Reel Chat with JOHN COX

FLW Tour Red River winner fields questions from fans about his Fantasy Fishing stock, future plans, how to stock a beginner's tackle box, and much more

– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Welcome to FLW Live Reel Chat. Today we’re joined by bass pro John Cox of Debary, Fla., who is fresh off of his first-ever FLW Tour win at the May 19-22 event at the Red River.

– MODERATOR COMMENT –
With nearly $200,000 in winnings and 12 top-10 finishes at FLW Outdoors-related events since 2004, Cox secured his first-ever FLW Tour win in Louisiana on May 22. Most remarkably, Cox led the Red River event beginning on day one and held on to the top spot in the standings each and every day of the four-day contest. In the end, Cox wound up winning the tournament title by more than 5 pounds, an impressive feat to say the least.

– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Today, John Cox is here to take questions from you, the fans. So, without further delay, let’s get started.

Q: John, you have led big-time tourneys before, but never closed the deal until the Red River. How important is it to get a tour-level win to advance a tournament career? What does it mean to any aspiring pro, and what did it mean to you personally?
— Delmer Polstad (Waukegan, Ill.)
A: It’s what I’ve always wanted to, and it’s what everybody wants to do. To finally seal the deal, I now can look back on the Red River and feel that confidence that I can do it again. You never want to be the guy that has the big lead and loses. That first win really boosts your confidence; it’s something in your head that just builds.

Q: John, what other tournaments should I pick you at this season?
— Steve (Pell City, Ala.)
A: From this tournament (Potomac) out, it’s really my kind of deal. I feel at home here, and I learned about offshore fishing last year, so I’m excited to fish Kentucky Lake and Pickwick Lake. Put me down for all of them. Because if you don’t think you can do it, you shouldn’t be out there.

Q: Hi, I was wondering how to become a co-angler, and how can I enter in tournaments?
— Andrew Wallace (Lexington, Ky.)
A: Editor’s note: Andrew, our recommendation would be to start at the grass roots level, whether through our Bass Fishing League (BFL) or through a bass club like those offered via The Bass Federation (TBF). You can read this article about getting started in tournament fishing that includes helpful links to other resources related to the topic and also survey our overview of circuits that includes a link to register for tournaments (upper right). Good luck, and thanks for your interest in tournament fishing.

Q: I heard that some bass were still spawning on the Red. How is that possible? The tournament was held in mid-May?!?!
— Mike (Little Rock, Ark.)
A: There were still quite a few spawning in practice. But during the tournament, I didn’t really see many. I caught some on day three, and on day four I went back in there and could see the empty beds because the water had droppped. The Red River’s got Florida-strain (largemouth bass) in there, and anytime the water drops after a big rain, those fish go back up to spawn. Those fish had probably already spawned a couple times. But those later fish are much more spooky. You can’t sight-fish them. You have to make long casts and just try and surprise them. And they’re not stable either. Once the water gets into the 80s, they move back off pretty quick.

Q: How did you know about that backwater spot (Editor’s note: click here to read about it and see video of the maneuver)? And was that your boat, or did you borrow it from someone?
— George (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
A: That was Keith’s boat, and I’ve used it a ton over the years for guide trips and such (Editor’s note: Keith Carson is also from Debary, Fla., practiced with Cox and ultimately won the Co-angler Division at the Red River). And we were just trying to go into any backwater to find some clearer water. We just stumbled on it during the middle of the day on the last day of practice. After we cleared out some wood and debris, we found this amazing honeyhole. After that, everything just clicked. It was amazing.

Q: What are you going to do with the money you won?
— Eric Kasper (Bossier City, La.)
A: I’m going to pay off some debt first, then I’m going to buy my lady a car. And then my buddy Keith Carson and I, who won the co-angler tournament, are going to go in on a rental house.

Q: John, how does it feel to win a big one like the FLW Tour at the Red River? What are your future tournament plans, and what advice would you give others wanting to get into tournament fishing?
— Katie Rebaur (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
A: It’s amazing. The money just went into my bank account this morning, and I’ve had to look at it four of five times to make sure it was there. I was fortunate that everything just came together. My future plans are to finish out the year and do well at the Forrest Wood Cup. After that, I hope to have enough set aside to keep doing it again next year and in the future. It was great that it happened when it did; it makes me feel like I made the right decisiion.

Q: It says you caught some bed-fish during the Red River tournament to help round out your limits: Do you like to sight-fish, and did you think there would still be bass on beds that late in the season in Louisiana?
— Greg Fulton (Houston, Texas)
A: Being from Florida, I like to look for them more than anything. I guess I’m kind of lazy. I just like looking at them. And they just got off the beds at our house the week before the tournament, so spawning fish were definitely in the back of my mind.

Q: I noticed you fished the first two days at the Red River in a backwater area that you had to shoot through a culvert to access (Editor’s note: click here to read about it and see video of the maneuver). Knowing how hard it would be to get in there, how confident were you gambling on that plan with falling water? How frequently do you fish out of an aluminum boat like you did to get through that skinny water?
— Davis Astor (Eugene, Ore.)
A: I couldn’t sleep the night before; I was that worried I wasn’t going to be able to get in there. I just crossed my fingers every morning, and it just worked out. And on the second day, I saw it and said, “There’s no way we’re getting in there.” Yet somehow we did. It was just unreal. We should have been stuck in that pipe on the way back with how fast the water was falling. And I still thought about going down there the third day, but I ultimately chose to stay by the ramp, and it was the right decision.

