This week, David Dudley discusses the technique of Texas rigging, the advantages of having a diverse fishing arsenal, and how to prevent excessive line runoff from your spool.
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Q & A with DAVID DUDLEY
Q: What are some of the most popular ways to rig worms, lizards and other soft jerkbaits on the tournament trail today? And where can we find examples of how to rig baits in these manners?
- Cole Kimberling , Bells, Texas
A: Cole, as far as worms, lizards and crawdads go, the rigging is fairly simple. Take your hook and put it down through the head of the plastic bait about a quarter of an inch and then push the hook out the other side. Pull the plastic bait until it covers the eye of the hook and the knot. Take the hook point and cover it completely inside the plastic. The key for Texas rigging any bait is that it has to be completely straight. I can’t stress that enough.
Q: I would consider many of the tournament anglers in my region to be specialists with certain lure categories or techniques. I pride myself on being more versatile. I really don't have that one go-to technique. Is that hurting my performance in tournament competition? Is it better to be more of a jack-of-all-trades or a master of one?
- Chad Hill , Marion, Ill.
A: Chad, being a jack-of-all-trades is good! The best example I can give you, other than fishing, is golf. John Daly is the best long-ball hitter on the PGA Tour, but the rest of his game is not there. So, you see where he ends up in the standings. Tiger Woods, on the other hand, is the master of all, and that’s why his is the best. The same thing can be applied to fishing. But understand that your technique needs to go a lot deeper than simply the mechanics of throwing lures and the selection of baits. Specifically, knowing how to use those tools and perform at an optimum level is the key. There are very few anglers in the world who I can truly label jack-of-all-trades types of fishermen. So, my conclusion is that to be the best, you need to learn a little bit of everything. And it sounds like you’re on the right track.
Q: At 39 years of age, I'm a disabled law enforcement officer who would like to try to get into professional fishing. However, I don’t know the best approach to get started or how to get sponsors. Any advice? Thank you for your time.
- Ken Jones , Falls City, Neb.
A: I don’t know what your disability is, but I know that people with disabilities can be such an encouragement to other people who are disabled by showing them that a disability is not the end, but a beginning. An idea is to take your disability and start programs for others in fishing and channel that to sponsors to help you and your program. This way you will get the sponsorship and will be doing what you love at the same time.
Q: I like to skip baits under willow trees and docks with a spinning rod. The problem is that I have a major problem with line coming off the spool in clumps. Do I need to change my brand of line, or is there a problem with the way I’m putting it on the spool?
- Don Hoag , Cooperstown, N.Y.
A: When I hear this complaint, it usually comes from people who are trying to use panfish, crappie and perch spinning reels for bass. I’ve seen many people trying to put these big fishing lines on little bitty spools, which obviously causes plenty of headaches. The size of the spool has to be able to accommodate the size and type of fishing line you’re using. The second way to prevent this problem is when you’re putting the line on in the first place. Take your spool and put it near the tip of your rod. Hold the spool without a lot of tension. Make sure your line is coming off the top of the spool. This will prevent spool runoff later on.
2011 was another standout year for Dudley, as he finished the season by winning the Angler of the Year title for the second time in his 16-year career with FLW (his first AOY title came in 2008). Dudley’s 2011 season included a top-10 finish at the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita (ninth) along with a seventh-place finish at the Red River and ninth at Beaver Lake. He is FLW’s all-time leading money winner. He has qualified for 13 Forrest Wood Cups and won the championship title in 2003 at the James River. Dudley has finished in the top 15 of the points race 10 of his 16 years on Tour and recorded 27 top-10 finishes and two victories.
Dudley and his wife Angela have five children. When he is not fishing or running his horse ranch, you can find him out coon hunting. He loves saltwater fishing in the Atlantic Ocean where the variety of fish caught never ceases to amaze him. His favorite bassing spot is Falcon Lake, and he loves cranking for bass. He is also a fishing guide and says that one of his most memorable fishing moments is when a woman he was on a guide trip with caught a bass by hooking a swivel from a line that the fish had previously snapped off from some other unlucky angler. “The chances of that happening are like one in a kajillion,” he says.
