventative measures as possible to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Wear the long sleeve, built-in sunscreen protective shirts with the hoodie. There are several to choose from such as Columbia, HUK and Under Arrmour. Make sure to wear the wide brim hat like the ones made by Stetson, which also have built-in bug repellent and sunscreen. I now have three of these and love all of them! In the future, I’ll keep you up to date with my progress on trying to gain control over this dreaded skin cancer. Till next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

A Rising Local Bass Fishing Star

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 18:17:13 GMT

A Rising Local Bass Fishing Star

Some athletes are just born to be great, and some must work hard to develop their skills in order to be great. The great ones do things that are unexplainable and sometimes there’s no logical reason for what they do or why they do it. They're blessed with natural talent and abilities that help them make “in the moment” decisions that seem to always work out. The great ones have unmatched character and determination, that in layman’s terms means….they hate to lose!

In the bass fishing world, there are anglers who fit the definition of a “natural,” like Kevin Van Dam, Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, and Skeet Reece. These are just a few of the guys who at one time or another, have made and continue to make a good living as touring professionals and have dominated tournament trails for many years. But every now and then, another one comes along that just seems to fish on another level with unmatched instinct and abilities that other anglers just don’t have…a guy who is totally committed to the process of catching bass. The latest angler to possess these God given talents is Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, Louisiana. He is a guy who has worked hard for years, through commitment and dedication, to refine his skills in order to compete at the highest level.

There’s a saying that I’ve heard for a long time and I’m not sure who really said it first…”Good things come to those who wait.” Well for Nick, the wait is over with his two latest ($100,000 each) tournament wins on the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Tour. Nick became only the third person in MLF history to ever win back-to-back events. To win one time is a major accomplishment, but to win back-to-back events is the stuff legends are made of. His hard work, sacrifices, and years of tournament experience is starting to pay dividends.

Nick joined the Tackle Warehouse Pro Tour full time in 2019 after winning the 2018 FLW All-American event on his home waters of Cross Lake and has quickly made a name for himself, both as a very versatile angler and as a person. A devout Christian, Nick never takes full credit for his good fortunes. He gives all the praise and glory to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for putting him in position to be successful. The next person he gives praise to, his wife Jolene, who has stood by his side with support and encouragement even when things weren’t going well. Like any professional bass fisherman, there are high and lows that can really strain a relationship, but Jolene has been the glue and the support that has allowed Nick to fulfill his dreams. Like they say, ”Behind every successful man is a supportive wife.” Jolene Lebrun is the perfect example of this quote.

The life of a professional bass fisherman is a tough way to make a living and is not attainable by everyone. Just like any other professional sport, many have tried and failed. There’s a very small percentage of anglers nationwide with dreams of fishing for a living that have actually made it to the highest level. A lot of anglers have gone broke and ended up in divorce court trying to achieve this dream. But if you are an up-and-coming angler and are looking for a great example of a person to follow, make it Nick Lebrun! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Wrapping Up Key Moments in Bass Fishing History

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 18:16:00 GMT

Wrapping Up Key Moments in Bass Fishing History

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve looked at the history of tournament bass fishing and how far the sport has evolved. Today, we’ll wrap it up with the big move that helped take tournament bass fishing to another level….prime time TV coverage.

In October of 2004, ESPN announced a new brand of outdoors TV coverage called “BassCenter.” It was a new half hour show dedicated to B.A.S.S. and professional bass fishing. This was the shot in the arm that the sport needed! For years, bass tournament coverage was only seen on outdoor channels or on the internet. But this was prime time TV coverage that most Americans had never really been exposed to. What a perfect fit for ESPN, which already had a built-in outdoors audience. Other shows dedicated to the new ESPN Outdoors programming were “Loudmouth Bass,” “Bass Tech,” and “Bassmaster University,” which brought in professional anglers to give their expertise with tips and tactics for catching bass.

Other networks soon followed like Fox Sports (FS1) with Saturday morning prime time coverage. Then in August of 2010, a group of investors led by the legendary Jerry McKinnis (host of the ESPN’s 2ndlongest-running show,) along with Don Logan and Jim Copeland, bought B.A.S.S. LLC. This purchase paved the way for more angler/sponsor exposure and encouraged top name brand sponsors to get behind the programming. Suddenly, bass fishing was popular and pro anglers became household names…names like Skeet Reece, Kevin Van Dam, Gerald Swindle, Mike Iaconelli, the late Aaron Martens and too many more to mention. Of course, with TV promotions came big money as tournament payouts went up from $25,000 to $50,000 for a win, to $100,000 and as high as $300,000 for a Bassmaster Classic or MLF Redcrest Cup win.

Today’s anglers and the sport of bass fishing has come a long way from the days of parking lot weigh-ins and good ol’ boys looking for bragging rights. Now they have major sponsors like Toyota, General Tires, Yeti Coolers, Academy Sports, Berkley, and Mercury/Yamaha Engines to name a few. These days, tournament weigh-ins are held in sold out arenas and convention centers with drive through weigh-ins. Today’s anglers are borderline rock stars with their sponsor wrapped trucks and boats. But with all the fame and fortune comes obligations and commitments, as anglers are pulled in every direction from doing commercial spots to speaking engagements. These guys make a lot of family sacrifices as they are on the road for weeks at a time. Being a professional bass fisherman today is tough and is a job like no other. It takes dedication and hard work to make a career out of bass fishing. The fishing part for many of these anglers is a welcome break from all the other things that go into being a professional angler. Today’s angler must be a great salesman and an organized businessman. He must have great communications skills and the ability to speak in public.

I hope you’ve enjoyed looking into the history of bass fishing. It’s obvious that the sport has evolved and come a long way from a dream that Ray Scott (founder of B.A.S.S.) had back in the 1960’s. So, if you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of today’s professional anglers, be prepared for long hours and hard work, because it’s no longer just a fun day at the lake. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Key Moments in Bass Fishing History Part III

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 18:14:59 GMT

Key Moments in Bass Fishing History Part III

Now let’s take a look at the impact of the 1980’s and 90’s just to see how big bass fishing has become. Ray Scott (who passed away this past May) was the man who had the greatest impact and should be given the credit for everything professional bass anglers have today. Ray from the very beginning had a vision and wanted the sport to be on the same level as professional baseball or golf. He wanted anglers to have a career and be able to make a living while providing for their families. It was during the 80’s and 90’s that the sport of bass fishing progressed the most.

In 1980, an Oklahoma boy by the name of Jimmy Houston kissed his first bass and according to his wife Chris, she got used to smelly kisses from that point on. Jimmy of course became a household name with his successful fishing career and the TV host of “Jimmy Houston Outdoors” …still airing today, is one of the longest running outdoors TV programs ever. But in 1985, there was a shake up at the top of America’s favorite fish to pursue. After a national survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife, it was determined that the largemouth bass was now the most popular fish to catch, dropping panfish to number two.

In 1987, working from his garage, Herb Reed created a new bass lure that took the fishing world by storm and created a whole new category for soft plastic stick baits with his creation of the Slug-Go. This was the first of its kind and would later be followed by another bait that just might be the greatest bass lure of all time. A bait created by the legendary Gary Yamamoto from the mold of a Bic Pen known as the Senko. This bait has accounted for too many tournament wins to name. It’s a bait that when professional anglers are asked if they could take a bait from today and go back in time, what bait would it be? Ninety five percent will say a Senko. This versatile bait catches fish all year long in all types of conditions and has become a staple for all serious bass fishermen.

Moving into the 90’s, Berkley Bait Company introduces the “Power Worm” with built in scent that fish will bite and won’t let go. The success of their scented worm encouraged other companies to do the same. It’s also a time when scent became all the rage that some thought and still think today, is a key to catching fish. Some anglers think it’s a hoax and others believe it really works and won’t fish without adding to their baits in some form or another. One day I asked who many consider the greatest angler of all time (Michigan’s Kevin Van Dam) if he thinks scents work? He told me, “It doesn’t matter what others think, do you believe it works?” I told him “yes” and he said, “Then that‘s all that matters, anglers should always fish with confidence and with things they believe in. This is what makes an angler great….confidence.” in 1992, Arkansas’s Larry Nixon, the greatest worm fisherman ever, becomes the first pro angler to earn over $1 million in B.A.S.S. events. To compare, Kevin Van Dam has won over $6 million since the late 1990’s. The closest angler to Kevin is California’s Skeet Reece who is #2 on the “All Time Money List” at a little over $3 million in winnings.

Next week, we’ll take a look at how the TV cable station ESPN changed the landscape of professional bass fishing forever. This one move to primetime TV changed the lives of professional anglers forever and exposed Americans to the sport in a way never seen before. Till next week, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Key Moments in Bass Fishing History Part II

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 18:13:47 GMT

Key Moments in Bass Fishing History Part II

Today we’ll continue to look back at the history of bass fishing by looking at the 60’s and 70’s, which might be considered the most significant period of bass fishing history. This was without a doubt a time in which bass fishing was taken to another level. It was during this time that the greatest names in bass fishing made their mark. It was a time that the sport became something an angler could actually make a living doing. Anglers that became household names and legends were Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Ricky Green, Tommy Martin, Larry Nixon, Rick Clunn, and too many more to mention here in one writing.

We’ll start with the 1960’s, where in 1967 Tom Mann introduced the Jelly Worm which is still one of the most popular and best-selling soft plastic worms ever. That same year, the late Ray Scott hosted his first fishing tournament (The All-American Invitational) at Beaver Lake Arkansas and announced that bass fishing would become a major league sport. Just so you know...Bill Dance caught the very first bass one minute after the tournament started. The following year, 1968, Ray Scott created the B.A.S.S. (Bass Angler Sportsman Society) to unite America’s bass anglers and elevate the sport. B.A.S.S membership has grown from a little over 100 anglers in 1968 to more than 600,000 today! One more thing happened in 1968 as well... Bill Dance hosted his first television series dedicated to bass fishing, “Bill Dance Outdoors,” on ABC affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 1970’s was when bass fishing really took off. A man by the name of Johnny Morris borrowed $10,000 from his father and stocked a few shelves in the family liquor store with bass tackle. Three years later, the first mail order catalog was sent out. You might have heard of this store, Bass Pro Shops...now an empire! Johnny now owns Ranger Boats, Triton Boats, and Cabela’s. He has done more for the fishing world and conservation than any other human alive today. In 1972, Ray Scott once again made his mark by starting a nationwide campaign called “Catch & Release” which was adopted by pretty much all tournaments across the country and is still practiced today.

Let’s stay in the 70’s, as a company by the name of Mister Twister burst onto the bass fishing scene with the introduction of the first curly tail worm. This was the first soft plastic worm that had built-in action which fish could not resist. Then in 1973, Don Butler recognized that with “catch & release” tournaments anglers needed better live wells. So, he designed and filed a patent for the first live well that was put into a bass boat.

