®
T
his year as we kick off our travels with
pro angler Randy Howell, we watch as he
takes a new adventure with the newest bass fishing tournament organization Major League
Fishing’s (MLF) Bass Pro Tour (BPT).
Getting ready for the unknown of his new
journey, Howell starts off with what has been
different and what has been the same in his
preparation for a season on the road.
TACKLE PREP
Off-season has been somewhat the same. We still have to prepare the same with boat equipment and getting tackle ready. But, when I start getting down to the details, in actual competition week and when practice starts, it probably will be different. I think I will have to learn to be more efficient since the time is going to be a bigger factor.
INTENSITY CHANGES
Competition has always been an intense situation; but before when we fished B.A.S.S. you were on an 8 ½ hour day to catch your biggest five fish. When you did that early in the day, the rest of your time you stayed after it; but you weren’t really as intense. Now, everyday all day long, you will have to stay intense.
That means there is going to be a lot more fishing than there was in the past.
UNKNOWN LOCALES
We only know the first four stops; so that is different while you’re preparing. Usually by now, we have full reservations stretched out for the full season; but now we only have those first four events. We’re just focusing on that and trying not to look at what is out ahead of us that we don’t know.
We’ve got a smaller field size with 80 guys and those 80 guys have a lot of input on locations, which makes it different in securing room blocks and campground blocks. That makes it easier for everyone to find a place to stay. Hopefully it will stay that way.
TRAVELING LIGHTER
I usually carry a lot of stuff that I don’t end up using. Just because I like to have it - in case I might need it. I think with the new format of MLF (where we are going after speed and numbers), it’s going to be more important to have the right techniques and baits for that style of fishing.
What I mean is, I know that I am not going to go out and drag a shakey head in deep water all day in this format. I need more moving and shaking and power fishing gear to move quicker and catch quicker.
The first four events are open for big fish in that pre- spawn/spawn/early post spawn time for big power fishing styles. I think the new format with the first four events as ‘big fish lakes” the speed of the technique is going to determine the success more than the technique itself.
SPONSORS
I’ve been spending time getting everything ready for the sponsors (the people paying the bills) squared away they want it – from graphics and carpet and decals and all the little details. Next, I will be getting ready with the rods, reels and tackle from Daiwa and Yamamoto.
BETTER NOT TO KNOW
This is the first time in my entire career where it is January and I have no idea where the whole season will take us. With the way things are now - once a location is announced it is off-limits completely. So, I don’t mind that we don’t have the schedule.
I say that because, for example, if there were a tournament event here on Guntersville announced, I wouldn’t be able to fish on my home lake as it would be off- limits. That makes it a tough situation; because I couldn’t even fish on the lake with my kids or my wife, once it is announced. So, really if the tournaments in August aren’t announced until June, it works out better.
Spring 2019
page 69