 Many anglers like to talk about what makes a great riding boat better. It starts with the hull but proper amenities inside the boat can help as well. Building a boat that fishes well but doesn't kill you on those days when it's rough and you have a long run makes the money spent on quality worth even more.
Like almost everything else that goes into a Legend Boat the seats are something special. Welded Aluminum Frames, Waterproof Plastic Substrate and a Component Foam System are just the beginning. It’s the 1/2-inch layer of high-tech ShockTec Gel that really separates Legends seats from the competition, and we saw it recently first hand on a tour of the Legend facility in Mountain Home, Ark.
Every detail is covered, and building a customized boat that meets the need of the buyer is their goal. We will have a feature on our tour of Legend very soon but thought small tidbits about what we saw about the detail craftsmanship were important for Wired2Fish readers. Parts of the equation are the seats. We found that ShockTec Gel very impressive!
ShockTec Gel is a Hybrid Polyurethane Elastomer that immediately dissipates an impact force. It has been tested by Snell Memorial Foundation (the nation's leading independent impact testing authority), Michigan State University, General Motors and Florida State University (2008 Blunt Force Trauma testing for the US Armed Forces). The results are impressive.
Even in the most extreme impact test, it will never compress more than 67 percent and it returns almost instantly to its original shape. This performance was not adversely affected when tested at room temperature after holding -30 degrees for 24 hours and after holding 210 degrees for 24 hours. Top it off with the industries most durable Marine Vinyl and craftsmanship built on over 35 years of experience and you get a seating system that you would expect from a high quality product.
Plain and simple, Legend builds a quality boat.
A 1/2 inch sub-section of ShockTec Gel used in Legend Boats seats
|
|
|
|
Thanks to everyone who entered the Browning/W2F Sunglasses contest on Wired2Fish. Wired2Fish readers are a creative bunch and we still have not stopped laughing from your responses. Some could be printed and others need to kept in the Wired2Fish blooper box. The crack team of Wired2Fish judges have the final ten selected and you will be getting your new shades very soon.
Below are the winners and their entries:
Catherine Hagar, Desloge, MO
I must HAVE a pair so I can rub it in my boyfriend's face. I love to fish as much as him however everything I get is hand-me-downs. A bait gets a chip in it, he buys a new one gives me the old. He buys new rods and reels, and he gives me his old and aging stuff. I have begun to slowly collect my own baits and tackle only to find that when I start to catch them in a tournament, he steals my baits to fish with. I need to have a good pair of sunglasses to visibly remind him of his defeat by his girlfriend. That I won and got something he can't touch, and my name online to solidify my superiority to him. So when I'm pulling hogs out of the water, and he isn't, I can say it's the glasses. Then proceed to say "nanner nanner boo boo stick your heard in doo doo"
Ben Helmerich, Murray, KY
Because the pair of glasses I have now can barely be seen through because there are so many scratches. I check wired 2 fish every day for new articles and enjoy reading and learning in the sport. I will not cease to exist if I do not win for the simple fact I never win these kinds of things. Yet, I am already a pretty hardcore fisherman, but this will make this sport easier for me with a awesome pair of sunglasses like this!
Shasta Russell, Elmore, AL
My husband LOVES to fish, and has been driving me crazy for almost a year about needing some good sunglasses for fishing. He claims it'll help him towards his goal of becoming a professional fisherman, and now that he's found out about the W2F sunglasses, he's driving me even more crazy wanting a pair for Christmas. Please, for his sake and my sanity, I need these sunglasses!
Brian Marshall, North Liberty, IA
Critical Alert!! Rod Blagojevich's hair is on the loose in the Chicago area and is threatening the great lakes region with destruction. The hair is set to become an invasive species rivaled only by Asian carp. Brian Marshall of North Liberty, Iowa has been tasked to search the rivers and canals for The Hair but he requires a pair of Wired2Fish / Browning sunglasses in order to spot this terrible creature. He must have these before The Hair breeds with the carp to create the big headed helmet hair carp!!
John Battani, Sterling Heights MI
I've been on a list for a kidney transplant for 5 years and been on dialysis for more than 4 years. I get social sec disability and after paying my medical bills, regular bills and prescriptions, there's not a lot left. It would be nice to get a pair for fishing. The glare on the water from the sun is terrible and forces me to stop early because it hurts my eyes. Thank you and have a great day!!
Rob Hakes, Minonk, IL
So my wife can't tell I am crying when she says I can not go fishing!
Mark Hanna, Berwick, PA
I absolutely need to have these so my son continues to think I'm the coolest fisherman on the lake! Ever since I've found W2F I've learned a lot more about fishing and became my son's fishing hero. So I have to have these glasses to show him that I am the coolest fishing hero he will ever know.
Jay Hunt, Fayetteville, AR
If I do not win these shades then I will buy a pair of Costa's. If I buy a pair of Costa's, my wife will divorce me. Save my marriage and send me these glasses. PLEASE!!
Frank Andrekus, Zion, IL
I absolutely HAVE to have a pair of these shades because when I am seen wearing them, people would think I work for Wired2Fish (cause all you cool guys already wear them). This in turn would make people want to have my autograph. The increasing crowds would draw more attention and the crowd size would increase exponentially. Ultimately I would draw the attention of a super model and we would fall in love and marry. Once married to such a beautiful (and wealthy) woman, I would run for political office, because I could quit my current job. Once elected, I would name Todd Hammill and Terry Brown to be Co-Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Interior, thereby ensuring America’s natural resources are protected for years to come… All because you sent me a pair of those awesome sunglasses.
Bryan McDermott, Cottonwood, CA
I am the most interesting man in the world. I don't often wear sunglasses, but when I do, I wear Browning’s with TAC polarized lenses.
Note: If you didn't win and want a great looking pair of W2F shades in either black or white we have them for sale on the Wired2Fish Store for an incredibly low price of $49.95. Click here to purchase. These are great Christmas gifts. |
|
Some of the best fishing of the year happens in the dead of winter. You might be saying, "Are you kidding?"
Part of living in the Midwest and Upper Midwest is fishing cold winter days and some of the best places to do that are power plant lakes that use lake water to cool power generation stations. Some are coal burners and others are nuclear. They are spread out across the country and stay open all winter,even in the coldest of conditions. If you can stand to be outdoors in frigid temps, the fish will bite in these lakes.
Most of these impoundments were designed with cold water and hot water arms. Cold water arms are utilized to pull cool lake water into the power plant and the hot water arms are where the water flows out of the plant. Both arms can be good in the winter although the upper ends of the cold water arms can be a bit more tricky, as ice can form in pockets and bays. Some of the best areas are where the hot and cold water arms meet. If cover is present, hold on. Fish will congregate where these two water types meet and many times the action can be hot and heavy.
In super cold conditions, the hot water arm is usually best. Water temps will remain in the 50s all year, and the headwaters of the hot ditch can find temps in the 60s and 70s. Air temps in the 30s or lower with water temps in the 60s can be comfortable believe it or not. Although fog can be a problem at times, the warm water generates heat for the angler.
Bait selection in the winter varies from jigs to spinnerbaits and spoons to topwaters. A lot depends on the light conditions and prevalent water depth and temperature. Crankbaits can also be very good.
One of the side benefits of power plant lakes is current. Water pulled through the power plant can generate some current, and although it may not be noticeable, it's there and positions fish.
Proper clothing is critical for fishing this time of year. An exceptional suit for this type of fishing is the Frabill Snosuit. The Frabill FXE Raingear can also be great this time of year but temperatures will dictate your choice. Both are not only warm but allow for layering beneath and ease of movement. A pair of the Frabill FXE Task gloves are also critical. Extremities are the first thing to get cold so good insulated boots, pocket heaters and good gloves are essential as well. Frabill also makes an IceSuit for super cold conditions.
Winter Open Water Fishing Tips
1. Dress for the conditions. You can take clothes off but can't put on ones you didn't bring. Keep your cell phone charged and in a dry box in the boat. A good hood and a hat are essential. Sunscreen, lip balm and good sunglasses are also "must haves".
2. Always bring extra dry clothing. You never know when you might get wet and having an extra set of clothes with you can be critical. We always carry an extra pair of wool gloves in the boat. They can get soaked but will still stay warm.
3. Don't forget that docks and ramps can get icy and always carry a bag of ice melt or sand in the truck just in case. Water pulled up on the ramp during loading and unloading can be super slick. Dock surfaces can be the same way.
4. A good catalytic heater and air activated pocket warmers are a must. Fleece lined beanies are best as they stay warm and dry and won't itch after a long day on the water.
5. Wear your lifejacket even while fishing and always hook up your kill switch when running. A cold weather suit can get water logged quickly if you fall in and seconds are critical to prevent hypothermia. We wear a Mustang Hydrostatic suspender style lifejacket the entire time we are on the water.
6. Always expect the unexpected in cold weather. Accidents are called accidents for a reason.
Enjoy wintertime open-water fishing. These truly can be some of the best days on the water all year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The pistons fired quickly and the table rotated as she grabbed two more pieces of metal and held them into place. KAPISH! A rapid fire of air again and the table began rotating once more. In a matter of minutes, hot molten lead was transformed into shiny instruments of affection. Lead jigs aren't diamonds to most folks. Unless you're like us. Looking at a stack of shiny silver jigheads with razor sharp hooks coming out of them was a thing of beauty.
|
|
Whether fishing open water or on the ice, Northland Tackle has you covered with their new Live Forage line up of spoons. Cold water gamefish are a finicky lot and they like to eat forage they are used to seeing more readily that chasing a silverware drawer of lifeless spoons. The new Live Forage spoons look like the real thing and are shaped and sized to mimic them to a "T".
When ice anglers find schools of big walleye, pike, bass and muskies and when they drop a bluegill imitator like the one pictured above they can already smell the hot grease. They can not resist this offering and nothing tastes better than fish through the ice.
Open water anglers can fish rocks and points effectively with a vertical presentation from the boat but the result is the same. More fish.
Don't be afraid to hit the water when cold weather hits. Light line, spinning gear and great electronics can warm things right up as winter approaches and water temps drop into the 40's.
|
|
The Lazer Trokar TKELITE assortment was developed for retail after enormous response to the TroKar pros and their customized cases that were personalized and specifically filled with the angler’s favorite hooks. These custom Lazer TroKar hook cases have been the most wanted item on the Elite tour, and now they are available to the masses.
The TKELITE is a pro-angler’s dream and comes complete with 50 Lazer TroKar hooks neatly organized like the scalpels on a surgeon’s table. This kit allows the angler to have the perfect hook when you need it at your fingertips all in a handy plastic case perfect for the boat of tackle bag.
The TKELITE is comprised of some of the best selling Lazer TroKar hooks and those that were advocated for by the best anglers in the business…the Lazer TroKar Pros.
The following are included (5 hooks each):
TK100-2/0 & 3/0; TK110-3/0 & 4/0; TK120-3/0; TK130-4/0 & 5/0; TK140-4/0; TK150-1 & 1/0
No matter the situation, the Lazer Trokar TKELITE kit has the hook that will bring home the bacon. Whether drop-shotting or fishing the riprap, Texas or Carolina rig, the TKELITE comes to the table with all guns drawn and blazing.
The TKELITE comes laced with the wicked Lazer TroKar emblem on the front and the iconic TroKar “T” on the back. Also included is a 3” x 5” oval Lazer TroKar decal for the boat or truck…FREE! Check out the hooks, get the case and the sticker and fish like you want to win something….fish like you want to DOMINATE and DRAW BLOOD!! This is the kit for you.
The suggested retail price for this kit is $79.99 and you can learn more by clicking here.
|
|
Bass University is heading to Chicago December 4 and 5 and the line up is a very good one. Headed up by founders Pete Gluszek and Mike Iaconelli, BU will also have Brent Ehrler, Greg Hackney and Byron Velvick at this 2 day session. ESPN's Mark Zona will also be presenting in Chicago talking about catching smallmouth bass.
The Bass University will be held at the Marriott Chicago O'Hare and special room rates are available. Regular registration cost is $225.00. Federation Anglers at can get a discount of 25 dollars at $200.00, groups of 10 or more at $185, and High School anglers and youth get a special rate of $175.00 for the two days. Space is still available.
