doing what they ’ re not supposed to be doing . Find that and you win .”
Thrift admits that his initial journeys to new fisheries do come with some prior research .
“ I find out what ’ s typically the best pattern ,” he says . “ Usually , a pattern revolves around a major food source .”
Thrift finds that by understanding the primary forage base , he can quickly dial in the locations of bass and go about fishing his own way .
Sounds easy enough , but as is typical of Thrift , there ’ s a little magic involved .
“ There ’ s always one lure that catches the biggest fish in the lake ,” he insists . “ But you need to figure that out each time .”
ILLUSTRATION BY JOE MAHLER ehrler ’ s change of heart
“ I struggled my first year on tour ,” recalls Brent Ehrler , who has 52 Top 10s in MLF competition and more than $ 3.2 million in career earnings . “ I mean , I questioned my life choices that season .”
After proving himself out West , Ehrler had come east with a preconceived notion of what fishing was supposed to be like . Squarebill cranks , runand-gun , power fishing down the bank . After all , that ’ s what he ’ d seen on TV .
Try as he may to fit into the old-school stereotypes , Ehrler ’ s catches were lacking . To perform well on foreign venues , Ehrler needed to go back to his roots .
“ I got in the groove when I fished my strengths ,” he says . “ Really , bass fishing isn ’ t that different from one place to another . You ’ re spinning your wheels if you ’ re fishing a way that ’ s uncomfortable .”
Ehrler admits some flexibility is required in his methods .
“ It may not be the exact technique that you use at home ,” he expounds . “ I ’ m not going to drop-shot at Okeechobee , but I can find ways to catch fish that I relate to . Maybe it ’ s a worm off the bank ; I can get into that . Or , if it ’ s power fishing , I ’ ll use a reaction bait that I ’ m already comfortable with .”
In order to uncover his true potential at each venue , Ehrler is adamant to stay away from dock talk . His take on the matter is unique .
“ If someone tells me they caught 20 on a crankbait , it doesn ’ t mean I ’ ll catch 20 the same way ,” he says . “ If I try it and don ’ t , I ’ m defeated . You simply can ’ t catch someone else ’ s fish .”
Certain fisheries present the same pattern in the same areas year after year , like community holes that just seem to always hold up . Ehrler understands the need to get in the mix , but he cautions against spinning out .
“ Sometimes you just have to put your head down and fish ( in a crowd ),” he says . “ I usually try to slow way down ; pay attention to every cast and retrieve . Otherwise , you find yourself watching everyone else and not concentrating . You ’ re not fishing ; you ’ re just casting .”
A slower pace assists Ehrler in taking it one bite at a time .
“ Relax and do your thing ,” he adds . “ The next thing you know , you get bit .” Finally , Ehrler points out an overlooked key to nationwide success .
“ Diet and exercise is huge ,” he says . “ If you ’ re out of shape , you get tired and make poor decisions . Being physically tough equals being mentally tough , and that helps push you over the top .” neal does his thing
Michael Neal has proved to be one of the best professional anglers over the last decade – on any circuit . In fact , only Jacob Wheeler surpasses Neal in overall BPT lifetime standings , not to mention Neal ’ s recent back-to-back Angler of the Year awards on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals ( formerly Pro Circuit ) stage .
While it may seem like Neal ’ s been cashing checks forever , his immediate charge out of the gate was responsible for his meteoric rise to the top . How did Neal get so good – seemingly everywhere – so fast ?
“ I figure out one or two techniques that work and I stick to them ,” Neal says of his practice routine . “ I don ’ t like going to the bank , and I don ’ t flip much . In places like Florida ( where most anglers do just that ), I cover a lot of water . Up north , I finesse fish . I try to figure out ways that I want to catch fish and how those apply to each body of water .”
Neal is careful not to get too spread out in his approach .
“ I ’ ve only got so much time ( practicing on an unfamiliar fishery ),” he says . “ I break down an area and stay put .”
Each day he ’ s on the water , Neal discovers a little more about his chosen locale .
“ If I find anything decent in practice , I ’ ll stick around that area and keep investigating ,” he says .
While Thrift is convinced more looks get him more bites , Neal finds it better to reduce the temptation of secondguessing his offerings .
“ I carry less tackle every year I ’ m on tour ,” he admits . “ I stick to what I have confidence in – swim jigs , drop-shots , vibrating jigs . A handful of colors .”
For Neal the whole key is confidence in a proven system with little or no wasted time . Ehrler stays a West Coast diehard no matter where he ’ s at . And Thrift is , well , Thrift . Always an ace up his sleeve .
The common variable is belief in a principle . Dedication to the voice within . Letting others do it their way , while these guys go about business as usual , regardless of where their business takes them .
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 23