Elite Man Caves

Inside Auten’s insane trophy room

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<p>If a tour of Bassmaster Elite Series pro <a href=
Photo: Dalton Tumblin -

If a tour of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Todd Auten’s epic Man Cave weren’t enough, there is more to see. Now, it's time to step inside an interior room for more eye-popping bling from the veteran pro. Located inside the back portion of the garage, this unique room is full of comfort, style and more than 15 years of collectibles.

Auten made this space the “hang out room.” It’s a place for Auten and his buddies to relax after a long day of fishing or project work in the man cave.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Auten made this space the “hang out room.” It’s a place for Auten and his buddies to relax after a long day of fishing or project work in the man cave.
Two reclining seats sit towards the back of the room for maximum comfort and taking a load off.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Two reclining seats sit towards the back of the room for maximum comfort and taking a load off.
And no hang out room is up to par without a flat screen TV.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - And no hang out room is up to par without a flat screen TV.
The TV, of course, is mainly used to watch reruns of Bassmaster LIVE.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The TV, of course, is mainly used to watch reruns of Bassmaster LIVE.
The glass cases circling the room are loaded with a variety of vintage lures that Auten has been collecting ever since he started tournament fishing.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The glass cases circling the room are loaded with a variety of vintage lures that Auten has been collecting ever since he started tournament fishing.
This first case is full of older lures. Auten has extras of some of the lures inside because he still uses them on occasion.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - This first case is full of older lures. Auten has extras of some of the lures inside because he still uses them on occasion.
Which is older — the classic car in the man cave or some of the lures inside this case?
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Which is older — the classic car in the man cave or some of the lures inside this case?
Auten said, “I think it’s about time I add a couple more shelves to it.”
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Auten said, “I think it’s about time I add a couple more shelves to it.”
The top shelf of the glass cabinet.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The top shelf of the glass cabinet.
Take a look at each shelf full of antique fishing lures. Do you recognize any of these proven relics?
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Take a look at each shelf full of antique fishing lures. Do you recognize any of these proven relics?
Here's the middle shelf.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Here's the middle shelf.
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Photo: Dalton Tumblin - ...
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Photo: Dalton Tumblin - ...
The second shelf up contains old lures and the original lure packaging.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The second shelf up contains old lures and the original lure packaging.
The bottom shelf holds more lures, with the majority of these being older Bomber brand lures.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The bottom shelf holds more lures, with the majority of these being older Bomber brand lures.
A vintage Heddon Budweiser can crankbait. It is among the many unique baits that have found a home in the glass case.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A vintage Heddon Budweiser can crankbait. It is among the many unique baits that have found a home in the glass case.
One of Auten’s earlier home lake fishing trophies have a place right next to the entrance of the room. It’s a first-place trophy from an October 2000 derby.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - One of Auten’s earlier home lake fishing trophies have a place right next to the entrance of the room. It’s a first-place trophy from an October 2000 derby.
A bookshelf sitting next to the glass case is stocked with tackleboxes filled with more crankbaits and top water lures.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A bookshelf sitting next to the glass case is stocked with tackleboxes filled with more crankbaits and top water lures.
Auten keeps a lot of South Carolina-made Gulp crankbaits stocked up in these boxes.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Auten keeps a lot of South Carolina-made Gulp crankbaits stocked up in these boxes.
The top of the bookshelf is another glass case. It holds signed angler cards, tournament trail patches and more. During that time, Yamaha and Mercury made cards for the anglers to sign and hand out to fans.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The top of the bookshelf is another glass case. It holds signed angler cards, tournament trail patches and more. During that time, Yamaha and Mercury made cards for the anglers to sign and hand out to fans.
Patches from Auten’s days fishing the Bassmaster Top 150 trail, a forerunner of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Patches from Auten’s days fishing the Bassmaster Top 150 trail, a forerunner of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
A 1999 BASS Masters Classic patch, a few B.A.S.S. Federation patches and a giant square bill replica made by a friend add to the nostalgic look.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A 1999 BASS Masters Classic patch, a few B.A.S.S. Federation patches and a giant square bill replica made by a friend add to the nostalgic look.
Bassmaster MegaBucks tournament patches from early in his career and more signed cards sitting towards the back add another old time touch.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Bassmaster MegaBucks tournament patches from early in his career and more signed cards sitting towards the back add another old time touch.
Two of Auten’s Top 3 Bassmaster Opens Series trophies sit on top of the bookshelf.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Two of Auten’s Top 3 Bassmaster Opens Series trophies sit on top of the bookshelf.
A second large glass case of collectible lures sits at the front of the room under the TV.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A second large glass case of collectible lures sits at the front of the room under the TV.
This case features more packaged and boxed lures, as well as more crankbaits lining the shelves.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - This case features more packaged and boxed lures, as well as more crankbaits lining the shelves.
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Photo: Dalton Tumblin - ...
The middle shelf holds the spotlight on a variety of vintage Bagley crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The middle shelf holds the spotlight on a variety of vintage Bagley crankbaits.
The top shelf is a small gold mine of old Boots Anderson Tennessee Shad crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The top shelf is a small gold mine of old Boots Anderson Tennessee Shad crankbaits.
Moving on down, the lower shelves are full of packaged collectables that Auten has gathered over time. An old Charlie Campbell CC Special spinnerbait can be seen to the left.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Moving on down, the lower shelves are full of packaged collectables that Auten has gathered over time. An old Charlie Campbell CC Special spinnerbait can be seen to the left.
