ALABAMA WATERS (What would you have done?) Episode 15
It’s all come down to this and I only have a couple of hours left. My first 2 patterns don’e see, to be working so I gotta make a change for better or worse. Sometimes it doesn’t matter the outcome of your change but I sure don’t want to have any regrets. What could go wrong topwater fishing?
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Thank You
My cousin plays basketball at IU and does the same thing for kids, and adults, that you did for that boy for the exact same reason…”I was that kid”.
Todd it was a great series a lot of good information if people pay attention, but I think what you did with the kid was my favorite part
Great job with the kid! He'll never forget you!
Best series I’ve watched on YouTube definitely the best perspective and explanation of the thought process I’ve heard in a video I will definitely be watching this series again and looking forward to another one
Only thing I would of blown an hour and found some dirty water, if I seen big fish swatting my top water. You already knew after days that was the only big fish bite. But I would of died bye your side if dirty water didn't work.
What a series and what a wild set of emotions….Todd C. is an absolute gentleman and what he did for that kid shows it all. So many times I have met with professionals and the attitude that they show in person is nothing like the TV attitude. Todd You are a class act sir. May God continue to bless you and your family…
Todd, great series and thank you for being an outstanding steward of the sport. We need more true OG anglers who are in it for the right reasons and watching that young man jump for joy is what this is all about.
I could tell you that I was in first going into the final day of the 1999 BASS Federation Eastern Divisional on the Ohio River and zeroed (finished 4th). Or that I make a buzz bait that falls like a Senko and when I miss one I stop it and they often eat it (maybe I’d have caught those short strikers or maybe I’d never gotten a bite). Bottom line is the hardest thing to do during a tournament is fish and it appears to me you continued to fish throughout the event! I like the way you fish and always trust your instincts! Great series!
Awesome series Todd, did what you could and a nice payday. Was cool how you took care of your young fan!
Im curious why you never went thru the small tunnel under the hwy Looks like a possible change of pace when 3rd day patterns shut off otherwise this was the best Ive ever watched I felt bad for you Ive been down that road before This quote always sticks with me "When you hot you hot, When you not you not" I have seen this in all parts of life Cant wait for the next one
Love the time that you took with that kid, that was awesome!
The title ask's "What would you have done?". I watched the whole series and the only thing I can think of is, you have way more multi day tournament experience than I do, and I saw how hard you worked in practice, the only thing I can think of is if you had found another backup plan in practice, something totally different, maybe a completely different area of the lake. But, we all know that any of the best anglers at the top level sometimes have a practice and they never find plan A, much less B, C, or D right. Hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes, but I just think if you had found a totally different backup plan it would have helped. That being said, you couldn't have worked any harder than you did, and there's only so many hours in a day of practice, you can't cover everything.
Way to go CHAMP, great series. Cant wait to see more like this from you. Hope to meet you next time you come to guntersville or chickamauga.
Such a great breakdown nothing like it anywhere! Thanks for sharing it with all of us! I especially like the ending where you took the time with that boy shows what a good person you are! God Bless!
Great series Todd 🤙
Only thing from what I saw that I would've done differently was try a bladed jig where those fish missed your choppo. I've had it work several times before not saying it would've worked but just didn't see u try it in the video. Other than that I've enjoyed this series and I hope u do more, it definitely helped me!
I chunk a spinnerbait when they start that missing crap. Doesn't always work, but sometimes it does.
Todd is a class act!
The same thing happened to me in a championship the fish were really hitting a buzzbait at the day of the tournament they were missing the buzzbait. Aaron Martens told me that I should have thrown a spinnerbait once they started missing a buzzbait. Aaron tournament a week later on the same Lake he happened to win by throwing a spinnerbait and when they missed it he would throw in a weightless 7-inch. Same time of year something to think about
100% class act!
Much respect
Man I really liked the end there with the kid and dad. Bout the same time as the tourney was going on the bait in the feeder creeks you could about walk across. Coming from Florida it’s cools. Once it rained either before or after bout that time it waged all that bait to the mouths. Took my son down there fishing smaller baits and then white bass and spots are pretty much every cast. Planning on working some bigger baits this next fall. The whole Tennessee river system seems filled with fish. And watching you and your areas really has my fears turning. So far underspin swim baits have produced every bass for me over five pounds in Alabama since getting here last fall. Gonna be putting some pad perch to work though. This has been a great series. Thanks for putting this content and knowledge out there.
Awesome series!!
I had that happen to me last year. Wasn’t a lake but a 80 acre pond , probably had 30 blowups on top. Kept changing top water lures from popping to walking style even different colors. I always reflect & wondered if I might have downsized to my smallest top water bait if it would of made a difference.
Your statement about pulling the trolling motor for the last time at the end of the day rang home. Doesn't matter if it is championship or the Tuesday night jackpot, when you laid your heart out all day and know you don't have em it hurts. Thanks for including the part with the kid, even made me feel better after my fail this Saturday.
This whole series has been legit, but that stuff with the kid was straight up squared away!
