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The Illinois High School Association schools will begin bass fishing as a sport in the state of Illinois April 24 with 214 High Schools participating in 18 sectional venues across the state. Sectional team participants will be qualifying for the State Championship berth to be held at Carlyle Lake May 8 and 9, 2009.
For more information about Illinois High School Fishing click here. |
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The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) and Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the country’s second largest selling Bourbon brand, have announced a two-year partnership that positions Evan Williams as the official bourbon of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. As part of this partnership, Evan Williams’ branded concessions area will be one of the highlights of the expo area. The TTBC will be held October 16 – 18 at Lake Conroe in Montgomery, Texas.
“Evan Williams Bourbon is excited about extending our involvement in professional bass fishing by being the Official Bourbon of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic,” stated Susan Wahl, Brand Manager for Evan Williams at Heaven Hill Distilleries. “We have continuously upped our stake in the sport since we first became involved seven years ago. We feel we are supporting an important and growing sport and that we are reaching many of our customers and prospects in a relevant way. Research concludes that 25% of all fishing enthusiasts drink Bourbon and this event is the perfect sampling opportunity and brand awareness builder.”
Evan Williams Bourbon, produced in Bardstown, Kentucky, will receive significant exposure across all of TTBC’s promotional elements and on a nationally-aired CBS Sports broadcast. The multi-year agreement also provides Evan Williams with additional onsite exposure opportunities.
Evan Williams has a strong commitment to the bass fishing industry and will continue to be the primary sponsor of Professional Anglers Association pro Jason Quinn of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, whose boat and tow vehicle prominently displays the brand. Quinn is a two-time TTBC qualifier.
“The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is happy to bring Evan Williams on board as the official bourbon for 2009 and 2010,” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur. “Evan Williams has a reputation for making the finest bourbon whiskey around and we are pleased that our spectators will be able to enjoy it as well as other Evan Williams’ branded items.”
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Thanks to all of the Wired readers for participating in the Sufix line contests. We actually had two contests. The first one was for 3-330 yard spools of Sufix. The second one for 3 more 330 yard spools with an additional Sufix question.
Rapala, the parent company of Sufix, was kind enough to give us three additional spools for part 2.
Congrats to the winners:
Bruce Bachlor
Cincinnati, OH
Josh Counce
Mt. Juliet, TN
Tim Brown
Surprise, AZ
Sufix 2
Curt Wingert
Ames, IA
Rich Conlon
Wexford, PA
David Maddox
Newalla, OK
Your Sufix line is on the way!
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Thanks to everyone who participated in the Wired2Fish Laserlure Contest.
Congrats to the winners:
Bruce Miller
Griffith, IN
Vic Sanders
Gadsden, AL
Jody Bessert
Silverdale, WA
Chris Payne
Temple, TX
James Stephenson
Satsuma, AL
Gary Carter
Covington, VA
Your baits are on the way!
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Old-school fishing fans are rejoicing as Mark Menendez of Paducah, Ky., laughed in the face of modernization, simplifying his approach by using an aluminum boat-rig with minimal trappings to accumulate 55 pounds, 7 ounces on his way to victory at the Toyota Trucks Diamond Drive on Lake Dardanelle.
Four-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam threatened Menendez with his tally of 53 pounds, 4 ounces, but Menendez’s old-school approach in the end earned him his third BASS victory.
For the first time in nearly 15 years – BASS legend Roland Martin scored victory out of an aluminum rig on the Connecticut River in 1994 – Menendez scored victory at a top-level BASS event with aluminum, piloting a 17-foot G3 armed with a 90-horsepower Yamaha engine across Dardanelle for three days of the weather-shortened tournament.
With the victory, Menendez earns $100,000 and valuable points in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, which awards the top 36 anglers qualifying berths in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. Two years running, Menendez, who is seventh in the AOY standings in 2009, has been the first angler out of the Classic cut and is seeking redemption this season after lost opportunities and doses of misfortune.
“This goes to show that sometimes you don’t need the most modern equipment to perform at the highest level,” said Menendez, 44. “This is the purest form of fishing, absolutely old school. But at the end of the day, it’s just a method of transportation and you have to catch the fish to win. Thankfully, I did.”
While it paid off, Menendez was taking a huge gamble with his unique approach. It took him nearly an hour each to get to his spot and return to the weigh-in site and he estimates that he only fished for 10 hours over the three days of competition. Furthermore, with cold and windy conditions throughout the tournament, the ride was far from pleasant and on the final day, Menendez had to move rocks and other obstacles out of his way to reach his honey hole.
Still, when he got to his area, roughly a ¼-mile stretch, he was free of the boat traffic that plagued other competitors. On Sunday, he flipped a Strike King KVD Tube, eerily named after VanDam, in black neon to the shallows to close out the victory.
Within his area, the most productive areas were grapevines positioned adjacent to wood. Amazingly enough, Menendez, who typically runs a Skeeter boat, borrowed the aluminum rig from a good friend. It was so beat up by the end of the tournament, Menendez felt it wasn’t salvageable.
“I was 100% committed to aluminum this week,” said Menendez. “The thought flickered through my mind to go back to my comfort zone but I knew that the only shot of getting to that area was the smaller rig.”
With a late charge, VanDam narrowly missed out on his 15th BASS victory. Using the traditional approach, VanDam fished in an area found by many other Elite Series competitors but was able to capitalize on the final day by flipping a Strike King rouge to the shallows.
He trailed Menendez by more than 5 pounds heading into the final day and lamented a decision on the first day of competition to not upgrade his weight, opting instead to not burn out an area. He felt had he exploited the area, he would have had a better shot heading into the final day.
But VanDam, a BASS veteran and perhaps the best angler on the planet, is able to keep things in perspective. With another solid finish, he leads the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings through two Elite Series event. A victory in the season-long points race would give VanDam five AOY trophies, a feat only matched by Martin.
“It’s never any fun to lose,” said VanDam, a two-time Bassmaster Classic champion. “I really had them dialed in around Noon but I just left myself at too much of a disadvantage.”
In third was Chris Lane of Winter Haven, Fla., with 48-1 followed by Jim Murray of Arabi, Ga., with 45-9 in fourth. Denny Brauer, the 1998 Classic champion, was fifth with 43-8.
Continuing their solid runs, 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion Skeet Reese finished sixth while 2008 Classic champ Alton Jones was 10th.
Elite anglers will get little rest as the next event on the schedule is set for next week, April 2-5 on Lake Wheeler out of Decatur, Ala. Part of the Arkansas River Valley, the 34,300-acre Lake Dardanelle has been host to five BASS events.
Full standings for the tournament and the season-long Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings can be found below.
-Totals
TOYOTA TRUCKS DIAMOND DRIVE FINAL DAY STANDINGS
2009 Diamond Drive 3/26-3/29
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville AR.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 55-07 315 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 21-08 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 5 16-03
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 53-04 295 $26,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 5 19-08
3. Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 15 48-01 290 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 5 17-11
4. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 15 45-09 285 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 19-03 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 5 14-06
5. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 14 43-08 280 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 4 11-13
6. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 42-12 276 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 5 13-06
7. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 11 40-08 272 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 21-12 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 1 02-01
8. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 13 40-05 268 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 3 08-04
9. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 13 39-08 264 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 3 07-00
10. Alton Jones Waco, TX 13 39-03 260 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 3 07-00
11. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 11 35-09 257 $11,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 2 04-10
12. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 9 28-14 254 $10,500.00
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 0 00-00 Day 4: 0 00-00
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BIG BASS
Day
1 Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 06-00 $0.00
2 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 07-08 $0.00
4 Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 05-07 $0.00
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 07-08 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 41 340 888-05
2 55 408 1136-10
3 0 0 00-00
4 5 41 121-14
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101 789 2146-13
TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
2009 Diamond Drive - Diamond Drive Pro Points
After Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Ark. Ending 03-29-2009, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Kevin VanDam Mich. 563
2 Alton Jones Texas 560
3 Stephen Browning Ark. 514
4 Skeet Reese Calif. 507
5 James Niggemeyer Texas 496
6 Gary Klein Texas 494
7 Mark Menendez Ky. 493
8 Cliff Pace Miss. 491
9 Kevin Short Ark. 487
10 Denny Brauer Mo. 479
11 Dean Rojas Ariz. 469
12 Mark Tucker Mo. 466
13 Boyd Duckett Ala. 463
14 Chris Lane Fla. 459
15 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 455
16 Mike McClelland Ark. 451
17 Bill Lowen Ohio 450
17 Jason Williamson S.C. 450
19 Jared Lintner Calif. 447
20 Jami Fralick S.D. 442
21 Todd Faircloth Texas 441
21 Brent Chapman Kan. 441
23 Kelly Jordon Texas 436
24 Pat Golden N.C. 428
25 Brian Snowden Mo. 424
26 Timmy Horton Ala. 422
27 Bobby Lane Fla. 418
28 Greg Hackney La. 412
29 Matt Herren Ala. 411
30 Gerald Swindle Ala. 408
31 Greg Vinson Ala. 406
31 Casey Ashley S.C. 406
33 Randy Howell Ala. 404
34 John Murray Ariz. 400
35 Jeff Kriet Okla. 398
35 Edwin Evers Okla. 398
37 Kevin Wirth Ky. 396
38 Tommy Biffle Okla. 394
39 Aaron Martens Ala. 390
40 Jim Murray Ga. 374
41 Terry Butcher Okla. 372
42 Chad Griffin Texas 368
43 Russ Lane Ala. 366
44 Bradley Hallman Okla. 365
45 Kenyon Hill Okla. 364
46 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 360
47 Todd Auten S.C. 354
47 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 354
49 Davy Hite S.C. 352
50 Mark Davis Ark. 346
51 Dave Wolak N.C. 344
52 Jason Quinn S.C. 338
53 Pete Ponds Miss. 336
54 Terry Scroggins Fla. 334
55 Billy Mccaghren Ark. 333
56 Jon Bondy Canada 330
56 Byron Velvick Texas 330
58 J Todd Tucker Ga. 328
59 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 326
60 Ish Monroe Calif. 324
60 Charlie Hartley Ohio 324
62 Matt Reed Texas 318
63 Steve Kennedy Ala. 316
64 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 312
65 Ken Cook Okla. 306
66 Guy Eaker N.C. 304
67 Brian Clark Texas 301
68 Britt Myers S.C. 294
68 Paul Elias Miss. 294
68 Marty Robinson S.C. 294
71 Rick Morris Va. 292
72 Marty Stone N.C. 286
72 Elton Luce Texas 286
74 Bernie Schultz Fla. 284
74 Takahiro Omori Texas 284
76 Mark Tyler Okla. 282
77 Wade Grooms S.C. 280
77 Morizo Shimizu Japan 280
79 Scott Rook Ark. 274
79 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 274
81 Jimmy Mize Ark. 270
82 Mike Wurm Ark. 252
83 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 250
83 David Smith Okla. 250
83 Dustin Wilks N.C. 250
83 Vince Fulks Okla. 250
87 John Crews Va. 248
88 Derek Remitz Ala. 246
89 Clark Reehm Ark. 234
90 Luke Gritter Mich. 230
91 Kevin Langill N.C. 228
91 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 228
93 Zell Rowland Texas 218
94 Peter Thliveros Fla. 212
95 Grant Goldbeck Md. 211
96 Rick Clunn Mo. 204
97 Mark Burgess Mass. 198
98 Scott Campbell Mo. 194
99 Jeff Connella La. 178
100 Brent Broderick Ohio 156
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Being resiliant paid off for Pam Martin-Wells as she captured her 4th career victory at Neely Henry on the WBT this weekend. This was the first tournament of the year.
“It was simple persistence,” Martin-Wells said. She had fished in heavy current druring the event.
Her 38-pound, 10-ounce total bested Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., who recovered after a slow first day to finish second with 38-3.
Martin-Wells won $1,000 and a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig valued at $55,000.
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Wired2Fish andTeam National Guard pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win $114,361 in the Walmart FLW Series® National Guard Western Division tournament on Lake Havasu with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 57-11. With this win Ehrler reached over $1 million in career earnings with FLW Outdoors.
The catch gave him the win by a slim 2-ounce margin over Zack Thompson of Orinda, Calif., who caught a total of 20 bass weighing 57-9 and earned $44,680.
“I can’t believe this,” Ehrler said. “I want to dedicate this to my friends who passed away last week. It was a tough week.”
During practice last Sunday Ehrler received a phone call from his father saying that several of his friends were killed in a plane crash. According to the Federal Aviation Administration a total of 14 people, including seven children, were killed early Sunday when a small plane crashed near an airport in Butte, Mont. The plane was attempting to land at the airport when it crashed.
“It was hard to go out there and fish this week with so much on my mind,” he said. “I wanted to win this tournament in honor of my friends.”
Ehrler opened the tournament in 10th place Wednesday with five bass weighing 15-10. On Thursday he added another five bass weighing 13-3. He then caught five bass weighing 14-1Friday to make the crucial top 10 cut in fourth place.
“Coming into this tournament I knew the fish would be up on beds because the spawn started a few weeks ago,” he said. “I really concentrated on sight-fishing this week.
“Everyday, I had to go out and look for new fish. I started on fish that I found in practice and after that every bass I weighed-in I found during the tournament.”
The key for Ehrler this week was finding new water each day. “As soon as I would get my limits each day I would go looking for new water that I could fish the next day,” he said. “Some of the fish I caught today, I found today. My last fish of the day took me 40 minutes to catch and after I caught that one I knew I had a chance at winning.”
Ehrler caught most of his fish this week on a Berkley Chigger Craw and a Texas rig.
Rounding out the top five pros are Cody Meyer of Redding, Calif. (20 bass, 56-9, $35,744); Mike Folkestad of Orange, Calif. (20 bass, 56-7, $26,808) and Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif. (20 bass, 55-14, $17,872).
Dewayne Bonham of Brentwood, Calif., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Friday – an 6-pound, 4-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $370.
Overall there were 49 bass weighing 130 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 10 pros Saturday. The catch included nine five-bass limits.
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Paducah Kentucky's Mark Menendez took the second day lead at Dardanelle today with a total weight of 39-4. He weighed 5 bass today at 21-8. In second is Mississippi's Cliff Pace who caught 5 today that weighed 21-12 and his two-day total is 38-7. Last years AOY Kevin VanDam moved into 3rd with 18-6 today for a total of 33-12 for the two days of fishing. Rounding out the top 5 is Matt Herren with 32-8 and Alton Jones with 32-3.
Pete Ponds stands in 50th today with a total of 20-15.
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 Photo by Elizabeth Greene
For the love of swimbaits...
By Terry Brown
When you think of swimbait experts and people who know everything about them names like Bill Siemantel, Mike Long, Ken Huddleston, Jerry Rago, and Butch Brown come to mind. Tournament anglers like Kelly Jordon, Aaron Martens, Matt Newman, Shawn Bailey and now after Amistad Jason Williamson come to mind. For my money another guy eaten up with the Swimbait bug and one that may have more history and has brought notoriety to the bait is Byron Velvick.
Recently I got to spend time in the boat with him at his home lake, Lake Amistad, and folks..plain and simple......Byron Velvick is a true swimbait dude and he loves Texas and he loves Amistad.
The first words out of his mouth that morning we fished was a two part question that went something like this. "Terry, do you want to go catch numbers, (boring, no-way, you have got to be kidding me) or WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO THROW BIG SWIMBAITS AND CATCH A MULE!! I KNOW WHERE SOME GIANTS LIVE! When typing, capital letters show excitement or shouting.....DO YOU GET MY POINT? Byron wanted to go after biguns and he wanted to swimbait fish and to be honest....so did I. No limits were in our future today. We were trophy hunting.
Throwing a big swimbait is similar to emploding a building. Its all about the set-up and when it happens it blows you away. "I can honestly tell you that in my 53 years I have never had a bass hit a bait so violently, so hard, and yet not get hooked. They blasted the bait and I got what the little boy shot at....NADA, nothing, zip. I told Byron my bait needed more hooks. It had a stinger treble and a top main hook already. I wondered if velcro might work too but I can tell you that honestly I really didn't care if I caught them or not. The idea of throwing a swimbait with a renowned swimbait expert....toe to toe, in the same boat was a cool deal."
Byron is one great guy and a super host. Every bait in the boat costs about 20-100 dollars and he didn't wince one time as he suggested I try this or that. We had one occasion where my camera bag looked like a magnet for wayward swimmers. Six to seven piled up swimbaits latched on to the bag and we had to perform surgery to get them loose.
I have fished most of my life and I have never seen excitement over one technique or one style like the excitement I saw that day in Byron's eyes. He is totally engulfed in swimmers. We discussed being versatile and getting away from swimbaits when he needs too and he said "I know I sometimes rely too much on big baits. In order to maintain the competitive edge and keep my position in the sport it is imperative that I do that." He then looked back at me with a grin and asked if I wanted to throw a weedless swimbait in and around bushes. I busted up!
Eatin up with swimbaits....I would say yes but I would also say Byron is a great angler and spending that day on the water with him was very special. He is a great guy. Thanks Byron......I enjoyed the day!
One other note: Byron and Gerald Swindle are two of the best for taking a regular fishing hat and customizing a visor out of them. They did it several times on this trip.
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Mark Jeffreys is on Wired Radio with Terry Brown from Dardanelle and the Elite Series qualifier there. He gives Wired readers a forecast for the remainder of the tournament.
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Kansas’ Brent Chapman Makes Most of Short Day, Takes Lead to Open Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake Dardanelle
For related photos, click here.
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - With Lake Dardanelle tightening up and anglers facing weather challenges on the opening day of the Toyota Trucks Diamond Drive, Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., was able to take advantage by focusing on a few spots and turning a less-than-stellar practice into the Day One lead with 19 pounds, 7 ounces, Thursday at the second event of the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series season.
Chapman opened up a more than 2-pound advantage over Mark Menendez's 17 pounds, 12 ounces. Menendez, of Paducah, Ky., was one of four anglers in the field using an aluminum boat. The 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion, Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, carried a solid performance at the season opener on Texas' Lake Amistad into the second event, coming in third with 17-5. Rounding out the top five were Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., in fourth with 17-1, and Fred Roumbanis of Bixby, Okla., with 16-12 in fifth.
A dense fog prevented Chapman and the other 99 Elite Series anglers from launching at the scheduled time of 7:15 a.m. CT. With safer conditions a little more than three hours later, anglers launched after the delay cut significantly into their competition day.
While the delay was a curse for some – just 41 caught limits -- Chapman felt it helped him focus on his most productive spots after a lackluster practice.
“That’s how fishing is supposed to go,” said the two-time BASS event winner. “I had nothing solid in practice and I wasn’t feeling that great about my chances. But things changed really quickly and I was able to limit my focus. I just can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow.”
Fishing fans can catch all of the on-the-water action from the Toyota Trucks Diamond Drive on The Bassmasters, which airs Saturday, April 4, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The daily weigh-ins for this and all other regular-season Elite events and two postseason events will air live at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, while a wealth of unique content will also be available at Bassmaster.com. Also this week on Bassmaster.com, fans can get daily, live Hooked Up updates, featuring BASS emcee Keith Alan, throughout each day's competition. The updates will air at the top of the hour, beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
Chapman started fast Thursday, boating three keepers with a crankbait in the first 15 minutes of competition. But the real windfall came later at his second spot. Throwing a jig to the shallows, Chapman took advantage of aggressive fish that he felt moved up to the area just hours before he arrived.
Surprised that he was alone in the spot, Chapman was able to upgrade his weight. With Dardanelle poised to absorb some serious overnight rain, the 36-year-old was worried that his spot would be muddied and perhaps not as productive, but he said he plans to visit the same area Friday. With a victory, Chapman would push his BASS career earnings to more than $1 million.
Menendez attributed his Day One success to his unique approach of using an aluminum rig with a 90-horsepower engine. His five-fish limit was buoyed by a 6-pounder, the biggest bass in the field, which was caught while he was targeting a 3-pounder.
“It’s your turn when things like that happen,” said Menendez, 44. “I had such a blast today. It was like getting back to my old roots. The boat proved to be very effective.”
Despite his success, Menendez was unsure whether he would use the aluminum boat or his typical Skeeter rig for Day Two. The two-time BASS event winner practiced with both scenarios and found success, but with the impending onslaught of rain and poor conditions set for Friday, he felt that the aluminum rig might not be the best choice.
Just 7 ounces behind Menendez was Jones. Like Chapman, he was aided by the shortened day. He abandoned his original pattern -- sight fishing -- for a secondary plan he developed in practice.
Early in the day, he totaled a solid weight using the pattern, which he didn’t want to detail, and was then able to revisit his sight-fishing bite. In the last hour of competition, he was able to capitalize on an area he had to himself. He located two fish, both more than 3 pounds, and was able to catch them, leaving just enough time to get back to the docks to check in.
With a second-place showing at the Elite season-opener on Lake Amistad, another solid finish would boost Jones in staking an impressive early claim in the points race for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title and its accompanying $200,000 top prize.
Notables Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., (9th) and Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., (11th) fared well and are within striking distance. Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., who won the 2007 Bassmaster Major on Dardanelle with 55 pounds, 9 ounces, was 33rd.
After Friday, the field will be cut to the top 50 competitors. The final day of competition, Sunday, will feature the top 12 anglers. Part of the Arkansas River Valley, the 34,300-acre Lake Dardanelle has been host to five BASS events.
The Toyota Trucks Diamond Drive includes a top prize of $100,000 and awards valuable points in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title race. Fans are encouraged to attend daily launches (7:15 a.m. CT) and weigh-ins (4 p.m.) through Sunday at Lake Dardanelle State Park, 100 State Park Drive, Russellville.
Sunday’s activities include the live taping of Hooked Up, hosted by ESPN Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders. The show, which will air live at 4:30 p.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, will preview Sunday’s final weigh-in.
Other activities Saturday and Sunday at the Diamond Drive, including Dog Training & Retriever Demonstrations Brought To You By Sport Dog, will begin at 1 p.m. CT at Lake Dardanelle State Park. Product demonstrations from Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Motors, OPTIMA Batteries and more will be available on site. Fans are invited to join the “Ask the Experts” session with the Elite pros during Bassmaster University, set for 3 p.m. CT Saturday.
All events at the Diamond Drive are free and open to the public.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.
Local sponsors of the Diamond Drive are the State of Arkansas and Russellville A&P Commission.
Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine; Bass Pro Shops, Costa Del Mar, Ramada, SpongeTech and Triton Boats.
