I was fishing Red Man (BFL) and the BASS Federation in the late 80’s. I was catching a limit every day and was last in or first out in every event I fished. Conversational wisdom was you caught a limit and then tried to cull. I analyzed the standings, did the math # of fish and average weight per fish. In 1990 I had an epiphany, targeting bigger fish brought my average weight per fish up more than average # down. Enough so that 4 outweighed what 5 of what I had been catching. I made the Classic in 1991! I fish a jig a lot and don’t finesse fish. Catching a limit is highly overrated fish for the fish that a limit will give you a good shot of winning! So basically what you said, great advice.

This is a great video because I catch myself sometimes throwing a finesse bait too much and end up with smaller limits

Best short amount of time answer yet....nailed it

I really enjoyed the way you broke this down. I’m a long time BFL angler & had some success over the years but have not done as well as I think I should be doing at this stage in my Fishing. I’m a moving bait power fishing guy & always cover water in practice but there was something different about this video that was eye opening to me. Got me thinking about things in a different way. I echo some these guys comments. That’s a lot more of the 1 day anglers watching your content than the guys fishing 3-4 day events. This was a good “Back to Basics” type video in my opinion. A broad group can benefit from this one! Appreciate it & Congrats on AOY’s👍

dude, Thank You!!!! top water, crank, chatterbait, CRig and i ALWAYS FISH A SWIM JIG after watching your success. Agreed tough question, but you picked out the essential information that we wanted no NEEDED to either validate what we thought or point us a great way to start when we hit the water. Appreciate your insight more than I can say. Tight Lines brother!!!!!

Todd, you are an absolute wealth of deep bass fishing knowledge. This video put a lot of thoughts I had into words. Excellent video. It is like people are afraid to power fish.

I love watching your videos, as a first year tournament angler, fishing BFLs as a co and local stuff as a boater, I’ve learned a lot from you and Upshaw. I can’t wait to see you keep up the daily uploads. Thanks Todd!

For not knowing how to answer you absolutely nailed it. I watch your videos and try to apply what you say to how I fish. This was the first time that I felt like you were only talking to me. Your finesse description of fishing is EXACTLY how I like to fish. You definitely opened my eyes. Maybe I thought you were talking to me cuz that was my comment that you showed. A fan for life!

By the way Todd, you make the best educational videos out, I learned alot from you and I am 56 years old, but in shape, I got to hurry up and start doing better, thank you young man

Man Todd that video was so good on so many levels,so juice,answered to a T,the Texas rig deal is something I've never thought of,really good stuff brother thanks for the knowledge 👊

Dude… you gave up so much tournament strategy juice in this one. You probably should’ve released this one on the members only. Good work. Keep them coming.

Todd, loved the video. I’ve been wanting a technical pro like yourself to do a video on “Fishing Clean” or “Why pros lose less fish”. I feel like that is such an overlooked skill that the top guys have mastered. Of course you’ll lose one here and there, but you lose and break off way less than I do. I think it would be a great opportunity to breakdown some of your fish landing to talk about what you are doing and why. Thanks Todd

I appreciate your knowledge and the depth of your discussions!

Thanks Todd. I still have a huge issue. I will throw 20 different things, whatever I thought they might bite. But I never know if it's the right way, so I'm constantly second guessing myself.

I think you gave a great summary of your channel. If someone is really interested in this all they have to do is watch your drops. Over the years you've given us these very examples, time and time again.

Todd please do more videos like this a lot of us are getting into tournaments and could use more tips like this

Todd your best video yet! Really good points thanks for the insight

Nice insight Todd🤓"Let's be Honest" I throw a worm because it all I know😬😜🤪 you still the living TxTT Legend. Great tips I'll try it🤠

Great video. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts/opinion some foundational guidance on finding & catching fish. Keep making these kinds of videos they are really helpful 👍🏻

Great guidance and explanation! Thanks Todd

Been watching your videos for a while now. I've seen you throw a lot of different baits and you're catching fish. Thanks for the knowledge.

Very good information! This was very eye opening for me. Thanks you! Much appreciated.

Now that really opened my mind up on some of the challenges I’ve had in tournaments!

Great info Todd!!! I think it goes a little deeper with the weather cond.,water quality,and water temp. In chosing the proper power fishing bait. Just because there not hitting a buzzbait does not mean you cant get em on a spook,or some times they want a spinner bait and wont touch a swimbait.Knowing what bait to use in the conditions and cover you are fishing is a key piece to the puzzle.Knowing when to slow down is also a big key.Thanks for sharing with us.

Great video as always. Agree on throwing a moving bait to catch them. In a tournament as a co if my boater is throwing a walking bait I usually throw a Caffeine shad nose hooked. I may dd a small nail weight in the middle of the bait to allow it to sink a little faster that way I can work it quicker just under the surface. Also can swap quickly to a wacky worm on the same set up. Compact spinner bait, Thunder Cricket, or swimjig/swimbait is always tied on. 1/2 oz structure jig is always tied on usually a green pumpkin and adjust colors and actions with my trailer. Drop shot is again always tied but if I need to cover water behind my boater I drag and work it quicker then just shaking in one spot unless I am targeting brush etc.