As you can see, the 1970’s were truly the golden years of bass fishing. Tournaments, bait designs and some of the greatest names to ever wet a hook came from this era. Next week, we’ll look at the 80’s and 90’s where things really heated up for bass fishing. Till next week, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt....set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Key Moments in Bass Fishing History

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 18:12:43 GMT

Key Moments in Bass Fishing History

Time is a funny thing...it’s always changing, and it never seems to stop. But like everything, there is a past, present and eventually a future. The sport of bass fishing goes way back, and today we’ll take a hard look into the past and see just how the sport has evolved into what it is today. They say if you want to see what the future may hold, you must first look into its past.

Bass fishing goes as far back as 1791 when Naturalist William Bartram wrote an account of Indians in the American South catching largemouth bass with a "bob" and long pole in 1760. This is apparently the earliest reference, not only to American bass fishing, but also to fishing with hair bugs. Then in 1897 William Shakespeare, Jr. patented a level wind device for baitcasting reels, making their use easier and more popular. This revolutionized the fishing world on all levels for both fresh and saltwater anglers.

It was in 1948 that things really changed for bass fishing with the creation of the first bass boat designed and built by Skeeter Boats, still one of the leading boat manufacturers today. Because of this innovation, now anglers not only had good quality gear, but they had a better means to get around on larger lakes and rivers, opening up America’s waterways. The following year in 1949, fiberglass fishing rods were invented, replacing bamboo rods. Also in 1949, Nick and Cosma Crème of Akron, Ohio, melted plastic on their kitchen stove, poured it into molds, and created the first modern soft-plastic worm....the Creme Wiggle Worm.

Now on to the 1950’s with the first ever organized bass tournament put on by outdoor writer Earl Golding on Lake Whitney, Texas, in 1955. A total of 73 anglers participated in this first ever one-of-a-kind event. Then in 1957, the beginning of sonar revolution began with Carl Lowrance introducing the first portable sonar capable of detecting both the bottom and individual fish. It was in 1959, when more than 20,000 fingerling bass were stocked in California’s upper Otay Lake, that the United States had its first fish management program. This is also where the first creel limits were set, along with season dates and the establishment of a bass lunker program. Twenty-one of the top twenty-five bass on record were caught from California waters.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Bass Anglers... Creatures of Habit

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 18:11:38 GMT

Bass Anglers... Creatures of Habit

As humans, we tend to repeat things over and over. We like routine and we hate change. Bass fishermen are no different in this respect. As tournaments go, we usually pre-fish for three days, which seems to be the norm. For me, when it comes to scouting, I’ll always start in shallow water (less than 5 feet) and see if I can catch a few fish early as bass go through a feeding frenzy as the sun is on the rise. Then after the sun gets higher in the sky, I’ll move out into deeper water searching brush tops or deep structure. This is the routine I have followed for years, but I’ve always been known as a shallow water angler.

This time of year, I have another routine of always starting out throwing a topwater bait like a Zara Spook or a Yellow Magic. Some days the bass want a walking style bait like the Spook, but on other days they want a popper style bait like the Yellow Magic or a Pop R. The fish will tell you what and how they want the bait. There are times when you must slow down, and other days you can’t turn the reel handle fast enough. Once the sun has risen and I have determined whether the topwater bite is on or off, I will pick up my flipping rod and see if I can put a pattern together using soft plastic.

As for boat launching, anglers are very picky and follow their own specific routine in order to get the boat ready to drop in the water. For me, first I unhook both trailer straps, then I turn on the power supply for the boat and remove the trailer tow bar that the motor rests on. Then I make sure the plug is in and my life jacket is out and connected to my kill switch. The last thing I do is unhook the front strap from the boat (if I have someone backing me down the ramp), so I can slide the boat off the trailer. So many times, I’ve had co-anglers or partners try and help with these chores, but that’s when something gets forgotten and can get a little embarrassing when you can’t get the boat off the trailer because someone forgot to unhook the trailer tie downs. Advice...let the boater do everything himself! He’ll ask for help if he needs it. This way, no steps get missed on the boat launching procedure.

Another thing tournament anglers are very conscious of....making sure they have fresh line on their reels. Nothing will make an angler madder than to lose a big fish due to his neglect of having fresh line on his reels. After three days of practice, I will always take the reels that I plan on using for the tournament and put fresh line on each of them. It’s attention to detail like this that can be the difference between finishing in the top 10 or 35th.

One more thing, that maybe the most important...where will we eat each night? The group I travel with have a routine that we will not waiver from. Example: At Lake Sam Rayburn, we will always drive into Jasper on Thursday night and eat Mexican food at Martin’s. Then on Friday night, we’ll eat at Rayburn Country Clubhouse (which has a great chef). Even the snacks I carry during practice and tournament days will be the same for each event...handful of turkey, string cheese stick and jerky. This is probably why I lose weight every time I go fishing! Oh, and I will always have three bottles of water and two small screw top bottles of Coke. (No canned drinks are allowed in my boat due to the potential of spilling them.)

As you can see, anglers really are creatures of habit, and we prove it each and every tournament we fish. If you want to mess with a bass tournament fisherman, take him out of his routine. It’s almost the same as a pitcher in baseball, if you can break his rhythm or routine, it can take him completely out of his game. Tournament anglers are no different! Till next time, good luck good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Brothers Reconnecting

Fri, 27 May 2022 18:10:25 GMT

Brothers Reconnecting

Every year I make plans to meet my brother, Mike Comer, and my nephew, Chris, along with a host of characters from their past, for some offshore fishing for speckled trout, redfish and maybe a flounder or two. This is a welcome change from my constant chasing of largemouth bass. It’s a trip that has brought two brothers closer together and allowed for sharing of so many stories of our parallel pasts. Our parents divorced when our mother was pregnant with me. Mike was 5 years older than me and stayed with our dad, while I stayed with our mom after I was born. I never knew about Mike until it was revealed to me around the age of ten. Yes, it’s complicated and sad that we never got to meet each other until about 6 years ago, but we have taken full advantage of this opportunity and are trying to make up for lost time.

This annual fishing trip to Galveston, Texas, has great meaning for me as it allows us to reunite and share our family history and memories of years gone by, as well creating new ones. It’s a time when I get to sit and talk with Mike and hear stories about our dad and the grandparents who raised him, both of whom I never got to meet. At the same time, I get to share my memories of our mother who was not a part of his life. It’s kind of a sad story, but one we are both fortunate, in so many ways, to have been a part of. Our past has shaped both of us, in a positive way, into the people we are today. God has a funny sense of humor sometimes, but he always has a plan and knows your destination. We were both blessed with people who made sure we were given a chance to excel in life, people who took us in and raised us as their own. Mike was with his grandparents and I with my aunt and uncle.

Sports and fishing have played a huge role in both of our lives, creating opportunities that any young man would be lucky to experience. But nothing brings two brothers together more than going out on a body of water and picking up a rod with a topwater bait tied on and catching fish. There’s just something special about a bass, redfish or a trout blowing up on a walking bait like a Zara Spook. Yes, it is very competitive between us as to who caught the most or the biggest fish of the day. There’s a lot of picking and joking around as to who was the better athlete or who is the best fisherman....which by the way was me since I’m the one writing this article. I will make sure Mike gets a copy of this testimonial, so he’ll know the truth.

All jokes aside, Mike and I have only known each other for less than 6 years, but our connection with each other runs deep. Every time we get together, it’s an adventure on the water, but it’s also a time to reconnect and talk about the time we missed growing up together like brothers should. But neither one of us has any regrets or grudges. We recognize that this has been a small part of God’s plan for each of us. We recognize the blessing we have been given and that God has brought us together for a reason. One thing is for sure, we both love to fish and as long as we can both pick up a rod and make a cast, our brotherly competition will continue for whatever time we have left here on Earth. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Stormy Waters II

Fri, 20 May 2022 18:08:44 GMT

Stormy Waters II

Bass fishermen are weather fanatics! We are constantly looking at the forecast and what to expect for our next event. We are so enthralled with the weather that we will look at the forecast 10 days in advance so we can start planning our fishing strategy. But nothing gets an angler’s attention quicker than stormy skies. During my 32 years as a tournament angler, there have been a couple of situations that really made me nervous.

Back in 2015 on Toledo Bend was one such day, as the forecast was for clear skies with light and variable winds out of the south at 10 to 15 MPH. But you must first understand that a south wind on Toledo Bend means it’s coming right down the pipe. It’s a lake where even a small amount of wind out of the north or the south can make navigation difficult. The problem with Toledo Bend is that you must run the boat roads which puts you out in the middle of the lake most of the time. To compare, Sam Rayburn has no boat roads, and you can run closer to the bank and get out of the wind most of the time.

But on this one occasion in 2015, the tournament was out of Fin & Feather Resort on the far south end of Toledo Bend. This resort is located on the south bank of what is called Six Mile Bay. A south wind has no impact on this area and is an area you can fish without much of a problem. But as my number was called for takeoff and I headed for the main lake to make a run north and across the lake to Negreet Creek, I was met with 20 plus MPH winds and four-foot rollers (waves). One thing about driving a boat, it’s a lot easier to go against the waves rather than go with them. As I made the turn north in this rough water, it was apparent rather quickly that my run to Negreet Creek was not going to happen.

After riding four-foot waves for about three miles and beating my co- angler and myself to death, I finally came to a pocket on the west side I could pull into and possibly fish. After we gained our composure and dried off from our soaking short run, I told my co-angler to settle in for the day because we were not going to go out and fight that kind of rough water until time to go back for the weigh-in.

Another problem with running in this kind of rough water is the wear and tear on your boat and equipment. I’ve seen anglers come in with trolling motors hanging off or their electronic fish sonars no longer on the boat after a rough ride in. Boat hulls have sustained major damage and anglers have been hurt fighting waves and trying to stay in the boat on these long runs back. At some point as an angler you must ask yourself, “Is it worth tearing up all my equipment for a few pounds of fish?”

The answer for me is a resounding “NO,” as I must not only worry about myself, but I have a co-angler that I’m responsible for getting back safely. After a long day of fishing, we headed back with south winds now exceeding 25 MPH. We were over three miles from the boat ramp, and I knew it was going to take at least an hour to go that distance in that kind of water. So, we left at 2:00 for a 3:00 weigh-in time. It was a good thing we did as I was never able to put the boat on plane and run. We literally idled the entire three miles back to Six Mile Bay and made our check in time with only two minutes to spare. I’ve only kissed the ground twice in my life, once on Sam Rayburn and this day on Toledo Bend.

Again, anglers face all kinds of weather every season, but nothing affects us or our decisions more than wind. The first question I always ask myself when a decision must be made, “Is it worth it?” Most of the time, the answer is “no” and will always be “no” when it comes to the safety of my co-angler and myself. Until next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Stormy Waters!

