Anyone else following the MLF at Lewis Smith Lake? Let’s go BLAT!

Good evening SUF Family.

I’d like to nominate my fellow Straight Up Fishing School classmate and friend, Mack Toon, for the fishing trip with Brian Latimer.

Mack has been a true asset to this community from day one. Whether it’s answering questions, giving honest feedback, or sharing tips that actually work, he’s always showing up and helping others. You’ll find him in every live class, fully engaged and contributing to the conversation.

What really sets Mack apart is his willingness to give back. He drove over two hours just to help me out at my very first fishing tournament, no questions asked. That speaks volumes about the kind of person he is. And let’s not forget that legendary junk fishing class he led. If you were there, you know exactly what I mean. It was packed with knowledge and straight-up fire.

Mack doesn’t do it for attention, he does it because he genuinely wants to see others win. That’s the kind of energy this community thrives on, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this opportunity.

Let’s get Mack on that boat with B-Lat!

My favorite time of the year to fish!

Huge thanks to Brian for setting me up to fish with Mr. Wayman Coleman today! It was an incredible experience, and I learned a ton about forward-facing sonar, reading electronics, and targeting ditches and shoals for spotted bass. Wayman’s insight answered so many of my questions and gave me a new perspective on this style of fishing. This is an experience I won’t forget—thank you again, Brian!

Made it to the 2025 SUF School Retreat, and what a way to start! Spent the day on Lake Russell, and it did NOT disappoint! The fishing was solid, but the best part was meeting all the awesome anglers/classmates who showed up today. Can’t wait to get back out there for another day on the water!

First Tournament in the Books!

Mack and I hit the Chickahominy River today for a local tournament with 16 boats. Mack was on fire, landing around 8 bass, while I put my netting skills to work assisting with his catches and brought in 3 of my own. The storm cut our day short, but we made the most of the 4-5 hours we had on the water!

What I learned:

✅ Slow down the retrieve.

✅ Get a limit first, then go for bigger fish.

✅ When that doesn’t work—go back to what does!

The Straight Up Fishing School is more than just learning techniques—it’s about building confidence, friendships, and growing as an angler. Mack drove hours to help me with my first tournament, sharing his knowledge on water clarity, lure selection, and even how to properly fish a Ned rig. That support gave me the confidence to jump in and compete.

A huge thank you to Brian Latimer for creating this incredible program and for his support through the SUF Sponsorship Program. His passion for the sport and dedication to helping anglers grow is what makes this community so special. Proud to be part of it—this is just the beginning!

How many of y’all have a honey-do list that determines when (or if) you get to hit the water?

Attached is mine… and yep, that’s the 1/2 bathroom waiting to be completed. Guess I better get to work if I want to wet a line anytime soon!

Looks like we’ve got those red eyes in VA!

Had another successful day on a new lake. Threw everything at them today and even reached out to Mack for some advice—he suggested working a ned rig on some points. After some trial and error and a lot of used plastic baits, I finally got three to bite on a Texas-rigged Kreature bait, dragging it slooooooowly along submerged logs near a few points.

Last night’s class was FIRE (my 12 yr old is teaching me new lingo)! If you missed it… ouch.
After listening to Mack talk about getting back to your roots, I decided to turn off the graph and start hammering docks and shoreline like it was 110 degrees outside. It finally paid off with a solid bite on a Minimax ChatterBait paired with a Z-Man Goat trailer.
I’ve officially caught my winter bass, and not by staring out of a shanty window on a frozen lake!

Mack Daddy Toon is breaking down junk fishing at the Communtiy Live tonight, and I can’t wait to learn more! Anyone else curious about this style of fishing? Just set my notifications so I don’t miss the live, see y’all there!