Classic Winning Weight?

[abkeenan]

and his sponsors include.... guess what? http://www.bassmaster.com/anglers/randy-howell#

Livingstons Lures! Come on, he caught them on a DT-6 around the bridge.

I know he has to support his sponsors, but don't go overboard (dumped a bunch of baits he has never used?, Like he didn't have a 8-10 ft bait in the boat? Come on man). George Cochran did the same thing at Gville years ago. Said he caught them on a Strike King jerk and Bassmaster clearly showed him using a Rogue. You sheep have to learn to read between the lines. Common sense.

The guy is 100% flat out honest and the story of dumping the lures out to see what he had is true. Read between those lines. I watched both his interview up on stage with Dave Mercer when weighing in and also when he did the interview with Davy Hite when he put his boat on the trailer at the end of day 3. Howell showed them ON CAMERA and you can tell it was the God's honest truth. He even said on the stage "I used a Rapala DT6 to catch most my fish and I recognize that they are not one of my sponsors but you have to use what catches them" or something to that effect. I realize guys are TERRIBLE about fibbing on what they catch them on and have to plug the mouth that feeds them in sponsors but this IS NOT ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES. Am I going to go out and buy a ton of these lures....no. But I like the peace of mind knowing what they used.

[fishinwrench]

I don't GAS one way or the other, but I'm probably gonna be a little more organized and know exactly where every bait I have is at, and what it'll do BEFORE I get to the Classic.

There wouldn't be any "dumping out piles of crankbaits" and "eenie-menie-miney-moes" going on.

That's just hilarious. Seriously?

God's honest truth.

Oh, well then. That settles that.

[Quillback]

I'm also of the opinion that Howell is a stand-up guy. If he says he caught some on Lure-X, I'll take him on his word on that. However that part about picking a bait out of a bucket of lures does sound a bit embellished. But I haven't listened to any of the interviews, I'd have to hear it before I'd make a decision on what was said.

I've already got a DT-6 or two, I expect a limit of toads next time I use one on TR.

[dtrs5kprs]

There is some nice video of him fishing that bridge up on bass master. Sure looks like he is using at least the rapala bait.

I was glad to see him win. If you visit his site there is a real story of faith and perseverance behind his success.

[abkeenan]

I'm also of the opinion that Howell is a stand-up guy. If he says he caught some on Lure-X, I'll take him on his word on that. However that part about picking a bait out of a bucket of lures does sound a bit embellished. But I haven't listened to any of the interviews, I'd have to hear it before I'd make a decision on what was said.

I've already got a DT-6 or two, I expect a limit of toads next time I use one on TR.

In one interview he said that he just had some baits that Livingston had given him that were prototypes and not on the market yet. He dumped them out to see if they had given him anything resembling the DT6 in the same color he was throwing only it would get 8-10 deep. Found the one that is a red craw color and rolled with it. Had someone like KVD or others made up this story it would have been suspect. But Howell is a class act, you could see the honesty in his voice and face. He is almost excited to tell Hite how he caught them when he gets off the water and is still in the boat on the trailer. Here is the link and it starts at 11 minutes into the clip: http://www.bassmaster.com/video/first-look-randy-howell-boatload

[dtrs5kprs]

In one interview he said that he just had some baits that Livingston had given him that were prototypes and not on the market yet. He dumped them out to see if they had given him anything resembling the DT6 in the same color he was throwing only it would get 8-10 deep. Found the one that is a red craw color and rolled with it. Had someone like KVD or others made up this story it would have been suspect. But Howell is a class act, you could see the honestly in his voice and face. He is almost excited to tell Hite how he caught them when he gets off the water and is still in the boat on the trailer. Here is the link and it starts at 11 minutes into the clip: http://www.bassmaster.com/video/first-look-randy-howell-boatload

Hard to argue with that footage. Better than anything you are likely to see in the produced television version.

[Quillback]

Sounds credible to me.

Kind of funny that he used the "Ike Demon" color to catch most of his keepers, and Ike himself didn't even make the cut.

[fishinwrench]

So after it was obvious that he had boxed all the weight he needed to secure a high finish (possibly a win), he then reached for something from one of his sponsors so he could say he "used it" since he was more or less obligated to do so.

Competitive fishing is still cool and I really do dig it alot. The "reality show" direction that it has been headed in for years now is the only real turn-off for me.

"I'm young, handsome, and ambitious, Please root for me".

"I'm a godly man and live by the black book, Please root AND PRAY for ME".

"I'm a clown, I'm funny and act silly when I catch a fish, Please root for ME".

"I'm timid and soft spoken, and carrying on my fathers legacy, Please root for Me".

So on and so forth....

The character cast is cheesy and unoriginal. ( IMO )

Someone needs to enter the circuit as the "unnamed angler" in plain clothes and in a plain looking boat..... and just start freakin RULING the weigh-ins!

"Just leave the Pay to the order of BLANK please. Thank you".

[dtrs5kprs]

That Livingston bait looked pretty "well loved" to have just been pulled out.

[Sprint21fter]

You can pull out any new bait that has never been used and if you are bangin it off rip/rap or anything plus catching a crap load of fish it will look like it has been used for years. The teeth on bass if they are crawdads are very rough and sharp. I would like to see Howell's hands after catching all those bass.