 Perennial powerhouse Dave Lefebre ended one long-time relationship and started another. The Erie, Pa. pro signed with Chevy and will run a Chevy wrapped vehicle and boat wrapped in the black and yellow signature emblems as well as donning the gold badge on his jersey. He's always a threat to win and has been on a terror the last few years notching several top 10s in FLW Outdoors competitions and winning the PAA Championship last fall.
For more information on Dave Lefebre, visit his website here.
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Could anyone have imagined that anglers would have had the look that they do today? Gone are the jumpsuits, the bowling shirts and coaches shorts and today's anglers look professional, act professional, and feel better doing it. Not only are these shirts functional but the new hoodies, like the one Mike McClelland has on above, keeps sponsor branding in the forefront. A lot of credit for this look goes to Gemini Sport Marketing, The Image Experts, who stayed ahead of the latest in new materials and processes that are now the look of the anglers today. The Professional Bowlers Association agrees and they too have adopted the new sublimated look.
From top of their heads to their feet today's anglers are color coordinated. Check out Denny Brauer's new shoes. He has the All-American image dialed in with his red, white and blue image that says....Denny Brauer, wherever he goes.
To learn more about shirts, hoodies and other great gear click here. |
 Mark Menendez is having a contest to pick the best name for his new puppy. The winner will receive a tackle pack from Strike King Lure Co, Skeeter, Yamaha, BioEdge, and other sponsors.
Post your suggestion on Mark's Facebook Fan Page or email him here or from his website -- markmenendez.com.
"Let's pick a good name," Menedez said. "He is very sweet and loves everyone. He will become a very good Bass Hound!"
As an aside, click here for a piece our buddy Dan O'Sullivan did for ESPN on Mark's new fishing buddy.
Mark's little buddy chilling at the Strike King booth last week at the Bassmaster Classic.
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 Chris Lindenberg and George Toalson of Gene Larew
Most avid anglers dream of being able to have a custom color bait made exclusively for them to use, and for one lucky angler that will become a reality this Sunday, Feb. 28, in Broken Arrow, Okla.
The Bass Pro Shops store in Broken Arrow has teamed with local soft plastic manufacturer Gene Larew Lures to provide one lucky winner, determined by drawing, the opportunity to pick any one of the Larew bass baits or Bobby Garland crappie lures and then design and name a custom color for that bait.
“I can’t say for sure it’s never been done before,” said Chris Lindenberg, Larew owner, “But it’s certainly the first time we’ve ever opened our doors to a stranger and told him or her to come on in and let’s work together to make what you want. We think it’s a really neat deal.”
All visitors to the store starting from the time it opens today (Friday) until the closing of the entries at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday are eligible to enter the drawing, with no purchase necessary. Shortly after the closing, BASS Elite Series angler Tommy Biffle will draw the winning name.
Gene Larew Lures will schedule a time with the winner to visit the factory and assist in selecting the color combination, mixing the plastic, watching the first production come out of the injection molding equipment and then naming the color. The individual will be given the first 1,000 baits for exclusive use, and then the company will add the color to its product lineup for the 2011 product year.
“Any product we make at our facility under one of our brand names is fair game for selection, and that includes hot items like the Larew Biffle Bug or the Garland Baby Shad or Stroll’R,” Lindenberg added. “We look forward to naming a winner and seeing the end result.”
Gene Larew Lures has several other pro staffers joining Biffle in the store for the weekend promotion, including football-star-turned-angler Rashaun Woods, local fishing experts Mike Taylor and George Toalson, and out-of-state crappie pros Kevin Rogers, Charlie Rogers, Bo Hudson and Brad Chappell.
For more information, go to Gene Larew Lures website by clicking here.
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Check out the latest review in the Next Generation Tackle Box. We're going to try to do at least two a week now. It will cover everything from tackle to clothing and boats to lights. Today's review is on Kuru Footwear.
Click here to see more about these cool new shoes.
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American Bass Anglers (ABA) announced today that BUSCH and BUSCH Light have signed on as the official beer sponsors of the ABA, continuing the BUSCH brand’s support of the outdoor lifestyle with an on-site presence at the Bassmaster Weekend Series.
The sponsorship will cover five events: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series operated by American Bass Anglers, the American Fishing Tour National Championship, the American Couples Series Championship, the Annual Military Team Tournament and the American Bass Anglers BBQ Tour.
“Our bass tournament venues have the same footprint and provide the exposure sponsors like BUSCH are looking for,” said David Hagood, vice president of American Bass Anglers. “We appreciate BUSCH beers’ history of support for anglers and are excited to forge a new partnership.”
As part of the sponsorship, BUSCH and the ABA will also introduce new consumer programs throughout the season to strengthen the partnership.
“The ABA sponsorship is an ideal fit for the BUSCH brand,” said Charlie Hodges, brand manager, BUSCH beers. “Having a presence at Bassmaster Weekend Series events provides us with a great opportunity to connect with ABA members, and through several upcoming initiatives we will be able to broaden our reach to bass anglers nationwide.”
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RMR Industries is offering a 20% discount to Wired2Fish readers through March 6 for BTS and KVD Line and Lure. Put "W2F2010" in the RMR Store block labeled "apply code" at the bottom of the page. Click here to buy. |
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Check out this killer new video with Kevin VanDam and the new Strike King Redeye Shad. To watch click here. |
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Kevin VanDam won another Bassmaster Classic and Strike King again played a major role. The Redeye Shad was his bait of choice and the introduction of a new gold 1/2 ounce lipless jewel will make waves the entire year as a result. Remember Sexy Shad? Now Gold Sexy will be on the lips of anglers from coast to coast.
Another product that was crucial to his success was KVD Line and Lure Conditioner. Rods, reels and baits always get the notoriety in tournament wins but Kevin told Wired2Fish that Line and Lure made a big difference in his success. "I use Line and Lure all the time. In this tournament it was critical, especially during practice when it was so cold. Rod guides will ice up and because of the properties of Line and Lure I didn't have that problem. I was able to make the casts I needed too even in the cold conditions as the water was repelled off the line."
KVD Line and Lure is available today on the Wired Homepage through the ad at the bottom of the page or you can go directly to Tackle Warehouse by clicking here.
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The Sound Off Contest was a good one. Thanks to all who entered.
How good at knowing his anglers is Paul Huzyak from Ohio? His answer was "KVD, Strike King, Prototype Redeye Shad, 1/2 ounce, in pockets burning through grass". We had several people (7) guess KVD but Paul was right on the screws. A package of goodies are on the way to you Paul.
We just put up a new contest for a chance to win a Ardent F-700 Denny Brauer Signature Series flipping and pitching reel....get involved.
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Not only is Jeff Kriet one of the best anglers on the BASS Elites, he is also one of the funniest guys on tour. Listen to his candid interview with Wired Radio's Terry Brown about trying to beat KVD by clicking here.
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 Razr Rods® announced the signing of FLW Tour pro Greg Bohannan to a sponsorship deal.
“Razr Rods® is extremely excited to have Greg on our pro staff,” said president Rick La Point. “Greg has been a friend for years, and we are excited to have him on board. His fishing talent is one of high caliber, and we look forward to the future.
"Greg’s reputation as a Christian and devoted family man has impressed me and my staff. His character and integrity is a notch above the field. I look forward to a strong and long relationship with Greg.”
"I am excited about the opportunity to work with Razr Rods and Rick LaPoint,” Bohannon said. “They feature a light, sensitive, high quality rod at a very affordable price. They also include one of the best warranties in the business. Their unique Kevlar scrim cloth with the 58 million modulus graphite makes for an extremely strong product, and their new E-glass series is an awesome cranking rod.”
Razr Rods® plans to release a Greg Bohannan signature series e-glass crankbait and football jig rod late in 2010.
Razr Rods® is an extremely high modulus, American made rod with a Lifetime Unconditional Warranty. Check them out on the web at razrrods.com.
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 Travis Foster photo
(Pictured, Chris Wood, Terry Brown, Ben Dziwulski, and Kevin Beverly)
The Wired2Fish Team had a chance to hang out with the NC State Fishing Team at the Classic. College Bass Fishing is growing and with leaders like these young men involved the future is very bright! Go State!
Congrats to the Alabama Team for their win against Auburn. We look forward to covering the college anglers again in 2010.
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Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, and Tim Horton of Florence, Alabama, understand all too well that in order to catch the big one, you have to take care of our waterways. So they decided to spearhead a waterway cleanup in advance of the 2008 Professional Anglers Association (PAA) Corporate Cup on Pickwick Lake, Tennessee. Those efforts earned them a BoatU.S. Foundation Environmental Leadership Award , which was presented to the professional anglers this past weekend at the 40th Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake in Alabama. The award recognizes those who have made a significant impact advancing clean boating and educating boaters about how they can minimize their environmental impacts. The day before the 2008 PAA tournament Klein and Horton organized 13 boats of tournament anglers to clean up the lake. "We try to leave it better than the way we found it," said Klein, as the group hauled in more garbage than the bags could hold - hundreds of pounds of trash, tires and broken chairs. "If anglers from all around the country took some initiative while traveling to various competitions, it would help inspire the local community to continue the effort and help take care of their waterways long after we're gone," he added.
"Professional anglers are at the top of the list of true conservationists. We teach it to youth and we want to show it by our actions. Seeing my friends and competitors take enough time to fill a city trash truck with garbage was something special," Horton said.
The pair was nominated for the award by Kay Smallwood of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association through Life On The Water magazine. "It is great to see professional anglers like Tim and Gary involved in engaging others in conservation activities," she said.
"Role models like Gary and Tim, who make cleanup events a part of the professional bass circuit, can have an enormous impact," said, Susan Shingledecker, director of environmental programs for the BoatU.S. Foundation.
Two other groups, The Association of Marine Industries of Long Island, NY and the Punta Gorda (FL) Boaters Alliance were also recognized for their efforts at educating boaters about environmental issues.
The BoatU.S. Foundation selection committee chose this year's recipients from over 30 nominations, looking for individuals and organizations who have made a significant positive impact on the environment, contributed towards solving an environmentally challenging aspect of boating or boat maintenance, helped others understand the importance of clean boating, enthusiastically promoted clean boating and engaged others in their efforts.
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Registration began Monday for the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series that begins in July.
“Priority Entry I” registration, from Feb. 22-26, is for all anglers in the Top 100 of the 2009 Carrot Stix PAA Tournament Series Point Standings who plan to sign up for all four PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series events this season. “Priority Entry II” begins Monday, March 1, 2010 for anglers on the PAA Tour Points List.
This is the first of four registration periods for anglers who wish to participate this season. Tournament entry fees are $2,500 per event (4) with a $750 deposit per event.
Tournaments this season will include PAA member observers who will have chances to win prizes based on their pro’s performance, as well as a chance to compete in an all new Pro-Am format on Saturday. Details of both programs will be announced soon.
2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series
Schedule:
July 8-10Lake CherokeeMorristown, Tenn.
Aug. 12-14*Lake NormanCharlotte, N.C.
Sept. 9-11Lake TawakoniGarland, Texas
Oct. 14-16Table Rock LakeBranson, Mo.
Tournament format:
· 30 day off-limits before first practice day (no info and not on water)
· 3-day official practice (Sunday- Tuesday)*
· 1 off day (Wednesday) for registration and other activities*
· 3-day tournament (Thursday- Saturday)
· Full field the first two days
· Top 30 will fish the final day and weigh in at Bass Pro Shops store
· Pro only – must be a TOUR level member of PAA to fish any tournament in 2010 – anglers can become a TOUR level member of PAA upon registering for the Series events
· Member Observers all three days
*To accommodate anglers competing in the Forrest Wood Cup, the official practice period for Lake Norman will begin Monday (8/9/10) instead of Sunday, with no off day prior to competition.
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Chad Brauer just wrote his piece on where bass spawn and we've got it up today on Unplugged with Chad Brauer.
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Imagine
covering an event where there are 51 teams, three days of competition
and a 12,000-acre playing field. The Super Bowl seem like
a cake walk compared to filming this event.
For
the 10th consecutive year, CSE, formerly Career Sports &
Entertainment, an integrated sports and entertainment company
documented every minute of the 40th annual Bassmaster Classic that took place in Birmingham, Ala.
Feb. 19-21, transforming the fishing action into six hours of
short-turnaround programming throughout the event with same-day airings
on Saturday and Sunday.
Here is just a brief recap of what it took to accomplish the feat.
Bassmaster Classic by the numbers
216 – Hours of footage shot on the water
144 – Number of people on-site
44 – Hours of footage shot during the weigh-ins
40 – Number of features shot prior and during event
26 – Number of cameras at the event
15.5 – Hours of programming that will make it on the air (original plus re-airs)
7 – Hours of Hooked UP streamed live on ESPNOutdoors.com.
15 – Camera boats and tape runner boats
1 – Helicopter that only ran tapes 50 miles from Lay Lake to the Birmingham edit suites
1 - Helicopter shooting 15 hours of aerial footage
Technical equipment used:
8 – Avid Field editing systems
1 – Avid unity media network
2 – Mobile units including “CSE Mobile” and “NEP’s SS22”
18 – Cameras
3 – Networked 3D graphic workstations
Online resources needed:
4 – Publishers
2 – Photographers
4 – Writers
3 – Support staff members
1 – Hooked UP talent
1,200 – Photographs shot, edited and published
75 – Stories and blogs written, edited and published
150 – Kyte videos shot and published
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 In the second season of Bass Life, professional Bassmaster Elite 50 angler Casey Ashley goes on the adventure of his life fishing for huge peacock bass deep in the Amazon jungles of Brazil. The docu-reality style film takes viewers along on Casey’s trip as he experiences his personal “dream come true” on the Amazon River.
Last weekend, Ashley competed in the Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Ala. Although he’s competed in more than 40 professional events, Ashley is still a self-proclaimed “country boy” from Donalds, S.C., where he still lives when he’s not on the tournament fishing circuit.
 In Bass Life, Ashley takes his first venture out of the continental United States, and learns how another world lives. And while he may not have spoken the native Portuguese, the common ground of fishing connected the group. Ashley had the chance to land 16 pound peacock bass, using topwater lures – much different from the largemouth bass he’s used to catching back home.
But more than just catching a new kind of bass, Ashley experienced a new way of life.
“We have access to hot showers and complain when the hot water heater goes out,” said Ashley, in an interview segment of Bass Life. “But then you come down here and see how a whole different culture lives – they’re bathing in the Amazon along with the piranhas and all kinds of other fish that could eat you.”
See more of Casey’s trip, and hear his new music single “Fisherman,” when you watch Bass Life with Casey Ashley now on Costa’s Channel C.
To view more about Costa Del Mar, click here.
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Even though much of the United States is still enduring the wrath of wintertime cold, bass fishermen are already thinking about the action of springtime fishing. Bass will start out in their wintertime haunts then move shallow towards the spawning grounds.
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The Crimson Tide Bass Anglers seized the inaugural Bassmaster College Classic title with nearly 10 pounds more than the Auburn University Bass Club anglers.
Three two-man teams from each College Bass-sanctioned university’s bass clubs competed in the competition on Logan Martin Lake from 6 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 20. The Crimson Tide Bass Anglers weighed in a total of 24.5 pounds over Auburn’s 15.3 pounds.
Alabama will defend its title a year from now against Louisiana State University in conjunction with the 2011 Bassmaster Classic on the Mississippi River Delta in New Orleans.
Final Results:
Crimson Tide Bass Anglers
Matt Carter and Brian Morrow – 10 pounds, 12 ounces
Ben Weldon and Warren Hoffman – 7 pounds, 2 ounces
David Rogers and Jeremy Christian – 6 pounds, 10 ounces
Total: 24 pounds, 8 ounces
Auburn University Bass Club
Shane Powell and Jordan Lee – 8 pounds, 5 ounces
Shaye Baker and Andrew Wendt – 3 pounds, 7 ounces
Paul Davis and JT Murphy – 3 pounds, 9 ounces
Total: 15 pounds, 5 ounces
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The Wired2Fish staff had the opportunity to follow the anglers as they came off the stage and into the press room after weighing in at the Bassmaster Classic that concluded Sunday on Lay Lake.
 Here are some great quotes by some of the best anglers in the world.
Stephen Browning- "I think I am going to change my name to 'catfish' because I catch a catfish at every Classic. I saw a group of shad getting chased and pulled in on them and made a cast....you guessed it...a catfish." Catfish Browning ended up in 25th place.
Dean Rojas- "Today, all I wanted to do was stop the bleeding. As with most of the guys...I come to win, and getting to fish the last day is critical. I am just glad this one is over, and I am ready to get the season started." Rojas finished 23rd.
Jason Quinn- "I laid on the boat deck for two hours today, sick as a dog with food poisoning. I think I got the sandwich that Ike was suppose to get (laughed). I am just now feeling better."
Jeff Freeman- after weighing in and seeing his name on the top of the leader board, Crochet said, "Get a picture of that screen Terry. I am leading this deal." Freeman went on to finish 9th in his second Classic.
Billy McCaghren- 2009 BASS Rookie of the Year said, "This really motivates me. I have a taste for this now and want to taste it again. Now I have to take the second step and again prove I am worthy to be here by doing it again next year." McCaghren finished 24th.
"The Cajun Baby" Cliff Crochet, a uniform police officer in Assumption Parish in Louisiana said "Life is good. I hope I can fish well enough to make next year's Classic in New Orleans. That would be sweet." Crochet finished 13th.
Kevin Wirth who weighed in 15 pounds, 8 ounces on the final day and had two bass more than 4 pounds said laughingly " We all need to get Kevin down and wale on him. Man is he tough. I think quitting smoking both helped and hurt me this week. I wigged out for about 2 hours on day one and about two hours yesterday but today...no wig out and I caught them better."
Matt Herren-"I clawed, scraped, punched and crawled to catch every fish." Herren finished 7th and is "still running".
Jeff Kriet- "I need therapy. I had several premonitions this week and none of them came through. I would really like to trash talk right now. Kevin and I have had this happen on a couple of occasions before, and I do not like the way it has worked out so far." This is his second second-place finish in a row. He finished second at Oneida in the last qualifier in 2009 and finished second in the Classic. Seems like he is on a roll heading into the start of the season.
2010 Winner Kevin VanDam- "I always want to win, and it's neat to do it on the eve of my kids birthday this year. These are the toughest anglers in the world, and I am honored to fish with them. We need to continue to support our sport because there are people out there that do not want us to hunt and fish. I love this sport."
Congratulations to Kevin VanDam for another inspiring and impressive Classic win.
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 Sammy Lee of Tight Lines syndicated radio program created a new iPhone app for anglers called FishMate. The new app can tell you the best times to fish, let you store your big catch photos and tie them back to information in a log of your fishing activity.
“When I was a kid growing up on Smith Lake in Alabama, I had to read the paper, listen to the radio and study an almanac to figure out the best time to go fishing,” Lee said. “I never had one source of information that would provide everything I needed until now.”
A touch of the screen also takes you to current weather conditions, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction. There’s also an extended forecast prepared for your current location or anywhere else you plan to wet a hook.
Another touch of the screen loads tournament news, fishing tips and tackle information from informed sources in the industry, including the BASS Reporter’s Notebook and FLW Outdoors.
After you’ve used the information from your FishMate to set up the perfect fishing pattern, you can touch the screen again while you’re waiting for a big strike and listen to podcasts of “Tight Lines with Sammy Lee." Another fun feature, the Big’uns” page, allows lucky fishermen to post details of their catches, with photos, for other anglers to enjoy, utilizing social networking media like FaceBook.
