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Elite Series professional Byron Velvick knows a ton about swimbaits. He eats, sleeps and breathes them and is coming off an Elite Series win at Clear Lake on....you guessed it...a swimbait. Velvick probably owns more swimbaits than any other angler out there and knows the little things that make a difference. We had a chance to catch him while he was practicing at Guntersville for the upcoming Elite Series event there this week.
1. We caught you on the water pre-fishing for an Elite at Guntersville. Any swimbaits tied on?
"I always have one tied on. The main reason is I don't want to get beat by someone else throwing one...laughing. You know I love swimbaits and was one of the first "tournament anglers" to use them a lot. The trick is finding the right water column and spot within it where they live. Right now I am looking for the big girls at Guntersville on their way out. They have been back in the bays and I am looking for the right intersection as they move out. Hoping to load the boat."
2. What categories of swimbaits are there and what is the best time to use each type?
"There are almost too many to name. There is such a variety and it becomes more diverse all the time. There are swimbaits that are for the bottom, almost like a jig or jigging spoon, mid-levels, and topwaters as well. They are like crankbaits. You have a Baby One Minus and a DD22 all in the same family. The same is true of swimbaits. Its really a hunt and peck deal and as I mentioned earlier its about finding the right depth in the water column where they are living. Guys are catching them right now at Amistad in 60 feet of water. They are casting a big swimbait out deep and crashing it into the ledge. They slam it."
3. Do you always use stinger hooks? When do they play a role?
"I use the Owner Sticker Harness in particular when I am getting short strikes or on smallmouths. Its the deal and it increases the hook up ratio significantly."
4. On a typical day on the water when do you know the best time to tie one on? When should you put them down?
"I like them early in the day to about 9 am and then again after 1 pm. Seems like the bite really slows down in the midday on them. Unless they are crunching them all day I will put them down in the middle of the day. I always try to match the hatch with swimbait and because they are so versatile you can find the right spot and depth to throw them on every body of water, north to south, east to west."
5. Typically swimbaits have been a west coast deal. Is that now a thing of the past and do you see the east as a big market for swimbaits? What ones would you recommend to anglers starting out?
"Absolutely....no question. I win an Elite on Clear Lake and Skeet wins one in Virginia. That pretty much tells the story. I fished them at Smith Mountain and got 39th but have fished them here at Guntersville, Kentucky Lake and Smith Mountain last year with success. Two top 12's back to back and a check in the other one."
There are several types of baits for each depth range and type of swimmer. There are boot tails, Pogie Tails like the sassy shad style and the straight tails that are usually jointed baits. There are also soft baits and hard baits and we are always arguing which are better. I use them all and collect every one I can find. I would recommend to those starting out to have a few in each style and don't be afraid to throw them. You may not get bit a bunch but when you do it can be a big one and that makes it worth it to me."
"You never know when one size, color or style will work and I want to be prepared."
Velvick is a pioneer of swimbaits on the tournament scene and is a big fish hunter as well. Taking a big fish approach to tournament fishing has paid big dividends for him in the last few years in particular.
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Leading professional anglers like Shaw Grigsby, Skeet Reese, Brent Chapman and Gerald Swindle rely on Lazer Tro-Kar to cash checks. A surgically sharpened cutting point combined with plain old raw strength make it one bad hombre. When you saw pro's lining up to learn more you knew they were on to something. We saw that at last years ICAST show. No question...The Lazer Tro-Kar puts money in the bank!
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Photo by Gary Tramontina / Bassmaster.com
Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark., leads day one of the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Pickwick Lake with five bass weighing 20 pounds 3 ounces. He caught fish early shallow and then moved out deeper and upgraded his catch. He said he has a lot of 2 and 3 pound fish in his area but he's figure out how to get the bigger bass to bite. His area isn't receiving much pressure and he feels like he's dialed into what the bigger bass want that his competitors around him have not.
"I've been so discombobulated lately and I knew I just needed to get my brain in the right place to start catching fish," said Short, who scored his first Elite Series victory last year on the Mississippi River. "I needed to get back on track and I needed to stick to what I know best. So far, it's working. I just feel comfortable fishing like this. I'm just happy to get away from that darn swimbait."
 Following close behind is Cliff Pace with 19 pounds, 9 ounces of quality smallmouths. While Short is working a largemouth pattern, Pace culled through several smallmouths to get his weight. He's found a few small areas that he feels the smallmouths are roaming on and feeding and he's capitalizing on that.
"Smallmouth generally like to roam and cruise around within their areas," said Pace, who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason in 2009. "So I was playing to their habits in those pockets. I wasn't sure I would stick to this pattern all day when I first got on the water, but I got a couple of good ones early and that really helped."
The warrior this year, Skeet Reese landed in third with 18 pounds, 15 ounces. Reese had a terrible practice for his first trip to Pickwick Lake but finds himself in the driver's seat for a runaway AOY title.
"I had zero confidence this week," said Reese, the 2007 Angler of the Year and 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion. "That weight is certainly not where I expected to be. Coming in this week, I would have been happy with a top 20."
Greg Hackney and Edwin Evers tied for fourth with five bass each weighing 18-9. For full results and more coverage of the event, visit bassmaster.com. |
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Yamaha Marine Group today announced “Buy, Save and Go Boating,” a promotion designed as an incentive for boaters to get out on the water this season with exciting new products.
“Everyone likes to have choices,” said Dale Barnes, Yamaha Marine Group Division Manager, Marketing. “We hope one of the two choices will be too good to pass up.”
The promotion provides consumers their choice of either a credit benefit worth up to $2,000 based on MSRP in valuable goods and/or services from the dealership, or a 2-year Y.E.S. contract for each eligible new Yamaha four stroke outboard sold that complies with promotion terms, conditions and procedures.*
Eligible Yamaha outboards include the following new four stroke models: 2.5-60 HP, 75-150 HP, 200-250 HP 3.3 Liter V6 and 300-350 HP 5.3 Liter V8 models that are sold, warranty registered and delivered to the consumer from May 1, 2010 to June 15, 2010.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Group, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and OEM partners with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
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Rust Never Sleeps...
How many times will getting wet be part of the day of fishing? Too many to count if you are a die hard. For most of us one of the major issues on those days is making sure your spinnerbaits, terminal tackle and hard baits don't get wet. If they do and are not dried out appropriately they can get rusty. That is normally a bad thing.
What would you do if you purchased a bait that specifically designed with a little rust included. The HoneyBuzz Buzzbait is one of those lures. It is a drop shank buzzbait that the rivet was intentionally rusted to add a different kind of squeak. It has a duel weight system and was designed to be fished around heavy cover, places a normal buzzbait would never go. The hinged design gives the angler an entirely different hook setting angle and missed fish are kept to a minimum, also not always the case with other buzzers. It comes in 1/4, 3/8 and our favorite the 1/2 model. You actually get two models in one as it will run like a normal buzzbait sputtering across the water or if the blade is be pushed down to bang on the brass head it will be a clacker. The squeak and rattle of the HoneyBuzz is very unique.
Still in business and manufactured in Republic, Missouri the HoneyBuzz has been through several iterations. Created by Dave Trantham the HoneyBuzz Buzzbait has a large following including several pro anglers that we have found like to keep knowledge of its effectiveness secret. When researchin this bait we found several people who said "How did you find out about them" or "I thought I was the only one that knew about them." In fishing circles that is called a "secret bait" and one worth noting.
Vision Lures has a website and on it they have jigs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits and most importantly a redesigned HoneyBuzz. To take a look at them click here.
To buy the HoneyBuzz and other Vision Lures go to Tackle Warehouse click here.
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BASS AOY leader Skeet Reese is hotter than a two dollar pistol and believe it or not he is using a Wright and McGill Skeet Reese Tessara Rod that costs around $100 to do it. We believe that is pretty impressive! The neat part is anglers can get the same exact rods that Skeet uses. A great video provided by Wright and McGill has Skeet go through the entire line. A Wired2Fish reader must see for sure.
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If you are a fan of pro fishing and have been watching it at all lately you recognize that the swim bait craze is alive and well. The last two Elite Series wins were a result of knowing the swim bait and utilizing it as a tool to catch larger fish. Pre-spawn, spawning and post-spawn fish seem to look at swimbaits in the 4 inch range as an easy meal and its most effective fished slowly with the rod tip low.
Northland Tackle has a cool swimmer in its arsenal called the Slurpies Swim Shad and whether you are a swim bait god or a novice wanting to try one out it hits the mark. It comes in a 3 and 4 inch size and retails for $4.99. That is a bargain anywhere.
It is prerigged and weighted and the iridescent holigraphic body mimics a bait fish to a "T". It comes in 8 colors and kits with an assortment are available. Unlike other swimmers is scented with Sow Sauce so both visual and scent feeders alike will love it. The 3D eyes and body shape add to the package too.
The weighted head allows the bait to be cast long distances and we like the multiple depth ranges it can be fished in. It can be fished very slow, fished deep and can be burned in shallow water equally well. When fished slow the boot style paddle tail wobbles slowly and the body tilts side to side.
Multispecies anglers, including both fresh and saltwater, love this bait. It's durable and can be fished for hours without angler fatigue.
To learn more about the Slurpies Swim Shad or other Northland products click here.
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Today on Spro on Tour 2010 venerable Arkansas and Wired2Fish angler Mike McClelland previews the next stop on the BASS Elite Series at Pickwick. It is setting up to be a variety bag of techniques. To watch click here. |
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The BASS ZONE and Trifecta Fishing are proud to announce the 2nd Annual Fish and Chips Tournament presented by Downstream Casino Resort. This event challenges the worlds top professional bass anglers, both on and off the water, as they compete for over $100,000 in prize money in this unique format. Anglers will compete in 2 days of bass fishing on Oklahoma's Grand Lake, along with 2 days of Texas Hold'em competition at Downstream Casino Resort. The overall Fish and Chips champions will be decided based on combining the points earned in both the bass fishing and angler poker sections of the event. While the invitation only field has not been finalized, some of the professional anglers who competed last year that will be included in the 2010 field are: Kevin VanDam, Skeet Reese, Rick Clunn, Mike Iaconelli, Boyd Ducket, Gerald Swindle, Jeff Kriet, Kelly Jordon, Mark Zona and defending champ, Dean Rojas.
"We are thrilled to announce the second year of this incredible event," said The BASS ZONE's Mark Jeffreys. "Grand Lake is an outstanding fishery and Downstream Casino Resort is the perfect venue." We've made some adjustments to the format this year that should improve the poker portion of the tournament and there's no doubt that the quality of the fishing will improve as well." added Jeffreys. "Downstream Casino Resort is honored to be the host of this year's event," stated Downstream's Marketing Director, David Bren. "We are excited to show off our 2-year old property to these great anglers and their fans. It's a great opportunity for the public to play with some of the top anglers too, which should make for an exciting event. With over 200 hotel rooms and suites, 5 restaurant venues, an outdoor pool and cabana area, meeting & banquet facilities, an RV park and of course, over 2000 slot machines and live games (such as blackjack, poker and table craps), we're sure everyone will have everything they need, all under one roof. Any time we can combine good fishing, poker-playing, great food and entertainment, we want to be involved."
The unique team format will pair each professional angler with an amateur of their choice. The pro's partner must be someone who has not fished as a professional on either the Bassmaster Elite Series or FLW Tour within the past five years. "Last year's event was incredible and we are definitely looking forward to defending our title." said the 2009 inaugural champion Dean Rojas. "Jayson and I were fortunate enough to be able to grind out a win against some pretty strong competition. We are really excited about the change of venue and looking forward to fishing Grand Lake in the fall." added Rojas.
Anglers will compete on the poker tables Thursday, November 4th and during the Main Event on Sunday, November 7th. The fishing part of the event will take place at Grand Lake on November 5th and 6th with the weigh-ins taking place each evening at Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, Oklahoma. Thursday night will feature the angler only final table Texas Hold'em event along with a fan friendly, Meet the Pro Night in the Downstream Casino Resort Pavilion. Additionally, bass fishing fans will be welcome at the weigh-ins on Friday and Saturday evening as well as at Sunday's poker Main Event.
November 7th will be the day for the poker Main Event, featuring the pro anglers and their partners. In addition to the pro anglers participating in the Fish and Chips event, there will be an opportunity for poker players and bass fishing fans to buy-in and compete against their favorite bass fishing pro on the felt. More details about the Main Event will be available soon. "Last year's Fish and Chips tournament was absolutely awesome. Fans got to mix side-by-side with the best in the sport in a very relaxed setting, but trust me....when the bell rang on the water and at the table....these guys were 100% ALL IN." said Mark Zona of ESPN Outdoors.
While the event will feature professional bass anglers, there will be five spots up for grabs this year for amateur teams. Prior to the Fish and Chips event, The BASS ZONE and Trifecta Fishing will host a satellite bass fishing tournament where amateur bass anglers will have a chance to compete for five available positions in this year's Fish and Chips event. "The addition of the satellite event this year will allow some regional anglers the chance of a lifetime to compete against the best anglers in the world." said Trifecta Fishing's Keith Odom. More information on the satellite bass fishing tournament will be available in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned to The BASS ZONE for more details on this exiting event.
http://www.basszone.com/2010zlines/fishandchips.htm
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Photo by Alan McGuckin -- Dynamic Sponsorships
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala., hooked into a giant while fishing recently on Lake Wheeler for bass. Unfortunately it wasn't the green kind but rather the blue kind.
“I knew I had hooked trouble,” Swindle said. “I cranked my bait off that ledge, and it just stopped -- sort of like it hit a brick wall and fell into outer space. Then it was just a series of big, heavy, lazy pulls.
“I was pretty certain it wasn’t a bass. In fact, I turned to my outdoor writer guest Kirk Deeter and told him I had just hooked one of the big Tennessee River blue cats some of the other writers back in camp were hoping to get a glimpse of.”
He was casting a crankbait tied to 10-pound line on a Quantum E100PPT 5.1:1 cranking reel when the big kitty bit during the press event on Lake Wheeler a week or so ago.
“We worked ole Moby Blue pretty hard for the cameras, but we took good care of her, and at one point I swear I saw her smiling," Swindle said. "We had fun with the whole thing. "
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Trade Soundings is reporting that Garmin Electronics has made an offer to buy Raymarine. For more details on this emerging story, check out Trade Only Today by clicking here.
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FLW pro Luke Clausen is a winner. He has won both the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic and continues to be a stick that is tough in every tournament he fishes. We had a chance to talk to him about his career and the future of fishing. Below is that discussion.
1. You have won the FLW Cup and the Bassmaster Classic. What did each mean to your career?
"They both did a lot for my career, and sometimes it's about when versus what when you win one of those big tournaments. The Forrest Wood Cup win was huge from a financial standpoint. It put me on the map, and sponsors followed. It was good to know that I had the money to be able to continue, and the Cup provided that. The Bassmaster Classic win was also a boon financially, but it really helped me from a fan base perspective more. I gained a ton of notoriety from it, and it solidified my place with my sponsors further as well."
"One big thing that they both gave me was confidence in my fishing ability. I felt I could fish at this level, and the wins proved I could. They gave me a huge confidence boost that carries over today."
2. Do you set goals and if so, what are they?
Last year was a major letdown for me. Clark Wendlandt and I were 3 points apart in the Angler of the Year race going into the last tournament, and winning that was a major goal for me. We both did well but Clark did better, and he won. After seeing that it really didn't have a large impact to him after he won it from a financial or career perspective, it lost some of its luster. I now have changed focus, and want to win events more than AOY. Because we have so many events, and they are ganged up together, they don't have the staying power that they used to. I think we are a bit diluted now. It might have to get smaller to get better."
3. With all of that said, how would you change it if you could?
"Most guys don't make money fishing. With the economy where it's at, with expenses and such, it makes it tough to make enough with fishing to make a living. Most guys have to do promotions and work events to make money, and I enjoy interacting with the fans. So that is a starting place. The ball is in our court, the anglers, to get more involved with the fans. Sponsors become disillusioned if they don't see a return, so we have to do our part so they get it. Its about RESULTS. We have to get more engaged with them and be accessible. We need anglers personalities to be carried through. Jerry McKinnis did a good job with that for a few select anglers, and we need that more far reaching. People do not go to a NASCAR race to see Dale Earnhardt Jr's car, they go to see him race it. We need the same thing in fishing."
"I would like to see more people at events, and it's up to us to get out there and make it so they want to see us. We have to be approachable and be personalities for that to work."
"To be honest, I would like to see us go to different lakes at different times of the year too. I hate going to the same places at the same time of the year, every year. It would be cool to move them around a bit and allow us to fish more wide open. This isn't a knock on anyone, but as anglers, it would be more of a challenge. Different venues would be great too!
4. What about a longer season or combining leagues a bit with a year end championship?
"I think that would be great. The FLW and BASS business models are very different so I see why its hard to get this kind of thing off the ground but it looks like the PAA is gaining some ground with it and this years Toyota Texas Bass Championship they will have 15 anglers from the FLW, 15 from BASS and 15 from the PAA tournaments so its getting closer. We also need to get back to our roots a bit too. We need it to be more than weigh-ins. We need people in hunting and fishing at these events. It should be trade specific. Tackle companies, anglers, guides and some entertainment would be a good place to start. Getting a hat from a non-endemic isn't as good as shopping for the latest tackle or having a angler specific booth where fan's can interact with their favorite pro. Basically we need more interaction between the anglers and the fans."
From a fishing perspective I would like to see the "hole course" format reinstituted. That was a great way for the fans to watch and make it a spectator sport and make it more visual. People know that a new angler will be in this certain area every hour so they could sit and watch them in action. I thought that was a cool deal."
5. What are you fishing this year?
"I am fishing the FLW Tour, the BASS Opens and the PAA events. I want to keep my options open. It isn't clear right now where everything is going, so I want to be flexible. I love to fish tournaments and have no bad feelings about BASS or FLW, but I want to stay open minded. I have to live with the decisions and with the economy and all the changes; this approach makes sense to me."
Luke is sponsored by Chevy Trucks, Ranger Boats, Yamaha Marine, REC Components, Timber Creek Land Company and MegaBass and his website is www.lukeclausenfishing.com.
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 We received an email last night from our friend Sgt. Redding that we told you about earlier in the year. He's been deployed in Iraq. He was scheduled to be shipped home the first week of May but his company needed a few to stay till the end of May or early June so he volunteered so no one else would have to stay.
Thought we'd share it with all of you:
Well as I lay here in this cot in a GP medium tent at 1:41 in the am reading my daily dose of Wired2Fish, I think back on the events of this past year. The friends I have made but never met. The time away from my family the how hot is it over there question that I had to answer for ever person in my family by saying take a long extension cord go outside in the month of July and plug your hair dryer in it and point it directly at your face and turn it on. All the fish I have missed and how lucky them toads are that I am stuck in this desert and not chasing them on my favorite body of water. All this is coming to and end and I would like to say thank you to the whole gang at Wired2fish. I don't know if I ever will be able to repay you for the kindness that you and your readers have blessed me with. Deployments are hard on a soldier but that is the price we pay for freedom and most of the time we will do it with a smile. For those times when a smile is not so easy we have outlet that we go to that gets us through. A little piece of home and a place in our minds. Mine is fishing and everything about it. Wired2fish has provided this for me and at times via email when I just wanted to talk about fishing. I would like to tell you this is true troop support and I have said this before but it is worth saying again you and your readers are true Patriots in my book. Thank you for your kindness and prayers will see ya on the Water in June.
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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jeff Kriet has been on a terror since the end of 2009. He's cashed a check in every event he's fished in the last 12 months, including a second-place finish in the Bassmaster Classic this year. He currently sits in 12th in the point standings for the Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year race. Would you believe most of his success has come on 6-pound line and 1/8-ounce lures? To read more about why he's done so well with his namesake Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail Worm and Jewel Squirrel Head, click here. This is great information for anglers of any skill level.
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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jeff Kriet is another angler who is changing opinions about throwing a shaky head. In fact, he’s crediting most of his recent success to the power of his “light tackle.” What’s he done lately with it? Well he was second at Oneida in his last event of 2009 with the Big Bite Baits Squirrel Tail rigged on a Jewel Squirrel Head. Then he followed it up at the Classic with a second place finish there in his first event of 2010. He was in the top 10 on day one at Clear Lake with every fish coming on the Squirrel Tail, a place where most of the field was hocking 2-ounce swimbaits. Then he caught every fish sight fishing at Smith Mountain on it as well. He’s currently sitting in 12th place in the Angler of the Year standings with the majority of his checks and bass coming on the shaky head with spinning tackle.
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Props, you see them on every motor, but how often do you think of their design and what makes a prop correct for your boat?
Wired2Fish TV Episode 8 discusses props for big outboards. Elite Series Pro, Shaw Grigsby describes his three blade prop, what he looks for in prop performance, and how prop choice affects the overall performance of your boat/motor package.
Charlie Moore talks about 3, 4, and 5 blade props. He describes each prop, their uses, and the performance aspect of each prop. These details include the trolling speeds of each prop which is crucial information for those anglers that have trolling and live baiting rigging as a part of the fishing arsenal.
Use this episode to help in the decision making process of what prop best suits your needs as an angler.
Products used in Episode 8:
Mercury Fury Prop (3-blade)
Mercury Tempest Plus Prop (3-blade)
Mercury Trophy Plus
Mercury High Five (5-blade)
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Uncle Josh Bait Company has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser for 2010. Established in 1922 Uncle Josh has been a leader in pork products and in 2010 has announced a new Bump N Run line-up that includes a spinnerbait, buzzbait and swim jig that allows the angler to adjust and work cast angles like never before. Click here to see the new video.
"We are thrilled to have a company with the history of Uncle Josh with us at Wired2Fish" said Terry Brown, President Wired2Fish.com. "They have stellar reputation of providing quality products that catch fish and their new Bump N Run Series adds a dimension to how baits are designed and how they run. We are excited about having them with us."
Look for some great contests and Next Generation Tackle Box reviews of their products.
Welcome Uncle Josh.
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Voting is in the final stages to fill three positions on the Professional Anglers Association Board of Directors.
Voting is restricted to PAA Tour Members. All votes must be received by 4 p.m. CST this Friday, April 30.
Nominees are Mark Davis of Arkansas, Timmy Horton of Alabama, Dave Mansue of Texas, Mike McClelland of Arkansas, Chad Morgenthaler of Illinois, Ronnie Wagner of Texas, Dave Wolak of North Carolina and Mike Wurm of Arkansas.
The positions are for the term beginning with 2010-11. Outgoing board members are Sean Hoernke of Texas, Mansue and Morgenthaler.
Tour members recently received Board nominee platforms via email outlining their ideas and thoughts on the organization and industry. Tour members may request nominee platforms and can submit their votes to Lisa Bell at lisa@fishpaa.com or by calling (270) 527-2032.
The PAA is a 501c6 non-profit organization owned and operated by the members of the organization. Board members serve in a volunteer capacity.
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Photo by Alan McGuckin
She knew absolutely nothing about bass fishing when they began a three-year relationship that culminated into a marriage. But Becky, who holds a marketing degree from James Madison University, and whose last name is now Iaconelli, has figured it out.
She’s figured out a life centered on professional bass fishing. And she’s figured out one of its most talented and complex characters along the way. She loves him. He loves her. And as much as anything -- he trusts her. He knows she’s on his side. She proves it to him daily with her actions. And she’s a straight shooter.
Becky is also very smart, and she’s looking out for him. Weigh-in has just concluded and Mike Iaconelli is required to go to a meeting with B.A.S.S. officials and 46 other anglers who made the Day 2 cut. Becky reminds him, “You need to go to a meeting in a hot second Mister, so while you’re doing that, I’ll go get the boat trailer hooked-up,” she says. But before she heads to fetch their Toyota Tundra, she inquires, “Did you have your outboard trimmed way up at take-off this morning? Because you were throwing a huge rooster tail,” she says in reference to her pre-sunrise observations of Mike’s day. She was there early, at 5:30am. Watching. She’s figured it out. And he knows that.
While they talk about meetings and rooster tails, a tackle tray rests on the floor of the boat. It’s not filled with lures, but instead protein packs, vitamins and a PB & J sandwich supplied by fitness and nutrition coach Ken Hoover. “If I can get him to eat the vitamins, and at least the PB & J during a competition day – it’s a success,” she says. Hoover supplied the vitamins and protein packs. Becky made the PB & J. And at this moment, Becky is coaching nutrition too.