Hotel Info: Marriott Chicago O'Hare 8535 W Higgins Rd, Chicago, IL 60631-2806
(773)693-4444
Bass University is 2 full days of dedicated training and each presenter speaks to their specialties. Lunch with the Kids and Dinner with the Pros opportunities are also available at this session.
|
|
|
|
Power-Pole shallow water anchoring systems has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser for 2011.
JL Marine Systems, Inc., the manufacturers of Power-Pole, has signed an advertising agreement with Wired2Fish.com for 2011. JL Marine revolutionized sport fishing with their advanced boat control system. Power-Pole anchors allow fishermen to stop their boats quickly and quietly with the touch of a button/switch. In 2010 they added a new lighter, quicker unit with several new colors to match your boat.
"We are very excited to have Power-Pole with us at Wired2Fish for the upcoming season," said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish. "They sponsor both BASS and FLW and anglers continue to rave about the importance of the Power-Pole in their fishing."
Look for special promotions, video and inside information about their products in the near future.
|
|
We just wanted to take a minute and give thanks for a lot of things in our profession and personal lives.
 "I am thankful for fishing and all of the blessings I have as a result of it. My family is my rock with a great wife and two great kids. I truly have the best job in the world and work with the best bunch of folks in the business. I am honored that the Wired2Fish readers allow us to enter their homes and offices for a bit of time each day. Wired2Fish readers are the best. God Bless our soldiers who protect our freedom for without them I would not be able to do what I do each day! Happy Thanksgiving to one and all." - Terry Brown
 "I am thankful for the greatest job and the coolest people to work with, great friends and family, a beautiful and PATIENT wife, and the most awesome group of people ever – W2F readers and fans! Wired2Fish has provided the opportunity to meet so many great people in the fishing community across the country and I'm proud and honored to be able to share the same passion! Happy Thanksgiving!" - Todd Hammill
 "I am thankful for my parents getting me into fishing at a very young age and for the friends that kept the passion burning long enough for me to turn this into a career. I'm thankful for those people along the way that took a chance on me, stuck their neck out for me or helped me in some small way realize my dreams. I'm most thankful though for a healthy, hilarious son that makes everyday better and for my loving wife who sacrificed so much for me to pursue this dream long enough to make it a reality. And I'm tremendously thankful for the great folks I've met, spoke to and most importantly made friends with through fishing. I consider everyone I meet at Wired2Fish a friend and feel blessed to hang out with you guys and gals everyday. You all rock, and for that I'm thankful!" - Jason Sealock
|
|
Tackle Warehouse Black Friday Sale is offering deals too good to advertise. Beginning Friday call 1-800-300-4916 to get bargains on name brand products at prices you will not believe. The sale will run starting Wednesday 10am November 24th and ending Tuesday the 30th at 5pm and discounts up to 20% are available. The Christmas Season is here and Tackle Warehouse has the products and the deals to put a smile on any outdoorsperson you are shopping for.
|
|
By Terry Brown
Some folks are just good folks. I put Shirley and Denny Brauer at the top of that list. They are people good people gravitate towards. They are in a class by themselves, and simply said, just plain good folks. They have a great family, are wonderful grandparents, and to me, define what hard work, dedication and effort can produce.
This past week, I took Denny and Shirley up on an opportunity to come to their home for a visit. They had been after me for years to make the sojourn to Camdenton and spend a day or two. After every telephone call, Denny would say, “When are you coming down and going fishing with me?” I finally took him up on it.
Denny and Shirley epitomize the American Dream to me. They are much more than husband and wife, grandma and grandpa or mom and dad. They are best friends. Denny is always on top of his game from a "jab-before-you-get-jabbed" perspective, and Shirley aptly puts him in his place when he needs it.
To most of us as anglers, Denny is a hero. To me, he is a loyal friend I can count on to stand up for me, recommended me at times and who I have looked up to for years. I like the way he handles himself, and the way he fishes. I love how Shirley handles Denny and how much she cares for her family. It runs much deeper than that though. They are like peanut butter and jelly, like ice cream and cake, two peas in a pod. They should have been on a Norman Rockwell painting.
Enjoying their company and talking about the outdoors with them is why I got into this business. They love fishing, and they love the outdoors. Their passion runs deep, and it’s contagious. Being around them gets me fired up to do my job better. It’s not about trophies to them, it’s about lifestyle and doing things right the first time. Even when they are busy, they always have time for fans and the sport, and we all need to take a lesson from them. They are very special folks.
I have spent time on the water with Denny before, but this trip was special. It was just he and I, and his time was my time. I got to ask the details, the nitty gritty, the things that I really wanted to know to help me and my fishing. Everything from launching his Ranger Boat to why he rigs a bait the way he does. He answered every one of my questions.
Denny is an expert at patterning fish, and that day he did it after a single dock. The third dock of the day, he caught a 12-incher, and it clued him to where the fish were holding, what depth, what side of what dock. He knew every dock that would hold a fish. He changed up a lot during the day with bait selection but utilized baits the fish told him he should be throwing.
Denny is Strike King through and through, and he exudes confidence with their products. He flipped a Denny Brauer jig teamed with a Rage Tail Craw trailer and also flipped a Rodent Perfect Plastic creature bait. He talked about rate of fall and line selection. He talked about tungsten versus lead. He also showed me how to use the Ardent F700 Denny Brauer Signature Series reel and what makes it better. He picked every dock apart and he never missed a lick. If a bass sniffed on his selection they got a boat ride. A sweet time that there isn’t enough money to pay for.
The beauty in this trip is I filmed it all, and readers of Wired2Fish will get to ride along with us. Every detail, every bait selection and every fish, all caught on video. In upcoming days, we will begin the journey of a day on Denny’s lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and you get to ride along with us. No fish were staged, and everything is spelled out. We hope you will enjoy these segments as much as I enjoyed my day with Denny.
Denny and Shirley, you have a fan for life. Thanks for being friends of Wired2Fish and friends of this industry. You are why I am here.
|
|
|
|
Texas BASS Elite Series pro James Niggemeyer has joined Yamaha Marine for 2011. James will be on Weighing In Radio today with Terry Brown to update his efforts in the off season, his new sponsorship arrangement with Yamaha Marine and his preparations for the 2010 BASS Elite Series season. Stay tuned to Wired2Fish for more details.
|
Rapala's Mark Fisher has a new radio program and is on the air Sunday nights on BOB 106 FM from the north country. His show airs from 7-9 pm and can be heard via the Internet at www.dothebob.com. He will be taking calls. To get on the show with "Fish" call in at 763-453-0100
|
|
|
|
Browning Eyewear announced today the formation of a professional angling pro team to promote their top quality eyewear to fishermen across the country.
The team will be led by Pro Staff Director Jimmy Mason, a former Bassmaster Elite Series competitor who guides on several North Alabama lakes. Mason will fish the BASS Southern and Northern Opens, as well as the PAA Tournament Series and selected FLW Tour Open events in 2011.
Other members include: Bassmaster Elite Series pros Clark Reehm and Zell Rowland; FLW Tour pros Cody Bird, Jonathan Newton, Jim Tutt, Terry Bolton, Micah Frazier and Pete Gluszek; and Open pros Doug Vahrenberg and Mike Pharr. Mason expects to add additional anglers to the team in the coming months.
“So much of what we do as professional anglers is completely visual,” Reehm said. “Whether it’s looking for stumps or fish on beds or driving the boat in bad weather,” it’s critical to have the best possible eyewear.”
Browning is one of the most historic names in the outdoors. The quality that the company is known for is also seen in the eyewear collection, which consists of six frame styles. Their names will be recognizable to outdoorsmen everywhere – monickers like “Citori” are legendary in the sporting world.
“These sunglasses have the three things I look for in eyewear,” Newton said. “Clarity, protection and durability. They’re the total package.”
The eyewear is initially available in gray and amber lenses, but high contrast yellow will also be released to the public in the near future. Mason said that the lenses are “nearly safety glass thickness,” and will therefore protect anglers’ eyes in hazardous conditions.
Even better, the initial price point will be far below that of the company’s competitors, providing world-class optics and the Browning guarantee of quality at a fraction of the others’ price tag.
Prices range from $49.99 for the value line to $89.99 for the Elite line. Also, each of our glasses come with soft wipe case and hard carrying case for ease of care as part of the sunglass. Browning Eyewear is currently available at Bass Pro Shops and will be in Gander Mountain stores in early 2011. Other leading outdoor retailers will have them in stock in the near future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bass anglers are a talented lot. Most have skills with a rod and reel that most of us only wish we had. Others have talents outside fishing that elevate their personalities even further. Casey Ashley can sing. Gary Klein can sight in a rifle with the best of them and Dave Lefebre can play multiple instruments and loves music.
A professional fisherman's man cave is a direct result of his/her personality and Lefebre's shows an organic side of him that not all fans know about. He is a musician with the rod and reel but also is a drummer, guitar player and keyboardist extraordinaire. His man cave is all about music and shows a side of him and his family we may have not seen if we only watched him on the water.
Dave does have a tackle room filled with more crankbaits, rods and reels and boat stuff than a Tackle Warehouse storeroom but he is most proud of his music and this man cave.
We couldn't show his man cave without taking a look at his trophy case......his prize possession is a dollar bill signed by Mark Zona that simply states "I Suck" for a bet that Z wishes he had not made. Rock on Dave and thanks for a glimpse of your man cave!
|
 Minn Kota Motors added new videos and photos of their Talon Anchoring System that shows how the automatic anchoring system will work. Check them out on their website by visiting minnkotamotors.com.
|
|
After extensive testing in the laboratory and out on the water, St. Croix® adopted the new 3M™Matrix Resin to bond the high-modulus/high-strain graphite fibers used in all of their highest performance Legend Elite® rods (spinning, casting & fly), LegendXtreme® (spinning & casting), a new series of specialty fly rods named the Bank Robber,™ and the new Legend® Salt offshore saltwater series.
The new 3M™ Matrix Resin is unique because it uses nano-sized (ultra-microscopic) spheres of silica as a homogeneous, non-abrasive filler between the carbon fibers of a graphite rod blank, which results in a much stronger finished product. Fishing rods break when over-flexed because the carbon fibers endure “micro-buckling” on the compression side ofthe tubular structure.This micro-buckling, v isible only with an electron microscope, results in either immediate blank failure or a permanent weak spot – which breaks the next time the rod is over-flexed.
The “nano-silica” particles in the 3M™ Matrix Resin pack together to reinforce the individual carbon fibers during compression when the rod is flexed, which resists micro-buckling – and significantly improves the hoop and flex strength of the blank, resulting in a much stronger blank with increased sensitivity – all without changing the weight, action or power of the finished rod.
The nano-silica filler also improves the bond between carbon fibers, which increases both the flex strength and internal shear strength of the rod blank.
“The new 3M™ Matrix Resin has opened the door for us to become more creative in our rod blank designs,” explained Jason Bruner, St. Croix’s Director of Engineering. “The strength improvement we’ve seen in our laboratory is incredible, with a 30% average increase in strength on existing products. The new 3M™ Matrix Resin has also allowed us to push the limits of design in new rod series, like our new Legend® Salt. In that case, we were able to create substantially lighter, more sensitive saltwater rods without compromising strength.”
St. Croix rod series employing the new 3M™ Matrix Resin include:
• Legend Elite® spinning, casting and fly rods
• LegendXtreme® spinning and casting rods
• Bank Robber™ fly rods
• Legend® Salt offshore saltwater rods
|
|
The Bass Federation announced Friday the High School Fishing World Finals will return to Russellville, Ark. at Lake Dardanelle. High school stars from TBF’s Student Angler Federation will once again be invited to this "no entry fee" championship event at Lake Dardanelle State Park, July 18-23. Last year, 184 high school anglers from 18 states showcased the top high school talent from all over the country. The field is expected to grow substantially this year as the number of Student Angler Federation school clubs continues to rapidly grow.
Russellville Tourism, Dardanelle State Park, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will again play an active role in hosting the event with a variety of activities for anglers and their families. "Russellville is proud to sponsor the TBF High School Fishing World Finals for the second year," Director of Tourism for Russellville, Christie Graham, stated. "We look with anticipation towards the 2011 event coming to Lake Dardanelle. We know this event is going to grow even larger than last year and can’t wait to see what’s in store for these high school anglers."
The High School Fishing World Finals is one of the most unique fishing tournaments in the country. It combines not only fishing in a tournament format but also an educational component as each angler is required to pass a written test on angler ethics, boater safety and invasive species. The results add bonus ounces to their weights, which can impact the final outcome.