TOYOTA TRUCKS DIAMOND DRIVE DAY 1
2009 Diamond Drive 3/26-3/29
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville AR.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 19-07 305
Day 1: 5 19-07
2. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 17-12 295
Day 1: 5 17-12
3. Alton Jones Waco, TX 5 17-05 290
Day 1: 5 17-05
4. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 17-01 285
Day 1: 5 17-01
5. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 16-12 280
Day 1: 5 16-12
6. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 16-11 276
Day 1: 5 16-11
7. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 16-06 272
Day 1: 5 16-06
8. Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 5 15-14 268
Day 1: 5 15-14
9. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 15-13 264
Day 1: 5 15-13
10. Billy Mccaghren Mayflower, AR 5 15-11 260
Day 1: 5 15-11
11. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 15-06 257
Day 1: 5 15-06
12. Stephen Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 15-05 254
Day 1: 5 15-05
13. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 15-02 251
Day 1: 5 15-02
14. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 5 15-01 248
Day 1: 5 15-01
15. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 5 14-14 245
Day 1: 5 14-14
15. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 14-14 245
Day 1: 5 14-14
15. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 14-14 245
Day 1: 5 14-14
18. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 4 14-13 239
Day 1: 4 14-13
19. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 14-11 237
Day 1: 5 14-11
20. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 14-06 235
Day 1: 5 14-06
21. Jami Fralick Dallas, NC 5 13-08 233
Day 1: 5 13-08
22. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 13-06 231
Day 1: 5 13-06
23. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 13-05 229
Day 1: 5 13-05
24. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 5 13-00 227
Day 1: 5 13-00
24. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 13-00 227
Day 1: 5 13-00
26. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 12-14 223
Day 1: 5 12-14
27. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 5 12-11 221
Day 1: 5 12-11
27. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 5 12-11 221
Day 1: 5 12-11
29. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 12-01 217
Day 1: 5 12-01
30. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 12-00 215
Day 1: 5 12-00
30. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 5 12-00 215
Day 1: 5 12-00
32. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 11-14 211
Day 1: 5 11-14
33. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 11-07 209
Day 1: 5 11-07
33. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 11-07 209
Day 1: 5 11-07
35. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 5 11-00 205
Day 1: 5 11-00
36. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 4 10-13 203
Day 1: 4 10-13
37. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 10-12 201
Day 1: 5 10-12
37. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 5 10-12 201
Day 1: 5 10-12
39. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 10-10 197
Day 1: 5 10-10
40. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 4 10-10 195
Day 1: 4 10-10
41. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 4 10-08 193
Day 1: 4 10-08
42. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 10-03 191
Day 1: 5 10-03
43. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 3 10-02 189
Day 1: 3 10-02
44. Pat Golden High Point, NC 5 09-14 187
Day 1: 5 09-14
45. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 4 09-14 185
Day 1: 4 09-14
46. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 09-12 183
Day 1: 5 09-12
47. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 3 09-12 181
Day 1: 3 09-12
48. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 4 09-10 179
Day 1: 4 09-10
49. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 4 09-06 177
Day 1: 4 09-06
49. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 4 09-06 177
Day 1: 4 09-06
51. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 4 09-05 173
Day 1: 4 09-05
52. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 4 09-02 171
Day 1: 4 09-02
53. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 4 09-01 169
Day 1: 4 09-01
54. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 4 08-15 167
Day 1: 4 08-15
55. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 3 08-10 165
Day 1: 3 08-10
56. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 3 08-07 163
Day 1: 3 08-07
57. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 4 08-00 161
Day 1: 4 08-00
57. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 4 08-00 161
Day 1: 4 08-00
59. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 3 07-07 157
Day 1: 3 07-07
60. Randy Howell Springville, AL 3 07-03 155
Day 1: 3 07-03
61. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 2 07-03 153
Day 1: 2 07-03
62. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 07-00 151
Day 1: 5 07-00
63. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 3 07-00 149
Day 1: 3 07-00
64. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 2 06-14 147
Day 1: 2 06-14
65. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 3 06-11 145
Day 1: 3 06-11
66. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 2 06-03 143
Day 1: 2 06-03
67. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 2 06-01 141
Day 1: 2 06-01
68. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 3 06-00 139
Day 1: 3 06-00
69. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 2 05-13 137
Day 1: 2 05-13
70. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 2 05-05 135
Day 1: 2 05-05
71. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 2 05-03 133
Day 1: 2 05-03
72. Kevin Langill Terrell, NC 2 05-01 131
Day 1: 2 05-01
73. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 2 04-06 129
Day 1: 2 04-06
74. Ken D Cook Lawton, OK 1 04-05 127
Day 1: 1 04-05
75. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 2 04-03 125
Day 1: 2 04-03
76. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 2 04-02 123
Day 1: 2 04-02
77. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 2 03-14 121
Day 1: 2 03-14
78. Luke Gritter Kalamazoo, MI 2 03-13 119
Day 1: 2 03-13
79. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 2 03-10 117
Day 1: 2 03-10
80. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 2 03-08 115
Day 1: 2 03-08
81. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 2 03-05 113
Day 1: 2 03-05
82. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 1 03-05 111
Day 1: 1 03-05
83. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 2 03-03 109
Day 1: 2 03-03
84. John Crews Salem, VA 1 02-15 107
Day 1: 1 02-15
85. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 1 02-13 105
Day 1: 1 02-13
86. Jason Quinn York, SC 2 02-12 103
Day 1: 2 02-12
87. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 1 02-12 101
Day 1: 1 02-12
88. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 1 02-10 99
Day 1: 1 02-10
89. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 1 02-06 97
Day 1: 1 02-06
89. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 1 02-06 97
Day 1: 1 02-06
91. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 1 02-05 93
Day 1: 1 02-05
92. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 1 02-04 91
Day 1: 1 02-04
93. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 1 01-14 89
Day 1: 1 01-14
94. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
94. Elton Luce Jr. Brookeland, TX 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
96. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 1 01-10 83
Day 1: 1 01-10
97. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 1 01-09 81
Day 1: 1 01-09
98. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 1 01-01 79
Day 1: 1 01-01
99. David Smith Del City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
100. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
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BIG BASS
Day
1 Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 06-00 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 41 340 888-05
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41 340 888-05
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Bill Lowen knows that a coot is about 50% duck and the other 50% water. Go to www.BillLowen.com and take a gander, sorry for the pun, at Bill's quack up with his feathered friend. |
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Springtime can mean rain, snow melt and gulley washers. Gulley washers can muddy lakes and rivers. Muddy conditions can sour anglers and angling unless you know the secrets.
The latest FLW Outdoors magazine has a great piece by Jason Sealock about how to approach these conditions that can help anglers take a bad situation and make a good one out of it.
He hits differences in types of impoundments, which targets are best( wood, weeds or rock) and what baits work best and uses pro's like Lake Fork Tackle's Mark Pack and Dover, Arkansas angler Ray Scheide to illustrate his points.
Too much rain doesn't mean you get the golf clubs out, you can still catch them if you know what to look for.
You can subscribe to the magazine by going to www.flwoutdoors.com or you can pick one up at participating book stores like Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Hastings. |
The new Spro on Tour Videos are up from Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas. To check them out click here. |
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Wired staffer Jason Bryant takes a stab at picking his favorites for Fantasy Fishing...both BASS and FLW, in a new Unplugged Article today. See if you agree with his approach. Also we may give you the opportunity to pick against the Wired2Fish Staff in upcoming events so get signed up and get ready. You can sign up for FLW by clicking on the banner at the bottom of the homepage here.
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BASS just sent out the following Press Release regarding signing Laserlure as a sponsor of the WBT.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2009
LaserLure, Inc., Joins Women’s Bassmaster Tour as Sponsor
BASS announced today that LaserLure, Inc., a Shreveport, La.-based lure manufacturer, will join the organization as a sponsor of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour during the 2009 tournament season.
Most recently, LaserLure has made a splash in the fishing industry with sponsorship deals with Bassmaster Classic champions Mike Iaconelli and Boyd Duckett. The innovative company was able to leverage its hometown roots during the 2009 Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City, La., to garner significant exposure for its brand of lures.
“We are excited to sponsor the 2009 Women’s Bassmaster Tour,” said Mike Lopez, national sales manager for LaserLure, Inc. “At LaserLure, we know we have developed the most innovative, futuristic and exciting new lures and we are equally certain that we have formed a valuable relationship with ESPN and BASS that will bring the spotlight to our product.”
As part of its association with the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, LaserLure will receive space and signage at each WBT event to promote and display their products.
The sponsorship agreement includes a large presence across BASS’ multimedia assets, including Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer in addition to ESPN Outdoors programming on ESPN2.
“LaserLure is building a fine reputation as an innovator and avid supporter of the fishing industry,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager, BASS & ESPN Outdoors. “We are pleased to align the Women’s Bassmaster Tour with such a creative force.”
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How’s your fantasy fishing season going so far? Are you hovering near the top somewhere, or are you feeling more like a basement sweeper? Either way, you’d be wise not to put too much stock in your current position. There are still plenty of fish to be caught in this young 2009 tournament season.
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Bass Champs Tournament Trail has stepped forward and has geared a new set of rules for weighing big bass caught during their events. Rather than holding them in cramped livewell they are requesting that anglers bring them to the scales immediately upon catching them. Below is the info they provided to the media.
Bass Champs
New Lunker Program
In an effort to help promote the live release of
LUNKER BASS back to the lake,
BASS CHAMPS is urging all teams to:
· IMMEDIATELY bring all Bass exceeding 10 pounds
caught during a Bass Champs Tournament to
the scales.
· IMMEDIATELY bring all Bass exceeding 13 pounds
caught during a Bass Champs Tournament to the
scales and receive a $500 bonus.
Upon weighing your bass you will be permitted to return to the lake and continue fishing. Your final weigh-in stringer will be added to your previously weighed Lunker Bass.
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Check out the new Scales and Tales cartoon by Bill McElroy today.......Will Lucky ever get it?
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Cold front conditions seem to follow the BASS Elite Series. First, the Bassmaster Classic was greeted with cold front conditions but Skeet Reese figured them out, second Amistad had temps in the 30's and Jason Williamson got the job done, now Dardanelle and cold fronts are again forecast for tournament days with early morning temps in the 30's again. Who will figure them out there?
These are the best in the world and we bet they will catch them again!!
Friday, we will have Mark Jeffreys from the BassZone on Wired Radio with Terry Brown giving us his take on the standings and conditions from Arkansas.....because it is "All About Being There".
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Thanks to all who participated in the All-Terrain Tackle and Berkley Chigger Craw one day contest on Wired2Fish.com. The winners of that contest are:
Ryan Alford
Baytown, Tx
Reid Flade
Virginia Beach, VA
Your packages are on the way!
Stay tuned for another great Wired2Fish Contest later today.....
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Check on the Spro on Tour website and get a re-cap of the BASS Elite Series event at Amistad with Gary Klein and Dean Rojas. To watch click here. |
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We just got a call from Jason Baggett at Demand Tackle and he wanted to assure his customers that he is indeed still in business. Jason said, "We, DEMAND! Tackle, are not out of business? Our web host experienced a massive outage and we are a casualty of that outage. We should be back up later today or tomorrow."
In the interim feel free to call 479-461-4546 if you want to place an order!
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North Carolina angler and US Army soldier Eric Picarelli was on leave and looking for pre-spawners at Shearon Harris in North Carolina. He had not caught a 10 lber before. He caught this beauty on a Lake Fork Craw Tube, green pumpkin, and was using LFT Tungsten Weight. Eric said " my unit is deploying to Afghanistan next month so I took 2 weeks leave and have been fishing hard since there are no bass in the desert." This 10 pound bass anchored a 31 pound stringer for Picarelli.
Congrats Eric and thanks for defending our freedoms!
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Pro Russell Cecil of Willis, Texas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win the Stren Series Texas Division tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 58-11. For his victory, Cecil earned $25,000 cash and a fully rigged Ranger boat.
He caught his fish on two baits from Big Bite Baits, 4" Fighting Frog and the 5" Swim Minnow.
“I changed up every day, but I don’t think I made the right changes today,” said Cecil, whose 11-pound final-day weight was almost half of each of his first two days’ weights. “Obviously there were more and more people on the water as the week went on. It wasn’t bad the first day, and I got mine real early the first day and got out of there. I came back in there about 2 p.m. just to see what it looked like, and there was Cody Bird and Scotty Villines … it was murderer’s row in there, and I thought, ‘Man, this is not good.’”
Cecil said he returned to his spot the second day of competition and caught fish early and caught two big ones at the end of the day. Cecil said he made the decision to return to his spot on the final day of competition even though he knew there were heavy stringers taken out of it the previous two days.
“It just all worked out,” Cecil said. “The Lord just blessed me. This was the worst day I had by far, but I had my big one on a swimbait before the sun really got up.”
Cecil said the swimbait was more productive for him than any sight-fishing techniques during the tournament. Cecil said he caught a few sight fish on the first day, a couple on the second day and none the third day of competition. Cecil said he flipped a creature bait at the few shallow sight fish he targeted.
Cecil opened the tournament in second place Thursday with five bass weighing 23-4. He then caught five bass weighing 23-9 Friday to make the crucial top-10 cut in first place.
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If you get in the boat with Christian Rinaldi, noted cooking educator and chef to the stars, don’t expect him to whip out a gourmet shore lunch at mid-day.
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Grants Pass, Oregon based Setyr Rods is still alive and well according Jim Eldred, Owner of Setyr. "Business has been tough with the current economic times but we are working hard building rods and taking care of our dealers and anglers" said Eldred. "We are diligently working to make sure we continue to provide a premium product at a cost effective price."
Rumors had been circulating that Setyr was out of business. This is not true according to Eldred.
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Skeet Reese knows winners when he sees them and he fished the Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craw and Lucky Craft Redemption Spinnerbait to claim this years Bassmaster Classic. Six lucky winners correctly answered the Classic Contest questions and will be receiving a bag of Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craws and a Lucky Craft Redemption Spinnerbait. The winners were:
Darlene Staley
Harker Heights, TX
John Tellor
Pomona, IL
Joseph Zuzevich
Rockford, IL
Robert Childers
Irving, TX
James Taylor
Quantico, VA
Sam Hutson
Benton, AR
Congrats to all and your products are on the way. Stay tuned for more great contests from Wired2Fish.com, your contest headquarters!
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 Cox photo
Zoom Bait Company released the Magnum Trick Worm today, a thicker, larger version of the regular Trick Worm. According to Zoom pro staff member, Marty Stone, this is a one-of-a-kind worm and there are none like it currently available on the market.The Mag Trick Worm is a combination of two worms in one – the popular Zoom Trick worm and the new Mag num Finesse Worm. Keeping the characteristics of the original Trick Worm, Zoom has beefed up the profile and thickness of the new Mag Trick Worm.
"I have been begging Zoom for this worm for more than four years," Stone said. "I love straight tail worms and believe there are many applications for them. I often find the need for a straight tail worm with a bigger profile, and the Mag Trick Worm fits the bill perfectly."
According to Stone, when fishing lakes known to hold big fish, such as Lake Amistad, Falcon Lake and Sam Rayburn, a bigger bait is much more effective in finding and catching the big bass.
"This bait will shine on lakes where you know you have to have big bites," Stone added. "When that’s the case, whether you’re flipping and pitching, Texas-rigging or Carolina-rigging, this should be the bait of
choice."
When fishing the Mag Trick Worm, it is imperative to beef up the hooks. In all three techniques, whether flipping/pitching, fishing it Texas-rigged or Carolina rigged, bigger baits need bigger hooks, and the Mag Trick Worm should be fished with 5/O or 6/O hooks.
A flipping stick is obviously the best bet when flipping and pitching the Mag Trick Worm. In addition, 25-pound monofilament should be the minimum line size with this oversized worm. When Carolina-rigging it, use 17-pound fluorocarbon for the main line and 15- to 17-pound fluorocarbon for the leader. Lastly, when fishing it Texas-rigged, Stone suggests using 12- to 15-pound fluorocarbon.
"I like fluorocarbon when making long casts," Stone suggested. "The weight size will vary depending on the water depth. Stick to the weight size you’d normally use with the regular Trick Worm in any particular depth."
The Mag Trick Worm will be available in 12 colors: Junebug, Pumpkin, Watermelon Seed, Red Bug, Green Pumpkin, Black, Bubble Gum, White, Merthiolate, Watermelon Red, Watermelon Candy and Watermelon Candy Red.
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There are 4 peoiple who won't have to worry about kicking a rod in the lake in 2009. They are the winners of the Wired2Fish and Rod Guard contest that ended yesterday. Remember if you see Bill Lowen on the Elite Series Tour, take him you favorite rod and ask him to put a Rod Guard on it.
Here are your winners:
Paul Ruhe
Lawrenceburg, IN
Sean Kaercher
Binghamton, NY
Michael a. Pellegrino
Neosho, MO
Chris Jones
Conway, AR
Congrats to all.
We also just posted a new Sufix line contest today. Good Luck on that one.
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 Bass Champs photo
Expectations were high for the Bass Champs Choke Canyon event this past Saturday (March 21). They should have been higher!
Sometimes the stars align, the moon gets right and Texas's best bass anglers make it even better. Check this out...Derick Kuykendall and Forrest Wilson brought a 5 bass limit weighing 38.82 anchored by a 15.56 pounder. WOW!
Elroy Krueger and Charles Wilson had 5 that weighed 36.96 and had a 15.20 pounder.
How would you like to have caught a 15 pounder and not win big bass?
To top the day off Dustin Friesenhahn and Clint Kidwell had a 13.20 pounder.
We are guessing the Chad Potts of Bass Champs had a fun day!
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Big Bass Zone's Bill Siemantel sent us this photo of Ken Hemer and a giant 32.4 pound striper caught this week on the Spro BBZ1-8 inch swimbait at Castaic Lake. Ken caught this monster from "shore". Thanks Bill and congrats Ken!!
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It doesn't matter what level of angler you are. If you are driven, you want to improve. Elite Series pro Marty Stone of North Carolina is one of the hardest working pro's in the business and is never satisfied. Today on Wired Radio with Terry Brown he talks about looking at new products, new techniques and new lakes and how he prepares for tournaments.
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"The rumor of my demise has been greatly exaggerated' fits Wave Fishing of Lake Fork Texas to the T. Industry rumors had been circulating for months that Wave was no longer in business but Paul Whitman, owner of Wave, says that is not correct. "We are in business and selling via the web at www.wavefishing.com." said Whitman.
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 Wired photoDenny Brauer and Tom Branch Jr.
By Terry Brown
For someone to be placed in hero status in my book takes some work. My dad is my hero. He was always around, went to every game I ever played in, loved my mother and took care of her until her death, she had ALS, and was the first guy to take me fishing. That alone puts him in Hall of Fame status.
Abraham Lincoln is another hero of mine. He was different and many times went against the grain to do what was right, even if it cost him votes or popularity. Lincoln could sell rocks to a quarry and even though he played the "country bumpkin" he was smart as a whip and knew how to get people to side with him. He too is worthy of hero status.
Another hero of mine is Denny Brauer. Denny has been a very close friend for many years and has never wavered once from that friendship. He is the consumate professional, highly respected, and still is at the top of his game. I owe a lot of where I am today to Denny. He recommended me for ESPN's Greatest Angler Debate. He has served as a reference for me in my current position at Wired2Fish.
Denny is a great example of a true family man. He is devoted to his wife Shirley, an angel herself, his son Chad, also a noted professional and class act and Chad's wife and children. He has a picture of his grandchildren on his cell phone always. He shows it to anyone that will look. He is a great grandpa!
Denny is also one heck of a fisherman. Although we have known each other for years this past week was the first time we ever spent any time in the boat together. He, even at 60, 4 back operations a new knee, and 20 plus years of heated competition never misses anything and he fishes today like he did when he was twenty. He doesn't take it easy, doesn't use a butt seat and still hits it as hard as the young bucks in both practice and in competition. He lives for the competition. I asked him if he was ever going to retire and in typical Denny fashion he said "I'll retire when the politics become overwhelming or when I am no longer competitive." Competitive to Denny Brauer means he thinks he can still win and do it regularly.
Kevin VanDam, arguably the best angler in the world, said that Denny Brauer taught him how to win. When told about that Denny said laughingly to me "Sometimes I am not too smart. Look what kind of a monster I created."
Endemic companies clamor to hear what Mr. B has to say and those that have him on their staffs not only have a developer, consultant, and loyal angler but they have one of the most respected anglers in the eyes of the fan's out there. He is a crowd favorite wherever he goes.
Tuesday, Denny, Tom Branch Jr and I spent a day on the water at Lake Amistad in southern Texas. I cannot remember laughing anymore than we did that afternoon. We discussed country music, we discussed politics, we discussed the industry, and of course we discussed technique and baits. I have no hesitation to tell you that had I had the recorder running that day I could have sold tapes to the angling masses.
The little things he does in the boat is amazing. His boat is always neat and organized and everything has its place. He lays his rods on the deck mthodically. He puts them back in the box the exact same say. They are color coded with rod sleeves and each has a sticker on them with weight of line and type of line. Black and blue sleeves are priority, other colors for cranks and spinnerbaits, others for drop shots, yes he drop shots, and yet others for traps and topwaters. He never misses a step or skips a beat on the water.
Denny Brauer is my hero and the day on the water solidified him to the top tier of the Terry Brown Hall of Fame. Thanks Denny!
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Our good friend Alan McGuckin from Dynamic Sponsorships sent us this great story. What else is not hot? We all of boxes of baits that we no longer use. What ones are on your list? Send us your choices!
What’s Not Hot Anymore?
Conversations about hot trends, techniques and lures along the Bassmaster Elite Series trail are as common as gossip at an 8th grade slumber party. However, seldom does anybody discuss the popular lures of yesteryear.
So we asked a few of the top anglers in the world what they’re not using? We wondered what lures that once had a prominent place on the pro trail have faded to near obscurity.
“Spinnerbaits played a role at the Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, but for the most part, spinnerbaits are nowhere close to the mainstay lure they used to be. And that’s primarily because they shine in the pre-spawn and late fall, and most of our tournaments are held between post-spawn and early fall,” said former Toyota Tundra Rookie of the Year Dave Wolak.
Swindle stills loves buzzbaits, but admits their recent importance seems insignificant. “Tell me the last time you remember somebody using a buzzbait to win a Bassmaster event,” challenged The G Man. “I grew up fishing them, still use them and love them, but they’re not a lure anybody seems to win with anymore.”
A lack of popularity is not limited to bladed baits. “The standard 6 or 7 inch, Texas rigged plastic worm is pretty much forgotten,” according to “Big Show” Terry Scroggins. “The 10” worm and the football jig can be fished a lot faster than the smaller worms in many of the same situations. And often times you’ll get a bigger bite.”
Iaconelli credits the near extinction of yet another lure to changing techniques. “Grubs have gone away. I used grubs a ton in my Federation Nation days. I always reached for a grub if I needed a bite when lots of fishing pressure was around. But now, I reach for a Shaky Head or a Drop Shot instead.”
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam agrees with Ike that fresh lures replace old ones. “Essentially, we’re catching bass from the same habitat and structure we’ve always caught them in and from, but we’re using new and different lures to catch them in those places. I’ve sure got a ton of Strike King pork frogs that haven’t made it out of my garage in a long time,” concluded VanDam.
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Brook Johnson at Tackle Rac and Elite Series pro Gary Klein have teamed up to help you organize your boat. The Tackle Rac is the pro's go-to location for pliers, files, scissors, and culling system markers. The 9 inch model comes in many boat matching colors and Klein endorses it wholeheartedly. "I used to have to hunt for my pliers or scissors. Not anymore and I also keep my file close as well. Anyway I can save time during the fishing day is a bonus and Tackle Rac has allowed me that luxury" noted Klein.
