"I contain multitudes . . ."

These words, by American poet Walt Whitman, might well be applied to bass fishing. One of my favorite things about the sport is its sheer variety and never-ending list of challenges and approaches to those challenges. Byron Velvick, who finished a very respectable 11th at Smith Mountain Lake on the latest stop of the Elite Series, wrote of the terrible weather for the Northern Open at Chesapeake Bay in Maryland April 16-18. Throw into the mix an ever-changing pattern of tidal shifts and cold weather and it's no wonder that '91Classic Champion Ken Cook (who won that Classic on that same body of water) skunked not one but two days of the tournament. This reminds that even to a seasoned professional angler there are times when the variable get the better of the fisherman.
If I had to name my biggest pet peeve that I feel is outsidemy realm of control (other than my inexperience), it'd have to be access to bodies of water. I suppose a lot can be done to change that, such as lobbying or even simply asking private landowners for access to waters bordering their land. But who hasn't felt the sting of envy or anger of a child on Christmas who didn't get what he asked for at the knowledge that no matter how great the fishing might be on Lake X he won't get a chance to fish it because there's no public access. I guess the remedy, if there is one--other than simply finding a different place to fish--is patience. That and persistence.

Blue Ridge Brawl

What can you say about KVD that hasn't already been said? The guy is, simply put, a machine. Just when you think he may be out of it, he puts together a big bag or a string of solid days and somehow ends up at or near the top of the field. One thing I'd like to do on this blog is interview Elite Series anglers from time to time (if, of course, they're willing!), and I'd love to hear some suggestions for questions to ask some of these guys. In fact, if anyone would like to suggest anglers to contact, that'd be great too. A few things I'd love to pick KVD's head about are: structure fishing, since he seems to be able to find that "spot within the spot within the spot"; power fishing and how he defines it (this seems to be an overused and misused term in fishing, and I'd love to hear his response to how he's been called the definitive power fisherman); spinnerbait retrieves, since he's also known as a skilled spinnerbait angler; and how to get fish when the bite gets tough. I sometimes wonder how it is a single guy can be so versatile? Is there anything he can't do with a fishing rod?

Welcome

Welcome to Bassaholics Anonymous, a blog dedicated to bass fishing at the pro, amateur, and recreational levels. Your author is an avid newcomer to the sport who has caught the bug of bass fishing. I'm writing from the Northeast, so much of what I have to say will be concerned with our seasons. But I will also be posting opinions and responses to other articles, sites, and tv shows about fishing around the country. Any responses are kindly welcomed--though I do hope everyone will be polite and courteous.
Thx,
BA