"Last year’s inaugural event was awesome, beyond our expectations," TBF President, Robert Cartlidge, said. "Our team is excited and prepared to handle as many teams that wish to come to Russellville. We also have a new and exciting wrinkle to this year’s event as we will host a consolation tournament on the final cut day. It will be another unique first in the industry. Our sponsor partners have stepped forward and are offering all sorts of fun prizes and contests for those teams who don’t make the final day cut. Combine that with the TBF’s education-oriented prize packages and it will certainly be worth a trip for the entire family to Russellville, Arkansas the week of July 18-23."
The 2010 champions from Meade County High School in Kentucky walked away with $32,000 in college scholarship offers and prizes. This year’s event will have even more of the same funding to echo the SAF’s theory of promoting educating through fishing. "If you think the event was great last year just wait and see what we have in store this year, students will want to pay close attention to announcements that are forthcoming." TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated. "We’re creating even more opportunities for our High School Anglers and their families through our Student Angler Federation, which is just another reason why it pays to belong to the SAF."
The High School Fishing World Finals is a low cost family fun vacation with activities centered in Russellville, Ark. and it’s convenient location right off of I-40. There’s plenty to see and do for the entire family. Lake Dardanelle State Park offers one of the top weigh-in facilities in the United States. All this will make for a fantastic week of family fun and fishing.
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is the oldest and largest grassroots fishing organization in America. TBF is owned by those it serves and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. The TBF annually conducts over 20,000 fishing, youth, and conservation events and has provided the foundation for the bass fishing industry for over 40 years. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call 580-765-9031.
For more information about the Student Angler Federation, how to get a high school club started in your local area and how to attend this year’s High School Fishing World Finals, visit highschoolfishing.org or call 580-765-9031.
|
Bass Pro Shops has introduced a new fishing incentive program for the pro tours.
When anglers join the Bass Pro Shops Fishing Team – Pro Tour Level, they will qualify for Bass Pro Shops benefits. They can also earn extra incentive money with a tournament victory or as the highest finisher in qualifying tournaments.
Anglers who fish the B.A.S.S. Elite Series, B.A.S.S. Opens, FLW Tour or PAA events can earn up to $1,000 for a tournament victory or $500 as the
highest finishing Bass Pro Fishing Team member. Plus, there are extra incentives like $5,000 for a championship win, $5,000 for Angler of the
Year, and $500 for qualifying for the BassMaster Classic.
In addition, they will receive discounts on Bass Pro Shops merchandise, free overnight shipping on branded merchandise, Bass Pro Shops
preferred rewards membership, and tournament service support crew at many Elite Level events.
For more details and to enroll anglers may contact Rick Emmitt at rickemmitt@trackermarine.com.
|
BRP ( Evinrude) was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Marine Retailers
Association of America (MRAA) at the Marine Dealers Conference &
Expo in Orlando, Fla. yesterday.
The annual award, launched in 1980, is presented to the marine
manufacturer or supplier who best exemplifies outstanding support of its
dealers through expert business practices, programs and products.
Selection is made by way of a committee of MRAA board members. Steve
Laham, vice-president of sales, marketing and after-sales service,
Evinrude, accepted the award on behalf of BRP.
“BRP has displayed outstanding leadership in our industry in terms of
dealer support programs, retail driven marketing and successful
business practices that have earned the company this recognition from
the MRAA,” stated Phil Keeter, president of the MRAA.
“We are delighted to receive this honor,” declared Yves Leduc,
vice-president and general manager, North America division. “Along with
consistent brand building initiatives, we strive to provide our
dealers with effective wholesale and retail programs despite the recent
industry downturn. This award validates these programs were well
received and helped our network gain strength."
|
|
|
|
Click here to read how they surprised him this morning.
Happy 71st Birthday Mr. Ed Chambers from Wired2Fish!
|
|
Browning Eyewear, the makers of high quality sunglasses, has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser for 2010 and 2011.
Browning Eyewear has a long standing reputation of building premier sunglasses that stand up to the wear and tear outdoorspeople can put them through but also building products that look great, as well.
 Browning Eyewear and Wired2Fish have partnered on two great looking designs that we will have on the Wired2Fish store. The frames are made of PC material with TAC 1.5 (Traiacetate Cellulose) polarized lenses with Anti-Scratch technology. They will sell for $49.95 and have that great looking W2F logo on the side. We will have both white and black models.
Browning Eyewear also has several other models that have the highest quality glass available but retail for less than $100.00. All come with hard case and cleaning bag.
"We are thrilled to be working with Lance Walker and Browning Eyewear on this program and know that Wired2Fish readers will benefit greatly with a high quality product at an attractive cost" said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish.
"We are excited to be working with Wired2Fish" said Lance Walker. "Wired2Fish knows products and they know what makes them tick and we are excited about bringing a quality Browning product to their readers.
Welcome Aboard Browning Eyewear!
|
|
JL Marine Systems, Inc., announced
Wednesday it has signed a sponsorship agreement with the tournament-fishing
company FLW Outdoors.
Through the sponsorship, JL Marine Systems’ popular Power-Pole
shallow-water anchor system will be promoted across the various FLW Outdoors
platforms. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Over
the past decade, JL Marine has changed the world of sport fishing by offering a
technologically advanced boat control system. Power-Pole anchors allow fishermen to stop their boats
quickly and quietly with the touch of a button.
“The majority of our pros
already employ the Power-Pole system, which is a strong testament to their
quality,” said Kathy Fennel, president of the FLW Outdoors Operations
Division. “We’re happy to have them on board and are confident
their sponsorship will prove beneficial.”
As part of the agreement, JL Marine
will offer their Captain’s Cash contingency program during the 2011
Walmart FLW Tour season. If enrolled, the winning pro angler at each of the six
FLW Tour Majors will receive a $750 bonus. At the four FLW Tour Opens, the pro
winner will earn $500 and the Forrest Wood Cup champion will receive $1,000. To
be eligible, anglers must use a Power-Pole anchor and be registered in the
Captain’s Cash program. More details on the program will be released in
the near future.
“We
are excited about being a sponsor of FLW Outdoors and are looking forward to an
exciting year,” said Robert Shamblin, director of marketing for
Power-Pole. “We are also proud to introduce the new Captain’s Cash
program that offers FLW Tour pros using Power-Pole anchors another way to
win.”
|
|
 
San Antonio, Texas - G2 Gemini Custom Apparel announced today that the company will make it easy and affordable for collegiate anglers to wear what the top bass tournament pros wear.
As the result of a discount purchasing program developed for collegiate anglers, fully customized jerseys will be available starting at only $52 and semi-custom jerseys will start at just $21. If necessary, G2 Gemini will pay the licensing fees for school logo use. Artwork and setup fees will also be waived. Orders are easily placed online and the standard 3 week delivery time applies.
Eligible collegiate anglers competing in the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series during 2011 will also have the opportunity to win matching hoodies at each event.
G2 Gemini is the leading manufacturer of customized, high performance jerseys that allow anglers to look sharp and effectively promote their sponsors. The patented fabric used on all G2 Gemini jerseys will not fade and it is extremely resistant to wear. Because the material itself is dyed it will not peel or wear off like screen printing. All G2 Gemini products are made in the USA. Additional features include:
· UV Protection
G2 Gemini apparel is built to handle extreme sun exposure with an outer shell that shields your body from harmful UV rays. All G2 Gemini apparel* features a UPF rating of 25. This advanced technology aids in extending the time you are able to spend outdoors-it also increases comfort during and after the competition. *Aside from level 4 apparel.
· Anti-Microbial
Fabric resists bacteria and continues to smell fresh-wash after wash. Specially finished using a micro-thin coating, G2 Gemini jerseys continue to look new even after months of wear.
· Temperature Management
Intera patented material keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The pores of the fabric expand whenever it is warm outside, which allows air to freely pass through. The pores contract in colder weather, which serves to insulate.
· Moisture Transfer
Fabrics are designed to transport moisture away from your body and toward the outer layer of the fabric where it can quickly evaporate.
· Ventilation
Breathable fabric means always feeling fresh-even under the most strenuous conditions.
· Moisture Wicking
Surface moisture and sweat wick to accelerate evaporation, keeping you dry while also serving to regulate body temperature.
|
Our buddy, Strike King pro Mark Menendez completed the Bass Slam today while filming with Shaw Grigsby down in Florida. He caught a Suwanee Bass on a Strike King Bitsy Bug and Baby Rage Craw. This was the final bass he needed to complete the slam. For those that don't know Bassmaster Magazine termed catching all eight species of bass catching a BASS SLAM. The eight species are Northern Largemouth, Florida Strain Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass, Shoal Bass, Redeye Bass, Guadalupe Bass, and Suwanne Bass.
Congratulations Mark for the great accomplishment.
|
|
|
Whether Bandit Lures CEO Chris Ross is talking to potential customers or looking for pro staffers, he wants them to understand the company’s culture. It’s not about gimmicks, gizmos or gadgets. In fact, the company’s most popular bait, the Bandit 200, has been around since before Ross joined the company 17 years ago. He likes it that way. Change can be good, but change solely for the sake of change makes no sense.
|
|
B.A.S.S. is back
The "dots" are returning to the name and products of the organization that's been serving bass anglers worldwide for more than 40 years.
The subtle name change from BASS to B.A.S.S. is an affirmation of the company's grass roots, said Jerry McKinnis, who with Don Logan and Jim Copeland acquired B.A.S.S. from ESPN on Nov. 1. "We want to get this back to being a friendlier organization, a we're-here-to-do-whatever-we-need-to-do-to-make-you-happy organization," McKinnis said. "To me, that's what those dots mean. It means we're back to where we used to be a long time ago … to where we make everybody feel like this is a very warm and fuzzy group of new owners who want to know about the members."
Originally the company was the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, the name founder Ray Scott created for his fledgling startup in 1968. As the company grew, the abbreviation B.A.S.S., spelled with periods and all capital letters, was adopted. After ESPN bought the company in 2001, the periods were removed during a broad-based rebranding campaign
Many Federation Nation clubs and state organizations, however, retained the periods in their official names and on patches. "The Federation Nation is a big part of what I'm talking about," McKinnis said. "They kind of feel like they've been forsaken — and by that, I don't mean to be disparaging about ESPN, because ESPN was wonderful, but they were awfully big folks to be getting down with the Federation Nation and making them feel important."
The name change will be reflected in all B.A.S.S. products.
"We're not going to go chucking all of our letterheads and so on, but over time we'll have everything changed back to B.A.S.S. — with dots," he said.
|
|
Rapala Promotes Trio
MINNETONKA, Minn. - Minnetonka-based Rapala USA, has promoted Kelly Brockpahler to marketing director, David James to manager of field promotions and media relations, and Ryan Rohrbach to controller.
In her new role, Brockpahler will oversee the company's marketing strategy and direction. "It's been a privilege to grow with such a great organization. I look forward to expanding my role and continuing to demonstrate my enthusiasm for our brands," Brockpahler commented.
James, in his new role, will manage all pro staff operations and endorsements, along with being a point of contact for media and industry representatives. "As an outdoor enthusiast, it's been amazing to marry my professional and personal interests with Rapala. I'm excited to take on my new responsibilities," commented James.
Rohrbach will assume full responsibility for monthly financial reporting to Rapala corporate based in Helsinki, Finland, along with continued responsibility of handling the human resource function of payroll and benefits. "I'm excited to take on a broader role in the company to impact both the financial and staff sides of the business," Rohrbach says.
"Marketing, promotions, media relations, human resources and financial management are important areas of responsibility, and Kelly, David and Ryan offer a wealth of in-depth knowledge and a remarkable passion for Rapala that will continue to strengthen the company," says Tom Mackin, president of Rapala U.S.A.
Congratulations to Kelly, David and Ryan from all of us at Wired2Fish! We're proud of you!
|
|
Industry Veteran Named to Head B.A.S.S. Sales
CELEBRATION, Fla. — B.A.S.S. today introduced Joe Higgins, a veteran sales executive for several major media organizations, as its Senior Director/Sales, effective Dec. 6.
Higgins of Jupiter, Fla., has spent more than 30 years in outdoor sports media, beginning his career in sales and sales management for Field and Stream Magazine. He later was publisher of Western Outdoors Publications before launching his own magazine, Florida Fishing Weekly. Most recently, he was U.S. Sales Director for World Fishing Network.