Fri, 13 May 2022 18:07:57 GMT

Stormy Waters!

For years, bass fishermen have heard the phrase, “The wind is your friend.” Well, this is not always true, and today I’ll explain why. Mother Nature can be very unpredictable, and she has an unforgivable temper. Some days she’s awesome with bluebird skies and rays of sunshine streaming down. Other days, she can unleash a rage of fury that will have you taking cover and counting your blessings.

But with regards to the quote of “The wind is your friend,” wind is a very important factor when it comes to the bass biting. Windy shores can be an awesome place to catch a few bass. The science says that the reason bass are present on windy shores is because of the food chain. Wind forces the plankton towards the bank which in turn brings in the smaller fish like shad and bream. When these guys show up, a feeding frenzy is about to begin as the bass will always follow the bait fish. A windy chop on the water’s surface allows anglers to get in close without spooking the fish. So this is why anglers like a little wind, but you must be careful what you wish for.

If there’s one thing that makes me very nervous, it’s an approaching thunderstorm. Over my years of tournament fishing, I’ve had a few rough encounters of the worst kind. Two years ago on Lake Sam Rayburn, a storm came over the lake from the southwest. The sky literally turned black as it approached, and I could tell this was not going to be a small storm. I had a co-angler fishing with me in this particular tournament, who I could tell was getting a little nervous as the lightning got really bad. The biggest problem was that the storm was coming from the same direction as the boat ramp we were trying to reach for the weigh-in. So we had a choice, either try and outrun the storm before it cut us off from the ramp or go east across the lake and seek cover in a cove as the storm hopefully passed over the west side of the lake.

Realizing that we were not going to beat the storm back to the ramp, I decided to head east across the lake and take cover in the nearest cove. As we were running across the lake at 70 mph, I noticed the waves were really starting to get bad with 3-foot rollers. Then out of the corner of my right eye, I noticed the water was swirling as the wind was now blowing what seemed like 40 plus mph. It was obvious we were not going to outrun this storm. As the wind continued to get stronger, it hit the side of boat while we were running at full speed, and it lifted the boat off the water! I thought we were about to flip over, so I let off the gas and the boat sat back down on the water. It was raining so hard that you could not see 20 feet in front of the boat, but we kept moving toward the cove to seek safety.

Next, I had one of those incidents that you have nightmares about… during the downpour I saw another boat coming in my direction from my left. In a matter of seconds, I knew immediately we were on a collision course. As he passed in front of me by a few inches at 60 mph, my heart jumped out of my chest as I shut the boat down. It was an absolute miracle that we did not hit. I could not believe the other boater never shut down, instead he just kept going which I thought was strange since we just avoided a deadly crash. With my co-angler trembling, we finally reach the cove and waited the storm out before heading for the weigh-in.

As I was in the weigh-in line, I saw the angler who I had the near collision with and approached him to apologized for what happened. Turns out, HE NEVER SAW ME ….and that there was divine intervention to save both of us. It explained why he never stopped or slowed down after he passed in front of me. HE NEVER SAW ME! This is why you need to get off the water as soon as you see an approaching storm. Because in a matter of minutes, things can go from bad to worse. Till next time be safe, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Appreciate Those That Came Before

Fri, 06 May 2022 18:06:48 GMT

Appreciate Those That Came Before

Every sport has legends, men or women who set a high standard for the level of play in their respective sports. In baseball you have Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, Hank Aaron and Derek Jeter. In football you have Jim Brown, Dick Butkus, Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith and Joe Montana. In bass fishing you have Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Rick Clunn and Kevin Van Dam. These are people who were champions and Hall of Famers that gave 100% in everything they did. Now most of us do not have the ability to sit down with most of these legendary athletes. But if you look around, you’ll find someone in your “backyard” who would be a great mentor and it’s probably someone you already look up to.

I’ve been blessed to know a few of these people who had an impact on my life. First was Mr. Rayford Jones who lived across the road from where I grew up in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. So many evenings after supper, I would walk over to his house, sit on his front porch and we would talk about baseball, his garden, and how many catfish I had caught out of his ponds or as they say in Texas…. tanks. He would pay me a penny for every fly I would kill with one of his trusty flyswatters. I would also get an update how many of his cows had calves. A few times we talked about his time in the service and WWII. He was so proud to be an American and to have fought for this country. But he was also one of my biggest fans during my playing days in Mt. Pleasant. He kept up with every stat I had in football and baseball. He knew my battling average better than me most of the time. He knew how many yards I gained for every football game. He always said the same thing every time I would leave his porch, I would tell him… “good talking to you” and he would always respond “the pleasure was all mine.” It’s a shame people don’t take the time to sit on the front porch and talk anymore.

From a fishing perspective, a man by the name of David Parker had a huge impact on me as an angler. David was one of those anglers who could have competed at the highest level if he would have had the money to do so. To give you an idea of how talented he was, David won seven boats in one season. He dominated events from this region including Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. He was a jig fishing guru who taught me a lot about catching fish on a jig. He told me stories of what bass fishing was like in the early 1960’s and how he used to make his own jigs. As a kid, David would take a black bicycle innertube and use his dad’s straight razor and cut the tube into narrow strips. He would then take his mom’s sewing thread and tie the strands around a lead weight and catch fish after fish. Then one day they started making red bicycle innertubes! Now he was really excited and how he could mix black and red strands together creating the first ever multi-colored jig skirt. All this was before major fishing companies started making jigs.

But the one thing David gave me, was confidence in myself. He always said “Steve you’re just as good as any angler on the water…you just have to believe it yourself.” He would also say “If the fishing is tough for you, it’s probably tough on a lot of people.” He always made me feel good about my skills and abilities as an angler even though I was nowhere near as good as he was. David oozed in confidence and had what every angler wished they had…a sixth sense. He knew he had a bite even before the fish actually bit his lure…I’m not kidding! He had a gift that very few anglers have.

Always take the time to recognize and appreciate those that came before in whatever sport you’re participating in. These are the people who helped to set the standards that we all strive to achieve. These are our hero’s, these are the people who earned the right to be called a legend. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Why Has Bass Fishing Gotten So Hard

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 18:05:38 GMT

Why Has Bass Fishing Gotten So Hard

I have been bass fishing since I was 10 years old. I basically taught myself how to fish while growing up on our ranch in East Texas. I watched fishing shows on TV like “John Fox Outdoors,” “Fishing with Virgil Ward” and my favorite show of all time, “The Bassmasters.” I also learned a lot through a subscription I received on my 10th birthday to Bassmaster Magazine. This just might have been the best birthday gift I ever received. The magazine had great detailed descriptions and drawings on techniques and information that could make anyone a better angler.

I started my bass tournament career in 1990 with a buddy of mine who introduced me to team tournaments. Now I had no idea how “hooked” I would be to competitive bass fishing. It’s literally an addiction that requires many hours of practice and preparation in order to compete at a high level. It’s similar to gambling in which your putting money up to enter the event, and betting on yourself. But as one of my former coaches once told me “Success is a learning process that comes from failure. How you handle failure will determine how successful you’ll be.”

Now back to the question at hand…Why has bass fishing gotten so hard? This can probably be summed up with two words…. overcrowded waterways. Gone are the days of catching a hundred bass a day. There was a time that an angler could go out on his favorite lake and catch bass on a regular basis. But as bass fishing has evolved and become so popular, our waterways have become congested. Which has led to bass becoming over “educated” to the many ways anglers are trying to catch them. It’s been proven through research that bass have the ability to learn despite their tiny brain. But the good news, they have a short memory and don’t retain much over time. The more they see a bait or get caught, the more they learn what lures not to bite, which can even be passed on to their offspring. All our lakes and rivers are over-crowded now with a combination of high school fishing, College Series, Pro-Am circuits and team trails like American Bass, Bass Champs, Texas Team Trail and the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash Series. Each of these tournament trails cater to a wide array of anglers all across America.

What I’ve learned over the last few years is that today’s angler has to think outside the box of old conventional ways of catching fish. You can’t be afraid to experiment with new baits and techniques. Don’t get me wrong, you can still catch fish on spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits but you may have to tweak a bait and show the bass something a little different that maybe seen before. But one bait that continues to pass the test of time, is the plastic worm. I don’t care what body of water you like to fish, they will bite a plastic worm anywhere in the country. A lot of angler’s like to dip the tail of their worms in what’s called a chartreuse (bright green) dye. But there are many colors of dipping dyes on the market, so try a different color like maybe orange, blue or red. I’ve even used a black dye and had great results. Again, it’s just something different that the fish are not seeing as much.

Bass fishing has gotten more difficult, but if you’re willing to think outside the box, you can still catch fish. As humans, our biggest fault is that we are creatures of habit, but if you’re willing to change things up a little, you just might figure out the secret code to catching bass. If you want to learn what the bass are biting, tune into Tackle Talk Live every Tuesday at 11:30 on Facebook live, podcast or our You Tube Channel. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

On The Road Again

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:04:12 GMT

On The Road Again

Oh, the joy of fishing tournaments! They say half the fun of any trip is getting there. Well not for me!!! Every hobby or job has at least one thing that you probably don’t like to do…like yard work, where you have to clean out the flower beds or after mowing the yard, then you have to rake it. For me, the biggest drawback to tournament fishing is the road time. Today, I’ll tell you about my travel habits that have taken me from Oklahoma to the Carolina’s down to South Florida and all points in between.

These trips can be a grind with some being 8 to 12 hours away. The one exception, which was a nightmare, was my trip to Lake Okeechobee in South Florida. This was a 17-hour trip one way and one that I hope to never make again. A few other places I’ve traveled to for a tournament over the last 25 years include Lake Hartwell, South Carolina (12 hours), Lake Eufaula, Alabama (9 hours), Lake Pickwick, Alabama (9 hours), Kentucky Lake (8 hours), and Lake Chickamauga, TN (10 hours).

These trips give a guy plenty of time to think, time to plan and reflect on life in general. Sirius XM Radio is the best thing that has happened in live radio in years. All I have to do to transport myself back in time is turn to the 70’s channel. I’m instantly back when times were simpler and slower, and listening to the best music ever made. But if I want a dose of reality, I can turn to channel 111 and hear Dr. Laura Schlessinger give her analysis and advice on people’s personal issues, or I can align my conservative self with Fox News on channel 114. But you have to be careful when listening to Fox News because too much of today’s news can send you into a deep depression and then you’ll have to call Dr. Laura for advice. If all else fails, I can find the Elvis channel with nothing but his greatest hits 24/7. Seriously, Sirius XM Radio is the best thing ever for road warriors! But these long road trips also give me time to try and put a game plan together on how I will attack the lake I’m headed for.

