Texas-Oklahoma Shootout Update:  Texas earned 2 points for the overall team weight with 51.45 pounds while Oklahoma picked up a point when the team of Harmon Davis and Kenyon Hill brought in a 9.03 pounder for the Big Bass honor.  To read the full Media Release click here.

Sixty anglers including BASS and FLW professionals will take to the water at famed Lake Fork in Texas on November 15th to fish for a great cause. Modeled after the PAA event the tournament will feature some of pro fishing's best anglers as well as some of the best local and regional anglers the state has to offer will take to the water for a one-day team event. There will be two 30 man teams split into squads of two for a total of 15 squads each team. Each squad will be paired with an observer and all fish caught that day will be recorded on scales and the best five fish will count towards that limit. The cumulative weight of the 15 squads will be tallied to determine the overall winner but to the anglers involved the kids will be the overall winners. All proceeds will be donated to the Wish To Fish Foundation which is headquartered in the Lake Fork area and provides underprivileged and ill children an oppurtunity to get out on the water and enjoy the outdoors. In addition, there will be a charity auction after weigh in with donated items such as an Edwin Evers autographed tournament jersey and a fully enclosed high-end deer stand. More items for the auction are arriving daily. Observers can sign up by making a minimum $50.00 dollar donation and will be allowed to choose what team they are paired with based on how much they donate. Basically, the more you donate the better your chances of fishing with the pros of your choice.

The tournament started out as friendly trash talking between local anglers and good friends Casey Allison and Mark Perry. "Casey basically called me up one day and was giving me a hard time about my lack of fishing ability when he mentioned we each needed to round up a couple of friends and hit the lake for a little team tournament for bragging rights" said Perry.  With that fateful comment, the idea of the tournament was born and basically just grew. "Casey and I are fortunate in that we both have a lot of contacts in the fishing industry and things just blew up", "in our rush to out do one another we started compiling a pretty stout list of names including BASS Elite pros Gary Klein, Brian Clark, James Niggemeyer, Cliff Pace, and Grant Goldbeck. We also got commitments from FLW pros Mark Pack and Tom Redington among others." As the tournament rosters grew they were able to add Lake Fork professional guides Lance Vick, Clint Wright, Tom Redington, Gary Paris, Brooks Rogers, Jeff Kirkwood and John Tanner to the mix. " To complete the rosters we both hit up our buddies that are some of the best anglers in the region. We got guys that fish Bass Champs, Media Bass, CABA, Ignition Bass, BASS Weekend Series, FLW sanctioned events as well as the Stren Series and BASS Opens.",  "We tried to get guys from all organizations and those that were known as some of the best including Mike Kernan, Terry Peacock, Robby Rose, Shonn Blassingame, Scott Dean, Trent Menees , Bill Wilcox and Jeremy Grandstaff." notes Perry. "We were lucky in that all these guys gave up their time and stepped up to make tis event a success. We also need to say thanks to pro anglers Kelly Jordon and Edwin Evers who really wanted to fish the event but had prior commitments that kept them out of it".

Jonathan Van Dam is making a name for himself in the fishing industry with hard work, despite the famous last name of his uncle, Kevin Van Dam.

Jonathan competed on the Bassmaster Southern Open circuit this season and wrapped it up at Lake Guntersville recently. He missed the final cut, finishing 45th with almost 29 pounds, and was 28th in the final point standings.

Van Dam told a tale during Friday’s weigh-in about sitting in the blastoff gaggle anglers may relate to … those who are superstitious.

“I looked over at my co-angler and he’s eating a banana,” Van Dam said, which drew laughter from the crowd. He said that must have been the reason for his lackluster performance.

Van Dam said he’ll compete on the Northern and Central Open circuits next year to learn about more lakes he’s never seen. Chances are we’ll see more of him in the future.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and everyone – men and women – should be tuned in to prevention against the second-leading cause of cancer death among women. 

It is the most common cancer for women in the United States. Only lung cancer claims more lives annually than breast cancer, which the American Cancer Society estimates will kill more than 40,400 women this year. More than 2 million women in the United States are believed to have been treated for breast cancer at some point in their lives. 

Cancer is an insidious disease in any form. There is no gender discrimination, either: the American Cancer Society estimated more than 2,000 cases of breast cancer in males last year. 

Regular mammogram screenings are the most common form of detection for women. Men and women can conduct self-examinations at home. Consult your physician with any questions or concerns. 

There are several good organizations worth checking into, also:

American Cancer Society – www.cancer.org

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation – www.komen.org

Casting for Recovery – www.castingforrecovery.org

We caught up with Aaron Martens at the recent Bassmaster Southern Open and asked how his day went.

“Terrible!” he said. “I couldn’t catch anything but short fish!”

Well, even the best pros have off days and we know it tears them up, especially after a good practice on a lake like Guntersville. Sometimes things all fall into place and other times what looks like a sure thing, or close to it, becomes a bust.

Martens didn’t have much to add about his recent effort in the U.S. Open on Lake Mead near Las Vegas. The Alabama angler, transplanted from California, said he had one of his worst tournaments out there due to a lower water level than he expected along with him just not getting on a good pattern.

“I just need to go out and catch some fish,” he said, but he was smiling all the while. “The Open is one of my favorites. I just stunk this year.”