The app sells for $3.99 on iTunes.
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A familiar trio danced around one another again at the top of the Bassmaster Classic leaderboard Saturday, but with a slight shuffle in the lineup. Wired angler Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., who was in third place heading into Day 2, jumped to the top spot with the day’s biggest bag from Lay Lake: 15 pounds, 10 ounces for a two-day total of 32 pounds, 1 ounce.
Day 1 leader Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, dropped to second place with 12 pounds, 7 ounces for 31-15 overall. Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, second on Friday, dropped to third Saturday with 13-12 for 31-14 overall.
Only the top 25 contenders advanced to Day Three and will compete for the $500,000 top prize in the total Classic payout of $1.2 million. The top three anglers lead Sunday’s “Super Six,” a group that also includes 2003 Classic champ Mike Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., with 26 pounds, 12 ounces, home-state pro Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., 25-11, and veteran Classic competitor Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., 24-9.
Immediately on their heels was 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, in seventh place with 24-5 overall.
Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., the 2009 Toyota Tundra Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year, made history Saturday as the first woman to make the cut into the top 25. Martin-Wells is 21st with 16-12 overall.
“I’m extremely proud of myself if for no other reason than it’s been tough,” she said, “and I’ve been able to grind out a limit both days.”
Several in the field of 51 have been fishing Beeswax Creek, within eyeshot of the daily launch site, and the top three agreed that the traffic and competition has taken a toll on Lay Lake’s bass. The lake dropped 1 foot Saturday, which also contributed to Saturday’s tough conditions.
Kriet’s Day 2 total was nearly 2 pounds heavier than the second best total weight of the day, a 13-15 bag brought in by Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala. Herren is eighth with 23-6 overall.
Kriet was grateful that several competitors who wanted to fish the same water have instead let him have a stretch to himself.
“My fish were positioned a little different than they were yesterday, I may just have to try to move around and try to relocate them,” said Kriet, who was asked if he’d gamble on fishing somewhere other than his prime spot Sunday. “The ideal thing is to let those fish rest. If I thought I could leave and come back and nobody was there, heck yeah, I have three or four other places I’d love to hit.”
Faircloth added that other anglers waiting for a chance on a hot spot made it difficult to leave the most productive location he has found.
“There’s so many of us sharing the same water, it’s like Kriet said, if you let them rest for a little while, you can catch one or two if you go back,” he said. “But if somebody’s coming right behind, where you just went – the fish are just getting hammered. They’re not having time to settle down. It was kind of like a circus in there today.”
VanDam admitted that, right off the bat, the water level changed his game plan.
“The water falling, I think definitely hurt me,” said the two-time Classic winner, who is fishing shallower than Kriet and Faircloth. “Yesterday I culled a 15-pound limit and a couple of 13-pound limits to catch what I caught. I didn’t see any of those type of fish today, it was just a whole different world.”
VanDam said the lake has changed a good bit in the last few days, and that the weather conditions Sunday – warmer air temperatures, an approaching front and a forecast of afternoon rain – are going to make for a completely different kind of fishing day.
“When you have conditions like that, the fish are going to be more active,” he said “They’re going to chase baits better. High bright skies and no wind is not easy fishing – it’s part of the reason, I’m sure, it was tough today.”
Iaconelli is one of the few in the top 10 who hasn’t been fishing near the launch site. He’s in 3 to 10 feet of water and spending most of his time midlake, fishing hard spots in front of grass, a pattern he found in practice with a jig and a crankbait.
The 2006 AOY said he’s fishing a finesse bait – an old finesse bait that has largely been forgotten. It’s a bait he said he carries in his “panic box.” He added, however, that his strategy for Sunday will likely be different than anything he has tried through Days 1 and 2.
“I’m going to have fun, try to fish a perfect day,” Iaconelli said. “I’m going to start in a couple areas where I had success; I’m not going to die on it, though. Within an hour or two, if I don’t feel it, I’m gone. Most of my fish are coming pretty shallow. That surprises a lot of people – you’re finessing wintertime fish and you’re still in shallow water.
“I’ve got to keep the faith that there are 20-pound bags to be had out here. That’s what I need tomorrow to win, and it’s not out of the question.”
Other notable results on Day 2: 2008 Classic champ Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, had the big bass of the day at 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and finished just outside the cut at 27th with 14-1 overall. The defending Classic champ, Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., finished the Classic in 43rd with 5-0. Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., the home-state favorite and 2007 Classic winner at Lay Lake, finished 49th after two disappointing days that included engine failure on Day 1.
The public is invited to attend the finale of the Classic at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex arena to witness the crowning of the 2010 Classic champion. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Launch is set for 7 a.m. CT Sunday at Beeswax Creek Park in Columbiana. All events are free and open to the public
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Spro and Bill Siemantel announced that the final prototypes of the new Spro BBZ-1 micro 2.5 are complete. Weighing in at a whopping 6 grams (1/4 oz) this heavyweight is sure to knock out every fish that swims. From panfish to trout in the early spring; to those hard to get monster bass and stripers that roam the waters in late fall targeting the smallest baitfish that swim. This little gem is the newest addition to the BBZ-1 line up. Once again Spro has taken swimbait fishing to the next level.
Production has started and Spro will be ready by July, at ICAST 2010. |
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2010 Bassmaster Classic ESPN2 TV coverage begins today at 10:00 am from Birmingham.
Below is the schedule:
2010 Bassmaster Classic TV Coverage on ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 20
10 a.m.-11 a.m. ET – Friday’s competition
10 p.m.-midnight – Saturday’s competition
Sunday, Feb. 21
6 a.m.-10 a.m. – Classic news and highlights
2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. – Classic news and highlights
10 p.m.-midnight – Sunday’s competition
ESPN Classic Mini-Marathon- Sunday, Feb. 21
5 p.m.-6 p.m. ET — 2003 Bassmaster Classic
6-7 p.m.— 2004 Bassmaster Classic
7-8 p.m. — 2005 Bassmaster Classic
8-9 p.m. — 2008 Bassmaster Classic
9-10 p.m. — 2009 Bassmaster Classic
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 BASS Photo
"I've always said that the toughest fishing in the world is when the water's cold and muddy," said Kevin VanDam. "Nowhere was that more evident than on Lay Lake last weekend during the official practice period. It was by far the most difficult Classic practice I've ever fished." Having typed those words in his blog just four days ago, VanDam followed it up today by doing what he "occasionally" does and figured out how to catch them better than everyone else. His catch of 19 pounds, 8 ounces, however, didn't give him a comfortable lead as many would assume given the extremely tough weather and shad conditions in the lake right now. Todd Fairclotth was only behind by a small margin with a limit weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces, followed closely by Jeff Kriet with 16 pounds, 7 ounces.
What's interesting is Faircloth, VanDam and Kriet are all in the same general area but not on the exact same stretches. So the area has a lot of bass but they are catching them in a variety of ways and they're not the only ones in the area.
The tournament is already shaping up to be a lot better than many anglers and speculators expected. And as each sunny day warms the water, the bite is liable to change and improve for most.
Here's an excerpt from VanDam's blog this evening after coming in with a somewhat "shocking" weight and day-one lead.
- "I said yesterday that I thought this Classic would be different
because you wouldn't need fish for three days. Honestly, when I wrote
that I believed one good day would be enough this year. After today, you
can throw that idea out the window. This will be a three day event.
There's no doubt about that. The changes out there since Wednesday are
dramatic and they matter.
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"Several writers have asked me what changed. Why are there so many limits
and so much weight? The simple answer to that question is the fish.
They're biting. It really isn't the weather, or at least I don't think
that's it anyway. The fish have developed a brand-new attitude. It has
really altered the way this tournament has to be fished."
Bassmaster.com has had great coverage of the event thus far, and we encourage all to check out what Ken Duke and his team are providing there.
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KVD not only leads the Bassmaster Classic after one day but he has some exclusive offers at the expo. He's showing off a few new products that are only available at his website, KevinVanDam.com, or at the Bassmaster Classic Expo in Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday.
The first product is the Shark Tooth Leader Control. It's a great little product that manages your bulk spools of line. It's basically a loop you can cinch down on your spool and feed your line through that has a cutter capable of severing 65-pound braid. The neat little tool is less than $5 and is only available at the show or on KVD's website.
The second tool is the Kevin VanDam Strike King Spinnerbait selector. This neat little tool is a handy pocket guide on which spinnerbait to select based on water conditions, temperature, clarity and more. VanDam poured out all his years of experience with spinnerbaits into a database, and the result was this easy pocket dial that marries the perfect spinnerbait to the matching conditions.
The final product is the Fish Sticks Lure Enhancer rub on. It looks like an oversized tube of chapstick but VanDam really bragged on it's functionality. "You can throw this in your tackle bag and it won't melt or get all gooey," he said. "The scent will stick to hard baits, worms or whatever and the application is quick and easy."
All of these products can be found at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo in Birmingham this weekend or his website, here.
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Today at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Ala., BRP introduced a team of four elite anglers as official ambassadors to Evinrude outboard engines. Dubbed “The E-TEAM,” the group will tour the U.S. over the next four months, outfitted with the most reliable outboard technology on the market, sharing real experiences and interacting with fans via the brand’s new blog – EvinrudeEteam.com, and E-TEAM specific Facebook, YouTube and Flickr pages.
BRP, through its Evinrude brand and its E-TEAM, will provide those who have a passion for fishing the chance to virtually climb aboard the rigs of some of the biggest names in professional angling and tag along as they fish their way across the country and push their equipment to the limits.
The E-TEAM is comprised of a mix of legendary bass and walleye anglers, including:
* Guido Hibdon (Bass Pro)
* Chad Brauer (Bass Pro)
* David Walker (Bass Pro)
* Paul Meleen (Walleye Pro)
The E-TEAM will blog, post videos and pictures and interact with fans relating to their on-the-water experiences as pro anglers, while pushing Evinrude’s products to the limits. The group will debut new Evinrude technology, provide tips and tricks of the trade and share stories from the water.
For more on the program, read the official press release at Evinrude.com.
To spend some quality time on the water (even when you’re on dry land), stay tuned for the adventures of the E-TEAM and be sure to follow their updates and share your thoughts on EvinrudeEteam.com, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.
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Gary Clouse, President of Phoenix Boats, announced today that they will introduce the fourth model in the Phoenix lineup at the Bassmaster Classic on February 20th. "We understand the need for a 18 foot boat that has the same features of the bigger 20 and 21 foot boats, says Clouse. "And the Classic is the perfect place to launch it."
The 618 Pro is 18’ 6" in length, with a wide 94" beam. "Its design is the same as its larger brother, the 721 Pro XP which was introduced at the Classic in 2009," adds Clouse. The 618 Pro has a 150 HP rating and touts the same running surface as the 721 Pro XP, which has been the most talked about boat since its launch. "These boats are re-defining design, performance, and fishability," says Clouse, "and the Diamond Vee hull design insures a superb on-plane time, superior turning capabilities and excellent top-end speed."
The 618 Pro is a boat that looks, performs, and has many of the same standard features as the 721 Pro XP, including the under-seat net storage, rotating tackle system and removable passenger console, but at a much more affordable price. "And, as all Phoenix Boats, the all-composite construction includes AME 500 resins and superior knit-type fiberglass cloth, adds Clouse. "I would suggest anyone who is interested in a new bass boat this year take a look at this boat. You can own this rig standard equipped with a 150HP motor for under $30k !"
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Jason Sealock talked with one legend and one rookie at media day on Thursday before the start of the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. Click here to read an interesting perspective from two anglers with much different experiences.
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Elite Series pro Gary Klein of Texas has been there and done that. He hit the scene in the 1970s and was confident and experienced even in his first Bassmaster Classic. Fast-forward a bit -- 28 Classics, a US Open title, two Elite Series Angler of the Year titles, 8 BASS Elite Titles, and two FLW Tour titles later, and Gary Klein has established that he knows a thing or two about putting together a winning formula when it matters.
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Kevin VanDam grabbed us and pulled us aside to show us some of the cool new products he's excited about this year. The coolest one we saw was the new Oakley KVD Signature Series sunglasses. We'll have full details on these "sick" new shades soon but for now here's a sneak peak of Kevin and his new shades! For more information on Oakley shades, click here.
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The Bassmaster Classic will return to “Sportsman’s Paradise” in 2012, BASS announced today. The 42nd Bassmaster Classic will be held Feb. 24-26, 2012, on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La., as the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority welcomes the prestigious event for the second time in four years – the fifth Classic to be held in Louisiana.
The Shreveport Regional Sports Authority was host to the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, which broke several attendance records for the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods.
“Shreveport-Bossier City is ecstatic to once again host the fabulous Bassmaster Classic,” said Mary Ann Tice, executive director of the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority. “Our community thoroughly enjoyed and was extremely proud being the host of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic and will once again wrap the arms of our community around the Classic. Our visitors and will again produce a record-breaking Bassmaster Classic!
“The Sports Authority is proud to be a partner with ESPN/BASS and the Classic sponsors, and we obviously love the anglers and welcome them with open arms back to the Mighty Red River and the Crown Jewel of Sportsman’s Paradise, Shreveport-Bossier City.”
Launches on the Red River through the three days of competition in 2012 will be from Red River South Marina in Bossier City, La. The Shreveport Regional Sports Authority will roll out the red carpet for Classic weigh-ins at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City. The 2012 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be at the Shreveport Convention Center.
Those interested in volunteering at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City should call BASS at 1-877-BASS-USA.
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BASS will return to Alabama, site of the 40th Bassmaster Classic and the state in which BASS was founded more than 40 years ago, for the second Bassmaster Elite Series postseason.
Toyota Trucks Championship Week is set for July 24-31 and will be played out once again on two Alabama fisheries. The first leg, the July 24-25 Trophy Chase, returns to Lake Jordan out of Wetumpka. The finale, the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph, is slated for July 30-31 on the Alabama River from Montgomery.
With the Bassmaster Classic this week in Birmingham and on Lay Lake, Alabama has hosted 11 Classic events. The 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season, which starts March 11 with the Duel in the Delta out of Stockton, Calif., will culminate with the two-event postseason in July.
The final day’s weigh-in for Championship Week will be in Montgomery. The 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be awarded a $200,000 top prize.
The top 12 anglers in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points at the end of the Bassmaster Elite Series regular season will qualify for Toyota Trucks Championship Week. The regular season concludes with the June 17-20 Sooner Run on the Arkansas River out of Muskogee, Okla.
BASS will match the prestige of the postseason with an ambitious multimedia schedule. As part of daily, live updates on Bassmaster.com, the popular webcast Hooked Up will host on-the-water coverage from practice and competition days, coupled with live post-competition interviews.
Postseason scores are calculated by taking the regular-season AOY points for each qualifying angler, moving the decimal one place to the left, and rounding to the nearest tenth. Additionally, each angler receives two bonus points for each regular-season win. For the two postseason events, anglers will be scored on a 50-point sliding scale. Full details can be found at Bassmaster.com.
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According to pro's attending Bassmaster Media Day at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center, the fishing has been super tough on Lay Lake during practice. Most anglers who are even more tight lipped than usual talked about colder and dirtier water negatively impacting the bite.
Greg Hackney, a longtime river angler, said that he felt the water was not that dirty. "This isn't muddy water. I have not found any water that I would consider muddy."
Aaron Martens said "its not so much about the cold water but rather the dying shad that has adversely impacted the bite. They can sit on the bottom or suspend and just open their mouths to get a meal."
Most anglers we spoke to said a 12-13 pound day for 3 days would be a good showing with 36-40 pounds for the win.
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Element 21will be the presenting sponsor at the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series.
Four PAA tournaments to be held in the Southeast and Texas between July and October will feature some of world’s top professional anglers showcasing the revolutionary Carrot Stix rods.
Carrot Stix technology incorporates the first nano-bio-fiber technology (from carrots) with the lightest and strongest metal components (Scandium).
With over 50,000 Carrot Stix sold in the past 18 months it’s proven to be a winning combination.
“This year Bass Pro Shops is the title sponsor of the PAA events and Carrot Stix is the presenting sponsor,” said Element 21 CEO Nataliya Hearn. “We are excited to have our partner retailer join Element 21 in supporting PAA tournaments. We are thrilled to be back as a sponsor for one of the best tournaments in North America and look forward to another winning year for our Carrot Stix brand.”
“Element 21 is a terrific partner for our tournament,” said PAA Program Director Danny Blandford. “Their industry-leading technology helps build our organization and provides a great experience for our anglers.”
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The Wired2Fish Crew took a tour through the set up of the Bassmaster Classic Show at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center today and its a massive undertaking. Boat and motor displays, tackle and the latest in technology with booths filled with products for bass fishing lovers.
The Classic show will begin Friday and its all FREE.
Over 230,000 square feet of displays in one location. An anglers paradise!
Those attending will be amazed at how much is available on two levels of exhibitors. This is one big show.
We also toured the Arena where Classic Contenders will be weighing in and its looking good as well.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic! Stop us and say hello.
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Elite Series pro Derek Remitz re-signed with his premiere sponsor Omega Custom Tackle. The maker of fine jigs and jigheads will again be the basis for his wrap and jersey on the 2010 Elite Series.
Check out his new wrap.
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Last March, Arkansas pro Stephen Browning got an offer he couldn’t refuse. It didn’t come from Brooklyn or Sicily or even Tony Soprano’s home state of New Jersey. It came at Lake Dardanelle, just a short hop from home.
While staying in Russellville with college fraternity brother Bart Langley, Browning, along with running partners Greg Hackney and Jeremy Starks, laid the groundwork for what has developed into a sponsorship arrangement for all three anglers with Langley’s company, the Bass Mafia.
“The Bass Mafia is going to produce apparel and accessories like measuring boards and tools, all of them fisherman-friendly,” Browning said. “There may possibly be some baits in the future, too. The three of us will be involved in product development, telling Bart about the little things that fishermen need.”
The company’s website will also offer extensive web forums and interactive appeal. Browning said they hope to cultivate expert pro staff in every region of the country, so an angler who comes to the website looking for information about “Lake X” will be able to get it virtually instantaneously.
The company’s motto is “Become a member of the family.” The next opportunity to do so will be at the Classic, where they’ll have a booth. “It’ll be our coming out party, so to speak,” Browning said. “I encourage everyone to join up.”
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Booyah Bait Company announced today that the company will give away 5,000 Flipstah Flippin’ and Pitchin’ Games to the first 5,000 attendees to visit the Booyah booth at the Bassmaster Classic. This constitutes the largest donation of product in Classic history, with a retail value of $250,000.
All an attendee needs to do is provide his or her valid email address to booth staff at the Classic sports show inside the Booyah booth. The email address will be added to the www.lurenet.com database. Those consumers will receive early notice of special sales or events at the website, which is home for all of PRADCO Fishing’s brands, including Booyah, Yum, Bomber, Rebel, Heddon, X-Calibur and more. Along with the Booyah Flipstah, each attendee will also receive a one-time use coupon code that will entitle that person to a discount of $25 off their first $100 order at www.lurenet.com.
In addition to the Flipstah giveaway, Classic attendees can participate in one of the most exciting events at the show. Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m., a product drawing will be held where 3 prizes valued at $500 each will be given away. The giveaways will be Booyah baits on Saturday, and YUM soft plastics will be given away on Sunday. Check the daily schedule to find out when Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Edwin Evers, Tim Horton, Matt Reed and Zell Rowland will be in the Booyah booth signing autographs.