Nothing makes a road trip more enjoyable than snacks. This is a huge decision that requires lot of preplanning. Do I want to go with sunflower seeds, peanuts, or cashews? Do I buy a trail mix with both nuts and dried fruit (which I really do like)? Or do I go with Oreo’s and chips which I have gotten away from now that I’m so health conscious. Just kidding! But out of necessity, I have taken a new approach to my daily intake of good food vs. bad food. You’re never too old for change.

There are definitely many things to consider when traveling to my tournaments. I probably don’t take advantage of all the places I’ve gone. I’m pretty much fishing focused when I’m headed for a tournament, and I don’t take the time to explore or sightsee. Another thing about me, when I hit the road, I have one thing on my mind…. get there. Whether it’s going to a tournament or going home. I’ll drive all night to get home after my final weigh-in. I actually do very well driving at night as long as I have my snacks. Now you have a just little insight as to what traveling to a tournament is all about for me. Other than a blown trailer tire every now and then, most of my trips are safe and uneventful; hopefully this trend will continue. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

A Tough Tournament

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 18:03:16 GMT

A Tough Tournament

Have you heard those anglers that say, “I catch fish every time I go.” Well, that just confirms that bass fishermen really do lie! Because I can tell you from my experience, we don’t always catch fish every time we go. A prime example of this was my last trip to Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma/Texas border. Today, I’ll give you my perspective as to how things went during my 7 days on Texoma.

First let’s start with practice. I thought that my previous experience on the lake would really pay off. After all, I finished in 5th place here last October and have done well here in the past. But one thing about Texoma, it fishes differently every time I go there. The weather conditions were as follows: air temperatures were in the mid to upper 70’s each day with lows at night dropping into the upper 40’s, and winds were light and calm every day except one. To say I was excited about this trip would be an understatement, as I just knew the bass would be pulling up shallow to spawn. I thought water temps would be in the mid to upper 50’s each day. WRONG!!! Water temps lake wide were pretty much upper 40’s with a few pockets reaching 52-to 53 degrees by late afternoon. Bass are not very active in upper 40-degree water, and it requires you to slow down in order to get a bite.

Every year, one thing we anglers are famous for is trying to rush the spawn. We tend to want things to happen on our timeline, rather than on Mother Nature’s timeline. For this event, I wanted to get a jump on the rest of the tournament field and decided to go over to Texoma to pre-fish the week before the event. The more time you can spend on a body of water before a tournament, the better your chances will be to figure things out. But from a late Wednesday evening (two-hour trip) thru Friday at noon…zero bites! But on my way back to Louisiana after pre-fishing, I thought I would still be okay when I returned tournament week since conditions would definitely be better based on the weather forecast. WRONG AGAIN! Things went from bad to worse. To sum up this entire Texoma beat down….I fished 7 days with a total of 4 bites and came home licking my wounds.

But that’s how fishing can be sometimes. Just when you think you have the bass figured out, they do something totally opposite of what you thought they would be doing. Now understand, I tried every technique known to man from power fishing to finesse, but I was never able to put a pattern together of any kind. Frustration was a huge part of this event for me, as nothing I tried would work. Tournament bass fishing can be a very humbling sport and will truly test your stamina and patience. So, the next time an angler tells you that he ALWAYS catches fish every time he goes, he’s lying!!! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Who is Preparing Today’s Young Anglers?

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 18:02:05 GMT

Bass Fishing Ban Coming

Back in the early days of B.A.S.S. tournaments, professional anglers had to rely on skills, practice, and instincts to win an event. Boy how times have changed!!!! Today’s anglers have so much more information at the touch of a button. The internet, as well as today’s fish-finder units and forward-facing sonars, have revolutionized tournament fishing and taken things to a whole other level. Therefore, today’s young anglers have a distinct advantage on the learning curve and their ability to dissect a lake quickly without even wetting a hook. What used to take years, and a lot of fishing trips by the older generation in order to figure out a particular body of water, is now just a few clicks of a mouse on a computer. Also, learning to read today’s forward-facing sonars has changed the game forever and turned fishing into catching.

But there are a couple of items today’s young anglers are struggling with. These two issues are the result of the influx of so many young anglers into the tournament and bass fishing world…. etiquette and safety! The problem is, no one is teaching these young anglers or their boat captains how to navigate a tournament on our lakes and rivers. I’m not just talking about the running of their big motor, but the trolling motor as well. Incidents and accidents are occurring more and more as our waterways become overcrowded. The best analogy I can come up with is Little League. Little League or Dixie Youth baseball programs all across the country are looking for volunteers who can manage young boys and teach them how to play the game. I truly appreciate people who volunteer to coach these kids, but many have no idea of how to teach the game. They don’t know or possess the skills needed to make kids better baseball players, but their intentions are good. The same is true with SOME of the boat captains who are running the boats for these young high school anglers. Their intentions are good, but they don’t possess the skills necessary to teach today’s young anglers the skills they need.

So how do we correct this issue? I feel that it’s up to us anglers who fish at a high level to share our knowledge any way possible. Every time I’m on the water and see an opportunity to educate a boat captain or a high school angler, I do so not by yelling and chewing them out, but by simply talking to them in a way I know they won’t be intimidated. Sometimes we talk about either the unwritten rules of tournament fishing or fishing etiquette, along with boat navigation and how to run the trolling motor. I’ve also had the opportunity to speak at several high school bass fishing banquets and will talk about these issues as well. If we as skilled anglers don’t take the responsibility to share our knowledge, then we have failed as anglers to educate the next generation. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Bass Fishing Ban Coming

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 18:01:07 GMT

Bass Fishing Ban Coming

Well, we knew this day was coming, but I did not expect it to be in my lifetime. Bass fishing is being attacked, and some states are looking to ban it by 2025. It really angers me to know that a form of our heritage is being taken away by a minority group that would rather hug a tree or kiss a bass rather than eating one. These people who stand at boats ramps and protest any form of angling are the same people pushing the “New Green Deal” that President Biden ran on. While this can be upsetting and make you angry, make sure to read the entire article to get my full perspective.

If this doesn’t get every outdoorsman’s attention, I don’t know what will. Since I was a kid in the early 70’s, I’ve heard about people who don’t believe in fishing. They think that the pain inflicted on a bass as it is caught is inhumane. Now understand, they have no proof of this other than those in their group who have the ability to communicate with fish. Fish have said to them that the pain and suffering they go through is uncalled for and unnecessary. According to the tree huggers, the fish feel that no one has stood up for them until now. The fish have spoken and are tired of people thinking they know what’s best for them. So, I wanted to hear their side of the story.

To complete my own study, I decided to Google “fish language” on the internet, and to my amazement I discovered an online class that would teach me “fish language” so that I could do my own research and interview largemouth bass. This course really was a challenge even with my B.S. degree from Northwestern State. I was never one to try and learn a new language, but I felt it was vital for me to be able get a true perspective as to what bass go through. After six weeks of intense bass language study, I was ready! Now all I needed was some bass to talk with and see things from their perspective.

How was I going to capture some bass for my study? Ha…I grabbed my Daiwa rod and reel combo (valued at $500), hooked up my Ranger bass boat and headed to Lake X. The first thing I noticed after arriving at the lake was that I could hear the fish talking underwater as I backed my boat in the water. I never noticed this before until I learned “fish language.” You know sound travels extremely well in and across water. It was so loud; it was like being at a rock concert with Hootie and the Blow Fish, a very popular band in the fish world. Since learning to speak “fish language,” I now was hearing things in a whole other manner. Only someone who knows “fish language” can ever relate to what I’m talking about.

Now for my study…after making my very first cast, I hooked a good size largemouth bass. I listened intently as the hooked fish jumped, but there was no sound, no screaming or moaning. I thought, “That’s strange, nothing at all….not a sound was made.” Now you would think if hooking a fish really hurt, there would be some horrifying sounds being echoed across the water as the fished jumped trying to throw my bait out of its mouth. What I did hear was other fish cheering the hooked bass on and encouraging him to throw the bait back to me…kind of like how bulls cheer on other bulls as they try and throw the cowboy off during a rodeo. The bass were actually more excited to see if their friend could succeed at getting rid of the bait that hooked him.

As I continued to reel and bring the fish on board my $85,000 Ranger boat, still no screaming, no chirping, no howling. But this is where my “fish language” course finally paid off. I asked the fish if being hooked hurt him? His response absolutely blew me away when he said, “No.” I then asked, “Well, do other bass feel pain when they are hooked?” Again, the bass said, ”No,” but shared that one thing that really bothers them is when humans allow them to flop on the deck of the boat, especially those with carpet as it takes their protective slime off their bodies which can lead to infections. So, I finally had my proof that fish really don’t feel pain from being hooked. I had heard it straight from the horses (or in this case) the bass’s mouth. I thanked him for participating in my study and released him unharmed back into lake like all good bass anglers do.

My conclusion was this…just like our political parties today, they make up fake news for their own benefit. Now we all know that there is no “fish language” course you can take, but to make this article more believable I thought it was necessary that you think that. Again, our politicians do this every single day; they make stuff up that they think we will believe. They think we are like bass in that we have a brain the size of a pea. So, is it true that bass fishing will be banned by 2025? Probably not, but I thought it would be a good April Fool’s joke!!! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook….especially now that you know bass feel no pain!!!

Steve Graf, Daiwa/Ranger Pro Staffer

Forward-Facing Sonar... Is It Ethical?

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:59:10 GMT

Forward-Facing Sonar… Is It Ethical?

Since the first-time man ever wet a hook, he has always looked for an advantage, a way to figure out the best way to catch fish. Bass anglers especially have been obsessed with trying to find and locate bass in all kinds of water clarity. But today, anglers have access to fish finding instruments that can read the date on a dime in 30 feet of water. I really believe you could navigate to Mars with the electronics anglers have on their boats today. Tournament anglers are spending $15,000 on their fish finding units for the sole purpose of catching bass. Not all tournament anglers can afford this, and it’s created a major advantage for those who can. It’s a case of the haves vs. the have nots. Tournaments are being won on a weekly basis with these forward-facing sonars. Due to these advancements, it’s no longer a level playing field. Which brings up the question…. Is it ethical? Have we made bass and crappie fishing too easy? Will this come back to bite anglers after a few years of using these high advanced fish locating devices?

To understand how far sonars have come, let’s first go back to the late 1960’s with an instrument known as a flasher. This device was what started the electronics revolution. It was a round digital sonar that registered the depth and showed anything between the bottom and the surface with a red flashing line. Just like any electronic device that’s new, these were not cheap and only anglers with deep pockets could afford one of these.

Then came the paper graph. Now this was truly cutting-edge technology that came out in the early 70’s. This unit would print out a paper copy of the contour of the bottom and show fish suspended and even along the bottom. You could see stumps, trees, and underwater grass. It was a true mapping of the entire water column. Anglers would take these printed copies and keep them on file for use in future events.