Man – Great Series. That shot of the Dad and his Son walking away was amazing. You gave those guys a blessing that they will talk about for years after this tournament. The gift of your time and conversation is the best. You know that little dude took those lures home, ran inside to show his Mom, kept with those lure close by his bed, woke the next morning to see the proof that it wasn’t a dream and definitely brought them to school the next day. Am amazing example you set on that day that you may never know the full impact of – then again, you may see that young man as a competitor some day when you are much older and the memory has faded for you. I guarantee it will never fade for that little guy and his Dad.
Such a special moment – way to rep Texas hospitality bud.
What a series! Todd you are a great fisherman and have great instincts. I think you said it yourself in the last vlog or the one before the fish have to be there. You can throw all the baits you want if they aren’t there you can’t get bit. You know how you said your co angler caught that big one a little deeper. You think the majority of the fish that were on the docks and shallow grass pulled out a little deeper from the pressure? Great series love what you give back. You made that kids day! You are a class act wish u made the bass pro circuit with Hallman. You too would have cut it up. Wish I had the instincts and the mental game to be out there with you guys Love the sport and the outdoors.
Great job Todd. Amazing content. Outstanding analytics. Darn good fishing. God bless you for taking the time with that impressionable young man.👍👍
Dude I really enjoyed this series,but I have to say the kid at the dock was my favorite part,that was awesome,and even more cool that he made your day as much as you made his,nice job on the series buddy and good luck to ya
You can walk away knowing you gave it your best, that's all you can ask for. But an 8th place finish is better than 9th or worse. 200+ other guys finished behind you, you put on a show, and you came out the winner with that kid at the end. He will never forget that day and maybe one day he will be in that same circumstance and remember the day Todd Castledine showed me what a true professional is. Great series Todd, thanks for the time you spent showing it to all of us.
Man I will say the ending with that young man says it all, when he was bouncing before going up the ramp I was like dude that is how you make the sport grow. Great series, I can only imagine the time you invested, it is appreciated by those of us who dream. Even now at 66 I am only a baby when it comes to tournament fishing, but this series was so unique in laying out the process. So nice to not see another "How to fish a ___________! There are enough of those out there. Good luck this year, enjoy your kiddos sports. See you in East Texas.
Man sucks you aren’t on elite series. Would be such and upgrade for that trail.
Hey Tad, do you think those fish would have hit a wakebait since they kept missing the chopping?
Hey man! Sorry you couldn't close it out with a win. I was hooked on the series! Maybe a buzz bait or wake bait. Who knows. You're a true professional!
My hats off to you sir! That boy will never forget that moment that a pro fisherman gave him with some of his best baits really cool of you!! Really enjoyed this series man! Hate to see it end! But you gave it your all that's all anyone can do, you got to be proud of that plus I learned so much from it! 🎣👍😎
Just curious…why not throw a follow up bait like a senko?? I know ive had a lot of success doing that when ive had fish keep missing my topwater.
Great video. I hope you don’t think I’m “that guy” for asking, but near the end when the blowups were missing the top water, why didn’t you quickly grab and throw a “follow up” like a wacky worm or a fluke, etc.? Wonderful to give the kid a lifetime memory.
I enjoyed this series and learned from it. I usually throw a senko back into a missed blow up. That’s the only thing I could think of besides putting the trolling motor on high and covering water. Good job!
I always have a finesse worm as a backup when throwing a topwater. 70% of the fish I have miss a topwater, take a slow falling finesse worm on the follow up.
My whole practice mentality has changed from watching this series.
What a series! I picked up a lot of things from this but I think that keeping your composure was the most important part of it. Thru the highs and lows. I remember in one of your videos you were talking about bank fishing and the local sticks helped you out… way to pass it on with the boy at dock!
Dang glad you shared this don't know what causes those strikes but it definitely happens it's almost like a dominance territory thing or maybe just trying to cripple the bait and circle it before eating it. But seems like the bigger explosions are closed mouthed headbutts that send the bait flying a foot in the air. Leave me thinking how can they not get a treble hook in them but they don't it's crazy.
The end was great Todd. I think at some point every one of us was that young man. I know I was.
I am alway set up for big one. That sir needs to be put on a shirt I will buy 10 great series. I am going to join that private group since you do more of these kind on there very very educational in more ways then fishing
This is definitely the best fishing YouTube series you can watch, and the kid and the end was the best part of it. I do have a question though. With all of the missed topwater bites did you consider trying anything else like a wake bait, jerkbait, etc or possibly a color or size change on what you were throwing? Why or why not?
This has been my favorite 15 videos on youtube. Thanks for the hard work putting them together. Congrats on the 8th place finish even though it wasn't what you wanted.
Thank you Todd great series appreciate all the work you do on and off the water.Whatever you do in word or deed do all to the glory of God.Amen brother.
Awesome stuff Todd !
Felt like I was in the boat with ya
All I've watched so far is the tournament footage but definitely goin back to watch from the beginning!
Thanks for all you do 👍
Excellent series. Spending time w that young angler speaks volumes.
Do you think a follow up w a Senko or Fluke style bait would have worked on those missed blow ups?
Stay the course. The best is yet to come.