He trusts her. Trusts her to keep him on track. So before he bolts to the mandatory meeting he tells her, “I’ve got to fish deep tomorrow Beck. We’ve gotta get some big heavy jigs. I’ve gotta stay deep if I’m gonna upgrade my weight.” No, she can’t be there in the boat to make sure he fishes deep. But he can trust – Trust – that if he shares the concept with her, she’ll remind him of the necessity to stick with the ‘fish deep’ strategy several times between now and tomorrow morning’s rooster tail.
He fishes deep. He finishes a respectable 25th, and it’s time to drive the Tundra to the next derby. “On back-to-back tournaments I do all the driving,” she says. She’s not just driving. She’s towing. And he trusts her. Trust her to get him, his boat, and all the tools with which he makes a living, safely to the next tournament.
“I like fishing. I don’t love fishing. I see much of this effort as a business,” says the former marketing major. “If I can lend support to him so that he’s successful, then I feel like I’ve succeeded too.”
She’s figured it out. He loves her. She loves him. And he trusts her.
We couldn't resist adding this photo of Becky at Bass University this year. Mike was speaking.....do you think she heard it before?
 Wired2Fish photo
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One thing you can do to improve your hook-ups with soft plastics is to use straight shank hooks. Lots of guys use them for punching thick matted vegetation, but using them for any Texas-rigs applications is equally effective. Using a snell knot will improve the hooksets further. Today’s straight shanks are so good that it doesn’t take a monster swing to set the hook solidly. You’ll find with a straight shank hook, the pull on the hookpoint is more direct. This results in deeper penetration on the hookset and less fish coming off on the fight. Larry Nixon has long been an advocate of straight shank hooks for his worm fishing.
One draw back has always been that the plastics tend to slip off. This is easily remedied two ways. One you can add an angled piece of heat shrink wrap. Several manufacturers like Gambler and Reaction Innovations sell pre-cut heat shrink wraps but you can find this at most hardware stores. Cut it at an angle so it makes a point on one end. then slide it on so the point is facing toward the eyelet of the hook. Heat the shrink wrap with a lighter and it will conform to the shank. Then just bend the point down a little so it curls. When it hardens it will form a great plastic keeper.
 Another easy trick is to simply run the hook all the way through and use the angle of your snell knot to hold the hook eye against the plastic. Surprisingly the bait stays straight and can't slide. The line will cut the plastic on the hookset though. An alternative that works as well, is to take a hitchhiker and hook it to the eye of the hook and then spiral it around the hook shank. You can thread the plastic on the hook and then spiral it around the spring to lock it to the hook shank. It takes some practice but the plastic won't move then.
Another key to the rig comes from the fulcrum created by a proper snell. When you set the hook, it actually kicks out and makes it stick hard into the fish's mouth. It's amazing how well the hook penetrates the hardest parts of a bass's mouth. It will certainly open your eyes to the power of straight shanks and snells.
Tying a snell can be a daunting task, but it’s really not that hard. The trick is to always pass through the eye on the hook point side first. Then make a loop and pinch it at the eyelet with the tag end running down the shank of the hook towards the bend. The key to tying a good snell knot is to give yourself plenty of line to loop around the hook easily and having some finger dexterity to keep your coils tight and together so they don’t overlap as you tie the knot.
 Simply wrap the loop around 5 or 6 times while keeping your original loop pinched at the eyelet. When done hold your pinched loop tight and pull the tag end slowly until the knot tightens. Wet the knot before cinching the final pull.
As an alternative you can use the uni-knot system and make a loop and wrap the tag end around the shank and one side of the loop passing under the other side of the loop. Practice both until you figure out which one you can tie faster. There are several good online resources for learning the snell knot. We've listed some we found below.
Some good options for straight shanks were covered in this article. The new VMC Fastgrip straight shank hooks offer a smaller gap on straight plastics. The triple barb cuts easily on the hookset and pins the fish nicely with three barbs. Use wider gap hooks like the Lazer Trokar hooks for bulkier plastics and the narrower straight shanks with straight worms and other narrow plastics. Trokar’s cutting edge is awesome on bulky plastic baits.
There are a lot of great straight shank hooks on the market. Buy from a reputable company and practice tying the snell quickly to make your fishing more efficient.
 One additional trick is to slide a bobber stop between your hook and your sinker. Slide the bobber stop into the hook eye and you’ll have added protection for the pull point on your hook. Companies like Reaction Innovations offer hooks with welded eyes so there isn’t a space that the line can sneak into. But you can overcome this problem with a simple bobber stop if it concerns you.
Give straight shank hooks and snell knots a try on your soft plastics. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the hooking power. Let us know how it works for you.
GOOD KNOT RESOURCES ONLINE:
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Based at Big Cedar Lodge, the 1st Annual Kevin Van Dam Big Bass Classic comes to Table Rock Lake on June 5-6, 2010; offering amateur anglers the chance to compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes in this unprecedented open big bass event. The amateur angler with the largest overall big bass will take home a 2010 Nitro Z9 valued over $43,000.
"Kevin represents the best in the sport," says Louis Wellen with Oakley Sports Marketing. "There's no better place to establish the KVD Big Bass Classic event than on Table Rock Lake in the heart of Bass Pro country." added Wellen. "It's anybody's race at this point and any given cast could change an anglers life."
The KVD Big Bass Classic will be open to all amateur anglers. Anglers will compete for thousands in hourly cash payouts throughout the two day event. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins each day with the overall largest fish of the event earning the winner a 2010 Nitro Z9. The first 100 anglers to pre-register for this event will receive a Quantum PT Energy Rod valued at $100. Anglers may pre-register for this event online at www.oakleybigbass.com Anglers may also register by phone, fax or mail. Additionally, event registrations will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield and Branson on Thursday June 3rd from 5-9pm and on Friday June 4th from 9am-9pm. Anglers may pick up registration forms at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield and Branson.
"I'm really looking forward to this event and proud to be working with Oakley and Bass Pro Shops," says Kevin Van Dam. "This tournament format provides some exciting fishing and gives everyone in the field a shot at the Nitro Z9."
Kevin Van Dam appearance times and locations will be posted at Bass Pro Shops prior to the event. Oakley's Rolling O Lab http://www.oakley.com/community/olab will be on-site at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield on Thursday June 3rd and Friday June 4th and at the Bass Pro Shops in Branson on Saturday June 5th and Sunday June 6th. Saturday and Sunday's weigh-ins will take place at the Toyota Main Stage at Big Cedar Lodge and Bent Hook Marina. The public is welcome at the live weigh-ins from 8am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday and after the weigh-ins there will be angler and attendee hospitality activities from 3-5pm each day.
"We are thrilled to partner with the number one angler in the world to deliver this event to the anglers," says Keith Odom with the Oakley Big Bass Tour. "Our partnerships with Oakley, Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Marine have allowed us to create one of the premier tournament experiences that exist at the amateur level. This will undoubtedly become the flagship event for our tour and quite possibly one of the largest events of it's kind." added Odom.
Sponsors of the KVD Big Bass Classic include: Oakley, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lock-n-Haul, Quantum, Toyota, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, and Power-Pole.
Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company's optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com
The Oakley Big Bass Tour is a premier big bass tournament series open to all amateur anglers. We provide anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nations best bass fisheries. Established in 2007 our tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grass roots level through our tournament events. Our founders and event staff have over a decade of experience organizing and hosting bass fishing tournament events. For further information, please contact us at (877) 958-TOUR or visit us on the web at www.oakleybigbass.com
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Photo by Rob Newell / FLW Outdoors
Check out the new video on FLW Outdoors website about Glenn Browne's win at Fort Loudoun/Tellico with an approach called "Mud Dobbing" by clicking here. |
Is being "sick" good or bad? Watch this weeks "sick" Facts of Fishing FYI by clicking here.
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A new kind of fishing tournament is going on now across Iowa. It’s called the “AMI Des Moines Grandmasters Cup,” and it allows people to fish any public waters in the state of Iowa, whenever they want, for any of six species of fish. Top fish will win anglers prizes like an all expense-paid Canadian fishing trip, $500 Scheels All Sport shopping spree, or fishing tackle from Berkley.
 Anglers buy an official measuring tape for $25. It’s a one-time cost for the whole season, and official measuring tapes are available at the Scheels All Sport store in West Des Moines or at www.RecycledFish.org. Next, anglers register online at AnglingMasters.com/DesMoines. Then they fish!
Their catch of six eligible species: largemouth Bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, crappie or northern pike, are photographed on the measuring tape, then the fish can be released. Catch photos and details are uploaded to the Angling Masters website where they are juried.
Fish are awarded a score based upon the Angling Masters Fish Calculator, which uses an algorithm to rate how difficult it is to catch different species of fish by size. It allows a walleye angler to compete against a bass angler, or to compare a crappie and a catfish.
“Angling Masters International is a groundbreaking social networking fishing website,” says Dave Abbott, AMI Founder and CEO. “It is unique in the industry and provides a level playing field for multi-species online fishing derbies, in addition to its social networking platform.”
Daily, weekly, and annual winners receive recognition – and prizes. Daily “Catch of the Day” winners enter a fish-off for a $500 Scheels Shopping Spree. Weekly winners (best three fish) automatically win a Berkley Tackle Pack, AMI T-Shirt and Fishing Hat, and are entered into a fish-off for a guided fishing trip for two in Canada.
“We are excited about this kind of fishing contest,” says Teeg Stouffer, Executive Director of Recycled Fish, a national non-profit conservation organization. “It creates excitement for fishing, but it does it in a way that has less impact on our waters. Rather than having a bunch of people come to one lake at one time, this spreads out the fishing pressure, and doesn’t require fish to be transported in livewells and taken through the weigh-in process. They can be caught, measured, and released immediately, right where they are caught.”
Anglers can fish every day, once a week, or just one time between April 16 - Sept. 2. Fish-Off evens are held during the month of September.
The AMI Des Moines Grandmasters Cup is made possible in partnership with Des Moines Parks and Recreation and through the support of Angling Masters International, Scheels, Berkley and The Iowa Sportsman. A portion of proceeds benefit Recycled Fish.
Recycled Fish is the national 501(c)3 non-profit organization of anglers living a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water, because our lifestyle runs downstream.
Angling Masters International (AMI) is a social networking website designed specifically for the fishing community. It provides a level playing field for multi-species online fishing derbies.
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The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Scheels store in Bismarck, N.D., for the next stop in 2010. The 60-foot trailer of fun and activities brings fishing education to all skill levels of anglers. The scheduled stop for the Berkley Experience Trailer is April 29th and is set to end May 1st.
The trailer has new videos and interactive demonstrations on line and bait. The Berkley Experience Team will have seminars scheduled throughout the day to cover the four main components of fishing:
Line Selection
Rigging Techniques for Bait
Reel Maintenance
Rod Selection
Each stop has special retail promotions only available while the trailer is at the location. These include line, bait, rods, reels and combos.
“We look forward to educating anglers as we head to Bismarck,” said Andrew Marks, Sr. Marketing Manager. "Our Experience Trailer staff is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our products and how best to use them to catch more fish. This is a great opportunity to bring the family out to learn about new products and enjoy all that Berkley has to offer.”
Other exciting elements include a knot tying contest and demonstration, where you can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, we will have racks filled with the latest products and big screen videos that help you experience the adventure with Berkley. The Berkley Experience staff is always on hand to help answer any questions that you have about our innovative products.
UPCOMING BERKLEY EXPERIENCE STOPS
April 29th – May 1st
Scheel’s
802 Kirkwood Mall
Bismarck, ND 58504
May 5th – 8th
Scheels
320213th Ave. S.
Fargo, ND 58103
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Mercury angler Skeet Reese was dominant Sunday at the Blue Ridge Brawl on Smith Mountain Lake, winning his fifth Bassmaster event and taking the lead in the 2010 BASS Angler of the Year standings. Anglers driving Mercury Pro XS 250 hp engines have won all four of the BASS Elite events in 2010.
Also winning on the BASS tour with Mercury Pro XS engines this year have been Kevin VanDam, John Crews and Byron Velvick. VanDam also won his third Bassmaster Classic in February with a Mercury Pro XS. The fifth stop on the tour is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at Pickwick Lake near Florence, Ala.
Reese, the 2007 BASS Angler of the Year and 2009 Bass Classic Champion, boated more than 17 pounds each of the four days on Smith Mountain Lake. He closed the tournament with 19 pounds, 14 ounces Sunday for a four-day total of 78 pounds, one ounce, using big swimbait lures to bring in the lunkers.
"I worked my tail off this week and I burned through a ton of water," said Reese, 40. "I knew it can be a grind here and you're never guaranteed to catch them so I never felt comfortable, even until the end. But it was a great week and it's special to win like this."
Smith Mountain is a good lake for Reese. The clear fishery is loaded with docks and is similar to Clear Lake, Calif., where Reese is extremely comfortable and confident. In the past, Reese has recorded fourth- and ninth-place finishes here.
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The 7th show of the Wired2Fish season gets technical with Elite Series Pro, Shaw Grigsby and Two-Time Walleye Touring Champ Scott Glorvigen getting into the depths of mapping.
Shaw discusses how electronics play a major role in his prefishing and tournament fishing. He shows how he uses icons with the mapping and why this is such an important aspect of his tournament fishing.
Scott looks at the same topic, but gets into how he utilizes his mapping in conjunction with the depth aspect of his electronics to help locate walleyes on a new body of water.
Equipment Listing:
Lowrance HDS10
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Zach Caudle and Joe Landry of LSU-Shreveport did it again … they tipped the scales to win the College Bass West Super Regional for the second consecutive year.
It was the closest victory in College Bass history with only 6/100ths of a pound separating the number one and two teams. On day one, Caudle and Landry finished in 24th place after weighing in a mere 10.17 pounds. On day two, they brought in a 19.10-pound bag making their two-day total 29.27 pounds edging out Vaughn Humerickhouse and Jayme Bristow of Friends University, who held the top spot after day one. Humerickhouse and Bristow placed second with a two-day total of 29.21 pounds.
Texas A&M’s Tyler James and Matt Day claimed third place with a two day total of 28.74 pounds. Local favorites Mason Holmes and Michael Huss of the University of Texas-Tyler landed in fourth with 26.64 pounds and Tarleton State’s John Anderson and Brandon Foard rounded out the top five with 26.23 pounds.
Top 10 results are below. Photos and interviews are available. Please visit www.CollegeBass.com for more information.
Fifty-one two-person teams representing 26 colleges and universities from across the western region, fished in a two-day cumulative weight format with a five-fish daily limit to tip the scales for more than $7,000 in scholarship monies at Lake Tyler in Tyler, Texas April 24-25.
Last year, 39 teams contended for the regional title on Lake Palestine with Zach Caudle and Joe Landry from Louisiana State University-Shreveport walking away with the inaugural win by more than four pounds over University of North Texas team Austin Hollowell and Brandon Dickenson.
Boat # School Angler Angler Day One Day Two Total
1 LSU - Shreveport Zach Caudle/Joe Landry 10.17 19.10 29.27
2 Friends University Vaughn Humerickhouse/Jayme Bristow 18.04 11.17 29.21
3 Texas A&M University Tyler James/Matt Day 14.89 13.85 28.74
4 University of Texas Tyler Mason Holmes Michael Huss 15.85 10.79 26.64
5 Tarleton State John Anderson/Brandon Foard 17.11 9.12 26.23
6 Texas A&M University Kyle Bates/David Doonan 13.68 12.32 26.00
7 Stephen F. Austin Ryan Watkins/Blaze Platt 12.73 12.87 25.60
8 Texas State University Justin Holmes/Bryan Carethers 15.68 9.84 25.52
9 University of Oklahoma Chip Porche/Mark Johnson 11.55 13.41 24.96
10 Oklahoma State Bryce Bechtel/Cody Fuller 10.06 13.22 23.28
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Competition was very close on the day one of the College Bass West Super Regional on Lake Tyler in Tyler, Texas with 4/100ths of a pound separating the top two teams. Friends University anglers Vaughn Humerickhouse and Jayme Bristow claimed the top spot after day one weighing in a 18.04-pound bag of bass.
In a very close second is Stephen Pineau and Steve Cermack of the University of Texas-Arlington with 18 pounds. Fishing solo, Coleman Crook of Texas Tech claimed the third-place spot with 17.48 pounds and Tarleton State University’s John Anderson and Brandon Foard placed fourth with 17.11 pounds. Trent Gephardt and Brian Duckett of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock rounded out the top five with 16 pounds.
Pineau and Cermack caught the big bass of the day with a 7.52-pounder.
All 51 teams will fish again tomorrow to determine the College Bass West Super Regional champion. Full results are below. Photos and interviews are available upon request. Please visit www.CollegeBass.com for more details.
Humerickhouse and Bristow(College Bass) |
Southern Division boater Jay Keith from Camden, S.C., came from behind Saturday to win The Bass Federation National Championship presented by the National Guard after catching four bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces giving him a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 46 pounds, 11 ounces at Watts Bar Lake. The victory earned Keith the “Living the Dream” $100,000 prize package that includes berths in two of the sport’s most coveted events – the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, and the BFL All-American presented by Chevy.
“I did the same thing today that I have been doing every day,” said Keith. “I have been flipping an Ernest Langley 3/8-ounce crawdad color jig targeting laydowns on bluffs and little flat places on bluffs where fish are spawning or where I think they are pulling up to spawn. I fished new water every day. I did fish some old water [Friday], but I fished new water mostly each day.”
Keith said he was going to evaluate how he was going to work and fish the FLW Tour next year. “I guess I will work 90 hours a week to make it happen. It is going to be a job, a real job, but it will be great.”
In addition to the incredibly lucrative championship berths, Keith also wins $7,000 and the “Living the Dream” prize package. 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 2011 FLW Tour to compete against the world’s top bass anglers.
Anglers from seven nationwide TBF divisions competed during 2008 and 2009 seasons qualifying through a series of TBF club, TBF state and TBF divisional tournaments to compete in the no-entry-fee TBF National Championship. The top boater and top co-angler from each of the seven TBF divisions from the competition on Watts Bar Lake will advance to the 2010 BFL All-American. The national championship is the culmination of more than two years of qualifiers for most of the 30,000 anglers that are members of TBF in the United States and Canada.
Rounding out the division winners on the boater side were:
Central Division: Clint Farris, Crowley, Texas, 15 bass, 46-6, $2,000
Eastern Division: Eric Guimond, Standish, Maine, 13 bass, 36-6, $2,000
Mid-Atlantic Division: Edward Loughran, Mechanicsville, Va., 15 bass, 37-2, $2,000
Northern Division: Jason Knapp, Uniontown, Pa., 15 bass, 46-6, $2,000
Northwest Division: Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho, seven bass, 17-8, $2,000
Southwest Division: Jason Rayls, Haskell, Texas, 11 bass, 29-11, $2,000
For complete results, visit the bassfederation.com.
Overall there were 26 bass weighing 71 pounds, 11 ounces caught by seven boaters. The catch included three five-bass limits.
Matthew Hartman of Fredricksburg, Pa., representing the Mid-Atlantic Division, won the Co-angler Division Saturday with four bass weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces giving him a three-day total of 11 bass weighing 27 pounds, 7 ounces.
“I do not know how I did this. I missed so many opportunities,” said Hartman. “On day one I brought in three fish, I broke one off, lost another and caught a ton of shorts throughout.”
Hartman said he used only one bait throughout the tournament. “The Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver – got me here, qualified me and it is all I used this week. Reaction Innovations will be getting a letter.”
Hartman earns a $10,000 prize package that includes $5,000 cash and a berth into the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup for a chance to fish for as much as $60,000. 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 $60,000.
Rounding out the division winners on the co-angler side were:
Central Division: Matt King, Olathe, Kan., eight bass, 20-6
Eastern Division: Gilbert Gagner, Highgate Springs, Vt., nine bass, 16-15
Northern Division: Kevin Wells, South Shore, Ky., nine bass, 19-14
Northwest Division: Boyd Golightly, Preston, Idaho, five bass, 14-15
Southern Division: Adam Williamson, Ridgeway, S.C., 10 bass, 26-2
Southwest Division: Randy Pierson, Oakdale, Calif., nine bass, 23-12
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Photo by Rob Newell / FLWOutdoors.com
Glenn Browne of Ocala, Fla., caught a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds even Saturday to win $125,000 at the FLW Tour event presented by Folgers on Fort Loudoun/Tellico lakes with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 59-13.
The catch gave him the win by a solid 4-pound even margin over Goodwill pro Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn., who caught a total of 19 bass weighing 55-13 and earned $37,197.
“I’m on cloud nine,” said Browne, who notched his first FLW Tour win. “I mean, it hasn’t sunk in totally. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve fished for seven seasons on the Tour, and I’ve come close and had some good finishes. This is what I’ve been looking for for a long time.
“The first three days of this tournament everything just went right,” Browne added. “I mean, you make the right moves, the right stops and I never lost a keeper fish. Everything just went right and I just had that feeling that things were going to happen right.”
Browne said he was making a 30-mile run each day to his backwater pocket above the Little River on Fort Loudoun. The pocket contained laydown trees and logs and Browne said he caught the majority of his fish flipping a 4-inch Gambler flipping tube in black neon with a chartreuse tail, but admitted he caught fish on a spinnerbait and a swimbait as well. Browne said he matched the tube to a 5/16-ounce weight and 20-pound-test fluorocarbon line.
Browne said Friday he began to think that he had a legitimate shot at winning the Knoxville event.
“It was tougher for me yesterday, but I thought, ‘Man, if I can still go around and catch five fish, they’re going to have to beat me,’” Browne said.
Browne opened the tournament in third place Wednesday with five bass weighing 17-0. On Thursday he added another five bass weighing 16-15. He then caught five bass weighing 13-14 Friday to make the crucial top-5 cut in first place. On Saturday he sealed his victory.
The remaining top-5 pros finished the tournament in:
3rd: Damiki pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 20 bass, 55-0, $27,864
4th: Chris Baumgardner, Gastonia, N.C., 20 bass, 49-6, $18,531
5th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 17 bass, 46-0, $16,664
A complete list of results can be found below or at FLWOutdoors.com.
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Shuffield Wins Co-Angler Title, $20,000
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 23, 2010) – Glenn Browne of Ocala, Fla., caught a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces Friday to capture the lead at the FLW Tour event presented by Folgers on Fort Loudoun/Tellico lakes advancing to the top 5 as the crucial No. 1 seed. With a three-day catch of 15 bass weighing 47-13, he now holds a 1-pound, 6-ounce lead in the tournament going in to the final day of competition.
“It was a struggle,” Browne said, who has won more than $511,000 in FLW Outdoors events. “It actually started out like gangbusters.”
Browne said he began the day by catching a small keeper off of a small boat ramp after a 35-minute run to where he was fishing on Loudoun. He then moved down the bank where shad were spawning and threw a spinnerbait to catch a 3 1/2-pound bass. He moved around a corner and began flipping and caught another 3 1/2-pounder.
“That was first thing,” Browne said. “Then it kind of got tough. I fished around the whole bay, and on the last little stretch I finally caught my fourth one. I caught one more good one running some other stuff I had. So, it was pretty tough.”
Browne said he caught his fish on a white 3/8-ounce spinnerbait and a Gambler flipping tube paired with a 5/16-ounce weight on 20-pound fluorocarbon line. In addition to his five keepers, Browne said he caught an additional dozen short fish.
"Nothing’s going to stop me tomorrow,” Browne said.
Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., dropped his lead from day two, but advanced to the final round of five pros in the No. 2 spot with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 46-7.
Rounding out the top-5 pros and advancing to the final day’s competition are:
3rd: Goodwill pro Chad Grigsby, Maple Grove, Minn., 15 bass, 44-5
4th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 14 bass, 40-5
5th: Chris Baumgardner, Gastonia, N.C., 15 bass, 37-4
The rest of the top-10 pros include some of the greatest anglers in the world, and they are:
6th: J.T. Kenney, Palm Bay, Fla., 13 bass, 37-3, $15,731
7th: Chris Martinkovic, Liberty Township, Ohio, 13 bass, 36-13, $14,797
8th: Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla., 15 bass, 36-4, $13,864
9th: Cabela’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 14 bass, 35-12, $12,931
10th: Chevy pro Jimmy Houston, Cookson, Okla., 13 bass, 35-7, $11,997
Overall there were 437 bass weighing 859 pounds, 11 ounces caught by 128 pros Friday. The catch included 41 five-bass limits.
See below or visit FLWOutdoors.com for full results.
Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the Forrest Wood Cup which will be held Aug. 5-Aug. 8 at Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Ga., where they could win as much as $600,000 – the sport’s biggest award.