During the 1980’s, sonar became the craze of the fishing world as companies like Humminbird unleashed their LCR (Liquid Crystal Recorder) which was so advanced it was scary. This revolutionized the marine industry with its detailed structure, zoom capability, sensitivity control, high speed tracking, waterproofness, and a screen you could actually see in the bright sunlight, which was a big problem for earlier sonars.

Now fast forward to today with what Garmin calls “Livescope” and Lowrance calls “Active Target Live.” Garmin was the first to come out with this new forward-facing sonar. A unit that allows you to see fish up to 60 or 70 feet in front of your boat live and in real time. Now THIS is a game changer!!! Anglers now cannot only see fish swimming, but when they bite the lure. It’s basically a video game on the front of your boat!!! If you do not have this level of electronics on your boat today, you’re probably fishing for 2nd place.

But this level of technology has raised questions and has become a hot topic for anglers across America. Some want it banned and think it should not be allowed in tournament competition. They think it gives anglers an unfair advantage. But they would be wrong. No matter what device is ever invented, there’s been nothing that will make fish bite a lure. Even looking at fish on a screen does not guarantee success. Anglers still must figure out a way to trigger fish into biting. But forward-facing sonar does help to locate fish a lot quicker and it allows anglers to zero in on larger fish.

From an angler’s perspective, forward facing sonar (Garmin’s Live Scope) just might be the greatest invention the fishing industry has ever seen. Once again, from the first-time man has ever wet a hook, he has always looked for a way to make it easier to find and catch fish. This will never change and when it comes to technology, there is no telling what lies ahead with regards to the fishing industry. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Daiwa/ SPRO Pro Staffer

I Remember When

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 17:58:07 GMT

I Remember When

I remember as a kid how we played outside until the streetlights came on. We all cried when our moms called our names to come inside. It was a time when you ran or rode your bike behind the mosquito fog truck, breathing in all sorts of chemicals! Times were much simpler back in the early 60’s and 70’s and no one locked their doors at night. People slept with their windows open so the cool nighttime breeze flowed throughout the entire house. Political division was not as prevalent as it is today. If someone had a difference of opinion you just listened and went about your business. We did not have social media outlets to get online and criticize what they had said. Today I’ll jog your memory as we go back to a time when right was right and wrong was wrong, and people had morals and respected each other.

I remember when your bike was your main form of transportation, and we rode all over town looking for a backstop (sandlot) to get a game of baseball or football going. Parents of this generation did not have to worry about where their kids were. We were mature enough to know the difference between stupid and doing something a little risky. We played baseball games on our own and used ghost runners when you did not have enough players for a full team. If guys disagreed on whether you were out or safe, you worked it out. But every once in a while, it came to blows, only lasting a few punches or until your buddies dragged you off each other. Then, the game would resume as if nothing ever happened. Good times!

I remember playing ball all day, only taking a break to eat something. We would walk to a black berry patch or a fruit tree like a plum, apple, fig or even a pear tree in order to get our nutrition. We didn’t have protein bars or a Subway sandwich store near us…and didn’t need one. We did have a donut shop fairly close that had an ICEE machine, which was a great way to hydrate in the East Texas heat. Nothing better than donut holes and a large coke/strawberry ICEE! I remember sitting under a shade tree with our awesome snack and hearing Little Johnny jokes from the neighborhood renegade (bad boy). It was through these jokes that I got my sex education…some or most Little Johnny jokes were not very clean. But to us, it was a form of dirty language we kept a secret among ourselves.

I remember when I would go fishing or maybe squirrel hunting by myself at the age of 10 with a 20-gauge shotgun. My childhood was awesome, and I still treasure those memories. Today, I feel sorry for kids that they never got to have the freedoms our generation enjoyed in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s sad, but today’s kids are sheltered and protected due to the world we live in. So, it’s up to the older generation of today to make sure we get these kids outside and expose them to the great outdoors in order to keep the passion and traditions alive that we associate with any and all outdoor activities.

Steve Graf, Daiwa/Ranger Pro Staffer

Some Greatest Bass Lures of All-Time

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 17:57:12 GMT

Some Greatest Bass Lures of All-Time

When it comes to bass fishing, having the right lure is of the utmost importance. What you throw is often dictated by the time of year. Let me make one thing clear…there are no magical lures like the Banjo Minnow or the Helicopter lure that will catch bigger and better fish all the time. Since the late 1960’s, anglers have created what I call “TV lures,” baits that are promoted by companies like RONCO guaranteeing that “this” new bait is the greatest fishing lure of all time. Don’t be fooled, there are no guarantees when it comes to bass fishing. But today we’ll look at a few lures that have made a name for themselves by catching not only a lot of bass, but quality as well.

Let’s first look at one of the legendary lures of all time….the spinnerbait. The safety pin or overhead arm spinnerbait was invented in 1951 and manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri. It was designed to catch all species of fish like bass, northern pike, and red fish to name a few. It’s one of those lures we call “chunk and wind” baits which means all you have to do is cast the bait out and start reeling it in. it comes in an array of colors, sizes, and styles with several blade combinations for different water conditions from muddy to clear. It’s one of the most versatile baits you can fish with. You can completely cover the entire water column with a spinnerbait and it’s a great bait for a beginning angler to learn how to throw a bait caster reel.

Next let’s look at the famous, but very reliable, Rat-L-Trap bait. Built and designed in Alexandria, Louisiana, by Bill Lewis in 1971, this bait is known worldwide and has an unbelievable reputation for catching bass. Another one of those “chunk and wind” baits in which the bait does the work for you with its tight vibrating action mimicking bait fish. Bait fish are one of the top forages for bass and the Rat-L-Trap is simply the best lure ever made to imitate bait fish. The Rat-L-Trap series of baits just might be one of the most popular fishing lures of all time. This bait will catch fish in all conditions on any body of water you want to fish.

Now I’ll reveal a bait that has come to the forefront over the last decade and is now one of the most popular baits ever……the Chatter Bait! I got the opportunity to experience the introduction of this bait at Lake Okeechobee Florida in the early 2000’s. I was fishing the FLW Tour as a co-angler in 2004 when this bait made its first appearance. Anglers that had this bait for this event had a distinct advantage and most finished at the top of the standings. Anglers were literally putting their wives up for auction in order to get their hands on a few of these baits. The concept of this bait is simple…a lead head jig with a silicone skirt and a unique designed blade attached to the head creating a high intensity vibration like no other bait can do. Fish will hit this bait when other baits will not work. There’s something unique about its appearance and ability to not only catch bass, but BIG BASS! Beware, it’s also a bait that can be difficult to keep fish hooked up on. It will break your heart when you lose a big one from time to time, but it’s always better to at least had a chance at a big fish than to never hook one at all. Another problem with this bait is that it does not come through heavy cover very well. The Chatter Bait can’t pass a brush top or stick up without hanging up. Sometimes I feel like it has a mind of its own and will hang up on purpose just to show you who’s boss.

I really enjoy talking about the history of bass fishing. I’ve learned so many things over the years talking with some of the greatest of the bass fishing world and some older local guys that I have come to respect. I want to encourage you to take the time to talk with the older generation of anglers in their 70’s and 80’s and hear what they have to say. You’ll be amazed at their stories, their experiences, and what they have learned over their years of angling. These guys have seen bass fishing grow from the days of fun fishing to major multi-million dollar events. Till next time, good luck good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Daiwa/Ranger Pro Staffer

Part 2… Things Anglers Should or Should Never Do

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:55:50 GMT

Part 2… Things Anglers Should or Should Never Do

Let’s continue our conversation from last week on what anglers should and should not do. Some of these topics we’re talking about are things the younger generation of anglers coming up have not been taught. As great as high school bass fishing is for the sport, this group of anglers needs some undivided attention on things that are important, like boat management and fishing etiquette on tournament day.

First let’s talk about things you should never do with your boat. With so many anglers on the water today, which has increased by the hundreds over the last 15 years, confrontations are occurring at an alarming rate. Just like road rage, now you have water rage. It’s only a matter of time before someone takes matters into their own hands and hurts someone who is basically innocent due to the fact they’ve never been taught boating etiquette. You should always respect another angler’s area that he’s fishing by idling past or around him. So many times, I see anglers get on plane way too soon which creates a 3-foot wake, which can result in throwing another angler out of his boat. Always idle past or out of an area slowly if it is being fished by other anglers. This is called respect and all anglers appreciate this jester. To add to this, never run too close to another angler either. I’ve seen several near misses with boats traveling 60 MPH or faster within 10 feet of another boat.

No one is impressed with your ability to run a bass boat like you’re in the Daytona 500. Always navigate your boat at a safe distance away (at least 20 yards) from other boats fishing that area. Now obviously there are times when this may not be possible, such as when anglers are fishing in a marina or a narrow creek channel. Even when you’re running in a creek channel and you come upon a boat that is fishing, shut down way before you get to them. This eliminates a big wake that can throw the other boat up on the bank or into a dock or tree line. For the most part, just be respectful…it’s really just common sense or common courtesy.

The next issue I see all too often is the lack of respect for the area or a stretch another angler is fishing. Every day I see someone pull up on another angler, shut off their motor (way too close) and create a 3-foot wake! Then they jump up on the front deck and start fishing on the same side of the pocket (or stretch) within 20 feet of another angler going in the same direction! It’s as if they are wearing blinders like a horse in the Kentucky Derby! This is becoming a major problem today with guys competing for the areas that have proven to be productive over time. Every lake has popular areas that anglers know hold good quality fish. Not all areas on a lake or river are created equal, and good anglers who do their homework know where these are. If you’re going to fish the same area or stretch, fish away from me in the opposite direction. DO NOT go in front of me twenty yards and start fishing. This is called “cutting someone off” and it’s not right. It’s another one of those unwritten rules of bass fishing…. never cut someone off by fishing in front of them.

Now there is another situation that can occur, especially out on the open lake. All over most lakes there are brush piles that other anglers have put out in order to attract bass. With today’s electronic fish finders and forward-facing sonars, it’s easy to find these brush piles. This is where anglers get a little confused and frustrated. You have to understand that when you sink brush on a public body of water, it’s now considered community property and anyone can fish it. Unfortunately, the angler that has worked hard to put out that brush pile does not always see it that way and will go to extraordinary lengths to protect it. Many a feud have occurred on the water over who is entitled to fish it. The best advice I can give you on this…ask permission to share this area with the other angler if he got there first. If he says “no”, then move on to another area to fish.