Klein has taken it one step further. "Brook Johnson and I thought it would be cool to give one to my Marshalls this year. We have the packaging complete, they are in my boat and I will make sure I thank each of my Marshalls with a Tackle Rac for the rest of the year" noted Klein.
Tackle Rac is based near Indianapolis, Indiana.
Brook Johnson also owns Gator Grip. You can buy or learn more about the Tackle Rac by clicking here.
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Fish Harder Companies, the owners of Picasso, Tru-Tungsten and Captain Mikes, is introducing several new products prior to ICAST this year. "We felt like we are always behind the eight ball when you introduce a bait at ICAST and then have to wait until spring to get them" noted Tom Branch Jr, Pro staff manager. "We decided this year that we had too much from our designers to wait and are ready to introduce several new products before ICAST". "The consumers will really benefit from this we feel" noted Branch.
In the new line-up are a new weighted hook very different from anything on the market designed by Mike Iaconelli called the Flea Flicker.(picture below)
This product is great for straight wacky style worms, has a super sharp Youvella hook and the weight position gives the bait a very erratic action in the water. It can also be used for shaky worm applications as well.
They are also introducing a new Picasso Spinnerbait and a new Picasso Frog called "Mad Max", both designed by Marty Stone, with a built in rattle chamber. "The spinnerbait works great in heavy cover and the minnow shaped head design is unique for that type of bait" said Stone. "The key on the spinnerbait is that it is counterbalanced where all the weight is in the base of the head allowing to deflect better. It runs true like a minnow head should be deflects off cover like a bullet head style. I designed it with a short shank hook for two reasons, to come to cover better and for better hook-ups. I do not lose fish on this bait."
The frog will come in 9 colors and has two cool characteristics, the rattle chamber mentioned above and a port hole where water can be sqeezed out of the bait if necessary. "The rattle chamber is huge and it allows the frog to maintain its balance when a rattle is added. This has never been done before" said Stone. "The way the port is designed is much of the water will be lost on the cast."
Ish Monroe and Matt Newman are introducing a new 5" Swimbait. (See below)
"We wanted a midsized swimbait, one step up from our hot selling 4 incher, capable of catching larger bass and filling out the arsenal" said Ish Monroe. "We now have a swimbait for everybody" said Newman. "Small, Medium and Large and all each designed for tungsten balls to allow them to be fished in all levels of the water column" added Monroe.
"Also, don't forget the Youvella Hook line-up" said Peter T. "We are very proud of the tests with these hooks and how well they hook up. Most of the bass I have caught with them have been right inside the side of the mouth where you want them to" said Peter T. A full line-up including worm, swimbait and flipping hooks are in the Youvella line-up.
Look for all of these products to begin landing in the big box stores in the next month or two!
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BASS announced March 17 that the 2010 Bassmaster Classic will return in February to Lay Lake in Shelby County, Ala., site of three previous Classic competitions — 1996, 2002 and 2007. Fifty-one Classic qualifiers will hit the Coosa River impoundment Feb. 19-21 for the 2010 Classic title. As previously announced, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham, Ala., will be the site of the daily weigh-ins and accompanying 2010 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo. This weekend BASS firmed up the location for the morning festivities at Beeswax Creek Boat Ramp, 537 Beeswax Park Road, near the town of Columbiana, Ala.
“Shelby County is excited about the opportunity to showcase our natural resources and attract an international audience as we host our fourth Bassmaster Classic,” said Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock. “Lay Lake continues to be a destination for anglers and water recreation enthusiasts, and Shelby County will continue to promote tourism through these types of events in our local, regional and state economy.”
Alabama is no stranger to the biggest event in the sport. The state has hosted 10 Classic events, including three contested on Lay Lake. The most recent, in 2007, is famous for being the first to be won by a home-state pro: Bassmaster Elite Series pro Boyd Duckett of Demopolis. He laid to rest the myth of “home-state jinx” when he won with 48 pounds, 10 ounces of Lay Lake bass.
Duckett bested fellow Elite pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., by just 6 ounces.
Reese, who landed his first Classic title less than a month ago at the Red River in Louisiana, said another Classic on Lay Lake could be his chance to extract about 6 ounces’ worth of revenge.
“Another Classic on Lay Lake is great news. I will get the opportunity to go back to Lay Lake and try to win. Finishing second to Boyd in 2007 was a little tough to swallow,” he said half-jokingly.
“I feel a Classic on Lay also will be an opportunity for me to repeat as champion, and I’m excited about going back there.”
With the defending champion’s automatic qualification for 2010, right now Reese is the only angler with a secured berth — the other 50 will qualify through various BASS tournament circuits.
“Birmingham is excited to host the 40th Bassmaster Classic and we anticipate another fantastic event,” said Mike Gunn, vice president, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This is our seventh time hosting this prestigious, major sporting event.”
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 Wired photo
A Day on Amistad with Ike
By Terry Brown
This past week I had the opportunity to spend a full day in the boat with Mike Iaconelli at the Tru-Tungsten writers conference and to say it was a once in a lifetime experience would indeed be an understatement. This guy exudes confidence, loves fishing and is everything positive about the sport we love. He has energy, he never quits even out with press people, and he is definitely living his dream.
When asked if he ever gets tired of fishing he adamantly said "no, I love everything about fishing. The fishing, the anglers, the fan's and the kids". While on the water we ran into several boats and he never wavered. He had time for each and every person and showed as much energy with the last one as he did the first one. "Even when a pontooner cut between us and the bank all he did was turn back to me and grin."
I have known Mike since 1998. Several hours on the water with him this past week at Amistad allowed me to know him even better. His honesty about why he does what he does, his passion for the sport and its fans and his genuine love for the environment is what endears those of us that know him to like him the way we do. Every bass he catches is special, its like catching his last one ever.
Do you wonder if he screams and gets excited in the boat when he's out pleasure fishing? You bet he does. When he catches a good one he screams "its a giant" and looks like a kid that has just caught his first fish. He loves what he does and each bass he lands is like looking at a painting to Ike. He examines them for marks, he wants to see their markings and he wants to know if they were pre or post spawn. He can show you the differences. He is all about the details.
The Real Ike
As we were driving down the lake a coffee cup blew out of the boat. Some anglers would have kept right on going. Not Mike. He immediately turned around and went to retrieve it. "This is way too pretty of a place to trash it up" was his remark.
Several other items of significance on that day:
During the day he discussed every detail of what he was doing and why. Some anglers keep that close to the vest. Not Mike. He made sure I knew what we were fishing and how it was laid out. He was genuinely concerned about me catching them as much as he was himself.
He fondly refers to his Federation days as his roots. "I would not be here today if not for the Federation" he said. He smiled when he talked about his jon boat, fishing club tournaments and going with his buddies. He told me the story of the first boat he won. He knew nothing about how to run it, park it or back it in but it was another step in his progression. I took a ton of baby steps to get here. Some guys don't have to take small steps, like KVD or Skeet, they hit the ground running. I had to take a different approach.
No acting there, nothing for the cameras, nothing for TV.....just genuine Ike.
He also is very proud of his family. His daughters are his life. He girlfriend Becky is the one he said. I asked if she could back the boat down the ramp and he grinned again and said" She can back it in better than I can". He also talked about his mother, her devotion to him and of course his uncle who overcame cancer and travels with Mike.
TV does not do justice to Mike. He is as genuine as they come and his love for the sport is catching. The next time you see him yell or get excited count on it.....its the Real Mike. He loves this sport and he lives for competition. He's on a roll and the other anglers know it.
The next time you see Ike......Watch out gang....."Its a giant".
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Get5Bass.com has a great article up on Jackall's MC60 Crankbait. To read it click here. |
PAA has openings for Pro’s and Observers on Neely Henry.
Benton, KY - The Professional Anglers Association is announcing that due to schedule changes for some anglers, there are a few open slots on the Pro Side for the Carrot Stix PAA Series presented by Phoenix Boats on Neely Henry in Gadsden Alabama.
The tournament is April 9-11. This is the only Pro Angler owned and operated tournament trail. Entry and payout information can be found at http://fishpaa.com/?page_id=2076.
Observers are also needed for the event, and observers do not need to be PAA members and there is no entry fee or charge of any kind to be an observer in the tournament. Observers can contact the PAA office at 270.527.2030 / or / email jamie@fishpaa.com or lisa@fishpaa.com
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Team Skeeter kicked-off the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series in strong fashion, with four of the team’s professional anglers fishing on the final day of the season opener this past weekend at the “Battle on the Border” on Lake Amistad, outside of Del Rio, Texas.Skeeter’s Alton Jones, the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Champion, fished with consistency the entire tournament, earning a 2nd place finish. “Going into this event, my goal was to make the top 12, and possibly even win the event,” says Jones. “It’s always an advantage when an event comes to your home state and to a fishery that you’re familiar with – this is a good way to gain some momentum to start the year. I have yet to win a Bassmaster Elite Series event in my home state, but I did come away with some fantastic points in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings,” Jones added.
Rounding out the final day’s top 12 competitors were Skeeter’s Jared Linter in 3rd place, Dean Rojas in 6th place, and Todd Faircloth in 12th place. Skeeter rookies Greg Vinson and Matt Herren are currently in 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the Rookie of the Year standings.
The 101-angler field now heads to Lake Dardanelle and Russellville, Arkansas, March 26-29 for the “Diamond Drive.” According to Jones, he expects Lake Dardenelle to fish a bit differently than that of Lake Amistad because it is a river, rather than a typical highlands reservoir. “The water will be stained and muddy, similar to the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River. The fish should be at pre-spawn stage, with only a few beginning to build nests. This is a time of year that fishes heavily toward my strengths, so I have high expectations for fishing well next weekend,” says Jones.
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..........Christian Dasher of Ft.Seybert, WV! Congrats Christian! This one was a biggie! Thanks to all the great companies that contributed to the package! We had fun with this one and set some new records with the amount of entries! Here's what Christian receives:
 Plano 8613 Tackle Box
Mizmo Barb Wire Football Heads
Rattle Head Jig 3/8 Brown
Talon Lures Hand Painted Spoon
Jackall Flick Shakes and heads 2 sizes
Venom Vibra Max
2 Laserlures-shallow diver and jerkbait
Buckeye Goby Sled
Venom Big Shot Tubes
KickerFish 7" Holeshot Woms Watermelon
Grande Bass Rattlesnakes and Diamondbacks
Tru-Tungsten Depth Shad 4" and 6"
All Terrain Tackle AT Jig
Fish Stalker Bungi Heads
Big Bite Baits Super Shad Swimbait
Strike King King Shad in Sexy Shad
Tru-Tungsten Reverse Stinger Worms
YUM Green Pumpkin Chunks
Picasso Marty Stone Spinnerbait
1 Bottle Line and Lure Conditioner
Strike King Series 4 Sexy Shad
Zoom G-Tail Worms
Culprit Frogs-Classic Frog
Berkley Heavyweight Worms
Big Bite Kriet Tail 10" Worms
Rapala DT 6 Crankbait
Jewel Swimbait hooks
Tabu Open Water Jig
Spiderwire Ultra Cast Braid
Berkley Professional Grade Fluorocarbon line
Spro Little John Crankbait
Poor Boys Kickin Darter Worm
Spro Aruku Shad
YUM Money Craws
Rattlehead Buzz Bait
Blakemore Rock N Runner
Wired2Fish Rod Sleevz
Blakemore Reel Magic line conditioner
Berkley Trilene XT
Strike King Super Finesse Worms(2)
Strike King Buzzbait
Spro Hair Jig
Damiki Mamba Jig
Rapala Fishing Clipper set
Rattlehead Spinnerbait
Gene Larew Biffle-O
Trigger X Grubs
Lake Fork Tackle Hyper Worm
Berkley 5" Wacky Crawler Kit
2 Handee Finesse Pliers
2 Handee Heavy Duty Pliers
2 Handee Utility Tool
2 Handee Tool Clip
2 Bags Berkley Chigger Craws
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The Solar Bat contest is over and the winners have been chosen out of the contest "hat". Congratulations to Dick Muschlitz of Easton, PA and Richard Pyburn of San Antonio, TX. Gents, you will each receive a pair of Boston Solar Bat Sunglasses shortly.
Thanks to all that have entered and congrats again to Dick and Richard! We also want to say THANK YOU to Gary Nesty from Solar Bat as well.
Wired2Fish.....your contest headquarters!
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BASS Elite Series first Tour event for '09 is in the books. Jason Williamson brought 34 plus pounds to the scale on the last day to take home the win. Lake Amistad turned out some whoppers and the winning weight nearly hit 100 lbs. This was also the first event with the new Marshal Program. So how'd it go? We know how the Pros' feel about it but what's it like to be a Marshal?
Wired Reader Ben Riley from Humble, TX was a Marshal this past week and we asked him to tell us what he thought. Here's Ben's story:
Day #1 – Skeet Reese
Day #2 – Jami Fralick
Day #3 – Skeet Reese (What are the chances right?)
My wife and I left the Houston area and were excited to begin with. When we got to Del Rio the first order of business was to get my Mexico Fishing License. Done. Next was to get our room and to the registration. The registration was simple, forms were in, license in hand and I was paid up in advance. For our briefing, Trip Weldon and Chuck Harbin read through the rules highlighting our roles in the event. Pretty straight forward. I had my wife come in to see it all and no questions were asked as to why she was there. Next is what most of the guys were waiting for. The first day pairings were announced (Day 2 was posted at the weigh in, Day 3 was announced after the cut)
They started with boat #1 and proceed to name the angler and the Marshal to go with them. 79 boats later, on Boat #80 Chuck reads my name – “Here” – he looks at me and says “How about 2009 Classic winner Skeet Reese?” I said that would work. From that point, after the names were read, we were to go to the social to meet our pros, see where to meet them in the morning, and shake hands with who ever was around. Some guys (Marshals) were in awe, some kids were getting autographs and some announcements were being made by various people. I introduced myself (and my wife) to Skeet and stood around and talked about the next day as well as a few questions about the Classic. At one point I was in a circle of greatness. To my right was Reese, to my left was Rick Clunn, KVD was behind my wife and Ike on her other shoulder. Almost surreal!
 At the launch I was looking for Skeet, a lot of the guys launched in protected areas and boated over to Diablo due to the weather so I could not find him. I finally met up with him as the guys finished rigging the camera on the back, I had a little time to spare. My bag stowed and life jacket on we motored over to the other 99 waiting boats idling around awaiting on the morning to start. One by one guys starting motoring out, Skeet was very pleasant from the time I got in the boat. He gave me his extra goggles- “We have a little bit of ride this morning, you may want these.”- and I am glad he did. It was cold and windy, so much for the desert heat. We ran about 30 minutes before getting to his first spot. Once he got a few casts under his belt we started talking a little more. He had asked at launch what my job is, why I decided to Marshal, how long we had been married and other small talk. He is a genuine guy.
While on the water, both on the first day and the third day I asked questions about why he was fishing in the spots we were in, what clued him in to those spots, rods, reels, boat, batteries, lures and anything else that would come to an anglers mind to ask about fishing. We talked about the Classic, travelling home, his family, off season, working out, his truck, golf, and the upcoming schedule. I asked if he got the trophy on the book shelf, “Yep, and it looks pretty damn good.” He would get a bite and shutter at a miss while getting silent when the hook was set on a good one. When a pro catches fish while I was riding (not fishing)- I got silent and watched closely. Without giving away what he was doing he was working his strengths, looking for a big bite like most of the guys were doing.
We got into a routine, I knew when he wanted to move and took my position riding shotgun. We made some runs, although not too long at times but I got a feel for boat positioning and bottom contours while following along on the graph. He was organized from the night before with the setups that he wanted so there was not too much time wasted on line and tying on. We couldn’t help the anglers so even though I had my own thoughts, I watched as his wheels were turning while I waited on his next move.
Riding with the Classic champ for two days still has not set in, even though his videos and pictures are on just about every media outlet. 16 hours on the water with the Classic Champ 3 weeks after he wins is not something many people get to do or say they did. I watched more than I spoke but we did share some laughs and poked fun at each other. We had a lot of fun and good conversation about all topics while on the water. He was friendly and approachable and treated my wife with respect and talked to her as if she was out there all day also. He made a fan out of her.
 I rode on Day 2 with Jami Fralick. At the end of Day 1 Skeet and I were one of the last boats in and Jami was one of the first. So he didn’t have to wait around he got my phone number from BASS and talked to my wife before I was even at the dock. I never saw him before Day 2. He called later that evening and told me where he was staying. (Wasn’t hard to find in the mobile home park with three rigs parked outside – Matt Reed and Brian Snowden were there also.) We met at the house and he was super friendly. We got the truck and went to launch the boat – that is when he realized he left his rods at the house. I was already turning to back him down. He got back out of the boat, winched it up and said lets go. I questioned as to why. He said, “I left my rods at the house.” I kind of laughed and he jokingly said “I suppose you wonder what I do for a living?” We got the rods and headed back to another launch a little bit closer. I launched him, parked the truck, jumped in and we were off to Diablo – two minutes away. His motor quit once on plane – power head. He dropped the trolling motor and back we went about 700 yards back to the truck at Black Brush. While he battled the waves and trolled he threw me his phone and I called both Trip and Chuck to alert them of the issues. He also called the Nitro boat guy – the only manufacturer with a spare at the event- to let him know the deal. We trailered, drove around to Diablo and by 8:30 he had his gear in the other boat. Happy from Nitro was Johnny-on-the-Spot. Checked out with BASS at the dock and only 15 minutes were lost since he was in the last flight. What a morning.
The thing of it is that Jami never once lost his cool. “These things happen.” He was not frantic about getting in the boat or speeding over to get into the water. He was very collected about it. I grew up in Iowa, although not quite as cold as South Dakota we were two Yankees that talked up a storm. He let me know without asking what he was looking for, what was in the water he was fishing, and how he rigged the set ups he was throwing. One of which I had not seen before. Side note – the front electronics on the spare boat quit working so he was running to the back to check his position and depth. He fished an area where other anglers were, talking shop on the water and being very polite about sharing an area. Again, he is a genuine guy like Skeet, but comes from a slightly different school of thought. A check means more to the guys like Jami than it might to the super stars of the sport. No one likes to lose but no one likes to go home without a check either. After he landed what he thought would get him in the money he said “I’m getting paid” in a calm voice but I could tell it was a relief.
We talked about tournaments past, including his Classic experience, our families, travel, how he got started, sponsorship, travel, and odd jobs he does outside of fishing for a little extra income. Jami is really a good person and more outgoing than people may think because he is not the loudest or flashiest guy out there – he conducts his business very well and quietly.
What I took from my experience is that the guys – whether I rode with them or not- are for the most part nice guys. They love to fish and know that their livelihood depends on how they do but they have values too. Sure they are competitive and it is not all roses on tour but these guys conduct themselves well. It takes all types of people, whether it is in an office like mine or on a professional fishing circuit or an MLB locker room. All of the anglers were cordial with fans seeking a picture or autograph whether it was a big name like Swindle or some one not as known like Jami.
The media that travels with them, the BASS staff and the families of the anglers probably already know about the fraternity but to the person that reads it on the internet or watches BASS on ESPN it is hard to capture the parts and pieces off the water or a conversation in the boat. I am not one to be star struck but I will say that once I started putting personalities with names and faces it became clear that the pros are good people. There are lovers quarrels and some guys don’t go out of their way to speak to folks they may not like as well, but they are one of one hundred on the tour. They are sharing 80,000 acres of water and if they really don’t want to be in the same area as “that guy” then they do not have to be. If they don’t want to have dock talk with “that guy” most of them choose to avoid it. In the eye of the public observer I saw nothing that would even spark a confrontation. Boyd Duckett and Skeet shared an area talking it out prior to fishing it. Jami, Snowden, Chris Lane, Rick Clunn, Grant Goldbeck, Takahiro Omori, and a few others were within shouting distance at times but no one got bent out of shape.
If fishing is something you really want to do, go for it. Know that just like other jobs in the world there are co-workers striving to be the best they can be. People go about it in different ways by leadership, making good with the boss, perfectionism, good heartedness, or opinionated but the thing that matters is performance. No matter the path to the goal – winning at the highest level of fishing – I learned that these guys do it in a variety of ways both on and off the water. A big thanks to BASS for starting the Marshal program and a bigger thanks to Skeet and Jami for being themselves both on the water with me as a guest in the boat and to my wife at the dock.
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No Fear of Flying
There’s an old joke, sanitized for purposes of this family-friendly website, that says that anything that floats or flies is eventually going to give you trouble.
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Gagliardi wins at the Rock....
From FLW Outdoors.......
By Rob Newell - 15.Mar.2009
BRANSON, Mo. – On day two of the Walmart FLW Tour event on Table Rock Lake, Chevy pro Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., was in full-on survival mode, just hoping to scratch out enough weight to get a $10,000 check.
He had weighed in 15 pounds, 4 ounces on day one, which got buried by a thrush of 18- to 20-pound limits brought in by his competitors, and he lingered in 41st place.
With just two keepers in his livewell at midday on day two, thoughts of dropping completely out of the money in the second Tour event of the year were beginning to creep up on him.
Then the sixth sense that earns top pros like Gagliardi FLW Tour Angler of the Year titles kicked in. He moved his boat off the bank, picked up a deeper diving jerkbait and began fishing where his boat had just been sitting – and bingo – the winning move of the tournament came into focus.
Two days later Gagliardi found himself holding a $125,000 check as the winner of the Table Rock event.
“I still can’t believe it,” Gagliardi said. “Two days ago I was scratching and clawing just to get a check and now here I sit the winner – unreal. After I moved out on Friday and began fishing over deeper water I caught 18 pounds immediately and it all suddenly made sense as to how the fish were positioned on the points. In essence I had been fishing up too shallow and moving out was the key move, no doubt.”
Gagliardi’s Eureka moment about how the fish were relating to the points came from a long history of fishing suspending jerkbaits over channel swing banks in cold water on lakes like Hartwell and Clarks Hill near his home in South Carolina.
“These fish were relating to the points here much in the same way they do back home this time of year,” he explained. “They suspend out off the bank on channel swing points – but not bluff points that drop completely off into the channel. I was not keying on sheer vertical stuff, rather it had to be a point that tapered off more gradually into 18 or 20 feet before reaching the channel. Those kinds of points give the fish something to relate to and suspend over.”
Though the Chevy pro did not find this pattern in practice, he had several places that fit the bill when he discovered it on day two.
“I was up the James River on day two when the light came on and I realized what was happening,” he said. “Right then I remembered every place like that I had fished in practice, but the problem was that many of the better points were up the White River. I had one creek in particular up the White that had a series of these channel swing points that set up perfectly for this kind of fishing.”
After making the top-10 cut with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 3 ounces, Gagliardi took a major gamble and ran up the White on day three to see if his hunch was correct – and it was.
“I was right,” Gagliardi said. “I returned to those points in the creek in the White River and instead of fishing right up on them like I had been, I backed way off and began jerking a Lucky Craft 100 DD with the bigger lip so it would get down a lot farther in the water column – and that was the deal. I caught 14 pounds, 6 ounces on day three and really started to understand how the fish were positioned.”
