Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

The modern era of tournament bass fishing is one where bigger and faster is often equated with better. From 21-foot fiberglass bass boats with 250-hp outboards and 70-mph top speeds to thousands of dollars worth of big-screen electronics, bass anglers tend to favor "maxed-out" equipment.

John Cox believes differently. For Cox, tournament fishing is more about having the right equipment and mastering how to use it. In his case, it's a lightweight aluminum boat with minimal electronics. The Florida proved that his system can not only win, but it can win big this week at the Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart at Wheeler Lake. He used these "simple" tools to unlock a pattern that has come to define Cox's career: targeting unpressured resident fish in extremely shallow, difficult-to-reach places. The program earned Cox the wire-to-wire victory at the Cup and its $300,000 championship prize.