I hope you gained some knowledge and understanding today on some of the hot topics we are experiencing on our lakes and waterways. Again, as our lakes and waterways become overcrowded, we need more anglers to step up and try to educate the next generation on the ethics of bass fishing and how to conduct themselves. So, if you’re on the water and see youngsters doing things that aren’t right, exercise patience and feel free to educate them on the unwritten rules of fishing. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Daiwa/Ranger Pro Staffer

Things Anglers Should or Should Never Do

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 17:54:42 GMT

Things Anglers Should or Should Never Do

All our lives we have heard of things we should “never do,” things like never play with matches, never kiss a girl on the first date, never ride in the back of a pickup truck, never run with a knife, never run at the pool… and the list goes on and on. Our parents took the time to teach us these, and many others, that you should and should not do. Now we did not always follow their teachings, but at least we were told. It was your own fault if you went against these teachings and got hurt. As we all know, it’s human nature to disregard the advice of our parents. It was more fun to be a rebel, no matter what the consequences were. Bass fishermen are no different, and today we’ll go over a few things you should never do as an angler.

Let’s first start with launching the boat. This can be a circus to watch, as you know, if you’ve spent much time around a boat ramp. You could make some really funny YouTube blooper videos with some of the antics I’ve seen at a boat ramp. But the most important thing to remember…never block the boat ramp while launching your boat. I’ve seen this so many times; an angler backs his boat down to the ramp and then starts to put all of his gear in the boat! Major no-no!!! Load your boat BEFORE you back it down to the ramp!!!!

Next, always wear your life jacket. This is a must, no matter how much experience you have. Unfortunately, this is something some people ignore. Just like driving a car and wearing your seatbelt, sometimes things happen beyond your control that can result in serious injury or even death. Even the pro’s, who basically run a boat every day, wear their life jackets all the time. Too many deaths have occurred on our waterways due to people not wearing their life jackets. Today, there are more anglers on the water than ever before, many who are young and inexperienced. Don’t take a chance, put your life jacket on!

On a lighter note, never go fishing without snacks. This is a major no- no as well. Snacks can turn a bad day into a not-so-bad day, especially when the fish aren’t biting. Here are a few items I like to bring every time I hit the water. Number one for me is a turkey sandwich. Now I have a special bread I use for my turkey sandwiches. I really like the Hawaiian Bread sub rolls, along with either a good Hellman’s low-fat mayo or mustard. Most tournaments I’ll bring one for my co-angler and I’ve had several that have said they would like to marry me after they’ve eaten one of these. But I always tell them that I’m already married to the best lady on planet earth…. sorry!!! If I don’t have any sub rolls, I’ll just take a sandwich bag full of smoked turkey or sliced Honey Baked Ham. But there’s one thing I will always have in the boat…beef jerky. This is a great filler food that will hold you over until you get back to the house.

Obviously, these are just a few of the things anglers should never do. Of the three I’ve listed today, none is more important than wearing your life jacket and yet, there will be someone who will totally ignore what I’ve just written. Next week we’ll look at more things that anglers “should or should never do.” Till then, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook! Make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live every Tuesday at 11:30 on our Facebook or You Tube channel.

Steve Graf, Daiwa/Ranger Pro Staffer

Pro Anglers Representing Louisiana

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:53:00 GMT

Pro Anglers Representing Louisiana

Over the years, Louisiana has put out some great high school football players who have gone on to professional football. Terry Bradshaw, Bert Jones, Stan Humphries, Joe Delaney, Mark Duper and Bobby Hebert, to name a few. These guys left their mark on the NFL and represented Louisiana in a big way. Well, in the bass fishing world, Louisiana has, and is still, sending guys to the highest level of professional bass fishing with the Bassmaster Elite Series. Today we’ll look at some past anglers, as well as those who are competing now.

First, let’s look at the history of those who set the standard for all Louisiana anglers. Louisiana’s only two Bassmaster Classic Champions are Jack Hains of Many, Louisiana, who won it on Currituck Sound in North Carolina in 1975, and Villis Bo Dowden of Natchitoches, Louisiana, who won the Classic on the St. Lawrence River in 1980. Both anglers set the bar extremely high for all the anglers that followed. Just like so many great fishermen from this region, they cut their teeth on Toledo Bend. The names of anglers who have come off Toledo Bend and made it to the professional level read like a Who’s Who of bass fishing.

But presently, probably the most famous Louisiana angler, and one of the most popular on the Bassmaster Elite Series today, is Greg Hackney of Gonzales. This guy has the reputation as one of the toughest anglers on tour and is considered one of the best power fishermen to ever hold a rod. If there’s a shallow bite going on, Greg Hackney will have a jig rod in his hand and will be a definite favorite to win. Greg continues his winning ways on tour and continues to strive for the one championship that has eluded him…the Bassmaster Classic. He’ll get another shot at a Classic win March 4th -6th on Lake Hartwell, which sits on the Georgia/South Carolina line. Hackney should be one of the favorites, as Lake Hartwell is known for being a shallow water fishery. Here are some facts about Greg….he’s been in the Classic 15 times, has won 6 B.A.S.S. events, has 59 Top 10 finishes, has been in the money 80% of the time, and has accumulated over $2.5 million in winnings over his career with B.A.S.S. All of Louisiana will be pulling for Greg as he competes in this year’s Classic.

Another Louisiana angler headed for this year’s Classic is Tyler Rivet of Raceland, Louisiana. If memory serves me right, Tyler is a product of the Nichols State University Fishing Program and is headed into his 5th season on the Elite Series. Tyler developed his skills fishing for redfish, speckled trout and largemouth bass in the marsh and canals of South Louisiana with his grandfather. Just like Greg Hackney, Tyler is also a shallow water expert who could be a threat to win the Classic.

Next week we’ll cover two more Louisiana anglers looking to make a name for themselves by winning the most prestigious bass tournament in the world…the Bassmaster Classic! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook! Stay up to date with bass fishing’s latest news from both Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend with the Tackle Talk Live Show. We air every Tuesday morning live at 11:30 on our Facebook page or on our You Tube channel.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Best Drug Ever

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:51:57 GMT

The Best Drug Ever

“Just say no!” This has been the slogan to fight the drug war going on in this country since former First Lady Nancy Reagan introduced it in 1982. Her work was extensive and diligent to fighting the war on drugs. This fight still continues today and it appears it’s a war we’re losing. With little to no border control and our government leaders refusing to recognize that we have a border crisis, the battle rages on. As a teen growing up in East Texas, I had very little exposure to the drug world, but knew it existed. In the 1970’s, marijuana, speed and cocaine were the drugs of choice for those that chose that route looking to get high. Today I’ll give you my perspective on my drug of choice back then, one that I'm still addicted to and crave today.

As most of you already know, athletics has played a huge roll in my life and are responsible for the opportunities that have come my way over the years. I enjoyed a great high school career, running track and playing both baseball and football, which included winning the Texas 3A State Baseball Championship in 1978. I was blessed with a football/baseball scholarship to Northwestern State that resulted in being drafted by the Montreal Expos (today’s Washington Nationals) in 1983.

Sports for me, was a drug that came with both highs and lows. Drug addicts talk about how they just can’t get enough of whatever they’re craving. For me, I could relate because I was the same way. I could not get enough of the rush that sports gave me. I thought about it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I would dream of getting my next high by hitting a home run, making a great play, or scoring a touchdown. Success in the sports arena came fairly easy for me, as God blessed me with good athletic ability.

But let’s talk about my first addiction…. bass fishing. Fishing has been an addiction for me since I caught my first bass as a kid walking the banks of our ranch stock ponds. This all started for me in the summer of 1969 when I got my first Zebco rod and reel combo. I was basically self-taught. I remember getting my hands on a copy of Bassmaster magazine that was full of tips and technique illustrations anyone could follow. One of the gifts I got on my 10th birthday was a subscription to Bassmaster magazine. BEST GIFT EVER!!!! Back then there were only a few fishing shows that existed. I watched “Fishing with Virgil Ward” and “Outdoors with John Fox.” Both were great, but then I found a show called “The Bassmasters,” hosted by legendary Bob Cobb. This introduced me to guys who actually fished for a living. Are you kidding me? You could make a living catching bass?!!! Now this had my full attention, and I could not wait for it to come on each week. I remember watching anglers like Tommy Martin, Bill Dance, Rick Clunn and Roland Martin, guys who became legends of the sport.

For me, there’s always been something about the moment you set the hook and a fish starts to pull drag. The adrenaline rush is unmatched and unexplainable! You don’t know how big your catch is until you see it jump out of the water as it is trying to throw your bait, or you swing it in the boat. Even today, despite the many bass I’ve caught over my lifetime, I still get this huge rush of excitement. So, I guess this makes me an addict! I just can’t get enough bass fishing action! It can be so rewarding, whether you're catching small one-to-two-pound bass or five and six pounders. It’s still the same rush!

To wrap this up, if you’ve never had a fishing experience before, find someone to take you who knows what they’re doing. Go hire a fishing guide or an experienced angler who can teach you the ins and outs of fishing. If you want to get high, go fishing…whether it’s for bass, crappie, redfish or trout! The species doesn’t matter; the high is still the same. But beware, it can be addicting! Till next time, good luck good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Forgotten Impact of FLW

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 17:50:21 GMT

The Forgotten Impact of FLW

If there’s one thing that’s becoming apparent, it’s the impact the FLW (Forest L. Wood, founder of Ranger Boats) organization had on the bass fishing landscape. Today we’ll look at what made FLW so special and helped lay the ground swelling that occurred during the 1990’s up till now. FLW made bass fishing more popular than ever before with their approach and commitment to sponsors who were not really associated with the outdoors. Let’s first start with what it was like to fish tournaments in the 1990’s.

Tournaments back then were events, or usually benefits, for someone or something. Most of these were annual events that drew anywhere from 40 to 60 boats. There were only a couple of high-level fishing circuits like B.A.S.S. and the Red Man Tournament Trail (which was one step below B.A.S.S.). Available too, were Fishers of Men, and a few American Bass Angler (ABA) events. Another pro/am circuit, known as Angler’s Choice, was also a popular tour and even had a team trail you could follow. Then there was the FLW tournament trail that was making headway and growing in popularity at a rapid rate.

Of all these organizations I’ve mentioned, FLW was the one that changed the landscape in the late 90’s and has led us to where we are today. For years, B.A.S.S. (The Bassmaster Elite Series) was, and still is, THE place and the goal of every angler in America. They set the standard that all tournament organizations wanted to be and FLW opened the door and gave anglers another option to pursue their dreams of fishing professionally. FLW took sponsors to a whole other level with boat and truck wraps of major sponsors like Wal-Mart, Land of Lakes, Castrol Oil, Tide, M&M’s, Kellogg’s Cereal, and Folgers Coffee, to name a few. They brought in sponsors that were not necessarily associated with the outdoors and promoted them the same way NASCAR did it.

This was probably the best thing that ever happened for professional bass fishing! FLW decided to attack and establish a grass roots following by setting up a progression of tournament trails. That ladder started with the BFL’s (Bass Fishing League), a series of one-day events all across the country, designed as pro/am events for the working man or weekend warrior. If you did well on that level, you could then advance to fish a multi-day tournament trail called the Everstart Series which was similar to the B.A.S.S. Open Series. Then after this, if you were really good, there was the FLW Series, which was one step below fishing as a full-time pro. Success in that series would lead anglers to the pinnacle of the organization…. the FLW Tour.

