SPOILED ROTTEN AND LOVING IT
EDITOR ’ S NOTE
SPOILED ROTTEN AND LOVING IT
as a kid , I always had more than I needed and most of what I wanted . That ’ s called being spoiled . To this day , I ’ m still spoiled , particularly when it comes to fishing . Don ’ t judge me . You ’ re spoiled , too . As bass fishermen , we all are because we ’ re living in a time of incredible opportunity , information sharing and technology . Here ’ s an example that supports my point : In a recent article I reviewed , writer Tyler Brinks listed Mark Rose ’ s preferred tackle for deep-diving crankbaits – the line , the rod and the reel . While reading it , I realized there isn ’ t an item on Rose ’ s list that isn ’ t nearly technically perfect for deep cranking , and every component is far superior to the tackle being used just a couple decades ago .
More importantly , Rose isn ’ t even using “ premium ” gear . His choices fall into the middle price range among modern rods and reels – stuff most of us could afford .
I know there ’ s someone out there reading this who insists his old Abu Garcia Ambassadeur or original Lew ’ s Speed Spool is just as capable as today ’ s Revo or BB1 , and if that person is you , I suggest that , respectfully , you might be a little too nostalgic . What we have today delivers far greater performance , and your trigger grip rod doesn ’ t compare .
That we have the opportunity to fish with equipment of this quality – the same stuff the pros use – on a budget is one example of why we ’ re all so spoiled . But there ’ s more to the story .
In the article , Brinks details Rose ’ s technique for accurately targeting bass deeper than 30 feet . The Arkansas pro reveals a few trade secrets that others in his trade might not even know . It ’ s a very valuable lesson that you can read about in the next issue of FLW Bass Fishing , and all it took on Brinks ’ part was a phone call to Rose .
Eleven years ago , when I started at FLW , we ’ d never have gotten that kind of info out of a pro so easily . Back then , we had to stay so far away during tournaments that on-the-water photography required a giant 3-foot-long lens that we toted in its own roller case . Today , when one of our photographers happens upon a pro during a tournament , the photographer is as likely to climb in the boat ( by invitation and without any complaints ) as he is to shoot from a distance .
The nearly unlimited access we have nowadays is the reason we manage to get so many great tournament photos for FLWFishing . com . It ’ s how we were able to capture this issue ’ s cover photo of Scott Martin on Lake Okeechobee . And it ’ s why we ’ re able to consistently deliver so much fishing information through all of FLW ’ s media channels .
We owe a lot of the credit for the increased media access to the internet , the popularity of GoPro cameras and projects such as FLW Live , which home in on bass pros like the all-seeing eye . It ’ s inevitable that their fishing secrets will be revealed . They know it and can ’ t fight it anymore , so instead , today ’ s pros embrace it and dish out information like crazy . Fishing fans learn every detail , and the pros reap the reward of better opportunities to promote their sponsors and support their fans .
The situation is a win-win that I especially appreciate , because it helps me in my job and my fishing . I ’ m very thankful for that . I ’ m also very spoiled because of it . We all are .
Curtis Niedermier , Editor-in-Chief
publisher Irwin L . Jacobs
Editor-in-Chief Curtis Niedermier
production Manager / Graphic Designer Michelle Dowling
assistant Managing Editor Chad Love
Editor Emeritus Colin Moore
Field Editors Rob Newell & Matt Williams
Contributors Joe Balog , David A . Brown , Ken Duke , Bridgett Howard , Dan Johnson , TJ Maglio , Sean Ostruszka , Matt Straw , Paul Strege
Graphic Designer D . W . Reed II
Graphic Designer / Illustrator Matt Pace
Director of advertising Al Chapman | 270.252.1628
FLWFishing . com Senior Web Content Manager Jesse Schultz
Senior Editor Kyle Wood
associate Editor Jody White
Letters to the Editor FLW Bass Fishing 30 Gamble Lane , Benton , KY 42025 flwfishing @ flwfishing . com
Chairman & CEO Irwin L . Jacobs
president of FLW Marketing Division Trish Blake
president of FLW Operations Division Kathy Fennel
Chief Financial Officer Dave Mahler
Vice president , Controller Tommy Boaz
Vice president of Marketing Kelly Oettinger
Vice president of Operations Dave Washburn
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FLWFISHING . COM I aprIL 2018