Gagliardi’s Lucky Craft 100 DD was getting down about 8 feet and he figures the fish were suspend in about 10 feet, right over the very end of the point in 20 feet before it broke into the channel.
Earlier in the week, especially on day one, Gagliardi had been using a standard Lucky Craft Pointer 78 and Pointer 100. But once he realized the fish were set up out deeper, he relied on the deeper Pointer 100 DD the rest of the tournament.
As for a win after somewhat of a top-10 dry spell (he had not made a top 10 since 2007) Gagliardi noted that having the Forrest Wood Cup on his home lake (Lake Murray) in 2008 made him fish much more conservatively last season.
“Above all, I wanted to make the Cup last year and I did not gamble near as much,” he added.
Suggs broken up about runner up
When Folgers pro Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., realized he missed out on the Table Rock win by just 10 ounces, he had to take a few seconds to contain his emotions.
“I really felt like I had the strategy to go the distance,” said Suggs. “And to come that close – I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty torn up about it. Now all the second guessing begins.”
Suggs final day catch of 12 pounds, 7 ounces gave him a two-day total of 28 pounds, 4 ounces and he took home $50,000 as a consolation.
Even before the Table Rock event began, Suggs took the fickle nature of the lake’s shallow largemouth bite into consideration and he spent a lot of practice time looking for schooled up spotted bass – something other competitors might have deemed a waste of time. But Suggs plan all along was to have five swimmers in the well before he went shallow each day.
Even on day one when the field smashed the largemouth up shallow, Suggs just smiled with his 17-10 limit. On day two, he bided his time with another 17-12 limit and made the cut, lurking in third place.
Suggs plan did not really start to shine until day three when the wheels ran off the shallow largemouth bite for many and he stayed consistent with a 15-13 catch to put him in second going into the final day.
The stage was set for the true genius of Suggs’ carefully laid strategy today, but he ended up just short of his target.
Suggs bread and butter in the morning was to swim a 4-inch Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait through schools of suspended spotted bass over 130 feet of water. His unique swimbait rig consisted of threading the little Hollow Belly on a Jewell Bait Company ½-ounce jighead and securing the swimbait on the jighead with his own homemade bait keeper system – something Suggs plans to keep under wraps for while. He then fished the setup on 12-pound test Trilene 100% fluorocarbon.
After getting a limit of spotted bass early (usually by 9 a.m. each morning) Suggs would then cull up by casting and swimming a ¾-ounce Frank Divis jig on channel swing banks.
“A lot of guys were cranking channel swing banks with Wiggle Warts, but I was swimming that heavy jig down through the rocks and the fish were eating it,” he said.
Each of the first three days, Suggs could cull up handsomely with the jig but today it produced only one decent cull.
“Now, seeing how close I was to winning, I wish I had just used the swimbait in those deep schools all day long,” he said “I left those deep fish biting this morning to go to the bank and, had I stayed there, I’m sure I could have culled up ounces at a time all day. Earlier in the week, I actually caught some quality largemouth from those deep places as well – there were some bigger fish out there. But I felt like I had the winning strategy by culling up on the bank and, ironically, in the end, my winning strategy is what got me beat.”
Canterbury third
Scott Canterbury of Springville, Ala., finished third with a two-day total of 26 pounds, 3 ounces worth $40,000.
After day three, Canterbury looked like he was going to make the shallow largemouth bite go the distance by leading the event with 16 pounds.
Today, he fell just a couple of bites short of his first FLW Tour win with three quality bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces – 2 pounds, 12 ounces shy of the winner’s circle.
But after two top-10’s in the first two Tour events of the season, Canterbury is now tied with David Walker for the Angler of the Year lead at 391 points.
“It just was not my turn, again,” said Canterbury. “I fished flawless all day today – I got my three keeper bites in the boat – that’s all I can do. But now I’m in contention for Angler of the Year and honestly, that would be a bigger accomplishment for me than winning a tournament. I know we still have a long season ahead of us, but if you were to give me a choice between my first win and an Angler of the Year title – I’d take the Angler of the Year.”
Canterbury spent the week fishing far up the White River, throwing Wiggle Warts and a jig.
“I was fishing the steepest banks I could find leading into the backs of spawning pockets,” he said. “The best banks were the steep ones that had big rock mixed in with pea gravel. I kept my boat in 10 to 12 feet and I was trying to hit rocks in 4 to 5 feet with the Wiggle Wart.”
Morehead fourth
Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., finished fourth with a two-day total of 24 pounds, 2 ounces.
Morehead spent his week in the mid-lake area, just before the rivers split.
He alternated between a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait in pro blue and a Storm Wiggle Wart, both tied to 8-pound test P-line. The jerkbait accounted for roughly 85 percent of his keepers weighed in.
“My best places were channel swing banks with submerged cedar trees,” Morehead explained. “I’d keep my boat out in about 20 feet of water and make long casts over about 10 feet of water.”
Walker fifth
BP pro David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., finished fifth with a two-day total of 23 pounds, 1 ounce worth $20,000.
Walker was fishing up the James River with a Wiggle Wart and ¾-ounce jig most of the week. His jig was tied to 22-pound Sunline fluorocarbon and the Wiggle Wart paired best with 10-pound test Sunline.
“The jig really did most of the damage this week,” Walker said. “And I went with a heavy jig for the sake of speed – I needed to get it to the bottom fast because I was covering a lot of water each day and I didn’t have time to wait on it. The bite was all a reaction bite around transition rock banks.”
“Today I had to compensate for the brighter, windless conditions by going to the dirtiest water I could find,” he added.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 pros in the FLW Tour event on Table Rock Lake:
6th: Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif., two-day total of 14-5, $19,000
7th: Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., two-day total of 6-11, $18,000
8th: Greg Bohannan of Rogers, Ark., two-day total of 5-11, $17,000
9th: Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., two-day total of 4-5, $16,000
10th: Shinichi Fukae of Mineola, Texas, two-day total of 0 $15,000
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March 15, 2009
South Carolina’s Jason Williamson Takes First BASS Victory with Magical Final Two Days at Bassmaster Elite Series Season Opener
For related photos, click here.
DEL RIO, Texas – As the weekend progressed, the temperatures on Lake Amistad warmed up and so did Jason Williamson. The third-year BASS pro from Aiken, S.C., shoved aside consistency and posted a backbreaking total of more than 68 pounds through the final two days, which was enough to advance from 38th position to third heading into Day 3, then secure his first BASS victory and the accompanying $100,000 top prize Sunday at the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series season opener, the OPTIMA Batteries Battle on the Border.
Williamson’s four-day total of 96 pounds, 6 ounces, was enough to hold off a consistent Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, who finished second with 87 pounds, 15 ounces. Williamson was able to overtake Jones with a tremendous two-day charge, which accounted for more than 70 percent of his weight.
Williamsons’ catches Saturday and Sunday were all cultivated from one ultra-productive spot that yielded nothing for him in the first two days of competition. However, as the rain died, the clouds dissipated and the sun came out, the spot became crystal clear and an ideal area for big bass.
The area included three to four submerged trees positioned around a drainage channel and was a pathway for visiting and departing bass. Williamson mined the area with an 8-inch Osprey swimbait, which he threw to the trees in nearly 20 feet of water.
“There were so many fish in that area that I think they were in competition for my bait,” said the 28-year-old. “That’s not a bad thing when you can get that going. It was like clockwork.”
Fishing fans can catch all of the on-the-water action from the March 12-15 OPTIMA Batteries Battle on the Border on The Bassmasters, which airs Saturday, March 28, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The daily weigh-ins, hosted by BASS emcee Keith Alan, for this and the other seven regular-season Elite events and two postseason events will be shown live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, while a wealth of unique content, including a live leaderboard, photo galleries and more, is available at Bassmaster.com throughout the season.
No stranger to the particulars of the area, Williamson first found his productive spot in 2007, at an Elite Series event. He primarily focused on it at a 2008 Elite event and finished fifth, his best performance in an Elite event at the time. The key to enticing the right bites this year, he said, was allowing the swimbait to sink and keeping it wet for lengths of time.
Williamson has been close to BASS victory before, scoring two second-place finishes, but was able to close the deal this time at Amistad with a final-day total of 34-12, the biggest bag of the tournament. His limit was buoyed by a 10-4 lunker, the largest Williamson has ever landed.
“I’m just a country boy who grew up loving to fish, so you bet this is a huge deal. The victory solidifies everything I have ever done in this sport,” Williamson said. “It’s also a shot in the arm for the rest of the season. I can fish with confidence now. The timing of this win was just perfect.”
While Jones finished second, it was more a case of Williamson seizing the day than Jones slipping. Jones, a steady veteran approaching $2 million in BASS career earnings, stuck with what put him in contention instead of going the unpredictable route and hunting for big bass.
While many others shuffled around the leaderboard throughout the tournament, Jones hung near the top, establishing a solid pattern that yielded fish in the 4- to 6-pound class.
All of his weighed fish fell for a Texas-rigged 6-inch Yum Dinger. The 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion threw the rig to shallow water, sometimes in less than 2 feet, and the key to his success was executing long casts to precise locations and slowly and deliberately fishing the bait.
“I maximized my area and overall it was a great week,” said Jones, 45. “You don’t mind getting beat by a giant bag like that. You never are pleased with second place but I gave myself a shot at it and that is all you can ask for.”
It was a relative struggle for some of the other anglers who made the top-12 cut to fish the final day of competition. Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif., and Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Ark., were able to take advantage.
Like Williamson, both made charges after Friday. Lintner (76-10) advanced from 20th after two days to finish third, while Browning moved from 25th to fourth. Rounding out the top five was Day 2 leader Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, who finished with 74 pounds, 8 ounces.
Day 1 leader Mike Iaconelli, who landed the biggest bass of the tournament on the first day, a 12-13 behemoth, placed seventh and was followed by four-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., (eighth) and 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., (ninth).
The next Bassmaster Elite Series event is set for March 26-29 on Lake Dardanelle and Russellville, Ark. Duckett scored victory in 2007 on Dardanelle at a Bassmaster Major with 55 pounds, 9 ounces.
The Amistad event marked the debut of the Bassmaster Elite Series Marshals program. Marshals, who took the place of co-anglers, will help enforce tournament rules and ensure the integrity of the highest level of professional fishing. With the introduction of the Marshals program, the Elite Series becomes the only exclusive pro fishing league in the world. Despite the conditions, the Marshal program was at capacity.
Along with the top cash prize, the OPTIMA Batteries Battle on the Border awarded valuable points in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title race. The full standings can be found on www.Bassmaster.com.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNOutdoorsmedia.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.
The local sponsor of the Battle on the Border is the Del Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine; Bass Pro Shops, Costa Del Mar, Lowrance, Ramada, SpongeTech and Triton Boats.
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.
The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.
BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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Media Contact: Doug Grassian; (407) 566-2216 or doug.grassian@espn.com
DAY 4- OPTIMA BATTERIES BATTLE ON THE BORDER STANDINGS
2009 Battle on the Border 3/12-3/15
Lake Amistad, Del Rio TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 20 96-06 305 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 5 33-13 Day 4: 5 34-12
2. Alton Jones Waco, TX 20 87-15 300 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 22-04 Day 3: 5 22-07 Day 4: 5 19-04
3. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 20 76-10 290 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 22-06 Day 4: 5 21-12
4. Stephen Browning Hot Springs National Pa 20 75-08 285 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 27-00 Day 4: 5 17-09
5. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 19 74-08 285 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 29-03 Day 3: 5 12-06 Day 4: 4 07-11
6. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 20 73-12 276 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 29-05 Day 4: 5 15-09
7. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 20 73-09 277 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-09 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 16-10 Day 4: 5 13-07
8. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 20 68-12 268 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 18-02 Day 4: 5 13-03
9. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 19 68-02 264 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 25-05 Day 3: 5 12-09 Day 4: 4 08-10
10. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 19 66-15 260 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 22-06 Day 4: 4 08-09
11. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 17 66-13 257 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 26-14 Day 4: 2 05-08
12. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 19 66-05 254 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 24-03 Day 3: 5 13-10 Day 4: 4 11-08
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 488 1382-06
2 87 473 1344-10
3 43 238 748-05
4 7 53 177-06
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229 1252 3652-11
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(11:00 AM 3/14/2009) MFD911: Hey this is Karyn with an FLW update. The cold front that came through Wednesday dropped the water temperature 7-10 degrees depending on location. With the water temperature in the mid 40s the jerk bait bite really picked up. Both days we ran about 30 miles up river to locate warmer water. The good fish were coming off the main points that dropped off sharply. The bites were slow and we had to dead stick to get bit. As luck would have it, I barely missed the check by 1 ounce. Both of my partners were great guys who allowed plenty of water to fish. We just didn't get enough of the larger bites. Even though conditions slightly improved, the weights were down overall. Day 3 is a little warmer and overcast.
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Harkness wins TBF National Championship on Bull Shoals
West Virginia angler nets $100,000 ‘Living the Dream’ prize package
14.Mar.2009
BRANSON, Mo. – Robert Harkness of Elizabeth, W. Va., a 50-year-old health care purchasing manager, is now “Living the Dream” after catching a five bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces on the final day of The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard Saturday on Bull Shoals Lake. He captured the TBF National Championship title with a three-day total catch of 15 bass weighing 40 pounds, 13 ounces.
The victory earned Harkness a $100,000 prize package that includes automatic entry into the $1 million Walmart Bass Fishing League All-American presented by Chevy on the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, May 28-30 and automatic entry into the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 30-Aug. 2, where the top pro can pocket as much as $1 million – the biggest award in bass fishing.
“I really didn’t think I had a prayer when I went out this morning,” said Harkness. “I told my partner that I was going to go out and fish and do the same thing I have done the past two days and see what happens. This lake is a great lake and you could get five bites and they could all be four or five pounds apiece, and I said it’s not over until it’s over.”
Harkness, who caught all his fish this week on a stickbait, is looking forward to the Forrest Wood Cup. He said, “Pittsburgh is almost home. I have fished the area many times.”
“The TBF is great,” he said. “Every young person ought to get out there and join a club. It really costs you nothing and you get the opportunity to accomplish what I just did.”
In addition to the incredibly lucrative championship berths, Harkness also received $10,000 and a “prize package that includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and entry fees into the 2010 Walmart FLW Tour or Walmart FLW Series to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.
Anglers from six nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2008 and qualified through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship.
Harkness started the tournament Thursday in 17th place with five bass weighing 13 pounds. He moved into fifth place overall Friday with a five-bass catch weighing 14-2 that bumped his two-day total to 27-2 going into the final day of competition.
Rounding out the division-leading boaters were Nicholas Smyers of Franksville, Wis. (Northern Division, 12 bass, 40-2); Zachary King of Clarksville, Ark. (Central Division, 15 bass, 38-13); Daniel Ellis of Gleason, Tenn. (Southern Division, 14 bass, 34-7); Brandon Craner of Filer, Idaho (Western Division, 12 bass, 34-3); and Rob Lamoy of Chazy, N.Y. (Eastern Division, 11 bass, 21-8).
Overall there were 19 bass weighing 42 pounds, 4 ounces caught by six boaters. The catch included two five-bass limits.
Craner also won a 198VX Ranger as the highest finishing Ranger Cup participant.
Mark Modrak of China Township, Mich., entered the final round of co-angler competition with a slim 9-ounce lead, but fell to second by only bringing in two fish weighing a total of 2 pounds, 13 ounces. The Northern Division angler earned $2,500 for the finish with a total of nine bass weighing a total of 23 pounds. This opened the door for Woody Parks, 35, of Lincolnton, Ga., representing the Southern Division.
Parks overcame the 9-ounce deficit on the final day thanks to two bass weighing 4-03 that boosted his three-day total to 10 bass weighing 23-13, good for a $5,000 cash prize and co-angler entry into the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup for a chance to fish for as much as $50,000. He also earned a berth into the BFL All-American presented by Chevy along with the top co-angler from each TBF division for a chance to fish for as much as $70,000.
“This has not quite sunk in yet, but it will,” Parks said. “I have wanted to make the All-American my whole life and now I am going to get to go. I am still trying to qualify on the boater side to try and make it by fishing BFL trails and have been real close on the boater side. Maybe I will get to go next year too on the boater side.”
Parks said he caught most of his fish on a DT6. “Most of the boaters were paralleling the high bluff banks and anytime they would give me a little leeway, I could throw the crankbait. You had to be hitting rocks to catch any fish. I threw a DT6, jerkbait, Lucky Craft Ghost Minnow and caught one of my better fish on a jig.
Rounding out the co-angler field were Jerry Necaise of Long Beach, Miss. (Central Division, eight bass, 22-0); Eric Stewart of Anmoore, W.Va. (Mid-Atlantic Division, 10 bass, 20-3); David Martinez of Tucson, Ariz. (Western Division, 11 bass, 17-10); and Peter De Moya of Plymouth, Mass. (Eastern Division, five bass, 9-2).
Overall there were 11 bass weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces caught by six co-anglers. No angler caught a five-bass limit.
The entire field of 44 TBF boaters and 44 co-anglers fished Thursday and Friday for an accumulated two-day weight. The top boater and co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions advanced to Saturday’s final round, where the winners were determined by the heaviest three-day accumulated weight.
The Bass Federation Inc. (TBF) is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 30 years. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call (580) 765-9031.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
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2008 Rookie of the Year Scott Cantebury will put another feather in his cap by winning the FLW Tour stop on Table Rock if he holds on to the narrow margain he leads with on Day 3 for Day 4. He distanced amciable Arkansas angler Scott Suggs by mere ounces today to take a slim lead heading into day 4. Canterbury weighed 5 bass of 16 pounds even and Suggs weighed 15-13. This could be another FLW nail biter.
In third is Anthony Gagliardi with 14-6 followed by Dan Morehead with 12-9 and David Walker with 11-8.
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Venerable pro Alton Jones took over the lead in the Battle on the Border at Lake Amistad today. A model of consistency throughout the week Jones took advantage of a stumble by both Gary Klein and Boyd Duckett. Klein is still in second place and trails Jones by just under 2 lbs. Jones leads with 68-11 and Klein has 66-13. Making a huge jump today is Jason Williamson who bagged a 5 bass limit today of 33-13. He is in third place with 61-10. Kenyon Hill is in 4th with 61-5 and Mike Iaconelli 60-2 and Boyd Duckett with 59-8 are in 5th and 6th respectively.
Another big jump today was made by Dean Rojas who weighed 29-5 today anchored by a 8-11.
Tomorrow is the final day of the event in Del Rio. It looks to be a nail biter.
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Below is the snapshot of the Day Two standings from Amistad at the BASS Elite Series:
DAY 2- OPTIMA BATTERIES BATTLE ON THE BORDER STANDINGS
2009 Battle on the Border 3/12-3/15
Lake Amistad, Del Rio TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 54-07 305
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 29-03
2. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 46-15 295
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 25-05
3. Alton Jones Waco, TX 10 46-04 290
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 22-04
4. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 10 43-08 290
Day 1: 5 27-09 Day 2: 5 15-15
5. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 41-03 280
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 24-03
6. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 41-00 276
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 19-14
7. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 10 40-10 272
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 28-00
8. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 39-15 268
Day 1: 5 23-02 Day 2: 5 16-13
9. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 39-10 264
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 17-09
10. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 10 39-00 260
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 20-05
11. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 37-07 257
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 17-14
12. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 37-03 254
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 21-07
13. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 36-14 251
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 15-08
14. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 36-00 248
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 15-12
15. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 35-14 245
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 22-09
16. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 35-02 243
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 16-04
17. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 34-15 241
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 21-01
18. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 34-07 239
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 19-07
19. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 32-09 237
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 14-15
20. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 32-08 235
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 17-04
21. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 31-15 233
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 14-00
22. Jason Quinn York, SC 10 31-12 231
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 17-10
23. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 31-09 229
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 11-15
24. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 31-04 227
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 13-08
25. Stephen Browning Hot Springs National Pa 10 30-15 225
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 15-00
26. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 30-11 223
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 14-07
27. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 30-09 221
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 17-08
28. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 30-08 219
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 13-02
29. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 30-04 217
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 15-15
30. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 29-09 215
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 11-04
31. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 10 29-03 213
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 17-13
32. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 10 29-00 211
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 14-14
33. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 28-14 209
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-15
34. Ken D Cook Lawton, OK 10 28-13 207
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 11-06
35. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 28-07 205
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 14-14
36. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 28-03 203
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 15-03
37. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 10 27-14 201
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 15-02
38. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 27-13 199
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 11-01
39. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 27-13 197
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-10
40. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 8 27-11 195
Day 1: 3 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-14
41. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 27-10 193
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-02
42. Elton Luce Jr. Brookeland, TX 10 27-07 191
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 15-10
43. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10 27-03 189
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 15-06
44. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 9 27-02 187
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 4 11-09
45. Pat Golden High Point, NC 10 26-15 185
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 12-09
46. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 9 26-11 183
Day 1: 4 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-03
47. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 26-10 181
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 15-06
48. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 26-09 179
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
49. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 26-09 177
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-09
50. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 26-08 175
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-07
51. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 26-04 173
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-00
52. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 25-15 171
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 12-00
53. Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 10 25-15 169
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-01
54. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 8 25-09 167
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 5 18-10
55. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 25-08 165
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 09-13
56. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 10 25-04 163
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 13-10
57. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 25-02 161
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 15-00
58. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 10 24-15 159
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-03
59. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 10 24-12 157
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 12-03
60. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 24-11 155
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 13-09
61. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 10 24-06 153
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 12-01
62. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 8 24-06 151
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 3 06-00
63. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 24-03 149
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 10-06
64. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 24-03 147
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-13
65. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 10 24-02 145
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 10-12
66. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 9 24-01 143
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 4 09-11
67. Kevin Langill Terrell, NC 10 23-14 141
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-02
68. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 10 23-13 139
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-07
69. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 23-06 137
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 13-09
70. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 10 23-01 135
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 09-14
70. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 10 23-01 135
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 13-03
72. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 9 22-13 131
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 11-12
73. David Smith Del City, OK 10 22-11 129
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
74. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 22-11 127
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 11-02
75. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 10 22-07 125
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 09-08
76. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 8 22-05 123
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 14-14
77. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 10 22-02 121
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 10-08
78. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 8 21-15 119
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 3 06-04
79. Luke Gritter Kalamazoo, MI 10 21-12 117
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 09-13
80. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 21-12 115
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 11-14
81. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 21-07 113
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-02
82. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 10 20-12 111
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 11-01
83. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 20-11 109
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 11-02
84. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 10 20-10 107
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-01
85. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 9 20-04 105
Day 1: 4 08-14 Day 2: 5 11-06
86. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 19-13 103
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-05
87. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 10 19-08 101
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 11-04
88. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 10 19-08 99
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-14
89. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 7 19-04 97
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 2 08-07
90. John Crews Salem, VA 10 18-11 95
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 09-01
91. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 7 18-02 93
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 2 06-05
92. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 17-15 91
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 07-11
93. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 9 17-08 89
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 4 07-12
94. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 9 17-05 87
Day 1: 4 06-04 Day 2: 5 11-01
95. Billy Mccaghren Mayflower, AR 8 17-04 85
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 5 09-12
96. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 9 17-00 83
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 4 07-04
97. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 8 16-06 81
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 3 05-13
98. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 7 15-04 79
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 2 04-06
99. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 7 13-13 77
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 2 03-12
100. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 5 11-10 76
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 1 01-07
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BIG BASS
Day
1 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 12-13 $0.00
2 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 09-14 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 488 1382-06
2 87 473 1344-10
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179 961 2727-00
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 FLW photo
Tennessee's David Walker maintained his lead today at the FLW Tour at Table Rock. His two day total is 40-7. He is closely followed by 2008 FLW Cup Champ Michael Bennett with 39-2. Arkansas Scott Suggs is in third with 35-6 followed by Illinois angler Chad Morgenthaler with 34-10 and Shin Fukae with 34-4.