With their approach, FLW had created an avenue for amateur anglers to pursue their dreams of fishing as a professional. The awesome boat and truck wraps drew visual attention and made it cool to be a bass angler. It invigorated young boys and girls to want to be a pro angler. FLW then started the College Series that caught fire nationwide as colleges and universities created fishing teams and some even offered scholarships. Then they went even further and started high school bass fishing which has gone viral and insured that there will be future generations to pursue a career as a professional bass fisherman.

The sad part of all of this is that FLW no longer exists, as Major League Fishing (MLF) purchased FLW in 2020. This was sad to see, as I personally had fished several levels with FLW and enjoyed all of them. The downfall of FLW was poor financial management. Anglers also started to figure out the payback for their events was not up to par with other organizations. Entry fees went up and the payback for certain tournaments was less than 60 percent. MLF is trying to re-establish these tours once again, but the payback is still an issue, especially for the BFL tour which has the lowest payback of any tournament trail of this level. Hopefully, the powers that be at MLF will recognize this and correct it because we will always need at least two major fishing organizations that give anglers an option. Remember, competition between organizations makes everything better for all anglers. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Are Bass Anglers Lucky or Good?

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:44:32 GMT

Are Bass Anglers Lucky or Good?

How much luck is involved in winning a bass tournament? Is it really skill or is it just pure luck when it comes to bass fishing? To the common person or those who just don’t understand bass fishing, a combination of both goes a long way to being successful. For the most part, it also depends on who you ask about the “luck” side of catching bass and winning events. Today we’ll look at it from a couple of perspectives…professional anglers and the common person.

First, let’s define luck. Luck is defined as the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person’s life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities. To simplify in anglers’ terms…luck is defined as when preparation meets opportunity. Professional anglers take offense if you tell them they just got lucky. They look at the luck accusation from a standpoint that they were ready for the opportunity that came their way because of preparation and took advantage by landing the fish they had hooked. Basically, they were prepared for the situation by doing the little things right. What are the little things? This could be paying attention to detail like making sure they have fresh fishing line on their reels, that their hooks are sharp and their rods and reels are in great shape.

Another area where “luck” used to play a part; was in finding fish. But today’s electronics have made that process a lot simpler. Now these state-of-the-art electronic units give anglers a huge advantage in locating bass. The technology is and continues to go above and beyond anyone’s expectations. It has cut the learning curve in half for young anglers looking to become tournament ready. Gone are the days of anglers having to go out and locate bass by means of going down the bank and fan casting for bass. Well, that’s not totally true. You still need “time on the water” in order to compete, but the level of electronic depth finders on bass boats today is like something out of a sci-fi movie. So, locating bass has become relatively easy, or at least easier, than it used to be. Even though these new electronic units will help you find fish quicker, it does not guarantee you can catch them. Anglers still must figure out how to trigger bass into biting.

So, to answer today’s question, are bass anglers lucky or good? The answer is…. both; it takes both luck and skill to be a good tournament angler. The luck part is when you start to swing a bass into the boat and the hook comes out as the fish lands in the net. Luck is when a bass gets hung up in brush pile and you end up getting it out and into the boat. Luck is when you catch a 6 pounder on the last cast of the day to give you the win. Luck is when a school of 5 pounders surface within twenty feet of your boat and you catch twenty pounds in 15 minutes. But one thing is for sure, the anglers that fish the highest levels of professional bass fishing really are the best anglers in the world… and are both lucky and good. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Angler’s Perspective

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 16:11:58 GMT

Angler’s Perspective

Welcome to the “Angler’s Perspective." Each week, I’ll share with you some tips, tactics and interviews from the greatest anglers in the world. My goal, is to make you a better and more informed angler. You’ll hear not only my experiences as an angler, but the Pros who actually fish for a living. With these articles, I’ll pass along my knowledge of bass fishing while giving you advice from professionals that fish the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW and Major League Fishing Tours. I’ll do my best to entertain and educate you on the latest techniques and news from the bassfishing world.

Let me introduce myself, I have been fishing my whole life and grew up fishing small ponds in East Texas. I started fishing competitively when a friend of mine asked me to fish a team tournament on Lake Bistineau in 1990. Since then I have fished with success, several team circuits including; Anglers Choice, the FLW Tour as a co-angler, the pro side/boater side of the BFL Tour, the FLW Everstart and Costa Series, B.A.S.S. Central Opens and the ABA Bass Pro Shop Open Series. During that time I have obtained sponsorships from some great companies in the fishing industry like; Ranger Boats, Daiwa Rods and Reels, Gamakatsu Hooks, SPRO Lures, Santone Lures, Seaguar Fishing Line, V&M Baits and GRUV Fishing Tackle. I also own and have produced for 13 years an outdoors program called the “Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show” heard exclusively on 1130 The Tiger KWKH and I’ve recently signed on as the co-host for a Facebook live/You Tube show called “Tackle Talk Live.”

While I don’t pretend to know everything about bass fishing, like you, I continue to gain knowledge and improve my skills as a competitive angler. Bass fishing is a great sport that you never stop learning. Today’s professional anglers are highly skilled in all phases of bass fishing including but not limited to; bait selection, map reading, casting skills, bait and tackle promotions and using state of the art electronics that are a huge part of today’s bass boats. The pros of today are well versed and understand how to take advantage and trust their electronic units in order to help them find fish.

So I look forward to bringing you articles each week that will give you a better understanding of what the world of bass fishing is all about both from a professional and weekend warrior perspective. Till next time, don’t forget to set the hook.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Giving Credit Where It’s Deserved

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:09:55 GMT

Giving credit where it’s deserved

When I decided 12 years ago to create an outdoors radio program, I wanted it to be the best. I wanted it to be entertaining and educational with a touch of humor. I wanted people to look forward to tuning in each week and listening to a quality program with interviews from the greatest anglers and hunters in the industry. But the one thing I recognized and understood; I needed the right combination of professionalism and people with not just a sense of humor, but extensive knowledge in all areas of the great outdoors. Hence, Gary McCoy and Mike Echols, two guys that make this show not just good but great. As a fan myself, I look forward to each and every show (but with one hand on the dump button) because you never know what’s going to go out across the airwaves!!! While I continue to format each show every week, I never have to worry about whether a segment will be entertaining, because I ‘ve got two guys who can make rotten fruit turn into wine. It’s not the money nor the fame for which we do this program, but it’s the fact that we get to sit down as good friends each and every week and talk hunting and fishing. Sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Is It Just Me?

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:08:53 GMT

Is It Just Me?

Is it just me or do people really not care about how much time they take to get a boat into the water no matter how many others are waiting patiently. Well one of my last trips something happened that was even more appalling, someone actually blocked in my truck and boat trailer in the parking lot. Both vehicles on both sides of my truck and trailer were parked so as not to allow me to pull up and back my trailer down the ramp in order to load my boat. After a few expletives to anyone that could hear my voice, I literally had to disconnected my trailer from the truck, push it back towards the seawall, (luckily I had enough room to maneuver) then swing the trailer tongue on a tandem axle, (not easy with a tandem axle trailer by the way) and pull the trailer into position so I could reconnect to my truck. I went to all this effort just because people weren’t paying attention on how they were parking their truck and trailers. Now maybe I’m different, but the first thing I look to see when I park my truck and trailer; am I blocking someone in? But obviously everyone does not do that!!! So if the two guys who blocked me in read the well worded sticky note I left on both of their vehicles, hopefully they will pay more attention to how they park next time!!! By the way, I left my name and number on the sticky note just in case they wanted to call me and apologize…..but that call never came. Shocker!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

New Major League Fishing Tour

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 16:03:53 GMT

New Major League Fishing Tour

Wow!!!! The bass fishing world has just been turned upside down with the announcement of the new Major League Fishing Tour. Seventy of the B.A.S.S. Elite Series Pros and the best of the FLW Tour will make the jump over to the MLF Tour for 2019. This is a major blow for both organizations especially B.A.S.S. which is the grass roots of the bass fishing world. It all started with Ray Scott and the vision he had for anglers making a living fishing. Now, all that is coming to end and no one really knows where this is headed. It’s a gamble for professional anglers to jump ship for what they think are greener pastures. B.A.S.S. has provided stability for these anglers for a long time, but only a few have really capitalized financially. The goal of MLF is to provide more anglers an opportunity to make a living fishing. It’ll be an organization run by anglers themselves. Question is, will it have the longevity of what B.A.S.S. and FLW have provided? Will it be as fan friendly and how will Major League Fishing Tour make that fan connection that B.A.S.S. and FLW have forged through their magazines and tournament weigh-ins? How will this affect the bass fishing industry overall; from the sale of high dollar bass boats to the hundreds of tackle companies that sell product through B.A.S.S and FLW? The one certainty with this major change, only time will tell.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Do Fishermen Ever Tell The Truth?

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:03:03 GMT

Do Fishermen Ever Tell The Truth?

Asking a bass angler especially a tournament angler what the fish are doing is like asking a kid if he took a cookie out of the cookie jar. You’re probably not going to get the truth!!! Anglers are a strange breed of people who are very conscious about sharing information. They’ll cheat on their wives before they tell you the truth about what the fish are doing. They’ll sell the first born child before telling you where, or how they caught their fish. They will literally go to their grave with all their best GPS coordinates. But if there’s one thing most anglers will share, it’s their time, especially when it comes to a young angler. Nothing makes an angler feel better about themselves when they can help and share information that might have a lasting impact on a young boy or girl. So the next time you ask an angler for information, proceed with caution, or send in a kid.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

College Bass Fishing Program is Working!

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:02:17 GMT

College Bass Fishing Program is Working!

Well if you’ve been wondering if the college bassfishing circuits are putting out great anglers, just look at the results of the 2018 Bassmaster Classic. Jordan Lee a former Auburn Tiger and NCAA National Bassfishing Champion is among a long list of tournament winning anglers who have taken the professional bass fishing ranks by storm. His brother Matt Lee has been very successful on the B.A.S.S Tour as well finishing 4th in this year’s Classic. It seems every year another college angler comes along and immediately starts to compete on a high level including B.A.S.S. 2017 Rookie of the Year Dustin Connell. So I’m excited to see who the next college series angler is for 2018 to come on board and compete with the greatest anglers on planet Earth.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

How Men Who Hunted or Fished in the 1950's Were Looked After by Their Ladies

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:00:45 GMT

How Men Who Hunted or Fished in the 1950's Were Looked After by Their Ladies

Tips on how women of the 1950’s looked after their husbands who hunted or fished. Today’s women could learn a lot from this!!!!

