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Kevin Short

  (1:59 PM)

Hey guys... Thanks for submitting your questions. I'll start with the earlier questions, working toward the most recently asked ones.

Roger Nowata Oklahoma

WHY Pink?KS:Hey, Roger. It?s a color that people notice. Yellow was getting hammered pretty hard. Everyone has red or blue. It was just a color that we figured no one was brave enough to run. It has worked well so far!

Mike Barrett, Terre Haute, Indiana

Kevin, I am a crankbait angler first. What are the best crankbaits for this Lake Dardanelle ?
KS:Mike, best cranks for Dardanelle would be a Norman Deep Little N, DD14, Mann?s 1 minus, or WEC E1. Those would cover the spectrum from 1 foot to 12 foot.

Moderator

  (2:20 PM)

We're having a little technical difficulty here, so thanks for being patient, chatters. We'll get to all your questions!

Pat Rose from Georgia

Hey Kevin, how do you see with your head up your a%%? I hope one of your co-anglers throws you out of the boat at Toho.

KS:Thanks for asking, Pat. To answer your question ? yoga. Haven?t had one jump me yet and don?t figure it will happen at Toho; unless you?re fishing.

justin padgett russellville, arkansas

If the only lure you had in your box was a 7 inch itjack swimbait on lake dardanelle, where would you go throw it?

KS: I would concentrate on the edges of the main river channel around some of the scattered milfoil and duckweed. Lots of fish are being caught in those areas.

Jean Parker, No.Little Rock, Arkansas

My questions is, being the Legends has been moved to Dardanelle, do you think the weight and fishing will be better than it was before at Little Rock?

KS: No. The fishing will actually be better in Little Rock, due to the fact that the river has been up so high since June. Most of the fish in the Little Rock area have not been fished for yet.

Justin(Baton Rouge, La)

Since you have been so successful on Lake Dardanelle in the past, which one of the Elite Series pros do you think has the best shot at making the 12-cut?
KS: I think that Ish, Freddie, and Hackney all have a good shot. Don?t count out Mike Wurm or McClelland. All about the home boys.

Richard Las Vegas.Nv

Why would B.A.S.S. pass up having one Tourney on Clear Lake next year after the showing this year?They always seem to go back to some of the better lakes year after year but pass on the best lake in the country.

KS: Hey Richard, I don?t pretend to know the inner workings of the tournament selection process. Most of the anglers were pretty pleased with the fishing on the Left Coast. It was an expensive trip for all of us, but the fishing was fantastic.

Beau, Atlanta, Ga.

How in the world did you not make the Legends? I've had you on my fantasy team all year, waiting for this event. I just couldn't imagine you not being there. What was the one thing, or day, or decision that kept you out of the tournament?Oh, and why pink?

KS: Beau, I just didn't get the job done, plain and simple. Had several opportunities to make sure that I made it, but I just couldn't make it all work. Check out the "Capitol Crash" article on ESPNOutdoors.com. Tried to explain it a little there. Sorry about the Fantasy Team, but thanks for thinking about me!Check out Roger's answer on the pink.

Clay, Lafayette, LA

With the ever increasing amount of spectators that follow you and others around during these tournaments, How do you cope with the usually simple task of "takin a whizz"?? I have often asked myself this question especially in the summer where staying hydrated is a big deal.

KS: Dude, you just have to go. We try to "use it" when there are the least number around and be fairly discreet. Occupational hazard.

Luke Adams: Harrison, AR

If you were fishing today, what would you be throwing and where? P.S. I really enjoyed your benefit tournament this year (13th). Be back next year.

KS: Luke, I would be up the lake around the Spadra area throwing a frog around the grass, WEC E1 on the wood, or a topwater bait on the sand. Thanks for the question and thanks for fishing the derby - May 31 next year!

Jeff (Little Rock, AR)

Kevin,Last weekend people were throwing a black buzzbait all day to catch big fish in the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza. Is this a tactic you've successful with on the Arkansas River?

KS: A buzzer has always been a great choice on the Arkansas River. It can be an all-day bite and you usually won?t have to mess with the little ones, either. Good question, Jeff.

Moderator

  (2:42 PM)

Just so everyone knows, we had some technical difficulty earlier on, and we're going to extend this chat until all questions (that are fit to print) are answered! Thanks for sticking around, and check ESPN Outdoors for coverage of the Bassmaster Legends and a transcript of this chat later this afternoon!

Kevin Short

  (2:43 PM)

Thanks for your patience everyone. There are a ton of questions to get through!

