FLW Live Reel Chat transcript with BRENT LONG
Long discusses his recent FLW Tour victory at Table Rock, shares his thoughts on the Alabama Rig and talks about the balance between fishing and family
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Welcome to FLW Live Reel Chat. Today we’re joined by FLW Tour pro Brent Long of Cornelius, N.C. who recently took home the top prize of $125,000 after winning the 2012 FLW Tour Major on Table Rock Lake.
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Brent Long boasts over $355,000 in career earnings, 11 top-10 finishes and two FLW Tour wins since he began his FLW career in 1997. In addition to his recent FLW Tour Table Rock Lake victory, Long also recorded an FLW Tour win in 2010 at Lake Guntersville. Long began fishing the FLW Tour for the first time in 2007.
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Long is here to take questions from you, the fans. So, without further delay, let’s get started.
Q: Is flipping wood something you Carolina guys do a lot of back home on Wylie and Norman? If so, what makes a lay-down productive? Size? Roots? Depth of water? Thanks for any tips.
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A: There’s not much of that on Norman, a little on Wylie, but there are a lot of South Carolina (Wateree, Greenwood) lakes that have wood. That’s where I learned to flip. As far as specifics, it could be anything – roots, bushes, sticks whatever. For some reason, when the water gets dirty, they just like to hang to wood.
Q: I thought black-and-blue bait colors were more geared to Florida waters? And I thought crawfish colors worked better in the Ozarks? Why did you use black and blue at Table Rock?
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A: Because the water was actually muddy – it was brown, dirty water. The black and blue just sticks out in dirty water. Had it been clear, or even clearer, I would have stuck with the crawfish pattern.
Q: What river were you planning to run up before you saw Long Creek?
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A: Actually, on the second day of practice, I ran up both the James River and the White River and all of their pockets just looking for water that had some stain. The James had more of that stain I was looking for. I mostly just ran around up there, but I did catch a limit. So if I hadn’t found Long Creek, I probably would have fished the James.
Q: Do you not like sight-fishing or did you determine that the spawning bass on Table Rock Lake were just too difficult to catch?
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A: Well, I’ve learned that when the fish are really on the bed, you have to sight-fish to compete. But after I found those fish on the first day of practice in Long Creek, I knew they would be easier to catch. Some of those fish I caught might have been on bed, but I just couldn’t see them. It just takes one pitch in dirty water to catch them. But in clear water, it can take forever to get them to bite. If I absolutely have to sight-fish, I will. But I much prefer to fish for prespawn fish.
Q: What is your opinion of the Alabama rig?
— Pat Zak (Oakland, Calif.)
A: I don’t like it. I just think it’s bad for the sport. It catches fish that don’t usually get caught. And if we were able to catch all the fish, it would eventually hurt the population, because there are still a lot of people who eat fish. It’s kind of like if you kill the momma, you ain’t going to have any babies.
Q: What kind of advice or recommendations would you give an amateur bass angler who is looking to take the next step in the competitive world of fishing? How did you get your first sponsor and who was it?
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A: Whether its the TBF or the co-angler side on the BFL and EverStarts, you just need a few years of experience. I would definitely start slow, learn as a co-angler and then work your way up. As far as sponsors, for me, they started small also. First it was receiving products at discount, then getting products paid for. As far as my first sponsor, I can’t even remember. But even after two wins, I’m still looking for more.
Q: Brent, it seems like a lot of guys used that same jig you were throwing on Table Rock – is there any way you can get some online?
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A: Ernest Langley is the guy who makes the jigs and yes he does sell them online. And you can find the Flippin’ Bug and the Charlie’s Chunk and the rest of their products at www.charliesworms.com.
Q: What caused you to choose the baits you ultimately used on Table Rock Lake?
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A: Flipping and pitching to shallow cover is just my strength. I’ve got a lot of confidence flipping a jig and I’ve got a lot of experience with those colors in dirty water.
Q: Did you have several key areas that the fish were setting up on or was it one key stretch or bank?
— Henry (Berryville, AR)
A: I actually had like six to eight pockets and I started in the same one each morning. I’d always get one in that first pocket and then you’d never know which pocket they’d come from after that. But I did catch them in several different pockets. I would just try to fish the high percentage areas, maybe pitch to it three times, then move on. Then I’d put the trolling motor on high and look for the next piece of cover.
Q: Did you take a look at King’s River at all while you practiced or did you want to stay fairly close?
— Henry (Berryville, AR)
A: I did look at it the second day. And I caught a few cruising fish at the mouth of it, but by then I had already found the quality prespawn fish in Long Creek.
Q: What baits do you reccomend for shallow-water bass on Table Rock? Also, what colors?
— (, )
A: Besides the jig, you can catch them on creature-style baits, beaver-style baits and tubes – really anything you have confidence in. I know other guys caught them on crankbaits and spinnerbaits but that was something I never got going. I was just so keyed in on the largemouth pattern with the jig. Sometimes there is such a thing as knowing and doing too much, which can take you out of what you should be doing.