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Falcon FTO Elite 800 series is a good choice for serious anglers who demand increased durability in their specialized tackle organizers. Joining the FTO lineup of organizational boxes that already includes models for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, is the new 804 Crankbait Organizer.
The FTO 804 crankbait box neatly and securely holds up to 20 crankbaits of various sizes and shapes. And as true with all Falcon FTO Elite 800 seriesorganizers, this newest model sports the durable flush-mounted LockDownTM latches to ensure the tightest seal possible. Other features for the organizer include corrosion resistant pinned hinges to stand up to years of use and abuse, and a crystal clear DuraView™ lid that allow anglers to see the colors and styles of their baits at a glance.
The Falcon FTO Elite 804 Crankbait Organizermeasures 12.5"L x 9.125"W x 2"H.
For more information, visit FalconFTO.com.
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Jewel just unveiled its new website design, making product research easier. Soon they will have how-to videos up explaining the different product lines. The new site highlights some of the new products on showcase at the Bassmaster Classic.
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Humminbird announced today the release of a new "VanDam Your Boat" promotion with their newest prostaff member, Kevin VanDam.
By signing up for the “VanDam Your Boat” promotion, registrants have a chance to win a Grand Prize that allows them to have their personal boat rigged with Humminbird products, just as Kevin VanDam will have on the BASS Elite Series circuit this year.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Humminbird team because now I have the competitive edge of fishing with Side Imaging and SwitchFire Sonar technology,” VanDam said. “I also have the confidence that my electronics will stand up to the tough conditions on the tournament trail. It’s going to be great sharing these fish-catching advantages with the winner of the Grand Prize.”
The five-time BASS Angler of theYear mounts a Humminbird 1197c SI Combo unit on the console of his boat where he can best utilize the advantages of Side Imaging®, Down Imaging™ Sonar, and advanced 50-channel GPS. At the bow, VanDam rigs Humminbird’s 958c Combo to give him great sonar detail while trolling over structure or vertical jigging using SwitchFire™ Sonar.
A special Web site has been developed for the promotion. Simply go to vandamyourboat.com to register. The Grand Prize winner receives Humminbird’s 1197c SI Combo, 958c Combo, and Interlink accessory. Registrants are also eligible to win one of ten Humminbird 798c SI Combo units to be drawn for during each BASS Elite Series event.
Registrations for “VanDam Your Boat” will be accepted until July 31, 2010 with the Grand Prize Drawing taking place August 2, 2010. Persons can register once each day during the length of the promotion. To be eligible for the contest, registrants must have legal ownership of a boat. Those registrants selected as winners must present a copy of their valid state boat registration in order to claim their prize. Complete rules are available on the promotion Web site.
For more information on Hummingbird units, click here.
For more information on VanDamYourBoat.com, click here.
For more information on Kevin VanDam, click here.
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Soundings Trade Only Today announced that Phil Dyskow, Yamaha Marine Group President, will be retiring from Yamaha Marine Group effective May 1. To read the press release click here. |
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Buckeye Lures, manufacturer of high-quality, custom-made baits, signed BASS Elite Series pro Marty Stone of Fayetteville, N.C., to their National Pro Staff.
Buckeye Lures is entering their 10th successful year with the same fundamental premise that put them in the bait business a decade ago: Quality lures built for fishermen by fishermen, using only the best components available. Adding Stone to the pro staff is in good keeping with that basic philosophy.
Jeremy Altman, President of Buckeye Lures, was the first to welcome Stone aboard the Buckeye Pro Staff, which includes other well-known pros such as Davy Hite, Anthony Gagliardi and Tom Mann, Jr.
“We’re excited that Marty has teamed up with us,” Altman said. “He is a perfect fit for the Buckeye brand because of his reputation as a quality person, his industry expertise, his solid fishing resume and his strong stage and media presence.”
Stone is a 15-year BASS pro and two-time winner on the BASS Elite Series. His interest in Buckeye recently intensified when he discovered the extent of the company’s product line.
“Buckeye is best known for their innovative Spot Remover series of jigheads,” Stone said. “But when I found out just how many other quality products they make, including jigs, spinnerbaits and the best wakebaits available, I was floored by the company’s overall arsenal. They are off the charts in terms of craftsmanship, attention to detail and a desire to bring only the best products to market. I can’t wait to go to battle armed with Buckeye Lures on the Elite Series.”
Stone’s first contribution to the Buckeye line of jigs will be his own custom colors.
“The design and construction of Buckeye’s jigs are perfect, from the tie-point to the hook to the overall balance,” Stone said. “The only things I can suggest are some unique skirt colors that work well in other parts of the country.”
“That’s the kind of insight Marty brings to the table that we can capitalize on,” Altman said. “He fishes from Florida to California and from New York to Texas. His experience on different fisheries across America can be a tremendous help to us.”
Altman also noted that Stone’s own innovative website provides an opportunity to expand product awareness in other parts of the country.
“Martystone.com is linked directly to Tacklewarehouse.com and Tackle Warehouse is one our biggest dealers,” Altman said. “So if Marty catches fish on one of his custom-colored Mop jigs out west or on the Great Lakes and writes about it on his website then folks can buy them at Tackle Warehouse; it’s a win-win for every body.”
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 The TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group signed BASS Elite Series pro Marty Stone of Fayetteville, N.C., to their National Pro Staff.
The TTI-Blakemore Fishing Group is a conglomerate of 10 companies offering a vast array of fishing products to catch just about anything that swims. Stone will specifically be representing Daiichi Hooks, XPoint Hooks, Bleeding Bait Hooks and Real Magic line lubricant and conditioner.
Stone is a 15-year BASS pro and two-time winner on the BASS Elite Series. His relationship with TTI-Blakemore began 10 years ago when he discovered the impressive qualities of Daiichi treble hooks.
“I’ve been buying Daiichi trebles as replacements hooks for my crankbaits for years,” Stone said. “My hook-up-to-landing ratio for stock trebles on crankbaits used to be about 50 to 60 percent. When I started putting Daiichi trebles on my crankbaits, it went to over 90 percent and I’ve been a loyal Daiichi user ever since.”
Stone’s success with Daiichi treble hooks led him to try XPoint offset worm hooks, which also improved his game.
“The points on XPoint hooks are indestructible,” Stone said. “The hook points do not bend or curl. I’ll use the same XPoint hook tournament after tournament because I’m confident that the point is just as sharp as the day I tied it on.”
In recent years, Stone has also become quite dependent on Real Magic line conditioner to keep his line clean and supple.
“Real Magic works on all lines: braid, fluorocarbon and monofilament,” Stone said. “When my line starts to get course, grimy and coily during a day’s fishing, I douse my spool down with Real Magic and it conditions the line, making it cast easier again.”
T.J. Stallings, Product Manager for TTI-Blakemore, is proud to have Stone joining the team.
“We’re certainly happy to have Marty on board,” Stallings said. “He has been a Daiichi and XPoint user for a long time. I’ve been keeping him in hooks for 10 years. And in that time he has also become quite a fan of our Bleeding Bait Hooks and Real Magic.”
“Marty has always been loyal to our products and now he’s officially part of our team,” Stallings added. “We look forward to working with him on researching new products in the future.”
For more information on TTI Blakemore, click here.
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YUM Soft Plastics announces the introduction of F2, independently tested to be 30 percent more effective than the leading attractant. Six bait styles are infused with this powerful scent, and unlike other attractant-injected baits, YUM F2 retains its suppleness and “swimability.” They also don’t dry or harden into unusable chunks.
Attract. Enrage. Engage. F2, or Ferocity Squared, is a highly concentrated formula clinically tested by the Mississippi State University under the strictest scientific conditions. Additional advantages include its ability to be infused in traditional soft plastics in any shape, long-lasting effectiveness and continuous dispersal of scent.
YUM F2 is initially available in four new bait styles and two existing YUM baits. The new baits include the Wooly Bullee, a flippin’ style bait; the Mighty Bug, a six-legged creature bait in three sizes; the Sallee-mander, a 6-inch swimming lizard; and the Shakealicious Worm, a 6-inch shaky head worm with an undulating skirt at the head. YUM Dingers and Money Craws also have been infused with F2.
For more information visit lurenet.com.
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Facts of Fishing FYI Hits The Road
Facts of Fishing FYI and it's off-the-wall host Dave Mercer are hitting the road. For the first time the online fishing news show will shoot on location at this year's Bassmaster Classic. A new FYI show will be shot and air each day of the Classic keeping fishing fans at home up to date with everything as it happens or at least as Dave sees it which is often two different things. As if that's not enough, Dave will also be posting almost hourly video reports through TwitVid and on his site www.factsoffishing.com. As for the fishing fans at the Classic; if you see Dave, don't be shy - say hi! Who knows - maybe you will find yourself on FYI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrwfKSzTpWk
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Through black ice, snow and cold, windy weather the Wired2Fish team (Todd Hammill, Terry Brown, Jason Sealock and Brad Raymond from G2) have arrived in Birmingham, Alabama for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.
So far, we gobbled up Skeet Reese and John Murray families Chinese food leftovers and swapped stories with the folks from Berkley, Mark Sexton and Tammy Cox, Minn Kota, Tim Price and Rich Christenson, and John Hoagland from Simms. We also ran into the Yamaha Marine Team, as well.
Gary Klein, Denny Brauer, Jeff Kriet, Kevin Wirth, Dean Rojas, Randy Howell, Gerald Swindle,Mike McClelland, Shaw Grigsby, Kevin VanDam, Tommy Biffle, Casey Ashley, John Murray, Matt Herren, Boyd Duckett, Skeet Reese, Brent Chapman and Mike Iaconelli seemed very loose and ready to get after it and stopped by to say hello as well.
We also spoke to Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona from ESPN.
Swindle again mentioned we were Wired2Sit....
Tomorrow is the final practice day and most anglers are still searching for fish so it will be a very important day.
Stay tuned to Wired2Fish for updates from the water and the Classic Outdoor Show.
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Kevin Van Dam is the E.F. Hutton of bass fishing. When he talks, people stop what they are doing and listen. Mustad Hooks just released some new videos and testimonials from Van Dam on his new treble hook. The videos really go into detail about what makes these hooks better. We can tell you we got some samples in the office and are very impressed with their look, their design, their strength and the fact that a bigger hook can go on a bait without changing it's weight or action.
Check out the videos and info sheets form Mustad here.
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 Hank Parker and Plano have enjoyed a relationship together for over 20 years. When the company asked the popular television show fishing host to design an organization system that takes all the things he wanted on the boat, and in a bag ... the end result is the FTO Elite Hank Parker Signature Series tackle bag.
The Hank Parker bags are feature rich. Rubberized non-slip bases keep the bag dry and prevent sliding around on the boat. Three protective structured pockets were designed to hold sunglasses, cell phones and cameras. There's even a special pocket for lip balm for those long days in the sun, a personal request from Parker himself. Integrated tool and towel holders on either end keep the most often needed supplies on standby for quick and easy access. Additionally there is a rear zippered compartment with large mesh pockets inside that are perfect for holding packages of softbaits.
The 4826 Hank Parker Signature Series tackle bag includes four 3600 series StowAway® utility boxes and has an overall measurement of 18"L x 13"W x 11"H.
The 4827 Hank Parker Signature Series tackle bag includes four 3700 series StowAway utility boxes and measures 20"L x 14"W x 11.5"H.
Click here for more Plano products and info.
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Berkley and BASS announced today that the Columbia, S.C.-based tackle company has renewed its long-standing association as an official sponsor and supporter of BASS. Berkley will continue as the official fishing line and soft plastic baits of BASS and its tournament trails.
The agreement includes sponsorship of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, the Bassmaster Federation Nation presented by Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats and the Bassmaster Opens.
“BASS and Berkley have for decades been leaders in promoting bass fishing and conservation,” said John Bartow, Sr. Director Marketing, Pure Fishing. “Our baits and line have played major roles in the evolution of bass fishing. Our Classic champions, winners of Angler of the Year awards, tournament victors and dominant team performances have all contributed to the growth of the sport, and we are excited to continue our sponsorship in the BASS programs.”
With the agreement, Berkley will receive significant exposure across BASS’ multimedia properties, including The Bassmasters on ESPN2, Bassmaster Magazine and Bassmaster.com. Berkley will also receive on-site exhibit space at all BASS events to display its product lines.
BASS and Berkley will also feature a contingency program for the 2010 Elite Series. The Elite angler who weighs the heaviest daily limit of fish during each Elite Series event will receive $500.
The Berkley pro staff includes Bassmaster Elite Series pros like Mike Iaconelli and Skeet Reese, each a former winner of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and the Bassmaster Classic. The Berkley team also includes past Classic champion Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., who will be defending his 2007 Classic victory on Lay Lake in the upcoming Feb. 19-21, 2010 Classic.
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Dobyns Rods recently announced the release of their new Savvy Series product line. The Savvy Series joins the already popular Champion and Champion Extreme rod collections. Featuring four spinning, seven casting, and two flipping / pitching rods, the Savvy Series offers the most popular models starting at a competitive $149.99 price point
Gary Dobyns, Owner of Dobyns Rod said "The “backbone” of Savvy’s quality design begins with the rod blank. A high-quality, top-end blank, is essential to a great rod. I really centered the design of the Savvy Series around the blank. I will not sell a rod that I cannot personally fish with, and it was a very lengthy process of refinement just to get the feel of the rod just right. As a result, I can now say with absolute confidence that the Savvy Series blank blows others at the same or even more expensive price completely out of the water.”
Quality cork carefully encompasses the rod blank on all Savvy models. A split rear grip is incorporated in all but the 766 flipping model, in addition to a no-foregrip design. The grip arrangement reduces overall weight, assures balance, and helps to facilitate direct hand contact with the blank.
Savvy spinning models range in length from 6’9” to 7’, and include medium light and medium power ratings. Meanwhile, the 6’6” to 7’3” Dobyns casting portfolio includes most popular medium heavy to extra heavy power and length combinations. Two flipping and pitching models round out the Savvy line.
Utilizing the same family of components as other Dobyns Rods, the Savvy Series boasts Kigan Alconite guides, a custom-painted reel seat with Fuji hood, and low profile hook keeper. Those quality features, highlighted with decorative wrapping and rod end cap, are deliberately included in each model to introduce new anglers to the Dobyns line.
“I wanted to make the Savvy Series good enough that fisherman considering a less expensive rod will look at the Savvy Series and say, ‘For an extra couple of bucks, I can get a Dobyns Rod with so many more features.’”
For more information on the Savvy Series, or Champion and Champion Extreme series of rods click here or to buy click here.
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The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at the Bassmaster Classic Expo in Birmingham, Ala., for the fourth 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 February 19th and is set to end February 21st. The trailer will then leave and head for Bass Pro Shops in Kodak, Tennessee.
 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 are excited about having the Experience Trailer on the road in 2010 and stopping at many new locations across the country,” 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.”
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
February 19th – 21st
Bassmaster Classic Expo
Birmingham, Ala.
February 26th – 28th
Bass Pro Shops
3629 Outdoor Sportsmans Place
Kodak, TN 37764
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Bandit Crankbait Fans...Bandit Lures will have a limited run of a new color crankbait, only available at the Bassmaster Classic Show. It is called Alabama Craw and is available in the 100 and 200 series models.
They will also have their mascot "Bandit" in the booth with us. Come by and get a picture with "Bandit" and check out their great line-up of cranks.
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Industry innovator Irwin L. Jacobs of Minneapolis will be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Feb. 16, as a member of the 2010 class.
“To be inducted in the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” Jacobs said. “I am humbled to be a part of the 2010 class and congratulate the other inductees.”
 As chairman of FLW Outdoors, Jacobs continues to bring industry-leading innovations to the sport, including the first $1 million first-place cash award. Jacobs also founded FLW Fantasy Fishing and continues to take the popularity of professional fishing to the next level. Launched in 2007, the series of fantasy tournaments complements Jacobs’ vision to grow fishing beyond the 50 million anglers who participate in the sport annually. FLW Fantasy Fishing allows anyone, regardless of ability or experience, to compete and win unprecedented cash and prizes.
Today, Jacobs continues to tap into the buying power of fishing enthusiasts through new ventures in business and sports. Throughout his career, Jacobs has owned and/or controlled multiple large, small and start-up companies. However, he remains a passionate and relentless innovator, linking sports and business for the benefit of sponsors, fans and anglers alike.
“We're thrilled to honor such a diverse class and highlight the outstanding accomplishments of these men,” said Sammy Lee, president of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. “This group has established themselves over the years on the water with rods and lures, with key decisions in the board room and to readers on the pages of magazines, newspapers and the Internet to help build our sport to what it is today.
“Numerous people have made an impact over the years to help improve and grow the sport of bass fishing we love so dearly,” Lee added. “We applaud these men in the class of 2010 and our previous honorees for their great innovations, strong dedication and intense passion.”
Induction ceremonies for the class of 2010 will be Feb. 16 in Birmingham, Ala., in the Sheraton Civic Center Hotel.
Other inductees are veteran anglers John Powell of Montgomery, Ala., and Woo Daves of Spring Grove, Va., fishing writer Tim Tucker of Cross Creek, Fla., and writer/editor/photojournalist/broadcaster Steve Price of Benton, La. Powell and Tucker will be inducted posthumously.
Established in 1999, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, headquartered in Hot Springs, Ark., is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. It‘s dedicated to promoting the sport of bass fishing through participants and fans and establishing a shrine to the men, women and companies who have supported and elevated this sport to anglers around the world.
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From Dollahan PR:
Whether a weekend angler or one who likes to tournament fish, make the most of any downtime during this winter's crazy weather to prepare for the season by learning from two of the most organized pros on the professional bass circuit - Kevin VanDam and Tim Horton. Both men say their gear is already in top-notch order for 2010 because: one, they learned long ago the value in keeping it that way, day in and day out; and two, doing so is a key to their success.
 VanDam is coming off the 2009 season with his fifth BASS Angler of the Year title and will have many eyes on him as he fishes for another title at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama's Lay Lake. Whether watching him fish in person or on television, one thing is perfectly clear - he never wastes any time fishing for something other than fish.
"I know exactly where everything is in my boat," VanDam explained, "and there's a reason for that. We have only so much time to fish on any given tournament day and the only way to catch fish is when the line's in the water. I can't waste even a few seconds digging for a particular bait ... I have a system for keeping things in the same place and in the same order so I can go right to it."
The Michigan-based angler credits Plano Molding Company for his tackle organization on and off the water, saying he's the "king" of the StowAway 3700 series utility boxes made by the company. "The 3700s, regardless of the specific models and configurations, fit my needs perfectly whether on the shelf in my tackle room, in the truck or in my boat's compartments."
VanDam says he categorizes all of his baits by type, by box. His Strike King crankbaits are separated by series designations, another will contain jerkbaits of the same model, and then there are boxes for heavy cover jigs, football jigs, finesse jigs, soft plastics, and the list goes on and on. For spinnerbaits, he says he uses a combination of Plano's spinnerbait boxes and pouches, again with each containing a particular size and/or blade combination. Of course, he has a box for spinnerbait skirts, too.
"I like Plano's ProLatch colors because they allowed me a color-code system adopted long ago that gives me a quick visual as to what's what. My jerkbaits will be in my blue latch boxes, my deep divers are in the gold and so on. Of course, the boxes are clear and that makes selections even easier."
He always puts his hardbait boxes in his boat's right compartment and his spinnerbaits on the left side. In the middle compartment are his swimbaits and some bulk plastics that he might go through several of during the day. His large assortment of soft plastics goes in a back compartment for better distribution of their heavier weight.