Richard Del Rio, Texas

With all of the anglers doing the best to keep their fish alive and kicking and the recent loss of a Tourney for a dead fish penalty. do feel that some consideration should be taken into consideration when the fish justs kicks the bucket through no fault of the angler?

KS: Hey, Richard, I've considered your question and after some consideration, it's just part of the game. We try our best to keep them all alive, but in the hotter months, we take the chance of losing some fish. Everyone does their best to keep any losses to a minimum.

Brian Reese Lorton Va

fishing an event like this do you fish for big qualty fish or start out trying to just get five keepers first then up grade.

KS: Hey Brian, this is one of those events where you try to hit a home run every day. Even when it is tough, you really need to look for 5 quality bites instead of 25 keeper bites a day. Second place in one of these sucks.

Tim Nesterenko Little Rock,AR

Kevin, just wanted to tell you again how much my son and I enjoyed your tournament on lake Dardenelle. He still talks about it today,he cant wait utill next year. AR bass Angler TAN

KS: Hey Tim, we appreciate you guys fishing. Hope you win it all next year.

Casey (NJ)

Mr. Short - What type of pattern is going to prevail this weekend? Sticking to the main channel, or creek channels and more sheltered areas? Also, are the guys that are fishing it like a river going to find themselves higher in the standings than guys that are attacking it like a lake? Thanks, and tight lines.

KS: Thanks for the question, Casey. This will actually be two events in one. The first two days, the guys will be fishing relatively shallow cover along the main river channels. The 6-hole course will be primarily off-shore structure. Look for some of the guys who make the 12-man cut to flounder a little on the course.

Jason Gramada (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Hey Kevin, What is the best way to pattern bass on your home lake???Thank you

KS: Hey Jason, start with pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn ? whatever pattern the fish are in. Look for the fish to be around cover, structure, etc. and narrow it down from there. Water temp is the first thing to determine where the fish are in their life cycle for the year. Sorry for the broad answer, but it?s a pretty broad question.

Prettylittleredheadgirl, (Phoenix, AZ)

Are you single?

KS: PLRHG, no, 'fraid not. Have a pretty wonderful wife. Thanks for asking.

Dusty (Virginia)

Does Dardanelle always fish this well? Seems like any time of the year it will produce good weights.

KS: Dardanelle is probably one of the best lakes in Arkansas in just about every month. It has been especially strong this year.

BD - LR, AR

Will you be at the Expo tomorrow

KS: BD, I will be at the Expo tomorrow and Sunday afternoons, probably in the BassCat display or the Angler Autograph area. Look for the pink!

Jeff, Amarillo, Texas

I hope someone throws Pat out of his boat first of all. Second you're an amazing fisherman just to be where you're at. Third, what is your favorite lure that you could throw anywhere at anytime to produce fish?

KS: Hey Jeff, probably have to be a pretty big feller to throw Pat out of the boat. Second, thanks for the complement. Finally, I would have to go with a crankbait, probably a WEC E1. I can throw it most anywhere and catch some fish on it. Thanks for the question!

Davenport Iowa

This time of the year being hot water temps in the 80's what would be the best tactic to use when fishing the mississippi river. Backwaters,lily pads and grass,wing dams, fishing current along rocks? Top water in the morning, flipping pads ect? What would you do or look for Kevin? Thanks Jeremy

KS:Jeremy, you can probably do well on both backwater and main river. The fish in the backwaters will most likely be buried up in the thickest stuff they can find. The main drag fish will be closest to deep or moving water. Key will be figuring out which area you can catch the bigger fish from.

Tony (New Market, Alabama)

Mr Short How many rods are you allowed to carry in your boat when fishing a tournament?

KS: We can carry as many as our boats will hold, I suppose. I usually have 15 ? 20 in the boat and ready to go. Best tournaments for me have been those where I only had two or three on the deck.

W. Powers Delray Beach Fl.

Would you like to be leading a tournament or be in the hunt on the final day of the tournament? What does it take to be a bassmaster?

KS: Hey W., I would rather be in the hunt, maybe a pound or two down, with the opportunity to take advantage of the opportunity. It takes a ton of time on the water and hard work to get to the Elite Series. You have to want it pretty bad.

Jill Little Rock, AR

Do you think Arkansas Pro-Anglers have an edge because of the versatile Arkansas waters such as muddy rivers to clear lakes? PS Love the Pink Boat

KS: Thanks for chatting, Jill. Arkansas anglers have a huge advantage because we are blessed with a variety of lakes across the state. We have everything from deep, clear water on Bull Shoals to the mud of the Arkansas River. If an angler can catch them consistently across the state, he or she can take the knowledge they gain here and apply it across the country.