Spencer Shuffield of Bismarck, Ark., won the Co-angler Division and $20,000 Friday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 24 pounds, 2 ounces, followed by Derrick Snavely of Rogersville, Tenn., in second place with 10 bass weighing 21-15 worth $9,306.
Shuffield opened the tournament in 30th place Wednesday with four bass weighing 5-9 while fishing with pro Rusty Salewske of Alpine, Calif. On Thursday, he jumped to 8th place on the strength of a four-bass catch weighing 7-9 while fishing with pro Ken Wick of Star, Idaho. He wrapped up the win Friday with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds even while fishing with pro Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif.
“I guess it was meant to be,” said Shuffield, who notched his first FLW Tour win. “I’d been praying all week if it was meant to be to let it happen. I went out there today knowing I was going to need to catch them, and I really didn’t even have any worries. I told my partner, ‘If I catch one, great, if I don’t, that’s the way it’s meant to be.’ I just fished my hardest.”
Shuffield, 20, said he caught all of his fish during the week on a shaky-head rig consisting of a 3/16-ounce Spot Remover jig head tipped with a 3 1/2-inch Lake Fork Rattlesnake.
“I have to say thank you to Justin Kerr,” Shuffield said. “He knew I had a chance today, and we were going back in a pocket and I saw a 2 1/2-pounder on a bed and he knew that was the only fish he had to have today to make a check, and he let me fish for that fish for 10 minutes and catch it. That’s the only reason I won today.”
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers are:
3rd: Kevin Hawk, Ramona, Calif., 11 bass, 21-8, $6,973
4th: Darrell Mitchell, Taneyville, Mo., 11 bass, 20-5, $4,640
5th: Johnny Manning, Arkadelphia, Ark., 10 bass, 19-13, $3,706
6th: Ralph Myhlhousen, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 11 bass, 19-4, $2,773
7th: Keith Sykes, Clintwood, Va., 10 bass, 18-11, $2,306
8th: Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 10 bass, 18-3, $1,840
9th: Alan Hults, Gautier, Miss., nine bass, 16-15, $1,606
10th: Chris Myer, Hendersonville, Tenn., nine bass, 15-13, $1,373
Overall there were 175 bass weighing 322 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 95 co-anglers Friday. The catch included five five-bass limits.
Snavely won a $2,500 gift card as part of the new Cabela’s Angler Cash program. Beginning in 2010, Cabela’s is offering pros and co-anglers the opportunity to register and win a $2,500 gift card for being the highest qualified finisher in each division at all FLW Tour events, making the stakes even higher in an already rich award package. Anglers can visit FLWOutdoors.com for a complete list of rules and to register.
Long-time co-angler Judy Israel of Wimauma, Fla., ended her full-time competitive fishing career Friday at the Fort Loudoun/Tellico lakes event. Israel, a 14-year veteran of the FLW Tour, said she is stepping down from competitive fishing as a full-time endeavor but will continue to “cherry pick” events she wants to compete in.
“Riding out this morning, I had tears in my eyes,” Israel said. “Just to think that maybe this was my last flight … I was crying. It’s very, very emotional to me. I’ve put my heart and soul into fishing. I really have. I took it very, very seriously. I’m very competitive.
“When I go out in a tournament, I don’t fish for points,” Israel continued. “I fish to win.”
Israel’s long list of accomplishments include two FLW Tour wins, an FLW Series victory and 15 top-10 finishes spread among FLW Tour, FLW Series, American Fishing Series and Bass Fishing League events. Along the way, Israel compiled career winnings of more than $144,000.
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Red hot North Carolina angler Bryan Thrift leads the FLW Tour event after two days on Fort Loudoun/Tellico with 36-02 pounds. He followed up a 20-03 pound bag with a 15-15 pound sack today.
In second is Florida's Glenn Browne with 33-15. Third place is held down by Chad Grigsby with 33-01 pounds.
BASS Elite pro Edwin Evers is in 4th place with 29-05 and rounding out the top 5 is JT Kenney with 29-04.
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Seaguar makes all types of high quality fishing line that anglers can have confidence in. With TATSU they now have state of the art fluorocarbon and some of the finest line we have laid on hands on.(See Next Generation Tackle Box) Two Wired2Fish readers will get their hands on some TATSU as well as they are the winners of the Seaguar TATSU Contest.
The winners are:
Jack Keaton
Lawton, OK
Brandon Crosby
Oxford, MS
Congrats guys and your line is on the way.
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After months of development and testing, The Rod Glove is ready to release it’s new "Stamp Printing" process as a branding option for their customers. This is a process which allows us to stamp text and / or logos directly on to the sleeving material.
This option will be an excellent way for retailers to keep the name of their business highly visible long after the product leaves the store. Having your company name on the product that you sell is an extremely effective way of marketing.
The one challenge The Rod Glove faced when developing this idea was how to make custom branding cost effective. They have conquered this challenge and are able to offer this as an affordable option to both large and small retailers.
The response, from the limited amount of retailers that this has been exposed so far, has been tremendous.
The new branding will appeal to:
· Tackle Shops
· Major Retailers
· Boat Dealers
· Websites
· Tournament Series
The website will be updated soon with more information on this new option. Until then, please contact Rod Glove at info@therodglove.com for more information.
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Excitement and nerves built this morning amidst the heavy fog as 94 eager TBF anglers set out to run some water, find some fish and make their final preparations for the start of the 2010 Federation National Championship, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn., April 22-24. Tomorrow, these anglers will begin fishing to be crowned 2010 Federation National Champions. The TBF National Champion boater will also earn the prestigious $100,000 "Living the Dream" prize package, including cash and prizes, fully paid entry fees into the FLW tour, travel funds and use of a wrapped Ranger Boat and Chevrolet truck for the year. Also, the 2010 National Champions, on the boater and non-boater side, will also be receiving entrance into the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. The 2010 Federation National Championship on Watts Bar Lake is deemed one of the most anticipated TBF events of the year and is sure to shake the record books.
The tournament field consists of the top two anglers from 45 states, the top two anglers representing the Canadian Bass Anglers Federation and the two BoatUS Collegiate National Champions, all of whom competed at local, state and regional qualifiers to advance to the national contest. For most, the road to nationals has been a two year process, and now they compete to make it all worthwhile.
The tournament will be the compilation of three days of fishing. The accumulative weight of the first two days will decide the 14 anglers, the top boater and non-boater from each of 7 divisions, who will advance to day three competition. These 14 anglers will not only be fishing for the championship titles, but also they will have secured a spot in the 2010 BFL-All American to be held this May.
The third stop on the 2010 FLW tour is being held in Knoxville, Tenn., on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes, where our 2009 Federation National Champion, Robert Harkness, will be "Living the Dream", competing for his share in cash and prizes, proving just how much is on the line this week at the 2010 Federation National Championship.
The final day of the Federation National Championship will be held in conjunction with the final weigh-in day of the FLW tour event at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The TBF competitors will launch each day at 7am at Ladd Park, on Watts Bar Lake, in Kingston, Tenn. Weigh-in begins each day at 3pm EST. You can watch the full weigh in LIVE on www.flwoutdoors.com starting at 3pm EST.
Take-offs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
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Sign up is underway for the Oakley Big Bass Tournament on Lake Norman May 15 and 16th. The Oakley Big Bass Tournament has something for everyone including the O-Lab where you can learn more about Oakley eyewear and what makes a great pair of sunglasses. The Oakley Big Bass Tournaments are professionally run tournaments are all about big fish. To sign up for the Lake Norman event and to learn more click here.
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In a recent survey conducted by Southwick Associates nine out of the top ten fishing brands for 2009 are also advertisers on Wired2Fish.com. Coincidence? We think not, and even though we can't take all of the credit we do know that Wired2Fish readers are selective in their purchases and are making a difference to these companies.
Also from this survey, it was noted that 60 percent of those surveyed target largemouth bass with bass continuing to be the number one sought after sportfish.
Top Brands
Top Reel-Shimano
Top Net- Frabill
To buy any of these great companies products be sure to check out Tackle Warehouse by clicking here. |
Catching fish at the FLW Tour’s third qualifier of the year on the Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes isn’t a problem. The difficulty lies with locating the big ones. Many pros are sorting through a dozen short fish just to get one skinny keeper. But a handful of heavy hitters figured the big girls out on day one. Leading the tournament with 20 pounds, 14 ounces is Salt Lake City, Utah, pro Roy Hawk.
Fresh off a top-10 at the American Fishing Series event on Lake Ouachita, Hawk experienced a solid practice. He was catching a few 4- and 5-pounders each day and was confident he could amass a limit. However, he never dreamed he’d surpass the 20-pound mark.
“I caught the two smallmouths early and then I went to one of my better largemouth areas and caught that giant,” said Hawk, who has three FLW Outdoors wins to his name. “I never saw the fish; I didn’t know it was there. I just caught it flipping.”
That largemouth weighed over 7 pounds and was unofficially the heaviest bass of the day. Hawk believes his fish are either spawning or already have spawned.
“If they’re on bed, I can’t see them. They seem like postspawn fish to me.”
Hawk doesn’t believe he can duplicate his opening-day success. But he won’t necessarily need to. Instead, he’s hoping to demonstrate some consistency.
“I don’t know where to find the giants, but I’ve got a couple good smallmouth and largemouth areas.”
Hawk estimated that he caught 10 fish on the day and only seven were keepers. He’s throwing a bunch of different lures but his main weapon is a 1/2-ounce Pepper jig in sticky green color.
“Everything went so smooth today. I had a great feeling about it this morning and everything went perfect. It’s really neat when it all comes together.”
Thrift second
One month after claiming the FLW Tour qualifier on Lake Norman, Bryan Thrift is once again in contention to win. While he fished a prespawn pattern at his home lake, Thrift is admittedly sight-fishing in Knoxville. He found five smallmouths spawning during practice and today he caught all of them. They weighed an impressive 20 pounds, 3 ounces.
“I had five smallmouths on bed and I caught all of them by 9 a.m.,” said the Shelby, N.C., pro. “I culled one smallmouth later in the day with a 3-pound largemouth.”
Thrift’s big fish was an impressive 6-pound, 2-ounce smallie. He hooked it earlier in the day but it broke Thrift’s line. It took him about 15 minutes to get her to bite again. This time, she went for a ride in his Ranger livewell.
“The rest of the day I spent looking but all I found is one more smallmouth. That’s it – I pretty much burned everything I had.”
Thrift caught his fish with a Texas-rigged Damiki Hydra (green pumpkin).
“Tomorrow is going to be a hunt and peck day. I think it’s ridiculous that I can’t catch a keeper just running the bank. But I can’t.”
Browne goes green for third
In third place with 17 pounds even is Ocala, Fla., pro Glenn Browne. Browne used a swimbait and a tube around lay-downs and docks to get off to a great start.
“I had what I weighed in by 11:30 this morning,” he said. “I caught two limits and I actually shook off a few late because I didn’t want to waste anything. I thought I would catch 13 or 14 pounds; I had a good practice. I wasn’t getting a lot of bites, but the quality was there.”
Browne said most of his fish came on the tube – a Gambler 4-inch in black/neon. But the swimbait, a Gambler Big E-Z (white), tricked two of his bigger fish – one of which Browne shook off three days ago during practice. Oddly enough, it was a prespawn bass sitting in the exact spot (near a dock).
“That was weird; that fish basically didn’t move in three days. But I was happy to have her.”
Browne then reflected on how this tournament is shaping up.
“This is the way I like to fish – shallow dirty water. The shallower and dirtier the better.”
Watson fourth
Rookie James Watson has had a rough start to his professional career – failing to cash checks at either Table Rock or Norman. But he’s come back with a vengeance at the Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes. On day one, the Waynesville, Mo., pro sacked up 16 pounds, 8 ounces for fourth place.
“I had a pretty tough practice but it slowly got better,” said Watson, who fished Fort Loudoun Lake Wednesday. “Today they came scattered throughout and I caught everything that bit.”
Watson managed nine keepers and weighed all largemouths. Most of his fish are coming on a Carolina-rigged Luck E Strike USA curl-tail lizard. His kicker fell victim to a 1/2-ounce Luck E Strike jig with a Fighting Craw trailer.
“I think these are prespawn fish that are moving up. I think I can catch them tomorrow too, but I right now I’m just tickled to death to have what I have.”
Kenney fifth
JT Kenney, known more for his prowess on the grassy Florida lakes, is slowly figuring out the smallmouth game. Today he caught five brown bass that weighed 16 pounds, 6 ounces. But more importantly, he thinks he has enough for two more days.
“I caught two on a Gambler Big E-Z swimbait and three sight-fishing with a drop shot and either a Gambler Ace or a Gambler Little Otter.”
Kenney found some of these bedding bass while covering water with the swimbait.
“They wouldn’t eat it, but they’d come up and smack it and show themselves.”
Kenney is aiming for roughly 16 pounds a day. He found seven more fish on bed today, which makes him think it’s attainable.
“I think I can keep catching keeper smallmouths (size limit is 18 inches) – but I don’t know about 18 or 20 pounds.”
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros at the FLW Tour event on the Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes after day one:
6th: Ott Defoe of Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 16-1
7th: Jay Yelas of Corvallis, Ore., five bass, 15-11
8th: Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn., five bass, 15-0
9th: Mike Wurm of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 14-12
10th: Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., five bass, 14-11
Broken hand can’t hold back Honeycutt
Three weeks ago co-angler Keith Honeycutt had surgery to repair his broken right hand. One would think that would put him on the sidelines for the third FLW Tour event of the season. But Honeycutt has instead decided to adjust – using mostly spinning rods and moving the handle over to the right side of the reel.
“I’m dominantly right-handed,” he explained. “So I’ve had to learn to set the hook with my good hand and reel with my right. After today I really feel like I have a stronger hook set; it’s just a little awkward.”
Amazingly, Honeycutt caught a limit of largemouths weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces. The Temple, Texas, native said Terry Baksay, his pro partner, was extremely accommodating, especially considering Honeycutt’s limited dexterity.
“I really didn’t think 11 1/2 pounds would be leading it. I guess it was tougher than I thought.”
The 2007 American Fishing Series Championship winner caught his fish on a Tru Tungsten shaky head with a green pumpkin Berkley finesse worm.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the fish I caught were spawning. I couldn’t seem them, but we were sitting in like 2- to 4-feet of water. I’m extremely comfortable fishing with that shaky head. A lot of the success I’ve had over the years has come off of it. I bring it with me everywhere I go.”
If Honeycutt can keep up his strong pace he could have his second win of the 2010 tournament season. The first came at the American Fishing Series Texas Division event on Sam Rayburn.
Wilson second
Co-angler Brian Wilson of Somerset, Ky., caught four bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces to assume second place after the first day of competition.
Wilson fished with Alabama pro Kyle Mabrey on day one.
Rest of the best
Hector Delagarza of Sunnyvale, Texas, is in third place with a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 1 ounce. Delagarza is one of the more accomplished co-anglers and used to fish the American Fishing Series Texas Division as a professional.
Darrell Mitchell of Taneyville, Mo., is in fourth place with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces. Mitchell finished 11th at the season-opening event on Table Rock – his home lake. Following him is Doug Caldwell of Kane, Pa., with three bass for 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Kane had one of the nicer largemouths in the Co-angler Division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers at the FLW Tour event on the Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes after day one:
6th: Ryan Lapine of Portage, Mich., four bass, 9-1
7th: Tyler Bray of Malvern, Ark., five bass, 8-8
8th: Mike Devere of Berea, Ky., five bass, 8-2
8th: Derrick Snavely of Rogersville, Tenn., five bass, 8-2
10th: Kevin Hawk of Ramona, Calif., four bass, 8-0
Day two of the FLW Tour event on the Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes will begin Thursday at 7 a.m. at the Tellico Recreational Area Ramp.
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Whenever it gets tough its always good to have a little laugh and when we want a good laugh around fishing we look to our old buddy Bill Dance. It doesn't matter how many times you see them his bloopers are the best! Check out this video and don't smile whatever you do!!
Thanks KVD Line and Lure Conditioner, you made our day!
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Wired2Fish reader Bud Williams caught a fish of a lifetime on a 10" Berkley Power Worm at Falcon Lake on a long point. He caught the fish March 26th. The fish was a 12.12. What a mule! Way to go Bud!
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Show #6 is an explanation of how trolling motors and crankbaits go hand in hand in many different fishing situations. Elite Series Pro, Denny Brauer, illustrates the importance of his trolling motor and discusses how he works crankbaits to help locate active fish from the bow of the boat.
Scott Glorvigen brings in a different angle by using the back trolling motor to stealth troll cranks in calm flat conditions to locate walleyes. The two-time Walleye Champion gets into the details of the technique with line combinations to help cover different depths of the water column with small cranks when trolling walleyes.
Here is a listing of the products used in Show #6 by Denny and Scott:
Denny Brauer:
Trolling Motor: Minn Kota Fortrex 101 lb thrust
Rod: American Rodsmiths Denny Brauer 7’2”
Reel: Ardent XS 1000
Line: 12 pound Fluorocarbon
Tackle: Strike King Pro-model Crankbait Series 4S Chartreuse Sexy Shad
Scott Glorvigen:
Trolling Motor: Minn Kota Vantage 101lb thrust
Rod: St. Croix Premier Glass Crankbait Rod 7’ M
Reel: Daiwa AccuDepth 17LC
Line: 10 pound mono
18 pound Lead Core
Tackle: Rapala Shad Rap
Planer Board: Off Shore Tackle OR12
Tattle Flag Upgrade: OR12TF
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Five time B.A.S.S. Winner Edwin Evers to Meet with Fans this Sunday at Nashville Opry Mills Bass Pro Shops
Fishing fans can enter to win a free OPTIMA battery, register to win an all expenses paid fishing trip with top pro Edwin Evers, and learn more about Optima Batteries from the 9-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier this Sunday from Noon – 3:00 pm at the Nashville Bass Pro Shops store.
The first 25 customers to visit with Edwin will receive a free hat from OPTIMA Batteries. All customers can register to win an all expenses paid fishing trip with him, a winner will be randomly drawn later this year.
Evers, winner of $1.3 million dollars, depends on the patented Spiralcell technology housed in OPTIMA’s spill-proof case to provide 15 times the resistance to harmful vibrations that often kill inferior marine batteries. Plus, OPTIMA BlueTop batteries allow Edwin extended running time and more recharges than traditional batteries provide.
Edwin will provide spring fishing tips and more about the importance of using quality marine batteries during his 2:00 pm seminar at the store.
Also while at the Nashville Bass Pro Shops store, located at 323 Opry Mills Drive, fans can snap a photo in front of the Toyota Tundra and Nitro Z-9 that Edwin uses on tour.
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Optima just sent out a media release that they are now supporting weekend anglers who run their batteries in select states. To read the release and learn more about the rewards program, click here.
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We just added a Next Generation Tackle Box review of Seaguar TATSU. Premier just became platinum and its a special fluorocarbon line. To read the review click here.
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KVD finally got his wish. He got the Mustad Triple Grip Trebles that he wanted. The new KVD Elite Triple Grip Trebles eliminates hook flex and hook rotating that loses fish. The Xtra short shank, black nickel finish Ultra Point and a 1X Wire make these some mean hombres. Kevin loves to fish flurocarbon and even 20 pound braid on occasion for cranking. He upsizes his hooks to number 2 trebles on a Strike King RedEye Shad early in the spring.
Mustad and Wired2Fish.com just completed a Mustad Contest and we drew winners. The winners are:
Billy Lawson
Warrior, Al
Brandon Crosby
Oxford, MS
Matt Arledge
Brighton, CO
Rich Lindgren
Lakeville, MN
Scottie Smith
Clayton, NC
Congrats to all and your hooks are on the way!
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The FLW Tour starts tomorrow on Lakes Loudon and Tellico. Be sure to go in and update your picks or sign-up and get started playing for a chance to win some big prizes with FLW Fantasy Fishing.
The event is setting up to be a sight-fishing slugfest. Several names come to mind when you talk sight fishing. Clark Wendlandt and Cody Bird are names that are synonomous with good finishes in sight fishing events, and of course, some Tennessee guys will be a factor too like Andy Morgan and Brandon Coulter.
If you need a league to join, come join us at the Wired2Fish league.
League ID: 16894
League Name: Wired2Fish
League Password: Wired2Fish
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Dave Wolak is a great guy. He is also a very good professional angler and this year's performance is a testament to his dedication and resolve. He is currently in 4th place in the BASS Elite Series Angler of the Year race and is off to one of the best starts of his career. We had a chance to sit down with him after the Smith Mountain Tournament to get the skinny on that great start. Below is that conversation.
1. Just about every angler we talk to talks about the mental approach to the sport. Is it cliche or is it a vital part of the game?
"The mental part of fishing is extremely important. The more I fish the better I feel about that part. Its easy when you are starting out trying to make a name for yourself and gain sponsors to get "spun out". Its a percentage game with me. Bad things will happen and its how you react to them that is important. I work really hard to move past the bad things and yet stay humble too. Good things breed good things and I like a calm approach and there is no easy way. Success breeds more success and fishing loose is critical. I never know before a tournament how things will happen. I like to let them unfold and this year I am fishing loose."
"Its very easy to adjust when you are relaxed and my confidence is right now at the highest level it has ever been. Fishing with a free mind is so important...and its also fun."
2. Lets talk equipment. You guys get to use the best equipment and have things first. How important is equipment to you?
"I spend a ton of time with my equipment. To be honest, when I am home I don't get to fish much but I do work on things to make sure they are right. We just got our new Pinnacle rods, they will be coming out at ICAST, and they are AWESOME. We, the Pinnacle Pro Staff, got to have a ton of influence in the design and actions of these rods. I took a trip to a local lake when I got them just to feel comfortable with them. Each one of them are tools and each have a particular application they were designed for. I wanted to make sure I had them set up perfectly."
"Another cool deal I have been working with is a new Yamaha generator that I run when I fish to add life to batteries. Dean Rojas and I had the chance to talk to the developers at Yamaha and have a neat little generator that allows us to run on high all day without losing battery life. It makes a little bit of noise as it is gas powered but we can stay on high all day in bedding tournaments and its a big advantage. This was Dean's deal but it works perfectly. It allows us to never worry about batteries."
3.You are off to a great start. Is it about fishing loose as you mentioned earlier?
Oh yea, that has been very important plus I am not green on these bodies of water any longer. For instance we are now going to Pickwick and I love the Tennessee River fisheries. I know where to look and what to look for. I am also technically more sound now than ever before. No stupid little things that haunted me last year. Things were going good last year at times and some stupid little thing would happen that would cause a problem. This year I am doing everything possible t o eliminate the "stupid things."
"It's a ton easier to pack for these events now because I am comfortable and know what to expect. I take the right baits and have the right tools to be able to do it better. Winning the AOY is my goal and you only get a few chances at it. I am not satisfied with just being in the top 12 at the end of the year. I want to win this thing. I hope it's my time and I am going to go for it. Confidence is critical and so what is suppose to happen has."
4. Changing gears a bit the fan's of bass fishing are super. How important are they to you as a professional angler?
"They are super important. I get on Facebook and its neat to have dialog with them. Some I have met and others I do not know but the interaction is awesome. Its a self pride thing with me to do well and its important to fans too. I run half marathons and know I will never win but its about pride to do better. You get fans because you perform well and because you treat them right. I do my best to interact with the fans at every event. We are just regular guys and when the fans get to know you its neat. I make it a point to be fan friendly as they make this sport go and we need them. They took the time to go to a weigh in and we need to take the time to interact with them."
"I used to have a job just like many of them do and I was fortunate enough to be able to walk away from it and make it at something I have a passion for. Some people never get that chance and I take that responsibility very seriously. I am living my passion and the fans make it fun.
5. If you could change anything in our sport right now what would it be?
Wow, I need to think about that one. In general I think we need to have pro anglers be pro anglers. We need to have a qualification process, with something like a "Tour Card", that says you are a pro. Sponsorships are tough and its hard to tell the difference between a weekend angler and a pro at times for sponsors. They don't know the difference and yes we need all levels but there should be a way to define top, middle and bottom better. I don't want to make anyone mad here but a wrapped truck and boat does not make a pro and its our responsibility to help define that better. It would be good for everyone if we did."
I also think we need a longer season. More companies, sponsors, want to be here and they need more to get them to buy in. A longer season would help. We have to work hard at being a professional and the anglers should stand up for themselves and get the visibility in a professional manner that makes sponsors want to be a part of it. I know they are out there and its incumbant on all of us to help get them here."
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Dave Mercer is at it again. Skeet Reese domination, losing and abusing bass....what else can he come up with?
