Trout Wrangler Podcast Season: 2 EP. 72: Pro Bass Fishing and Unplugged Charters With Randall Tharp

On this episode of the Trout Wrangler Podcast, we sit down with Randall, a professional bass angler who's spent most of his career behind a spinning rod and baitcaster — but has added a fly rod to the mix. We kick things off with Randall's fishing background and what originally motivated him to start fly fishing after a successful career in professional bass fishing. He reflects on the tournaments he's won, the pageantry and pressure of the Bassmaster Classic, and what it's like competing at the highest level of the sport. Randal breaks down the tournament trails he's fishing this year, why he chose them, and how balancing tournament fishing with running a charter business has shaped his approach on the water. We also get into one of our shared opinions — why Lake Norman might just be one of the least favorite lakes to fish, despite living so close to it. From there, we shift gears to charter fishing on Florida's Gulf Coast. Randall talks about the flats boat he'll be running this season, what makes the Port St. Joe fishery so unique, and how it differs from other areas along the panhandle. We wrap up with some fun hypotheticals and stories — including Randall's two-minute crash course for a brand-new fly angler on the bow, his favorite Florida species to target on fly, memorable client trips, and a few wild guiding stories. As always, we finish with five songs for the Trout Tunes Playlist, followed by final thanks and plugs. @RandallTharp   https://randytharp.com/