Brent Ehrler is right there as well with a two day total of 34-3.
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 BASS photoTexas angler Gary Klein found Amistad again to his liking again today as he brought in 5 bass weighing 29-3 for a two day total of 54-7.
Alabama's Boyd Duckett is in second with a two day total of 46-15 followed closely by Alton Jones with 46-4. Mike Iaconelli dropped to 4th with a two day weight of 43-8. Jumping up the leaderboard today is Todd Faircloth, who won last year at Amistad, with 24-3 today bringing his total to 41-3.
St. Louis's Mark Tucker also jumped up the leaderboard with 28 pounds today to be in 7th place.
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Davy Sanchez, husband of FLW angler Karyn Sanchez gave us an update on Day One from Table Rock and the FLW Tour event there. Below is his second day update.
Day 2 started off much like day one COLD!!! Temps today dipped into the 20's overnight but the skies stayed
dry, no rain or snow. The clouds are breaking up letting the sun beam down on the water, could bring the water temps up just a little, but it
may be too late for many. With water temps in the upper 40's to lower 50's the bite is painfully slow. If you look at the top of the leader
board you can see some great finesse fisherman, may tell you about the bite out there...TOUGH!
Thanks Davy.
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BassZone today will launch live play by play action from the water. Viewers will be able to ask the Legend Harold Allen or BassZones Matt Pangrac questions about the action while its happening. This will start today at 10 am CDT at www.basszone.com. This is the first time a independent media source has covered the action live from the water at an Elite Series event. This is the first bass interactive "color commentary".
This makes it truly about being there!
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Carrot Stix PAA Series to air on Lone Star Network
The Carrot Stix PAA Series presented by Phoenix Boats (Lake Toho) will air on the Lone Star Network tomorrow. Some big fish were caught during the exciting inaugural event as many top world Pro’s competed on lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida. Don’t miss the action on the Loan Star Network on March 14, at 7:00am. The show will also air on March 15 at 9am and on March 19 at 4:30pm. New shows are being created and will be airing soon on various networks. Visit www.fishpaa.com for details.
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 FLW Photo
BRANSON, Mo. (March 12, 2009) – Northern Division boater Derek Cummings, 34, from Mason, Mich., leads The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard after catching five bass weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces on the opening day at Bull Shoals Lake. The catch was the heaviest of the first day, giving Cummings a slim 4-ounce lead over fellow Northern Division rival Nicholas Smyers of Franksville, Wis., in the race to win the “Living the Dream” $100,000 prize package that includes berths into two of the sport’s most coveted events – the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup and the $1 million Walmart Bass Fishing League All-American presented by Chevy.
“I caught fish all day long,” said Cummings. “I pulled off my spot around nine this morning and I know there are more there, but I wanted to save them as I knew I had a good sack. I tried some new areas and others that I planned on fishing this tournament and everywhere I pulled up on had fish.”
Cumming said he was throwing a crankbait and will continue the same methods tomorrow. “I am going to do the same thing tomorrow,” he said. “I am not sure what spot I will head to as I have another spot that is on fire.”
In addition to the incredibly lucrative championship berths, the TBF National Championship will also award $10,000 and a “Living the Dream” prize package to the first-place boater. The package includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered either by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and paid entry fees into the winner’s choice of either the 2010 Walmart FLW Tour or Walmart FLW Series to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.
Rounding out the division-leading boaters are Brandon Craner of Filer, Idaho (Western Division, 17-3); Daniel Ellis of Gleason, Tenn. (Southern Division, 16-10); Zachary King of Clarksville, Ark. (Central Division, 15-3); Brent McNeal of Huntingdon, Pa. (Mid-Atlantic Division, 14-3); and Jim Gildea of Weston, Mass. (Eastern Division, 12-7).
Overall there were 186 bass weighing 472 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 44 boaters. The catch included 27 five-bass limits.
Mark Modrak of China Township, Mich., led the co-angler challengers Thursday with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces. Representing the Northern Division, Modrak caught his limit while fishing with Central Division boater Zachary King. King is currently leading his division with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces.
“Being a co-angler is something new to me,” Modrak said. “I am used to being in the front of the boat, but my boater today gave me a lot of freedom. I had an excellent boater.”
Modrak caught all but one of his fish on a crankbait, with the other on a jerkbait. “My first fish came real quick and then there was a lull,” he said. Then about 1:30 [p.m.], they turned on. I have always wanted to fish the All-American, so if I can do good, this could give me the ammunition to fish the FLW Tour or Series.”
If Modrak holds on for the win, he will earn a $5,000 cash prize and a berth into the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup for a chance to fish for as much as $50,000. He will also earn a berth into the BFL All-American presented by Chevy along with the top co-angler from each TBF division for a chance to fish for as much as $70,000.
Rounding out the division-leading co-anglers are Kenny Pannell of Springville, Ala. (Southern Division, 13-2); Jerry Necaise of Long Beach, Miss. (Central Division, 12-9); Rueben Williams of Rice, Va. (Mid-Atlantic Division, 12-9); David Martinez of Tucson, Ariz. (Western Division, 7-4); and Chris Bowker of Marshfield, Mass. (Eastern Division, 6-4).
Overall there were 108 bass weighing 227 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 44 co-anglers. The catch included 11 five-bass limits.
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Very cold temperatures didn't keep FLW pro's from catching bass at Table Rock Lake today at the FLW Tour stop day one. Red hot David Walker leads the field with 5 bass weighing 26-11. Shin Fukae of Texas is in second with 22-05. Christian Romans had 5 bass weighing 21-04, Aaron McManaway of Illinois has 20-13 and FLW Cup Champ Michael Bennett rounds out the top 5 with 20-02.
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 BASS/Overstreet photo
New Jersey pro and Classic Runner-up Mike Iaconelli leads day one at Lake Amistad with 5 bass weighing a whopping 27-9. He anchored his limit with a 12-13.
In second place is Weatherford Texas and Wired2Fish pro Gary Klein with 5 bass weighing 25-4. In third is 2008 Classic Champ Alton Jones with 24-0 followed by Okie Matt Reed with 23-2 and Arizona's John Murray with 22-1.
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Berkley just added two more bags of their Power Bait product to the NGTB Contest on Wired2Fish running right now. Two bags of Berkley Chigger Craws in black/blue are now part of the prize package. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better.....it did!!! Remember to get signed up as soon as possible as the contest ends Sunday.
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Nature Vision, the owners of Castaic Swimbaits, has not only got some great looking new swimmers but they are providing some big results as well for Big Bass Legend Mike Long. Take a look at these two beauties, a 10 and 15 pounder, caught on a Catch 22 Castaic Swim Bait:
Below are the other new Catch 22 Swim Baits recently introduced. You can also learn more by clicking here for their latest media release. You can also visit their website by going to www.castaicswimbait.com.
 Sunfish
 Threadfin
 Trout |
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Wired2Fish friend and husband of FLW angler Karyn Sanchez, Davy Sanchez, reports it's not much warmer at Table Rock for the FLW Tour.
 He reports:
From Davy Sanchez at Table Rock FLW:
MFD911 (9:47 AM 3/12/2009): Sitting here freezing at Table Rock Lake, got a dusting of snow this morning, temps only going to climb to upper 30's today. Word from the lake most guys going up the rivers to find fish. The jerk bait bite as been good, followed closely by the wiggle wart, deep jigs, and shakey head. The water on the main lake is clear and the water up in the river is stained to muddy. If you fished up the river you have a long cold ride in the mornings brrrr.... saw a lot of the pros' at Bass Pro Shops just before registration picking up thermal underwear and gloves anything to keep warm.
Thanks Davy...keep us posted!!
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Cabela's Announces New Collegiate Bass Fishing Incentive Program for ACA Events!!
Collegiate anglers will have the opportunity to win up to $1,000 in Cabela's gift cards at bass tournaments held nationwide during 2009. The BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship and regional events sanctioned by the Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) will qualify.
"Cabela's has been a key supporter of college bass fishing every year since the inaugural 2006 BoatU.S Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship event. Every year, Cabela's has provided $100.00 gift cards for each two person team attending Cabela's College Day and they will continue this program in 2009. Cabela's has raised the bar even higher with the new Cabela's Collegiate Cup program," stated Wade Middleton, Tournament Director BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship.
Contestants will be able to register for Cabela's Collegiate Cup at the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship and at all ACA sanctioned regional events which include the LoneStar Spring Breakout, Arkansas Tech Invitational, Tennessee River Rumble and Southern Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Championship.
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Live from a cold and blustery Lake Amistad in Del Rio Texas BassZones Mark Jeffreys gives us the scoop midday on the fishing on Day one. Click here to get the "Being There" Coverage from the BassZone. |
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Mark Shannon, winner of the Tru-Tungsten Shirt and Tackle contest, sent us this picture of his cache hauled in from Fish Harder Companies. Not only did he win a Marty Stone Autographed/Embroidered Tru-Tungsten shirt and hat but he also won a tackle package from all of the Fish Harder Companies, Tru-Tungsten, Picasso and Youvella, that included a great assortment of all of their new products just in time for spring fishing.
Congrats Mark, great picture and enjoy the tackle.
Wired2Fish is your contest headquarters! Stay tuned for more!
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One of the "finniest, or excuse us funniest" guys we know Bill McElroy, creator of Scales and Tails gets some ink today in the Oakland Michigan newspaper, The Oakland Press. To read click here. |
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Mark Jeffreys from the BassZone reports this am that the weather couldn't be worse for Day 1 of the BASS Amistad Elite Series event in Del Rio. The cold front that is covering most of the US has temperatures at 39 degrees and heavy winds that can make some areas tough to fish. We will have Mark on Wired Radio later today from Amistad to give us an update on the fishing. Check back this afternoon for that interview! As Mark would say it is indeed "All About Being There".
Check this link out for a picture of Amistad provided by Debra Hengst WBT Angler. Click here.
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Fishing fans across the country will want to track down Elite Series pro Bill Lowen this season. The reason? He is giving away free products from The Rod Guard™ and Buck Knives at all Elite Series events.
The giveaway is simple. Bring your favorite rod and reel to Bill at any Elite Series event and he will install The Rod Guard™ on it and give you a Buck Knife. He will also provide tips on how to use The Rod Guard™ and Buck Knives to improve time spent on the water.
“My first knife as a kid was a Buck and I have used them ever since. I recently began using the X-Tract™ tool and it is a winner. It is one of those tools that once you begin using it you are not sure how you ever did without it.”
“After fishing the Classic on the Red River I would put The Rod Guard™ in the same category. I had to get the biggest hookset possible to move those fish from the heavy cover and The Rod Guard™ installed on my flipping sticks kept me from bruising my side. At one point in practice I dredged up a really nice rod and reel someone lost. I bet that guy tracks me down for a Rod Guard™.”
The promotion begins March 12th at the first Elite Series event of the season at Lake Amistad in Del Rio, TX. Supplies are limited to the first 25 people at each event.
Lowen is very excited about the chance to interact personally with fans. “Fishing fans are the absolute best. They all fish so there is this common bond we share. I am fortunate enough to be out there every day on the very same water they fish oftentimes. Any time I can give something back it feels good. I am so excited that The Rod Guard™ and Buck Knives are allowing me this opportunity with the fans.”
Arguably the most famous name in sports cutlery, Buck Knives are available in a wide range of designs, made specifically for end users in three categories: Outdoor Life which encompasses hunting, camping & hiking, fishing, and survival. Rounding out the categories are Everyday tools and Legacy collectibles. For more information contact Jennifer Gish at 800-326-2825 x-208 or jgish@buckknives.com.
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The new Spro pro tour website is up and live covering the Spro Elite Series anglers. Mark Jeffreys from BassZone is managing this site. www.Sproontour.com is the location and it will give in-depth information and the pro's and products they are using on the tour. |
This Mann is Looking Forward to Home Field Advantage
It’s a cardinal rule of any sport or competitive endeavor – you don’t look past your next opponent. No matter how insignificant your next adversary appears to be, if you assume you’ll beat them you’re gonna get beat yourself.
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PAA members are cashing in and putting extra dollars in their wallets through the PAA PayDay tournament bonus program.
Many new tournament organizations around the country have joined the PAA PayDay program, giving more anglers a chance at adding to their winning prize money.
PAA member, Wyatt Boyd was sent a PAA check for $250.00 for winning a BFL event on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida on 2/14/09. PAA member, Rob Digh won a Bassmaster Weekend Series event on Lake Wylie, NC that earned him an extra $250.00, and. PAA member, John Stahl also received and additional $125.00 to his winnings for winning an Xtreme Bass Series event on Kissimmee Lake in Florida on February 8th, 2009. Other $125.00 winners for February 09 include PAA members Gordon Hardin, who won a Mt Dew Team Bass event on Feb 21st, Donny Beck, who won a Fisher’s of Men event on Feb 21st, and Darold Gleason for his finish in a US Couples event on February 15th.
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Gadsden, Alabama - The City of Gadsden Alabama will host the 2nd Carrot Stix PAA Series Tournament presented by Phoenix Boats on April 9-11, 2009.
Many of the world’s top celebrity professional anglers will dissect one of the mid-South’s most diverse largemouth and spotted bass fisheries in Lake Neely Henry. These pros press on to make the cut for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic this coming October on Lake Conroe in the great state of Texas.
In conjunction with the competition, Pro’s will be signing autographs for fans and other events including a “Kid’s Zone” are being planned for the fans around the weigh-in times. No other trail puts the “best of the best” in head to head competition like the Carrot Stix PAA Series presented by Phoenix Boats.
Event updates, the anglers sign-up list and much more information will be coming soon on fishpaa.com. |
BERKLEY BASS TANK HEADED TO BRANSON, MO. COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Berkley Bass Tank will be at the FLW Tour Family Fun Zone in Branson, Mo. The tank is scheduled to stop March 14 – 15 and will feature seminars and appearances by Berkley Pro Anglers.
Berkley sends two 4,000-gallon bass tanks all over the country to help out the everyday angler. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about new Berkley products and tips on how to use these innovative baits.
“The Berkley Bass Tanks are out on the road, giving all anglers the opportunity to hone their skills,” said Tammy Cox, Berkley Marketing Manager “Not only will attendees learn to “Catch More Fish,” they will also learn about new products that will help them become a better angler.”
March 14 – 15
FLW Tour Family Fun Zone
Branson Convention Center
200 Sycamore St.
Branson, MO 65616
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Carrot Stix and e21 Sports signed Palatka Florida angler Terry Scroggins for 2009. To read the entire press release click here. |
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When we caught up with Massachusetts Elite Series rookie Mark Burgess early last week, he’d left home early to avoid a nasty snowstorm, only to wake up to the inclement weather 600 miles later in Virginia.
We’re happy to report that he made it to the Great Republic of Texas two days later, unscathed and without needing to use his snow shovel again. Prior to heading to Del Rio, he stopped off in Zapata to fish Falcon for a few days.
“The ride was everything I thought it would be,” he said. “I’ve driven to the Skeeter factory in Kilgore plenty of times and to Rayburn, but I didn’t realize how far down this is. Everything looks real close on the map, but what seems like it should take an hour or two ends up taking four or five.”
As the only New Englander on the Elite Series this year (no one from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island or his home state of Massachusetts will join him in Bubba-land), Burgess hails from an area to which tourists flock in order to see the flora and fauna, and in particular the fall foliage. So when he got to south Texas and couldn’t find a tree over about 12 feet high he felt a little out of place. Fortunately his one-ton truck toting an 11.5” slide-in camper and towing a boat didn’t look all that out of place to any of the three Border Patrol checkpoints that stopped him and then quickly allowed him to pass.
The Falcon detour allowed him a chance to test out all of his equipment and tune a bunch of baits. It also gave him an opportunity to get acclimated to the heat. Furthermore, he camped next to the Chapman family, and Brent has provided him a crash course on Elite Series ins and outs.
“I didn’t even know what I didn’t know,” Burgess said of Chapman’s teachings.
Lesson #1: Lose the shovel. But as this picture, taken by Chapman from the roof of Mark’s camper shows, old habits die hard.
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West Coast pro Matt Newman is a bait designer, seminar speaker and one heck of an angler. He talks about Tru-Tungsten and Picasso baits that have been working for him on Wired Radio with Terry Brown today.
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Thanks for all who entered the Pure Fishing Rod and Reel contest. Bob Guess of Fairview, North Carolina won the contest by correctly answering the questions below.
1. 9 ball bearings- How many ball bearings in the 8035MG?
2. 6.2 to 1-Gear Ratio of the 8035 MG?
3. Superlines- What was the Berkley Shock Rod designed for?
4. Berkley-What was Mr Bedell's first name who founded Berkley?
Your rod and reel is on the way Bob! Congrats.
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The winner of the Pro Locker Rod carrier contest is Mike Glover of Belcher, La. Congrats Mike. Your red and black rod locker is on the way!
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Richard Cobb (left) and Tyler Moberly from Eastern Kentucky University claimed the Under Armour College Bass East Super Regional championship trophy Sunday, March 8 in Evans, Ga.
Photo by ESPN Outdoors
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1
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Eastern Kentucky
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Moberly
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Cobb
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24.84
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2
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Auburn
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Peek
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Craver
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19.83
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3
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Georgia Southern
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Cannon
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Mesplay
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18
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4
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Penn St
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Grube
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Selway
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17.79
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5
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Faulkner
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Tindol
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Eubanks
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16.8
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6
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Virginia Tech
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Thompson
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Machek
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16.58
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7
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Virginia Tech
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Wiley
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Blevins
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15.28
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8
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Penn St
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Hughes
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Haney
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14.12
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9
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Eastern Kentucky
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Ertel
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Davis
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13.53
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10
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Georgia College & State Univ
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Henry
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Olson
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13.49
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11
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SIU - Edwardsville
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Hicks
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Lemasters
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12.7
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12
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NC State
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Hooks
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Kozazcki
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12.42
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13
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Georgia College & State Univ
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Beck
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Fiscus
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11.43
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14
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Clemson
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McGinn
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Carver
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10.97
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15
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NC State
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Wood
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Johnson
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10.83
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16
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Indiana
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Wojtowicz
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Tolbert
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9.89
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17
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NC State
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Stockton
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Justus
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8.18
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18
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Eastern Carolina
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Benton
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Swope
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7.3
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19
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Montevallo
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Davis
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Lamar
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6.7
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20
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SIU - Edwardsville
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Heberer
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Rossel
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6.23
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21
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Auburn
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Baker
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Browning
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6.15
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22
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Virginia Tech
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Rejzer
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White
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6.12
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23
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NC State
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White
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Livingston
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6.07
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24
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Georgia Southern
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Hewlett
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Davis
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5.98
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25
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Clemson
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Hand
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Ball
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5.43
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26
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Lincoln Memorial
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Jenkins
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Morris
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5.41
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27
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Tennessee Tech
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Haskins
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Goodwin
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5.24
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28
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Penn St
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Steinour
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Neely
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5.22
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29
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Georgia Southern
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Giella
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Freed
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5.07
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30
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Eastern Carolina
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Kimrey
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Watkins
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4.73
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31
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Georgia College & State Univ
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Kutil
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Rotoreau
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3.72
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32
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Clemson
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Wicker
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Cobb
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2.23
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33
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Clemson
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Turner
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Rubio
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2.19
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34
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Auburn
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Mitja
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Maddox
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1.74
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35
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Lincoln Memorial
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Shelton
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Crisp
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1.42
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36
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Tennessee - Martin
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Maddox
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Gearin
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1.42
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37
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Georgia Southern
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Clark
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Maples
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1.04
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38
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Georgia College & State Univ
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O'Dillon
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Edenfield
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0
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39
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Georgia Southern
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Walraven
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Thigpen
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0
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Today on Tackle Warehouse you can get Nauticare Hull Cleaner for a 3 dollar savings. It is priced at 6.99 for 32 ounces.
NautiCare Hull Cleaner is the product of choice for the removal of water stains, iron and mineral deposits and marine algae from fiberglass boat hulls and bottoms. This non-acid based cleaner is safe for you, your boat, and the environment when used as directed. Non-Toxic and Biodegradable.
"I have used this boat care line-up on fiberglass and its works flawlessly. Its simple, no mess and is perfect for being on the road and keeping the boat looking new" -Mike McClelland
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If BASS Federation Nation champion Bryan Schmidt proved anything with his recent Top-10 showing at the Bassmaster Classic out of Shreveport, La., it’s that he’s not some lucky one-trick pony. If you remember, the Olney, Texas angler won a brutally slow event last November at Kansas’ Milford Lake to claim the Federation Nation title. There, he weighed in just three fish over 2 days to accumulate a meager 9-12 winning total.
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Bryan Schmidt is the reigning BASS Federation National Champ and he also faired very well at the recent Bassmaster Classic on the Red River. Wired Staffer Jason Bryant had a chance to sit down with him and pick his brain about the Classic and his future fishing plans in Unplugged today. To read click here.
Schmidt Tournament Tidbit from this weekends BASS Open:
Update: Schmidt's standings from this weekend's weather-shortened Central Open at Toledo Bend are posted below. This proves even the good ones can have an off day!
193. Bryan Schmidt - Olney, Texas
Day 1: 2, 4-05
Day 2: 0, 0-00
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When James Niggemeyer left the dock this morning for a 3½-hour fish-off against Texas' Jerrel Pringle, the Bassmaster Elite Series pro worried heavy cloud cover would kill his sight-fishing bite and the Toledo Bend Bassmaster Central Open win would slip away.
"I really don't know what's going to happen," Niggemeyer said.
Larry Towell
James Niggemeyer takes hold of his third BASS trophy.
Niggemeyer had five fish, but he wasn't very confident.
"I just caught five fish," he said. "They're not big. I caught the fifth fish 10 minutes before I had to leave."
When the Niggemeyer and Pringle met at the scales, their fish were in solid bags so there would be no way to know what the other had. Pringle won a coin toss to determine who would weigh first, and he deferred.
Niggemeyer's five fish were placed on the scales, which finally settled at 14 pounds, 1 ounce for a three-day total of 51-15. He looked as if he were holding his breath as Pringle began placing his fish on the scales.
As it turned out, Pringle only had three fish that went 7-8 for a total of 45-6.