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Check out the Wired2Fish Store. We have several new items including new decals, new floor graphics, and some great new hoodies loaded on the store and ready to go! To go to the store click here.
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When you are looking for realistic colors and shapes in swimbaits the new Storm WildEye Live Sunfish has it dialed in. It comes in both a 2 and 3 inch model and we can hear the drum pounding from bass waiting to chomp one of these beauties.
WildEye Live Sunfish Features:
- Natural color patterns perfect for spawn and post spawn
- Secure I-Bolt system holographic WildEye adds a lifelike look
- Rigged with a superior VMC needle point hook & treble belly hook (no belly hook on the Live Leach)
- Life-like swimming action created by boot tail
- Holographic swimmin' flash foil
- Strong soft body with internal lead head so it can be cast a country mile
- They retail for less than 5 bucks
You can order them now by clicking here. The first batch will be arriving April 26, 2010 so order now!
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The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Cabela’s store in Rogers, Minn., for the next stop in 2010. The 60-foot trailer of fun and activities brings fishing education to all skill levels of anglers. The scheduled stop for the Berkley Experience Trailer is April 23rd and is set to end April 25th.
The trailer has new videos and interactive demonstrations on line and bait. The Berkley Experience Team will have seminars scheduled throughout the day to cover the four main components of fishing:
Line Selection
Rigging Techniques for Bait
Reel Maintenance
Rod Selection
Each stop has special retail promotions only available while the trailer is at the location. These include line, bait, rods, reels and combos.
“We look forward to educating anglers as we head to Rogers,” said Andrew Marks, Sr. Marketing Manager. "Our Experience Trailer staff is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our products and how best to use them to catch more fish. Plus, it is a great experience for the entire family to attend.”
Other exciting elements include a knot tying contest and demonstration, where you can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, we will have racks filled with the latest products and big screen videos that help you experience the adventure with Berkley. The Berkley Experience staff is always on hand to help answer any questions that you have about our innovative products.
UPCOMING BERKLEY EXPERIENCE STOPS
April 23rd – 25th
Cabela’s
20200 Rogers Drive
Rogers, MN 55374
April 29th – May 1st
Scheel’s
802 Kirkwood Mall
Bismarck, ND 58504
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So far this season O.H. Ivie Reservoir has produced nine largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more that have been entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program. All were special fish to the anglers who caught them, but the ninth was a little more special than the others: Sam Callaway of Corpus Christi will collect $500 a pound for his catch, a total of $6,670.
Callaway caught Toyota ShareLunker No. 500 at 9:20 a.m. April 9 using a Zoom Magnum eight-inch lizard in watermelon/red. The 13.34-pound fish was immediately taken to an official ShareLunker weigh and holding station, Concho Park Marina, where it was held for pickup by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) ShareLunker program manager David Campbell. The fish, which is 20.5 inches in girth and 26.25 inches long, now rests in the Lunker Bunker at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.
Callaway caught his big bass on the first day of the Permian Basin Oilman’s Bass Invitational, an annual event that raises money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The sixteen tournaments held to date have raised more than $1.5 million for the cause.
All participants in the tournament are subject to a polygraph test. Participation is limited to 250 two-person teams and is by invitation only. Callaway placed eighth in the tournament.
“Since the tournament is held to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the payouts are not huge,” Callaway said. “Mine will amount to a couple of thousand dollars. Catching the fish was a huge piece of luck-a blessing. It’s one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me as a fisherman, and I’ve been fishing for 29 years.”
Callaway’s $500 per pound reward continues the practice of rewarding centennial catches of entries into the ShareLunker program that began with Jason Baird’s catch of ShareLunker 400 from Lake Amistad on February 28, 2006. That fish paid the Gypsum, Kansas, angler $400 a pound. Callaway will also receive a rod and reel package valued at $650 from G. Loomis and Shimano.
With almost three weeks to go in the current ShareLunker season, speculation now turns to how many fish will be entered into the program this season. Callaway’s fish brought the total to 29, which is well above the program’s 23-year average of 20.
Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600 and leaving a phone number including area code. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.
ShareLunker entries are used in a selective breeding program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens. Some of the offspring from these fish are stocked back into the water body from which they were caught. Other ShareLunker offspring are stocked in public waters around the state in an attempt to increase the overall size and growth rate of largemouth bass in Texas.
Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program receive a free replica of their fish, a certificate and ShareLunker clothing and are recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. In addition, if a Texas angler catches the largest entry of the year, that person receives a lifetime fishing license.
For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, click here. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available.
Information on current catches, including short videos of interviews with anglers, is posted on www.facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram .
The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.
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Without question, one of the most cerebral anglers on tour is Gary Klein. He always is on top of his game and rarely does he have an issue on the water. His boat, his tackle and his rods and reels are an extension of that expertise. Gary has been on top of his game for a long time and has won an event in every decade he has fished. He has also qualified for the Bassmaster Classic an amazing 28 times. He lives fishing and is still a student of the game.
We had a chance to catch him today at Kentucky Lake preparing for an upcoming BASS Elite Series tournament. Here is how that discussion went.
1. You have a week off before your next event at Pickwick. What are you up to?
"I am at Kentucky Lake preparing for our June Tournament. Fish are on the beds now but I am spending my time looking at off-shore stuff hunting for "Sweet Spots" that could pay bigtime when we come back. I am looking channel bends with small points, fingers on those bends and basically I am just riding around and getting as much info as possible. We only get 3 days of practice so I utilize these weeks to better myself for the future."
2. Your next event is at Pickwick. When do you head there? How will it set up?
"I have a writers event starting Thursday at Lake Wheeler then I head over to Pickwick on Sunday. We can fish both Pickwick and Wilson and there are some options there. Could be some sight fish but it could be a post-spawn event. We will have some options. We will be able to fish and not just look at them to catch them. Multiple techniques will be there. It will be a good tournament. I am going there with an open mind. I think there will be some topwater fishing. If I only had one topwater it would be a 1/2 Lunker Lure buzzbait. I like the Lucky Craft Gunfish and will change to a buzzbait or a popper when the conditions allow for it.
3. Guntersville is next after that. Do you look forward to that event?
"Guntersville is exceptional but it hasn't always been that way and yes I look forward to it. They stopped spraying the grass and as you know it all about habitat. You have to have a place for the young bass to hide; good cover, and a food source and its all come together there. Think about it, if you took all the buildings out of New York City do you think the dynamic would change? The same is true for bass fishing. If you have good cover, you will have a good fishery."
4. You were one of the first early adopters of the Power Pole. How important are they?
"They are an essential tool. Not only for bed fishing as most would think but they are critcal for shallow water fishing....period. They will hold in 8 foot of water so they are vital to what I do. I actually added another one, I have two, right after the Smith Mountain event. I want to be able to work cover more effectively and the Power Poles afford me that chance. I look at it this way. A boat is a floating platform that I want to be the most efficient possible. Organization is a big key. My livewells are very important. I use the best pumps and an Oxygenator too. My livewells are like a jacuzzi."
5. What are the most important goals you set for yourself?
"I am a competitor and I fish against the best of the best. Its about decisions and committment. That is what I love about this sport. I want to be the best I can be fish by fish, day by day, tournament by tournament and want to maximize every day on the water. Of course I want to win and be on the top but if I can go into the last day close I know I am doing it right. I have been at this a long time and have learned that being on top takes a fish by fish approach. I am really not worried about winning the Classic or AOY but I want to be the best I can be everyday and if I do that I will be where I want to be at the end of the year."
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 The bass have moved to the beds on many lakes across the country, and sight-fishing is a fun way to interract with the fish and actually learn a lot on how they react to lures. Anglers can educate themselves on how a bass will strike out of aggression as readily as they will out of hunger.
This weekend, the bass on Kentucky Lake were on beds in very skinny water, and fishing for them was very difficult because they could see the boat from so far away which made them very anxious and leary of locking on their bed. What we did figure out though was that nearly every bed was next to a piece of cover or some form of shelter like an old dead grassline.
Drawing from something professional angler Craig Powers proved, a blind cast to a long-distance target and imagining there was a bed there yielded some quality fish. It's critical to feather a cast in there with a light bait and if possible cast beyond the target so as not to spook a potential fish. Senkos, Yum Dingers, Zoom Trick Worms and other light casting baits make great options. A floating worm can be deadly in this situation as well. The key is to pretend on every cast that there is a bedding bass there that will spook if you crash a bait on her.
Some of the bass found on beds were later caught with a blind cast to that spot. A bedding bass is generally not as defensive if the boat hasn't come into the territory yet. It's the presence of fishermen that generally make the bass so hard to catch when sight fishing.
It's no different than catching shallow bass in stained water. If they aren't spooked by the boat, they are more likely to bite. Try out this trick this spring, and let us know how you do!
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Today on Falcon on Tour, Elite Series pro Mike McClelland talks about the recently concluded Smith Mountain Lake Elite Series Tournament. He talks about his Cara Signature Series rods. To watch click here.
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We’re now three weeks into the Wired2fish season, and Episode 5 takes a hardcore look at outboard motors. Elite Series Pro Shaw Grigsby gets into the nitty-gritty details of why he runs a big 2-stroke. He points out the fact that bass fisherman utilize the big outboard to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, be it hole-shot or top-end speed, to optimize fishing time.
Charlie Moore brings in a totally different outlook on how outboards can be approached in the multi-species world. He shows and explains how a big 4-stroke and small 9.9-horsepower “kicker” motors are used to actually create the presentation in many different fishing situations.
This show demonstrated the differences on how 2-strokes and 4-strokes can be utilized by different anglers and put the motors into perspective when deciding which style of outboard will suit your fishing needs. Click here to watch.
The equipment used in Episode 5 were as follows (click each for more details):
Mercury 250 hp Optimax Pro XS
Mercury 250 hp Verado
Mercury 9.9 hp Pro Kicker
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FLW angler Rich Lowitzki has joined the pro staff of Poor Boys Baits and will be running their wrap in 2010. Look for Rich at upcoming FLW Tour events. To learn more about Poor Boys Baits click here.
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 BASS photo
Red hot Elite Series angler Skeet Reese of California added to his resume today with his first win of 2010. He won by almost 15 pounds with a total weight of 78-1 for the tournament. Reese weighed another nice 5 fish limit today of 19-14 anchored by a 6-9 largemouth. Reese is leading the Angler of the Year with a second, fifth and now a victory in three events.
In second was first and second day leader Jason Williamson with a total weight of 63-8. He was followed by Dean Rojas with 61-8.
Terry Scroggins, 61-5 and Matt Reed with 61-2 wrapped up the top 5.
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Elite Series pro Jason Quinn weighs in from this years Bassmaster Classic and talks about his sponsorship line up including Rapala, Evan Williams, and Triton Boats on Weighing In with Terry Brown. |
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ESPN3.com, a new offering from ESPN, gives Internet users a new video option for die-hard anglers to watch the weigh-ins when they choose to. To check it out, Beta style, click here. |
Keeton Blaylock wins co-angler title
MOUNT IDA, Ark. (April 17, 2010) – Pro Matthew Jones of Spokane, Mo., caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces Saturday to win the FLW American Fishing Series Central Division tournament on Lake Ouachita with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 53 pounds, 5 ounces. For his victory, Jones earned $20,726 and a 198VX Ranger boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha outboard motor.
“I caught every fish on a bed sight-fishing,” said Jones who was fishing Ouachita for the first time. “I found spawning areas; put my trolling motor on high and covered as much water as I could. Today I had a limit by 1 p.m., but it was a small limit and I knew I needed a kicker to win.
“There was a big fish that was eluding me all week, I just couldn’t get her in the boat; so after I caught my limit today I went hunting. I rigged a drop-shot with a 1½ ounce weight and a green and brown robo worm, set it in the bed and backed my boat out and she bit! That’s what won the tournament for me and I caught her within 10 minutes of starting the hunt.
“Aside from that last kicker I got the rest of my fish using a Zoom Critter Craw with a 5/16 ounce tungsten weight.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Ark., 15 bass, 49-6, $7,047
3rd: Cary Bever, Rhinelander, Wis., 15 bass, 47-13, $4,974
4th: Shane Long, Sarcoxie, Mo., 15 bass, 47-11, $4.175
5th: Keith Green, Arkadelphia, Ark., 15 bass, 45-5, $3,731
6th: Cody Bird, Grandbury, Texas, 15 bass, 45-2, $3,316
7th: Roy Hawk, Salt Lake City, Utah, 15 bass, 44-2, $2,902
8th: Brandon Rhoden, Grapevine, Ark., 15 bass, 43-15, $2,487
9th: Dennis Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 42-11, $2,073
10th: Roger Harp, Huntsville, Ark., 15 bass, 40-7, $1,658
Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Friday – an 8-pound, 1-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $226.
Keeton Blaylock of Benton, Ark., won the Co-angler Division and $8,384 with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 32 pounds, 5 ounces.
Blaylock was using a wacky rig and Carolina rig with a 6” lizard to bag the majority of his fish. He said that all of his partners were mostly fishing beds which was a new experience for him. According to Blaylock he really had to keep his head down and keep working; it took him all day to bag his limits.
Blaylock caught five bass weighing 11-13 Thursday while fishing with pro Lloyd Pickett, Jr., of Bartlett, Tenn., to open the tournament in sixth place. On Friday he added five more bass weighing 11-15 to make the top-10 cut in first place while fishing with pro Dennis Bean. Finally, on Saturday, he sealed the win with five bass weighing 8-9 while fishing with Matthew Jones.
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Thomas (Nick) Loeffelman, Jr., Valles Mines, Mo., 15 bass, 29-6, $3,353
3rd: Chris Darby, Mount Ida, Ark., 14 bass, 29-2, $1,677
4th: Arnold Payne, Jr., Noblesville, Ind., 12 bass, 26-12, $1,467
5th: Jason Scoggins, Benton, Ark., 14 bass, 26-11, $1,258
6th: David Davis, Paron, Ark., 15 bass, 26-03, $1,048
7th: Ben Due, Mauston, Wis., 12 bass, 25-12, $838
8th: Fred Martin, North Little Rock, Ark., 13 bass, 24-6, $755
9th” Robert Prebeck, Norwood, Mo., 12 bass, 23-2, $671
10th: Shawn Martin, Owasso, Okla., 10 bass, 19-9, $587
Arnold Payne, Jr., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday – a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $150.
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MOUNT IDA, Ark. (April 17, 2010) – The University of Wisconsin-Stout team of Jeremy Anibas, and Ryan Helke, won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Central Division on Lake Ouachita Saturday with six bass weighing 14 pound, 1 ounce. The victory earned the team $10,000 to be split evenly between the university and the university’s bass-fishing club. The win also helped them advance to the Central Division Regional Championship where they could ultimately win a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $25,000 for the school they represent.
“We went junk fishing today,” said Helke, a sophomore studying Tech Ed. “We were catching them on spinnerbaits, trick worms, salamanders; just about anything we threw they ate. We had our limit by 10 a.m. this morning. I think we caught upwards of 50 fish, it was just an incredible day.”
Early morning cloud cover is also believed to have contributed to their success; after the sun came out at noon the fish stopped biting.
“We caught our biggest fish 20 minutes into the tournament,” said Anibas, a sophomore in Applied Science. “This was our first time on Lake Ouachita; we .just applied everything we knew from fishing back home and hoped it would work. The fact that the fish were spawning made a big difference too, the fish were hungry and aggressive so we just kept throwing them everything we had.”
Rounding out the top five teams were Truman State – Mike McCarthy, Jr., and Spencer Clark (five bass, 13-4, $5,000); University of Arkansas at Little Rock – Brian Duckett and Trent Gephardt (six bass, 11-13, $4,000); Western Kentucky –David Stephens and Andy Southard (six bass, 11-4, $3,000); Eastern Kentucky – John Smith and Christopher Davis (six bass, 11-1, $2,000).
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Photo by James Overstreet / Bassmaster.com
Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., took a healthy lead in the Evan Williams Bourbon Blue Ridge Brawl, the third Bassmaster Elite Series event of the season on Smith Mountain Lake. He passed on the sight fishing that most of the field is enjoying and busted a 21 pound, 13 ounce limit on a swimbait. It was overcast and windy today and Reese capitalized on the "perfect storm" for the swimbait.
Reese now leads by more than 6 pounds going into the final day with a three-day total of 58-3. Jason Williamson who lead the first two days, sits in second with 51-14. He's sight fishing and the wind and overcast skies hurt his bite today but he remains confident if the conditions line up tomorrow, he can bust a big bag.
For more coverage of the event, click here.
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Jason Williamson held on to his lead at the BASS Elite Series at Smith Mountain Lake but Skeet Reese is nipping at his heals. Williamson has a total weight of 36-11 for two days. Reese is in second with 36-6. Williamson weighed in 14-2 today and Reese had another great day with 18-13.
Also in the top 5 are Terry Scroggins with 35-2, Marty Robinson with 35-1, and Bobby Lane with 35-0.
Big fish of the day was caught by Matt Reed and it weighed 5-4.
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Falcon Rods 13th Annual Grand Challenge will be held May 1 at Grand Lake. Look for the new HD Series and new signature series rods coming soon. To sign up click here. |
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Check out ESPN2 this weekend for the latest Wired2Fish TV episodes. Saturday April 17 will be a show on Outboard Usage with Shaw Grigsby and Charlie Moore and Sunday April 18 Denny Brauer and Scott Glorvigen will be using crankbaits to locate fish. Air times both days are 6:30 am ET on ESPN2.
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Outdoor Identities has officially licensed Gemini Sport Marketing to incorporate its unique Fishouflage patterns into tournament jerseys, apparel and accessories.
Anglers from the professional to weekend recreational ranks will now be able to get Fishouflage into their own tournament gear through Gemini. Custom made-to-order designs also are available through Gemini, which has worked with numerous anglers worldwide and has hundreds of patterns in its online photo galleries.
“We’re excited to build a long-term relationship with an industry leader in the tournament field,” said Paul Bernegger, President of Outdoor Identities. “Gemini is recognized and respected for its innovations, and we believe this will be a great partnership that will enable our popular Fishouflage patterns to be more easily available to anglers.”
Anglers also may see Fishouflage patterns showcased on Wired2Fish.com, which has daily updates, videos and news about fishing and the fishing industry.
"This is a natural fit that we partner with Fishouflage and its innovative and unique patterns,” said Brad Raymond, Executive Vice President of Gemini Sport Marketing. “We work very hard at helping anglers with their images, and this is just another way to do that."
About Gemini: Gemini Sport Marketing of Minnesota, takes pride in being the source for custom made shirts and apparel. Clients can be found worldwide and some of the industries served including Fishing, Bowling, Baseball, Softball, NASCAR, Shooting, Golfing, Bull Fighting, Paintball, Curling, Motocross and Hunting. Web: http://www.g2gemini.com
About Fishouflage: Outdoor Identities of Greenville, Wis., offers Fishouflage, the first 3D camouflage pattern pulled from your local lake that combines the high tech elements of today’s most popular camo patterns while using habitat from your favorite environment, an aquatic one. Four popular patterns highlight some of America’s favorite fish: Bassouflage, Walleyeflage, Muskyflage, and Crappieflage. Web: www.fishouflage.com
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FLW Outdoors TV will air this Sunday, April 18, on Versus at 12:30 pm ET. This show will cover the FLW Tour Table Rock tournament where Wired2Fish angler Brent Ehrler won with 20 bass weighing 69-11 caught during the pre-spawn. For more information on airings, check your local listings.
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Leading the pro field is Matthew Jones of Spokane, Mo., who caught a limit weighing 20 pounds, 4 ounces. Hauling in the day’s only 20-pound bag, Jones fished a Texas-rigged green-pumpkin Zoom Critter Craw with a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. Jones said that close attention to fish positioning during provided the insight he needed for effective tournament presentations.
“The key was to mark the beds and try to remember where they’re at so I could stay off of them (during the tournament),” he said. “If you can stay off of them, they’ll usually bite on the first pitch.
“In practice, I covered a ton of water with my trolling motor. I didn’t find a ton of big fish, but the biggest fish I found, I caught today, luckily.”
Although he was pleased with his opening performance, Jones expressed concern over the likelihood of more anglers locating key fish on day two. Cloud cover will increase from midday on, but partly sunny skies will allow plenty of morning reconnaissance.
“My weight and probably a lot of other weights will probably drop tomorrow, but today I was fortunate enough that nobody found the fish I had found and I caught them,” Jones said.
Bever gets “lucky” for second
A Lucky Craft Pointer 100 in ghost pearl ayu color was the bait of choice for second place pro Cary Bever of Rhinelander, who caught a limit of 19 pounds, 11 ounces. His total, he said, could have been significantly higher had fate not robbed him of his golden opportunity.
“I was flirting with 25 pounds today,” he said. “I had another 6-plus on and I had her to the boat twice, but it was so big, it ran under the boat and jumped off on the other side.”
Bever said he covered a lot of water today. “If you looked at my GPS, you could follow the trail – I was everywhere today. I caught fish all day. I had my limit by 8 a.m.”
Bever said that his choice of positioning is intrinsic to the game plan he hopes to continue on Day Two. “I’m doing something different – I don’t have a lot of company where I’m fishing. I’m getting the fish coming and going.”
Blaylock trails close in third
Benton, Ark. pro Stetson Blalock trails Bever by an ounce at 19-10. Noting that the bite seemed tougher today than it had been in practice, Blalock caught his fish by flipping a Berkley Power Craw onto beds. The key for him was to focus on the areas that were most likely to hold quality fish.
To read more and see photos of the day one action click here
“I think it was just knowing where the big ones live,” Blalock said. “Instead of going into the backs of creeks, I’ll fish the mouths of bigger creeks. I think that’s where some of the bigger ones stay instead of going all the way in the back.
“This is a really good lake and the big ones aren’t everywhere, but there are so many of them here. On some of my areas, some of the big fish moved in today, so hopefully, they’ll keep moving in.
Roy Hawk of Salt Lake City, Utah, took fourth place with a limit of 18-2. He started his day fishing a Lucky Craft RC 2.5 DD and then moved shallow to flip a green-pumpkin Yamamoto craw.
“I caught some fish bed fishing, I caught some fish around the beds and then I caught some fish out on points,” Hawk said. “I just tried to mix it up today and play the conditions as they came.”
In fifth place with 17-13, Gabe Herington of Malvern, Ark. found success by fishing a Carolina rig over points and offshore structure. He ducked in shallow at day’s end and caught a 3 ½-pound bass off the bed.
“I’m fishing a little deeper (than most),” Herrington said. “A lot of people are fishing the 8-foot-to-the-bank range and I’m fishing 8-20.”
Best of the rest
Rounding out the top-10 pro leaders at the FLW American Series Central Division event on Lake Ouachita:
6th: Keith Green of Arkadelphi, Ark., 17-9
7th: Dennis Bean of Hot Springs, Ark., 17-7
8th: Cody Bird of Granbury, Texas, 17-3
9th: Roger Harp of Huntsville, Ark., 16-12
10th: Eddy May of Valley Center, Ark., 16-9
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Check out this great new Podcast feature from FLW. To take a look click here. |
Based at Midtown Sundries on Lake Norman, the 1st Annual Carolina Big Bass Classic comes to Lake Norman on May 15-16, 2010, offering amateur anglers the chance to compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes in this open big bass event. The amateur angler with the largest overall big bass will take home a 2010 Nitro Z8 valued at more than $33,000. One Day Entry Fee is $100 and Two Day Entry Fee is $150.
The overall grand prize is guaranteed regardless of entries."We are excited to bring this tournament format to North Carolina," says Keith Odom, of Oakley Big Bass Tour. "Our partners and sponsors have done an incredible job in helping establish this tournament and we look forward to an outstanding event."
The Carolina Big Bass Classic will be open to all amateur anglers. Anglers will compete for thousands in hourly cash payouts throughout the two-day event. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins each day with the largest overall big bass of the event earning the winner a 2010 Nitro Z8. The first 100 anglers to pre-register for this event will receive a free custom Carolina Rod valued at $150.
Anglers may pre-register for this event online at www.oakleybigbass.com.
Anglers may also register by phone, fax or mail. Additionally, mandatory event registrations will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Concord on Thursday May 13th from 5-9pm and on Friday May 14th from 9am-9pm. There will be prize drawings and giveaways throughout the registration days on Thursday and Friday. Anglers may pick up registration forms at Bass Pro Shops in Concord or at Foothills Marine in Morganton. Oakley's Rolling O Lab http://www.oakley.com/community/olab will be onsite at Bass Pro Shops in Concord on Thursday May 13th and Friday May 14th. Saturday and Sunday weigh-ins will take place at the Oakley Main Stage at Midtown Sundries on Lake Norman. The public is welcome at the live hourly weigh-ins from 8am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Late registrations will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 4:30am-6:30am at the Blythe Landing ramp. Anglers may launch from any location on the lake but must be registered in advance in order to compete.