VanDam said he takes full advantage of the company's waterproof boxes as well. He explained that the first thing he does every time upon getting in his boat is to put his wallet and cell phone in a Plano waterproof box that then always goes in the boat's side storage area.
"Yes, I have to be in control of the things that I can, and tackle organization is one. Pay attention to the boat decks and compartments of tournament anglers, and you'll see many of the most successful ones are also the most organized."
 BASS Elite Series angler Tim Horton fully agrees. "Organization is the key to everything I do," he said. "When our tournament season starts, we can be on the road for weeks at a time so I discovered years ago that I had to get and keep my gear in tip top order from one event to the next. Once you get it that way, it's easier to keep up with what baits need replenishing, as well as adding new items to the mix."
Horton, like VanDam, said the StowAway 3700s are a big part of his fishing life, but that he also relies heavily on the smaller 3450s for things like his Carolina rig components, jigging spoons, treble hooks, etc. He explained having many smaller boxes for certain specific items can be just as valuable in saving time as space.
He said he also likes the Plano spinnerbait storage because it hangs the baits for easy reference and separation. "I'll have half a dozen or so spinnerbait boxes along with me on every trip, and there will be three or four of them in the boat at any given time with the spinnerbaits and buzzbaits needed for the water I'm on that day."
"What I'm doing for tackle storage is exactly the same thing that any angler can do. At only $6 or $7 each, StowAways are one of the greatest values in fishing today. And we all know how good Plano tackleboxes are because we grew up with them," Horton added.
For more tackle storage tips from Kevin VanDam, Tim Horton and other well-known anglers across the country, click here.
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Wired2Fish friends Ron and Jim Stevens have been in the fishing industry for years. They build some of the best lures in the business and are a US company with home offices in Springfield, Illinois. They just introduced a new website for anglers who love to build their own lures. Its called LurePartsOnline and they carry the largest supply of lure building components you will find anywhere. Check them out by clicking here. |
Mustad Hooks have been a staple among avid anglers for generations. Their swimbait hooks are some of the finest on the market and they've recently updated their website with some great videos on hook selection, rigging and other detailed tips on fishing swimbaits with their UltraPoint Power Lock Plus hooks.
Here is a little more about the hooks themselves.
Mustad’s 91768UB UltraPoint Power Lock Plus is the “Original Tube Body Swimbait Hook.” First introduced in the early 1990’s, a number of the hottest custom bait manufacturers, like Basstrix, AA/Optimum and MC Swimbaits, exclusively recommend the Power Lock Plus for use with their paddle tails, jerkbaits, slugs, saltwater dropshot, and other plastic baits.
Power Lock Plus has one of the most impressive lineup of weighted hooks on the market. Available in a full size range from 1/0 to 9/0 and a broad selection of weights including 1/16, 1/8, ¼ and 3/8 ounces, chances are there is a Power Lock Plus Hook to fit your favorite soft plastic bait!
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Wired2Fish reader Kenny Billings of Starkville, Miss., attended the Bass University in Dallas. Click Here to read his story of how his wife bought him the ticket and what the event meant to him.
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As the wife of an avid weekend angler, just like so many others across
this great land, she doesn’t have it easy. So many weekends our wives
sit tolerantly by as we disappear for hours and, on occasion, sometimes
days at a time in our fishing pursuits. And when we are not fishing we
are often talking about fishing with our buddies or reading about
fishing in one of the six or seven magazines we subscribe to.
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The Dollahon PR group just sent us this fun interview with five Elite Series pros wives about their husbands. We thought it appropriate for Valentines Day!
Happy Valentines Day to the spouses of all the anglers out there! Thanks for putting up with our addiction!
Stefanie Kriet (Jeff Kriet), 17th anniversary the day after the 2010 Classic
 DPR: We know Jeff as the class clown when we see him at fishing events. Seems he always has a funny story to tell and a crowd around listening. Is he this way at home or just when he's in the fishing circle? Also, we remember him being somewhat superstitious and wondering if you share in those, especially during Classic week?
Stefanie: Oh, that's Jeff all the time - he's definitely that way around the house. We have a 14-year-old daughter and when her friends come over they're always asking, "Is your dad here?" knowing there will be some entertainment if he is. If her answer is no, their response is often, "Heck, guess I picked the wrong weekend to visit." That could give me a complex, you know? While he's known for his pranks, he saves those for the guys and doesn't pull any on me.
Am I superstitious? No, not at all. We both know that Jeff has enough of those for all of us.
Stacy McClelland (Mike McClelland), married 7 years
 DPR: We've been around Mike quite a bit over the years and also see him on the TV coverage he gets, and he always appears to have the same demeanor whether catching them or not, being a "steady-eddie" type of guy. Is that the same Mike McClelland you know?
Stacy: What you see is what you get. That is the real Mike McClelland. He's quite level headed and even keeled all the time. He's always wanting to please everybody and rarely loses his cool. Fishing is an important part of our entire family. I love to fish, and we enjoy fishing as a family during the summer, with six lakes within 10 miles of our home (Arkansas).
Kerry Short (Kevin Short), married 17 years
 DPR: Okay, the "pink" thing has really worked well for Kevin in his boat wrap and fishing jersey, to the point that his nickname has become K-Pink. So what's the real story behind the color choice?
Kerry: Honestly, it was just because Kevin was needing a color for his boat wrap, a requirement that came with the original introduction of the BASS Elite Series a few years back. We looked and studied what everybody else was doing and they looked so much alike in the common reds, whites, greens and blues that we really wanted to do something different to distinguish him from the others. One day when he came home wearing his pinkish, salmon-colored Farm Bureau logoed work shirt I said, "pink," as he walked through the door. "Pink what?" he said. I explained that pink was the color he needed for his wrap and shirt. When we started looking for help in the design, I actually became interested in graphic design, developed his boat wrap and turned it into my career. It works out well because I can be mobile and do my job and travel with him. That's important to us both.
Sharron Biffle (Tommy Biffle), married 30 years
 DPR: As you know, we both had to work pretty hard to convince Tommy to get into the bathtub with his fishing clothes on and play with his "Biffle-O" for the Gene Larew TV commercial that ran on one of the ESPN fishing programs. Once he finally got into the tub and started pulling that bait around, he became quite the ham. You had to have had some interesting discussions with him that day. Care to share?
Sharron: Well, you know he can be hard headed, but he also has a great sense of humor so he appreciated the concept of the commercial. He was just a little nervous about how it would actually look, and he was somewhat concerned with how much fun the other pros would have in giving him a hard time about it. I told him he had to trust you guys because he and I both knew you had his best interest at heart. When he reluctantly left the house and was headed out the door to meet you guys to film it he said, "You do know I have to be in the bathtub with two naked models to shoot this, right?" and was gone. I'll have to admit I wasn't sure if he was joking or not, and then remembered what I had said about needing to trust you guys. The commercial was funny and he really did enjoy doing it. Did he get teased? Of course, but that's good for him.
Sherry VanDam (Kevin VanDam), married 17 years
 DPR: You're married to the top ranked bass pro in the world, you are his business partner and manager, you help maintain his schedule throughout the week, plus you have twin boys who become teenagers the day after this Classic ends, so our question is: how do you know what hat to wear when?
Sherry: Just like Kevin has to be versatile on the water, I have to be the same way on this end too. It's simply a matter of doing what you gotta do. Classic week is unbelievably busy and it's ever changing from hour to hour. Lots of really wonderful things happening with this one - it is Kevin's 20th Classic so that's a big one, Jackson and Nicholas turn 13, and we have family members who come together at this time. We do try to have a family night to celebrate the boys' birthdays while were here, but we also have our big family celebration for them during the Memorial Day weekend because that's when they originally came home from the hospital. This is a big week for Kevin, and neither his parents nor I have missed one of his Classics. I'm very proud of him.
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James Niggemeyer has a new wrap for 2010. It's a good looking boat wrap. We think it's sophisticated and smart looking and the colors will even be somewhat camouflage to the fish.
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Plano's SoftSider product line offers the widest selection of tackle bags available. SoftSider tackle bags are designed to serve a wide range, from the beginner to the seasoned angler.
The 4472 Open Top SoftSider tackle bag's sleek minimalistic design allows for quick and easy access to your tackle. Included are four StowAway® utility boxes allowing you to organize and carry all your tackle. A molded waterproof base protects the bag from early morning dew or water from the floor of the boat while a rain shield built into a back pocket that covers the entire bag and protects the contents from rain and overspray. Additional storage is provided by the mesh pockets on either end of the back, the two zippered pockets on the front and the large full-length zippered pocket along the back.
The 4472 Open Top SoftSiderincludes four 3700 series StowAway utility boxes. The 4472 Open Top SoftSidermeasures 14.5"L x 9.5"W x 8.5"H.
Visit PlanoMolding.com.
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Sam Houston State University fishing team of Clint Nowell and Jeff Randolph won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Texas Division event on Cross Lake Sat. with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces. 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 Texas Division Regional Championship where they could ultimately win a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s club and $25,000 for the school they represent.
“This is awesome,” Randolph said. “There is no other place that you can do this, except for FLW. I am just feeling so lucky. We drove around the lake last night for about two hours, and then I finally found a lighted dock that looked good. It was in about 11-feet of water and I knew the fish would be coming to the top for warmth. The dock was also close to some brush piles that really helped too. We didn’t catch a lot, but it was enough!”
“Jeff had me driving around for hours last night,” Nowell said. “But then he finally saw the dock and knew it was the one that would work for us. We basically stayed in the same spot all day; we just kept going in one big circle! We caught ‘em all on peanut butter and jelly football jigs.”
Although this was the first time the team fished Cross Lake, the duo placed fourth at the Toledo Bend tournament last October to qualify for the 2009 Texas Regional, and they look forward to going back in 2010.
Rounding out the top five teams were Angelo State – Josh Seale and Austin (one bass 7-14, $5,000); Texas A&M – Paul Manley & Andrew Adcock (one bass, 5-10 $4,000); Texas A&M, Kingsville – Cody Burell & Jerod Hawkes (one bass, 5-4, $3,000); Stephen F. Austin – Robert Platt and Ryan Watkins (one bass, 3-8, $2,000).
FLW Outdoors announced the College Fishing trail in May 2008. Full-time students enrolled in four year colleges or universities are eligible to participate in the events. Schools can send two-person teams to each of the four qualifying events in their division, with each event limited to a maximum of 40 teams. Each team has the opportunity to win $10,000 for first through $2,000 for fifth place. Prize money is split evenly between the winning team’s club and the school they represent. The tournaments are free to enter, boats and drivers are provided by FLW and all collegiate teams receive a travel allowance. The top five teams in each qualifying event advance to one of five televised three-day National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships.
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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Tommy Biffle is all business on the lake, but we think his new wrap is "buggin'." Actually his Ranger looks pretty good donning the new Biffle Bug image on a black background with orange Larew lettering across the back for his sponsor Gene Larew. What do you think?
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Who ever said pink clashed with camouflage? Not K-Pink! Crystal Dollahon sent us a pic of Kevin Short's new wrap for 2010. It's blending his signature pink with some camouflage and prominent attention to BassCat Boats and Jewel Bait Co. Looking good!
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Our long-awaited re-design of our site launched today. This version of Wired2Fish.com will hopefully enable fans to access content easier and the interfaces should be cleaner and quicker on whichever browser you choose. We're still tweaking some of the content and ancillary pages but we hope you like what we've done with your place to hang out and catch up on what's new and interesting in fishing.
Send us your thoughts on our feedback page or jump over to our Facebook Fan Page and join in the rapidly growing community and discussion groups over there. We've got our 5,000 Contest still going there. Be sure to check it out to get in on a chance to win some great prizes.
Thanks for the visit and as always feel free to holler at us if we can do something for you.
- Terry, Todd and Jason
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 Northland Tackle introduced the Stud Finder Swimbait today. It's not really a swimbait per se, but rather a vibrating jig like a chatterbait made with heavy-duty quality components for larger freshwater predators.
The Stud Finder™ is 10-inches of solid engineering for monster muskies, pike and even stripers. This new offering is designed with a sculpted Baitfish-Image™ head, and thumping Rock-R-Blade that chatters and rocks the shimmering Flashabou® FlirtSkirt™ to life.
“I’ve thrown a lot of great pike and muskie baits over the years, but the new Stud Finder™ Swimbait offers fish the most incredible combination of flash, action and profile I’ve seen,” said Team Northland member and legendary muskie guide, Al Maas. “To a great big toothy predator, these are the factors that flip the eat switch. You’ll feel the ‘thump’ in your rod tip – this versatile bait out-swims, out-wiggles and out-fishes anything else in your big-fish box.”
Complete with tandem 8/0 Mustad Ultra-Point™ hooks, the Stud Finder Swimbait is available in nine Baitfish-Image™ color patterns that mimic live baitfish, such as Black Sucker, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Tullibee Purple, Salmon Pink, Redhorse, Cisco Blue, Black Tiger and Firetiger.
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 John Crews, a four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier from Salem, Va., is proud to announce two new promotional partnerships. Carolina Lunker Sauce is becoming part of John’s fishing arsenal and promotional efforts. John will use and promote the full line of innovative scent products. Carolina Lunker Sauce uses a patented formula that lasts more than 30 minutes per application and dissolves behind the path of the bait for a more life-like scent trail.
“Lunker Sauce is a great product,” Crews said. “I can tell you a number of stories where I saw a difference when using it. I promise all my soft plastics will be on the Sauce! Now, the gels can be used on hard plastic baits like SPRO Little Johns. It is another factor that will give me a few more bites during a tournament week and that is very important to my success.”
Also, Vicious Fishing partnered with Crews for 2010. Vicious Fishing makes all types of fishing lines and other fishing accessories. John will fish exclusively with their Ultimate Fishing line (co-polymer mono), Vicious Fluorocarbon line, and Vicious Braid. Crews joins an outstanding pro staff including Gerald Swindle, Marty Stone, Pete Ponds, Tim Horton and Kevin Short.
“Fishing line is very important to me and my career,” Crews said. “Vicious makes a quality product at prices that people can afford. They make a sweet fluorocarbon, a fantastic mono and an awesome braid. The best part is that the company is privately owned by a wonderful family, not a big corporation that is strictly profit driven.”
For more information about Crews, click here.
For more information about Carolina Lunker Sauce, click here.
For more information about Vicious Fishing, click here.
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 Navionics has been debuting their all encompassing Navionics Mobile Hot Maps program for the iPhone at the Miami Boat Show this week. A single app will be available in the distant future but for now the good news is a new 4.0 version of their ever popular four mobile hot maps applications is coming soon.
I used this app a lot this year on my iPhone to store fishing spots. The GPS is quick updating and very robust, allowing you to geo-tag photos on your favorite fishing spots, name your spots with long names, find land marks and more. The new app will allow for Google Earth satellite imagery which is extremely helpful in finding docks and man-made structure to fish as well as helping you get your bearings on unfamiliar waters.
We will have a product review of the new 4.0 version in a few weeks in the Next Generation Tackle Box presented by Plano.
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Elite Series pro Russell Lane of Prattville, Ala., hit Lay Lake this morning for his first day of Classic practice, and he did so in his newly wrapped BassCat shown here. His wrap features Big Bite Baits and their Biobait line of products.
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Elite Series pro Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala., had the finishing touches put on his 2010 boat wrap just in time to pull it down the road and head to Lay Lake for the Classic. We're digging those Trokar effects and black colors.
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John Charvat passed away a decade ago following a highly influential career in the fishing industry, but back in the 1980’s he made a young Gary Klein part of something else that was also quite youthful – a fresh new fishing brand called Quantum.
For some good reason, Charvat felt compelled to take the young, sandy blond-haired, bass-obsessed angler from northern California under his wing.
“I don’t know if Mr. Charvat was intrigued by my age or what, but I was really, really young when he made me a part of their new brand’s family of anglers,” Klein said, while preparing to compete in his 28th Bassmaster Classic. “The brand was launched by great leaders. John Chravat and John Gallaspy were not only great men, but they became great friends to the anglers too.
“That friendship was important for a lot of reasons. For one, we were pioneering new ground together. We were the first reel company to ever make technique specific reels with varying gear ratios and the sort of features anglers now take for granted. There were challenges, but together, management, anglers and the Quantum brand grew.”
Klein draws on nearly a quarter-of-a-century’s worth of perspective as he describes the brand’s current state in a fired-up fashion.
“After a run of more corporately driven years, the brand has returned to its roots,” Klein said. “Bob Bagby, Ray More, John Kushnerick, Chris Strickland and the other guys that lead the brand today aren’t looking over their shoulder. They love what they do. They are outdoorsmen. And when you combine passion with the freedom to be creative, you get the liberty to be and build the best.”
“Quantum’s current management team takes product development to its extreme. ‘Performance Tuned’ means just that. It’s tuned to perform at the highest level. I’ve got the only flip stick in the business with a revolver guide system to provide better balance when fighting fish out of the cover, my spinning reels have heat-resistant ceramic drag systems in them to prevent breaking lighter line on big fish, the list goes on and on. It’s the best stuff we’ve ever had. It’s over-the-top good right now,” proclaimed Klein.
And Klein should know, he’s been a part of Quantum, and Quantum’s been a part of Klein, since the two began their careers
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With more than 50 years in the tackle storage business, Plano has always been ahead of the curve in developing innovative new storage solutions. The company also recognizes that keeping up with consumers is as important as keeping products current, so Plano has enlisted the services of industry experts to do just that.
Jason Say is a web and social networking expert who will lead an aggressive online marketing campaign to help Plano interact with its longtime loyal customers and the newer generation, alike. Say knows the outdoor recreation industry well through his development of the Pennsylvania Sportsman Portal and Wired Outdoors web sites. Through Say's involvement and expertise, Plano will have a big presence on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, while also interacting with customers through live streaming video at shows and events, including the 2010 Bassmaster Classic.
Plano also recently hired Dollahon PR (DPR), whose co-owners have a combined 40 years of public relations experience. Gary Dollahon has worked in the outdoor recreation industry for more than 35 years and has worked with Plano in a variety of public relations and promotional capacities over a span of 20 years. DPR will keep the media and customers informed about and interested in Plano's products, pro staff news and company information through a comprehensive public relations campaign. The Dollahons will also work closely with Say to provide timely and relevant content for Plano's fishing and hunting products.
"Communication with our customers is more important than ever, and we're excited to bring this solid team of experts on board to help us stay connected," said Jesse Simpkins, Plano vice president of marketing. "Both parties are very talented in their respective areas, and their services will complement each other and Plano Molding Co. well."
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Yamaha Extends Sponsorship and Commitment to Tournament Bass Fishing
FLW Outdoors announced Thursday that Yamaha has renewed their partnership with FLW Outdoors, marking their 10th consecutive year of sponsorship with the organization. The long standing relationship emphasizes their commitment to tournament fishing while fostering relationships within the industry.
“Yamaha's commitment to quality and cutting-edge technology has made them a leader in our industry," said Trisha Blake, Chief Marketing Officer & Senior Vice President of FLW Outdoors. "FLW Outdoors is proud to once again align itself with Yamaha and continue to build upon our longstanding partnership during the 2010 season.”
Yamaha will receive premiere co-engine sponsorship across the various platforms of FLW Outdoors, including all bass and walleye events, FLW Outdoors’ multiple websites, FLW Outdoors Magazine, “FLW Outdoors” television show on Versus and additional functions operated by FLW Outdoors.
“We are pleased to be a sponsor of FLW Outdoors,” said Dale Barnes, Yamaha Marine Group Marketing Division Manager. “Our relationship with FLW Outdoors gives us a great opportunity to showcase our game-changing new outboard, the VMAX® SHO™.”