“Joe brings a world of experience in the sales arena to B.A.S.S., and he has a tremendous relationship with our existing advertisers and sponsors,” said Don Logan, one of three partners who purchased B.A.S.S. from ESPN Nov. 2. “We look forward to his building on those relationships while offering new opportunities that our multimedia platforms provide to companies in the sportfishing industry.”
Logan’s partners also credited Higgins’ knowledge and experience in outdoor media sales.
“He has a lot of stars on his helmet,” added Jerry McKinnis. “Everyone I talked to about Joe was just over the top in praising him.”
Copeland said Higgins “will provide great leadership in the sales organization. With his strong background in our industry, he’ll be a catalyst for doing great things with B.A.S.S.”
Higgins believes B.A.S.S., with its industry-leading media, including Bassmaster Magazine, bassmaster.com website and The Bassmasters television show on ESPN2, is positioned to offer sportfishing industry advertisers creative solutions beneficial to their marketing strategies. In addition, the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series and other tournament circuits afford manufacturers an opportunity to interact with their customers one-on-one.
“We’re in a unique time,” Higgins said, referring to the current economic climate. “You need a spark to get a fire going, and our industry needs that spark. B.A.S.S. is the biggest brand, so we should provide that spark.”
|
|
|
|
FLW Outdoors announced Tuesday that Damiki Fishing Tackle has renewed
its sponsorship with the world’s largest tournament-fishing
organization. Damiki first signed on as a sponsor in May 2010 and will
continue to aggressively market its impressive lineup of products to the
U.S. market.
At the foundation of its efforts is pro staffer Bryan Thrift – one of
the best bass anglers in the world. Thrift is fresh off an incredible
2010 tournament season in which he claimed the prestigious FLW Tour
Angler of the Year award. In addition to AOY, Thrift won the FLW Tour
Lake Norman qualifier and finished in the top 10 an additional six
times.
|
|
|
Have you ever seen one of the multicolored bar codes as seen above? Well if not read on. Electronic Tags are a cool new way to connect print media or any other visual media with Digital media. These tag barcodes are embedded with a URL or a link to a video, website, or pretty much anything you can think of.
Strike King recently started using the Electronic Tags in print ads and looks to take that a bit farther as they move into 2011. “The Electronic tags are a great way for us to cross market our print media with our increasing digital media” says SKL Marketing Manager Chris Brown. “We can place a tag on a print ad, package, business card or retail signage and link it back to our website, a YouTube video on our SKL Channel or anything else we want in digital media and increase awareness on one or all of our products.”
The Tags are easy to use using a smartphone like an Iphone, droid, blackberry or a phone with a camera that can access the internet. Simply download the FREE application or “App” from the website http://gettag.mobi or your appropriate App Store and select the phone you have and download the software. Once downloaded select the APP and it will use the phones camera to “Scan” the Tag you are looking at. Follow the instructions on the screen and BAM! There you go, access to whatever the tag pertains to and no typing in long web addresses or links. Just click the APP, scan and there you go.
“We are really excited to be using the Tag Technology in our marketing efforts in 2011, you will start seeing the tags in alot more places and some great new content to go along with it.” says Brown.
You can even scan tags from websites, TV’s anywhere you see a tag you should be able to scan it.
Currently Strike King has several Tags in print ads and signage out there. Below are some of the tags themselves and also a recent print ad with the tag included in the ad.
Scan the tags you see in this blog and look for them and make sure you scan the tag to learn more about Strike King products.
New Tungsten Print Ad for 2011 utilizing a Custom Video Tag for the new Tungsten Line.
|
|
We thought we had heard and seen it all here at Wired2Fish but FLW and Minn Kota pro Michael Murphy may have just capped it off with the myriad of excuses of why his "man cave" tackle looks like a tornado hit it.
In no particular order here are his excuses:
1. My wife and I just had a new baby girl and I haven't had time to clean it up.
2. I have been heavy into research of the nearly extinct Artic Crawfish and was looking through my stuff for a research paper I did on it in college.
3. I know that package of trolling motor pins is in here somewhere.
4. I changed out my Suburban for a smart car and ran out of room.
5. I had a box of Slim Jims in one of my Plano boxes or a tackle bag or a tote and I'm starving and couldn't find them
6. My ice fishing gear is in here somewhere. And last but not least....
7. I just sold my John Deere lawn wagon and this was the stuff in it.
Murph, you are one of a kind!
|
|
Professional angler Russ Lane of Alabama has joined the Phoenix Boats pro staff.
Lane will run a Phoenix 721 ProXP powered by a Yamaha 250 SHO. The Phoenix 721 ProXP features a totally enclosed console design, hand-laid hull with AME 5000 resins, superior knit type fiberglass cloth and all composites.
"Phoenix boats are designed and built by great folks in Tennessee who truly have a passion for the sport of bass fishing,” Lane said. “They recognize there is more to a tournament-ready bass boat than just going fast in a straight line. The 721 ProXP has a Diamond Vee hull design that will hold true in the tightest turns and provides the softest ride I've ever experienced.”
Lane has competed six years as a full-time pro and has amassed $579,743 in tour-level career winnings. He won the Bassmaster Elite Series post-season “Ramada Trophy Chase” on Lake Jordan in 2010 after qualifying among the Top 12 in the Elite Series season points standings.
Lane is qualified for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic world championship, his fourth appearance in the prestigious event, and will run the Phoenix 721 ProXP in it. He plans to compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour Opens and PAA Tournament Series in 2011.
"After seeing Russ in the Bassmaster Opens this year and visiting with him at our headquarters, it was obvious he is the type person who we want representing us,” said Gary Clouse, founder of Phoenix Boats. “Russ is a great person and angler. We are excited to have him fishing from a Phoenix in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans and in future tournaments."
Lane is eager to begin breaking in his new Phoenix 721 ProXP and start fishing while preparing for the 2011 tournament season. He joins fellow Elite Series pro Greg Hackney of Louisiana on the Phoenix pro-staff for the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series season.
“I make my living when the trolling motor is down and this is when the Phoenix really shines,” Lane said. “The 721 ProXP has enormous deck space, a balanced fishing platform and a unique tackle storage system that are just a few of the many qualities that made my decision to join the Phoenix family an easy one."
Phoenix Boats is a Tennessee corporation headquartered in Tullahoma, Tenn., in a modern, 50,000-square foot facility on 10 acres.
|
|
When you store your boat or just want to get a little more from your outboard we have found that SeaFoam Motor Treatment is the ticket. It eliminates moisture that can build up when the engine is stored, cleans carbs and jets and has a built in de-icer. It has been tested in temperatures up to 60 below zero and from our experience it really works. We see an increase in efficiently of our outboard and we even seem to gain horsepower.
We use it in our boat, in our truck and even use it in small motors like blowers, mowers and snow throwers as well. It can be used in 2 cycle and 4 cycle engines and our tests have proven added two or three times per year during the season increased performance and easier starts. It can be used with gas, ethanol and diesel/biodiesel powered engines with equal success. We have seen rough running outboards smooth out with its use, as it eliminates carbon build up and cleans injectors.
One ounce treats one gallon so it goes a long way. It should be noted that they are not advertisers of Wired2Fish. We just believe in their products and wanted to pass it on to Wired2Fish readers.
If you store your boat for the winter, fill your gas tank at least half full, add the necessary amount of SeaFoam and your outboard will be ready to go in the spring.
SeaFoam has been in business for over 60 years and you can learn more on the SeaFoam Website. It can be purchased at most automotive supply stores.
|
|
|
The NC State University team of Jeff Bumgarner of Wade, N.C, and Will White of Raleigh, N.C., weighed five fish for 15 pounds, 5 ounces on the last day of competition at the National Guard FLW College Fishing Northern Division Regional Championship on Jordan Lake for a three-day total of 47-6 to win a top prize of $50,000, which includes a Ranger boat and outboard wrapped in school colors for the winning club and $25,000 for the school they represent. The team won by almost 16 pounds and also qualified for the National Championship on Kentucky Lake.
"This feels great right now," Bumgarner said. “That’s all I can say. I just want to go to Kentucky and win Kentucky now.”
The win was the second Northern Regional victory in two years for an NC State University team. Last year the team of Ben Dziwulski of Woodbine, Md., and Kevin Beverley of Fuquay Varina, N.C., took the title.
White said the team began the first day of competition throwing Carolina rigs and Texas rigs on deep humps and found the bite slow. They managed to end the day in fourth place with five fish weighing 9-13. They changed their plan of attack on the second day.
"We didn’t have an early-morning bite (Thursday) and we decided today to go to the (U.S.) 64 bridge and start cranking," said White, whose team calls themselves the Basspack. "We ran up there and did a little cranking and (Bumgarner) missed one right off the bat.
“We marked a spot on the riprap where if we didn’t catch anything we were going to leave,” White added. “We might have gone 50 feet past that and ‘Bam’, a 6 ½-pounder. So we were like, ‘Maybe we’ll stay a little longer.’ And (Bumgarner’s) down there unhooking and I catch my biggest fish.”
Bumgarner said the team used a crawfish-colored Strike King Series 3 crankbait and banged it off of rocks in 6 to 9 feet of water. He also said many of their bigger fish were being caught in 5 feet of water. The team had a six-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 4 ounces on the second day of competition and took the lead.
Bumgarner described the U.S. 64 bridge spot as a main-lake bridge with a lot of deep-water access and big, black rocks on the bottom. Bumgarner said the color of the rocks holds heat, and in the 58- to 60-degree water, those rocks were holding baitfish.
“It was real specific,” White said. “I threw the same crankbait in other colors, but they really wanted that one. I think it was just finding that crankbait that made the big difference.”
Rounding out the top five teams, who also qualified for the National Championship, are:
2nd: UNC Charlotte - Joe Kinchen, Mooresville, N.C., and Tyler Teer, Charlotte, N.C., 31-3, $25,000
3rd: NC State University - Ben Dziwulski, Woodbine, Md., and Kevin Beverley, Fuquay Varina, N.C., 30-15, $11,000
4th: Virginia Tech – Jody White, Shaftsbury, Vt., and Carson Rejzer, Hampton, Va., 30-13, $8,000
5th: Christopher Newport – Ryan Ingalls, Fairfax, Va., and Joe Wilkerson, Falls Church, Va., 27-12, $6,000 |
|
Check out this new approach to fishing.........
|
 During the autumn months when bass are still moving in tributary creeks feeding on shad, tournament angler Dave Wolak may only have one type of lure in his boat. It will be a 3/8-oz. pearl/white spinnerbait with double willow leaf blades and a white plastic trailer, a lure the Yamaha Pro has been using for years on waters throughout the United States.
"I honestly don't think a fisherman needs another lure this time of year," Wolak said, "because it's hard to find another lure that can be retrieved so many different ways but still looks like a shad no matter how you fish it."
While Wolak does employ a lot of different retrieve variations, particularly a stop-and-go action that causes the spinnerbait to flutter and change directions, his primary key to success with the lure is that he does not concentrate in the very backs of tribu- taries where shad populations may be the heaviest. Instead, he goes to the back and fishes his way out.
"Sometimes, there is simply too much bait concentrated on the flats in the back of a creek, and no matter how you retrieve your spinnerbait, the bass won't hit it," he said, "so that's when I begin moving away from them and look for places where other bass may be hiding to ambush the shad as they swim past.
"I have a lot of success fishing secondary points, even as far out as the mouth of the tributary if it's a short one. No matter where you fish in America, bass are attracted to points, and it's true even in the autumn. I look for individual pieces of cover like logs or bushes on the point that would not only hold a bass but also attract a shad, and while I may only catch one bass in such a spot, I often re-visit it sev- eral times during a day and frequently catch a fish there each time."
Other places the Yamaha Pro recommends fishing include flooded timber and stumps, especially when they're located in shallow water near a deeper water break or channel edge. These same places will also produce fish later in the autumn as bass begin migrating back out of the tributaries toward main lake winter structure.
"Cover is important in this type of fishing because the bass are using it as a hiding place," Wolak said, "and you can catch those bass because there aren't as many shad. I'm always surprised at how shallow the bass may be, too, because I've caught them this way in water less than a foot deep."
