know, a guy is 30-years-old with no career … they don’t have a job, they haven’t started a future and they don’t have any money. There is something wrong with that.
Do you think bass tournaments are a true test of fishing skill?
in my eyes, competition is not me having an edge over you or knowing something you don’t know. Competition is when you know everything i know and i know everything you know and then it becomes about skill and ability.
it’s not about me having a bunch of fish stashed in someplace, in a little pocket so i can go catch ‘em and you don’tknowanythingaboutit.it’sabout “thefishareon in the tract”, the fish are on down south”, “the fish are on in Sherman lake”...now you have to make decisions on where you go and what you have to do to catch these fish…thatistruetournamentfishing. everythingisthe same,levelplayingfield,equaltoolsandequipment. that, my friend is a true measure of ability.
Who do you feel is the greatest tournament fisherman?
Kevin Van dam is portrayed as the best fisherman there is, nowadays; but they should word that properly, Kevin Van dam is the best tournament fisherman” right now”.
in my opinion, there’s more to being the best fisherman than just the elite series. We’ve got so many guys that have really dedicated their time and effort to becoming a great fisherman, that don’t get recognized; because they don’t get the chance to get there to get to the elites and well, we won’t even talk about what happened to Skeet with that scoring system.
You have been fishing competitively since the age of 35. What do you think has kept you on top of your game all these years?
You have to be in tune with everything and it has to come naturally. if you’ve got to think of everything, you’re screwed. My foot just takes care of the trolling motor, my hand just takes care of the fishing rod and my mind is just takin’ care of the fishing. i don’t have to think about it; it just happens. if i want to go over there the boat goes over there. Fishing is in my mind and that doesn’t just come from experience ‘cause buddy, i been catchin’ fish like this since my twenties without much experience behind me.
Issue 5 December 2011
How about a Christmas present to all the anglers reading this? How about a wintertime fishing tip from a Hall of Famer? We will put it on video and you can help the guys catch more fish this season?
(He agreed; but keep in mind with more than 50-years of fishing flowing through his veins, he is a true fisherman and while fishermen will gladly tell tales, they don’t as readily share secrets).
Thomas has not found the need to retire from his ranger and at 74-years-old and can still be found on the bass battlefield putting up a good fight on any Northern California body of water. This season he went into the U.S. angler’s Choice tournament of Champions on Clear lake leading the pack of 143 pro anglers. a misstep in that final event cost him his aoY title; but he gracefully took second in the yearend race. Not too shabby for an angler of any age; but what else would you expect from a man that has made his mark on the history of the sport, a man that has made his name synonymous with an actual technique, a man who has changed the entire bass fishing industry in his lifetime... i guess, you would expect nothing less; but Thomas is still fishing so don’t be surprised if he does even more.
13
http://www.secretlures.com/