Handling the Highs and the Lows with Strike King Pro George Cochran

Editor’s Note: George Cochran of Hot Springs, Arkansas, has bass fished for more than 50 years, has won the FLW Cup and finished first in two Bassmaster Classics. Cochran says, “I just love what I do for a living.” Cochran’s known in fishing circuits as Gentleman George, the Gentle Bear and Mister Persistent. Cochran, a quiet railroad man, got into tournament bass fishing because he loved the sport. Each professional bass fisherman who stays in the sport for a number of years develops a style of fishing and a way of fishing that suits him. Kevin VanDam is a run-and-gun, high-energy, fast-casting, fast-running bass fisherman. Denny Brauer loves thick cover that probably nobody in his right mind can get to, let alone fish. But when you’re riding down the lake with a tournament angler, and he looks over at the bank and says, “That’s a George Cochran place,” that means that to all who see it, the place looks like there’s absolutely no reason to fish it. These spots are where Gentleman George fishes and wins tournaments. Cochran is patient, persistent and thorough. On TV, you’ll see some professional fishermen jump up and down, scream, shout and roll around the bottoms of their boats when they catch fish, but not Cochran. Whether Cochran puts a 2 pounder or a 10 pounder in the boat, he has the same quiet demeanor. This week we’ll look at how Gentleman George stays cool, calm and collected in the biggest bass-fishing tournaments in the world.