Spinnerbaits are ideal lure choices because they not only produce flash and vibration to attract bass, they're also basically weedless and they can be fished many different ways. In addition to the stop- and-go retrieve Wolak likes, he also pops the lure with his rod tip to make it jump, and occasionally speeds his retrieve enough to bring the spinnerbait right to the surface.
"I'm trying to imitate an injured or dying shad," he said, "which is what the bass will notice first. It represents something easy it doesn't have to chase."
Over the years, Wolak has settled on a 3/8-oz. tandem willow leaf spinnerbait with one nickel and one white blade, a pearl/white skirt, and a white plastic trailer with crawfish-type legs that help produce more water movement with the lure. He likes 14 or 16-pound fluorocarbon line because of its lack of stretch and abrasion resistance, and he uses a 7-foot heavy action rod because he is catching bass in and around cover.
"Bass start following the shad migration into the tributaries in late September and stay in them for several months," Wolak said, "and it's a wonderful time to be on the water fishing. But there are times when there are literally too many shad for an angler to compete with. That's when I start working away from them and looking for the ambush spots. Most of the time, I never leave the creek, either.
|
|
The new BASS ownership is passionate about bass fishing. They are all successful business people and have a desire to make things better in fishing. Today on Weighing In with Terry Brown Don Logan talks about his partners, his past and plans for BASS moving forward. To listen click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
VanDam knows him well. So does 29-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, Gary Klein. He’s sort of like a long lost Uncle to Gerald Swindle, and he once guided Dean Rojas to shelter from a brutal weather storm.
Many Bassmaster Elite Series anglers know the now fully retired Harry Potts. Some call him “Dirty Harry.” I call him “Uncle Harry” -- because it feels right, not because I’m genetically connected to him. And like good uncles do – he took me fishing recently.
|
|
Thanks to all of the Wired2Fish readers who participated in the "Favorite Wired2Fish Review Contest". We got some great feedback on what you liked and the equipment you use in your fishing. We desire to provide the latest and most thorough information about products here at Wired2Fish and based on that feedback it looks like we are hitting the mark. Thanks again to everyone who submitted information about our reviews. We will continue to do our best to give you information that you can use in your buying decisions.
We had two winners of this contest. They will receive a tackle assortment, Mustad KVD autographed jersey and some goodies from the Wired2Fish prize vault.
The winners and their submissions are below:
Greg Thompson of Butler, PA wrote: My favorite review, I would have to say, was a recent one by Jason Sealock: "White Heat". Overall a good read as an article, with good description of the rod used, as well as information about action of the rod, price, and technology, all complimented by photos (maybe a few more photos of you in action demonstrating next time). The fact that a reviewer actually considers this one of his favorite go-to rods I think sealed the deal for my next purchase. I mean, if a guy who is in the profession, and says in the article he's generally more traditional, and likes the rod that much... must be a pretty darn good product. Lastly, the 'White Heat' movie references were a wonderful, and insightful extra that ultimately made this my favorite review thus far. Nice work Jason!
Darren Chaney of Munford TN provided: After reading your review of the new Victory 621, I realized that this wasn't like a reel with his name on it. The article showed that this was something new, and designed for any angler. After I reading the story, I was excited about the reel and had some expectations about the reel before I touched a real one. Once it was released into the stores, I went to my local Bass Pro Shops and wanted to see the reel. When I got to the store, the sales person didn't really know anything about the reel. He was amazed about how much information that I knew about the reel and it had only in the store for about a week. In the case of the Victory 621 I bought one and it performed as the article explained. The article also talked about the settings of the reel and that was a big help. After one day of use, I went back and bought three more. Way to go W2F, your articles are very in depth and honest.
Your packages are on the way.
|
|
What is better for big fish, plastics or jigs? Greg Hackney loves the jig and tells us why in this Strike King Pro Team Journal segment.
|
|
Today on Weighing In Radio with Terry Brown, Jim Copeland, one of the new owners of BASS, talks fishing, plans for the future and why he got involved with the purchase of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. To listen to the entire interview click here. |
FLW Outdoors announced the 2011 Bass Fishing League schedule and entry dates just moments ago. The BFL continues its longstanding tradition as the nation’s leading provider of affordable, close-to-home tournaments in 2011 with 24 divisions serving weekend anglers. Each division consists of four one-day qualifying tournaments and a two-day super tournament. Payouts, formats and entry fees for qualifiers and super tournaments remain unchanged. The complete schedule can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.
The BFL All-American presented by Chevy, one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing, will be held on Cross Lake in Shreveport, La., May 19-21 and is being hosted by the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority. This nationally televised, no-entry-fee tournament will pay the winning boater $100,000 and the winning co-angler $50,000. Every angler will cash a check, with the 49th-place boater earning $1,500 and the 49th-place co-angler earning $750.
BFL participants in qualifying events, super tournaments and the All-American can earn additional prize money through contingency programs from Ranger, Evinrude and Mercury Marine. Boaters that win a BFL event and are Ranger Cup qualified can earn an additional $2,000 per tournament and an additional $20,000 at the All-American. The co-angler winner at the All-American can earn an additional $10,000 if Ranger Cup qualified. Ranger Cup extends through each place at the All-American for boaters and co-anglers.
Evinrude will offer $1,000 to the highest-finishing boater in BFL qualifying events and super tournaments. The winner of the All-American could earn an additional $10,000 from Evinrude with opportunities through fifth earning an additional $1,500. A contingency program offered by Mercury Marine will be announced in the near future.
Entries for the 2011 season will be accepted by division on the following dates:
December 13, 2010 – Hoosier, Michigan, Music City and Volunteer
December 14, 2010 – Bulldog, Cowboy, Great Lakes, Illini and Mississippi
December 15, 2010 – Bama, Buckeye, Choo Choo, Gator and Mountain
December 16, 2010 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie
December 17, 2010 – Ozark, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina
Boaters entering by the priority deadline for each tournament and providing co-anglers (with membership numbers) will be given top priority and, if accepted into the tournament, will receive a guaranteed co-angler draw. Co-anglers entering by the priority deadline for each tournament and providing boaters (with membership numbers) will be given top priority.
Entries are accepted online at FLWOutdoors.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. Phones are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. For full details regarding the contingency programs, complete rules and schedules for every division, visit FLWOutdoors.com.
|
|
G2 Gemini Custom Apparel launched its new website today to streamline the ordering and decision process on making custom fishing apparel. They also lowered prices on several select shirts and gave anglers several additional options.
"Along with the new website, we are also offering New Pricing and New Products," said Brad Raymond, Executive Vice President of G2 Gemini. "Our SEMI CUSTOM jerseys start at only $26 and our FULL CUSTOM jerseys are now starting at only $64 with NO minimum order required. Ask about special discounts for teams, clubs, pro staffs, high schools and college athletes.
"All of our jerseys are made using the best light weight, performance materials that will keep you comfortable all day long with the most vibrant colors available on any jersey!
"We will continue to launch New Products throughout the year so look for more information coming from G2 Gemini."
Visit g2gemini.com today to checkout what's new and available to anglers wanting to promote their lifestyle and favorite brands out on the water or just being comfortable around town in a fully custom hoodie. |
|
|
|
Alabama FLW Tour pro and 2010 BASS Southern Open Angler of the Year Randall Tharp has joined forces with Tabu Tackle.
"I’ve had a pretty solid tournament year, and now I am part of a growing tackle company; it’s all exciting for sure,” said Tharp. “Tabu Tackle is much more than a sponsor, and I’m real eager to become a partner and start working with them on new product ideas going forward. I’ve been using the Tabu Open Water Series Jig for a while now, and will be involved in the development of the new Heavy Cover Series, which will possess the same superior features." When asked about his recent success, Tharp added, “It just all worked out for me, I managed to qualify for the Bassmaster’s Classic next February through the Opens, and also pre-qualified for 2011 Forrest Wood Cup. Those were my two main goals this year.”
Former FLW standout, Ott DeFoe, also recently joined Tabu Tackle and will compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2011, joining fellow Tabu member, Kelly Jordon.
Tabu Tackle was founded by Dave Lefebre, Michael Murphy, Kelly Jordon, and Anthony Gagliardi, and expanded this summer, adding Joe Balog as Marketing Manager, and Lee Duer as Sales Manager.
|
|
The Professional Anglers Association anounced yesterday that they are now offering their FishPAA Television show online. So far they have the Cherokee episodes online at FishPAA.com. We've watched both sets of shows from Cherokee and Norman on Versus and so far the shows have been pretty decent. Lots of fishing action.
The FishPAA show airs on Saturdays at 7 am EST and Fridays at 4 am EST on VERSUS. The online shows will be archived sometime after the shows air on television.
Mark Menendez lands a smallmouth on the Cherokee Episode of FishPAA TV online
|
|
|
|
What does Mark Davis do in the off season? Would you believe he is a pee wee football coach? How about deer hunting? Maybe some Ultimate Match Fishing too? Check out his interview with Terry Brown on Weighing In Radio to find out exactly what he has been up to and also get his take on the new owners of BASS. |
|
If you are looking for the ultimate towing, hunting and fishing machine for the avid outdoorsperson we think we found it at Bass Pro Shops. The Bass Pro Shops Toyota Tundra has it all. Launched at this past weeks SEMA show in Las Vegas this beauty is also equipped with American Racing ATX wheels, deer stand, and everything in storage and home comfort for the die hard hunter or fisherman.
We thought it looked super cool and the functionality is awesome. We wouldn't be surprised to see it out on the tours. It can be seen at BPS.
|
|
|
|
Tim Norman, President of Eco Pro Tungsten, announced today that Elite Series veteran Dean Rojas has signed an agreement to represent Eco Pro as a prostaff member and company spokesman.
"I am beyond thrilled to have Dean developing new products and promoting Eco Pro Tungsten on the tournament trail," Norman said. "Obviously, I have a long history with Dean, and there really was no other choice for me. Dean Rojas is the best there is."
"I am absolutely thrilled to be part of a new company that is providing new innovative products in the tungsten market," Rojas said. "The products that we will produce are high quality and are priced at a good value. I am also very excited to again be back working with Tim Norman. We have a long and successful relationship, and I look forward to working with him for many years to come."
Dean is already at work developing new products for the tungsten market, and they should have something coming out very soon.
With the addition of Dean, Eco Pro is completely overhauling their website. It should be completed and back up sometime in the coming week.
|
Anglers and boating enthusiasts wanting quality Ranger Boats-branded apparel and accessories have even more choices with the debut of the new Ranger Wear store, an online retailer for official brand apparel and merchandise.
The new Ranger Wear website can be seen online at RangerWear.com.
The debut of the redesigned online store coincides with the release of a new line of Ranger-branded products, ranging from apparel to accessories and other boating- and fishing-related gear. New clothing like Ranger rain suits from Cabela’s are featured on the site. Purchases can be easily made through the secure website and visitors can add products to their “wish list,” enabling them to share their favorite items with family and friends.
Along with improvements to the RangerWear.com and RangerBoats.com, Ranger is incorporating several new social media tools that allow consumers to connect with legions of loyal owners around the world. Users of Facebook and Twitter can all find the brand on its respective social networking pages and a Ranger blog can be found online at blog.rangerboats.com. |
|
Rage Tail designer Steve Parks put together a fun photo montage of the big bass anglers from all over the country caught this year on Strike King Rage Tail Lizards, Craws, Hogs, Space Monkies, Thumper Worms and more. We love to see big bass so it was fun to take a look at all the big bass guys and gals have caught on soft plastics. Makes us want to go chase a hog this weekend.
|
|
|
|
Legend Bow
When you are looking at buying a bass boat, the outside of the boat is very important, however, premier boat builders will tell you that it's how the boat is made and what is under the shine and polish that makes a difference. Using the best materials combined with the functionality anglers want differentiate the great boats from the good ones.
Legend Boats build customized bass boats with features and functionality specific to the angler. They are built right and use the best components to assure a purchase of a Legend is one that will last a lifetime.
From the transom to the finish, Legend Boats company is all about the details. Advanced stringer system, advanced engineered transom and plenty of floatation to soften the ride and keep you safe is all part of the equation.
Legend Transom
Having a boat that looks great, rides great, and provides value defines a Legend boat. To learn more about Legend or to find a dealer near you go to Legendmarine.com.
|
|
Joe Thomas is one smart cookie. His Ultimate Match Fishing television show has received rave reviews by anglers across the country. Each Friday night on the Outdoor Channel, some of the best pros go head to head, in a sometimes serious but often times funny battle, on the water. His pairing of the odd couple, Jeff Kriet and Mike McClelland, is shear genius.
