What Truck, Boat and Outboard does Lance run?

2019 Nitro Z20 Pro Package

250 HP Mercury Pro XS Four Stroke

Chevy Silverado

My Sponsors

Yes, Forage Lures has given me an opportunity to help grow their business this year, and I'm looking forward to developing that relationship.  They are fisherman first, and have a real passion for the outdoors, as well as talent for custom painting.  They are in the beginning stages of their business venture, but have been producing quality crankbaits and topwater baits for a few years now.  They will treat you right, and can make your vision come to life.  Match the hatch with Forage Lures!  Give them a try at, https://catchmoretackle.myshopify.com/

Use promo code ECKFORD10 at checkout. 

 

 

What Lance does for a living:

Currently work in the Natural Gas Industry.

What you should know about Lance:

Retired USN, Chief Petty Officer.

How Lance started fishing

I started fishing tournaments during my second tour of shore duty in the Navy.  I was stationed in Milliington, Tn, and joined a small bass club in 2005.  Some of those club members, were also members of ABA, so I in turn joined the ABA and started fishing with Dennis Hollis out of Division 40.  It was a lot of fun!  And still is!

 

Aspirations or goals with fishing

Win the Bassmaster Classic, of course.

Favorite way to fish

I really enjoy jig fishing, because every time you feel that tick.... you just never know what's going to be on the end of that line! 

Most exciting fishing experience

Before I started fishing tournaments, I was always looking for a way to get on the water.  I was given a tube fishing outfit by my dad years ago, and started using it when I did not have a boat.  It was great because I could access small waterways, and places that a traditional bass boat couldn't go.  I even caught my personal best largemouth out of that tube!  An 8.56lb largemouth on the Blanco River near San Marcos, Tx out of an inner tube is no everyday occurrance, and was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. 

How Lance preps for a tournament

Find out the basics, water temp, water clarity, season, weather.  What type of water is it?  River, resevoir, natural lake?  Predominant cover and structure on that particular body of water.  Once the information is gathered, use your experience to come up with a few likely seasonal patterns, then use your map, or gps to look for high percentage areas to apply your presentations.  Then practice.  On your own or with someone. Use what you learned in practice to develop a game plan for tournament day, then execute your plan.  Don't be afraid to make adjustments if your plan isn't working.

Three favorite search baits

crankbait, spinnerbait, and buzzbait.

Best tournament finish and what you did that day when you were fishing.

It would have to be the 2018 National Championship on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC.  The tournament started out with me having some execution errors on day one, with a 5 fish limit for just over 8 pounds, good enough for 45th place.  Even though I'd failed to put a few key fish in the boat on day one, I felt good about what I had found in practice and felt like I could turn things around if only my execution got better. Day two began and things started off slow, but I felt like it was only a matter of time before I would connect with the fish.  At about 9 am things started to take off. I'd finally gotten a bite and it was a 14 inch keeper largemouth.  Moments later another connection, this time with a 3.5 pound class fish, and in the boat she came.  Two misses later in the same area, I decided to check another productive spot.  Shortly after arriving I connected with another 2 plus pound largemouth. In the livewell he went.  I continued to work the area, and my next fish was a 2 plus pound spotted bass that struck a top water, but missed.  So I pitched a drop shot in his path and connected again.  In the boat he goes.  As I continued to fish, I boated two more in the 3.5 pound class, and culled my 14 inch largemouth.  At that point I decided to go back to where I first connected with them and see if I could get another.  I arrived and within a few minutes, I caught another 3.5 pounder and culled one my two pounders. No more bites, time for a move.  Off to the dam I went to fish an area that had yeilded some good bites in practice.  I arrived and within minutes I was battling another 3.5 pound class fish out of the shallows.  In the boat she goes and my final cull for the day. It's now high noon and Ive a solid limit in the 17 to 19 lb range I figured.  So I scouted some new areas in an effort to expand on my pattern for day 3, and made my way back toward the weigh in early.  My weight for the day was 18.70 pounds the biggest bag of the tournament and good enough to put me in first place with a slim one pound lead!  Day three was cancelled due to weather, and thus my day two catch turned out to be the winning fish!  How exciting to come from 45th on day one to the lead on day two.  The best part about it... I was able to share it with my family and friends!

Most challenging part of tournament fishing

Fishing is never the same, it's always changing.  You have to keep up with what is going on on a particular body of water at that specific time in order to be successful, and it's never the same year end and year out.  There is always room for improvement, and something new to learn everytime you're out on the water.

When tournaments don't go my way

Ask questions.  Try to figure out where you went wrong and improve upon it the next time.

Advice to give to an aspiring tournament angler:

Spend lots of time on the water, and be optimistic about every cast.

Some shared general bass fishing techniques for people just getting into the sport

If you are just getting started my advice would be to try not to learn everything all at once.  Take your time, and learn techniques, and presentations slowly.  You'll enjoy the experience much more and the time invested will be more productive.  Set realistic and achievable goals for yourself, and maintain reasonable expectations.  Join a club, and try to fish with people that have more experience than you do.  Have fun, and remember that it's not a race, so enjoy the ride!