The late, innovative, legendary Dee Thomas discusses his visionary competitive mindset.
By Derrek Stewart 5-6-24
This piece
is an excerpt from an original DSF interview with Dee Thomas on his home waters
- the prolific California Delta.
Dee Thomas running on the exceptional California Delta
For those who have ventured into the tournament trail, it's a grueling test of
physical and mental endurance. When I inquired about Dee's ability to maintain
his performance in this demanding sport, he chuckled and replied, "The bass don't know how old I am." The bass
are oblivious to his identity. Dee has always believed that his competition is
solely with the bass. This steadfast strategy has been the cornerstone of his
career, a testament to his unwavering dedication to the sport.
Thomas pitch-shotting the stained
waters of the Old River area on the Cal Delta
He explained
that he has never fished against a man; he has never tried to beat a bunch of
guys. He has always tried to beat the fish. He does not think about beating the
field when he enters a tournament. He aims to go out and catch the five biggest
bass he can. Winning will come with accomplishing what Dee Thomas sets out to
do. Experience: knowledge of the body of water, the time of year, the time of
day, water conditions, and the day's conditions will allow him to select his
techniques and figure out the fish. He has never had nor will worry about other
anglers. "I'm only figuring out what the bass want." In doing so, as
he puts it, "the results will follow."
Authors note: the never-before-seen images
have been released exclusively for this DSL piece. Title
Image – Thomas discussing championship day three with FLW Tournament Director
Charlie Evans during the California Delta National Guard weigh-in.
If you're intrigued by Dee's approach to
competition and want to learn more about his insights, I invite you to read the
complete interview. Clickhttps://dstewartfishing.com/on-tour-with-dee-thomas-2/to dive deeper into Dee's world of competitive bass fishing.