That sealed Niggemeyer's victory, and he looked shell-shocked as he was handed the Bassmaster Central Open trophy.
"I can't believe it," he said of his third BASS win. Niggemeyer also has a 2003 Bassmaster Southern Open win on South Carolina's Santee Cooper and a 2005 Red River regional Bassmaster Weekend Series victory in 2005.
Niggemeyer stuck to sight fishing throughout the tournament, but had to adjust to win the fish-off.
"I ran down to go look for a 5-pounder I left on the bed yesterday, and it was gone," he explained. "The fish just weren't where they were the past couple days, so I eased farther back (into the creek) where I hadn't been.
"Every now and again I'd come up on one."
The only problem was that the fish weren't exactly ready to eat.
"Each fish took 15 to 30 minutes to get to bite," Niggemeyer said.
For his part, Pringle said the fish in his area on the north end of the reservoir seemed to have moved and stained water made it difficult to find them.
"The fish had moved back (into the ditches he was fishing), and they weren't moving," he said. "I'm sure they were on beds, but I just couldn't see them."
He said hindsight proved that he should have abandoned the area he fished the first couple of days.
"I had stuff I could get to (from the landing) in 10 minutes, but I thought if I caught three fish like I had been catching and he didn't catch them I'd have 12 to 13 pounds and that'd be enough," Pringle said. "I probably should have gone to (the close fish)."
The dramatic ending to the tournament, which began with the first day of competition being cancelled due to safety concerns surrounding high winds, resulted in Niggemeyer pocketing a $51,000 check. Pringle received just less than $23,000.
Niggemeyer said the win was critical on so many fronts.
"Financially, this came at a wonderful time," he said. "I had a rough year last year on the Elites."
It also sets him up to begin his Elite Series year, which begins this week on Texas' Lake Amistad, with a lot of confidence.
"It's a big shot in the arm," Niggemeyer said. "I had been thinking about what I needed to do to get back to a place where I was confident fishing and the results were there, too. This really helps." Looking back over the past three days, however, he said he could identify one key catch that made it all possible.
"If I hadn't caught that 8-pounder yesterday, this wouldn't have happened," Niggemeyer said. "I consider that fish a gift from the Lord."
Sponsors of the 2009 Bassmaster Opens include: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine.
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The Under Armour College Bass Super Regional at Clarks Hill Lake ended day one with Kyle Tindol and Michael Eubanks from Faulkner University in the lead with 11.19 pounds. Closely behind are teams from Eastern Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Georgia Southern, and Georgia College and State University. Final day is today with a live weigh-in on www.collegebass.com
Official Day One Results
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1
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Faulkner
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Kyle Tindol
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Michael Eubanks
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11.19
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2
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Eastern Kentucky
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Tyler Moberly
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Richard Cobb
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10.55
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3
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Virginia Tech
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Scott Wiley
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Wyatt Blevins
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10.25
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4
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Georgia Southern
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Seth Cannon
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David Mesplay
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10.11
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5
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Georgia College & State Univ
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Matt Henry
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Zach Olson
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10.09
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6
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Virginia Tech
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Brett Thompson
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Charlie Machek
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9.67
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7
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Clemson
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Reid McGinn
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Bart Carver
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9.56
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8
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Penn St
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Dave Grube
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Timothy Selway
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9.24
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9
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Auburn
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Richard Peek
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Mason Craver
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6.65
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10
|
Virginia Tech
|
Carson Rejzer
|
Nick White
|
6.12
|
|
11
|
Georgia Southern
|
Justin Hewlett
|
Richard Davis
|
5.98
|
|
12
|
NC State
|
Chris Wood
|
Casey Johnson
|
5.3
|
|
13
|
NC State
|
Josh Hooks
|
Mark Kozazcki
|
5.2
|
|
14
|
SIU - Edwardsville
|
Luke Hicks
|
Brad Lemasters
|
4.91
|
|
15
|
Georgia College & State Univ
|
Josh Beck
|
Tyler Fiscus
|
4.9
|
|
16
|
Clemson
|
Alex Hand
|
Jonathan Ball
|
4.29
|
|
17
|
SIU - Edwardsville
|
Justing Heberer
|
Adam Rossel
|
3.58
|
|
18
|
NC State
|
Kolby Stockton
|
Jamie Justus
|
3.21
|
|
19
|
Lincoln Memorial
|
Tyler Jenkins
|
Jonathan Morris
|
2.84
|
|
20
|
Tennessee Tech
|
Josh Haskins
|
Adam Goodwin
|
2.46
|
|
21
|
Clemson
|
Andy Wicker
|
Brandon Cobb
|
2.23
|
|
23
|
Penn St
|
Derrick Hughes
|
Jason Haney
|
1.85
|
|
24
|
Auburn
|
Jason Mitja
|
Chris Maddox
|
1.74
|
|
25
|
Eastern Kentucky
|
Jonas Ertel
|
Chris Davis
|
1.66
|
|
26
|
Tennessee - Martin
|
Braden Maddox
|
Slayton Gearin
|
1.42
|
|
27
|
NC State
|
Will White
|
Andrew Livingston
|
1.18
|
|
28
|
Georgia Southern
|
Randall Clark
|
Wesley Maples
|
1.04
|
|
22
|
Clemson
|
Harold Turner
|
Nick Rubio
|
0
|
|
29
|
Lincoln Memorial
|
Cameron Shelton
|
Justin Crisp
|
0
|
|
30
|
Georgia College & State Univ
|
Matt O'Dillon
|
Kyle Edenfield
|
0
|
|
31
|
Auburn
|
Shaye Baker
|
Chris Browning
|
0
|
|
32
|
Eastern Carolina
|
Bret Benton
|
Matt Swope
|
0
|
|
33
|
Georgia Southern
|
Kyle Giella
|
Jay Freed
|
0
|
|
34
|
Georgia Southern
|
Oakley Walraven
|
Jed Thigpen
|
0
|
|
35
|
Georgia College & State Univ
|
Jared Kutil
|
Jonathan Rotoreau
|
0
|
|
36
|
Penn St
|
Dave Steinour
|
Ryan Neely
|
0
|
|
37
|
Eastern Carolina
|
Brad Kimrey
|
Zach Watkins
|
0
|
|
38
|
Indiana
|
Zack Wojtowicz
|
Mitch Tolbert
|
0
|
|
39
|
Montevallo
|
Clent Davis
|
Josh Lamar
|
0
|
|
Bassmaster Elite Series pro James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas, thought the Bassmaster Central Open win had slipped away when Jerrel Pringle of Hemphill, Texas, weighed in a 20-pound, 2-ounce sack of bass on what was supposed to be the final day of competition.Both anglers shared the exact weight of 37-14, but Niggemeyer and everyone else thought the tie breaker would be the heaviest one-day stringer. That put the advantage to Pringle by 8 ounces.
When it was time to introduce the winner, however, it was revealed that there was only one exception to the tie-breaker rule.
“In the BASS rules, there is a tie breaker for every place but first place,” Tournament Director Chris Bowes announced to the crowd. “That means we have to go to a sudden-death fish-off.”
The Central Open title will be awarded to the angler who brings the heaviest bag to the scales on Sunday, March 8 at 11 a.m. CT. They will launch their boats at 7:30 a.m. If the two anglers remain tied after the first fishing period, they will continue to fish in set windows of time until the title can be decided.
Both Texas anglers will be competing for the $45,000 top prize and valuable points toward qualifying for the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season and the 2010 Bassmaster Classic out of Birmingham, Ala., set for Feb. 19-21. The runner-up will receive a $20,000 check.
Niggemeyer and Pringle led the field by more than 2 pounds. Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, finished in third with 35-11, followed by Keith Caka of Huntsville, Texas, with 35-1. Arnie Lane of Lakeland, Fla., is in fifth place with 34-4, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., rounds out the top six with 34-2.
Both said they will head back to the areas that put them in position to claim the victory. Niggemeyer will be heading all the way to the south end of the lake, and Pringle will run north almost to the top end of the reservoir.
“I’ve got to haul butt,” said Pringle. “I have to get back to where I was fishing. It’s another roll of the dice.”
Pringle is relying on some small drains, working Strike King spinner baits and 8-inch Zoom plastic lizards to snatch fish from around flooded stumps.
“It’s about attrition, making enough casts to get the bites,” said Pringle.
Niggemeyer is sight-fishing two areas of the lake, and he said he hopes he has an ace in his pocket.
“I left a 5-pounder on the bed this afternoon,” said Niggemeyer. “I’m just going to go right back to where I left that 5-pounder and hope I can get it to bite. Then I’m going from there and start searching.”
2009 Central 1 - Many, LA BO 03/05-03/07 Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many La.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jerrel Pringle Hemphill, Texas 10 37-14
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 20-02
1. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 10 37-14
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 19-10
3. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, Texas 10 35-11 290 $19,526.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 17-06
4. Keith Caka Huntsville, Texas 10 35-01 285 $14,357.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 17-02
5. Arnie Lane Lakeland, Fla. 10 34-04 280 $11,486.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 16-14
6. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 10 34-02 276 $10,337.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 15-05
7. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 10 33-03 272 $9,189.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 15-06
8. Sam Newby Pocola, Okla. 10 32-14 273 $8,040.00
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 12-02
9. Lance Vick Mineola, Texas 10 32-10 264 $6,891.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 21-00
10. Chris McCall Jasper, Texas 10 32-10 260 $5,743.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 14-11
11. James Stricklin Jasper, Texas 10 32-02 257 $4,594.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 20-13
12. Carl Svebek III Siloam Springs, Ark. 10 32-02 254 $4,020.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
13. Clark Reehm Russellville, Ark. 10 31-08 251 $3,446.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 16-12
14. Homer Humphreys Minden, La. 10 31-07 248 $2,871.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 13-10
15. Stephen Johnston Hemphill, Texas 10 31-05 245 $2,584.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 14-13
16. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 9 31-01 243 $2,297.00
Day 1: 4 19-08 Day 2: 5 11-09
17. Yukinari Uchiyama Dallas, Texas 10 30-15 241 $2,240.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 12-07
18. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 30-13 239 $2,182.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 13-07
19. Dave Mansue Robbinsville, N.J. 10 30-12 237 $2,125.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 13-04
20. Corey Waldrop Fort Worth, Texas 10 30-12 235 $2,067.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 13-11
21. Charles Bebber Willis, Texas 10 30-06 233 $2,010.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 13-11
22. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 10 30-06 231 $1,953.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-12
23. Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 10 30-00 229 $1,895.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 19-12
24. Stephen Browning Hot Springs National P 10 29-08 227 $1,838.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-14
25. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 10 29-06 225 $1,780.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 13-15
26. Gary Key Laveen, Ariz. 10 29-05 223 $1,723.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 10-08
27. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 10 29-04 221 $1,665.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 12-14
28. Kurt Dove Del Rio, Texas 10 29-02 219 $1,608.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 16-03
29. Zachary King Clarksville, Ark. 10 29-01 217 $1,551.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 15-15
30. David Truax Beaumont, Texas 10 28-15 215 $1,493.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-12
31. Rob Burns Plano, Texas 10 28-12 213 $574.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 16-01
32. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, La. 10 28-05 211 $574.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 14-09
33. Mike Hawkes Sabinal, Texas 10 28-02 209 $574.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
34. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, Texas 10 28-01 207 $574.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 16-10
35. Kris Wilson Montgomery, Texas 10 28-01 205 $574.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-12
36. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 10 28-01 203 $574.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 14-00
37. Frank Scalish Cleveland, Ohio 10 28-00 201 $574.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-07
38. Kyle Fox Lakeland, Fla. 10 27-14 199 $574.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 16-11
39. David Curtis Trinity, Texas 10 27-12 197 $574.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 13-01
40. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 10 27-10 195 $574.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 14-15
41. Vince Fulks Purcell, Okla. 10 27-09 193 $574.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 15-00
42. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 10 27-08 191 $574.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 11-12
43. Cody Bird Granbury, Texas 10 27-06 189 $574.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 15-15
44. Brannon Jones Montgomery, Ala. 8 27-05 187 $574.00
Day 1: 4 8-08 Day 2: 4 18-13
45. Anthony Cerar Broken Arrow, Okla. 8 27-03 185 $574.00
Day 1: 3 12-07 Day 2: 5 14-12
46. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 27-02 183 $574.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 10-01
47. Vance Montgomery Claremore, Okla. 10 27-00 181 $574.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 14-06
48. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, Fla. 10 26-15 179 $574.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-05
49. Phil Addison Baytown, Texas 10 26-15 177 $574.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-12
50. James Biggs Bedford, Texas 10 26-14 175 $574.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-00
51. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 10 26-13 173
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-09
52. OT Fears Sallisaw, Okla. 10 26-12 171
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 10-06
53. Preston Frazell Kincaid, Kan. 10 26-09 169
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 14-14
54. Ken Warren Anamosa, Iowa 10 26-06 167
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-02
55. Wayne Hauser Mooresville, N.C. 10 26-00 165
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 11-00
56. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 10 25-13 163
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-13
57. Glen Freeman Converse, La. 10 25-11 161
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 14-01
58. Chris Lane Lakeland, Fla. 10 25-11 159
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
59. Jamie Narramore Lavaca, Ark. 8 25-04 157
Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-07
60. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, Texas 9 24-15 155
Day 1: 4 12-05 Day 2: 5 12-10
61. Jeff Avery El Dorado, Ark. 10 24-14 153
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 11-00
62. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 10 24-13 151
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 11-11
63. Mark Goines Shady Point, Okla. 9 24-13 149
Day 1: 4 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-02
64. Charles Hammack New Caney, Texas 10 24-12 147
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-04
65. Andre Moore Alabaster, Ala. 10 24-07 145
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 11-06
66. Ray Brazier Lawrenceburg, Tenn. 10 24-04 143
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-15
67. James Kennedy Lacombe, La. 8 24-00 141
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 5 13-06
68. Scott Dean Terrell, Texas 10 23-15 139
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 10-06
69. Bryan Talmadge Moody, Ala. 10 23-14 137
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 13-02
70. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 10 23-11 135
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 13-12
71. Wade Middleton San Antonio, Texas 9 23-10 133
Day 1: 4 7-05 Day 2: 5 16-05
72. Mark Smith West Monroe, La. 7 23-10 131
Day 1: 3 13-04 Day 2: 4 10-06
73. Bert Thompson Benton, La. 8 23-09 129
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 3 9-01
74. Shane Gibson Kilgore, Texas 8 23-07 127
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 3 8-04
75. Jason Christie Park Hill, Okla. 10 23-06 125
Day 1: 5 8-03 Day 2: 5 15-03
76. Cliff Crowder Sherwood, Ark. 10 23-05 123
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 10-05
77. Gary Riffle Bogata, Texas 10 23-04 121
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-06
78. Joe Erwin Claremore, Okla. 8 23-04 119
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 3 6-03
79. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, Texas 10 23-03 117
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 9-12
80. Russell Parrish Robinson, Texas 9 23-00 115
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 4 7-12
81. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 10 22-15 113
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 12-08
82. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 8 22-15 111
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 3 6-13
83. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, Miss. 10 22-13 109
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 12-00
84. Quinn Peacock Granbury, Texas 10 22-05 107
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 5 12-14
85. Wade Leblanc Gonzales, La. 9 22-05 105
Day 1: 4 8-02 Day 2: 5 14-03
86. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 9 22-03 103
Day 1: 4 8-12 Day 2: 5 13-07
87. Patrick Pierce Jacksonville, Fla. 9 22-02 101
Day 1: 4 9-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
88. Jeff Cloud Pampa, Texas 9 22-01 99
Day 1: 4 9-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
89. Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 7 21-13 97
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 5 18-03
90. Roger Boler Slidell, La. 10 21-12 95
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 10-02
91. Bart Doty Longview, Texas 10 21-11 93
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 10-03
92. Sam Swett Covington, La. 9 21-10 91
Day 1: 4 8-09 Day 2: 5 13-01
93. David Gillham Heath, Texas 9 21-09 89
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 9-15
94. Donnie Courtney Greenwell Springs, La. 10 21-07 87
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 8-13
95. Preston Johnson Rice Lake, Wisc. 10 21-07 85
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-00
96. Jerry Williams Conway, Ark. 10 21-04 83
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 11-08
97. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 9 21-04 81
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-11
98. Johnny Grice Frisco, Texas 8 21-02 79
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 3 8-07
99. Jerry McKinnis Little Rock, Ark. 9 20-14 77
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 4 7-06
100.Michael Wohl Burleson, Texas 9 20-14 76
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 10-01
101.Melinda Hooper Ben Lomond, Ark. 9 20-12 75
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 8-13
102.Logan Sherrer Shongaloo, La. 9 20-11 74
Day 1: 4 6-15 Day 2: 5 13-12
103.Tony Chachere Opelousas, La. 8 20-11 73
Day 1: 3 7-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
104.Justin Haynes Tulsa, Okla. 10 20-05 72
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 9-12
105.Rodney Clawson Old Hickory, Tenn. 9 20-04 71
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 8-05
106.Jeremy Guidry Opelousas, La. 10 20-03 70
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 9-04
107.David Sherrer Shreveport, La. 9 20-02 69
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 4 8-00
108.Tim Carmouche Gonzales, La. 10 20-01 68
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-01
109.Michael Bass Austin, Texas 7 19-13 67
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 5 15-08
110.Ed Whaley Montgomery, Texas 9 19-05 66
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 4 10-04
111.Gene Eisenmann Frisco, Texas 7 19-03 65
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 5 14-14
112.Guy Adams Hermleigh, Texas 8 19-01 64
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 3 6-12
113.Donald Corey Baton Rouge, La. 10 18-14 63
Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 5 9-11
114.Robert Byrd Dallas, Texas 8 18-12 62
Day 1: 3 6-01 Day 2: 5 12-11
115.Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, La. 7 18-12 61
Day 1: 2 4-13 Day 2: 5 13-15
116.Danny Smith Monterey, La. 6 18-08 60
Day 1: 1 3-01 Day 2: 5 15-07
117.Sammy Burks Joplin, Mo. 7 18-05 59
Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 5 14-15
118.Bob Sealy Jasper, Texas 7 18-01 58
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 4-01
119.Jonathon Vandam Kalamazoo, Mich. 7 18-00 57
Day 1: 3 6-05 Day 2: 4 11-11
120.John Burns Gautier, Miss. 8 17-14 56
Day 1: 3 5-13 Day 2: 5 12-01
121.Paul Ferguson Whitehouse, Texas 9 17-11 55
Day 1: 4 8-00 Day 2: 5 9-11
122.Scott Mcgehee Madison, Miss. 8 17-08 54
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 3 5-01
123.Randy Allen Benton, La. 7 17-08 53
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 2 4-01
124.Garrett Mercer San Diego, Calif. 8 17-04 52
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 3 5-02
125.Dustin Evans Eads, Tenn. 6 17-03 51
Day 1: 3 7-08 Day 2: 3 9-11
126.Danny Owens Mandeville, La. 6 16-15 50
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 1 1-12
127.Eric Wilson Marshall, Texas 7 16-14 49
Day 1: 2 5-01 Day 2: 5 11-13
128.Larry Byrd Lake Charles, La. 6 16-12 48
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 5 14-12
129.Bill Lee Killeen, Texas 7 16-10 47
Day 1: 2 5-14 Day 2: 5 10-12
130.Justin Hamner Birmingham, Ala. 7 16-07 46
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 2 3-12
131.Morris Hymel Covington, La. 7 16-07 45
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 5 11-01
132.Porter Trimble Pineville, La. 8 16-06 44
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 3 5-10
133.Larry Todd Ringgold, La. 8 16-03 43
Day 1: 4 9-05 Day 2: 4 6-14
134.Theron Caldwell Colleyville, Texas 7 16-02 42
Day 1: 2 3-09 Day 2: 5 12-09
135.Gary Vining Morgan City, La. 7 16-01 41
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 4 10-03
136.Brian Jackson Memphis, Tenn. 7 15-15 40
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 2 4-00
137.Brent Broussard Saint Amant, La. 7 15-14 39
Day 1: 5 9-13 Day 2: 2 6-01
138.Mike Norsworthy Brandon, Miss. 6 15-14 38
Day 1: 1 3-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
139.Deryl Janzen Midway, Ark. 9 15-11 37
Day 1: 4 6-10 Day 2: 5 9-01
140.Travis Gray Princeton, La. 8 15-11 36
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 5-06
141.Aaron Johnson Bossier City, La. 7 15-10 35
Day 1: 3 6-09 Day 2: 4 9-01
142.Greg Watts Eagle Lake, Fla. 6 15-06 34
Day 1: 2 3-09 Day 2: 4 11-13