A head to head match up in the same boat of these two very unlikely buddies will be one for the ages. There friendship runs deep, but throw all of that out the window in this event. This should be a match of all matches for UMF. McClelland, soft spoken and reserved, and Kriet, a wacky and one of a kind crazy man, will be at each other the entire time. Secrets of the road will no longer be secrets of the road and the winner of this match will have bragging rights infinata.
This will have UMF, WWF and regular Elite Series fishing all in one location.
We can hardly wait to see how it plays out. They meet Wednesday on Lake Pickwick, and the Wired2Fish team thinks there should be a side bet on this match up. If McClelland wins, Kriet has to wash his boat and truck before each Elite Series event, and if Kriet wins McClelland has to do Jeff's laundry for the entire season. Up to it guys?
|
A mechanical breakdown lead to a trip to the Bassmaster Classic for Ryan McMurtury, winner of the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, National Championship tournament.
 The 43-year-old angler from Abbeville, S.C., fished one spot for four days, catching 165 bass. He finished with 20 bass going 69.53 pounds with a 5.20-pound kicker. Although the weather grew steadily worse and colder after a winter front passed through Guntersville, Ala., McMurtury’s catch increased each day. On the first day, he landed 14.61 pounds and followed that with 17.77 pounds. On Day 3, he moved into second place with a 19.05-pound effort. He ended the event on a clear, windy and cold Nov. 6 with 18.10 pounds.
“My boat broke down in practice, so I had to go home and get my smaller backup boat,” McMurtury said. “I feel that had I been able to use my big boat in pre-fishing, I would have fished more areas and not stayed where I did. In the tournament, I stayed in one spot for four days and never left it. I used a double rig fluke with exposed hooks. When one fish hit, I just held it down until another one hit. I caught fewer fish each day, but more weight.”
For the win, McMurtury collected $100,000, plus a $10,000 bonus from Federated Auto Parts. He also qualified to fish the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, slated for Feb. 18-20, in New Orleans.
“Fishing is like playing golf,” McMurtury said. “You compete against yourself. I know the pros at the Classic are going to catch fish. They are the best anglers in the world. All I can do is try to find bass. In this tournament, I got lucky and stumbled upon fish. I’m just going to do the best I can in the Classic. It’s not me against the pros. It’s me against the fish.”
Dennis McGouirk, 35, of Carrolton, Ga., took home $50,000 as the Co-Angler Division champion. He caught 11 bass for 41.76 pounds with a 7.19-pound kicker. In the first two days, he landed weights of 6.58 and 15.75 pounds. He took the lead on Day 3 with 10.70 pounds and finished with 8.73 pounds.
“On the first day, we headed up the lake and fished shallow grass. I was throwing a swimbait,” McGouirk said. “On the second day, we went down the lake. I couldn’t get the swimbait bite to happen, but I got some good fish on a frog. I also caught a good one flipping a grass mat. On the third day, we fished up the lake and I caught them on a swimbait again. On the final day, we found some schooling fish. I caught one on a swimbait and one on a Rat-L-Trap, but couldn’t get the third one.”
Running out of Guntersville State Park, anglers could fish anywhere in the 69,100-acre Lake Guntersville on the Tennessee River. The top 400 weekend anglers from more than 40 states competed in two divisions. Only the top 25 anglers in each division competed on the final day of the four-day event.
 Brent Anderson, 34, of Kingston Springs, Tenn., took second in the Boater Division, pocketing $30,000 and a hefty bonus from Mercury Outboards. He finished with four consecutive five-bass daily division limits for 67.16 pounds. He caught 14.07 pounds the first day and 16.45 pounds the second day. He held third after Day 3 with an 18.18-pound catch, concluding with 18.46 pounds.
“I was able to find five schools of fish in practice,” Anderson said. “I caught them on a white Strike King swimming jig with a pearl Rage Craw trailer.
On the first day, I caught 14 pounds by 9 a.m. and found the school of fish I caught during the last two days. On the last two days, I fished a secondary ledge in eight to 12 feet of water with a 3/4-ounce black and blue football jig. I had a couple shallow areas where I could catch a fish on a jig.”
After holding the lead for three days, Ralph Steve DeBord of Martinez, Ga., dropped to third place with 20 bass going 64.70 pounds with one 5.77-pounder. On Day 1, he caught 22.48 pounds and added 16.08 pounds on Day 2. He caught 14.98 pounds on Day 3 and finished with 11.16 pounds.
Brandon Gray of Bullock, N.C., moved up one place to finish fourth. He caught 20 bass weighing 62.09 pounds. He caught 14.81 pounds on Day 1, 15.09 pounds on Day 2, 15.92 pounds on Day 3 and 16.27 pounds on the last day.
Dustin Willis Evans of Eads, Tenn., rounded out the top five boaters with 19 bass going 61.86 pounds. He landed weights of 16.61, 14.36, 14.10 and 16.79 pounds. Robbie Pelt of Montgomery, Ala., landed the biggest bass in the Boater Division, a 7.74-pounder that hit a jig off a wind-blown point.
Also in the Co-Anglers Division, Richard Peek of Centre, Ala., finished second with four consecutive three-bass division limits for a total of 36.28 pounds. On Day 1, he caught 10.07 pounds and followed that with 10.02 pounds. He caught 7.64 pounds on Day 3 and finished with 8.55 pounds.
Marty Colley of Ashville, Ala., moved up one into third place with 11 bass weighing 31.29 pounds. He caught 10.41 pounds the first day, 5.84 pounds the second day, 8.23 pounds the third day and finished with 6.81 pounds.
Bradley Dortch of Celebration, Fla., also moved up one place to fourth with 11 bass weighing 30.65 pounds. He landed 7.67 pounds on Day 1, 8.72 pounds on Day 2, 7.25 pounds on Day 3 and 7.01 pounds on the final day.
In fifth, Duanne McQueen of Stockbridge, Ga., finished with nine bass going 30.27 pounds with one 4.48-pound kicker. He caught weights of 4.48, 10.81, 4.68 and 10.30 pounds. Co-angler Ronnie Stiek of Skiatook, Okla., took lunker honors with an 8.05-pounder that hit a peanut butter and jelly jig with a craw in about 20 feet of water.
For more information on this tournament, call (888) 203-6222. On line, see AmericanBassAnglers.com. |
Photo Courtesy of FLW Outdoors & FLW College Fishing
Indiana University‘s Jesse Schultz, New Albany, Ind. and Dustin Vaal, Bloomington, Ind., pulled out a come from behind victory to become two time champions at the National Guard FLW College Fishing Central Regional Championship on Saturday with three bass that weighed 11 pounds, 4 ounces. The Hoosiers caught a total of nine bass weighing 31-7 to win a Ranger boat and outboard motor wrapped in school colors for their bass club and $25,000 for the University worth a total value of $50,000. They have also qualified for a shot at the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship next April.
The Hoosiers overcame a 1 pound, 12 ounce deficit to win by a commanding 7 pounds, 9 ounces over second place Truman State University – Spencer Clark, Kirksville, Mo., and Mike McCarthy Jr., Chesterfield, Mo., who had a three day total of 11 bass weighing 23-14 to take home $25,000.
The three day tournament took place on Lake Monroe and really challenged top 20 college teams from around the central region. Only one six bass limit was caught during the entire tournament and that was by Truman State University on day two of the competition.
“We were cranking trees all week long,” said an overjoyed Vaal who is a sophomore in Business Management. Jesse was a great net man today! This is just amazing.
“It was our presentation that made the difference today,” added Vaal. “We finally figured out a pattern late yesterday and we made it pay off today. We were using deep diving Fat Free Shad in trees about 10 to 15 feet deep. We had all our fish today by10:30 which was really lucky for us, the past two days it was just the opposite, no morning bite with a late afternoon bite.”
Hometown does have its advantages. Schultz and Vaal knew that Lake Monroe does not hold a lot of 2 and 3 pound bass so decided to target the big fish and it paid off in a big way for them. Bringing three toads to the scales on Saturday they were able to come from behind to claim victory in front of a very supportive and frenzied IU crowd.
“This is amazing, we’re living a dream,” said Schultz, a junior in management. “This was all about team work, Dustin and I have the same team mentality and we were able to work together and keep encouraging each other in order to stay positive and we pulled it off.
“We were 45 minutes away from bringing in zero on the first day, I was sick to my stomach, but we kept talking to each other, bouncing ideas off each other on how to catch that keeper and we were able to stay positive and bring in two fish that were over 4 pounds each – our team work is what was key for us this week.
“I think this is the most competitive region in college fishing,” Schultz went on to say. “To become champions two years in a row in front of our friends and family was amazing. We can’t thank them enough for coming out, especially on these past few freezing mornings, to cheer us on; it was amazing and really made us want to fish even harder and with more determination.”
Rounding out the top five teams and also qualifying for the national championship are:
3rd: University Wisconsin, Stout – Jeremy Anibas, Colfax, Wis., and Ryan Helke, Menomonie, Wis., six bass, 19-15, $11,000
4th: Eastern Kentucky – Kyle Raymer, Brandenburg, Ky., and Jonas Ertel, London, Ky., 10 bass, 16-9, $8,000
5th University Wisconsin, Whitewater - Jordan Truttschel, Kiel, Wis., and Tyler Netzer, Lake Mills, Wis., seven bass,14-8, $6,000
A complete list of results can be found at CollegeFishing.com.
|
|
Photo Courtest of FLWOutdoors.com
Pro Chad Aaron of Ethridge, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the FLW American Fishing Series Invitational on Wheeler Lake with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 52 pounds, 10 ounces. For his victory, Aaron earned $24,810 and a trip to the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup.
“Everything keyed around current,” said Aaron, who notched his first FLW Outdoors victory. “I caught some in less than 3 feet of water, but most of them I caught in 14 to 20 (feet) on isolated rock piles I found with my electronics.”
 Aaron said some of his fish in the tournament fell for a Zara Spook, but his deep baits were green football-head jigs and a Lake Fork Tackle Flutter Spoon. Aaron said he discovered his pattern Wednesday afternoon.
“When I started fishing those isolated rock piles, I could pretty much call my shot and catch a 4-pounder,” Aaron said.
After weighing 21-12 on the first day of competition, Aaron said he eased off of his fish on day two to save them for the final day of competition. Aaron weighed 15-1 on day two.
“They didn’t bite as good today,” Aaron said. “I only caught six good fish today when I was catching a lot more than that.”
Rounding out the top five pros were:
2nd: Kevin Snider, Elizabethtown, Ky., 15 bass, 37-12, $10,633
3rd: Darryl Folse, Addis, La., 15 bass, 33-6, $5,671
4th: Pat Eichmann, Nancy, Ky., 15 bass, 30-12, $4,962
5th: Bill Chapman, Salt Rock, W.V., 15 bass, 30-9, $4,253
Aaron caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Thursday – a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $240.
Steve Gregg of Florissant, Mo., won the Co-angler Division and $9,486 and a trip to the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup, with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 33 pounds, 1 ounce.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were:
2nd: Andrew Luxon, Richmond, Ky., 15 bass, 30-14, $3,649
3rd: Anthony Goggins, Auburn, Ala., 15 bass, 28-9, $2,189
4th: Blase Frick, St. Louis, Mo., 15 bass, 26-15, $1,824
5th: Steve Harwood, Weaverville, N.C., 15 bass, 23-6, $1,459
Ken Gregory of Greenwood, Indiana, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Friday – a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $150.
|
After three days on intense competition, Ralph Steve DeBord hopes to make a wire-to-wire victory in the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, National Championship tournament on Nov. 5.
One day away from a possible title, the Martinez, Ga., angler landed his third consecutive five-bass daily tournament limit for a total of 15 bass weighing 53.54 pounds. His largest fish weighed 5.77 pounds. On the third day, he pulled 14.98 pounds from Lake Guntersville. On Day 1, he caught 22.48 pounds and added 16.08 pounds on Day 2.
“I changed up and went to a different spot,” DeBord said. “I caught a limit by 10:30 a.m. and then went back to my other fish. I’m going to do the same thing on the last day.”
Catching 19.05 pounds on Day 3, Ryan McMurtury of Abbeville, S.C., jumped from seventh place into second with a three-day limit of 15 bass going 51.43 pounds with one 5.20-pounder. He caught 14.61 pounds the first day and 17.77 pounds the second day.