Q: I know you and your practice partner Keith Carson have had a lot of success fishing as a team in the Fishers of Men Series. How has that helped you develop as a professional fisherman?
— Al Odom (Chapin, S.C.)
A: That trail is what has gotten us by month after month. We’ve fished that circuit ever since we started fishing. We won the national points championships out of all the regions, and that paid $10,000. And we won the Southeast Regional tournament on Clarks Hill and took that money and decided to fish the Tour. So without Fishers of Men, we wouldn’t be here today.

Q: Congrats on the win! What’s a ballpark figure of the expenses required for a year on tour? (gas, motels/housing accomodations, entry fees, tackle, maintenance, additional expenses, etc.)
— Dave (Bowling Green, KY)
A: I’m guessing it’s almost up to $80,000 for a full year. That includes everything. It might be a little less, because I haven’t added it up yet, but it’s somewhere close. But expenses are almost $6,000 per tournament these days.

Q: High water, high pressure and hot weather — I have a tournament this weekend, and I know the Corps is going to be pulling the water, but the water will still be up in the bushes pretty far. What would you suggest?
— Michael Massey (Bonnerdale, Ark.)
A: I would fish the bushes in the morning with the trolling motor on high. Then as the day progresses, try to fish some deeper stuff.

Q: You seem like a good example of one who started small with BFLs and EverStarts and made it on Tour. How important were those early days in your recent success in the last two years?
— Brandon (Tempe, Ariz.)
A: Working my way up was the only way for me. Being in that tournament situation has really helped me. You can’t just jump in. You’re not ready mentally. Nothing can substitute time on the water, especially tournament experience. I look back on stuff I learned years ago fishing johnboat touraments and still apply it today.

Q: John, what was your No. 1 choice of bait (at the Red River)? What way did you fish it?
— Cody Hanley (New Brunswick, Canada)
A: When I was in the pond, it really didn’t matter — they’d eat anything. But the last day I caught all five of them on a Producto Buzztail Shad. That was an extremely pressured area, but that small-profile bait really made a difference.

Q: What is your go-to bait for flippin’? And what rods do you like to use?
— Johnny Davis (Petal, Miss.)
A: I like to use a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy-action Airrus Ultra XL rod. That rod has the old foam grips. And I like flipping a little 3-inch craw. Brand doesn’t really matter, because they’re just biting it out of a reaction.

Q: What is the best reel to throw weightless baits with like a lizard and a hook? And what is the best reel for buzzbaits?
— Wayne Thigpen (Tyler, Texas)
A: Recently I’ve been using the Revo Premier for buzzbaits. And recently I’ve started using a spinning rod (Airrus Ultra XL) and reel (Revo) for lighter stuff because my shoulder has been bothering me.

Q: Hey, I’m Mykel and I’m 14. I’ve been fishing for a long time, but just got really into it. I’m wondering: What’s some good stuff for my tackle box and a good baitcaster that’s reasonably priced?
— Mykel Welch (Hartselle, Ala.)
A: For your tackle box, just head to your local Walmart. They’ll have Zoom Super Flukes, Zoom Trick Worms, Terminator spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits, Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps. That’s what we started on, and they still work great. For a reel, I’d go with the Revo S. I think it costs around $80.

Q: How were you able to locate your primary and backup areas?
— Jeremy (Hoover, Ala.)
A: I ran around a lot and tried to look at as much water as I could. And I specifically looked for areas I knew the other boats wouldn’t be able to get into. I knew those areas wouldn’t have the pressure. In 2009, I fished a Fishers of Men National Tournament where I caught them great in the backwaters and then couldn’t get back there when the water dropped. The same type of situation unveiled this year.

Q: John, do you feel water temperature or water movement is the most critical factor in summertime patterns on shallow-water lakes and rivers?
— James (Tifton, Ga.)
A: In the summer, I would say water movement. When the water is just sitting still, it gets so tough. They just suspend and get lethargic.

Q: John, when during practice did you decide on fishing the pond you had to access the first two days?
— George Myers (Duluth, Ga.)
A: Once I found it, the final day (of practice) I caught a 3-, a 4- and a 3 1/2-pounder. Right then I decided to start there. I’ve never been in a pond that loaded with fish. We could’ve had 10 people in that pond, and they all would’ve made the cut. There were that many fish back there.

Q: If I wanted to practice with a pro at an EverStart or FLW Tour event, could I just show up at the launch site during practice and offer gas money to a pro for a day of practice with him?
— Alann (Dallas, Ga.)
A: It’s possible. I’ve picked up guys at the ramp before. Some guys won’t, but some guys will.

Q: One of the things I struggle with at times is water elimination. How do you determine quickly if the fish are just not feeding at a particular time or if you are simply in an unproductive area?
— James (Tifton, Ga.)
A: You never really know. If there’s bait and there’s water movement, but you’re still not getting bit, then maybe it’s not right and it’s time to move on. But at all these places we go, there is a ton of dead water. And the only way to know is through experience. That’s not the easy answer, but it’s an honest one. You’ve just got to put your time in.

– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have to chat with John today. Thanks, once again, to all the fans who tuned in and participated in today’s Reel Chat. And a special thanks to John Cox, the recent FLW Tour winner on the Red River, for giving us his time and insights into bass fishing. Check back shortly for a complete transcript of today’s FLW Live Reel Chat.