Q: What other FLW Tour events this season are you looking forward to? I need as much help as possible formulating my fantasy fishing team over the next few months. Thanks for the help.
— Jim Interlandi (Chicago, IL)
A: Well, I’m looking forward to Kentucky Lake. That’s one of my favorite lakes and I always seem to do well. I won my very first major tournament there (Federation Southern Divisional) in 1997. I’ve also been to the Potomac River twice and cashed good checks. But I feel most comfortable at Kentucky.
Q: Did you have any other boats fishing close to your primary fishing areas throughout the tournament?
— Henry (Berryville, AR)
A: Yeah, there were probably five out of the top 10 and 10 out of the top 20 in the same creek, but they were on different patterns so we didn’t fish the exact same stuff. For example, a lot of guys were fishing the points near the pockets and I was fishing the pocket itself.
Q: If you were fishing prespawn/spawn and not good at sight-fishing or the water wasn’t clear enough to find the beds, what would you do to catch the fish?
— Garry Kincaid (Martinsville, IN)
A: I would flip to shallow cover where I thought they’d be spawning and I’d throw shallow-running crankbaits over points that lead into spawning areas.
Q: How do you re-locate fish after the spawn and where do they go on highland resevoirs?
— Jeff (Decatur, AL)
A: As soon as the spawn is over, I look for shad and herring to spawn. The bass typically go out and suspend, but they will get in packs to eat. Usually the shad and herring spawn happens right after the bass spawn. It usually happens on bridge pilings and marinas that are close to deep water. It’s usually an early-morning deal and only lasts for a short while. Some guys like to throw Pop-R type baits. Those baits usually work well because bass want something slow because they are weak.
Q: What is the largest largemouth bass that you ever caught?
— James (Bedford, IN)
A: It was 9 pounds, 4 ounces and I caught it on Lake Okeechobee in an EverStart tournament back in 2005 or 2006.
Q: How did you start fishing with FLW and at what age did you start?
— Aaron Funk (Nevada, Mo.)
A: I started fishing BFLs back in 1996 when I was 26. And then I started fishing the EverStarts as a co-angler for a few years and then as a boater in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, I fished my first year on the FLW Tour.
Q: Steel braid or fluorocarbon line for flipping – which do you prefer and why? Thanks, Kent
— kent dowden (mendon, MI)
A: If I’m flipping around grass, I prefer braid because it cuts throught the grass to get the fish out better. If there’s no grass, I prefer flipping 20-pound Seaguar Invisx because its real sensitive and casts better.
Q: What are your thoughts on the upcoming FLW Tour Beaver Lake tournament? What patterns will the bass be in, and what techniques will anglers be using?
— Joe (Milaca, MN)
A: I think it’s going to be a post-spawn event because the bass are in the same pattern as Table Rock. So I think people will be throwing a lot of topwater baits and doing quite a bit of finesse fishing. But the water is high, so there still could be a shallow flipping bite. That’s kind of what I’m hoping for.
Q: How do you balance professional fishing with family?
— Jonathan Ruffier (West Harrison, Ind.)
A: Family is the most important thing. I’m a very busy person, but that’s one of the reason I like fishing FLW. There are only six FLW Tour Majors, so I’m only gone that much throughout the year. And when I’m home, I’m with family. Believe it or not, I don’t fish a whole lot.
Q: Did the fish bite change over the course of the Table Rock tournament? If so, did you have to work your bait slower or do anything differently as time went on?
— Henry (Berryville, AR)
A: The water was dropping, but it didn’t affect my bite too much. The morning bite was best, then it was slow and then it would pick back up the last hour of each day. I learned quickly how important each hour of the day really was.
Q: It’s been a very early spring here in Buffalo, N.Y. and the water is very murky and chilly. With these conditions, I know that it takes the perfect technique and lure to be successful. So far, I have tried topwater baits, shallow-water lures, and have fished deep by the banks and runoffs with no bites. Could you please give me some advice as to what I should try to use and how I should use it? For me, early spring and murky water are my biggest enemies. Thank you.
— Colin Sperrazza (Tonawanda, N.Y.)
A: Colin I would try fishing something slow like a shaky head or a Carolina rig. When the fish are still cold and sluggish, slow is the way to go. No matter what, you can usually get a few bites on a shaky head no matter what.
Q: Could you tell us about the jig you were using on Table Rock Lake and why it was so special?
— Wayne Smelser (Rural Retreat, VA)
A: The jig is hand-tied by Ernest Langley. But really, there’s not a whole of difference between jigs out there now; they are all good. It’s just a confidence thing for me.
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have to chat with Brent Long today. Thanks, once again, to all the fans who tuned in and participated in today’s Reel Chat. And a special thanks to Brent Long, the recent FLW Tour winner on Table Rock Lake, for giving us his time and insights into bass fishing. Check back shortly for a complete transcript of today’s FLW Live Reel Chat.