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Check out Bassmaster Classic Contender and Wired2Fish angler Denny Brauer's new boat wrap. Sweet looking wrap and a great lure company...Strike King.
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The 2009 season was a remarkable one for Mayflower, Ark. pro Billy McCaghren. His season, which included a 3rd place finish at the Genuity River Rumble on the Mississippi River out of Fort Madison, Iowa, garnered the attention of Talon Series Custom Lures, a Milam, Tex. based lure manufacturer who added McCaghren to their National Fishing Team.
The 36-year-old pro performed like a veteran in his rookie season on the Bassmaster Elite Series. His on the water performance earned him a trip to the 2010 Bassmaster Classic at Lay Lake next week; his first. It also earned him the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year award.
“I’m excited and looking forward to the opportunity to work with Talon Lures,” said McCaghren. “The Elite Series is highly competitive, and I’m always looking for any available advantage, any little detail that will give me an edge. Talon Series baits will give me that advantage with a top-quality, custom product that’s built with attention to even the smallest details.”
Talon Series Custom Lures is known for producing products that are as functional as they are cosmetically appealing. Their product lines, which includes everything from stand up shaky heads, to jigs for structure and flipping, their Shibui Ookii Jigs and high quality Shibui Spinnerbaits, will become a major part of the Arkansas pro’s arsenal.
Andi Sanders, the owner of Talon Series Custom lures is dedicated to producing the best lures available, and she welcomes the addition of McCaghren to their team.
“We’re so excited to welcome Billy to our Team Talon family," Sanders said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Talon to work with an angler of Billy’s caliber. We are proud to have him represent our Talon and Shibui brands at the Elite Series level and look forward to a long and productive relationship.”
For more on McCaghren click here.
For more on Talon Series Custom Lures click here.
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Vicious Fishing and Paralyzed Veterans of America will offer limited edition apparel at the upcoming Bassmaster Classic championship. This exclusive apparel featuring the stars and stripes with "Vic," the Vicious Fishing logo, will be available Feb. 19-21 in the Vicious and PVA booths at the Classic Outdoors Expo in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
Proceeds will be used by the PVA to further its sports and recreation programs that include fishing tournaments and competitive shooting.
"It was quite a shock when they contacted us about this idea and we immediately thought it was a great partnership," said Alan Earl, associate director of the PVA Sports and Recreation division. "Vic is an awesome, unique logo and the addition of the American flag is a touch of patriotism we all can appreciate. This is right up our alley as a veterans organization. We’re thrilled to be working with Vicious Fishing. Birmingham is a super location and we look forward to seeing all the great fishing fans who will attend the Classic."
Hoodies and T-shirts will be for sale at the expo in two locations. The Vicious booth is No. 2212 and "Vic" will be easily seen by fans. The PVA booth is No. 2651.
A special purchase program also is available for retailers interested in carrying the exclusive series to further help PVA.
"PVA is a great organization and we wanted to do something to help them," said Jeff Martin of JBS Fishing, the parent company of Vicious Fishing. "They always have been good to us and ‘flown our flag’ so to speak, and we believe this is a great opportunity for us to help give something back."
PVA has more than 20,000 members and assists veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease with a variety of programs, research and legislative assistance.
"We fight for veteran benefits, help with the independent budget processes passed through Congress and help every veteran get what they deserve," Earl said. "But we also help anyone with disabilities by assisting with federal ADA laws as well. "Vicious has been a longtime sponsor of our PVA Bass Tour and we have a good relationship. The Vicious apparel is unbelievable … everyone loves 'Vic' and wants it. To change it up and add a little patriotism, it’s great."
Early response has been positive for the exclusive apparel that will be available. Martin believes it will be a hit with fans who want to help support PVA’s programs. "The veterans PVA assists, as well as the PVA staff, have done a lot for our country," he said. "Whatever we can do for them is still not enough."
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Berkley will give one lucky participant at the Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Ala., the chance to win $100,000 by simply casting into a target. During the final weigh-in on February 22, one individual in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex arena will be randomly drawn from the crowd and allowed to cast to a target on the arena floor.
“The Cast for Cash event has been a big hit of the Classic for some time now,” said John Bartow, Berkley Senior Director of Marketing. “It is a fun opportunity for anyone to have a chance to claim a very large sum of money, and the crowd simply loves it. Everyone at the final weigh in has an equal chance to 'Cast for Cash', and hopefully, someone will walk out of the arena $100,000 richer. Berkley is proud to give this opportunity to the Bassmaster Classic weigh-in audience.”
The participant will be given his/her choice of a Berkley/Abu Garcia Spincast, Spinning or Baitcast rod/reel combination spooled with Berkley Trilene fishing line. Renown angler and television host Hank Parker will provide the individual with a one-on-one practice session to become better acquainted with the tackle for the best chance to win the $100,000 prize. The actual cast will be made during a break in the weigh in, in front of thousands of angling fans.
Berkley is an official sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic and will have a large booth with interactive demonstrations, bass tank with pro angler seminars and sales promotions.
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Strike King Lures has surpassed 5000 loyal fans on Facebook Fan Page and wants to reward some of those fan's that will be attending the Classic. They will have several different contests going on in their booth during the Classic Show so be sure to drop by and get in on the fun.
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College Bass, the nation’s elite collegiate fishing tournament, announced today that it will bring its West Super Regional event to Lake Tyler in Tyler, Texas Saturday, April 24-Sunday, April 25 making it the second consecutive year that the Lone Star state will host this regional tournament. The morning launches will take place at daybreak at the Lake Tyler Marina and the daily weigh-ins at Academy Sports + Outdoors (8668 South Broadway Ave.) at 3 p.m. CDT.
In-state rivalries will take center stage with collegiate angler teams from several Texas schools expected to compete in the 2010 West Super Regional, including Baylor University, Midwestern State University, Stephen F. Austin University, Texas A&M University, Texas State University and University of North Texas. Two-person collegiate fishing teams, representing colleges and universities from all over the western region, will fish in a two-day cumulative weight format with a five-fish daily limit to advance to the sixth annual College Bass National Championship in July.
“We’re excited to bring the College Bass Tour back to Tyler,” said Hank Weldon, College Bass tournament director. “We saw some big bags last year with the winning team topping 30 pounds with their two-day total. Tyler is a great place for bass fishing.”
As host city, Tyler will be in the national media spotlight with the Super Regional weigh-ins streamed live on www.CollegeBass.com and special features from the regional tournaments highlighted on ESPNU in the College Bass National Championship shows.
“We’re honored to welcome back the College Bass West Super Regional to Tyler,” said Cindy Smoak, vice president of SPORTyler, under the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In addition to the different types of activities and attractions found in Tyler, Lake Tyler is very popular among bass tournament locations due to its consistent success.”
Lake Tyler is the ideal location for the 2010 College Bass anglers; with a canal connecting Lake Tyler East with Lake Tyler West, both lakes have earned a great reputation as consistent largemouth bass fisheries.
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.
Celebrating its sixth year, the College Bass National Championship is considered by many to be the calendar’s premier collegiate fishing event. Last year’s North Carolina State anglers Will White and Chris Wood tipped the scales to claim the 2009 College Bass National Championship crown on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock. More than 220 schools from more than 30 states and Canada participate in hundreds of College Bass sanctioned events each season.
Collegiate anglers can register to compete in the Super Regionals by contacting Hank Weldon at hweldon@careersports.com or 770-955-1300.
For more information, please visit www.CollegeBass.com.
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Some anglers let their fishing rods do all their talking. Venerable Arkansas Elite Series pro is a saavy stick on the Elite Series but does a lot of his talking via his laptop. He is one of the most, if not the most, active Elite angler on the net and his results are starting to pay dividends. Today on Wired Radio with Terry Brown Reehm lays it all out in a no holds barred candid interview. To listen click here. |
Dustin Wilks of Rocky Mount, North Carolina has secured a place on the Secret Weapon Lures® Pro Angler roster for 2010. Wilks’ first mission was to completely overhaul Secret Weapon’s Assassinator™ series of spinnerbait and buzzbaits.
Wilks said, “Secret Weapon challenged me to upgrade Assassinator’s performance—even the Clacker™, a unique big-bass bait.” He revamped every detail in creating the new Pro Assassinator™ line. “Each aspect of Pro Assassinator is first class. From strong, sharp Mustad hooks to wire diameter—everything is perfect.”
Wilks retained the most popular Assassinator models while introducing extraordinary new patterns like Bull Bream, Natural Shad, and Sunfish.”
Anglers gearing up for early spring rains are paying special attention to his signature pattern, Dustin’s Mud Secret. “Man, I really hated to let that one out,” admitted Wilks. “It’s the best color combination I’ve ever used in high and muddy conditions.”
“We recruited Dustin not only for his fishing skills but for his reputation for honesty,” said SWL president Joe Haubenreich. “He absolutely refuses to stretch the truth to promote a product, so we gave him free rein to make sure he was completely satisfied with our new Pro Assassinator line.”
Look for record-breaking news involving Wilks and Pro Assassinator that will be revealed in the April edition of Bassmasters magazine.
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Florida FLW pro Scott Martin has joined the Lazer Trokar pro staff for 2010. He joins Gerald Swindle, Shaw Grigsby, Skeet Reese and Brent Chapman on this very elite group.
"The choice to fish TroKar hooks was easy," Martin said. "They are the sharpest, best hooks I have even fished. Whether it is on the show or in a tournament, these hooks give me an advantage."
For more information on Lazer TroKar and the full line up of ultra premium bass hooks available visit www.lazertrokar.com
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Today on the Next Generation Tackle Box presented by Plano Jason Sealock puts the Pinnacle Vision Slyder reel through its paces in cold water bassin' on Kentucky Lake. To see how it performed click here. |
 Here's what one attendee said about the recent Bass University classes in Nashville:
I live for bass fishing. I subscribe to several different fishing magazines and read them all the time. Each time I thumbed through one of my BASSIN’ magazines, I stopped at the advertisement for the Bass University.
I looked into these classes online, and on January 23rd and 24th, I finally attended one in Nashville, Tenn. I must say that this program was well worth it. I only paid $175 for this two-day class, and I would have paid two or even three times that much for everything that I took from the Bass University.
Anyone out there who is trying to further themselves in this sport should attend. These classes are taught by a lineup of well-known professional anglers who are happy to answer any questions you ask, and they do not keep secrets.
Gerald Swindle was actually one of the funniest guys I have ever met. I learned a lot from his classes, even though I felt like I was watching stand-up comedy. Dave Wolak shared tons of useful techniques, and even though it is still winter here in Michigan, I cannot wait to use what I learned when spring comes.
Between classes, you are free to walk around and mingle with any of the pros as well as your fellow classmates. I actually ate lunch with Randy Howell, Mike Iaconelli, John Crews, and Pete Gluszek. I recommend The Bass University to any bass fisherman out there who wants to take it to the next level. Whether you fish for fun or competitively, you will benefit from The Bass University.
- Casey Schramm
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Alan Clemons gets nostalgic about some of his favorite Bassmaster Classics from years past. Check out his new article in our Unplugged Section right here.
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A few years ago at a shooting range, the trap puller said the game we
were playing resulted in a “permagrin” because everyone loved it and
didn’t want to stop. I think of that phrase when the 2000 Bassmaster Classic comes to mind
because that’s what champion Woo Daves of Virginia had that Saturday
night in Chicago – a “permagrin.”
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 Guck photo
In addition to touting the familiar black and yellow of his title sponsor Toyota Trucks, Gerald “G Man” Swindle feels fortunate to announce new or enhanced sponsor relationships with three other companies.
Swindle proudly brings Total Pain Solutions (TPS) to fishing. TPS, based in Fultondale, Alabama is a compounding pharmacy that produces custom topical pain-reducing medications for each individual patient. Now in their fourth year of business, they treat acute, chronic, and degenerative type pain with special emphasis on workers and athletes. Swindle, a former house framer, endured five back surgeries between the ages of 21 and 35, and has had ten bone spurs removed from his shoulders along his path to professional angling stardom. He exemplifies the patient TPS best serves.
“Gerald uses our topical anti-inflammatory on his back and shoulders with a lot of success. He’s a great example of our ability to help people, and we strongly believe Gerald can serve as a great example to thousands of other anglers who suffer from back, elbow, shoulder and other pain that hinders their ability to fish and compete effectively,” said Grady Phillips of TPS. Their custom produced topical medications are by prescription and available in 41 states. To learn more, please visit www.totalpainrx.com. More familiar to fishing fans is another of Gerald’s new sponsors – Sealy Outdoors. Sealy produces the world’s largest and longest running unique ‘big bass’ fishing tournaments.
“Gerald’s a pro that relates extremely well to the grass roots angler. His humor and compassion for everybody that shares his love of fishing is remarkable,” said Nicole Sealy. “He’ll be in our booth to sign autographs at the Bassmaster Classic, and we’ll be utilizing him in some of our new advertising campaigns.”
Swindle has also extended his relationship with Wright & McGill to play a bigger role in marketing their patented triangular pointed, surgically sharpened Trokar hooks.
“Those hooks are so sharp, I’m having to use some of my new sponsor dollars to pay somebody to tie them on for me so I don’t cut myself,” cracked bass fishing’s funniest pro, who finished 9th in the prestigious 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
When asked how he was able to increase sponsorship support at a time when marketing dollars are tough to come by, Swindle said the following:
“Relationships. Relationships. Relationships. The business of life is simply two things. Mending old relationships or building new ones. I’ve built great friendships with these businesses and I’ve told them that if at any time the sponsorship relationship threatens our friendship, that I’d rather end the sponsorship than end the friendship.”
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VERSUS will debut the third season of City Limits Fishing with Mike Iaconelli on Friday, February 12, at 9 p.m. ET. The six-episode series, produced by Gannett Video Enterprises, follows host and professional angler Mike "Ike" Iaconelli as he uncovers some of the best urban places to fish throughout the United States.In each episode of City Limits Fishing, Iaconelli, the 2006 Bass Angler of the Year and runner-up in the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, is accompanied by professional and amateur anglers as they face the weekly challenge of catching a limit of fish within the boundaries of some of the country's greatest cities,including Phoenix, Boston, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Milwaukee and Jacksonville.
"We are very excited to bring this unique show back to VERSUS for a third season," said Jeff Macaluso, Director of Field Sports & New Media Programming for VERSUS. "Mike Iaconelli is not only entertaining and outrageous, he's also an accomplished professional angler who lets viewers in on his unique tactics on how to catch fish in locations not frequently thought of as hotbeds for fishing."
The complete schedule for City Limits Fishing follows, all times 9 p.m. ET
(schedule subject to change):
Phoenix
Feb. 12
City Limits Fishing starts off the season by accomplishing what may seem
impossible - fishing in the desert, but Iaconelli and fellow professional bass
fisherman Brett Hite prove that it's possible in man-made lakes in Phoenix and
Tempe, Ariz.
Boston
Feb. 19
Beantown welcomes Iaconelli and his friend Rich Armstrong as they head to Boston
Harbor to catch a limit of striped bass, but the challenge intensifies as they
encounter heavy fog while on the water.
Pittsburgh
Feb. 26
In the third episode, Iaconelli heads to Pittsburgh-a place where he has enjoyed
some of the biggest successes and disappointments of his professional career-to
fish the three rivers, the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio.
Memphis
March 5
This episode features Iaconelli as he travels to Memphis to fish for bass on the
mighty Mississippi River.
Milwaukee
March 12
Iaconelli is fishing in Milwaukee harbor attempting to catch some monster brown
trout. Not only is he challenged to catch a limit, but to also catch the largest
brown trout he's ever caught in his life.
Jacksonville
March 26
Iaconelli and guide Jim Anderson go for a difficult and challenging saltwater
slam in Jacksonville, FL, and they run and gun the St. Johns River, eventually
finding a huge pod of redfish.
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Pro angler and fishing instructor Mike DelVisco today inked a sponsorship deal with Secret Weapon Lures® for the 2010 season. DelVisco’s primary contribution to the Missouri tackle manufacturer will be helping anglers build confidence in Secret Weapon’s unconventional fishing lures and terminal tackle.
“I am very excited about my new partnership with Secret Weapon,” he said. “Their advanced designs dramatically improve performance, and their quality is second to none. That makes my job of promoting their products relatively easy. I look forward to helping anglers understand Secret Weapon’s clear advantages over first-generation baits.”
Secret Weapon president Joe Haubenreich expressed great satisfaction with DelVisco’s addition to the SWL Pro Angler roster. “Mike’s expertise as an angler is surpassed only by his ability as a fishing coach and promoter. With the growing popularity of drop shot fishing, I am especially pleased that we have someone with his credibility instructing anglers on our Recoil Rig™.”
DelVisco believes hooking other anglers on this new technology won’t pose much of a challenge. “In my opinion, Recoil Rigs revolutionize the way we approach drop shot fishing,” he said. “Not only do they enhance vertical presentations, but these rigs make plastic baits come alive wherever we cast them. It’s the most effective technique for bedding bass ever conceived.” |
 BASS photo
James Niggemeyer, a three-time BASS winner, and 2010 Bassmaster Classic qualifier announces his newest sponsors, along with the details of his boat and truck wraps for the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series. The 38-year-old pro has reached agreements with two new sponsors, and renewals with two of his existing partners.
Niggemeyer will feature a new graphics package on his Mercury powered Bass Cat this year. Synergy Technologies, a company that manufactures chemicals that kill Salmonella and E. coli bacteria, will be the title sponsor of Niggemeyer’s boat wrap and jersey. His boat will display a blend of brushed aluminum graphics overlaid with a darker colored carbon fiber appearance emblazoned with the orange Synergy Technologies branding.
Former Elite Series pro Randy Allen is a part owner of the Shreveport, La. Company, who offers a revolutionary line of antimicrobial products for industrial, commercial and retail markets. They fill the need for an alternative defense against harmful bacteria we come in contact with everyday. “I am very excited about what Synergy Technologies is doing in the industry and blessed to join them in their efforts to bring the very best to the products to the people,” said Niggemeyer.
St Croix Rods, and Niggemeyer’s 2009 boat wrap sponsor, Bass Tackle Depot.com will team up to provide the backdrop for the wrap on Niggemeyer’s tow vehicle. St Croix has been a part of the Van, Tex. pro’s sponsor team for two years, and will partner with Bass Tackle Depot to provide a synergistic blend of rod company and retail dealer.
The truck will feature St. Croix Mojo Bass purple towards the front of the truck that blends towards the brushed aluminum to tie into the boat wrap. Bass Tackle Depot.com and St Croix will share equal logo space on the vehicle, as well as placement on his jersey.
“St Croix has been engineering the finest rods for over 60 years I am honored to be a part of their longstanding legacy of quality and excellence,” Niggemeyer exclaimed. “I am also equally excited to continue working with a company that provides top quality equipment for today’s anglers, they truly are, where the pros shop.
New to team Niggemeyer in 2010, is a sponsor who actually joined at the tail end of his 2009 campaign, in time to be a significant part of his claiming the Central Open Points Championship, is Bio Edge Fishing. Bio Edge is a Carmel, Maine company who produces natural scents for bait and lures in potion and semi solid wand forms; their logo will be found on his jersey and their products in his boat at the ready.
“Bio Edge is truly the cutting edge of scent,” said Niggemeyer. “They have engineered a series of scents that puts the "real" stamp of approval on all my artificial offerings; I won’t fish plastics or Hardbaits without them.”