"We are thrilled to be involved in creating this unique tournament format," said Louis Wellen, with Oakley Sports Marketing.
"This partnership allows Oakley the ability to interact with the grassroots anglers who drive this sport and educate them on
the superior advantages that Oakley's HDO Technology can provide them when competing on the water."
Sponsors of the Carolina Big Bass Classic include: Oakley, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lock-n-Haul, Quantum, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Power-Pole, Foothills Marine and The Ryan Newman Foundation. Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear.
Headquartered in Southern California, the company's optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.
The Oakley Big Bass Tour is a premier big bass tournament series open to all amateur anglers. They provide anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nations best bass fisheries. Established in 2007, the tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grassroots level through our tournament events. Our founders and event staff have over a decade of experience organizing and hosting bass fishing tournament events. For further information, please contact us at (877) 958-TOUR or visit us on the web at www.oakleybigbass.com.
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South Carolina pro Jason Williamson got the right sight bites to lead day one of the Elite Series event on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia with 5 bass weighing 22 pounds 9 ounces. He fished a Zoom lizard and trick worm to catch his fish. He fished a little deeper water than his competitors for the catch. While Williamson fished for deeper spawners Bobby Lane was working the extreme shallows, one to two foot of water depth, for bedding bass. Lane, who finished 25th on Smith Mountain last year, used his '09 experience to his advantage Thursday, working two areas that he found then. He managed 21 pounds 7 ounces for the day.
Right behind Lane in third was another Florida-based shallow water expert, Terry Scroggins of Palatka, with 19-13. In fourth was Marty Robinson of Lyman, S.C., with 19-2. Rounding out the top five was Jason Quinn of York, S.C., with 18-11.
Other notables included 70-year-old Guy Eaker of Cherryville, N.C., who continued his 2010 tear and was eighth. He also tied Marty Robinson with big bass of the day with a 6-12.
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader Skeet Reese of Auburn, S.C., posted another stellar day and was 10th. Kevin VanDam, who took victory here last year, was 34th.
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 Flippin, Arkansas based Ranger Boats has re-signed as an advertiser on Wired2Fish for 2010. Forty plus years of building premier quality fishing boats Ranger continues to offer anglers the best in high performance, fit and finish, and safety features that anglers love.
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Ranger" said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish.com. "The last couple of years the boating industry has fell on tough times and Ranger continues to move forward with innovation and high quality, high resale type products. That says a lot for the type of people who work at Ranger. The Ranger Family has been a part of competitive fishing since its inception "
“We’re looking forward to another great season with everyone at Wired2Fish" said Bart Schad of Ranger Boats. "They do a super job covering the excitement and true rewards of fishing. We appreciate their dedication to the sport and share their infectious enthusiasm for time spent on the water.”
Thanks for believing in Wired2Fish Ranger Boats!
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Photo by Colin Moore / FLW Outdoors Magazine (Gipson right)
Can you imagine being told that you could play in the NBA Finals or the Super Bowl and all you had to do was play on your college team and be in the top five in a couple tournaments and win the last one and you would be in the Finals against Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? Or maybe you’d be covering Randy Moss and trying to stop Tom Brady.
The thought seems laughable. But it’s a reality in the fishing world for one lucky angler. Jake Gipson and his bass fishing tournament partner Matt Wercinski of the University of Florida are going to be living the dream in August. Jake earned the right to fish as a pro in the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier later this summer when Gipson and Wercinski bested the rest of the FLW National Guard College Fishing National Championship field on Lakes Loudon and Tellico in Knoxville last weekend.
The road to the championship was tough, but it obviously prepared them for the final event and gave them the confidence to close the deal in the end. They qualified for the regional by winning the second qualifying event of the Southeast Division on Santee Cooper last May. They earned $10,000 for their school and their club to split in that qualifier.
Next they fished the regional on Lake Monroe in Sanford, Fla., and won that event as well, earning another $25,000 for their school and their club. That qualified them for the FLW National Guard College Fishing Championship in Knoxville. They went to that event and won an impressive third event of their first season fishing the circuit to take home $100,000 to split between their school and their bass club. Plus each angler got a $2,500 gift card to Cabela’s and a $500 check from Ranger.
We caught up with Gipson yesterday after letting the emotions settle from their impressive come from behind win on Loudon/Tellico.
“It’s just now finally sinking in what has happened,” Gipson said. “Actually it really hit me when I penciled in the Forrest Wood Cup on my calendar.”
Winning three events in a season is a monumental task, and then winning the championship against the best college teams from coast to coast really makes the feat that much more remarkable. But Gipson and Wercinski definitely put in their time.
“Matt and I spent our spring break fishing on Loudon/Tellico and then again the week before the cutoff,” Gipson said. “We ran probably 35 miles of the lake and hit more than 30 points just hoping to put something together. After hitting nearly 30 points we hadn’t found much, but the last few points we found in practice were holding some quality fish that were biting a jerkbait.”
On day one, the team hit their better points without much success, but late in the day they were able to target a couple key spots on two points and caught some better quality fish. But after one day of fishing, they found themselves in 11th place with a meager 6 pounds, 6 ounces.
“At that point we weren’t even sure we could make the top-five cut,” Gipson said. “We decided to hit those two better points first thing on day two, and it all turned around for us. Matt caught a 6-pound smallmouth almost immediately and later followed it up with a 5-pound largemouth. That’s when we knew we could do this.” They not only did it, but they posted the biggest limit of the day with 15 pounds, 9 ounces – vaulting them into second place.
Gipson and Wercinski primarily relied on jerkbaits the first two days. Their points extended out into the lake quite a ways and were 5 feet on top and tapered out to 20 feet. They would set their boat out in 15 to 20 feet and cast across the points, pausing the bait a long time on top of the points. Most of their bites came in the 8- to 12-foot range. Wercinski threw a Bomber Long A Suspending Jerkbait in Pure Pearl. Gipson alternated between a Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 112 in Chartreuse Shad and a Spro McStick in a similar color.
They also managed to catch a good keeper pitching a jig on a riprap bank that second day, something that later proved to be important.
They started day three with a renewed confidence after coming from 11th place to second place going into the final day. They again started on their lucky points, but the action really tapered off. Now they were catching all short fish and decided to make a move up river where they had found a lot warmer water with some color to it. Their best stretch had riprap on the bank but also had a gravel bottom with laydowns and wood mixed in.
“We found that area in practice and it was 7 or 8 degrees warmer than the rest of the lake,” Gipson said. “We knew if the fish started moving up during the tournament that would probably be one of the first areas to see fish.”
Gipson pitched a 1/2-ounce black and blue jig with a Berkley Chigger Craw trailer to the bank and wood along it. Wercinski did the same with a Senko rigged on a weightless hook. Gipson hooked up with a solid 4-pound-plus fish late in the day that ultimately put them over the top. Their limit weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces that third day and was enough to win the event by a mere 9 ounces.
Photo by Colin Moore / FLW Outdoors
Magazine (Gipson left)
Gipson’s big fish the last day was enough to edge his total weight for the tournament past that of his partner’s for the coveted pro spot in the Forrest Wood Cup. Wercinski will also be fishing the Forrest Wood Cup as a co-angler. But that’s how the two of them wanted it. In fact, they asked beforehand if Gipson could just be named the pro if they won ahead of the tournament. But the rules stated whichever team mate caught the most weight would be named the pro and the other the co-angler.
“I would have been just as happy if Matt were fishing as the boater,” Gipson said. “He wanted me to go as the boater and I would have been happy if he was. Matt’s a great fisherman in his own right. I just happened to get a big fish the last day that edged me ahead of him even with that monster bag he had on Sunday.”
Now it’s on to Lake Lanier for the unassuming heroes of college fishing. As a funny side note, Gipson and Wercinski actually went to high school together but really only knew of each other through mutual friends. Turns out one such mutual friend had a lake house on Lanier one summer and invited both his friends, Gipson and Wercinski up to fish with him. The two hit off and have been fishing together for the last four years. Ironically they return to the site where their fishing friendship was kindled this August for the Forrest Wood Cup.
That was also the last time either have fished on Lanier.
“I’ve been doing some internet scouting and have some maps on order,” Gipson said. “I’ve seen all these guys on TV and now I’m going to get to fish against them. It’s just a once in a lifetime opportunity. Something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Fishing on La
nier will be a lot different than what I’m used to in Florida. But I’m looking forward to learning a lot and meeting all the pros.”
As it stands now, Gipson is set to graduate this semester with a degree in Industrial Systems Engineering. He plans to take the next year off and fish a little and enjoy himself before going to law school the following year. He plans to look at the Bassmaster Opens and FLW American Fishing Series circuits and fish some of those events next year.
“It’s hard to say how doing well in the Forrest Wood Cup would alter my future plans,” Gipson said. “If I could somehow find a way to fish for a living, it would be a dream come true. I’ve been watching these guys on TV all my life. If I was able to do well and have some opportunities open up that would be amazing.”
And Gipson wasn’t without some good advice for up and coming college anglers.
“The first thing I would tell guys who are fishing these circuits is to do your research. You’ll fish so many places you’ve never fished before, but there are so many good resources online to get you familiar with a fishery. The second would be to stay focused and fish hard all day long. It’s easy to taper off and lose concentration late in the day when it gets tough, but if you can stay focused and keep fishing hard, you’ll get those few key bites. Mental focus is really important.
“FLW and the National Guard have done a GREAT job with the college series. This felt like a true national championship because of the divisions, the regionals and the camaraderie that has built up between schools. We love fishing against Auburn. They’ve become our rivalry school. They beat us at Okeechobee. We barely beat them at Monroe and at the championship. They are great guys and having that rivalry makes it fun to be out on the water. My only regret is that I’m a senior. I wish I was a freshman and could do this a while longer. “
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Ricky Raccoon caught a two pounder because he has the best vest in fishing and boy oh boy does he want to win the Bassmaster Classic. He drove all the way to Mississippi, Bandit Lures home state, to buy some Alabama craw colored crankbaits for that chance. He hoped he could whip Pete Ponds and Terry Brown who always throw "Mistake" when the going gets tough. We wish him luck!
The winner's of the Bandit Lures Contest are:
Jim Petrous
Stafford, VA
Riley Cooper
Oklahoma City, OK
Tomorrow we will start a new contest for some EGO Floating Nets. Stay tuned!
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Check out Wired2Fish's latest review of the IMA Flit. To read the full review, click here.
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Chad Brauer talks post spawn today on Wired2Fish's Unplugged. To read the story, click here.
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Mercury announced today an extension to the duration and the breadth of its 5 & Drive Sales Event. Mercury engines – 2.5hp and up – sold May 1 through June 30 and warranty registered by July 15, 2010 will earn a special Retail Promotion Incentive.
2.5hp thru 300hp FourStrokes will receive an additional two years of Mercury Product Protection Gold Coverage (MPP Gold) for a total of FIVE YEARS of Factory-Backed coverage.
All OptiMax Engines – including the powerful Pro XS models – will receive two additional Years of MPP Gold Coverage for a total of FIVE YEARS of Factory-Backed coverage.
For more information regarding this promotion or other Mercury Marine products and incentives, please visit your local Mercury Marine dealer.
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The third tournament of the BASS Elite Series begins today on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. Skeet Reese is leading the AOY race. It is setting up to be a sight fishing slugest. Who will win? Stay tuned to Wired2Fish for more information from that event. You can watch the weigh ins and daily coverage by clicking here. |
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Reigning FLW Tour Angler Clark Wendlandt is a driven angler. He is one of the most competitive anglers on tour and is also a positive role model for the sport. We had a chance to sit down and pick his brain and below is the summary of that discussion.
1. Winning Angler of the Year can be tough on some anglers the year following it. More responsibility can mean less time fishing. How is that working out for you?
"I believe too much is made of that. There is no question that your repsonsibilities increase but that is part of the deal. Its a balancing act and I like to be busy and to be honest what happened last year really doesn't matter to this this year. I have a goal of doing better in every tournament and am driven to do that so to me last year doesn't matter."
2. Things seem to be going well for you.
"No doubt I am very busy but things are going well. I wish I was fishing better but that will work itself out. I fish for a living and love this sport and am driven to be the best I can."
3. A lot of changes occurred from last year to this year on the sponsorship front. Has it impacted you?
"Not really. I got a great new deal with Cabelas and I am loving it. They are great folks and I have gotten to do a ton of cool things with them. I also have gotten to do more TV and I like that too. The TV part is a win-win. I get exposure and Cabelas gets more branding and that is good. I retained everyone from last year with the exception of Kelloggs and they got out of fishing. They were exceptional to work with but just changed strategies. Things are good."
4. How are things going at FLW from your perspective?
"They sincerely try to do the right thing and they listen. They eased the sponsor requirements and we can now talk about our sponsors on the last day and that is great. They also have done a great job with the Outdoor Expo. We are getting back to our roots and the folks there are tied to our sport. Tackle companies, rod and reel manufacturers, guides, and sponsors are there. I really like it. Its gets products and information to the fans and its not expensive to have a booth."
5. The next FLW Tour event is just around the corner at Fort Loudoun/Tellico and its shaping up like a sight fishing deal. How will you approach it?
"Its hard to find enough quality fish to win a four day deal with sight fish and I am sure some other things will be going on. I might be able to catch some fish differently and that could be big. I am sure I will sight fish some but other techniques could come into play too."
6. What are you fishing this year?
"I am fishing the FLW Tour, the BASS Opens and may even pick up some PAA events. My job is a fishing and my sponsors expect me to be on the water. I am excited about fishing this year and always want to keep my options open."
Thanks Clark!
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The warm up of spring always brings about one of the favorite times of the year for many fishermen, the spawn. The bass move from their wintertime haunts up to the shallows to nest. This migration brings about a big feeding frenzy for bass before they hit the nests, then once again a week or two after they are done. This period can be tough initially after the bass get done with their spawn, but once they recover, they are ready to feed.
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We are pleased to announce that Frabill has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser for 2010. They make products that anglers know are the best quality and their line-up includes nets, ice fishing equipment, saltwater products, and foul weather gear that the pro's count on.
"I have watched Frabill become a leader in innovation," said Scott Glorvigen, Frabill prostaffer. "Whether we are talking about nets, rods, reels, bait management systems, ice fishing systems or foul weather gear they are truly about innovation and doing it right. They have elevated their company to a leadership position in the fishing industry."
To read more about Frabill and their products click here.
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Pure Fishing has signed an agreement as an advertiser for Wired2Fish.com for 2010. Their line-up is a who's who in fishing with companies like Berkley, Abu Garcia, Pflueger and Trilene.
"We are again excited to be working with Pure Fishing and their team of business professionals and anglers," said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish, Inc. "They are a worldwide leader in rods, reels, line and baits that have won numerous championships, and their innovation using science gives anglers confidence in knowing they are using top products. Wired2Fish readers should be excited about the addition of Pure Fishing and the great products they provide. They not only make great products but want people to catch more fish."
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Pure Fishing has been named the exclusive fishing tackle provider for the 2010 Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree, celebrating 100 years of the Boy Scout organization.
"This is the beginning of a great relationship between our company and the Boy Scouts," said David Lund, Vice President of Marketing -The Americas. "These fine young citizens will discover more about the joys of fishing and the outdoors. They'll learn about conservation and the responsible stewardship of the environment. The scouts will be better prepared for their future."
Pure Fishing’s program development work with the BSA creates a stronger fishing and conservation presence at the Jamboree. Pure Fishing will operate educational exhibits such as the Berkley PowerBait Fish Tank, a fishing line knot tester, casting technique demonstrations and an Eco Conservation Display. Scouts can earn a one-of-a-kind special issue Fish Hook Lake Patch by catching a fish during the Jamboree.
Scouts will be fishing with tackle from the popular brands of Shakespeare, Berkley and Stren. Tackle includes Shakespeare rod and reel combos, Berkley Gulp! Earthworms and Gulp! Catfish bait and Stren monofilament fishing line.
“The Boy Scouts of America is very pleased and impressed with the amount of support Pure Fishing is bringing to our Jamboree,” said Ben Jelsema, Chairman BSA Fishing Task Force. “Everyone expects 2010 to be the biggest, most dynamic and rewarding fishing venue for the scouts ever.”
“The fishing program at Fish Hook Lake is one of the most popular events at the Jamboree,” explained Jelsema. “In our last Jamboree in 2005, we had over 50,000 Scouts participating in the fishing venue where over 18,000 fish were caught averaging 1-1/2 pounds each. Pure Fishing will add to the program and will help ensure each Scout will have fun and exceed their fishing expectation.”
Over 300,000 people from across the globe, including over 40,000 Scouts and BSA staffers, are scheduled to convene at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Virginia this July 26. The 10-day event location will temporarily be the third largest city in the state, complete with its own zip code.
The jamboree program reflects the skills of Scouting—physical fitness, environmental conservation, our national heritage and the true spirit of Scouting. Amid the thousands of colorful tents that will house participants and provide program and support services, there is an infrastructure that provides a safe and secure environment at Fort A.P. Hill. Everything from bus systems, telephone and internet, to first-aid stations and a hospital, police and fire departments, post offices, food warehouses, a daily newspaper, and retail stores (trading posts and concession stands) provide all the support and program services needed for an outstanding event.
Scouts will enjoy many different experiences such as fishing, fly fishing, rappelling, scuba, kayaking, rafting and sailing. Additional activities include trap shooting, archery, bikeathlons, buckskin games, confidence courses, conservation trail and more. Daily activities include an incredible merit badge midway, arts and sciences, a re-creation of Baden-Powell’s original Scout camp on Brownsea Island, an American Indian village, regional entertainment stages and other activities. The arena shows are a highlight for all participants.
For more information about Pure Fishing visit PureFishing.com. Go to scouting.org for more information on Boy Scouts of America, the 2010 National Jamboree and how to become a scout or scout volunteer.
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We had a chance today to check in with FLW pro David Walker today as he was preparing for the upcoming FLW Tour event at Ft. Loudoun/Tellico to see what was shaking in his world. Below is that discussion.
1. You are getting to go fish another event ... are you ready and how do you think it will shape up?
"No question this will be a sight fishing deal, and historically, I have not done well at those type of events. Rest assured though, I will be right there in the middle of it. The tough thing is finding enough fish that the rest of the field doesn't find to do well, and that can be a major undertaking. I need to do well because even though I had a good first tournament, I had a poor second one."
2. We have spoken about sponsors and how tough it is out there for many anglers right now. How is it going for you?
"Basically I am fishing with my money. With the exception of Evinrude, who I have been with forever, I am doing this on my own. The funny part about it is I am also fishing more. I am fishing the BASS Opens, the FLW Tour and have fished two of the FLW Series too. I am also going to fish the PAA events. Its about making checks, and I am not bitter or upset. We are all feeling it. The E-Team at Evinrude has been super. I have even updated my webpage because of it. There is a lot of neat things going on there, and to see the videos and what the Internet can do is staggering."
"I also have been using Sunline for a few years and really like it. It's a product deal, but we, the pros, have an opportunity to showcase the products we actually use, and I talk about it all the time at shows, etc. This fishing deal will come around, and I want to differentiate myself by doing the right thing and fishing well and have to have great products to do that. I also have a deal with Kopper's that could really turn into something special. They already have some great products, but their new stuff is really sweet. I am excited about that one for sure."
3. You are very politically savvy. Do you come by that naturally?
"I want to be respected and try to look into the future. I work very hard both on and off the water, and having an ax to grind doesn't get you anywhere. I am honest and do my best to portray a positive professional image, and with the fan's and sponsors, that has to mean something. Its always best to be positive and let my rod and reel do my talking, if possible ... laughing.
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Zoom Bait Company has done it again with their Swimmin' Super Fluke. They have taken the fish catching prowess of the Super Fluke and added a new boot tail design, and the results are awesome.
Fished weightless with a 4/0 offset hook, this bait has not met cover it cannot navigate. Water willow, wood, matted grass and rocks are all prime locations to toss the SSF. We have also used the Trokar Swim Bait hook and like them for added weight and hook setting ability in the tough stuff. We teamed it with some of the new TATSU 15-pound fluorocarbon line and have not had any break offs. We use a fast reel, 6.4 to 1, and a 7 foot medium-heavy rod for this application. The fluorocarbon line works great to allow the bait to sink down in holes in grass and allows the Swimmin' Super Fluke to mimic a dying shad on dead falls without losing hook setting power. Long casts are crucial and the aerodynamics and weight of the bait make it easy to throw even in the wind.
The Swimmin' Super Fluke, 5 inches long, has a very distinct wobble side to side and the boot tail wiggles like crazy. Its also soft for great action but tough enough for several fish. The pointed nose and slotted belly makes rigging a breeze.
We like the new Houdini color but have also thrown several other colors like White Ice and Albino as well.
When fish are in prespawn or locked on the beds, they attack this imitator with a vengeance. Fish will actually wake to the Swimmer to get a taste from adjacent areas.
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Be sure to watch the teaser trailer below!
Every angler is comfortable on his home lake or even one they have fished before. But what about an untouched lake they have never fished or even knew existed? Lost Lake takes the top pro anglers in the world and drops them into unfamiliar and sometimes unchartered territory. They have one day to break down the lake and catch fish. Sounds easy? It’s not. Most pros have a week of practice to figure out a lake on the pro circuit, on Lost Lake they have one day. Can they do it? Or will they end up empty-handed?
Lost Lake features top touring pros from both the FLW and Bassmaster tours. Brent Ehrler, Terry Bolton, Dave Wolak, Gerald Swindle, Mark Menendez, Dave Lefebre and more highly noteable anglers give their inside information on how they break down a lake and find bass quick.
From using your depth finder, defining patterns, eliminating water and the latest in techniques, these anglers take a no-holds-barred approach to put bass in the boat.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a casual bass angler, LOST LAKE gets you inside the pro angler's head with every change that is happening in his day.
Lost Lake airs on WFN and WFN HD. It airs at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sundays along with an Airing at 7:30 ET on Saturdays. For a schedule of all air times, go to www.wfn.tv.
“The production and editing team thought outside the box on LOST LAKE with new creative graphics, editing and camera angles to bring the Lost Lake Experience from the angler's boat to your home," said Kevin Baxter, editor of Lost Lake.
Stay Tuned for a complete show schedule and updates from Lost Lake and don’t forget to watch the Original Classic Patterns on The Outdoor Channel Friday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET.
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Secret Lures announced today that it has added Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn. to its prostaff. Grigsby is a full-time pro competing on the FLW Tour and FLW Series. Grigsby has landed in the top ten five times, and 2010 marks Grigsby's eighth year fishing the Tour with over $442,000 in tournament winnings. Grigsby has already qualified for the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Lanier.
“We are thrilled to have Grigsby endorsing our products,” said Nathan Gray of Secret Lures. “At Secret Lures we've developed products that truly help the angler successfully land more fish. We know that our products will keep him on top of his game by giving him that extra edge. Chad brings a wealth of on-the-water and industry experience to Secret Lures. We look forward to a long successful relationship with Grigsby. Once the word gets out to the weekend warriors on our products such as the MVP football jig or the Chubby frog, they will see the same great results the pros do and learn first hand why the pros are making the change to Secret Lures.”
“I am very excited to be involved with Secret Lures, and I am looking forward to working with them on new products to better my career and grow their business,” said Grigsby. “It is a win-win. I want every competitive advantage I can get.”
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Episode 4 highlights the bass fisherman’s classic: the spinnerbait. Elite Series Pro Mike McClelland goes in-depth on how he utilizes his electronics in his decision making process on where and what size spinnerbait to throw.
Scott Glorvigen gets out the big guns talking about giant spinnerbaits for muskies and pike and then goes to the other end of the spectrum with spinnerbaits as small as 1/16 ounce for crappie.
This show gives you the full run down on how spinnerbaits can be used for many different species and how electronics can help you in the process.