143.Duane Pittman Prairieville, La. 6 15-04 33
Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 4 11-05
144.Douglas Jones Fort Gibson, Okla. 6 15-04 32
Day 1: 4 10-06 Day 2: 2 4-14
145.Steve Hayden Raton, N.M. 8 15-02 31
Day 1: 4 6-12 Day 2: 4 8-06
146.Jelani Hennessey Bowling Green, Va. 8 14-13 30
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 5 8-15
147.Darrell Lyons Hemphill, Texas 7 14-10 29
Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 2 5-02
148.Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 6 14-09 28
Day 1: 2 4-04 Day 2: 4 10-05
149.Mike Burns Allen, Texas 8 14-08 27
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 3 5-07
150.Sean Hoernke Conroe, Texas 5 14-08 26
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 0 0-00
151.Ernest Smoak Keatchie, La. 5 14-06 25
Day 1: 3 7-02 Day 2: 2 7-04
152.Marvin Ettredge Shreveport, La. 5 14-04 24
Day 1: 4 9-15 Day 2: 1 4-05
153.Shawn Johnson San Antonio, Texas 7 14-03 23
Day 1: 4 8-00 Day 2: 3 6-03
154.Byron Velvick Del Rio, Texas 5 13-14 22
Day 1: 3 8-13 Day 2: 2 5-01
155.Craig Massey Houston, Texas 6 13-13 21
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 1 2-07
156.Darrell Newman Bruceville, Texas 6 13-12 20
Day 1: 1 2-05 Day 2: 5 11-07
157.Lonnie Dean Homer, La. 6 13-12 19
Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 2 3-07
158.Travis Loyd Mount Vernon, Ill. 6 13-11 18
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 4 10-01
159.Mac McDaniel Roxie, Miss. 4 13-02 17
Day 1: 3 11-05 Day 2: 1 1-13
160.Jeremy Montoya Fort Collins, Colo. 8 13-00 16
Day 1: 3 4-09 Day 2: 5 8-07
161.Brannon Long Longview, Texas 5 12-15 15
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
162.Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 6 12-05 14
Day 1: 4 7-07 Day 2: 2 4-14
163.Billy Hurt Spring Creek, Tenn. 6 12-03 13
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 1 2-00
164.Ricky Fields Livingston, Ala. 6 12-01 12
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 3 6-10
165.Ryan Brown La Place, La. 6 12-00 11
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 5 9-15
166.Jim Culp Tulsa, Okla. 6 11-15 10
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 4 8-05
167.Billy Brewer Bruceville, Texas 5 11-15 9
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
167.Cecil Kingsley Lawrence, Kan. 5 11-15 8
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
169.Doug Vahrenberg Higginsville, Mo. 6 11-13 7
Day 1: 4 8-00 Day 2: 2 3-13
170.Lloyd McDaniel Roxie, Miss. 5 11-11 6
Day 1: 3 7-12 Day 2: 2 3-15
171.Bill Burns Brookeland, Texas 5 11-11 5
Day 1: 3 6-08 Day 2: 2 5-03
172.Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 6 11-09 4
Day 1: 2 4-15 Day 2: 4 6-10
173.Reed Sartin Austin, Texas 6 11-07 3
Day 1: 2 3-09 Day 2: 4 7-14
174.Randy Qualls Midway, Ark. 5 11-02 2
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
175.Daniel Stokes Cypress, Texas 4 11-00 1
Day 1: 3 7-08 Day 2: 1 3-08
176.Chad Griffin Cresson, Texas 5 10-15 1
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
177.Thomas Loving Cypress, Texas 5 10-15 1
Day 1: 3 6-00 Day 2: 2 4-15
178.Jeff Jordan Tulsa, Okla. 5 10-14 1
Day 1: 4 8-00 Day 2: 1 2-14
179.Chad Sposito Gray, La. 7 10-09 1
Day 1: 2 4-15 Day 2: 5 5-10
180.Mike Haggerty Hendersonville, Tenn. 4 10-04 1
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 10-04
181.Jason Lieblong Conway, Ark. 5 10-02 1
Day 1: 4 7-09 Day 2: 1 2-09
182.Kathi Hurst Ripley, Miss. 5 10-01 1
Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 3 6-11
183.Dave Lance Boyce, La. 5 9-15 1
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
184.Chris Burnham Farmerville, La. 2 8-01 1
Day 1: 2 8-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
185.Keith Poche Troy, Ala. 2 7-12 1
Day 1: 2 7-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
186.James Smiley Lake Forrest, Calif. 4 7-07 1
Day 1: 2 3-04 Day 2: 2 4-03
187.Jacky Hawthorne Greenville, Texas 3 7-00 1
Day 1: 3 7-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
188.Joey Deveer Gonzales, La. 3 6-06 1
Day 1: 2 4-07 Day 2: 1 1-15
189.Scott Reed Oakland, Tenn. 2 5-06 1
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Joe Copeland Roff, Okla. 3 5-04 1
Day 1: 3 5-04 Day 2: 0 0-00
191.Mitchell Nezat Shreveport, La. 3 4-15 1
Day 1: 3 4-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
192.Jason Berg Minnetonka, Minn. 3 4-13 1
Day 1: 2 3-00 Day 2: 1 1-13
193.Bryan Schmidt Olney, Texas 2 4-05 1
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 0 0-00
194.Mike Lott Cleveland, Texas 2 4-01 1
Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
195.Joseph New Spring, Texas 2 3-14 1
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 0 0-00
196.Mary DiVincenti Clinton, La. 1 1-12 1
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
197.Craig Dowling Shreveport, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
197.Tommy Durham Whitney, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
197.Jimmie Johnson Greenwell Springs, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
197.Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
197.Willard Moore Minden, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 114 798 2059-08
2 115 754 1958-14
----------------------------------
229 1552 4018-06
2009 Central 1 - Many, LA NB 03/05-03/07 Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many La.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, La. 8 27-12 310 $32,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 11-07
2. Donnie Reynolds Gladewater, Texas 8 26-11 295 $5,743.00
Day 1: 3 10-04 Day 2: 5 16-07
3. Lindy Hadley Jasper, Texas 7 24-00 290 $4,594.00
Day 1: 2 4-11 Day 2: 5 19-05
4. Travis Pattillo Silsbee, Texas 10 23-15 285 $3,446.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 13-03
5. Mike Mcadams Pascagoula, Miss. 10 21-11 280 $2,871.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
6. Keith Morris Nacogdoches, Texas 8 21-09 276 $2,584.00
Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 5 13-03
7. Cary Beard Baton Rouge, La. 7 21-09 272 $2,297.00
Day 1: 2 6-13 Day 2: 5 14-12
8. Randy Hicks Lumberton, Texas 9 20-14 268 $2,182.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 4 7-00
9. Ken Coats Tulsa, Okla. 7 20-13 264 $1,953.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 2 4-15
10. Sammy Strong Orange, Texas 10 20-12 260 $1,493.00
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 11-00
11. James Dorris Slidell, La. 7 20-03 257 $1,263.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 2 6-13
12. Glenn Robertson Shreveport, La. 7 20-02 254 $1,149.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 2 4-10
13. Shawn Maynor Talala, Okla. 7 19-13 251 $1,034.00
Day 1: 4 9-04 Day 2: 3 10-09
14. Rick Rickman Gainesville, Texas 8 19-11 248 $919.00
Day 1: 4 9-05 Day 2: 4 10-06
15. John Martin Orange, Texas 8 19-07 245 $804.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 7-12
16. Shannon Wingate Deridder, La. 10 19-05 243 $775.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 9-01
17. Anthony Plescia Slidell, La. 6 19-03 241 $747.00
Day 1: 2 8-05 Day 2: 4 10-14
18. Cliff Kirby Catawba, N.C. 8 19-01 239 $718.00
Day 1: 3 7-15 Day 2: 5 11-02
19. Erik Spence Jay, Okla. 7 19-00 237 $689.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 2 3-11
20. Charles Major Morganza, La. 7 18-11 235 $660.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 2 4-01
21. Bob Walton Longview, Texas 7 17-15 233 $632.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 2 4-10
22. Elton Cleveland Little Rock, Ark. 8 17-13 231 $574.00
Day 1: 3 8-09 Day 2: 5 9-04
23. Eric Akred Mulvane, Kan. 5 17-13 229 $546.00
Day 1: 2 9-13 Day 2: 3 8-00
24. Jason Kezerle Zwolle, La. 7 17-12 227 $517.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 3-12
25. Mark Brasher Downsville, La. 8 17-10 225 $488.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 3 5-05
26. Miguel Valdez Bridgeport, Texas 6 17-10 223 $459.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 1 5-01
27. Bobby Lanham Cave Crek, Ariz. 6 17-08 221 $431.00
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 5 15-02
28. Tom Haynes Tulsa, Okla. 8 16-15 219 $402.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 3 7-06
29. John Hayen Hurst, Texas 6 16-15 217 $373.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 1 3-11
30. Elvis Jeanminette Jeanerette, La. 7 16-13 215 $345.00
Day 1: 3 5-06 Day 2: 4 11-07
31. Joe Landry West Monroe, La. 7 16-09 213 $172.00
Day 1: 4 8-02 Day 2: 3 8-07
32. James Cantwell Kingsland, Texas 9 16-05 211 $172.00
Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 4 7-12
33. Michael Savant Lake Charles, La. 8 15-15 209 $172.00
Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 5 9-12
34. Justin Stokes Cypress, Texas 6 15-14 207 $172.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 5 13-13
35. Mark Halpain Lavon, Texas 8 15-09 205 $172.00
Day 1: 4 8-14 Day 2: 4 6-11
36. Randy Pitre Natchez, Miss. 6 15-07 203 $172.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 1 2-12
37. Brady Seymour West Monroe, La. 7 15-06 201 $172.00
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
38. John Hobson Grapeland, Texas 7 15-06 199 $172.00
Day 1: 3 8-01 Day 2: 4 7-05
39. John Moon Brookeland, Texas 5 15-05 197 $172.00
Day 1: 2 5-03 Day 2: 3 10-02
40. David Cooper Vidalia, La. 6 15-04 195 $172.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 1 1-15
41. Jean Trahan Lafayette, La. 6 15-03 193 $172.00
Day 1: 4 10-06 Day 2: 2 4-13
42. Jeff Lobaugh Emory, Texas 6 15-01 191 $172.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 1 2-14
43. Robert Chandler Vinton, La. 7 14-14 189 $172.00
Day 1: 3 6-06 Day 2: 4 8-08
44. Keith Keele Tenaha, Texas 5 14-13 187 $172.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
45. Terry Blackmon Covington, La. 6 14-12 185 $172.00
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 2 3-09
46. Mike Curry Jasper, Texas 7 14-09 183 $172.00
Day 1: 4 8-05 Day 2: 3 6-04
47. Josh Horton Center, Texas 8 14-07 181 $172.00
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 5 8-05
48. Billy Yelverton Baton Rouge, La. 6 14-06 179 $172.00
Day 1: 3 6-00 Day 2: 3 8-06
49. Ted Daniels Saint Louis, Mo. 6 14-06 177 $172.00
Day 1: 2 7-05 Day 2: 4 7-01
50. William Watts Beaumont, Texas 7 13-15 175 $172.00
Day 1: 4 8-07 Day 2: 3 5-08
51. Steven Strawn Baton Rouge, La. 5 13-14 173
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 1 2-07
52. Mike Loggins Conroe, Texas 5 13-10 171
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 0 0-00
53. Mike Marfell Saint Louis, Mo. 5 13-08 169
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 4 11-13
54. John Gillard Westlake, La. 7 13-07 167
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 5 9-11
55. Kenneth Harris Calhoun, La. 7 13-06 165
Day 1: 3 5-11 Day 2: 4 7-11
56. Austin Abadie Saint Amant, La. 5 13-06 163
Day 1: 1 3-05 Day 2: 4 10-01
57. Lance White Northport, Ala. 5 13-05 161
Day 1: 2 6-04 Day 2: 3 7-01
58. Todd Tolbert Covington, La. 8 13-04 159
Day 1: 4 6-10 Day 2: 4 6-10
59. David Thielman Albuquerque, N.M. 7 13-03 157
Day 1: 4 8-08 Day 2: 3 4-11
60. Zack Keathley Kerens, Texas 6 12-14 155
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 3 6-12
61. Brian Brandon Elgin, Texas 5 12-14 153
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 1 2-05
62. Jason Lovin Mobile, Ala. 6 12-13 151
Day 1: 4 8-09 Day 2: 2 4-04
63. Leigh Fuselier Deridder, La. 6 12-12 149
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 5 10-12
64. Joey Romano Denham Springs, La. 4 12-11 147
Day 1: 4 12-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
65. Frank Villa Windsor, Colo. 7 12-10 145
Day 1: 4 7-00 Day 2: 3 5-10
66. James Kiser Cabot, Ark. 5 12-07 143
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 12-07
67. Richard Earle Youngsville, La. 5 12-07 141
Day 1: 1 2-10 Day 2: 4 9-13
68. Charles Thompson Livingston, La. 4 12-06 139
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 12-06
69. Curtis Metts Texarkana, Ark. 7 12-05 137
Day 1: 3 4-11 Day 2: 4 7-10
70. Charles Mong Zwolle, La. 4 12-03 135
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 1 3-00
71. Robert Rahm Bloomfield, N.M. 6 12-00 133
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 1 1-12
72. David Koret Houston, Texas 5 11-15 131
Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 3 8-12
73. Micheal Bert Hampton, Ill. 5 11-13 129
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
74. Seth Truett West Monroe, La. 6 11-12 127
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 1 1-12
75. Joe Brozak Orange, Texas 6 11-10 125
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 5 9-13
76. Austin Banks Madison, Miss. 6 11-10 123
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 4 7-05
77. Robert Mink Roff, Okla. 5 11-06 121
Day 1: 1 4-01 Day 2: 4 7-05
78. Dustin Wood Keithville, La. 5 11-05 119
Day 1: 3 6-04 Day 2: 2 5-01
79. Daniel Curtis Lafayette, La. 4 11-05 117
Day 1: 1 3-09 Day 2: 3 7-12
80. Steven Crowell Lumberton, Texas 6 11-04 115
Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 1 2-01
81. Patrick Rachel Saint Amant, La. 5 11-03 113
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
82. Billy Holt N Little Rock, Ark. 5 11-03 111
Day 1: 2 4-00 Day 2: 3 7-03
83. Claude Rabb Vidalia, La. 4 11-03 109
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 11-03
84. James Harper Kirbyville, Texas 5 10-15 107
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 10-15
85. Gary Fields New Orleans, La. 4 10-13 105
Day 1: 2 4-09 Day 2: 2 6-04
86. Jamie Delrio West Monroe, La. 4 10-11 103
Day 1: 2 4-06 Day 2: 2 6-05
87. David Reed Egan, La. 4 10-11 101
Day 1: 2 4-13 Day 2: 2 5-14
88. Matt Guerin Zachary, La. 5 10-09 99
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 0 0-00
89. Don Brown Rio Vista, Texas 4 10-09 97
Day 1: 1 2-08 Day 2: 3 8-01
90. William Burns Gautier, Miss. 4 10-09 95
Day 1: 2 6-05 Day 2: 2 4-04
91. Jacques Fleischmann Shell Knob, Mo. 6 10-03 93
Day 1: 4 6-08 Day 2: 2 3-11
92. John Merritt Iowa, La. 4 10-02 91
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 3 8-04
93. Ray Allen Natchitoches, La. 4 10-01 89
Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 2 6-04
94. Rocky Cummings Emmet, Ark. 5 9-15 87
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 4 8-06
95. Alan Sward Moss Point, Miss. 5 9-13 85
Day 1: 5 9-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
96. Scott Estay Patterson, La. 5 9-12 83
Day 1: 4 7-12 Day 2: 1 2-00
97. Lonnie Mesar Menasha, Wisc. 5 9-12 81
Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 3 6-05
98. Gary Mumphrey Gonzales, La. 4 9-11 79
Day 1: 1 2-13 Day 2: 3 6-14
99. Bob Howard Colorado Springs, Colo 4 9-07 77
Day 1: 4 9-07 Day 2: 0 0-00
100.Bill Butero Craig, Colo. 6 9-06 76
Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 4 6-03
101.Dalton Wilson Houston, Mo. 5 9-06 0
Day 1: 4 7-10 Day 2: 1 1-12
102.Mike Michelson Altus, Okla. 5 9-03 74
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 9-03
103.Leroy Conway Lawton, Okla. 5 9-03 73
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 4 7-09
104.John Cromwell Arlington, Tenn. 3 9-01 72
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 9-01
105.David Kayda Crosby, Texas 5 8-15 71
Day 1: 2 2-10 Day 2: 3 6-05
106.Harry Durham Houston, Texas 4 8-11 70
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 8-11
107.Rodney Teel Ponchatoula, La. 5 8-08 69
Day 1: 4 7-06 Day 2: 1 1-02
108.Ed Rike Lewisburg, Ohio 4 8-07 68
Day 1: 4 8-07 Day 2: 0 0-00
109.Jacob Greenwell Sachse, Texas 5 8-05 67
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 8-05
110.Gennaro Dicola Bedford, Texas 4 8-05 66
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 3 6-06
111.Matt Storr Gautier, Miss. 4 8-05 65
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 2 4-07
112.John Fain Spring, Texas 4 8-04 64
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 3 6-01
113.Monty Kirby Sherman, Texas 4 8-03 63
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 2 3-14
114.John Locke Timpson, Texas 4 8-02 62
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 3 5-12
115.Keith Bryan Decatur, Texas 2 8-02 61
Day 1: 2 8-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
115.Dennis Oneill Houston, Texas 2 8-02 60
Day 1: 2 8-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
117.Aaron Kochell Sulphur, La. 3 8-00 59
Day 1: 3 8-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
118.Markus Ledford Benton, La. 4 7-15 58
Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 2 3-14
119.Garry Hancock Lake Jackson, Texas 3 7-15 57
Day 1: 3 7-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
120.Kevin Ricks Houma, La. 4 7-14 56
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 3 5-14
121.David Cortinas North Richland Hills, 4 7-13 55
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 2 4-01
122.Raymond Balcerowicz Crosby, Texas 4 7-11 54
Day 1: 3 5-15 Day 2: 1 1-12
123.Dan Self Nacogdoches, Texas 3 7-11 53
Day 1: 3 7-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
124.Mark Richard Brookeland, Texas 4 7-09 52
Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 2 3-12
125.Jonathan Brown Las Vegas, Nev. 4 7-08 51
Day 1: 4 7-08 Day 2: 0 0-00
126.Dwight Minogue Greenwood, La. 4 7-05 50
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 3 5-11
127.Patrick Ross Mc Kenzie, Tenn. 3 7-05 49
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 2 5-02
128.Jeff Murrell Egan, La. 3 7-03 48
Day 1: 3 7-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
129.Michael Felder Denham Springs, La. 3 7-01 47
Day 1: 3 7-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
130.Dustin Robison Anacoco, La. 4 7-00 46
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 3 5-00
131.Jimmy Dudley White, Ga. 4 6-15 45
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 6-15
132.Nick Albus Trinity, Texas 4 6-13 44
Day 1: 3 5-04 Day 2: 1 1-09
133.Michael Moore The Colony, Texas 2 6-12 43
Day 1: 1 4-07 Day 2: 1 2-05
134.Mike Williams Delhi, La. 3 6-11 42
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 2 4-09
135.David Horton Center, Texas 4 6-09 41
Day 1: 4 6-09 Day 2: 0 0-00
136.Rod Lambirth Odessa, Texas 3 6-09 40
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 2 4-08
137.Gary Robicheaux Centerville, La. 4 6-08 39
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 3 4-11
138.Mark Mosher Ragley, La. 3 6-07 38
Day 1: 2 4-09 Day 2: 1 1-14
139.Will Major Port Allen, La. 3 6-07 37
Day 1: 2 4-07 Day 2: 1 2-00
140.Murphy Perot Logansport, La. 2 6-06 36
Day 1: 2 6-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
141.Marshall Priest Waskom, Texas 3 6-05 35
Day 1: 3 6-05 Day 2: 0 0-00
142.Rick Pritchard Huntsville, Texas 3 6-04 34
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 6-04
143.Bill McCarty Morgan City, La. 3 6-02 33
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 2 4-09
144.Larry Hood Linwood, Kan. 2 5-13 32
Day 1: 1 2-10 Day 2: 1 3-03
145.George Fister Lake Charles, La. 3 5-12 31
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 2 3-13
146.John Hope Palestine, Texas 3 5-10 30
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-10
147.Rudy Guillen Houston, Texas 3 5-10 29
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 1 1-05
148.Spenser Gremillion Denham Spgs, La. 3 5-10 28
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 2 3-08
149.Justin Sward Vancleave, Miss. 3 5-09 27
Day 1: 3 5-09 Day 2: 0 0-00
150.Robert Giles Lafayette, La. 2 5-08 26
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 5-08
151.George Anderson Hemphill, Texas 3 5-04 25
Day 1: 3 5-04 Day 2: 0 0-00
152.Henry Mcvay Edmond, Okla. 2 5-04 24
Day 1: 1 2-11 Day 2: 1 2-09
153.Zach Bandy Oklahoma City, Okla. 3 5-03 23
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 2 3-04
154.John Hayes Sherwood Park, Canada 2 5-03 22
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 1 3-00
155.Eric Hayes Deville, La. 3 4-15 21
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-15
156.Richard Crozier Olney, Texas 2 4-15 20
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 4-15
157.Bobby Harrell Biloxi, Miss. 2 4-10 19
Day 1: 1 3-01 Day 2: 1 1-09
158.Douglas Watkins Cave City, Ark. 5 4-09 18
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 4-09
159.Stephen Gibson Shreveport, La. 2 4-09 17
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 1 3-02
160.Dan Hester Keithville, La. 2 4-08 16
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 1 2-04
161.Kevin Booty Dequincy, La. 2 4-06 15
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 1 2-03
162.Byron Smith Jeanerette, La. 2 4-03 14
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 1 2-09
163.Tom Bever Boulder, Colo. 2 4-01 13
Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
164.Ken Fussell Hammond, La. 2 4-00 12
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 1 1-14
165.Howard Wilson Nacogdoches, Texas 2 3-15 11
Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
166.James Hall Cypress, Texas 2 3-13 10
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-13
166.Russell Lohman Pineville, La. 2 3-13 10
Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
168.Michael Hubbard Loveland, Colo. 2 3-11 8
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-11
169.William Howell Nashville, Tenn. 2 3-11 7
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 1 1-12
170.Clifford Wilcox New Caney, Texas 2 3-11 6
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 1 1-13
171.Alan Blask Durham, N.C. 2 3-10 5
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-10
172.Andrew Harman Augusta, Ga. 1 3-05 4
Day 1: 1 3-05 Day 2: 0 0-00
173.Michael Wood Spring Branch, Texas 1 3-00 3
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 3-00
174.Ralph Steinecke Hallsville, Texas 1 2-13 2
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-13
174.Derek White Denham Springs, La. 1 2-13 2
Day 1: 1 2-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
176.Cody Reed Duson, La. 1 2-08 1
Day 1: 1 2-08 Day 2: 0 0-00
177.James White Montgomery, Texas 1 2-04 1
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 0 0-00
178.Richard Madole Many, La. 1 2-03 1
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
179.Carrol Mabile Pierre Part, La. 1 2-02 1
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
180.Rick Gillespie Vidalia, La. 1 2-01 1
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
181.Gayland Heard Vidor, Texas 1 1-13 1
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
182.Buddy French Monticello, Miss. 1 1-12 1
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
183.Steve Corbin Conroe, Texas 1 1-11 1
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
183.Michael Pippen Mansfield, Texas 1 1-11 1
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
185.Keith Johnson Oklahoma City, Okla. 1 1-10 1
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 0 0-00
185.John Shirley Magnolia, Texas 1 1-10 1
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 0 0-00
185.Daniel Woods Washington, Mo. 1 1-10 1
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-10
188.Ronnie Milton Livingston, La. 1 1-07 1
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-07
189.Donald Bartlett Frisco, Texas 1 1-06 1
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-06
190.Mike Archer Denison, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Jason Bass Huntington, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Bill Bonner Natchitoches, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Tom Davis West Monroe, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Lane Fournier Cut Off, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Ty Frederick Maurice, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Teresa Gill Anamosa, Iowa 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Ed Hackett Quitman, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Frank Lawson Clinton, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Wallace Ledet Houston, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.William Loftin Youngsville, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Jeffery Rice Shreveport, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
190.Gregg Swindle Katy, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 31 443 1038-11
2 23 417 942-03
----------------------------------
54 860 1980-14
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Wired Reader Ken Bak of Depew, NY, near Buffalo, could not let us go hungry on our first birthday and provided the Wired Staff with two great cookies. (Pictured) Ken is an avid angler and fishes Lake Erie every chance he gets.
Thanks Ken for thinking of us and thanks to all of the Wired readers for making our first year a rousing success.
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Retrotec Inc. is very excited about a new partnership with long time Elite Pro angler Mark Menendez.” We have followed Mark’s career. Mark has done things differently from other anglers as far as his ideas with saving weight on his boat. This saves wear and tear on not just his boat, but on his tow vehicle as well. This saves money for him and also saves energy for the planet. Mark has already found a way to save thousands of dollars every year on his approach of weight control and how his rigs are set up. We are very happy to join him in a new adventure this year. Marks new boat is carrying the Stay-N-Charge Systems. He won’t have to worry about his batteries not making it through a day on the water” said Jim Payne.