Have dinner ready… Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal ready on time when he comes home. This is your way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him all day and are concerned about his needs. Men are hungry after a long day in the woods or on the water and the prospects of good meal are part of the warm welcome he needs.
Prepare yourself… Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He’s been out in the outdoors among wild animals and maybe a little weary. But he’ll be pleased to see you looking so hot just for him.
Clear away any clutter… Make one last trip thru the house before he arrives and pick up any old newspapers, toys, or school books the kids may have left out. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. After a tough day of hunting or fishing, your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order and it will also make you feel better from sitting on the couch and watching soaps while eating potato chips all day.
Prepare the children… Take a few minutes to wash the kids hands and faces, comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. Long days of pursuing wild game is very stressful and the last thing your husband wants to see are kids who look like they came off the street or from an orphanage.
Minimize all noise… At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of a washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to hold it down since dad has been sitting in a noisy deer stand or flying down the lake in a bass boat at 70 miles per hour tolerating high wind noise. Also be happy to see him and greet him with a warm smile.
Some don’ts… Don’t greet him with complaints or with the words “Glad your home, it’s your turn to take care of the kids.” This will upset him and cause him to resent coming home. Also don’t complain if he’s late for dinner as he may have been held up by his buddies drinking another cold one and telling them how lucky he is to have a wife like you.
Make him comfortable… The minute he walks in from a hard day of hunting, have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he go lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his boots. Speak in a low, soft and soothing sexy voice. This will allow him to relax and unwind while getting his hopes up.
Listen to him… All day long he has been at the camp talking to a bunch of irresponsible buddies who have done nothing but complain about how much they hate their wives. He treasures you and wants you to hear just how much he appreciates all that you do for him and how he’s the luckiest man on earth to have a wife like you.
Make the evening his… Don’t complain if he does not take you out for dinner since he’s exhausted from a hard day in the woods or on the water. Try to entertain yourself while he eats his dinner and takes a long nap. Try to understand the strain and pressure that goes with hunting or fishing all day. Now he needs….. HIS time!!! I hope this is a wakeup call for the women out there who have husbands that hunt or fish. God bless each of you and may the outdoorsman in your life get the treatment he deserves.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

LDWF, IHEA-USA Stressing Four Gun Safety Rules For a Safe Hunt

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:51:31 GMT

LDWF, IHEA-USA Stressing Four Gun Safety Rules For a Safe Hunt

Release Date: Nov. 28, 2017 – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)-USA want to remind hunters of the four basic firearm safety rules that are of utmost importance. Following these rules, which should be adhered to at all times, can make for a safe hunt. They include: 1) Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. 2) Always maintain muzzle control and know where your firearm is pointed. 3) Keep your safety on and your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. 4) Be sure of your target and what is in front of and behind it. For a video illustration of the four rules from hunter-ed.com click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEaWcaJdi8o&feature=youtu.be For more hunter safety related videos from LDWF, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting-safety-videos . ABOUT IHEA-USA The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) - USA is the professional hunter education association affiliated with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the 50 state fish and hunter education programs. The programs employ 57,000 instructors, many of whom are volunteers, that teach hunting and shooting safety and responsibilities throughout the United States. Hunter education courses train and certify more than 700,000 students annually. Since 1949, almost 44 million students have completed hunter education courses that cover firearm safety, bowhunting, wildlife management, field care of game, responsible hunting, landowner relations, wildlife identification, and much more. For more information, go to www.ihea-usa.org .

I Love New Products!

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:48:39 GMT

I Love New Products!

The ICAST Show in Orlando gave me a great appreciation for the imagination and dedication to creating products that make fishing fun and interesting. The technology and thought that goes into making fishing tackle is incredible. This year Stingray Line Cutter got my attention. This is an easy to use cutter that’s safe, easy and convenient and makes for quicker bait changes on tournament day. ALL ANGLERS will love this product!!! Go to our “HUTD Video Tips” page here on our web site to learn more but go to www.stingraylinecutter.com to get your own.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

The Greatest Bass Angler of All Time

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 15:47:20 GMT

The Greatest Bass Angler of All Time

One of the best things to ever happen to fishing is “Bassmaster Live” hosted by Bassmaster.com. This week I watched in awe as Kevin Van Dam known as KVD, blistered the bass on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York and destroyed the field of over 100 anglers and captured his 24th Bassmaster Elite Series win. No angler in history has won more events or money than KVD. He is on another planet when it comes to great anglers and even after 27 years of fishing on the Bassmaster Trail, he continues to dominate the sport like no one before him. But as he ages and with each and every win, Kevin is humble and expresses appreciation for his family, friends and fans who have supported him from the start which so happens to be at the St. Lawrence River 27 years ago. Today, Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show salutes the greatest bassfishing angler of all time; Kevin Van Dam!!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

B.A.S.S. is Getting It Right

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 15:46:02 GMT

B.A.S.S. is Getting It Right

Today we live in a “show me now” state of mind. Social media gives us up to the minute live coverage of events all over the world. Now with the introduction of “Bassmaster Live” by B.A.S.S. it’s the greatest thing to ever come along for bass tournament coverage. Finally you get up to the minute coverage cast by cast, fish by fish, with running totals being kept the entire tournament day. B.A.S.S has finally found a way to put you on the front deck with the pros as they catch fish and discuss their strategy. It’s an inside look at the pressure and thought process of professional anglers and the up and downs they go through. Thank you B.A.S.S. for a job well done and taking tournament coverage to a whole new level. Go to www.bassmaster.com to learn more.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Remember When…

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 15:44:20 GMT

Remember when…

I remember as a kid and how we played outside until the street lights came on? I remember when your bike was your main form of transportation and we rode all over town? I remember playing sandlot baseball without parental supervision and used ghost runners when you did not have enough players for a full team? I remember fishing all day on a farm pond and would walk to the black berry patch for a snack. I remember when I would squirrel hunt by myself at the age of 10 with a 20 gauge shotgun. Today I feel sorry for kids with respect to they never got to have the freedoms our generation enjoyed in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s sad, but today’s kids are sheltered and protected due to the world we live in today. So it’s up to the older generation of today to make sure we get these kids outside and expose them to the great outdoors in order to keep the passion and traditions alive that we associate with any and all outdoor activities.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Sharing the Outdoors

Wed, 10 May 2017 15:43:21 GMT

Sharing the Outdoors

Growing up in East Texas, I started out fishing small ponds (or tanks as they are called in Texas). I’ve spent a many a day fishing and talking to myself and enjoyed every minute. But my greatest memories fishing or hunting are when I had my brother, cousins or friends with me on these adventures. Besides catching a lot of fish, it’s the conversations, the jokes and recalling of recent trips is what makes for a great day in the outdoors. Each trip is always unique in itself and creates new memories to store in my memory bank. So the next time your headed to the woods or water, take a friend, cousin or family member and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Don’t Fish If You’re Not Healthy

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:41:45 GMT

Don’t Fish If You’re Not Healthy

The last couple of FLW events I’ve come across co-anglers who are not in the best of shape. I don’t care if you’re a boater or a co-angler, it’s a grind to fish all day and those who are not in shape or have an injury, penalizes both themselves and the boater and should not fish a major event. I’ve actually drawn one of these co-anglers before and it’s like babysitting. You have to help them in and out of the boat, help them get up on the back deck and God forbid if they have to net one of your fish. That’s an adventure in itself for them to even get to the front deck and hopefully they don’t break any rods while making the journey. If your back is out of whack…DON’T FISH!!! If you just had surgery…DON’T FISH!!! If you fell out of bed and broke a leg…DON’T FISH!!! I say this because I’ve seen this more this year than years past. FLW or B.A.S.S. events are not guide trips and it’s not a babysitting service. These tournaments are expensive and tough enough without dealing with someone who is not in condition to fish. So please boaters and co-anglers, while I admire your courage, please wait till your healthy enough to do all the things required to fish all day in one of these events. Now anglers…let’s get in shape!!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

We Don’t Need Your Resume

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:40:45 GMT

We Don’t Need Your Resume

As a guy who has fished both FLW and B.A.S.S. events for the last 10 years, one of the funniest things I see and hear is how many anglers are giving out their resume’ and all their accomplishments. I’m not sure who they are trying to impress, their co-angler or themselves. But I do know this, it’s annoying as hell!!! We all know who the better anglers are just by looking at the standings. While I enjoy having good conversation in the boat, co-anglers don’t want to hear who all your sponsors are and all the free stuff your getting which in most cases is not true. So let your fishing speak for itself and cash a check once in a while and spare us your resume.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

North Louisiana Lakes Under Attack!!!

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 15:39:13 GMT

North Louisiana Lakes Under Attack!!!

Well here we are, it’s March 2017 and the aquatic vegetation called Salvinia is not just a problem, IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM!!!! Almost all of our North Louisiana lakes (Bisteneau, Black Lake, Red River and Caddo) just to name a few, are all but completely covered up with just less than 50 of each waterway inundated with salvinia. Is the LDWF doing all they can with the money they have to work with? Is it a lack of personnel or a lack of funding? Is it a lack of equipment? Or are they just scratching their heads trying to figure out how to combat the most invasive problem to ever hit our waterways? I strongly encourage all outdoorsmen to contact your local state representatives and request immediate action!!! It's time to put pressure on the folks in Baton Rouge who we put into office. IF we don’t take action now, we will completely lose all recreational opportunities and local businesses/marinas will go out of business. The time for action is NOW!!!! Call your reps NOW!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

Boat Ramp Etiquette

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:37:44 GMT

Boat Ramp Etiquette

One thing that just really upsets me is how inconsiderate some boaters are at the boat ramp. You know THAT GUY who blocks the entire ramp while getting all his stuff loaded into the boat, unhooks his trailer tie downs, takes his boat cover off, climbs into his boat to load the ice chest and then just when yo think he's ready to launch, he realizes that the plug is not in and has to be pulled back out of the water so he can climb out and crawl under his boat to insert the plug. Then he backs down again and the motor won't crank simply due to the fact his kill switch is not hooked up but it takes him 10 mins to figure this simple solution out. Folks, don't be THAT GUY, do all of your prep work BEFORE you back down the ramp!!!! Today's waterways are more crowded than ever and this ONE GUY can really cause a log jam at the ramp. Always take care of ALL prep work so that the rest of us can get out boats into the water in a timely manner. Bottom line….just be considerate of others!!!!

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show

What Makes a Great Outdoorsman?

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 15:35:44 GMT

What makes a great outdoorsman?

Well, we at HUTD think it’s a person who has a passion for any or all outdoor activities. A person who values conservation and is dedicated to preserving nature and its environment. He or she might be a hunter, fisherman, hiker, camper and anything else where outdoor activity is involved. But what makes him or her great? Their ability to introduce the outdoors to our younger generation and pass on their wisdom and knowledge of whatever their area of expertise might be. The greatest gift any outdoorsman can give….. is their time.

Steve Graf, Tackle Talk Live, & The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show