“I’m catching fish way up the lake,” McMurtury said. “I only have one spot. I caught 50 bass the first day and 45 the second day. I caught about 30 on the third day and quit fishing at 11 a.m. to save them for the last day.”
Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs, Tenn., moved up from ninth to third place with a total of 15 bass weighing 48.70 pounds. He landed 14.07 pounds on Day 1, 16.45 pounds on Day 2 and 18.18 pounds on Day 3.
Buddy Gross of Chickamauga, Ga., dropped a notch with 15 bass at 46.95 pounds. He landed 17.79 pounds on Day 1, 15.17 pounds on Day 2 and 13.99 pounds on Day 3.
Moving from 11th place to fifth in the Boater Division, Brandon Gray of Bullock, N.C., landed 15.92 pounds on Day 3 for a total of 15 bass weighing 45.82 pounds. He caught 14.81 pounds on Day 1 and followed that with 15.09 pounds. Robbie Pelt of Montgomery, Ala., took the Day 3 Boater Division lunker title by bringing in a 7.74-pounder.
“I fished wind-blown points with jigs,” Pelt said. “That’s what the big one hit. I also caught some fish suspended in 25 feet of water with jerkbaits.”
The top 400 weekend anglers from more than 40 states compete in two divisions. In the Co-Angler Division, Dennis McGouirk of Carrolton, Ga., kept his hold on the lead with a three-bass daily division limit weighing 10.70 pounds on Day 3. With a 15.75-pound second-day bag anchored by a 7.19-pounder and 6.58 pounds on Day 1, he landed a total of nine bass going 33.03 pounds.
Richard Peek of Centre, Ala., brought in his third consecutive three-bass daily division limit for a total of 27.73 pounds. He landed weights of 10.07, 10.02 and 7.64 pounds.
Steve Sommer of Norman, Okla., moved from seventh place to third with nine bass going 25.19 pounds. He caught 6.23 pounds the first day, 10.04 pounds the second day and 8.92 pounds the third day.
In fourth, Marty Colley of Ashville, Ala., caught eight bass for 24.48 pounds. Moving up from eight place, he landed 10.41 pounds the first day, 5.84 pounds the second day and 8.23 pounds the third day.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers, Bradley Dortch of Celebration, Fla., moved up one place with nine bass at 23.64 pounds. He landed 7.67 pounds on Day 1, 8.72 pounds on Day 2 and 7.25 pounds on Day 3.
Ronnie Stiek of Skiatook, Okla., maintained his lock on lunker honors. On Day 2, the co-angler caught an 8.05-pounder on a peanut butter and jelly jig with a craw in about 20 feet of water. |
|
|
|
Today on Weighing In with Terry Brown, professional angler Scott Glorvigen tips Wired2Fish readers on the best baits, rods and reels and safety features for ice fishing anglers. To listen click here.
To check out all of the Frabill ice fishing offerings click here. |
|
Ranger Boats founder and fishing industry legend, Forrest L. Wood, received one of the highest honors bestowed on members of the angling community when he was inducted into the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Hall of Fame on October 26.
Wood joins an impressive list of angling pioneers and luminaries in the IGFA Hall of Fame, including Curt Gowdy, Homer Circle, Ray Scott, Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, Izaak Walton and others. Inclusion into the IGFA’s Hall of Fame, located in Dania Beach, Fla., is open to anglers, captains, scientists, conservationists, writers and industry leaders who make significant contributions to the sport and requires the approval of the IGFA Board of Trustees.
In its induction of Wood, the IGFA said: “Though Forrest sold Ranger Boats in 1987, two original trademarks remain: his white cowboy hat and his wife of almost 60 years, Nina, the first Lady of Ranger. Forrest and Nina are the two halves of the success story that is Ranger Boats, a company that rose to preeminence in the industry, took hold, set firsts, and defined standards. And as Forrest helped make bass anglers rock stars, and fishing tournaments major media events, he never lost sight of the importance of the sport and the value of the experience to individuals and to families. For his enduring vision, the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame honors Forrest Wood.”
Wood’s induction into the IGFA Hall of Fame is one of many such honors for the fishing icon. Wood is also the member of numerous halls of fame, including the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, International Boating Hall of Fame and the National Marine Manufacturers Hall of Fame. In addition to being the namesake of the prestigious FLW Tours, Wood has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Sportfishing Association of America and the BASS Federations and was also named to the “50 Legends of Fishing” by Field & Stream.
|
Many college fishing clubs will hold intra-club events this fall before the competition heats up during the spring of 2011.
The 2011 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship will again be on Lake Lewisville for the sixth consecutive year, May 23-27."I can't wait to make the trip down to Lewisville, Texas next year for the Boat U.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship," said Logan Bliss of University of Wisconsin - Steven's Point. "This is the biggest college bass fishing tournament in the world, and it gets better and better each year! The treatment we receive from the sponsors of this event is nothing short of great and the competition and camaraderie between the schools is the best!"
Collegiate anglers will once again gather in Paris, Tenn., on the shores of Kentucky Lake, June 27-30 for the 2011 Collegiate Bass Fishing Open. A new format for this exciting event will be announced soon.
"During the 2010 Open on Kentucky Lake, I experienced my best two days of fishing ever as a collegiate angler," said Alex Craw of University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. "Our three boat team combined to catch over 100 keeper bass, and I caught a new personal best weighing more than 6 pounds! I look forward to visiting this amazing fishery again and working with my teammates to become the 2011 Open champions."
In addition to the aforementioned national events, a number of regional tournaments held throughout the nation will be sanctioned and promoted by the Association of Collegiate Anglers. The events will be enhanced as a result of angler incentive programs provided by sponsors of the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series. The host clubs will also receive promotional assistance through the Association of Collegiate Anglers e-blasts, website exposure and press releases. Tournament results will also be featured on websites and social networking sites.
Camera teams from CarecoTV will be on hand to capture all the action and the event. Two hours of coverage will be featured on the BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship television series, scheduled to air on VERSUS in the third quarter of 2011
"We've created more possibilities than ever for collegiate bass anglers to receive exposure while pursuing their passion for competitive fishing," said Wade Middleton, Director BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series. "Over the coming months we'll announce more enhancements across the board as we expand this program to create even more opportunities for student anglers."
For more information, visit collegiatebasschampionship.com.
|
|
Bassmaster.com ran a great video this week of the three owners of BASS - Jim Copeland, Don Logan and Jerry McKinnis. All three are successful businessmen but also die-hard, avid anglers. It was refreshing to hear how this sale process transpired in their own words. It's worth a few minutes of your time to check out the video.
|
|
 Ralph Steve DeBord maintained his Boater Division lead as the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, National Championship tournament entered its second day on Nov. 4.
Fighting off intense competition and stiff winds as a cold front roared across the 69,100-acre Lake Guntersville, Ala., the Martinez, Ga., angler struggled to find fish, but managed to catch his second daily five-bass limit. After catching 22.48 pounds with a 5.77-pound kicker on the first day, DeBord landed 16.08 pounds on Day 2 to hold the lead with 38.56 pounds.
“I was fishing shallow, but not getting many bites,” DeBord admitted. “I made a change because of the weather. My partner caught a nice smallmouth off one spot and I caught a 3-pounder there, but we had to go do something else. I was lucky to catch what I did catch.”
Nick Kincaid of Tulsa, Okla., moved from fifth into second place during the four-day event with 10 bass weighing 34.31 pounds. He caught 19.19 pounds on Day 1 and followed that with 15.12 pounds.
“I did two different things each day,” Kincaid said. “I started where I caught fish on the first day, but it wasn’t happening there. I had to change up and move around with the windy conditions. I was fishing shallow grass on the second day. I caught a lot of small fish, but couldn’t get any really big ones. I only caught six keepers on the second day.”
Buddy Gross of Chickamauga, Ga., holds third among the 200 boaters with 10 bass going 32.96 pounds. He landed 17.79 pounds the first day and 15.17 pounds the second day.
Galen James of Sale Creek, Tenn., dropped from second to fourth place on the second day with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 32.86 pounds. On the first day, he anchored his 21.11-pound bag with a 7.22-pound division lunker. On the second day, he caught 11.75 pounds.
Catching four bass going 12.06 pounds on the second day, Louis Aebersold, Jr. of Louisville, Ky., slipped from third place to fifth place in the Boater Division. On the first day, he landed five bass at 20.58 pounds, including a 6.29-pounder. His two-day total weighed 32.64 pounds.
The top 400 weekend anglers from more than 40 states compete in two divisions. In the Co-Angler Division, Dennis McGouirk of Carrolton, Ga., leaped from 47th place into the top spot with a 15.75-pound effort anchored by a 7.19-pounder. In two days, he landed six bass weighing 22.33 pounds. On the first day, he landed 6.58 pounds.
“I told my boater that it was a perfect flipping spot,” McGouirk explained. “I flipped a plastic in the grass and the big one took off with it.”
Richard Peek of Centre, Ala., also landed two consecutive three-bass daily division limits for a total of 20.09 pounds. Fishing consistently, he landed 10.07 pounds on Day 1 and followed that with 10.02 pounds on Day 2.
Day 1 division leader, Dana Foster of Ocala, Fla., dropped to third place with four bass for 18.43 pounds. After catching three bass for 13.73 pounds, including the first day division lunker at 7.45 pounds, he only managed one bass weighing 4.70 pounds on the second day.
Mark Pirkle of Cleveland, Tenn., holds fourth place with six bass at 18.33 pounds, including a 3.94-pound kicker. He caught 8.93 pounds on Day 1 and 9.40 pounds on Day 2.
Patric Hulsey of Rockmart, Ga., dropped from third to fifth in the division with a two-day catch of five bass weighing 17.09 pounds. On Day 1, he landed 10.93 pounds and followed with 6.16 pounds the next day.
Ronnie Stiek of Skiatook, Okla., holds the big bass title so far. On the second day, the co-angler landed an 8.05-pounder.
“I caught it on a peanut butter and jelly jig with a craw in about 20 feet of water,” Stiek said. “When it hit, I thought it was a big catfish or drum. When she came up, I about hit the floor. My boater netted it. It was just barely skin hooked. I just had to take a moment to myself and thank God.”
|
|
The rod accessory company The Rod Glove added Gerald Swindle to help them promote their brand earlier this season. Now they are adding a pro from the FLW Tour and another pro from the Bassmaster Elite Series to further promotions of their unique and effective rod protectors.
Cody Meyer of Grass Valley, Calif., is one of just a handful of anglers who compete back east on the major fishing trails. He's had a lot of success thus far, netting $350,000 so far with FLW Outdoors. He's well known for being a great angler with finesse products, namely a drop shot. He realized how important keeping his finesse rods were at the top levels of competition and chose Rod Glove to protect his investments. Some of his drop shot rods are upward of $450 and that's not something he was prepared to replace on a regular basis from the wear and tear of travelling across the country and running a bass boat with his rods on the deck or in a rod locker in adverse conditions.
Jared Lintner , also a Cali angler from Arroyo Grande, fishes on the Bassmaster Elite Series circuit and has amassed more than $500,000 in tournament winnings with BASS. He's know for being a weapon with the big stick and obviously keeping his big rods in great shape through the rigors of a tournament season factored in his decision to go with the Rod Glove protectors.
The Rod Glove company has great protectors for various size rods at an affordable price point. They also offer custom branding options on their covers and have another great idea in the works that will help you organize and identify each rod while still in its sleeve.
|
|
We just got the new Zoom New products brochure for 2011 and found a link for you to check out the new stuff for next year. It's mostly new colors but we have no doubt Zoom is working on new shapes too. They always are. For now we'll have to drool over the new colors in a lot of anglers' favorite shapes.
|
|
Strike King Lure company now has Tour Grade Tungsten weights. They will have 5 colors, 9 sizes from 1/8 to an 1 1/4 ounces and they will be available in February of 2011. Colors include black, red, green pumpkin, watermelon red and unpainted.
Check out this great video with Shaw Grigsby on the new Tour Grade Tungsten.
|
|
It is getting colder across the upper Midwest, and our northern brethren are getting their ice fishing gear ready to go. It won't be long until they will be driving across their favorite lake heading for their best spots for bass, bluegill, northern, walleye and perch.