We know Martens will whack a few of those big spots on the Coosa River and get back in form.

BASS Southern Open points champ Matt Herren talks about fishing the Elites, making the Bassmaster Classic and how his Humminbird Side Imaging unit worked to prefection at Lake Guntersville on Wired Radio with Terry Brown. To listen click here.

Ellison joined the PAA in late 2004, and in just less than 3 years, used his leadership and business talents to “jump start” this newly formed players association.  Ellison worked tirelessly alongside professional angler Mike Auten to create the design of the very successful PAA Toyota Texas Bass Classic in 2006.  This creative and innovative event has been very positively received over the past few years.

During his acceptance talk, Ellison stated, “I am truly humbled, honored and flattered by this award, and hope that during the years ahead, we can all continue to work together to grow fishing… America’s favorite family sport.”  Ellison encouraged corporate sponsors as well as professional anglers to continue to promote conservation and develop our country’s youth.  In addition, Ellison share some funny stories about his experiences as the PAA’s Executive Director during a 5 minute talk.

This past tournament season, Ellison has been busy competing in 28 events around New England as well as nationally.  In addition, he has participated in over a dozen children’s events, introducing kids to fishing and conservation.  “My goal is to put the first fishing rod into the hands of 1 million kids.  It’s an ambitious goal, but I am in the habit of making no small plans,” stated Ellison recently.   “The PAA has developed beautifully over the past four years and presently has great enthusiasm and leadership.  I think the future of the PAA looks very bright.”

Southern Open Champ Randy Tharp knows the Spro Bronzeye frog and he knows when conditions are right for it. We had a chance to talk to him on Wired Radio with Terry Brown about his wins at Santee Cooper and Guntersville and how the frog played in those wins. To listen click here.

Vidal Sassoon, check.

Paul Mitchell, check.

Marty Stone….huh?

At first blush, that seems like saying the three greatest TV chefs of our time are Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay and Chef Boyardee.

AFW/HI-SEAS announce today the signing of WBT Pro Kim Bain.  Kim is the current points leader of the WBT with one event left.  Lake Hamilton in Arkansas with host the WBT Championship October 23-25, 2008.  The eventual points leader secures a spot in the 2009 Bassmasters Classic in February.  To read the full release click here.

Longtime hammer on the BASS Elite Series Shaw Grigsby is back in the saddle for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic at the Red River. "I am pumped and love that area. It allows me to fish to my strengths and I have had some success fishing in that area before. Depending on the weather we could have a tournament that breaks records. I am a very thorough type of angler and love to pick an area apart and the Red River fishes well that way".

The last time Grigsby qualified for the Classic was 2003.

Elite Series pro Mark Davis is pulling up stakes and will very soon be moving to Lake Guntersville near Huntsville, Alabama. "It is centrally located and I love Guntersville. I fell in love with that area the first time I was there and we have family in the area." Davis projected his move to occur sometime after the first of the year. Wired2Fish will keep you posted. 

PAA Leaders…….Team Longhorn-Headed by Elite Series Pros Jeff Kriet and Derek Remitz lead after day one of the PAA Corporate Cup on Pickwick Lake. Bill Jackson and Warren Jackson are their partners and their 10 bass limit weighed in at 31.55 lbs. To read more click here.

Alton Jones just won the Bassmaster Classic on a jig. He loves to throw them in the fall too and has a few tips to help you put more in the box when the leaves begin to turn. To learn more go to http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/events/dynamicevent/2/919/classic_champ_likes_jigs_for_autumn_bass.aspx.

Chris Smalley

Ray Leyerly

Their warnings proved to be correct. Suggs finds himself slowed down at every turn….at least when he’s off the water, that is. Every time he stops at a gas station, a tackle store or even a stoplight, it seems that somebody wants to ask him about the big power plant pushing his boat.

"The animals are finding food and cover they need on the islands," Fox said. "This is a kind of laboratory. We see what grows well here, and we can transplant it to other small islands we've made."

A nearby farmer covered some land with the muck and found it makes an excellent peat for South Florida's sandy soil.

"He's growing a healthy crop of black-eyed peas," Fox said.

In the past, restoring ailing lakes required removing the muck and finding a spoil site to put it. Muck is not healthy habitat for plants or fish when it's spread over a lake bottom, but once it's dried out, it can support life.

Meanwhile, stripping away the layer of muck on the lake bed exposes sand and seeds that germinate and establish the healthy plant life that's a crucial component of the food chain that nurtures a world-class fishery and other nature-based recreation.

FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said folding the island-building project into the lake-restoration project reflects the innovative approach it will take to maintain the natural character of Florida over the next half-century.

"The FWC's new report, 'Wildlife 2060: What's at stake for Florida?' explains the pressures Florida's natural systems will be under during the next 50 years as the state's population doubles to 36 million," Barreto said. "We will have to be diligent and creative and develop alternative protection and management ideas, because we can expect development to take over wilderness and wetland habitats equal to the entire land area of Vermont."

The recent rains from tropical storms have brought water levels back up on Lake Okeechobee, and with that, Fox is pleased to see that plants, such as the native submerged plant coontail, is coming back in healthy, sustainable amounts.

"This is good stuff," Fox said.