I don’t tournament fish and have no desire to do so but I like catching fish. First thing in the morning on a lake I know or new water I’ll grab a walking bait, frog, but usually if it’s open water it’ll be a glide bait. Caught a 5 in the first 10 minutes on the water last week. Followed the glide and I hit it with a D-Bomb bass in my hand. It just seems fairly obvious? If the first thing you grab is a Texas rig for your first cast you really need to evaluate what you’re doing unless you’re catching them right off the rip then carry on.

Todd this may be Your Best Video Yet!

My Tuesday night summer tournaments are from 6pm-9pm. 3hrs to catch 14" minimum 5 fish limit! I'm fishing out of a 14ft custom tiny boat competing against guys in $70,000 Rangers with $6,000 in electronics. Best bag I've had this summer is 3 fish. I still finish mid pack each week. My goal is to have a 5 fish limit night before end of season. I already won a Big bass of night this yr. First year competition fishing and just having fun and learning. Thanks for this vid!

Good video and well said, I fish Livingston and you know how tough it can be.

Great info and very logical thinking.

heck yeah!!!! thanks for this one! now if the thunderstorms would quit, I will try this!

I’m completely on board! If there’s anyone out there that wants to improve their fishing skills and their mental game they should be listening to you! If not then they are just falling behind..

Great video! I use a drop shot like you do the Carolina rig. I cast it and cover lots of water and with ffs you can see fish to throw at. You just have to figure out which ones are bass!

Best info on the tube! I get it! Thanks Todd.!

BRO! I hope people really understand the nuggets your dropping in this video!! Most would NEVER share this type of info FRFR..

Good advice. I tend to flip too much because I tend to catch bigger fish and I love to do it but it isn't usually a good way to cover water.

Great stuff Great video thanks Todd

Great tips bro , Thanks

I think more than anything you have taught me the importance of the 5 best you can catch...not catching 20. I bet most of us think a team that brings a winning stringer in caught the heck out of them. Often times you really don't catch a ton...but you fish for the right 5

Solid advice

You put more information out in this short video then I learned in my first 10 years! 😂 now in my 60’s it is a bit easier! However physically I can’t do it for long.. pay attention and ignore the minutia out there..

My lakes that we fish in Ohio, are so over pressured that moving baits rarely work especially in the summer time. I'm not saying you can't get bit on top water, but tournaments here are usually won going finesse and slowing down. Often times 5 12 inch fish win the tournament. Ohio sucks lol

Good stuff!!

Great info. I always want 5 but much rather come up short of the 5 and have 4 for 14-18 lbs than catch 30 fish that my best 5 weigh 10-12 lbs if that.

Wow, good stuff.

Damn you are smart, I am going to start throwing topwater, I used to throw lucky craft Sammy , I guess I will bring him back out, and thunder cricket , I keep C-rig and jerkbait year around on Pickwick

Thanks buddy

thank you Todd me as a co-angler that make prefect since thank you so much

Todd just wanted to say thanks your awesome you bring shit to a whole new level

Finesse techniques make sense where 'fish are set up', or in other words, the fish anticipate that smaller forage in sufficient quantities will approach them. Instead of the fish needing to approach the forage. And sure, finesse fish could be categorized as feeding fish, of a more juvenille variety (as opposed to predatory fish who are large enough to hunt their prey down in darkness, and to rest up in places in day time). It's really that, more than anything else which underpins 'power fishing' method. The reality that one fishes tournaments in day light mostly, and it's a decent bet you want to target some specimens who are non-feeders at that time. The reason that predators take all kinds of lures, has very little to do, with an idea those fish think it is food. It's a far safer bet to think, that the lure unlocks some recent memory or instinct of the fish. Of it's most recent feeding window. However, the lure itself doesn't have to mimick food as such.

Awesome content. Question, and please be honest... how much did you utilize FFS this season and how much did it help you? Thanks. MM

Would you apply this scenario, on florida lakes as well, Todd? I throw swimjigs alot. I just can't seem to get any bites on a chatterbait. I'm going to try, the spunk shad on my chatterbait.

Dope vid agree

It so crazy man I just came up with the same conclusion for my self fishing this week, I have been wasting time Texas rigging while the best crankbait bite I have seen in years was going on right under my nose. I put up my trig rods and haven't looked back. Once again your telling it in the real world man.

Heading to a Thursday nighter, don't need 5 just need 3, Lake of Ozarks. boat docks and lay downs

Liking this ever day posting!

Is this philosophy for points are do you just fish for the win?

I find myself stopping to fish couple docks but end up fishing the whole cove thinking the next one maybe, or that one over there next thing u know I've waisted 1 1/2/2 hrs

How would you catch 5 bass fishing 3 hrs in the evening. Would those same strategies apply?

I get why not to use a TX rig, but what makes the CRig different? What am I doing wrong with that? I think of both of them as slower presentations, never thought of CRig to cover water

Do you still take the same approach when you are only fishing for 5 bites a day? I fish the Ohio River mainly and most tournaments you are lucky to get 5 bites all day.

Catching a bunch of small ones, cost you valuable time. Time and efficiency are key.

Sinko any time anyway anyplace.😂

I can answer it. Get some live scope. Do and find the fish first. And if you can't catch them don't ever enter a tournament unless your donating

He's right. But you better find the right areas. Y'all come back and tell us how many people zeroed next time!😂 Good video!

Pay Todd comment

Set a goal of 10 and you’ll probably catch 5.

By the way Todd, you make the best educational videos out, I learned alot from you and I am 56 years old, but in shape, I got to hurry up and start doing better, thank you young man