Also renewing with Niggemeyer for the 2010 season is Sunline, one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of premium fishing lines; Sunline will be featured on his jersey as well. “Fishing line is my link between lure, rod and reel, which is why I cannot settle for anything less than a premium product from a company dedicated to offering only the best; that is why I choose Sunline,” said Niggemeyer.
Look for Niggemeyer as he competes in his second Bassmaster Classic February 19 – 21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.
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 Ted Takasaki, long-time walleye pro, television personality and former owner of Lindy Little Joe tackle company was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wis.
“This is the pinnacle of my career,” Takasaki said. “It’s an honor which is bestowed upon an extremely small percentage of anglers on this planet, which makes it a truly incredible honor.”
The National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, located in Hayward, Wis., (freshwater-fishing.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education, recognition and promotion of freshwater sportfishing. Individuals are enshrined in the Hall, and Takasaki will be inducted as a “Legendary Angler” at the Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis in March.
Upon graduation from college in 1982, he began his fishing career. This at the same time he was working for Hewlett-Packard as a sales-engineer. While earning top honors for HP, he was also soaking up fishing skills and tournament savvy on the MWC, PWT, NAWA, RCL and FLW Walleye tours.
He produced a 1998 PWT Championship victory on the Missouri River in Bismarck, N.D., while jigging his sponsor’s Fuzz-e-Grubs. “This proved to be a shot in the arm for a tried and true item that had been around for a long time,” he said.
In the record-setting PWT Lake Erie tournament (346 walleyes weighing more than 10 pounds weighed in the three-day contest), Takasaki set a record with a daily weight for five fish of 53.20 pounds. Last year, he won the FLW Walleye Tour event on the Mississippi River at Red Wing.
He has been full-time in the fishing business for more than a dozen years, serving 10 as president of Lindy Little Joe. Upon purchase of the company by PRADCO, he went back to work as a pro staffer, where he’s splitting time on the water filming and competing.
Takasaki joins numerous NPAA members inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. Last season, fishing guide, promoter, writer and speaker Tom Neustrom from Deer River, Minnesota, was inducted. Past and present NPAA members who are also among an elite group of Legendary Anglers include Mike McClelland, Bob Propst, Sr., Keith Kavajecz, Gary Parsons, Gary Roach, Ron Lindner and Al Lindner. NPAA Honorary Lifetime member Jim Kalkofen was inducted for outstanding achievement in developing the sport fishing industry.
The NPAA is a non-profit organization focused on growing the sport of fishing and increasing the professionalism of its members. More NPAA member and association news can be viewed at npaa.net.
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Costa Del Mar is not only a leader in performance eyewear for anglers, but they are also very conservation and fishery protection minded. They just let us know about a cool video they helped produce on the incredible fishery in Belize and the impact the boom in tourism and expansion is having on the fragile fisheries and ecosystems. Even if you're not into the politics of this issue, the video is worth a look. They have a 26-minute preview up. The imagery in the video was amazing. It made me miss wading the flats in south Florida with my father as a kid.
Check out CostaDelMar.com for more about Costa and their products and other video projects.
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The Bassmaster Classic is shaping up as a cold, high water and muddy conditions event. Many of you have submitted your winning angler and choice of baits for the winner in our Sound Off Contest but we want to know more. We won't let the cat out of the bag on your predictions but wonder which bait will be the right one to win the Classic. Big profile, small profile? Flipping or casting....what will win it? Will it be a lipless rattling bait, a jig, finesse technique or a spinnerbait? Will it be won shallow or deep and what do you think will be the winning weight? This may be the toughest one to predict in recent history. Give us your take.....and don't forget to sign up for the Sound Off....Contest before February 17. Send us your thoughts at feedback@wired2fish.com.
Also don't forget to join our Facebook Fan page.....it could pay to be a member. Click here to join. |
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FLW and Wired2Fish pro Brent Ehrler is an expert with his electronics. His recent win at Lake Shasta he found a flat between two points loaded with bass. A smudged up screen or one filled with water spots could have been a missed opportunity. Brent is using and endorsing a new product called Wave Away that not only protects and cleans depth finder screens but works great on sunglasses as well.
The little things can make a big difference and if Brent believes in this product we know it has to be good!
There is a great video of Brent on the Wave Away website talking about what makes this product work.
To see the video and learn more about Wave Away click here. |
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FLW Outdoors was forced to cancel the FLW Tour event on the Red River due to hazardous conditions on the waterway from recent flooding. The event was slated to start in the morning. More details will be available shortly.
Here is the press release from FLW Outdoors:
FLW Outdoors announced that due to unsafe conditions on the Red River, the FLW Tour event scheduled in Shreveport, La., Feb. 10-13, along with the Family Fun Zone & Outdoor Expo, has been canceled.
“This was a tough, tough decision,” said Charlie Evans, President and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “After consulting with local authorities and FLW Outdoors staff members, we feel this was the best decision for the safety of the anglers. Unfortunately there is not a winning formula and we apologize for any hardships resulting from this decision. The weather in Shreveport has been a little cold, but the hospitality shown to our staff, partners and anglers has been very warm.”
"We will do this again,” said Mary Ann Tice, Executive Director of the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority. “Shreveport has beautiful blue skies and the mighty Red River, and we look forward to [FLW Outdoors] coming back to show its talents."
Bart Schad, representing Ranger Boats, who was serving as presenting sponsor for the event stated, “We applaud our partner for making the right decision."
“I know there was a lot of money invested, but I think it was the safest thing to do,” said National Guard pro Brent Ehrler. “The river is so high and the current is so fast, there were a couple of times I was really scared [during practice]. Many of the channel marker buoys are underwater and you can't tell what color they are, it was scary. All the ramps are closed except for the launch, so if you get in trouble out there it could be very dangerous and a long time before anyone could even get to you."
The decision was made after much consideration as well as exploration of every other possible alternative to ensure the safety of our anglers and FLW Outdoors staff members. This marks the first time an FLW Tour event has been canceled since the 2001 Forrest Wood Cup was canceled due to the 9/11 attacks.
The 2010 FLW Tour season will now consist of five qualifying events and the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing.
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 Bandit Lures Inc., a respected manufacturer of quality crankbaits since 1976, is proud to announce that it will be joining forces with renowned lure designer Jim Gowing of Altus, Ark., to bring new products to market in 2010.
Gowing is one of the most prolific lure designers in the world. He has been crafting fishing lures for 40 years and has created nearly 300 designs that have graced the fishing market.
“It’s an honor to be working with such a legend in lure design,” said Chris Armstrong, the Sales and Marketing Manager for Bandit. “Jim’s extensive lure knowledge is two-fold: He understands the technical aspects of lures, and just as importantly, his deep historical perspective of the lure market is a treasure trove when it comes to designing products for specific market segments.”
Gowing will be adding to Bandit’s rich hard bait heritage with two new families of lures.
“I’ve known about Bandit Lures since their inception 35 years ago,” Gowing said. “I’m pleased to be joining a lure company that has such a strong, established brand. Bandit crankbaits are a fishing staple for bass anglers and I’m looking forward to helping them expand in a couple of new directions.
“On one hand I’m helping with a Bandit line of smaller lures for bank fishermen who wade creeks and walk pond banks. And on the other hand I want to assist them with a ‘pro series’ line of baits designed for hardcore tournament anglers. Bank anglers and tournament anglers are two different niches, but I’m very familiar with both groups in terms of what they need from a lure.”
Bandit Lures plans to unveil some of Gowing’s creations later this summer at the 2010 ICAST show.
For more information on Bandit Lures contact Chris Armstrong at 662-563-8450 or carmstrong@banditlures.com
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LASERLURE - manufacturer of the worlds only laser beam infused lures, announced today that it has added Bassmaster Elite Pro Scott Ashmore (Broken Arrow, OK) to its Pro Staff team, joining current members Boyd Duckett, Mike Iaconelli, Matt Newman and Henry Waszczuk.
"We are thrilled to have Scott Ashmore endorsing our revolutionary high quality lures," said Mike Lopez, LaserLure's National Sales Manager. "At LaserLure, we've developed an innovative product and we are confident that Scott will be a great addition to the LaserLure Pro Staff team. It has been a pleasure to witness Scott's career take off this past year as he qualified for his first Bassmaster Classic and we know that LaserLure will keep him on top of his game and give him that extra edge to succeed in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic and Elite Tour."
LaserLure has introduced an innovative line of laser enhanced hard baits and soft baits available nation-wide at major retailers and bait and tackle shops. The laser enhanced technology used by LaserLure not only gets the fish to chase it, but they also attack and bite it. These versatile lures are irresistible for both fresh and saltwater fish. You simply catch more fish!
Bassmaster Elite Angler and newest member of the LaserLure Pro Staff, Scott Ashmore had this to say: "I am honored to join the LaserLure Pro Staff team and I am crazy excited about having the LaserLures in my arsenal; fish hit the laser like a frog hits a junebug and I will be relying on them as I fish my first Bassmaster Classic at Lay Lake and throughout the 2010 Elite Tour"
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We just got our first look at the new Hag's Tornado Undertaker Creature Bait and its sweet. A cross between a ring worm, a crawdad and the creature from the black lagoon, the 6.5 inch Undertaker has more arms than a daddy long leg spider and more moves than a P-Diddy New Years Eve Party. Two mid-body arms, two pinchers and two antennae make up this big fish bait. Tommy Hagler, owner of Hags Tornado, tells us that several 8-10 pound fish were caught while testing this new product.
To learn more about Hag’s Tornado Baits click here.
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Newcomer to the Bassmaster Elite Series Bradley Roy and fishing industry leaders Abu Garcia and Berkley entered into agreement for the upcoming 2010-tournament season. Effective January 29, 2010, Roy will fish his rookie season with Abu Garcia reels and rods along with Berkley line and soft baits.
“We are very excited to have Bradley fishing Abu Garcia and Berkley products,” said David Lund, Vice President of Marketing for Pure Fishing. “Even as a rookie, Bradley shows the determination and grit of the seasoned pro when it comes to competitive fishing.”
Featured on a video blog on Bassmaster.com, Roy will document the Elite Series season through his eyes. The videos will follow him throughout the season, which will be an account of the trials and emotions that this young angler will encounter during the 2010 season.
The Lancaster, Ky. native has risen from the ranks of the Bassmaster Southern Opens. Some anglers try for years to be among those who move up from the Opens, but Roy advanced after his first season. Roy is the youngest angler to ever compete on the Elite Series.
Roy has proven to be a force in BASS competitions. At age 13, he was the 2004 Bassmaster Junior World champion in the 11-14 age group, and as a seventeen year old he outperformed many other Kentuckians to earn the right to be the sole representative of his state in the 2008 BASS Federation Nation Championship.
“It is truly an honor to have Abu Garcia and Berkley as sponsors,” Roy said. “Both companies are the leader when it comes to innovation in the fishing industry. I am very thankful for their support for the upcoming 2010 Elite series."
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Kentucky native brings more than 25 years of experience to publication
FLW Outdoors announced Tuesday veteran outdoor writer and editor Colin Moore has accepted the position of editor-in-chief of FLW Outdoors magazine.
Moore brings more than 25 years of experience in both the fishing and hunting industries to the magazine, including lead roles with Grand View Media Group and B.A.S.S. Communications, Inc. In addition, Moore also has served as executive editor of Outdoor Life magazine.
“I am pleased and proud to join the FLW Outdoors team,” Moore said. “For many years, this company has served the nation’s sportsmen and provided them with opportunities to fulfill their dreams or just enjoy their time spent outdoors more. I look forward to the challenge of building on what my able predecessors have accomplished, and being part of the team that will explore new opportunities and ways to use the new communication tools available to us. Certainly, we’re in the digital era now, and growing our presence on the Internet and in the various forms of social media is going to be a priority. At the same time, we’re going to remain devoted to delivering the quality information that our magazine readers have come to expect from FLW Outdoors. The goal is to combine all our media platforms into a vibrant, interactive community where the folks we serve feel welcome and engaged.
“On a personal note, my wife Brenda and I are glad to be returning to our Kentucky homeland,” Moore said. “Through the years, our career paths took us to a lot of wonderful places north and south, but somehow we never felt completely at home anywhere except when we were in Kentucky. So this return definitely has us excited and looking forward to spending a lot more time with our friends and families.”
Moore received a Bachelor's from Murray State University in Murray, Ky., in 1972 and a Master's in journalism from Columbia University in New York in 2005. Moore’s numerous awards include accolades from the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Florida Sportswriters Association and the Outdoor Writers Association of America. In 2005, while at Outdoor Life, Moore won the Henry Luce Award from Time Warner for the Best Feature Article of the Year. The award is presented annually to the editor who assigns and edits the article judged the best of the previous year across all titles in the Time Inc. family of publications.
“When we decided to expand our reach into hunting and other outdoor activities as a complement to our leadership position in the fishing industry, we knew we needed someone with a wealth of experience to help tie everything together from a content standpoint,” said Charlie Evans, FLW Outdoors President and CEO. “There is only one person we wanted for this position, and it was Colin. His expertise in fishing, hunting and the entire spectrum of outdoor sports is unmatched.”
FLW Outdoors magazine was founded in 1980 and is the world’s leading authority on bass and walleye angling. In addition to the print and online versions, FLW Outdoors magazine offers even more information on Facebook, Twitter and Blogger as well as regular features on flwoutdoors.com.
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Check out the new video with Wired friend and professional angler Trevor Knight on the new Lake Fork Trophy Tackle Wacky Hook and Weight rig by clicking here.
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There is a new place on the World Wide Web for bass fishing anglers and fans to congregate and talk strictly bass fishing.
Social Fins (www.socialfins.com) is a new networking sight completely dedicated to bass anglers of all skill levels from beginners to touring professionals.
Social Fins offers the bass fishing community an opportunity to gather on a single social networking sight and create a profile, make friends, share photos, write blogs, chat with other members, participate in public forums, keep up to date on industry news and much more.
Unlike other social networks, which become cluttered with information unrelated to bass fishing, Social Fins allows its members to focus on bass fishing. As the slogan indicates, “Stop Swimming.…Start Connecting.”
“There are a lot of hard core bass anglers who are frustrated with the unrelated clutter that exists on other social networks,” explained founder Mark Jeffreys. “Social Fins offers the same features as other social networking sights without the clutter and distractions unrelated to bass fishing. This is a place where bass anglers can congregate that is totally dedicated to their passion, which is bass fishing. ”
Several professional bass anglers are already Social Fins members and see the benefits of having a social networking sight dedicated solely to the sport of bass fishing, “I’ve been involved with quite a few other social networks, and I think that it’s great to have a place were bass fishing fans can come to focus on fishing without other distractions,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Clark Reehm. “Everyone is looking for that common bond and a way to interact with like minded individuals. Social Fins provides a way for them to do this.”
Elite Series pro, Dave Wolak, also sees the potential benefits of Social Fins. “The entire world is becoming more aware of the capabilities of social networking,” he said. “From marketing sponsors to direct interaction with other fishing enthusiasts, Social Fins is a great way to stay connected to the sport and industry.”
Social fins officially launched on February 8th.
For more information, visit www.socialfins.com
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The United States again won the Euro Cup at Santa Clara Lake in Portugal. More info to follow.
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 Arbogast MudBug
The Arbogast MudBug is one of the all time favorite crawfish imitating crankbaits. A cousin of the old Bomber crankbait the MudBug was one of the first crankbaits to have a chartruese color and was a hot item in tackle stores across the country. At the time the Mudbug, the Hellbender, and the Bomber were the only metal lipped divers anglers clamored for. Bagley and Fred Young at Cotton Cordell had balsa divers around that same time.
 Bomber
The Mud-Bugs wide wiggle with a quick diving angle created a hard vibrating action and ensured its ability to run deep and bump the bottom.(8-10 feet) Once on the bottom this bait hugged it and stirred up the mud attracting bass...thus the name. This unique action has made it a big fish favorite of serious anglers and now one that serious collectors are attracted to, as well. Its ability to float allowed it to back out of heavy cover on a slack line eliminating potential hang-up situations where old metal lures would not.
One of the best times to fish a Mud-Bug is during the early Spring when the big bass are in a pre-spawn situation and crawfish start to appear. The Mudbug works best when it comes in contact with the bottom and surrounding cover. Old timers believed heavy line was a must when fishing this lure through and around thick, heavy cover.
There were two models of Arbogast MudBug: the G22 and the G20.
From the Arbogast archives. Don't you love the way it was marketed?
Model No. G22 - This model Mud-Bug weighs 5/8 of an ounce and is the favorite size for the big bass fisherman. Its heavier weight gives it the ability to be cast a great distance and stay in contact with the bottom for a greater distance per cast increasing your chances of getting a strike.
Model No. G20 - This smaller size Mud-Bug weighs in at ¼ of an ounce and is made to fish in shallower depths 4 to 6 ft. This lure produces a lot of bass when fished right before the spawn in early Spring. You should always try to keep this lure in contact with the bottom.
The MudBug is no longer available but can be found for sale on EBay and other auction sites.
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Have you heard the phrase, “Hook, line, and sinker?” Literally speaking, fishermen want the fish to swallow the bait fully – hook, line, and sinker. This old adage refers to accepting another’s point of view completely. It seems that Maryville Middle School in Maryville, Tenn., has bought into the idea of having a fishing club: hook, line, and sinker. In fact they are the only middle school in the state of Tennessee with a bass club.
In the spring of 2009, physical education teacher David Clark contacted Mark Gintert, National Youth Director of the Bass Federation, to inquire about target fishing. He generously donated ten targets to the Maryville Middle Physical Education department in hopes that the school would draw student interest to form a club. With the support of Ott DeFoe, professional fisherman with FLW Outdoors and Dave Prossor of Academy Sports + Outdoors, Maryville Middle School students experienced the art of target fishing.
DeFoe gave a short presentation to each class, demonstrated fishing, assisted students and allowed them a personal look in his boat. Prossor donated fishing equipment to the P.E. department.
“I could not have organized this without the help of Mark Gintert, Ott DeFoe, Dave Prossor, and Greg Newman,” Clark said.
Through an article in the local newspaper, Newman discovered that the middle school wanted to have a bass club. His club, Little River Bassmasters, is now the school sponsor.
 “I’ve been fishing since I was nine years old, and it’s very important to pass along the enjoyment of the outdoors to others,” Newman said. “Fishing is something that anyone can do because it’s not limited to age or physical boundaries. It allows kids to get out of the house and into the outdoors and is something they can do with family or friends.”
The club has 28 members and was recently awarded the largest new club membership in 2009, by The Bass Federation. Gintert along with TBF will present the award to the club in April. Several organizations sponsor the club including: Wal-Mart, C&C Outdoors in Louisville, U.S. Boat Angler, Pure Fishing, UltimateBass.com, Gemini Sport Marketing, Wired2Fish.com, Little River Bassmasters, the club’s pro angler support team, and other parent volunteers. Through their help, they were able to provide the club with fishing jerseys.
Meetings are held monthly and include guest speakers such as pro-anglers, and TWRA Resource officers who discussed boating safety and fish care.
This year the club held two tournaments, one in the fall and spring. Twenty-four members attended the fall event at Fort Loudon Lake. With the help of professional fishermen and parents, it was a huge success. Clark’s goal for next year is to have three to four tournaments. They are looking forward to FLW Tour and the TBF Championship held in Knoxville, Tenn., this April. The club will be involved in various activities at the events.
If anyone would like more information on how to form a school bass club or would like to assist them, please visit their website or email David Clark here.