Below is a listing of the equipment used in the Spinnerbait Species segment:
Mike McClelland /Bass:
Electronics: Lowrance HDS 8
Rod: Falcon Cara T7 7’2” Swim Jig Rod
Falcon BuCoo 7’ MH
Reel: Quantum Energy SS
Quantum Tour Edition
Line: Sunline (mono) Super Natural 16-20 lb
Sunline (fluorocarbon) Sniper 12-20 lb
Tackle: War Eagle Mike McClelland Finesse Spinnerbait
War Eagle ½ ounce Dual Willow
Scott Glorvigen /Muskie/Pike/Panfish
Electronics: Lowrance HDS 10
Rod: St. Croix Premier 6’9” Heavy Fast Action
Reel: Daiwa Luna
Line: 60-80 braid
Tackle: ¾ ounce Northland Reed-Runner Spinnerbait Magnum
1 ounce Northland Bionic Bucktail Spinnerbait
2 ounce Northland Booty Call Spinnerbait
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This week Facts of Fishing FYI covers a brand new ugly fish world record, 500 giant bass & $4,000,000 worth of lures. One question.....Where does Mercer get his T-Shirts and Hats?
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As early spring gives way to warming water and fish moving shallow, anglers must adjust. Gone are the days of early staging fish and chunking a rattling lipless crankbait on flats. Savvy anglers are looking for shallow water havens filled with 6-pounders locked on beds. Light line, tube baits, lizards and creature baits become the norm.
Experienced anglers and those that think outside the box know that this can also be a special time for topwaters and shallow crankbaits. We like a Rapala Original Minnow in 11S or 11G for this application. Generally speaking we use the 11S, silver, on bright days and the 11G, gold on cloudy or overcast ones. Long casts are critical and a twitch, twitch, float retrieve works best. Outside grass lines and holes in the vegetation are prime locations. Don't be afraid to use a little heavier line for this approach. Fifteen-pound green Sufix monofilament is our choice.
Another great springtime strategy is shallow cranking. Baits like the Bandit Footloose or Series 100, a Strike King Mr. Money or a Lucky Craft RC 1.5 are great choices for this technique. We like to use a rod with a fairly quick tip in a 7-foot medium heavy action like the St.Croix Mojo Bass or Falcon Cara. Baits should be run with a VERY slow, stop-and-go retrieve and the rod should be in the 12 to 1 o'clock position. Likely targets are dead heads and grass clumps and deflecting off of the cover can triggers bites. Since you can see the bait in this application a high speed reel makes sense. We recommend a 6.3 or a 6.4 to 1 retrieve. Erratic twitches of the rod during the retrieve can also ignite strikes.
Thinking out of the box and trying techniques like those mentioned above can help put more bass in the tank.
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Ranger Boats has been busy over the winter adding new videos about their boats. To take a look at them click here. |
The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Scheels store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for the next stop in 2010. The 60-foot trailer of fun and activities brings fishing education to all skill levels of anglers. The scheduled stop for the Berkley Experience Trailer is April 16th and is set to end April 18th.
The trailer has new videos and interactive demonstrations on line and bait. The Berkley Experience Team will have seminars scheduled throughout the day to cover the four main components of fishing:
* Line Selection
* Rigging Techniques for Bait
* Reel Maintenance
* Rod Selection
Each stop has special retail promotions only available while the trailer is at the location. These include line, bait, rods, reels and combos.
"We look forward to educating anglers as we head to Eau Claire," said Andrew Marks, Sr. Marketing Manager. "Our Experience Trailer staff is ready to help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our products and how best to use them to catch more fish. Plus, it is a great experience for the entire family to attend."
Other exciting elements include a knot tying contest and demonstration, where you can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, we will have racks filled with the latest products and big screen videos that help you experience the adventure with Berkley. The Berkley Experience staff is always on hand to help answer any questions that you have about our innovative products.
UPCOMING BERKLEY EXPERIENCE STOPS
April 16th - 18th
Scheels
4710 Golf Road
Eau Claire, WI 54701
April 23rd - 25th
Cabela's
20200 Rogers Drive
Rogers, MN 55374
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Jake Gipson & Matthew Wercinski of the University of Florida won the first ever FLW National Guard College Fishing National Championship today on Lakes Loudon and Tellico near Knoxville, Tenn. The team won $100,000 to be split between their school and their fishing club. As a result both anglers will be fishing in the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier this August. They also each won $2,500 gift cards to Cabela's and $500 from Ranger through the Ranger Cup program.
They caught their fish pitching and casting jigs. They had a three-day weight of 29 pounds, 10 ounces. They were way behind on day one. They made a big comeback on day two and added 7 pounds, 11 ounces today to take the title.
"Me and my partner Jake will remember this for the rest of our lives," Wercinski said.
"A couple administrators called us and said that we like championships as the University of Florida, so we hope you can give us another one," Gipson said. "I hope they are proud of us now!"
More details will be coming on CollegeFishing.com.
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 Springtime and spinnerbaits go hand in hand, with the flashy wire-framed lures being an especially good choice for early season bass on those days when a stiff breeze is blowing and waters might have a little more color than usual due to wind or run-off.
However, keeping up with spinnerbaits among your tackle selection can be a challenge, especially if you don't have a designated place to put them. Misshapen spinnerbaits that have become deformed from improper storage can be difficult to restore to working condition or even broken while trying to fix. As a general rule, spinnerbaits just don't fit well into traditional tackleboxes, or at least they didn't until now.
As usual, Plano®, the leader in tacklebox designs, has come up with a solution so that even the most casual weekend anglers will know exactly where to keep and find spinnerbaits among their tackle. Plano has three models of tray boxes that have a built-in spinnerbait rack to hold the baits securely and for easy access.
The patented Plano spinnerbait rack consists of a six-bait compartment that will accommodate most sizes of spinnerbaits and all blade styles. The baits go into the compartment with heads down and the line tie up. Then, by pressing the blade arm of each bait down until it fits into a notch in the vertical dividers of the rack, the baits are held securely in place under their own wire "spring" tension.
 The single-tray model 6101 tacklebox has the spinnerbait rack integrated into the top right side of the tray and holds up to six spinnerbaits. The box measures 14" long x 8.25" wide x 7.25" high. Its open storage area below the tray has plenty of room for packaged baits as well as pliers, sinkers, hooks, etc. The box looks great in its red metallic and off-white color combination, and is a real value retailing for around $11.99.
Plano model 6102 is a two-tray box providing even more bait storage compartments, plus has the integrated spinnerbait rack on each side of the top tray to hold as many as 12 spinnerbaits total. The box measures 14.25"L x 8.5"W x 7.75"H. The box is available in blue metallic and off-white color combination, as well as in a lady's version that is pink and periwinkle. Both styles retail for around $13.99 each.
For anglers with lots of gear, or for families with several fishing members, the perfect tackle storage solution is the Plano three-tray box, model 6103. It, too, has the unique spinnerbait storage rack built into both ends of the top tray. As a result, up to 12 spinnerbaits can be held separately and securely for convenient storage and easy access. The 6103 measures 16.25"L x 9.125"W x 8.5"H. The box is green metallic and off-white in color, and sells for about $17.99.
All three Plano models feature the durable, long-lasting molded construction for which the brand is famous. Latches are brass and strong for positive closure.
For more information on these and other Plano tackleboxes, visit PlanoMolding.com.
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ESPN writer Don Barone has a way to get a strong message across without being verbose or overpowering. Each of his stories are filled with images and real life stories that make you feel good. Today on Bassmaster.com he writes about Brent and Bobbi Chapman and how their family makes it work out on the Elites. To read his story click here.
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By Rob Russow
Collegebass.com
Ben Cleary and John Hickman from the University of Georgia were crowned East Super Regional champions.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- This weekend, Ben Cleary and John Hickman from the University of Georgia fished together for the first time and managed to take the title from a strong field of local Alabama teams.
After catching 16.31 pounds on Day Two, the duo jumped from eighth place to first, leaving the Alabama River as East Super Regional champions.
“Being in the middle of Alabama, you probably have 10 schools within a few hours of the Alabama River,” Cleary said. “When you are fishing in Alabama, you are going up against the best of the best. Luckily, we were up for the task.”
Finishing in the runner-up position, in second place, was the team of Jonas Ertel and Kyle Raymer from Eastern Kentucky University with a two-day total of 27.25 pounds. The local team from Auburn University – Montgomery, Jacob Nummy and Larry Haag, caught the biggest bag of the day at 16.49 pounds and finished third with 26.99 pounds.
For more about this event, click here.
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Brent Riley and Nathan Burgess hauled in the largest limit of the final day in the Fishers of Men National Championship on Guntersville this weekend for the come-from-behind win to take home the top prize in the $100,000,00 event. Click here for full details on the finale.
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Today on the Next Generation Tackle Box we review the Strike King Rage Tail Lobster. Even though small fish hammer it, it is a big bass bait. To read the review click here.
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Announced on March 18, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Gerald Swindle joined
Team Rod Glove. “This is big news for everyone here at the Rod Glove
and we are excited about the G-Man joining us,” said Brennan Halbersma.
“Swindle will be a great addition to the team, showing that
professionals like him that spend every day on the water put their trust
in the great products that The Rod Glove has to offer.”
 Being the 2004 BASS Angler of the Year, Swindle is a high intensity
fisherman that gives 100 percent when he is “on the job,” and he never
backs down. Swindle has more than 20 years of experience and has earned
nearly 1 million dollars as a professional. All of his years have helped
him learn the ins and outs of being able to make it in the world of
bass fishing.
The Rod Glove is very excited be adding such a high-profile angler
that is known by nearly every serious bass fisherman. We feel that this
addition will bring great attention to The Rod Glove and show that what
we make is the real deal that pros like Swindle rely on them. Swindle
promotes products that he believes in and that he uses on a daily basis.
There are many reasons that the G-Man chooses The Rod Glove for
protecting his sticks. Go to therodglove.com to see how mesh technology keeps
Swindles’ rods in their most optimal performing shape.
If you want to protect those expensive rods you rely on every day
and keep them performing at their top level just like the G-Man, The Rod
Glove has tons of options for your sticks. Check out therodglove.com
today.
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Today on Weighing In with Terry Brown, Jeff Kriet recounts his lake record catch of a 12.12-pounder. Click here to listen.
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Some will call Craig Schuff a fast learner. After all, the Watauga, Texas, angler had never thrown a swimbait before coming to Lake Amistad for the Bassmaster Central Open this week, but Saturday his 24-pound limit with one of the big swimming lures propelled him to his first Open win with a three day total of 68 pounds, 9 ounces.
Ray Hanselman, a guide on Amistad the past 17 years, claimed the runne-rup spot with 67-9, while Bassmaster Elite pro Clark Reehm finished third with 66-3. Aaron Johnson finished fourth with 63-3; Dean Alexander, the day two leader, dropped to fifth with 62-4; and Trent Huckaby, last year's winner here, took sixth with 61-2.
Fishing under cloudless skies with only a slight wind, Schuff targeted prespawn and postspawn bass moving up and down tree and hydrilla-lined ditches leading to a spawning flat in a large cove on the Mexican side of the lake. Keeping his boat in 15 to 18 feet of water and working an Osprey swimbait very slowly in 8 to 10 feet of water depth, Schuff caught a 4 ½-pounder on his third cast, a 5-pounder two casts later, then a 7-pounder en route to his 24-pound day.
"The bass were changing positions each day," said Schuff, "and today they were more shallow than yesterday. It took me about an hour to fish three key places I had identified, and I occasionally alternated the swimbait with an 8-inch Yamamoto Senko, which also produced some good fish for me.
"I was truly blessed this week," added Schuff, who won more than $50,000 for his week's effort. "I watched how Jason Williamson won the Elite tournament here with a swimbait and came determined to fish the way he did. After I caught about 28 pounds with the Osprey one day in practice, my confidence really grew, but today I had to fish it so slow I could barely feel it swimming."
He fished the Osprey with 25-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon line on a Falcon Amistad 7'3" heavy action rod and a Shimano Curado reel.
Hanselman fished the same general area as Schuff, working both Zoom Trick Worms and Berkley Power Worms through hydrilla in 12 to 15 feet of water. For him, the key was fishing fresh, growing hydrilla in a spot about 50 yards square; he rigged the worms with 3/16-ounce TruTungsten sinkers and crawled and swam them slowly through the vegetation.
Interestingly, Reehm and Alexander also shared the water with Schuff, as did 17th place finisher Mike Kernan, who finished with 52-10. Although Reehm and Alexander also fished other areas, this one bay produced more than 300 pounds of fish during the tournament.
Sam Koebcke of Austin, fishing his very first Bassmaster Open tournament on only his second trip to Amistad, won the co-angler division with a three-day catch of nine bass weighing 46-9, an average of more than five pounds per fish. He caught them Carolina rigging Zoom Flukes and Zoom Old Monster 10 ½-inch worms between six and 20 feet deep.
Only the top 30 pros and non-boaters fished Saturday. The series will move from Amistad to the Red River out of Shreveport, La., on June 3-5. The circuit will close out on Oct. 21-23 on Lake Texoma out of Denison, Texas. Open anglers are competing for seven qualifying berths into the Bassmaster Elite Series and two invitations to the 2011 Bassmaster Classic out of New Orleans.
The local sponsor of the tournament was the Lake Amistad Bassmaster Central Open is the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, www.drchamber.com
BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN- LAKE AMISTAD- BOATER STANDINGS
2010 Bassmaster Central Oprn Tour 1 Del Rio, TX BO 04/08-04/10 Lake Amistad, Del Rio Texas
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Craig Schuff Watauga, Texas 15 68-09 305 $51,943.00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 24-09 Day 3: 5 24-00
2. Ray Hanselman Del Rio, Texas 15 67-09 295 $23,086.00
Day 1: 5 23-02 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 25-12
3. Clark Reehm Russellville, Ark. 15 66-03 295 $16,160.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 21-04
4. Aaron Johnson Bossier City, La. 15 63-03 285 $11,543.00
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 20-04
5. Dean Alexander Florence, Texas 15 62-04 285 $10,389.00
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 23-01 Day 3: 5 16-09
6. Trent Huckaby Fort Stockton, Texas 15 61-02 276 $9,234.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 19-14 Day 3: 5 23-00
7. Rob Burns Plano, Texas 15 60-03 272 $8,080.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 21-12
8. Timmy Reneau Del Rio, Texas 15 59-06 268 $6,926.00
Day 1: 5 23-04 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 17-15
9. Joey Nania Liberty Lake, Wash. 14 57-10 269 $5,771.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 4 20-13
10. Keith Combs Del Rio, Texas 15 57-05 260 $5,194.00
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 20-07
11. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 15 56-15 257 $4,617.00
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 15-01
12. Chad Griffin Cresson, Texas 15 56-09 254 $4,040.00
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 17-02 Day 3: 5 18-06
13. Chad Martin E. Nicolaus, Calif. 15 56-07 251 $3,463.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 18-13
14. Ricky Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 15 55-11 248 $2,886.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 17-06
15. Randy Allen Benton, La. 15 54-08 245 $2,597.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 16-09
16. Randy Pitre Vidalia, La. 14 53-06 243 $2,309.00
Day 1: 4 19-06 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 14-07
17. Mike Kernan Dallas, Texas 15 52-10 241 $2,193.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 12-12
18. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, Texas 15 52-10 239 $2,078.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 16-11
19. Stephen Johnston Hemphill, Texas 15 52-08 237 $1,962.00
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 15-02
20. Dave Mansue Hemphill, Texas 15 52-07 235 $1,847.00
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 14-00
21. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 15 52-04 233 $1,674.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 16-06
22. Kenta Kimura Livingston, Texas 15 51-13 231 $1,616.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 14-04
23. Dillon Lee Mt Pleasant, Texas 15 51-09 229 $1,558.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 13-12
24. Bo Middleton Elgin, Okla. 15 51-02 227 $1,501.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 14-02
25. Wayne Brown Ardmore, Okla. 15 50-05 225 $1,443.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 5 13-11
26. Dicky Newberry Houston, Texas 15 49-08 223 $1,385.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 13-14
27. Monty Fralick Martin, S.D. 13 49-07 221 $1,327.00
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 3 8-03
28. James Stricklin Jasper, Texas 14 48-02 219 $1,270.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 4 11-04
29. Michael Yoder Texarkana, Ark. 15 47-08 217 $1,212.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 11-06
30. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 15 46-12 215 $1,154.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 9-13
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 176 949 2942-06
2 142 862 2503-13
3 27 146 497-10
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345 1957 5943-13
CENTRAL OPEN STANDINGS- CO-ANGLER- LAKE AMISTAD
2010 Bassmaster Central Oprn Tour 1 Del Rio, TX NB 04/08-04/10 Lake Amistad, Del Rio Texas
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Sam Koebcke Austin, Texas 9 46-09 310 $34,000.00
Day 1: 3 17-05 Day 2: 3 13-06 Day 3: 3 15-14
2. Raul Cordero Del Rio, Texas 9 39-10 295 $5,771.00
Day 1: 3 9-12 Day 2: 3 11-11 Day 3: 3 18-03
3. Kenneth Moser Alba, Texas 9 39-04 290 $4,617.00
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 3 11-02 Day 3: 3 17-01
4. Joshua Wallace Wimberley, Texas 9 37-10 285 $3,463.00
Day 1: 3 14-07 Day 2: 3 13-00 Day 3: 3 10-03
5. Buz Craft Vidalia, La. 9 36-13 285 $2,886.00
Day 1: 3 18-10 Day 2: 3 9-01 Day 3: 3 9-02
6. Stephen Mitchell Rhinehart, La. 9 36-13 276 $2,597.00
Day 1: 3 12-06 Day 2: 3 11-01 Day 3: 3 13-06
7. Russell Lohman Pineville, La. 9 35-03 272 $2,309.00
Day 1: 3 14-08 Day 2: 3 8-03 Day 3: 3 12-08
8. Gary Haraguchi San Jose, Calif. 9 34-04 268 $2,193.00
Day 1: 3 11-12 Day 2: 3 9-09 Day 3: 3 12-15
9. Jeff Stoner Wellsville, Pa. 9 34-00 264 $1,962.00
Day 1: 3 13-03 Day 2: 3 13-11 Day 3: 3 7-02
10. Darin Comstock Denison, Texas 9 33-13 260 $1,501.00
Day 1: 3 15-11 Day 2: 3 9-03 Day 3: 3 8-15
11. Brad Rodrigue Pierre Part, La. 9 33-13 257 $1,270.00
Day 1: 3 13-01 Day 2: 3 9-15 Day 3: 3 10-13
12. Luis Sevilla Las Cruces, N.M. 9 33-11 254 $1,154.00
Day 1: 3 15-01 Day 2: 3 8-14 Day 3: 3 9-12
13. Curtis Metts Texarkana, Ark. 9 33-04 251 $1,039.00
Day 1: 3 9-10 Day 2: 3 15-07 Day 3: 3 8-03
14. Randall Vaughan Blanco, Texas 9 32-14 248 $923.00
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 3 12-15 Day 3: 3 9-05
15. Bryan Hester Bossier City, La. 9 32-08 245 $808.00
Day 1: 3 8-02 Day 2: 3 13-14 Day 3: 3 10-08
16. Waylon Bullard Del Rio, Texas 9 32-06 243 $779.00
Day 1: 3 12-02 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 3 8-02
17. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 9 32-04 241 $750.00
Day 1: 3 11-06 Day 2: 3 13-11 Day 3: 3 7-03
18. Buddy Hardin Nederland, Texas 9 31-09 239 $721.00
Day 1: 3 12-05 Day 2: 3 10-14 Day 3: 3 8-06
19. Arnold Grupe Del Rio, Texas 9 31-05 237 $693.00
Day 1: 3 17-00 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 3 7-03
20. Bryan Welborn Providence Village, Te 9 30-12 235 $664.00
Day 1: 3 7-13 Day 2: 3 14-14 Day 3: 3 8-01
21. Vernon Ritter Ardmore, Okla. 9 30-09 233 $635.00
Day 1: 3 6-15 Day 2: 3 18-00 Day 3: 3 5-10
22. Mike Wheaton Talmage, Neb. 9 29-14 231 $577.00
Day 1: 3 8-11 Day 2: 3 12-09 Day 3: 3 8-10
23. Bobby Flippen Sumner, Texas 8 29-11 229 $548.00
Day 1: 2 9-08 Day 2: 3 11-11 Day 3: 3 8-08
24. Clint Estein Shreveport, La. 9 29-09 227 $519.00
Day 1: 3 11-12 Day 2: 3 10-12 Day 3: 3 7-01
25. Raleigh Todd Lexington, Tenn. 9 29-07 225 $491.00
Day 1: 3 9-06 Day 2: 3 11-15 Day 3: 3 8-02
26. Mark Powers Platteville, Colo. 9 29-06 223 $462.00
Day 1: 3 12-00 Day 2: 3 9-01 Day 3: 3 8-05
27. Bill Ferguson Rowlett, Texas 9 29-02 221 $433.00
Day 1: 3 8-12 Day 2: 3 14-09 Day 3: 3 5-13
28. Will Jefferies Bountiful, Utah 9 29-02 219 $404.00
Day 1: 3 14-03 Day 2: 3 6-15 Day 3: 3 8-00
29. Chris Dombkowski Colorado Springs, Colo 8 26-14 217 $375.00
Day 1: 3 9-13 Day 2: 3 11-11 Day 3: 2 5-06
30. Jim Barnette Decatur, Ala. 6 22-10 215 $346.00
Day 1: 3 12-02 Day 2: 3 10-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 532 1618-08
2 0 468 1326-03
3 0 86 278-04
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0 1086 3222-15
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Fish Handling
Episode 3 goes off the beaten path a little bit. This segment doesn’t hit the details of how to catch fish, but how to handle them. Fish care is a concern of every angler that wets a line.
Elite Series Pro Shaw Grigsby covers the importance and safety of how to handle largemouth when hand landing is your only option.
Charlie Moore brings the use of a net into the equation. Most anglers carry nets, but we all need understand the importance of how nets are made, what makes them good, and how proper fish care and handling can preserve the fishing we have now for many years to come.
Below is a listing of the fishing nets used in the Fish Handling segment:
Fishing Nets:
Frabill Conservation Series Landing Net Model # 9515
Frabill Pro-Formance Net Model # 5515
Frabill Hiber-Net Model # 3600
Frabill Conservation Series Landing Net Model #9527
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Think your fly skills are better than the rest? Registration for the Teva Mountain Games Costa 2-Fly X-Stream fishing competition to be held on Sat., June 5 – Sun., June 6, in Vail is now open to the first 80 anglers interested in vying for the $1,000 grand prize.
As in years past, the fly fishing competitors will begin with a qualifying round of accuracy casting competition on land, where the top 20 male and top five female casters will advance to the semi-qualifier held at Gore Creek in Vail. These 25 anglers will cast into a variety of targets to accumulate the highest score and the top eight male and top two females will then advance to the final on-water fishing round on Sunday. Anglers will have the choice to utilize two fly patterns during the event to be held at a nearby river, announced the morning of the competition and chosen based on conditions.
The angler with the most total points, based on fish count and size, will win the grand prize of $1,000. Second and third place prizes will also be given, along with an award for the catch and release of the largest fish; with a total fishing prize purse of $2,250. All podium winners will receive a Ross Reel and the top ten finalists will score Costa sunglasses and other Costa gear.
The entry fee is $35 per person, and is open to the first 80 anglers to register. This event has sold out quickly in previous years well in advance of the event.
“Each year, the competition for this event gets more and more stiff,” said Chas MacDonald, president of Costa. “These are some of the best fly anglers in the world demonstrating the art and skill of the sport.”
Costa Del Mar 2 Fly X-Stream Fishing Competition
Saturday, Jun. 5 7 a.m.
Fly Fishing Qualifier Mountain Plaza/Vista Bahn Lawn
Each of the 80 registered fly anglers will attempt on-land casts at targets for accuracy and judged distance with the top performers moving on to the semi-qualifiers.
Saturday, Jun. 5 2 p.m.
Fly Fishing Semi-Qualifier Gore Creek/International Bridge Whitewater Park
The semi-qualifier contestants will move to Gore Creek, near the International Bride and cast into various targets hanging over the water or on the river banks. The top eight male and two female casters will move on to the Costa 2 Fly X-Stream on-water fishing finals.
Sunday, Jun. 6 8 a.m.
Fly Fishing Finals Location TBA
The Finals will consist of a timed float trip on a yet-to-be-named river with two competitors per boat, five boats total. Anglers will be able to use two fly patterns and winners will be awarded based on quantity or size of their catch. The location will be determined based on river conditions and announced the morning of the competition.
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 11, 2010) – The Texas State University team of Jay McCollum of Athens, Texas, and David Cosner of Austin, Texas, led the second day of the first National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship on Fort Loudoun Lake Saturday after catching four bass weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces for a two-day total of nine bass weighing 22 pounds, 13 ounces. The national championship, featuring a $100,000 first-place award, is a three-day nationally televised event hosting the top 25 teams in the country.
