Check-in Time: Kurt Mitchell
What an FLW pro is up to right now
From time to time, FLW checks in with its anglers to find out what they’ve been up to, what they’re listening to, who they’re following and where they’re heading while out on the tournament trail. This week, we caught up with Delaware pro Kurt Mitchell.
What are you up to lately?
I’ve been working a lot. I paint for my dad’s painting company and have been putting in 50-plus hours a week. But I try to go fishing every day I have off. We have pretty fair weather here in Delaware since we’re right at sea level, so we’re not as cold as people think.
And honestly, when I do go fishing, I try to catch a state record (largemouth). It’s something I do for fun every year. I think the state record is over 11 pounds now, because it’s been broken a few times in the last few years. I’ve never come close, but I’ve caught a few 7s and one over 8. Trying to catch a state record is good motivation to keep me fishing because it’s real easy to not go when it’s 25 degrees outside.
A state record, huh? What’s your go-to for chasing a giant?
I like a glide bait or an A-rig. We don’t have a lot of big water around here. It’s mostly ponds that are maybe 8 feet deep at the max, so you have to fish something that won’t go too deep. A glide bait is perfect for this time of the year with cooler water. An A-rig is a little harder to fish because you need to keep it light and it can be hard to cast, but two years ago I caught five fish over 7 pounds on it. So it works.
Where are you headed next?
I went to Key West right after the FLW Series Championship for a week with my girlfriend, Brittany. I was kinda bored because there were no bass to catch, but my girlfriend loved it. I did try to catch tarpon off the dock and managed to catch a big shark, which was cool. Other than that I might go prepractice on Sam Rayburn just for fun, and I’ll for sure try to go if our lakes here freeze up.
Got anything special on your Christmas list?
I’d love a Hinkle Shad swimbait, or really any custom swimbait. You can’t have too much custom stuff. And I love throwing swimbaits, so that’s about all I’d want.
Do you have a favorite show or series you like to watch?
I watch whatever Brittany is watching. I work so much this time of the year, and when I’m not working I’m trying to fish, so it doesn’t leave much time to watch shows. But I will try to watch any fishing show I can. And, if the Philadelphia Eagles are playing, I make time to watch them.
What bait or technique are you trying to master right now?
Last year I cashed six or seven checks in a row on a swimbait, but it’s hard to fine-tune around here because our lakes aren’t super clear. Our lakes get clear in the winter, and that’s fine for a glide bait, but for bigger paddle tails in the 6- to 8-inch range I can’t do much of that around the house – especially in the prespawn. So, I have to try and learn something about throwing bigger paddle tails like a Megabass Mag Draft, Optimum Boom Boom or 3:16 Rising Sun when I’m practicing for an event. It’s a bait that I feel like you can cash checks on if you can figure out how to get them to eat it, so I’m going to keep trying to figure it out.