What’s up, everyone! My name is Dillon Falardeau, and I’m a full-time bass fisherman and guide on Lake Chickamauga and Nickajack. My two best friends and I also own Talkin’ Tackle, a tackle shop and lodge in Hixson, Tennessee, right on Lake Chickamauga. Our lodge is connected directly to the tackle shop and is located just a mile from Chester Frost Boat Ramp.
It was a long road to get where I am today. I’m originally from Rhode Island, and my dream was always to bass fish for a living. Right after graduating high school in 2013, I moved to Chattanooga to attend UTC. I had to figure out how to pay for school, so I joined the military and signed a 10-year contract with the National Guard.
I became an artillery officer, deployed overseas, and attended military schools and training facilities across the country. Once my contract was finally up, it was time to chase the childhood dream I had been working toward for years: becoming a professional bass fisherman.
I started out fishing BFLs and Toyota Series events, and today I’m fishing all of the Bassmaster Opens. Along that journey, I was fortunate enough to meet the guys at CAST. I quickly fell in love with everything they were doing and the products they were developing.
Why X12 Changed the Way I Fish Pressured Water
The first time I used CAST X12 Casting Braid, I was hooked.
The extremely thin diameter allows you to sit much farther away from the fish, which is a huge advantage on a heavily pressured lake like Chickamauga. After eight years of guiding, one of the biggest mistakes I see with clients fishing on their own is that they position the boat way too close to the fish.
Boat positioning is everything on pressured lakes.
The X12 allows me to back off the fish and still make the casts I need. That extra distance can make a huge difference when you’re trying to catch pressured bass that have seen everything.
It’s one of those advantages that might seem small until you spend enough time on the water. Being able to stay farther away while still reaching the fish changes the way you can approach an area, especially when those fish are getting pressured day after day.
X12 Frog & Flip Braid
This year, CAST came out with their X12 Frog & Flip Braid, and everyone who fishes with me knows that punching is my all-time favorite way to catch bass.
The thin diameter of this braid allows me to flip a lighter weight into extremely thick cover because the braid isn’t holding the bait back as it comes through the matted grass. That’s a huge deal when punching.
The heavier the weight you use, the more bites you can miss and the more fish you can lose.
Being able to get through that thick vegetation with a lighter weight gives me another tool when I’m picking apart mats and trying to get bites from fish buried underneath them.
Another thing I really like about this braid is how quiet it is. It cuts through matted vegetation without making nearly as much noise as other braids. When you’re pumping a bait up and down underneath a mat and making flip after flip, that can make a huge difference.
The camouflage color is another key feature. It blends naturally into all different types of vegetation, whether you’re fishing down South or up North.
For the way I like to fish, those details matter. When you spend as much time on the water as I do, you start paying attention to every little advantage you can get.
Proud to Be Part of CAST
I’m extremely proud to be part of the CAST family and excited to see what the future holds for this company.
What drew me to CAST was not only the products, but the thought that goes into developing them. I’m fortunate to be a small part of this team, and I truly believe we’re building something special.
I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
Come Fish Lake Chickamauga
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Lake Chickamauga for yourself, come see us at Talkin’ Tackle in Hixson, Tennessee.
Our tackle shop and lodge are located right on Lake Chickamauga, just one mile from Chester Frost Boat Ramp. Whether you’re coming into town to fish for a few days, looking for a place to stay, or want to spend some time on the water with a guide, we’d love to have you.
To book a stay at the Talkin’ Tackle Lodge or get more information, call Greg at 423-401-BASS (2277).
Talkin’ Tackle Outfitter & Lodge
7700 Hixson Pike
Hixson, TN 37343
And even if you’re in the area and don’t have time to stay or fish, stop by the store. We’d love to have you come in, check out the shop, and talk tackle!
About the Author
Dillon Falardeau is a Bassmaster Opens and Toyota Series professional angler, co-owner of Talkin’ Tackle Outfitter & Lodge, and a full-time fishing guide on Lake Chickamauga and Nickajack. After serving 10 years in the National Guard as an artillery officer, Dillon turned his lifelong passion for bass fishing into a career. Today, he competes professionally while spending hundreds of days on the water each year guiding anglers and chasing bass across the country.
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