“The spot we got all our fish on yesterday did not produce today,” said McCollum, a senior agricultural business major. “Dinks moved in and the big fish moved out. We knew it was going to be a grind with this hot weather today. It got warmer quicker and we knew we had to adjust. We moved spots and moved to the right spot.”
Although the pair remained tight-lipped about their methods and locations they chose to fish, they did reveal a confidence going into the final day of competition with the lead.
“We feel pretty good,” said Cosner, a freshman. “I know anything’s possible on this lake. We’ve seen fish that are big. We’re just going to go out and stick with our game plan and dance with what’s brought us.”
When asked if they were confident about their success lasting into the final day of competition, Cosner said he was believed their pattern would hold up.
“We said that yesterday, too,” said McCollum. “We’re really good at overcoming adversity and really good at adjusting, so no matter what happens, top five in the nation ain’t bad.”
The remaining top five teams that made the cut to the final day of competition included:
2nd: University of Florida – Matthew Wercinski of Gainesville, Fla., and Jake Gipson of Niceville, Fla., (seven bass, 21-15)
3rd: Texas A&M – Andrew Shafer of Chadfield, Texas, and Paul Manley of Orange, Texas, (eight bass, 19-13)
4th: Auburn University – Dennis Parker of Prattville, Ala., and Shaye Baker of Reeltown, Ala., (seven bass, 17-12)
5th: Murray State University – Kalem Tippett of Murray, Ky., and Steve Miller of Lincolnshire, Ill., (six bass, 15-12)
The remaining top 10 teams included:
6th: Auburn University – Richard Peek and Caleb Rodgers, both of Centre, Ala., (eight bass, 15-0)
7th: Virginia Tech – Andrew Blevins of Pulaski, Va., and Carson Rejzer of Hampton, Va., (eight bass, 14-6)
8th: Ohio State – Kevin Moeller and Casey Hammann, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, (five bass, 13-10)
9th: Eastern Kentucky – Tyler Moberly of Berea, Ky., and Richard Cobb of Richmond, Ky., (six bass, 13-7)
10th: Indiana University – Jesse Schultz of New Albany, Ind., and Dustin Vaal of Saint Meinrad, Ind., (seven bass, 12-4)
A complete list of results can be found at: CollegeFishing.com.
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 10, 2010) – The Auburn University team of Dennis Parker of Prattville, Ala., and Shaye Baker of Reeltown, Ala., took the early lead at the first National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship on Fort Loudoun Lake Saturday with six bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces. The national championship, featuring a $100,000 first-place award, is a three-day nationally televised event hosting the top 25 teams in the country.
Photo by Gary Mortenson - see collegefishing.com for more photos and coverage
“We started off the morning trying a few pickup spots trying to get a keeper on the way to our main spot,” said Baker, who is a senior Spanish international trade major. “We caught smaller fish on our main spot during practice, and it was tough, but we only caught six or seven non-keepers today, so all the little fish are gone. If you get a bite, it’s a good one.”
“We’re going to go out Sunday and do the same thing that worked for us the first day,” said Parker, a senior building science major. “We are aware that some fish are moving up and there’s word that some guys are catching them on the bed, so we may go check out some beds for Monday. If we can get a limit, it looks like we will make it to Monday.”
The remaining top 10 teams included:
2nd: Murray State University – Kalem Tippett of Murray Ky., and Steve Miller of Lincolnshire, Ill., (six bass, 15-12)
3rd: Texas A&M – Andrew Shafer of Chadfield, Texas, and Paul Manley of Orange, Texas, (six bass, 15-5)
4th: Texas State University – Jay McCollum of Athens, Texas, and David Cosner of Austin, Texas, (five bass, 13-3)
5th: Ohio State – Kevin Moeller and Casey Hammann, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, (four bass, 12-3).
6th: Indiana University – Jesse Schultz of New Albany, Ind., and Dustin Vaal of Saint Meinrad, Ind., (five bass, 8-6)
7th: N.C. State University – Ben Dziwulski of Woodbine, Md., and Kevin Beverley of Fuquay Varina, N.C., (four bass, 8-5)
8th: Auburn University – Richard Peek and Caleb Rodgers, both of Centre, Ala., (five bass, 8-1)
9th: Virginia Tech – Andrew Blevins of Pulaski, Va., and Carson Rejzer of Hampton, Va., (four bass, 6-13)
10th: Young Harris College – Clint McNeal of Hickory Flat, Ga., and Brad Rutherford of Lavonia, Ga., (three bass, 6-8)
For a complete list of results, photos and more click here.
The teams, which represent the top five teams from each of five divisions — Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western — are the representatives from a tough season where teams fished four regular-season events in each division. The top five teams in each qualifying event advanced to one of five three-day National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships. The top five teams from each of those regional tournaments are competing in Tennessee for the title of National Guard FLW Collegiate National Champion, who will also qualify for the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup Aug. 5-8 at Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Ga. The winners will also receive use of a wrapped boat and Chevy truck for Cup competition.
College Fishing events are free to enter, boats and drivers are provided by FLW Outdoors and all collegiate teams receive a travel allowance. Each team competing in the national championship is sporting jerseys and fishing out of wrapped Ranger boats towed by Chevy trucks for the competition.
Daily takeoffs for the event will be at 7 a.m. at Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park located at 1648 Riverside Drive in Knoxville. Daily weigh-ins will be at 4 p.m. at TRECS Plaza on the University of Tennessee campus located at 2106 Andy Holt Ave, Lot 20 in Knoxville.
Country music star Lee Brice will be performing Sunday at 3 p.m. at TRECS Plaza prior to the weigh-in. Along with the concert, FLW Outdoors will be hosting the College Fishing Festival, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. through Monday, April 12 with activities including the National Guard Challenge, climbing wall and paintball. All activities including the concert are free and open to the public. Fans can also register for cash prizes presented by US Bank.
Each regular-season College Fishing event boasts a top cash award of $10,000 to be split evenly between the university and the university’s bass-fishing club. Regional events tout a top award of a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $25,000 for the school they represent. The national championship awards the top team with $25,000 cash, a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $50,000 for the school they represent. The Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, offers anglers the chance to win a top award of $600,000.
For more information about the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship, visit CollegeFishing.com.
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Photo by Brett Carlson - see FLWOutdoors.com for more photos and coverage
Pro Dean Arnoldussen of Appleton, Wis., and co-angler Todd Macker of Columbus, Mich., caught five walleyes weighing 33 pounds, 15 ounces to win their respective divisions in the FLW Walleye Tour Eastern Division tournament on the Detroit River. Arnoldussen started the day in third place but his big limit on Saturday gave him a three-day catch of 15 walleyes weighing 101-13 to win by more than 2-pounds over his closest competitor. He took home $31,232 for his efforts and again showed how impressive the walleye fishing continues to be on Lake Erie. Passing the century mark in just three days is an incredible feat. But this is not Arnoldussen's first rodeo or first time in the winner's circle on Lake Erie.
“I stayed consistent all three days,” said Arnoldussen. “I was in the lake fishing in about 14-16 feet of water trolling spinners; we just jumped around until we found some good fish and stayed on ‘em.
“I think the difference for me this week was the fact that I was fishing higher than most of the rest of the anglers. I was staying above the fish in about 7 feet of water.”
Rounding out the top-10 pros were:
2nd: Richard Fike, Farmington, Pa., 15 walleyes, 99-6, $3,425
3rd: Don Loch, Iron Mountain, Mich., 15 walleyes, 94-3, $2.936
4th: Tom Keenan, Hatley, Wis., 15 walleyes, 94-3, $5,946*
5th: Dan Stier, Mina, S.D., 15 walleyes, 91-11, $2,957*
6th: Mark Meravy, Shorewood, Ill., 15 walleyes, 89-11, $1,713
7th David Kolb, Rockford, Mich., 15 walleyes, 87-11, $1,468
8th: Jon Bondy, Windsor, Ontario, 15 walleyes, 86-10, $1,223
9th: John Campbell, Marco Island, Fla., 15 walleyes, 83-5, $979
10th: Ed Stachowski, Canton, Mich., 13 walleyes, 80-1, $734*Includes contingency awards
A complete list of results and photos can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
Todd Macker of Columbus, Mich., earned the victory in the Co-angler Division and took home $2,847. His three day weight totaled 100 pounds, 5 ounces. He fished with Mark Meravy, Alan Szoke, and Dean Arnoldussen over the course of the tournament.
“We don’t catch pigs like this back home,” said Macker, who fished in his first tournament ever. “This was just awesome; I had a great, great three days of fishing. This is like a dream come true, it’s an average fisherman’s fantasy!
“My pros and I were on the lake all three days, yesterday was just non-stop, I was with Alan Szoke and we must have pulled in over 40 fish. All of my pros were phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better tournament debut.”
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Troy Cox, Jonesboro, Ark., 15 walleyes, 95-10, $1,139
3rd: Joseph Bruno, Strongsville, Ohio, 15 walleyes, 92-04, $854
4th: Bruce Frevert, Centerville, Iowa, 15 walleyes, 92-4, $740
5th: Rich Carmack, Trenton, Mich., 15 walleyes, 88-8, $683
6th: Kyle Schuchard, Essex, Ontario, 15 walleye, 86-4, $626
7th: Randal Sterr, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 walleyes, 84-5, $569
8th: Mirko Canji, Belle River, Ontario, 15 walleyes, 83-8, $512
9th: Barry Gropp, Walled Lake, Mich., 15 walleyes, 80-13, $456
10th: Jeff Edwards, Washington, Ill., 13 walleyes, 77-1, $399
Overall there were 48 walleyes weighing 262 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 10 boats Saturday. The catch included nine, five-walleye limits.
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This will get you laughing on Friday afternoon.....click here to see what we mean.
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Scott Glorvigen(G2), CEO of Wired2Fish, can catch them too. Great job guys and make sure your waders don't leak!!
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DAY 1 - 2009/2010 FISHERS OF MEN $100,000.00 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
PRESENTED BY ABU GARCIA
With 26.95 lbs Mike Smith and Brian Jordan Lead Day One of the Fishers Of Men Guntersville Lake National Championship
By: Frank Evans Senior Writer
04/08/10, Guntersville, AL… The Fishers Of Men kicked off the 2009/2010 12th annual National Championship Tournament, Presented by Abu Garcia, on Wednesday, at Civitan Park, on Sunset Ave in Guntersville, AL. Over 350 competitors along with family members gathered for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship, thanks to the event host, Lisa Socha, and the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau,. Creek Path Baptist Church provided a delicious meal and Pastor Rick Douglas presented the message.
After a lightning delayed blastoff on the first day of competition, rain continued throughout the morning with fierce winds lasting all day. Still, with only two teams failing to connect, an incredible 138 five-fish limits were tallied, 25 of which were greater than 20 lbs each. In all, 141 teams netted 698 bass that weighed in at 2369.33 lbs.
With the closing of the scales, Tennessee East anglers, Mike Smith and Brian Jordan, took the lead with five bass weighing 26.95 lbs, including a 7.98 lbs beast that earned them Day-one’s 2nd Big Fish Award, worth $250.00.
Presently in second place, with an impressive 25.36 lbs, is the Alabama Northwest team of Nick Reeves and Blake Hall.
With a 7.17 lbs kicker fish, Shawn Holly and Robert Thomsen, Iowa Div, are now third, with 24.16 lbs.
Just .03 lbs back and in forth place with 24.13 and a 7.12 lbs kicker fish are Texas North-Central teammates, Ronnie Kelley and Blake Morphew.
Rounding out the top five of Day One and also tied with forth place, at 24.13 lbs, are Florida North’s Wayne Lindsey and Dusty McDevitt.
The Day One 1st Big Fish Award of $500.00, went to John Robert Jackson and Daniel Andrews for their 8.29 lbs brute. John Robert and Daniel are presently in the sixth place with 24.10 lbs.
This prestigious event is being held April 8-10 out of Guntersville State Park, with daily weighins beginning at 3:00 pm. We encourage the public to attend each day of this very exciting tournament. We expect more heavy bags of the easily accessible spawning bass to cross the scales in the next two days that will provide an electrifying finish.
This illustrious event is the pinnacle for the FOMNTT and its members. Culminating from 250 qualifying tournaments held this past year, the National Championship features the best teams who have battled their way to the top of their respective divisions, scattered throughout 25 states, in order to compete for the total purse of $100,000.00.
After Friday’s competition, the top 29 teams, by weight, will then compete on Saturday for the $45,000.00, fully rigged 2010 Triton 20 XS and the title of Fishers of Men National Champions. The new champions could be eligible for an additional $20,000.00 cash from Earl Bentz and Triton Boats, if they meet the qualifications of the Triton GOLD Bonus Program. Second place finishers will earn $10,000.00 cash, Third place pays $7,500.00 and so on, with last place earning an $800.00 pay check.
We want to thank Abu Garcia, Presenting Sponsor, along with Lisa Socha and Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau for hosting this event and Creek Path Baptist Church who welcomed us and graciously provided and served our meal.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible; Primary:Triton Boats, Mercury, Strike King Lure Company, Markel American Insurance, Abu Garcia, Power-Pole, Nester Hosiery. Presenting; Marshall’s Marine of Lake City SC, Keelshield, Solar Bat, Kistler Custom Fishing Rods, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Berkley, Lowrance. Official: Buckeye Lures, Jacobs Glass, Outdoor Specialty Products (Rejuvenate), Dual Pro Chargers, MotorGuide, Full Grace Gospel Church, Mizmo Bait Company, Stanley Jigs, Spike-It, Logan Fire Apparatus, T&H Marine, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers
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Elite Series pro Clark Reehm and the youthful Joey Nania are leading after day one of the BASS Central Open at Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas with 24 pounds each. Aaron Johnson is in second with 23-8 and Ray Hanselman is third with 23-2. Lisa Sternard had the big bass of the day with a 10-4 goliath. To read more about day one click here. |
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Wired2Fish Chairman Marty Glorvigen took some needed time off and landed this nice steelie yesterday. What a fish. Sounds like Salmon Paddies for the Wired2Fish crew at our next outing!!
The Steelhead weighed in at 9 lbs.
Great job Marty!
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Elite Series and Wired2Fish pro Jeff Kriet is on fire. He just finished second at the Bassmaster Classic and yesterday broke the lake record at Lake Murray in Oklahoma on a Big Bite Baits 4" Kriet Creature in watermelon red. He was using a Falcon Cara Reaction Series rod ( CCB-5-172SJ) for the catch. He was using 15 pound Hi-Seas Fluorocarbon. The largemouth weighed 12.12 pounds. Way to go Jeff!
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Have you ever been to a lake that has no lake map? No details on the secrets that the lake may hold. Maybe its a small state lake or a gravel pit or even a farm pond. Without spending thousands of dollars with a cartographer or mapping expert you can now create your own lake maps for just over 100 bucks. Topography, 3D elevations, bottom hardness and a full lake map that can be added to an SD card and used in your electronics...sounds great huh?
We saw this program in action this week and its called DrDepth.
DrDepth is a software application that runs on either a PC (Vista/XP/2000/NT4/ME/98 etc) or a Pocket PC (Pocket PC/Windows Mobile 2003 or later). DrDepth creates bathymetric maps from position and depth data delivered by your GPS and sounder. DrDepth can be used for mapping both on and off the water.
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The Bass Federation announced today it will conduct the inaugural High School Fishing World Finals in Russellville, Ark. on Lake Dardanelle, July 19-24, 2010. Anglers from more than 15 U.S. States and Canada are expected to attend this pinnacle event of TBF’s Student Anglers Federation and the rapidly expanding High School Fishing segment. All Student Angler Federation affiliated high school fishing clubs are eligible to register and attend this inaugural event and there is plenty of time left to get any High School club signed up.
Russellville, Ark. and the state of Arkansas Fish and Game have pledged an active role and support in the event. "Russellville is excited to be the host site for the 2010 High School Fishing World Finals, we look forward to having these high school students and their families here for the week, which will bring great economic impact into our community, as well as, allow them to see what a great lake area we have," Christie Graham, Executive Director of the Russellville Tourism said.
According to TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, "The event will be centered on education, scholarships, catching fish and having fun; we intend to do all this with no entry fee to the event. In the future, there will be a format for who attends the event. However, the first one will be the tournament that anglers years from now will look back on and say, "I fished the first one, in Russellville" and we want to include as many as we can. The Student Anglers Federation has grown rapidly and our team has put together a unique plan to handle as many High School Teams who wish to register and try their hand at becoming the first High School Fishing World Champion." Cartlidge continued, "If we have 100 boats or 1,000 boats this first year we’re ready for that, the more the better for the kids. Over time, we will grow; our plan is unlike anything the fishing industry has ever seen, and it will accommodate more boats at one event than there has ever been and do it in a fair and competitive format."
The High School World Fishing Finals was designed around a very unique model never used in the fishing industry, but still incorporates items from sports longest running and most successful events. The event will settle into a "home" much like "March Madness" is with basketball. High School anglers and their families will know July is the time to vacation to the High School Fishing World Finals. The importance of education will be reinforced during the event with two simple written quizzes required of each contestant, one on boater safety & ethics and one on invasive species & conservation. The results will have an impact on the final weights and event outcome. As stated, the event field is virtually unlimited in size to be as inclusive as possible.
TBF organizers want to grow the event to 1,000 or more boats competing and have a solid plan to properly manage those numbers. There will be no entry fees for the High School Teams. Each Student Angler Federation affiliated High School club can send as many two person teams they wish this first year. Each team secures its own boat to fish from and an adult non-fishing boat captain over 21 years old to drive the boat. The event’s "payout" will be in the form of thousands of dollars in post high school education scholarships, medals and trophies, and significant prizes for the anglers and for their High Schools. Students from all public and private schools that have graduated from the eighth grade, but have not started their freshman year of college are eligible to compete on a High School Fishing Team. Lake Dardanelle will go off-limits on Tuesday July 6 to all competitors until the start of the first practice day July 18. There will be multiple activities during the week culminating with official tournament days of July 22-24. Full details, entry forms and rules can be found on the website at highschoolfishing.org.
"For High School fishing, this is the culmination of years of hard work by a lot of dedicated people. All the state federations have supported young anglers since the very first federation was formed more than 40 years ago; youth is one of the federation’s cores values," TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated. "Over the years, others have stepped forward as well to serve the next generation of anglers, people such as, Ron Duncan, who helped model the national initiative "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" and industry veteran Terry Brown, president of Wired2Fish.com who started a "labor of love" that took eight years to get high school fishing in the schools and approved as a varsity sport in his home state of Illinois. The work done by Brown and director Dave Gannaway in Illinois is the "gold" standard in High School Fishing." Gintert goes on to say, "There are many others "out there" working hard to help young people. They all deserve to share in the credit on getting things this far. By all accounts, the next logical step is to bring them all together for a true High School Fishing World Finals."
The High School World Fishing Finals will be centered on a low cost family vacation of fun and festivities in and around Russellville, Ark. With its central location right off I-40, Russellville has everything for a perfect event where the high school anglers will be the stars of the show and a first class fishery and state park will highlight Lake Dardanelle.
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF), is the oldest and largest, organized grassroots fishing organization in America. 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 40 years.
For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com, or call 580.765.9031.
For more information about Student Anglers Federation, visit highschoolfishing.org, or call 580.765.9031
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One of our Wired2Fish guys and partner Brian Wilson fished the Jet-A-Marina tournament on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes this past weekend with more than 300 boats competing and spent time going back through his practice and tournament to hopefully help other anglers stick to their guns when faced with tough conditions in a tournament this spring. To read his article visit Unplugged or click here.
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Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in the spring are something special. The bass get in the bushes and on the flats, and there are ample opportunities to catch big fish on every flip or cast. Tournaments have been going steady for weeks on the lakes, and weights have been impressive. So my partner, Brian Wilson, owner of Cumberland Pro Lures in Burnside, Ky., and I were excited about the Jet-A-Marina tournament on April 3. This has been an annual tournament on the lakes for 22 years and is usually the largest tournament on the lakes all year
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Knowing the the Zoom Ole Monster is a great big worm will help you catch some big bass in the summer. It was one of the first baits that owner Ed Chambers designed for Zoom and to date is their largest worm. The Bogart, Georgia based company has several other great big fish baits including the Zoom Brush Hog and it comes in 4 great fish catching sizes.
Wired2Fish readers are a smart bunch and 4 of you got a 4 packages of the new Zoom Swimmin' Fluke to use this spring.
The winners of the Zoom contest were:
Tony Papazian
Salinas, CA
Matt Arledge
Brighton, CO
Kevin Waldrop
Fountain Run, Kentucky
Hale White
Thompson Station, TN
Congrats and your Zoom lures are on the way!
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The Crappie Master's Mississippi State Championship was recently held at Grenada Lake (April 2nd and 3rd). To put it in a nutshell.... They flat caught them! Chris Armstrong of Bandit Lures attended the event and reported the following information.
Here is how it works:
It's 7 fish a day total per day and 14 fish for 2 day event. Sounds pretty simple?
The winning team of Freddie Dooly and Frank Roberts caught 14 crappie that weighed 35.05 pounds. Tha is an average of over 2.5 lbs per fish.
The Bandit Lures Team of Blackley and Vancleave finished 4th. The next stop on the Crappiemasters Tour is on Kentucky lake out of Paris, TN.
Here are the final results:
1 FREDDIE DOOLY FRANK ROBERTS 35.05
2 WHITEY OUTLAW MIKE PARROTT 34.18
3 PATRICK STONE BRANDON FULGHAM 33.15
4 TIM BLACKLEY JACKIE VANCLEAVE 32.72
5 COY SIPES GILFORD SIPES 32.09
6 PAUL GREGORY DON GREGORY 31.89
7 JEFF HEATHCOTT BRIAN RAMM 31.43
8 CHRIS PENDER RON NOBLES 30.78
9 JOHN BOISE NOEL FERNANDEZ 30.77
10 VIC FINKLEY NATHAN HOWELL 30.59
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 Guck photo
Fishing fans can enter to win a free OPTIMAÒ battery, register to win an all expenses paid fishing trip with top pro Edwin Evers, and learn more about Optima Batteries from the 9-time Bassmaster ClassicÒ qualifier this Saturday from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Clarksville, Indiana Bass Pro Shops.
The first 25 customers to visit with Edwin will receive a free hat from OPTIMA Batteries. All customers can register to win an all expenses paid fishing trip with him, a winner will be randomly drawn later this year.
Evers, winner of $1.3 million dollars, depends on the patented Spiralcell technology housed in OPTIMA’s spill-proof case to provide 15 times the resistance to harmful vibrations that often kill inferior marine batteries. Plus, OPTIMA BlueTop batteries allow Edwin extended running time and more recharges than traditional batteries provide.
Edwin will provide spring fishing tips and more about the importance of using quality marine batteries during his 2:00 pm seminar at the store.
Also while at the Clarksville, Indiana Bass Pro Shops, located at 951 East Lewis and Clark Parkway, fans can snap a photo in front of the Toyota Tundra and NitroÒ Z-9 that Edwin uses on tour.
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The North American Fishing Club is offering a new caption contest on their website that begins today. Check it out and enter for a chance to win a great package of products. To enter click here.
Also, try their magazine for free:
Introducing the ultimate Fishing ClubThe North American Fishing Clubis the largest multi-species, freshwater fishing Club in the World. Members can take their fishing skills beyond the basics by getting advanced tactics, the latest tips, proper techniques and reviews of new products. The North American Fishing Club covers all regions and reaches those anglers whose passion puts them on the water throughout the year.
Try the Club Risk free. You can get a free issue of North American Fisherman magazine, the official magazine of the North American Fishing Club and a free 30-day preview of the club, including exclusive information and benefits, great gear giveaways and more. Click Here to get your free issue.
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Fishing rod mainstay Falcon Rods has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser to 2010. Their longstanding reputation of building high quality fishing rods like the Original, the Low Rider, and Cara T7 now includes a new line-up of HD, Bucu and microguide rods for 2010.
New for 2010, Falcon introduces the HD Series. Designed by Falcon to use the best components and materials available, the HD Series sets a new benchmark for performance and value. Features include Falcon’s proven fish-catching actions in both fresh and salt water, 100% graphite blanks, 100% Fuji guides and reel seats, and natural cork.
"We are thrilled to have Falcon Rods joining us at Wired2Fish" said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish. "They not only build a competively priced, high quality fishing rod that anglers have known for years but they stand by their products as well. Here at Wired2Fish it is our goal to align ourselves with the best people and products in the fishing industry and we feel with the addition of Falcon Rods we have done just that."