Stay-N-Charge products are designed to take power already generated from the tow vehicle
as well as the outboard motors to recover lost power in batteries. This process will keep batteries at a higher rate of charge with less heat build up. Stay-N-Charge allows the batteries take the power needed to recover faster without the need of power form the power grid.
“It is the system that is perfect for the angler needing an edge,” Menendez stated. “I run a Skeeter 20 I-Class bass boat. This boat rates for 250hp. This makes my third boat rigged with a Yamaha 225 HPDI. I have reduced the weight my boat carries to maximize performance. I have removed my heavy on board charger from my rig. My batteries are Optima Bluetop Marine Batteries (D34M) that weigh 43lbs each. This reduces approximately 190lbs from my boat. This boosts my topend performance by nearly 2 mph. The Stay-N-Charge system is continually passing power to all of my batteries as the outboard is running. I never have to worry about having enough power to troll. The Stay-N-Charge also charges my batteries from the alternator of my tow vehicle on my way home from the water. This allows my boat to utilize manufactured electricity that is lost in most cases. I do not have to pull power from the power grind on a regular basis like most anglers. The Stay-N-Charge is helping me to be ‘greener’ to the planet”, said Menendez.
An additional benefit to the weight reduction is that my tow vehicle does not have to haul the additional 190lbs across the country. This gives me better fuel economy for my vehicle. This all translates to more fishing and less costs”, claimed Menendez.
To find out more on the Stay-N-Charge System, visit www.stayncharge.com.
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MyBassCoach.Com is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement to become Clay Dyer’s primary sponsor for the 2009 tournament season. “It was a marriage made in heaven” said Claude Locke managing director of MyBassCoach.Com. “We wanted to help Clay ascend the tournament standings as quickly as possible, and we also wanted to help him get his message out to the millions of ordinary people who can benefit from a little encouragement in overcoming their obstacles. What we received in return was the endorsement of one of the most trusted and marketable individuals in the sport of bass fishing. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
Clay Dyer stated, “My friends know that I will do everything within my power and sense of what is right to excel on the FLW Tour. I believe that taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from the best professional anglers in the world on mybasscoach.com will significantly reduce the time it takes me to rise in the tournament standings. I also truly appreciate that they are assisting me in spreading my message of hope in the face of adversity to a larger audience.” A sample of Clay’s inspirational message can be found on this recent youtube clip: Click here |
Doug Cox of Cox Marketing Group shot some great videos with Skeet Reese right after the Bassmaster Classic about his win and the two winning baits, the Lucky Craft Redemption and the Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craw. To view the videos click here.
Watch for your chance to win some of the exact color, black and blue, Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craws in an upcoming contest.
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Today on the Next Generation Tackle Box we take a look at the new Huddleston Weedless Trout Swimbait. This is a bait that can be fished from coast to coast and in all types of cover. It is truly the Next Generation of Swimbaits. To read more click here. |
Clark Reehm will once again fly the Kicker Fish and Fintech logos on his Skeeter this year. As opposed to last year, when each company got one side of the wrap, this year both companies will be represented on each side of the boat.
Between the two companies’ insignias there’s a picture of Reehm himself, hoisting two toads. That’s kind of like sewing a name tag into your underwear – there’s no doubt about who this one belongs to.
For those who don’t know much about Reehm, he has a college degree in graphic design and worked in that field before qualifying for the Elite Series. In fact, he designed marketing materials and corporate branding for many of his fellow pros and for many endemic companies. One aspect of the wrap which may not be immediately obvious to many fishing fans is the faded black and white “noise” on the lower half of the decals.
“People are always talking about which boat colors show road grime the least,” Reehm said. “By making my wrap look that way I accomplish the same effect, I hide some of the dirt that you pick up with all the highway miles we drive.
One other neat thing: there’s a Skeeter watermark throughout the whole boat.
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After getting Tim Hill's story and picture of a monster bass caught from the bank we got this nice note from John Souhrada regarding his trip with Wired2Fish.com fishing buddy and guide Tom Redington on Lake Fork.
Here is his story:
I took a guide trip on Lake Fork in July 2008 with FLW pro and Lake Fork guide Tom Redington. The purpose of the trip was to learn the Lake Fork Tackle flutter spoon technique.
I had contacted Tom Redington months in advance about the trip and that I wanted to fish the big flutter spoon and catch a couple toads on it.
It was tough to wait but the day finally comes. Tom and I head out to catch some summer time bass. The day starts slow and we catch some small fish. Tom suggests we try one more spot before lunch. He says if we are going to catch a big one now is the time. So I throw the big 5” flutter spoon out and the game is on. If you have never thrown this flutter spoon let me tell you it is workout....in particular if you do it all day.
Tom said when you hook into a big one she is coming straight to the top to try and throw the big spoon. With each bass I stuff my 7' foot rod into the water to prevent them from jumping.
We ended up catching 10 nice bass in the 4-7 pound range in short time. We did finally get some lunch around 1:30 but it was well worth the wait. Needless to say I am hooked on the big flutter spoon. Above is a photo of a 7 pounder caught on the big Lake Fork flutter spoon.
Thanks John......sounds like a great day.
Send us your big bass story and pictures and we will do our best to let the world know. Send them to feedback@wired2fish.com. |
Due to unsafe weather conditions and in the best interest of all concerned, BASS announced the cancellation of the first day of competition for the Bassmaster Central Open on Toledo Bend Reservoir, scheduled for Thursday, March 5. The remaining two days of competition, set for Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, remain as previously scheduled.
The full field of anglers will fish the final two days of the tournament with the heaviest cumulative weight taking home the $45,000 top prize.
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 FLW photo
While most of his twenty-something peers are either working entry-level jobs or still sponging off mom and dad, California's Michael Bennett is fast becoming one of the most recognized names in bass fishing. A seven-figure victory in the FLW Championship has a way of making things like that happen.
But he's not resting on his laurels. Prior to the start of the FLW Tour season Bennett made several changes to his sponsorship portfolio. He's now running a Yamaha and he cemented a deal with Tru-Tungsten.
"I've been using their products for several years," he said. "And I hope to design some soft plastics for them in the future."
He'll be running a Febreze-wrapped Ranger this year -- he was with Duracell last year, so while it's a change he remains within the Proctor & Gamble family.
He's also shooting a pilot for a reality show based on his life: "It's partially about bass fishing, but also about my life," he said. "It'll be a lot of stuff about me and my fiancee. We're getting married in August."
He admitted that even with the Championship under his belt he was concerned heading into the offseason: "Deals are few and far between, so I was worried. I save everything I can. But I feel super-blessed and excited to have these deals."
He's young, promotable, works hard, and not least of all seems to have a knack for putting fish in the livewell. This is one case where youth isn't being wasted on the young.
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Ray Scott can sell rocks to a quarry but he is also one of the most gracious and caring men in bass fishing. Check out todays Unplugged Article by Jason Bryant and you will see why we feel the way we do about "The Bass Boss". To read this story click here. |
Bass Tackle Depot .com Introduces New Pro Fishing Team
Headlined by Elite Series Pro James Niggemeyer
Bass Tackle Depot .com, a specialty Internet retailer of professional grade bass fishing products announces a newly formed professional bass fishing team. The team will compete on many of the country’s most recognized professional bass fishing tournament trails.
Headlining the team will be third year Bassmaster Elite Series pro, James Niggemeyer, of Van, Tex. Niggemeyer is a former Bassmaster Classic Qualifier, and 2006 Bassmaster Southern Tour Angler of the Year, who has two Bassmaster wins and seven top ten finishes en route to more than $300,000 in career earnings.
Niggemeyer will feature a Bass Tackle Depot .com wrap on his Bass Cat Boat that will share space with Bass West USA and APS Payroll throughout the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series season along with appearances in the Bassmaster Opens, PAA Series and other regional events.
Joining Niggemeyer on the BTD Professional Fishing Team will be former Elite Series competitor Glenn Delong II of Bellville, OH. Delong recently made the switch to the FLW Tour and proved successful in his first foray into FLW Tour competition as he grabbed a 13th place finish at Alabama’s Lake Guntersville.
The third member of the 2009 Bass Tackle Depot .com team is 2008 U.S. Open and Stren Series Lake Havasu Champion Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif. Kerr will also display the BTD colors as he competes in FLW Series National Guard Western Division and Stren Series competition in 2009.
The Bassmaster Opens will not be without Bass Tackle Depot representation as Vacaville, Calif. Pro Preston Henson’s Bass Tackle Depot emblazoned Suburban can be seen traveling the country in pursuit of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic. Henson competed in the Southern Opens in 2007, and nearly earned a berth into the Elites as he finished 7th in the points standings.
Other members of the BTD Professional Fishing Team include FLW Series National Guard Western Division angler Matt Newman of Agoura Hills, Calif., Chad Martin, of Plumas Lake, Calif. A 2008 Stren Series Championship qualifier and FLW National Guard Western Division and Stren Series angler Chris Raza, of Roseville, Calif.
To complement the BTD Professional Fishing Team, Bass Tackle Depot is a believer in the College Bass Fishing movement, and will a part of three northern California college team’s support group in 2009. The teams representing Sacramento State University, Chico State University and Sonoma State University will be competing in the FLW College Fishing program Bass Tackle Depot will be a part of their sponsorship group.
The 2009 Bass Tackle Depot Professional Fishing Team will provide comprehensive coverage at each level the sport of bass fishing has to offer. Bass Tackle Depot .com and Bass West USA Magazine will follow the exploits of each of the team members as they compete on their individual trails.
To find out more about the BTD Professional Fishing Team and to view our extensive lineup of bass fishing products, visit www.basstackledepot.com.
Bass Tackle Depot .com is a leading Internet Retailer of premium bas fishing tackle and accessories. Operated by hardcore bass anglers who know what the bass fishing enthusiast requires to pursue their quarry. Bass Tackle Depot .com is the Internet home of brick and mortar establishments, Oroville Outdoors in Oroville, Calif., Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, Calif. and soon to open Delta Outdoors, in Oakley, Calif. Bass Tackle Depot is a part of MAM Marketing Group, which is the parent company of Bass West USA Magazine, Westernbass.com, Westernbass.tv, Swimbaitnation.com and U.S. Anglers Choice tournament trails.
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BASS emcee Keith Alan had just finished his rehearsal for the final-day weigh-in of the Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, La. and was strolling back to his dressing room when a voice came from the shadows, “Hey Keith, come here. I’ve got a little proposition for you.” That voice belonged to none other than BASS Founder Ray Scott – aka: The Man.
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Wired reader Tim Hill from Lockwood, CA sent us this gi-normous fish-of-a-lifetime story. Way to go Tim!
 "OK picture this....it was my first time to the lake my friend had been fishing since he was a kid. It was March 14th, 7:10 in the morning. I tied on a Bill Dance Spitting Image Top Water and tossed it about 15 feet from an out-cropping of rocks, mind you this was my first cast of the morning. Well I let the rings fade away and started to walk the dog and the water exploded!!! It started stripping line so I cranked it down good and shoved the rod tip under the water not wanting it to get air! My friend was staring in awe! I can still hear him whining that he had fished this lake all his life and has never seen anything that big!. The next fish that morning broke my pole.....I just cant imagine what that might have looked like!"
Tim Hill
"This fish is dedicated to my fishing partner that I have lost track of..Mat Kitamura."
Tim said the fish weighed in at 20 lbs on an old rusty Zebco spring type scale so he really didn't trust it but there's no question that it falls in the Fish-of-a-Lifetime category!
The fish was released safe and sound!
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Wired Radio's Terry Brown sat down with Missouri pro Brian Snowden and talked to him about fishing the Elite Series, guiding and the life of a professional angler. To listen click here. |
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Alabama's Russ Lane has joined American Rodsmiths on their professional staff for 2009.
Lane said " I've spent the offseason trying out a lot of different brands of rods. No one even came close to matching American Rodsmiths in giving me what I was looking for. I contacted them and they agreed to sign me on immediately. I'm very picky on what cranking rods I use and since theirs were designed by Fritts well, that's a no brainer. For all of my favorite techniques, American Rodsmiths has the exact length and actions that I'm looking for. I'm excited to be starting the season with rods in my hand that I'm so comfortable with so I can get back to the Birmingham Classic in 2010."
We also announced yesterday that Denny Brauer had joined American Rodsmiths for 2009 as well.
You can read more about American Rodsmiths by clicking here.
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Mike Ebach of Michigan is the winner of the Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog Color number 14 contest that we recently had on Wired2Fish. His winning color is called Prime Rib which is a Dark melon with orange and blue flake back/smoke with black flake belly edition. Congrats Mike and your prize package is on the way!!
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FlipClip, one of the coolest products we have seen to help right bass with distented air bladders caught from deep water, has provided a Flip Clip kit for the NGTB Tackle Contest currently running on Wired2Fish.
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2 Handee Tackle Company has entered the NGTB Contest in a big way and has provided a 2 Handee Utility Tool that includes a knife,clippers,jig eye reamer and sharpening hone, two sets of pliers, a Fine-Tip Finesse Series needle nose set with crimp and bend notches, reel nut wrench and braid cutter and a heavy duty Ringmaster stainless steel pair with split ring pliers, wire cutter and wire strippers built right in. They also included a 2 Handee Magnetic Tool Clip as well.
2 Handee tools are designed and used by the pro's like the G-Man, Gerald Swindle!
To learn more about 2 Handee and their products click here.
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Tackle360 is the newest way to look at tackle!
We've been keeping a secret and today Demand Tackle let us let it out of the bag!
It's called TACKLE360, and it's the new element at DEMAND! Tackle that will soon take complete control over the products in their online store.
During the next few months, you will begin to see a change in how they illustrate products to maximize your perspective and give a full look at each one.
Demand Tackle goes to great lengths in providing the very best product imagery so you know exactly what your purchasing.
Now, with TACKLE360, they have taken "guessing" out of the equation, and made it easier for you to exactly know what the product looks like, as if you were holding it your own hands.
To check out the demo and learn more about it click here.
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Farmington, Illinois based Keelshield has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser/partner for 2009.
"We are thrilled to be working with Keelshield and having them here at Wired2Fish.com. We know their products and their team and we know they stand behind everything they make. Not only are their products top notch but they have an outstanding industry reputation as well" said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish. "They continue to build the best marine protection for your boat and products that boatowners are proud of."
Keelshield builds premium user installed keel protection, skeg protectors and Xtreme pedestal covers for boaters. Not only do they enhance the look of your boat but they protect it too!
KeelShield® Keel Protector guards against damage while beaching against rocks, sand and concrete and is made from the highest quality materials available. It is made from urethane with U/V inhibitors and comes in a multitude of colors.
Welcome to Wired2Fish Keelshield!
To learn more about Keelshield products click here. |
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Legendary Elite Series pro has signed a new deal with American Rodsmiths as his rod sponsor for 2009 and beyond.
Bob Brown of American Rodsmiths said "Denny and I have worked together before with other companies and have been friends for years. Its really neat that we have rejoined forces with American Rodsmiths."
"I am thrilled to be with American Rodsmiths. The new equipment I am using is exceptional and the feel is unbelievable. The sensitivity of these rods are unmatched. The other exciting thing about being with American Rodsmiths is we will be developing the perfect rods for the power angler. Bob Brown and the group at American Rodsmiths listened to my ideas on rods and we will be incorporating them in the new line-up for 2010" said Denny Brauer.
 Chris Brown photo
To learn more about American Rodsmiths click here.
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Elite Rookie J Todd Tucker of Georgia has teamed with Columbia County Georgia and J will be running one sweet wrap as a result. Tucker has been working with Columbia County and the miles he will drive will let others know about the outdoor activities associated with that area.
J Todd is also sponsored by Ranger Boats and Yamaha Marine.
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Numerous Eltie Series pro's cherry picking...
Figuring out the reaction of bass after a cold front this week should be the primary goal for competitors in the Bassmaster Central Open set for March 5-7 on Toledo Bend Reservoir out of Many, La., the Central Open division’s first event of the 2009 season.
At stake for the pros is a top prize of $45,000 and valuable points toward qualifying for the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season and the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 out of Birmingham, Ala. Co-anglers will compete in the Opens for the top prize of a boat/motor package valued at $32,000. After Day Two, the field will be cut to the top 30 pros and co-anglers, who will advance to Saturday’s final day of competition.
Fishing fans can catch the daily weigh-ins from all Bassmaster Opens live on ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network. A wealth of unique content, including stories, photos and real-time leaderboards, will also be available at Bassmaster.com.
Toledo Bend, which runs 70 miles along the Texas-Louisiana border, has long been a popular location for BASS events, starting with the 1970 Toledo Bend Invitational. The fishery, impounded in 1967, has more than 181 acres of surface area.
In late winter and early spring, slow fishing with spinnerbaits, preferably in bright colors, and crankbaits are the popular strategy for working flats. If water levels are high enough to reach the shoreline bushes, flipping a jig to them often produces solid results – however, Toledo Bend right now is about 3 feet below its normal pool of 172 feet.
The most recent BASS tournament at the fishery, in the 2005 Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers, was won by Phil Hennigan of Central, Texas, with a one-day weight of 17 pounds, 8 ounces in May. Kurt Dove of Del Rio, Texas, a 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series pro who’ll compete on the Central Open circuit this season, believes it will take about 20 pounds a day to win this weekend’s three-day competition.
“We had a cold front move through, and the key will be what kind of reaction we’ll see from the fish. Are they going to hit the beds again or be sluggish?” said Dove, who is fishing Toledo Bend for the first time. “The fish were up and spawning before, now they’ve been knocked back. I expect them to come up again really strong.”
Dove said he’ll throw a Chatterbait and a Rat-L-Trap type bait and will be looking at pre-spawn fish as well as some spawning, mostly in 0 to 10 feet of water. He added that some sight fishing will happen during the tournament, with less clarity in the upper portions of the lake.
“Sight fishing will be predominant in the lower portions, where there’s more grass,” Dove said. “But if we get wind, it can make things difficult.
“Another huge factor will be navigation, and patience. This is the stumpiest place – and you have to stay in boat lanes everywhere. When you get out of those, it’s just like the Red River, you’re bouncing around on all this wood.”
Dove, who has four top-15 finishes in BASS competition, said he thinks it will take about 30 pounds through two days to make the top-30 cut for Saturday.
Fans are invited to attend the Open’s Thursday-Saturday takeoffs and weigh-ins at Cypress Bend Park, 3462 Cypress Bend Drive, Many, La. Anglers will launch their boats at 6:30 a.m. CT and the weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 2:35 p.m. at the park. All activities are free and open to the public.
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The Berkley Experience Trailer is headed to the Bass Pro Shops store in Rossford, Ohio. The trailer will roll in March 6 – 8 and will offer demonstrations and interactive games for kids and adults.
The Berkley Experience Trailer gives the everyday angler the opportunity to view baits in the Berkley line and chances to see the baits in action. Kids and adults alike will enjoy fishing games and competing in knot tying contests.
“We want everyone young and old alike to enjoy the Berkley experience,” said Andrew Marks, Berkley Marketing Manager “In addition to our bait and line interactive displays we will have Abu Garcia reel demonstrations, interactive touch screens to learn how to “Catch More Fish” and a showcase for our latest and most innovative fishing products.”
Special sales and promotions will be offered wherever the Berkley trailer stops. If you are unable to make it by the trailer and test the interactive components in Rossford, Ohio, look at the upcoming events.
March 6 – 8
Bass Pro Shops – Rossford, Ohio
1000 Bass Pro Blvd.
Rossford, OH 43460
Phone: 419-891-3900
Upcoming Events
March 13 – 15 – Bass Pro Spring Classic, Cincinnati, Ohio
March 20 – 22 – Gander Mountain, Washington, Pa.
March 27 – 29 – Bass Pro Shops, Harrisburg, Pa.
April 3 – 5 – Scheels Des Moines, Iowa
April 17 – 19 – Cabelas Rogers, Minn.
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The Berkley Bass Tank will be at the Fred Hall Tackle and Boat Show in Long Beach, Calif. The tank is scheduled to stop March 4 – 8 and will feature seminars and appearances by Berkley Pro Anglers.
Berkley sends two 4,000-gallon bass tanks all over the country to help out the everyday angler. Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning about new Berkley products and tips on how to use these innovative baits.
“The Berkley Bass Tanks are out on the road, giving all anglers the opportunity to hone their skills,” said Tammy Cox, Berkley Marketing Manager “Not only will attendees learn to “Catch More Fish,” they will also learn about new products that will help them become a better angler.”
March 4 – 8
Fred Hall Tackle and Boat Show
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
300 E. Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802
If you are unable to make it by the Fred Hall Tackle and Boat Show, plan to attend one of these other upcoming events:
March 12-16 – Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneapolis, Minn.
March 14-15 – FLW Tour Family Fun Zone, Branson, Mo.
March 28-29 – BASS Elite Series Expo, Russellville, Ark.
March 26 – April 5 – South Texas State Fair, Beaumont, Texas
April 24 – April 26 – Joe’s Fish Fest, St. Paul, Minn.
April 25 – 26 – FLW Tour Family Fun Zone, Charlotte, N.C.
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Elite Series rookie Mark Burgess knows all about snow – after all, he’s from Massachusetts and sees plenty of the white stuff during the winter months – so he comes prepared with the proper tools to combat wintry weather.
“I’m probably the only guy on the Elite Series who carries a snow shovel with him,” he said.
When he left Massachusetts yesterday, the snowstorm that is crippling the northeast had not yet begun. He made it 600 miles to Staunton, Virginia, where he set up camp in a Cracker Barrel parking lot. Check out these pictures of what he woke up to this morning – 15 degree temperatures and over a half foot of snow on the ground, on his boat and on his camper. So much for leaving the weather behind. He has about 1,600 more miles until he arrives in Del Rio for the Elite Series opener. We’ll get more weather reports from Mark as the week progresses, but it’s sufficient to say that if he brings snow to Del Rio there are going to be some awfully surprised (and upset) Texans.
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Lund Boats of New York Mills, Minnesota has joined Wired2Fish.com as an advertiser/partner for 2009. Lund has been in the boat business since 1948 and builds a premium line of aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats.
Tony Kolker of Lund said "We know the importance of being involved with the leaders in electronic media and fishing coverage and our long relationship with the folks at Get Outside Media stengthens our resolve there. We are excited to be working with Wired2Fish moving forward as a partner and advertiser."
"Lund Boats has always had the reputation of building the best aluminum boats in the marketplace. They entered the fiberglass market in the last few years and that reputation has been strengthened even further because of it. We are honored to have the Lund reputation and brand with us at Wired2Fish" said Terry Brown, President Wired2Fish.
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Point one: Rick Clunn just competed on the Red River in the Bassmaster Classic. Point two: His youngest son is named River. See how River, his son, helped his Dad design a new Lucky Craft color called...you guessed it......River Red for the Red River by clicking here.
Below is a picture of the new color.
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Jerry Shinn of Grande Bass and Lake Fork Guide Lance Vick tell us things are starting to get interesting at Fork in the last few days. Numerous big bass have been caught and a 10.50 was weighed caught in less than 2 foot of water on the Dianmondback by Grande. Check out Vicks Lake Fork Report by clicking here. |
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