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 FOF photo
Facts of Fishing FYI ( The Fishing News, Views & Info You Can't Use Show ) Part 5
This week's topics include a giant catfish, betting on the Bassmaster Classic, the FLW Tour and something that every angler has to do if they love fishing to help stop those that don't! A serious bit....now that is scary!
To watch click here.
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Immediately prior to heading to Louisiana’s Red River; where he claimed the 2009 Bassmaster Classic Championship, Skeet Reese and Lucky Craft debuted a series of new Reese designed colors. Now, as Reese begins final preparation for the defense of his Classic victory, he and Lucky Craft once again release new Reese designed colors that will be released in the Skeet Reese Inc. booth, number 2108 at the Bassmaster Classic Exposition in Birmingham.
Unlike the previous colors, which were three graduated variations of white and chartreuse, the new colors are based on two of the most popular forages in the bass diet; bluegill and crawdads. Each one of the new shades are personally designed by Reese, down to the finest details.
The new sunfish likenesses Baby BG and Ghost Baby BG feature realistic natural bluegill finishes, each with a translucent chartreuse tail which closely matches the splash of color at the tips of the tail. Baby BG is an opaque color with a hint of the Aurora basecoat that Lucky Craft made popular, while Ghost Baby BG is a duplicate, but in a translucent version.
Magic Craw is a translucent crawdad pattern crankbait in brown and orange tones, perfect for mimicking crawdads around the country. Magic Craw starts with a dark brown at the back, fades to a translucent light brown, and ends with an orange belly. Magic Craw comes in two renditions, one with red flake, and a separate one with green flake.
Both new colors will be available in several of Lucky Craft’s most popular lures; LV500, Fat CB BDS 2, 3 & 4, Flat CB D20 and Reese’s new SKT MR and DR. The baits will be available in limited quantities exclusively at the Skeet Reese Inc. booth; they will retail for $16.99 retail. Anybody who buys three or more of the new baits will receive a replica black and yellow Skeet Reese / Mercury hat or visor, a $19.99 value.
Also new at the Classic Exposition is a new model of Reese’s Wright & McGill Co. Tessera Rods. 250 of his new 7’10” S Glass Magnum Crankbait rod will be available in a limited, numbered edition as a special launch at the expo. The new Magnum Crankbait rod is perfect for anglers who like to throw deep crankbaits on ledges, or lipless crankbaits on flats. The rod gives anglers an advantage in long casting, and leverage on hooksets.
Wright & McGill Co. is offering a special promotion at the Classic, any consumer who purchases the new Magnum Crankbait rod; or any of the Skeet Reese Tessera rods at the show, will be eligible to receive a mock Skeet Reese jersey at the Wright & McGill Co. booth, a $69 value. If consumers purchase their rod at the Skeet Reese Inc. booth, they will receive a Skeet Reese hat or t-shirt, an additional $19.99 value.
Also available at the Skeet Reese Inc. booth will be TroKar hats and hooks, available with a special promotion. Anyone who purchases a Lazer TroKar hat will receive a coupon for $10, redeemable for Wright & McGill Co. and TroKar product.
Reese is also offering a special for anyone who purchases two Skeet Reese Apparel items at his booth; they will be eligible to receive a replica black and yellow Skeet Reese / Mercury hat or visor, a $19.99 value. Newly added to the Skeet Reese Inc. booth is a series of custom Skeet Reese signature Bassaholics Apparel items. The new signature pieces include two exclusive Flex Fit hats, two men’s t-shirts and two baby doll tees for female fans.
“I’m especially excited about my new Lucky Craft colors and Magnum Crankbait rod,” Reese said. “My sponsors work with me to deliver new products that will not only help me win on tour, but to give every angler an advantage as well. They are committed to providing excellence and value. These special offerings and Bassmaster Classic promotions are evidence of that commitment, I’m proud to be a part of it.”
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College Bass, the nation’s top collegiate bass fishing tournament series, announced today, that for the first time in its history, it will add a North Super Regional tournament to be held in Fort Madison, Iowa with the Mississippi River as a backdrop June 5-6. The morning launch will take place each day at daybreak at the Riverview Marina and the daily weigh-in at Riverview Park (716 Riverview Drive) at 3 p.m. CT. Two-person teams from regional schools will compete in a two-day cumulative weight format with a five-fish daily limit.
“This is an exciting step that shows the continued growth of collegiate fishing,” said Hank Weldon, College Bass tournament director. “With the addition of another Super Regional competition, collegiate anglers will have even more opportunities to participate in competitive fishing at the college level.”
The high concentration of College Bass-sanctioned schools in the Midwest and Northern regions influenced the creation of the North Super Regional giving more schools the opportunity to contend for the coveted national collegiate bass fishing title. Collegiate bass clubs must compete in a Super Regional event in order to advance to the National Championship.
As host, Fort Madison will be in the national media spotlight with the Super Regional weigh-ins streamed live on www.CollegeBass.com, and special features from the regional competitions highlighted on ESPNU during the College Bass National Championship shows.
“We’re honored to be hosting the first College Bass North Super Regional” said Sandy Brown director of the Fort Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This is the ideal way for us to showcase the great fishing here in Iowa.”
College Bass anglers will contend for the North Super Regional bragging rights on the Mississippi River, the largest river system in the U.S. The Fort Madison stretch of the Mississippi River is known for its distinct characteristic of being one of the few areas of the river that runs both east and west contributing to its popularity among both competitive and leisure fishing.
Going into its sixth year, the College Bass National Championship is considered by many to be the calendar’s premier collegiate fishing event. Last year’s North Carolina State anglers Will White and Chris Wood tipped the scales to claim the 2009 College Bass National Championship crown on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock. More than 220 schools from more than 30 states and Canada participate in hundreds of College Bass sanctioned events each season.
Collegiate anglers can register to compete in the Super Regionals by contacting Hank Weldon at hweldon@careersports.com or 770-955-1300.
For more information, please visit www.collegebass.com.
The 2010 College Bass Tour
Tournament Location Date
East Super Regional Alabama River in Montgomery, Ala. April 10-11
West Super Regional To be announced April 24-25
North Super Regional Mississippi River in Fort Madison, Iowa June 5-6
National Championship To be announced July 8-10
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The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at Gander Mountain in Lake Mary, Fla., for the third 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 February 11th and is set to end February 13th.
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 are excited about having the Experience Trailer on the road in 2010 and stopping at many new locations across the country,” 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.”
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
February 11th – 13th
Gander Mountain
3750 Flagg Lane
Lake Mary, FL, 32746,
Phone: 407-804-0514
February 19th – 21st
Bassmaster Classic Expo
Birmingham, Ala.
We hope to see everyone at the Bassmaster Classic.
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Two up and coming FLW Pros, John Voyles and Christian Romans inked deals with Secret Lures. Voyles is a second-year pro on the FLW Tour having made his mark on the FLW American Fishing Series in 2008 finishing 4th in the Northern Division points. Romans is also a second-year pro on the FLW Tour and finished 10th in the points in FLW American Fishing Series in 2008.
“I am very excited to be working with Secret Lures,” Voyles said. “I used the Secret Lures Chubby frog to locate the fish in practice when I finished 3rd in the American Fishing Series on Lake Champlain in 2008. The clear legs really increased my hook up ratio.
“My No. 1 confidence bait is no doubt the MVP Football Jig. I have one tied up everywhere I go, no matter the season. During the FLW tour event at Kentucky Lake last year, I never lost a fish in practice or the tournament on the MVP Football.”
“We are proud to continue expanding our presence on the FLW Tour,” said Nathan Gray of Secret Lures. “These guys are accomplished anglers, and we are excited about the opportunities for them to expose our products to their fans and co-anglers alike. I love the positive feedback from John and Christian. The number of pros who rely on and have the utmost of confidence in our products is encouraging.”
“Fishing with Secret lures products has been an awesome experience,” Romans said. “The MVP football jig has become a main stay in my fishing arsenal, helping me catch quality fish on the Tour. When the bite gets tough I can rely on the Tail shaker to keep me in the game. Both have special shaped super sharp hooks and a unique divot head that stands apart from anything else I have ever fished with. They pay attention to the details and that gives me the edge.”
For more information on Secret Lures, click here.
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BASS announced today a new multi-year sponsorship agreement with Minn Kota®, the world’s leading trolling motor company. With the agreement, Minn Kota becomes an official sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series in addition to a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Opens.
“As the preferred trolling motor of tournament anglers, it is a perfect fit for Minn Kota to join forces with BASS, the leading authority in bass fishing,” said Judy Douglas, Business Director for Minn Kota. “We are proud to support the BASS community and contribute to the growth of competitive fishing.”
Minn Kota recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since its founding, Minn Kota has led the way in innovation including its recent unveiling of Fortrex, the toughest tournament motor on the water.
The agreement calls for Minn Kota to have a presence at the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series events and the Bassmaster Opens. And Minn Kota will receive significant exposure across BASS’ multimedia properties, including ESPN2, Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times, Fishing Tackle Retailer, Bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com.
“Minn Kota has a long-standing reputation as a company that is committed to developing leading-edge technology into viable products for all anglers,” said Tom Ricks, BASS’ and ESPN Outdoors vice president and general manager. “We are pleased to be associated with a powerful brand like Minn Kota.”
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Fishing hollow bodied swimbaits like the Strike King Shadalicious or the Berkley Hollow Belly will help you put more fish in the boat in pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn situations. These baits look like the real deal in the water but rigging them can be troublesome. Many anglers complain about destroying a bait or two during their first attempts at rigging them and because they are soft and pliable you will go through a few when fishing. There are trade-offs with this style of bait. They are very lifelike, fish love them, but they also will slide down the hook and the nose can get torn.
Jewel Bait Company has a solution with their new Hyper Cone and Jewel Swimbait Hook. The Jewel Hyper Cone is a conical piece of soft plastic that slides on the Jewel Swimbait Hook Hyperpin and keeps the head of the bait in place. The weighted Jewel Swimbait Hook is balanced perfectly and with the Hyper Cone attached allows the angler to get more milage out of the bait. Another great feature of the Hyper Cone is its color. They are red and when place into the swimbait gives the bait the appearance of internal organs.
Five to six inch swimbaits use the cone only while the six inch or larger models use the entire Hyper Cone.
This little trick will get you more bites and also get you more fish in the boat.
To learn more about the Jewel Hyper Cone click here.
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Jason got the Cook's system installed on his boat. To see what he thought about it, click here.
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Justin Royal of Vidor, Texas, and Troy Luce of Beaumont, Texas, from Lamar University caught two bass weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces Saturday to win $10,000* in the National Guard FLW College Texas Division tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
The remaining top 5 teams included:
2nd: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Jacob Heath and Kennedy Schwartzburg, both of Corpus Christi, Texas, three bass, 8-6, $5,000*
3rd: Tarleton State University – Derek Doyle of Stephenville, Texas, and Seth Peugh of Grandview, Texas, two bass, 8-3, $4,000*
4th: University of North Texas – Zach Sears of Corinth, Texas, and Brandon Dickenson of Flower Mound, Texas, three bass, 7-7, $3,000*
5th: LSU-Shreveport – Zach Caudle and Joe Landry, both of Shreveport, La., one bass, 7-1, $2,000*
A complete list of results can be found here.
* All prize money is evenly split between the school and Lamar University’s bass fishing club.
Schools competing in this week’s tournament included: Angelo State, Baylor University, Lamar University, Louisiana Tech University, LSU, LSU-Shreveport, Northeastern State, Oklahoma State University, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton State Texas, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M-Galveston, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas State University, University of Louisiana, University of North Texas, University of Oklahoma and University of Texas.
The next National Guard FLW College Texas Division tournament is scheduled for Feb. 13 at Cross Lake in Shreveport, La.
The top five teams from each tournament will qualify for a Regional Championship where the first-place team wins $25,000 cash for the school and a Ranger 177TR bass boat for the fishing club. The top five teams from each Regional will then advance to the National Championship where the first-place team wins $50,000 for their school and $25,000 cash and a Ranger 177TR bass boat for their fishing club.
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Honeycutt wins co-angler title
Pro Cody Woods of Jacksonville, Texas, caught three bass weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win the FLW American Fishing Series Texas Division tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 32 pounds, 10 ounces. For his victory, Woods earned $24,680.
“It was slow today,” Woods said. “The sun came out and I didn’t want that to happen because it turned my bite off that I had going during the tournament. I knew where there were a few fish staging, and I just happened to get lucky and catch three of them.
“I was so nervous Friday night just to make the cut that I poured a whole gallon of oil in my gas tank of my boat thinking it was my oil dispenser,” Woods added. “I’ve never won anything like this before.”
During the first two days of the tournament Woods used a floating Smithwick Rogue in three feet of water to catch his fish. On Saturday, he switched to a red Rat-L-Trap with red hooks and managed to catch the winning three fish. Woods paired his Rat-L-Trap with braided line and threw it over grass in 8 feet of water.
“With the braided line, I can feel whether I hit grass or I have a bite,” Woods said. “I can feel it when I rip out of it.”
Rounding out the top five pros were:
2nd: Randy Cisler, Mesquite, Texas, 8 bass, 31-0, $8,391
3rd: Charles Bebber, Willis, Texas, 12 bass, 30-3, $5,923
4th: Tommy Martin, Hemphill, Texas, 15 bass, 30-1, $4,936
5th: Team Chevy pro Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 11 bass, 29-11, $4,442
Cisler caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Friday – a 10-pound, 8-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $294.
Keith Honeycutt of Temple, Texas, won the Co-angler Division and $9,882 cash, with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 24 pounds, 6 ounces.
Honeycutt caught three bass weighing 4-11 Thursday while fishing with pro David Mullins of Coppell, Texas, to open the tournament in 24th place. On Friday, he added five more bass weighing 10-14 to make the top-10 cut in second place while fishing with pro Timothy Griffin of Zapata, Texas. Finally, on Saturday, he sealed the win with five bass weighing 8-13 while fishing with Cisler.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were:
2nd: Bo Standley, Silsbee, Texas, five bass, 20-0, $3,953
3rd: Sonny Kopech, Troup, Texas, 10 bass, 19-14, $1,976
4th: Kenneth Pellerin, Pasadena, Texas, 10 bass, 19-7, $1,729
5th: Danny Cherry, Kountze, Texas, 10 bass, 19-6, $1,482
Standley caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday – a 10-pound, 3-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $196.
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Denali Rods announced yesterday the signing of their first prostaff member, professional fisherman Michael Murphy.
“Denali is extremely excited to have Michael Murphy on our pro staff,” said Scott Estes, Denali Rods president. “Murphy’s talents as a professional angler are obvious, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when you are talking about Michael’s credentials. Michael has grown up in this industry on several fronts, and along the way has built a rock solid reputation for himself based on character and integrity, and we look forward to supporting him both now and far into the future.”
Murphy began his fishing career on the WalMart Bass Fishing League, and has been fishing the FLW Series since 2006, and on the FLW Tour since 2007.
“I am excited about the opportunity that Denali Rods and Scott Estes has made available for me," Murphy said. "They stand behind their products with their warranty, and I am amazed at how light, sensitive, and functional these rods are at such an affordable price. With their signature wood foregrip, the rods fit real comfortable in your hands, increases sensitivity, and makes it look real classy!”
Denali Rods will also be releasing a Michael Murphy signature jerkbait and topwater rod in the very near future.
“Michael Murphy is Denali’s first official professional signing, but you can look for more in the next few weeks,” Estes said. “We will have a booth at all FLW Tour stops this year showcasing the Denali products, and supporting all Denali’s FLW anglers.”
For more information on Denali Rods, click here.
For more information on Michael Murphy, click here.
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Veteran Elite Series pro Dean Rojas knows a thing or two about frog fishing. He knows what it takes to make the Bassmaster Classic. He will be there at Lay Lake this year. He also knows that a professional image is crutial to success as a pro angler. Part of that image is the boat and truck wrap. He just completed his wrap and Gander Mountain, Yamaha and Gemini Sport Marketing are highlighted.
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By Terry Brown
There are some baits anglers keep as a secret. Some never made the mainstream. Many had a large following of tight-lipped anglers who kept their secret close to the vest. The Marlynn Pomme Special is one of those baits. Anglers "in the know" purchased every one they could get in their hands, and today the market is very dry. This is one hard to find bait!
Built in Blue Springs, Mo., by the Marlynn Lure Company for fishing Pomme de Terre Lake in Missouri, the wire bait is a specialty lure that Midwest anglers called a "gurgle bait". Built like a spinnerbait, with the exception of a long wire line tie, the Pomme Special was designed for pike and musky. The long wire serves both as a leader and was part of the engineering that made the bait rise to the top. It didn't take long for bass anglers to soon recognize its effectiveness on aggressive post spawn fish. Paralleling riprap was its forte. Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.....kablooey!
The Pomme Special came in numerous sizes, but those who fish it know that 1/2 ounce or heavier is better. The long wire arm, unique cupped Colorado Blade and provided Reaper Tail are musts to have it run effectively. Long casts are critical to wake the "World's Best Buzzin' Bait". Some anglers who first tried it became frustrated because rigging and technique instructions did not come on the package, and they fished it like a spinnerbait. There were several single spins already on the market made by other Missouri companies like Alron, and some anglers did not see it for what it was. This bait is designed to be run near the top of the water in a gurgling fashion. The "blub, blub, blub" of the Pomme was the difference. The hits on this bait are not subtle. The bass hammer it.
The Pomme Special had a very unique minnow head for the time, and the Reaper trailer allowed the bait to pull to the top quickly. It is designed to have the Reaper positioned horizontally to give the bait "lift".
We prefer white and yellow, and a silver blade is a must. The old style nylon skirt is also most effective on this bait.
If you find some of these baits, call us, and don't tell anyone.
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In this latest installment of Chad Brauer Unplugged, Brauer discusses how to prepare for fishing the prespawn and how an open mind and ability to change on the fly is crucial to success. Good tips on where to start your search. To read his article, click here.
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When the water temperature starts to rise, the days get longer, and the
plants start to bloom, it is time for the bass to get ready to spawn.
For many, this marks the beginning of the fishing season and ends the
doldrums of winter...
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BASS announced Thursday the inception of the Bassmaster College Classic, which will be held in conjunction with the 2010 Bassmaster Classic out of Birmingham, Ala. The new event will feature two college bass fishing teams, the University of Alabama and Auburn University, which will square off in a one-day, cumulative weight tournament at the 40th edition of the Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Alabama’s Lay Lake. The storied in-state rivalry between the two universities should provide legions of Classic fans a rooting interest in the competition.
“Birmingham is an area that is passionate about their college allegiances, especially when it comes to sports,” said Jamie Wilkinson, BASS’ senior director of event operations and business development. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the competitors and we hope to provide Classic fans with another entertaining competition.”
Each college will be represented by three two-angler teams and the tournament will kick off on Saturday, Feb. 20 from Logan Martin Lake with competitors fishing from 6 a.m.- noon CT. Each competitor will fish within the confines of a five-fish limit.
“It’s such an honor to compete in the first ever Bassmaster College Classic,” said Ben Weldon, a competitor from the University of Alabama. “It’s pretty awesome to be a part of the biggest fishing event of the year.”
Anglers will weigh-in at the Bassmaster Classic Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Toyota Tundra booth at 2:30 p.m. CT. The weigh-in will also be streamed live on Hooked Up on Bassmaster.com.
The winning school will be recognized at Saturday’s Bassmaster Classic weigh-in and will advance to the 2011 Bassmaster College Classic in New Orleans to defend their title against a select Louisiana school.
