State Championship recap. This tournament was a two day event on Telico Lake and Ft Loudon. Fishing the main lake was a challenge. You could find bass chasing shad just about everywhere. The quality of fish was nothing to talk about as 5 fish limits ranged from 60-75”. Since the quality was not there and the fish weren’t willing to bite as well as I had hoped. I went river fishing. I don’t usually get to fish for smallmouth, but it felt right. First morning, I went to a saddle near the dam and within 15 minutes I caught this beauty. That was about all I can report. The dam wasn’t pulling any water and the current was weak. I did not adjust to scoping, which is what my teammates did to catch solid limits. However, I tried a lot of things and I can’t wait to try this again sometime. Taking what I learned this year and I’m going to make 2026 even better. I finished top 10 in AOY, made the state team, 4 top 5 finishes with multiple big bass awards. Thanks for all of the support and encouragement, I’ve seen a lot of growth from where I was a year ago.👊🏼

Made a hat to rep the squad!

Seth Yates wishing you luck! I can’t wait to get out there for the state tournament in a couple of weeks.

SUF fam, it is true I am a dad now, it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. While I’ve been gone I found out I made the state team and will get to compete in the K.A.S.T. Team Championship in Knoxville. I have never been to Knoxville, but the research begins! Fort Loudoun, Tellico Lake, Houston River, and French Board River.

What yall think of my new tatts?

Found a 20+ finally. Tournament day featured storms rolling through all day and several missed fish. I didn’t fish well but two tournaments remain and I need some points! Beech River Watershed lakes. They are all between 200-500 acres. Time to do some planning.

I love fishing in the morning time. The hook live that we had the other day got me thinking and I have to admit I’ve been hanging out with Gerald cause I’ve thrown EWG on all my creature style baits for ever. Today I went out and tried something new. Not the grass. That’s still the money spot. However, I didn’t want to go down in it, I went for a different perspective and fished up. I used a V lock bend with a screw lock and I caught the mess out then dang fish. Had at least 30 bites in a couple of hours and landed 25+. It’s crazy what trying something new does. Also, if you are like me and you break the nose off your plastics after a couple of bites, try the screw lock. It’ll save the life of the plastics.

I am excited to represent the development program and the SUF community. I didn’t have a clue what was going on cause I was out in the woods and in the rain doing some sunset fishing. I’m so thankful and shocked. 1. I’d love to have a jersey or a hat to represent 2. I don’t fish for smallmouth much because we don’t really have em down here, but when I fish for them below pickwick dam you can find them in the strongest current like yall said, but the biggest I’ve caught were in the eddies.

Does anyone use seat risers? Looking at a 2” front seat riser but does that mean I also need a rear seat riser as well? Anyone have either and can tell me about it.

Also, I keep a small lithium battery in the front compartment of my oldtown autopilot and I think it got wet at Kentucky lake. How do you keep these batteries dry or is there a better way to store it? All help is appreciated.

This was a rewarding experience. Reelfoot lake is one of the most beautiful fisheries, but it can be so difficult to bass fish. I fished for 10 hours yesterday and only got one bite. I used that bite to target “something different” and it paid off this morning.