A few more unique baits lay across the lower shelves.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A few more unique baits lay across the lower shelves.
This portion of one of the lower shelves features a Hank Parker’s Vampire spinnerbait, an original ChatterBait, the Incredible Dance’s Craw by Bill Dance and many more old collectibles.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - This portion of one of the lower shelves features a Hank Parker’s Vampire spinnerbait, an original ChatterBait, the Incredible Dance’s Craw by Bill Dance and many more old collectibles.
If you could pick one bait out of this case, what would it be?
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - If you could pick one bait out of this case, what would it be?
A shot underneath shows more Bagley and Storm Wiggle Wart crankbaits in this case.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A shot underneath shows more Bagley and Storm Wiggle Wart crankbaits in this case.
Zoom in on this image and see what else you can spot in this lure collection.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Zoom in on this image and see what else you can spot in this lure collection.
You may be surprised at what you find.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - You may be surprised at what you find.
Moving on to big glass case number three. This case hangs on the wall behind the reclining chairs and showcases a variety of crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Moving on to big glass case number three. This case hangs on the wall behind the reclining chairs and showcases a variety of crankbaits.
A close-up of some of the lures featured in this case.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A close-up of some of the lures featured in this case.
A few crankbaits in this case include Carolina Killer, Wax Man, War Chiefs, Mike Estep baits and Zoom.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A few crankbaits in this case include Carolina Killer, Wax Man, War Chiefs, Mike Estep baits and Zoom.
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Photo: Dalton Tumblin - ...
On to big glass case number four.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - On to big glass case number four.
This case also holds a large variety of crankbaits collected by Auten over the years.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - This case also holds a large variety of crankbaits collected by Auten over the years.
A variety of JDM baits occupy this middle shelf.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A variety of JDM baits occupy this middle shelf.
The shelf above is full of Ron E Bee Custom Luv Plug crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The shelf above is full of Ron E Bee Custom Luv Plug crankbaits.
One of the lower shelves hold a hand full of Blackjack crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - One of the lower shelves hold a hand full of Blackjack crankbaits.
The second shelf from the bottom is full of Charlie-O crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The second shelf from the bottom is full of Charlie-O crankbaits.
The very bottom shelf is a variety of old Bagley crankbaits.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The very bottom shelf is a variety of old Bagley crankbaits.
Just another look at this massive collection of colors and brands under the lights of Todd Auten’s man cave.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Just another look at this massive collection of colors and brands under the lights of Todd Auten’s man cave.
Two handmade lures by Andrew Dixon occupy this case. The white one (left) is made with a Fender guitar pick as the bill. The brown one (right) is made with a feather paint job as a tribute to Native Americans.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Two handmade lures by Andrew Dixon occupy this case. The white one (left) is made with a Fender guitar pick as the bill. The brown one (right) is made with a feather paint job as a tribute to Native Americans.
More Tennessee Shads baits hang in a small case on the wall. “I’m starting to run out of room for all my baits,” Auten said. “I needed some place to display them, so I put that case together.”
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - More Tennessee Shads baits hang in a small case on the wall. “I’m starting to run out of room for all my baits,” Auten said. “I needed some place to display them, so I put that case together.”
More lures hang on pegboard stand in the far corner.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - More lures hang on pegboard stand in the far corner.
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Photo: Dalton Tumblin - ...
Another one of Auten’s old tackleboxes sits near the back of the room, beside the seats. He brought it out to show what’s inside.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Another one of Auten’s old tackleboxes sits near the back of the room, beside the seats. He brought it out to show what’s inside.
And yes, this one is also filled with lures.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - And yes, this one is also filled with lures.
“I don’t know how people carried these around back in the day,” Auten said.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - “I don’t know how people carried these around back in the day,” Auten said. "It’s already heavy, and this one has an attachable bottom for a small cooler.”
This old tacklebox is filled with a variety of Bagley crankbaits and other lures.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - This old tacklebox is filled with a variety of Bagley crankbaits and other lures.
The trophy shelves. are full of Auten’s accomplishments over the years as an angler.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The trophy shelves. are full of Auten’s accomplishments over the years as an angler.
An earlier Bassmaster trophy from 2002.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - An earlier Bassmaster trophy from 2002.
A couple of Bassmaster Classic trophies occupy the shelf as well.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A couple of Bassmaster Classic trophies occupy the shelf as well.
Along the top of the wall are Auten’s framed jerseys from various fishing championships, beginning with his 1999 Classic jersey.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Along the top of the wall are Auten’s framed jerseys from various fishing championships, beginning with his 1999 Classic jersey.
The jerseys are lined up in order by the year he wore them.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The jerseys are lined up in order by the year he wore them.
The line ends with his latest 2021 Bassmaster Classic jersey from Lake Ray Roberts.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The line ends with his latest 2021 Bassmaster Classic jersey from Lake Ray Roberts.
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Photo: Dalton Tumblin - ...
Take a couple of final looks at the man cave of Todd Auten.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Take a couple of final looks at the man cave of Todd Auten.
<p>A man cave full of stories, art, history and of course, fishing. If you missed the tour of the main man cave area, <a href=
Photo: Dalton Tumblin -

A man cave full of stories, art, history and of course, fishing. If you missed the tour of the main man cave area, find it here.