Chris Beckwith of Falcon said "We are pleased to support a valuable resource for fans of bass fishing like Wired2Fish, and look forward to working with Terry and the team at Wired2Fish in 2010. We see this as a great opportunity to keep in touch with our fishermen and keep them up to date on what is going on at Falcon."
Watch for great contests, updates from Falcon Elite pro-staffers and great promotions from Falcon in 2010
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 Elite Series angler Clark Rheem will be fishing Amistad
The BASS Central Open, April 8-10, at Lake Amistad is hitting it perfect this week. Water is up, bass are shallow, and large weights should be the norm. Look for the swimbait to again be the bait of choice at this event.
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Northland Fishing Tackle has taken pegging weights to a new level with their Slip and Grip Sling Shot Weights. "The SLING-SHOT® WORM WEIGHTS are the most versatile, innovative and affective worm weights we have seen. They are molded with a sleek weedless bullet shape and feature and adjustable rubber sling internal to the weight that “slips & grips” anywhere on the line with a a simple twist of the wrist.
We really like the slotted “quick-change” design that allows anglers to change weight sizes without ever having to cut and retying their line.
It’s very effective on Texas Rigs, Carolina Rigging and Live Bait Rigs, as well.
The Sling Shot Worm Weights come in both painted and unpainted models and weights from 1/8 to 1/2 ounce. They also can be purchased in unpainted models.
The Sling Shot eliminates line twist and line abrasion, doesn't tear up plastics and eliminates the toothpick or rubber stoppers that anglers have used for pegging the sinker.
To learn more about these weights or other Northland products click here.
They can also be also be purchased at Cabela's.
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Preparations are underway for the inaugural PAA Corporate Cup Jamboree, a one-day open team tournament on Pickwick Lake for PAA members, with more than $20,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded.
The Corporate Cup Jamboree will be Saturday, June 5, at McFarland Park in Florence, Ala., consisting of two-angler teams. A total of one in four places will be paid back, with Nitro Tournament Rewards bonuses of up to $7,000 and Phoenix First Flight Rewards bonuses of up to $2,000 for a qualified winning team.
“We have had a lot of demand from PAA members wanting an open event, and the addition of a Jamboree allows us to accommodate those members who want to fish, but may not be ready to hit the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series,” said Danny Blandford, PAA Program Director. “We would like to encourage everyone to come and join us in Florence for this inaugural event.”
“Pickwick Lake is well-known for its smallmouth bass and the largemouth population is coming on strongly as well,” Blandford added. “A 13-pound largemouth was caught and released in March, so we expect to see good catches of both at one of the best times of the year on Pickwick. Florence is a super host and we’re looking forward to returning to one of the best tournament sites in the country.” Participants can learn more at www.visitFlorenceAL.com.
The Corporate Cup Jamboree caps the annual PAA Corporate Cup, which was established to provide professional anglers with an opportunity to network with potential sponsors in a fun-filled and competitive atmosphere. This year will be the second Corporate Cup hosted on Pickwick Lake. This year’s tournament has been shortened by a day to provide amateur anglers the chance to learn more about the PAA and participate in the Cup festivities.
The Corporate Cup Jamboree entry fee of $250 per team includes two dinner tickets, for the Corporate Cup awards banquet and Silent Auction on Friday, June 4. It will be held at the Shoals Resort by Marriott. The cocktail reception begins at 6:15 P.M., with the auction and dinner to follow.
Participating teams can be titled with corporate recognition, provided the team has a company employee or has provided written authorization from the company to the PAA. The tournament will be televised with Pro/Corporate team highlights in a 60-minute episode. Live weigh-in coverage will be available Friday for the Pro Corporate Cup, as well as Saturday for the Jamboree, with assistance and broadcast provided by AnglersChannel.com. Be sure to visit FishPAA.com with daily stories, highlights, and the live weigh-in.
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Today on the Falcon Rods website Falcon and Wired2Fish pro Mike McClelland talks about the recent stop on the BASS Elite Series at Clear Lake and how the microguide Falcon Rods were an advantage. To watch this video click here. |
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Strike King Lures has a great new feature on their website with the Strike King pros called the Strike King Audio Blog. One on one interviews with the elite Strike King pro staff with questions from their facebook page and website. Chris Brown of Strike King does an excellent job with those interviews. This weeks featured angler is Mark Davis. To listen click here. |
Foster Bradley (left) and Ben Weldon from the University of Alabama proudly display their catches during the 2009 College Bass National Championship in North Little Rock, Ark. July 10-12, 2009. Photo credit: Adam Harbottle
The College Bass Tour heads to Alabama’s capital to kick off its 2010 season with the College Bass East Super Regional during the second annual Bite the Tail off of Cancer Crawfish Boil Saturday, April 10-Sunday, April 11. The College Bass tournament gets underway with daily morning launches at 6 a.m. CDT at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre docks and culminates with the afternoon weigh-ins at the College Bass stage at 3 p.m. CDT.
The College Bass Tour is tournament series consists of three regional events and one national championship. With more than 70 teams registered for the East Super Regional from more than 30 colleges and universities, this event is expected to be the biggest College Bass tournament to date. Plus this is the first time the state of Alabama will host a College Bass tournament.
This is why Alabama is blessed when it comes to bass fishing and we’re thrilled to have the best collegiate anglers here to showcase it,” said Branch Kloess, director of Riverfront Facilities for the city of Montgomery. “We’re very excited to welcome the College Bass Tour to Montgomery as part of our second annual Bite the Tail off of Cancer Crawfish Boil.”
The ultimate state bragging rights are on the line as nine Alabama schools compete in the East Super Regional, including Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, Birmingham-Southern University, Faulkner University, Montevallo University, Troy University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama-Birmingham and University of North Alabama. These nine schools will send 30 teams for a shot at the East Super Regional title and more than $7,000 in scholarship monies and prizes.
The Eastern Kentucky University team, Richard Cobb and Tyler Moberly, secured the 2009 College Bass East Super Regional title by more than five pounds on Clarks Hill Lake in Evans, Ga. with a two-day total weight of 24.84 pounds. But two Alabama teams landed in the top five; including Richard Peek and Mason Craver of Auburn placed second with 19.83 pounds and Kyle Tindol and Michael Eubanks of Faulkner claimed fifth with 16.8 pounds.
“We’re excited that the East Super Regional will be held on home waters. It’s a great way for the state to show off our excellent fishing,” said Tindol of Faulkner University.
Two-person teams from colleges and universities all over the Eastern region will fish for the 2010 College Bass East Super Regional title, more than $7,000 in scholarship monies and prizes and the ultimate college bass bragging rights. Teams will fish the Alabama River, known for giant spotted bass, largemouth bass, striped bass and white bass. Anglers from each participating school will fish for large-mouth and spotted bass 12 inches or longer, with a five-fish limit. The heaviest two-day weight will determine the East Super Regional winner.
“We’re delighted to bring the College Bass Tour to Alabama for the first time,” said Hank Weldon, College Bass tournament director. “It’s an honor for College Bass to be a part of the Cancer Crawfish Boil and help raise money for such a great cause.”
The Bite the Tail Off Cancer Crawfish Boil is presented by the American Cancer Society Junior Executive Board and Riverfront Facilities, City of Montgomery. Money raised at the event will go to cancer research, education programs, advocacy efforts and patient support programs. In 2009, the Bite the Tail off of Cancer Crawfish Boil raised more than $22,000 and offers fun for the whole family with live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors and interactive games for kids of all ages. The Cancer Crawfish Boil will take place Saturday, April 10 from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. CDT.
In its sixth season, College Bass will receive extended television coverage on ESPNU that will include coverage of the College Bass Super Regionals for the first time ever. ESPNU reaches more than 64 million households across the United States. Additionally, all Super Regional events will be live Web-streamed on www.CollegeBass.com.
For more information, please visit www.CollegeBass.com.
College Bass East Super Regional
Dates: Saturday, April 10-Sunday, April 11
Morning Launch: 6 a.m. CDT at the Montgomery Riverwalk Amphitheatre docks
Daily Weigh-Ins: 3 p.m. at the College Bass stage at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre
Participating Colleges and Universities
Schools Number of Boats
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College5
Auburn University7
Auburn University at Montgomery 4
Birmingham-Southern College1
East Carolina University 3
Eastern Illinois University 1
Eastern Kentucky University2
Faulkner University 2
Gardner Webb University 1
Georgia College & State University 3
Kennesaw State University 1
LSU1
Louisiana State University at Shreveport1
Mississippi State University 5
Missouri State University1
North Carolina State University 1
Purdue University 1
Radford University2
Southern Mississippi University 2
Troy University 2
University of Alabama 8
University of Alabama at Birmingham2
University of Georgia3
University of Louisiana at Lafayette1
University of Mississippi2
University of Montevallo2
University of North Alabama2
University of North Carolina at Charlotte1
University of South Carolina2
University of Tennessee1
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga2
Virginia Tech University 2
Young Harris College1
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Big Bite Baits, an innovator in plastic products that catch bass, has introduced a new insert weight that works great on their Super Shad swimbaits and Dean Rojas designed Cane Sticks. It adds action to the bait, increases drop rates and allows the angler to cast the bait farther. Check them out by clicking here.
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Facts of Fishing FYI today talks a Free Bass Boat, The Toyota Share Lunker Program, A Giant Kayak Tuna and The Latest Redneck Sport all, on this week's Facts of Fishing FYI. To watch click here.
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We just put up an article on knots for artificial lures that we think every angler should learn and be able to tie quickly for different applications. To see our list of "must-have" knots, click here.
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There is always a lot of debate about what’s the best knot for this application or that application. Truth be told, one knot doesn’t suffice for all situations. Growing up a Navy brat, I have an ingrained affection for knots. And I’m always on the lookout for the next handy knot to minimize the risk when the big one bites.
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FIELD & STREAM magazine and BASS PRO SHOPS today announced the dates for the 2010 FIELD & STREAM TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN CHALLENGE―PRESENTED BY MOBIL 1.
Now in its seventh year, the annual coast-to-coast competition to name the most competent sportsman in the land will kickoff with FREE qualifying events at Bass Pro Shops on April 17-18. This year kids are getting in on the fun, too, with their very own Total Outdoors-Kid Challenge with free activities, prizes and giveaways.
Widely celebrated as the country’s premier competition for outdoorsmen, The 2010 Total Outdoorsman Challenge will host FREE local qualifiers at 48 participating Bass Pro Shops on Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please visit www.totaloutdoorsmanchallenge.com for a complete list of participating stores.
Thousands of sportsmen and -women across the country are expected to showcase their skills in baitcasting, air rifle and archery competitions. (Competitors must bring their own archery and baitcasting equipment.) Spectators and participants at the events will also be able to sign up to win great prizes, including Rocky Boots, given away at each store, and a trip for two to Big Cedar Lodge
“If you love hunting, fishing and camping then you’ve likely been training for this event your entire life,” says Anthony Licata, editor of Field & Stream. “Being a Total Outdoorsman means you approach every outdoor experience as an opportunity to grow your skills and have fun doing it, and that’s exactly what this whole competition is about. It’s a chance to celebrate the outdoors and earn big money and bragging rights all for doing what you love.”
TOTAL OUTDOORS-KID CHALLENGE
Kids will be joining in the fun this year with the new “Total Outdoors-Kid Challenge.” A fun and free event taking place at Bass Pro Shops Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, from noon to 3 p.m. with prizes for all. The young outdoorsmen will be able to participate in fun, friendly challenges like bucket fishing, archery, life-jacket races and the sleeping bag roll-up. They can also enjoy other free activities like drawstring bag coloring, knot-tying lessons, the Total Outdoors-Kid Activity booklet and prizes at the Prize Wheel—all while supplies last.
TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN CHALLENGE REGIONAL & NATIONAL EVENTS
Field & Stream editors will evaluate the local qualifier results to cull the top 200 participants to contend in one of four regional qualifying events taking place in June 2010. Participants who place in the top three positions at the regional qualifiers will then advance to the final championship, where they will face off against the top three finishers from the 2009 Total Outdoorsman Challenge as well as one “wildcard” competitor selected from online submissions at www.totaloutdoorsmanchallenge.com. The Total Outdoorsman Challenge will culminate in an intensive, three-day, final championship event at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park in Missouri, September 9-11, 2010, pitting 16 of the nation’s top outdoorsmen in head-to-head competition in seven outdoor skill challenges: fly-fishing, bass fishing, rifle, shotgun, endurance, archery and ATV handling.
For the third year in a row, Field & Stream will host a regional event during the widely-attended, four-day CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn., June 10-13, 2010, the “crown jewel” of country music events. Total Outdoorsman Challenge defending champion Tom Boatwright will show off his keen outdoor skills against a field of country music stars in a special celebrity edition of the competition on June 11 leading up to the regional qualifier slated for the following day.
The May issue of Field & Stream (on newsstands now) features “The Total Outdoorsmen Guide Book” with instruction from five of the nation’s most successful hunting and fishing guides. Competitors looking for more information can check out Total Outdoorsman Challenge training tip videos at www.totaloutdoorsmanchallenge.com.
There is no fee to enter the Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge Presented by Mobil 1 and each event is open to the public. Anyone is invited to cheer on sportsmen from all walks of life as they test their abilities across a wide range of outdoor disciplines.
The Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge Presented by Mobil 1, enjoys support from: Bass Pro Shops, Outdoor Channel, Yamaha, Toyota, Eukanuba, Rocky Boots, 505 Games, ThermaCELL, Diamond Archery, Smith & Wesson, Thompson Center Arms, Smith & Wesson Firearm Care Products, CMA Music Festival.
FIELD & STREAM TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
Local Qualifiers—April 17-18
(Listed in alphabetical order by city)
Altoona, IA
Arundel (Baltimore), MD
Atlanta, GA
Auburn, NY
Auburn Hills (Detroit), MI
Bolingbrook, IL
Bossier City, LA
Broken Arrow, OK
Cincinnati, OH
Clarksville, IN
Columbia, MO
Concord (Charlotte), NC
Council Bluffs, IA
Dania Beach (Ft. Lauderdale), FL
Denham Springs, LA
Denver, CO
Fort Myers, FL
Foxborough, MA
Garland, TX
Grapevine, TX
Gurnee, IL
Hampton, VA
Hanover County (Richmond), VA
Harrisburg, PA
Independence, MO
Katy, TX
Las Vegas, NV
Leeds, AL
Macon, GA
Manteca, CA
Memphis, TN
Mesa, AZ
Myrtle Beach, SC
Nashville, TN
Oklahoma City, OK
Olathe, KS
Orlando, FL
Pearl, MS
Pearland , TX
Portage, IN
Prattville, AL
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rossford, OH
San Antonio, TX
Savannah, GA
Sevierville, TN
Spanish Fort (Mobile), AL
Springfield, MO
Regional Championships:
Grapevine, TX – June 5
Nashville, TN – June 12 at the CMA Music Festival
Independence, MO – June 19
Leeds, AL – June 26
National Championship:
Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, Lampe, MO – September 9-11
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 PB&J Jewel
Today on the Next Generation Tackle Box we review the Jewel Football Head PB&J jig for prespawn bass. To read click here. |
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Lake Dixon in California was the home of Dottie, a giant bass, hunted for years by many. Check out this video about the guys who chased her and how it ended. To watch click here.
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Episode 2 of Wired2Fish TV is now in the books and this week Pro, Denny Brauer, a known flipper and pitcher, showed his versatility with the Carolina Rig. Brauer’s a leading money winner on the BASS and FLW trials with the knowledge of the right technique for each situation. Carolina Rigging, also called “dragging”, is a big fish technique that allows the angler to better feel the bottom and its structure.
Part two of the show is another Wired2Fish Pro-staffer, Charlie Moore, who gets down and dirty on the multi-species side of things with a technique very similar to the Carolina Rig on the bass side with a live bait rig for walleye.
Below are the products used in the Rigging Systems mini-show.
Denny Brauer:
Rod: American Rodsmiths Denny Brauer Signature Big Carolina Rod. 7’6”.
Reel: Ardent XS1000
Tackle: Plastic: Strike King Rage Lizard
Hook: Mustad Ultra Lock EWG Worm Hook 2/0
Weight: Carolina Weights 3/8 ounce and up.
Swivel: Size 12
Line: 12-17 pound test (Mono or Fluorocarbon)
Charlie Moore:
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The Wired2Fish TV season is now underway and we hope you’re as excited as we are about what the future holds! Hard-hitting information all aimed at helping you become a better angler. In the process, we’ll highlight more tools to help you put more fish in the boat. Each and every week, it’s our intention to give you more information than ever before, and make it easy to reference this information for future fishing adventures. There’s no secrets….. We’ll list all of the products we use on each show.
The first show highlighted Elite Series Pro Shaw Grigsby and Walleye Pro Scott Glorvigen.
Below is a listing of the products used in the Finesse mini-show.
Shaw Grigsby:
Rod: Quantum Elite Shaw Grigsby spinning rod. 6’ 10” Medium Heavy.
Reel: Quantum Tour PTiB
Tackle: Plastics: Strike King Ocho 5"
Hooks: Trokar TK150 and Trokar TK110 for weedless (Texas) style.
Weight: ¼ - 3/8 ounce
Line: 8-14 pound test (Mono or Fluorocarbon)
Scott Glorvigen:
Rod: St. Croix Premier 6’ 6” Medium Light spinning rod.
Reel: Daiwa Advantage 2000
Tackle: Northland Gumball or Fireball jigs 1/16 to 3/8 ounce.
Line: 4 – 8 pound test. (Mono)
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In the inner circles of fishing Seaguar has always been noted as the pro's line when it comes to fluorocarbon. Dependable, rugged and easy handling has been its moniker. Seaguar has again raised the bar with TATSU, their latest offering. It is the line for those that won't settle for anything but the best. You buy the best reels, the best rods and the best baits, why not the best line too?
Named after the mythical dragon, TATSU is Japanese for dragon, Seaguar TATSU proves the dragon exits with superior quality. It has a tough soft exterior, great feel and a usability that is second to none. TATSU is built with a double structure process of two custom Seaguar resins. Extruded together this is one super smooth and tough line. Made exclusively from two different 100% Seaguar resins TATSU will be the benchmark for others to drive to.
Premier has now become platinum and the bar is raised again by Seaguar with TATSU.
How much is a fish of a lifetime worth? Maybe TATSU?
Check out the latest video by Seaguar and TATSU by clicking here.
Watch Wired2Fish for a detailed Next Generation Product Review of the line very soon
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"I recently purchased a spool of Tatsu 15lb. line from Tackle Warehouse. I could not believe I paid that much for line, but I want to fish with the best products possible. I want to tell you…that this line is outstanding. Had I not been aware that this was fluorocarbon line, I would have never believed that one could have a fluoro line this supple and easy to use. … I spooled 2 reels with the Tatsu that are primarily used for jigs and plastics. I also tied on a few lipless crankbaits just to see how the line would react. Now bear in mind I was using the Tatsu on a G. Loomis IMX rod and a Shimano Cumara rod which are about as sensitive as one can expect a rod to be. The Tatsu induced sensations I have never felt using other fluoros or any other line for that matter.
I just wanted to … tell you that Seagar has a new promoter and supporter of Tatsu. I am planning on placing Tatsu on all of my reels as finances allow. This line, in my opinion, is worth every cent that was charged. Great job on developing a truly remarkable line, and thanks for your continued pursuit in creating the "perfect fishing line."
This has been the line we have been looking for since fluorocarbon came out. I am just glad your group had the initiative to develop it first!!!"
Pete Carulo,
President
Bassmasters of North Alabama
www.bassmastersofnorthalabama.com
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Tomorrow morning launches our first move into broadcast TV here at Wired2Fish with a new segment on ESPN2 called Wired2Fish TV. With that change will come a couple of other changes that we will be letting out of the bag in upcoming weeks. One that we can report on now is Wired Radio with Terry Brown will now become "Weighing Inwith Terry Brown" . We talk to anglers and newsmakers in our sport and generally they are "weighing in" on topics of interest. Beginning next week we will have "Weighing In with Terry Brown" that are downloadable and will be found under the Wired Media heading on the site.
Today we have Elite Series angler Bernie Schultz talking about his career as a pro, his sponsors and how the industry is moving forward in tough economic times. Bernie "weighs in'' and gives his impressions on what the future holds and how being creative can help anglers.
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Poor Boys Baits has a new lure dye that not only works great but supports fishing in the process. From LureCraft, the Poor Boys dye comes in red, orange, chartruese, black, watermelon and green pumpkin and 20 cents from every bottle goes to the Future Fishing Foundation.
The unscented dye sells for $4.69 and can be purchased by clicking here.
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With water temps below 50 degrees a stick bait is a go-to lure. Conditions have to be right. Clear water is best but a little stain doesn't seem to matter. Fish are on the move and a little wind makes this bait perfect. We jerked the bait to depth and then let the bait suspend to a count of 5, then sweep the rod tip and jerk, jerk again. The fish hit on the pause most of the time.
With temps near 80 yesterday and the water warming a bit, 52 degrees, we found fish again moving up on an Illinois lake. Much like we found at Guntersville, the bass were on channel breaks and the Spro McStick was a perfect search bait for these staging bass.
Don't expect to catch a bunch of bass but the ones you do catch are usually good ones!!
Also, don't forget to watch Wired2Fish TV tomorrow morning on ESPN2 for more great tips.
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Denali Rods Announced today the signing or professional angler Mark Tyler to the Denali Pro Staff team.
Tyler has been on the bass fishing scene since 1997 and his accomplishments include Bassmaster Classic Qualifier, Bass Open Champion, Bass Elite Qualifier, and All-American Qualifier.
“Mark Tyler is a top notch fisherman and a top notch person, and we are thrilled to have him on the Denali team,” stated Denali Rods president Scott Estes. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch Mark over the years both on and off the water, and he is a tremendous advocate to the sport of bass fishing.”
Mark also owns the record for the largest bass ever caught during BASS competition, a 14 lb 9 oz giant on the California Delta in 1999.
"Denali Rods is committed to producing top-quality rods at value pricing. I used several Denali rods all season last year, and was blown away how balanced, light, and durable the rods were. I had zero problems. I am very excited for the release of the Mark Tyler Signature Series rod which has a unique length and action designed to be a true multi-purpose rod." stated Mark Tyler.
Tyler’s 7’ 4” Signature rod should be available this spring. Mark Tyler will be joining Michael Murphy on the Denali Pro Staff, with more signings to come over the next few weeks.
To learn more on the links below.
www.denalirods.com
www.tylerfishing.com
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Zoom Bait Company continues to come out with new colors and creative new products that catch more fish. Their latest new color is called Disco Violet and its a beauty.
They have also introduced several new baits with tail colors in blue and chartruese that look awesome as well.
To learn more about Disco Violet or any of the other great Zoom products click here. |
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By Alan McGuckin
He may be the world’s funniest bass angler, but Gerald Swindle is no April Fool. As spring’s centerpiece month, April is anchored by change, and Swindle is one of the best at preparing for everything.
His adaptability stems mostly from his high-energy personality and a past filled with three-hour jackpot tourneys that taught him how to catch fish in a short period of time on a wide variety of lures.
The 2004 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year let us take a detailed look at four lures likely to be laying on his front deck in the weeks ahead.
“You gotta have a lipless crankbait like the Lucky Craft LV-500 Max. As fish are moving shallow to spawn, it’s the perfect bait for casting across a flat where ditches are present. And obviously, anytime you’ve got shallow scattered grass it’s a player,” said Swindle.
Using the same Quantum model QEC705CB rod he throws the lipless bait on, Swindle cranks everything from rocks to docks in the year’s fourth month with an RC 1.5 crankbait. “You’re always going to have fish relating to rocky banks in the springtime, and that little bait is pretty tough to beat.”
Thirdly, Swindle is sure to rely on a standard pitching jig. “You don’t leave home without a jig when the water is still cool in the spring. Big females are moving shallow and few lures in history have caught more big bass than a jig around shallow cover in the spring,” said Swindle. The reel Swindle is currently using to pitch with remains a prototype mystery that Quantum will reveal later this summer.
Lastly, it seems the G-Man has become a believer in the swimbait craze. “If you’ve got vegetation in your lake, and it’s April, you better have a 5” swimbait tied on,” concludes the G Man.
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BASS Elite Series pro Bill Lowen has a new signature series knife from Buck. You can buy one of the limited models and also get some other goodies like a rod and reel in the process. Click here to learn more about the offer. |
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