The event will be buoyed by a promotional collaboration with Birmingham-based WJOX. The college teams will be featured on WJOX radio programs with University of Alabama football legend Jay Barker and Auburn University four-year letterman Al Del Greco providing the interviews.
Weldon competed in the 2009 College Bass National Championship capturing eighth place out of a 49 team field with Alabama teammate Foster Bradley. Auburn’s Davis also contended for the 2009 National Championship title landing in 16th place with partner Kiron Browning.
University of Alabama teams:
Ben Weldon and Warren Hoffman
David Rogers and Jeremy Christian
Matt Carter and Brian Morrow
Auburn University teams:
Shaye Baker and Jordan Lee
Paul Davis and Shane Powell
JT Murphy and Andrew Wendt
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Alabama pro Matt Herren's new wrap is with Santone Lures and Skeeter Boats and its sweet. Check out the the giant mosquito flying through the flames. Nice touch!
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A unique partnership has been unveiled in the marketing community for fishermen. Gemini Sport Marketing, maker of the most popular line of personalized jerseys, has partnered with Fishingsponsors.com, bringing sponsorships to the tournament angler.
A one-two punch brings a branding factor to the angler with a direct line to the specific marketing director of a company needing representation. This kind of time saving approach has never been available as a resource to a tournament angler.
“I am on the road approximately 250 days per year as a Bassmaster Elite Series professional fisherman," said Mark Menendez professional fisherman. "Time is of the essence for me in my fishing business. To have the ability to keep my brand front and center at all times to perspective sponsors, allows me to keep my eye on the prize.”
Gemini Sport Marketing has been a leader in building brands for advertising sports athletes. The jerseys that are made at Gemini can be seen throughout sports. With a trained staff, wide variety of product, and a virtual catalog of past designs your jersey will be built with the athlete’s branding in mind. The jerseys have been designed for specific environmental factors. Each jersey is made from a patented material called Intera. This material is wear resistant, provides a UV protection rating of 25 UPF, and handles moisture issues in hot and cold environments. These Gemini jerseys are the most visible and environmentally protective garment in the fishing industry.
"This is a natural fit that we partner with FishingSponsors.com and Mark," said Brad Raymond, VP of Gemini Sport Marketing. "We work very hard at helping anglers with their images, and this is another way to do that."
Fishingsponsors.com is where fishing, innovation, and technology come together to benefit the fishing community. “At Fishingsponsors.com, our mission is simple: To unite both sponsors and anglers-using and easy and effective process- which will benefit and improve the future of fishing,” states Justin Eidem CEO of Fishingsponsors .com. “We are thrilled to be working with a wide variety of up and coming anglers as well as Elite Series anglers. We hope to continue to give potential sponsors the best talent for their direct marketing programs."
For more information on apparel for Gemini Sport Marketing, go to www.geminisportmarketing.com. Or call 1-888-604-6644.
Additional information on Fishing Sponsors .com may be found at www.fishingsponsors.com .
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 Stone photo
North Carolina Elite Series pro Marty Stone announced today that his new website is live. He will have a blog, tournament results, tips and techniques as well as products from his sponsors. To take a look click here. |
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Wired and Elite Series pro Jason Quinn has signed a new deal with Triton Boats for 2010. "I am a last minute kind of a guy. Last minute to get into the Classic and last minute to get a boat deal inked before the Classic. I have run Tritons before in Elites for the Top 12's and like their durability and ride. I really like that Triton and Mercury are committed to fishing as well" said Quinn.
"I have had a Mercury since I was 14 and its all in the family now. This is a great group of guys and its great that Triton and Mercury has a support trailer at all the events. I will not have to worry about my boat and motor again" added Quinn.
Quinn also will be moving over to Abu Garcia, from Pflueger/All Star, this year as well. He will be using Abu Garcia rods and reels. Abu Garcia, Pflueger and All Star are all Pure Fishing Companies.
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Solar Bat sunglasses, makers of the ultimate outdoor optics, is continuing their support of the PAA through the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series. Solar Bat has been supporting professional anglers since 1994, and has a very impressive Pro Staff, including several PAA members. Team Solar Bat has a string of accomplishments including 6 Bassmasters Classic Titles, as well as 6 Angler of the Year honors, and countless wins. Several of these talented team members will be fishing the PAA competitions in 2010 and promoting the benefits of Solar Bat Sunglasses.
As a pioneer in fishing-specific glasses, Solar Bat continues to give competitive anglers everywhere an edge. Their new patent pending Gradient Tint process elevates fishing optics even further, with lenses created specifically for changing conditions. PAA members will see the benefits of this unique feature throughout the 2010 Tournament Series. Gradient Tint is just one of many enhancements to the product line, consisting of 17 different frame styles, multiple lens options, fishing-specific goggles, the Bat Mask, as well as optics for shooting and hunting. Solar Bat also offers 10 different styles suitable for prescriptions, including both distance and bifocal. In addition to their evolving line-up, the company has continued to enhance quality over the years. Starting in 2010, all polarized lenses will be created with enhanced molding processes based in the USA, for even crisper vision.
Enhancements and expansions are part of the growth process for Solar Bat, which also recently gave the brand itself some updates. Those familiar with the company will recognize an updated logo and a fresh website. According to Dr. Gary Nesty, founder of Solar Bat, “We are excited to support the PAA as we continue to grow together. Exposing our products to members and fans of the PAA in conjunction with the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series is an excellent opportunity. Our company and prostaff will be able to showcase our products in conjunction with exciting events, at one of the nation’s leading retailers.” Solar Bat, and members of the prostaff, will have a presence on-site at 2010 PAA competitions, and take advantage of PAA advertising opportunities. PAA members will also have opportunities to take advantage of this renewed partnership through special “PAA-Only” programs throughout 2010.
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Lay Lake, home to this years Bassmaster Classic, is very high, muddy and water temps are near 40. Could the Float N Fly be a technique that might win the Classic? Lay is filled with spots and they love them.
Anglers like Aaron Martens, Jeff Kriet and Jeff Freeman know how to catch finicky bass and all have been known to go against the grain to catch them. Will an off the wall technique be the winning strategy?
Finesse fishing could be the go-to technique and look for anglers to possibly be using the Spro Phat Fly trailed behind a specialty float.
Don't forget we have a Bassmaster Classic Sound Off Contest on Wired2Fish, right now, where you get to pick the winning angler and technique. This could be a very unique Classic to say the least.
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Forget everything you know about hooks...the rules have changed! The awe-inspiring Lazer TroKar fishhooks are for those who aren't just out to catch fish, but are out to win.
In order to produce the wickedest fishhooks ever made, the product development team at Lazer TroKar worked with a high-tech producer of surgical needles as well as top professional anglers Skeet Reese, Shaw Grigsby Jr., Brent Chapman and Gerald Swindle to create the highest quality, technique specific line of fishhooks on the planet.
The patented geometric triangular hook point is honed on all three edges to surgical sharpness, resulting in a hook that penetrates twice as fast as any other with only half the pressure. Hook sharpness is critically important to anglers but so is hook strength. Therefore, TroKar utilizes a proprietary Q741 wire and a bolstered shank design to create a hook strong enough even to withstand the rigors of fishing with braided line.
"Partnering with the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series has been an exciting project. There is phenomenal fishing talent within the ranks of the participating collegiate anglers, and we are thrilled to have them fishing the sharpest hook on the planet...Lazer TroKar, "stated Matt Gray, TroKar Hook Manager.
Collegiate anglers will appreciate the unsurpassed quality of Lazer TroKar hooks every time they set the hook during the 2010 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series. As the official fishhook of the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series, Lazer TroKar will reward top finishing collegiate anglers at each event with an assortment of hooks ranging in value from $100 - $500.
"We're excited to add Lazer TroKar to the growing number of companies that support collegiate bass fishing through this dynamic tournament series.The Lazer Trokar award and incentive program further benefits collegiate bass anglers and will help them land more fish," stated Wade Middleton, Tournament Director.
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Alan McGuckin, long-time industry public relations professional and friend of Wired2Fish was hosting a media outing for Quantum Rods and Reels and was on a boat with John Frazier of Saltwater Sportsman magazine and guide / TV host Rich Tudor of Saltwater Experience TV. McGuckin, or "Guck" as we call him in the industry, put down his camera and notepad long enough to fight a shark to the boat. It just so happened to be a lemon shark weighing more than 200 pounds, his biggest fish ever.
He was able to fight and land the big shark with a Quantum Boca Offshore Spinning Rod, Quantum size 80 Boca PTs Spinning Reel, spooled with 50-pound braid with a 50-pound steel leader tipped with a slab of cut barracuda on a 7/0 hook.
That sure beats perch jerking in Oklahoma, eh Guck? Great Catch! Thanks for sharing!
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 Bass Cat photo
Tacklewarehouse.com, an industry leader in online sales of cutting-edge tournament fishing tackle, is proud to announce that Elite Series Pro Marty Stone has joined the Tacklewarehouse.com National Pro Staff.
Stone, a 15-year BASS pro and two-time winner on the BASS Elite Series, will be joining forces with Tacklewarehouse.com to bring more awareness to the company’s brand among anglers on the East Coast and to keep tournament anglers informed on the latest tackle trends on the national tours through his own website, Martystone.com.
Tacklewarehouse.com is already a household name in the West when it comes to specialty tournament tackle. What sets Tacklewarehouse.com apart from other online catalog stores is their tireless effort to bring new tackle trends and hard-to-find tournament tackle to bass fishing enthusiasts across the globe.
“This is a once-in-a-million opportunity to be associated with a company that leads the way in bringing new fishing techniques to the consumer – something that is vital to the overall growth of our sport,” Stone said. “When it comes to being the first retailer to have a specialty product available for the consumer, no one does it better than Tacklewarehouse.com.”
In addition to their solid reputation for being first to the marketplace with the latest tackle trends and hottest lures, Tacklewarehouse.com is also known for their easy-to-use online ordering process and expedited order filling and shipping.
“The site is so simple and efficient to use, you can have tackle delivered to your home or straight to a tournament location,” Stone said. “It’s the greatest tackle store on earth no matter where you are.”
As Stone fishes across America on the BASS Elite Series this season, he will be providing updates on what’s hot in terms of lures and techniques in the pro fishing world on his own website.
“As pros we are often the first to witness certain trends on tour, such as the Chatterbait, Mop Jig or the big Lake Fork Spoon,” Stone said. “I’ll be reporting on these innovations from the road on Martystone.com and they will be hyper-linked to Tacklewarehouse.com so other anglers can be the first to own these hot lures on their own lake.
Rich Zeilenga, the COO of Tackle Warehouse, was the first to welcome Stone aboard.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Marty Stone to the Tackle Warehouse team,” Zeilenga said. “Marty brings a wealth of on the water and industry experience. Marty’s professionalism, work ethic and ability to communicate effectively are all qualities that we respect and admire. We look forward to a long successful relationship with Marty.”
Stone believes his unique partnership with Tacklewarehouse.com will forge new ground in the way business is done in the bass tackle industry.
“I think this new relationship between Tacklewarehouse.com and MartyStone.com is going to set a precedent for the way both media and marketing are done in the world of tournament bass fishing,” Stone added.
For more information on Marty Stone, visit Martystone.com. For more on Tackle Warehouse click here.
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 El Grande Lures of Linton, Ind., announced that Chad Morgenthaler, an FLW Tour pro from Coulterville, Ill., has joined the company’s pro-staff.
The company’s lures are most frequently used on the big bass factories of Texas and Louisiana, but they’ll work anywhere that trophy bass swim.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with a great soft plastics company like El Grande Lures,” Morgenthaler said. “I hope to play an instrumental part in helping to brand and market their products as they broaden and expand their business plan. It is always an honor to be included in the design process while a company ‘tweaks’ their products to maximize their effectiveness.”
“We are excited about this partnership as Chad will be instrumental in working directly with me in product design," said Jay Schurz, El Grande’s owner. "Chad fully understands our niche in the market, which is creating big soft plastics with industry leading color schemes. We look forward to many years of working with Chad and hope to be an integral part of helping Chad achieve his goals."
El Grande Lures currently has three products in its lineup:
* The Gila Monster, an 8 ¾ inch lizard that can be Carolina rigged or Texas rigged;
* The El Grande Tube, a flipping tube meant to handle the toughest cover and fish around; and
* El Grande Sapo, a soft plastic toad that churns the water like a buzzbait.
All three lures are available in standard colors as well as some patterns unique to El Grande.
For more information about El Grande Lures, click here.
For more information about Chad Morgenthaler, click here.
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Lazer TroKar will have 4 members of their pro staff participating in this years Bassmaster Classic in Alabama. Skeet Reese, defending Classic Champion, Gerald Swindle, Shaw Grigsby and Brent Chapman will all be fishing Lay Lake.
Trokar will be exhibiting at the Classic in booth 2312 where they will have "show only" specials, limited TroKar clothing, Classic only give-a-ways and pro seminars. Several retailers in the show will also be selling Lazer TroKar hooks.
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Today on Wired Radio with Terry Brown Randy Hopper of Ranger Boats candidly discusses the purchase of Ranger, Stratos and Champion and what it means moving forward to dealers and buyers. To listen click here.
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Virginia Federation Nation angler Jeff Freeman has tasted the Bassmaster Classic experience before. He has again qualified to fish this years event on Lay Lake. He is an extraordinary finesse angler and this tournament could be a finesse bite. To listen to his interview on Wired Radio with Terry Brown click here.
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Venerable Elite Series angler Mark Davis talks about 2009 and how he is gearing up for 2010. He also tells us about his "nickname". To listen click here. |
Wood Manufacturing, Inc., home to the legendary Ranger boat brand, today embraced new ownership as the previously announced acquisition by Platinum Equity was finalized. The transaction, which was approved January 13 by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, also gives Platinum Equity ownership of several other leading boat brands previously under the Genmar umbrella. Wood Manufacturing – the nation’s largest manufacturer of premium fiberglass fishing boats – will be operated independently from the other divisions and will continue on under the leadership of the existing local management which boasts more than four decades of experience. Both initiatives are designed to maintain the company’s focus on quality products and longstanding commitment to the sport of fishing. In addition, the same management team will also continue to be responsible for Stratos Boats as well as the Champion brand.
“Ranger has always been the leader in its marketplace, with an established brand, broad product line and extremely loyal customers. It’s an extraordinary company and we’re excited and privileged to partner with this outstanding management team. We are totally committed to help our new partners continue to thrive and ensure their leadership position well into the future,” said Louis Samson, the Platinum Equity principal who led the transaction. “Their focus on bringing quality products and services to their dealers and family of owners will only intensify through our partnership.”
Ranger Boats President Randy Hopper, along with legendary company founder Forrest L. Wood, spoke about the excitement stemming from the new partnership. “We couldn’t be more pleased,” said Hopper. “Our capital structure going forward will allow us to keep our focus where it should be – building the most sought after fishing boats in the world.” Echoing Hopper’s comments, Wood emphasized his staunch support and continued affiliation with the company. “It’s great to see this partnership promoting so many unique opportunities. The Ranger Family is full of wonderful, talented folks and Nina and I are so proud to be a part of it all. We look forward to continuing the programs that have served Ranger well for more than 40 years. Building the best product and encouraging increased participation in a sport for all ages have always been our goals, and we all look forward to a thriving relationship with our new partner.”
According to Hopper, Ranger Boats enters 2010 with the strongest model lineup in its 40-plus year history. In an economy where many manufacturers are choosing to scale back their efforts and offerings, Ranger is being recognized by several industry leaders, including Trailer Boats magazine for aggressively developing new models. In their January issue, Ranger’s all-new Z521 Comanche received Trailer Boats’ prestigious 2010 Excellence in Design award for freshwater fishing boats – an honor reserved for the industry’s most exciting and innovative new craft.
We will have Randy Hopper on Wired Radio with Terry Brown later today. Stay tuned.
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We've been hearing that many of you will be joining us and attending the Classic in a few weeks in Birmingham. Well we would like to know how many of you we should be looking for so go to our fan page at www.facebook.com/Wired2Fish and sound off on our Roll Call! Let us know if you are working a booth or just going as a fan! How far are you traveling? How many Classics have you been to?
So if you're Classic bound...sound off!
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Elite Series and Longhorn pro Jeff Kriet just got his new wrap for 2010 completed today. H2O HydroWraps did the handy work. It looks sharp, and it's done just in time for the Bassmaster Classic.
To see more wraps or learn more about HydroWraps click here. |
The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at Bass Pro Shops in Ft. Myers, Fla., for the second 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 February 5th and is set to end February 7th.
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 are excited about having the Experience Trailer on the road in 2010 and stopping at many new locations across the country,” 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.”
Other exciting elements include a knot tying contest and demonstration, where you can learn new knots and even win a prize. Under the tent, they 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
February 5th – 7th
Bass Pro
10040 Gulf Center Drive
Ft. Myers, FL 33913
Phone: 239-461-7800
February 11th – 13th
Gander Mountain
3750 Flagg Lane
Lake Mary, FL, 32746,
Phone: 407-804-0514
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Crazy Dave is at it again. This week is the smallest fish, Scott Martin, Fish Fishburne, a gopher and Pamela Anderson....You have got to be kidding.
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Wired2Fish reader and friend Matt Peters just sent us a picture of a couple of giant largies he caught today. Calm seas and giant largemouth are right up our alley. Nice fish Matt. We're jealous.
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Two great minds in fishing bling, Brook Johnson of Gator Grip and Mike Daleo of Bluewater LED, put their heads together at the Indiana Fishing Expo and came up with yet another way to personalize your boat. Take a look at this access plate.
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"I am excited to be joining Normark as a full line pro," Quinn said. "I have been using Storm, Terminator and Luhr Jensen products for years, but I am excited to add Rapala, Sufix and Trigger X to the mix as well. Rapala is the most consistent wood product out there. You don't have to tune Rapala baits. They have everything from the surface to 20 feet or deeper, and as a deep water angler, I have no need to fish anything else. They actually have stuff that catches fish."
 FLW photo(Terry and Pam Bolton)
"I am super excited, and representing this strong line-up of brands is awesome," Bolton said. "Rapala has a strong history, and it's neat to be a part of it. I have been using Sufix for a long time and am impressed. I now have a full arsenal of the best products in just about every category."
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The BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship will be held on May 25-28, 2010 and registration for that event begins today. Registration will end on May 1st. The Championship field will be limited to 150 two-person teams; however each club is guaranteed entry for one two person team.
To register click here.
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Elite Series pro Bradley Hallman went to Mexico and caught some big ones.
Then he caught some bigger ones.
Then he caught the biggest one of all.
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Mark Pack and the gang at Lake Fork Tackle are always designing new products. Whether it is a revolutionary new plastic design like the Hyper Freak or the Live Magic Shad or new terminal tackle the innovation coming out of this Texas company is amazing.
The Wacky Hook and Weight combo is another cutting edge system designed by Lake Fork that makes wacky worming even better. A specially designed circular weight with a hook slot and a hook strategically designed for this kind of fishing allows anglers to wacky rig their favorite bait, cast it further and get more milage out of plastics. The Wacky Weight comes in 3 sizes 1/16, 1/8, and 3/16. Spring is ripe for wacky worming and we suggest you add some of these new Lake Fork Wacky Weights and Hooks to your arsenal.
When we saw it the first time we asked ourselves.....Why didn't we think of that?
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Today on Unplugged Pete Robbins highlights BASS Elite Series pro Bradley Hallman and his new venture in Mexico. Big bass are on the horizon. To read click here.
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