Brent Brainerd Conway,Arkansas

Kevin what do you think it will take to win once they get into the 6 hole course? Do you think the winner will fish shallow, offshore, or a little combination of both. Good luck the rest of the year.

KS: Hey Brent. The 6-hole course may be a rude awakening for some of the guys. There will be very little shallow fishing, as the water is fairly clear and quite a bit warmer than the main river has been the past two days. The guy who wins in the 6-hole course will definitely have to fish off-shore. Look for the weights to be lighter than the first two days.

Lynn Marks Houston Texas

Hey Kevin, You guys really put a lot of hard hours on a boat and motor. How often do you change boats?

KS: Lynn, thanks for the question. I get a new BassCat every winter, largely due to the number of days that I spend in one during the season. Most of the other Elite guys run them for the season.

Robby Hand, Clarksville,Tn

Kevin, I see several young fisherman on the Elite Series my age, how is it that they jump to the top so quick???

KS: Robby, don?t know what age you are, but most of the young guys have worked their way up the food chain. Check out their angler profiles on ESPNOutdoors.com. Should be a listing for all their tournaments with BASS under ?The Pros?.

mark edwards pipestem,wv

How is the bite at dardanelle?They catching them deep or shallow

KS: Hey Mark, thanks for the question. The guys have been catching fish the past few days in 1 - 4 foot of water. After they move to the 6-hole course, they will probably have to go 6 - 14 foot to consistently get bites.

mmartin bassett va

Getting started fishing jigs. Whats your rod selection for size and action.(how much tip?) Thanks Getum next year!!!

KS: For fishing a jig in deep water, I like a 7 footer, medium heavy St. Croix. For flippin? heavy cover, I go with the 7?11? heavy action St. Croix Big Gulp. Lots of power to pull them out of the thickest stuff. Thanks for the question!

ESPNOutdoors.com Moderator

  (3:41 PM)

Kevin only has 20 minutes left to answer questions, so if you have one, try to get it in now!

jackie parker crossett ar

what kind of shirt do you wear in this kind of heat to fish in? what is the best material to protect your skin and yet be comfortable in the heat?

KS: Very good question, Jackie. I?ve been wearing long sleeve shirts the past few years to try to protect my arms. Lost my mother-in-law to skin cancer a few years back, so I?m trying to do better at protecting myself. This season I?ve been wearing shirts from Team Realtree that are made from a Supplex material that is extremely cool, dries quickly, and are very comfortable to fish in, even in triple digit temps.

David Bell(Clarksville,AR)

Hey Mr. Short, i just moved to college up by lake dardenelle. Is fishing this time of year better on the back water off the main river channel, or out in deeper water in the channel?

KS: Hey, David. I fish along the main river channel starting in May, depending on the flow, and won?t leave it until November. Key is locating the shad as they move to and from the channel.

Susanne Skarda, Arroyo Grande, CA

Do you lose much tackle? What do you do when you find something is working and you lost your last one?

KS: Hey Susanne, thanks for the question. I have been in the situation where I only had 1 of the "correct" bait and I spent all four days hoping that I wouldn't lose it. You retie your line a lot in that situation. We lose tackle a lot at times, especially when fishing rocks. I always try to carry multiples of everything I normally throw. Never lost the "last one."

RR Pickwick Lake, TN

What is the best advice you have for an angler who is at the begining of a career and is looking for sponsors?

KS: RR, first thing to do is learn how to catch fish. Seriously, if you look at the anglers making the most money, they are the ones catching fish. Second thing would be to work on creating relationships with companies and individuals who you want to be associated with. Third would be committing a tremendous amount of time to both of the above.

JF (Benton AR)

Kev-- Hate that you are not fishing. I love to see the AR guys compete. WIth the heat out there this week, do you think they guys are slow fishing big worms?

KS: JF, thanks. Most of the guys are fishing relatively shallow along the main river channel. Some are fishing fast and covering a ton of water and others are picking small areas apart with jigs or soft plastics.

Moderator

  (4:00 PM)

One last question and then Kevin has to go, everyone...

Justin Mayers(Baton Rouge, La)

Kevin, after seeing the first 2 days of competition from the water with Mr. Jeffries, who do you think will be leading once the weigh-in is done today(Friday)?

KS: That, Justin, would be the $54,000 question. I wouldn?t be surprised to see Ish or KVD at the top. It really doesn?t matter who is at the top of the 12-man heap, as they all start at zero on Saturday. The important thing is to make it past #13.

Kevin Short

  (4:02 PM)

Thanks to everyone who posted a question! Look for more Live Chats in the future right here on ESPNOutdoors.com.