As they sharpen their ice augers, they will also be thinking about rods, reels, line and tackle. This past July, Northland Tackle introduced a new line-up of fishing line specific to the species you are after. They have a brand new Bionic Ice line that pro-staffers are excited about but weekend hard-water anglers will clamor for.
Check out this video about all of the Northland Tackle lines, and go out and get some of the new Bionic Ice Line just in time for ice fishing.
|
|
Ralph Steve DeBord jumped to an early lead in the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship tournament, which began Nov. 3.
On the first day of the four-day event at Lake Guntersville, Ala., the Martinez, Ga., angler topping the Boater Division caught a five-bass daily limit for 22.48 pounds with a 5.77-pound kicker. The top 400 weekend anglers from more than 40 states compete in two divisions. They all earned the right to fish the championship by competing in various state divisions and regional competitions.
“I caught four fish really early and only had eight bites all day,” DeBord said. “I just kept moving around, but caught the big one at the end of the day. I only caught six fish in practice.”
Anglers may fish anywhere in the 69,100-acre Tennessee River impoundment. The largest lake in Alabama dips to more than 60 feet deep in places. In the northern portion, the lake retains much of its riverine characteristics with grass dominating portions of the reservoir. Many anglers fish frogs over matted grass or flip soft plastics into weed beds.
Galen James of Sale Creek, Tenn., holds second with five bass going 21.11 pounds. He also leads the Boater Division big bass competition with a 7.22-pound bucketmouth.
Louis Aebersold, Jr. of Louisville, Ky., also caught a five-bass daily limit for 20.58 pounds, including a 6.29-pounder, to hold third place. In fourth for the 200 boaters, Justin Lynch of Chesterfield, Va., landed five bass at 19.36 pounds with one 6.53-pound kicker. Nick Kincaid of Tulsa, Okla., rounds out the top five boaters with a five-bass bag weighing 19.19 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Dana Foster of Ocala, Fla., holds a sizeable lead after catching three bass for 13.73 pounds. He also caught the largest bass among non-boaters in the first day, a 7.45-pounder.
“I caught some good fish in practice,” Foster said. “Some parts of this lake are similar to places I fish in Florida. I fish a lot of grass. I caught the big fish in the middle of the day. If the cold front comes through, it might make things tough.”
Holding second for the non-boaters, James Caruso of Millersville, Md., landed a three-bass division daily limit for 10.99 pounds with a 4.11-pound kicker. In third, Patric Hulsey of Rockmart, Ga., landed three bass for 10.93 pounds, followed by Marty Colley of Ashville, Ala., with three bass going 10.41 pounds. In fifth for the non-boaters, Danny Moffat, Jr., of Whiteplains, Md., caught three bass weighing 10.32 pounds with one 4.92-pounder.
The winning boater will take home a check for $100,000 and qualify to fish in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, slated for Feb. 18-20, 2011, in New Orleans. In addition, the boating champion could add as much as $5,000 in cash bonuses for using a Triton boat, a Mercury outboard motor and a MotorGuide trolling motor. The boater who catches the largest bass each day will receive $1,000 bonus.
The winning co-angler will pocket $50,000 and could accumulate up to $2,500 in bonus cash. The non-boater who brings in the daily division lunker pockets a $500 bonus.
|
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today denied a petition calling
for a ban on the manufacture and use of lead based fishing gear.
The Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, the
Association of Avian Veteranarians, Project Gutpile and Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility filed the petition on August 3 to ban the
production and sale of lead based ammunition and fishing tackle under the Toxic
Substance Control Act (TSCA) of 1976.
EPA sent a letter to the petitioners today stating that they failed to demonstrate that the rule is necessary to protect
against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. The letter
also states that the increasing number of limitations on the use of lead fishing
gear on some federal and state lands, as well as various education and outreach
activities, call into question whether a national ban on lead in fishing gear
would be the least burdensome, adequately protective approach to address the
concern, as called for under TSCA. EPA's letter also notes that there are
non-lead alternatives currently in the marketplace.
On August 27, EPA denied the portion of the petition relating to lead in
ammunition because the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this
type of product under TSCA.
Seventy-eight members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) in
September signed a letter sent to Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the EPA, urging the agency to dismiss the petition. The CSC members state in the
letter, “There are 60 million recreational anglers in America that contribute
$125 billion to our economy annually, and penalizing these men, women and
children that are the best stewards of our environment, as well as the financial
backbone to fish and wildlife conservation in our country, would be a terrible
and unnecessary injustice.”
The CSC letter came on the heels of a similar letter to Administrator Jackson
requesting dismissal of the petition, sent on September 15, from the
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and partner members of the American
Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) and sportfishing communities.
The National Assebly of Sportsmen's Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council also urged
EPA to dismiss the petition in a letter to Administrator Jackson.
CSC member and former Chairwoman, Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas,
introduced S.3850 on September 28 to protect lead based traditional ammunition
and fishing tackle from a potential ban by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). This legislation would clarify that the components used in
manufacturing shells, cartridges and fishing tackle are exempt from EPA
regulation under TSCA.
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), representing the 50
state fish and wildlife agencies, also sent a letter the EPA in September,
urging them to dismiss the petition.
State fish and wildlife agencies are authorized to manage most of a state’s
fish and wildlife, and therefore, closely monitor and address any local concerns
about lead based fishing tackle and any potential impacts on local species. A
federal ban on lead fishing tackle is not only unnecessary, but intrudes upon
these traditional state agencies jurisdiction.
No scientific basis has been established to warrant any such ban on
traditional fishing equipment. A similar proposal to ban lead fishing tackle was
dismissed by the EPA in the mid-1990s because there was insufficient data to
support such a ban at that time.
Here is the link to the EPA's Website about the petition denial and other information related to the proposed lead tackle ban.
|
Jerry McKinnis penned a new entry in his blog this week after the BASS sale was finalized earlier this week. It's worth a read to hear it straight from him. We like that one of the industry's front men is spending time speaking directly to those of us that love fishing. It seems to make us all feel a little more connected to him and to BASS. We hope this continues throughout the trials and tribulations that are sure to come. As is the case with most anything, if it's worth doing, it's not going to be easy. Copeland, Logan and McKinnis seem to be genuinely interested in the sport, in fishing and in making things better.
|
|
|
|
ECO Pro Tungsten has joined Wired2Fish as an advertiser for 2010 and 2011. They are a relatively new company, but are hitting the ground running with sleeveless painted tungsten weights for bass fishing. They also have drop shot weights and very attractive price points!
"We are extremely excited to have ECO Pro with us at Wired2Fish," said Terry Brown, President of Wired2Fish. "We have worked with Tim Norman for years and know that he never rests until he has the best products in the industry. We see that happening for ECO Pro too."
"In my opinion, there is no other advertising source for fishing other than Wired2Fish.com," said Tim Norman, President of ECO Pro Tungsten. "Terry Brown and I have been working together for a long time, and we are at home at Wired2Fish. They do what they say they will do, and they sell product.
ECO Pro Tungsten will available very soon in Tackle Warehouse.
|
|
Denali Rods are looking for some good men and women to represent Denali Rods. They are currently taking applications for 2011 positions. If you are interested you may visit their denalirods.com website. You may contact them with any questions via phone (870-492-2231) or email (sales@denalirods.com). Great rods and a great opportunity! Tell them Wired2Fish.com sent you.
Resumes may be sent to the email address or hard copies to:
Attn Pro Staff
Denali Rods
PO Box 1420
Mountain Home AR 72654
|
|
Since time immemorial, there have always been some folks who live by the spirit of the law, and others who live strictly by the letter. From the very onset of competitive tournament fishing, even in those events that only paid in bragging rights, there were problems—not to mention those events where there was a monetary payoff. Early on, the necessity of dealing with that sticky thing called human nature immediately became apparent. Thus, the necessity of Rules and Regulations.
Today, however, “our” sport--just like football, cycling, baseball, and other competitions--must deal with new realities. New realities that demand continuing adjustments of the rules, regulations and the ways we conduct tournaments.
During the years of 1990 – 1998 when Ron and I ran the PWT (Professional Walleye Trail) along with our tournament director team of Mark Dorn and Jim Kalkofen, we made the decision that we would try NOT to make any rules or regulations that were unenforceable, arbitrary, extremely difficult to obey, downright impracticable or silly. On the other hand, trying to depend on some kind of ill-defined sportsman’s ethic simply wouldn’t work—we already knew that. So, we decided to try to live by the rules, and once a rule is made, try to make sure we enforce it. We even discussed, but did not adapt, the concept of zero tolerance. In other words, no excuses--period! Break a rule, and it’s a DQ. Looking back, perhaps we should have done so. Today I know I would have.
Experience shows that there is always someone, someway, trying to gain “a leg up” over the rest of the competition. These are actions that go beyond what has been previously agreed upon in order to keep a “level playing field.”
Advanced sonar and mapping technology, new lures, special lines and the like usually don’t fall into this category. In fact, today these items and their use are usually part of the game. So limiting or banning certain forms of equipment is seldom of major concern anymore. Instead, it’s the formation, interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the rules where things have the potential to go awry.
Regardless of the rule or regulation, most all dictums are basically there A) for safety; B) for adherence and compliance with local and state ordinances; C) to try to keep the playing field as level as possible; and D) to keep the game moving in an orderly manner; E) protection from lawsuits; and F) to keep cheating or unfair advantage out of the game.
Today, as a sport, we are faced with an array of things to deal with that we never imagined 50, 40, 30, even 20 years ago: A) Slot limits; B) no-culling rules; C) space age methods of illegally storing fish; D) on-the-spot, real-time inside information. Let me give you a simple example of how this last item can be used wrongly.
Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota hosts a number of walleye tournaments every year. Many of these are partner events—yet can pay good first-place money.
It is also a lake with tough slot limits. The trick is to get “two (2) overs” (big slot fish) and “four (4) unders” (smaller slot fish) each day. Never an easy game! Most times if you get the overs, it’s a struggle to get the unders--or vice versa. This lake is also heavily used by guides all year long who potentially can fish in every one of its 132,000 acres.
In our example, let’s assume it’s the last day of a 3-day event, and that you and your partner are contenders. You have your two overs, yet need some unders to fill out your limit, but are having a hard time finding them. (This is quite common.) It’s possible for a guide buddy or “team” buddies, who you split the winnings with, to simply text you with the exact coordinates of the tip of a mud flat where they are currently fishing a school of the right-sized slot fish—and the fish are biting right now. Solutions like CRR (Catch; Record; Release) cannot erase this kind of problem.
The potential for sticklers of this kind and more should be obvious. It can also be extrapolated to bass or redfish tourneys, or any other events. It can even apply to top pro tours where deterrents like a co-angler, observer, or cameraman can be right there in the boat, yet might never realize what is going on, because of the way modern technology can be manipulated.
I also can remember one tourney where I had an observer. At one juncture, when going from one spot to another, I forgot to replace my “kill switch loop.” My observer never saw it—yet I was technically in violation. If I were to win the event and had to take a lie detector test—well you do the math. These things happen, and many more just like them.
Today, prizes of 20, 50, or 100 thousand dollars are not rare, and ½ million dollar payouts can tempt a lot of folks to bend or break the rules. Yet because of costs, polygraph tests obviously cannot be given in all levels of all events. But the Big Ones—with big payoffs, perhaps—must start to seriously consider this very strong additional line of defense. Yes, co-anglers, observers and cameramen can and do help keep competitors honest. But these deterrents, by themselves, can never know what happened before the cutoff period, during pre-practice, or during some other deviation of the rules.
Recently, my son Troy and his partner Bill Siemantel won an American Bass Championship on Clear Lake in California, and had to take a polygraph. In certain events, this is simply mandatory in order to “take the win.” Over the years, my brother Ron and nephew and co-host James have all taken polygraphs. While not fun, most are not too difficult if you are simply honest and did not break any rules.
Today, the FLW circuit (both Bass and Walleye) has a mandatory on-the-spot polygraph at all events. So does the PAA. As far as I know, BassMaster and WON to date do not. Nor do AIM or MWC, the other major walleye circuits, require a polygraph to “take a win”.
Certain big one-time events like the KBI and FFBC in Canada also demand one, and certainly there are others who do so as well. But by and large, because of costs ($500 per session is common), most tournament circuits, especially those of limited size, do not and cannot be expected to do so. If there are no protests or pressing post-tourney questions, most events require no further form of validation, other than personal honor.
If they do require a polygraph, it usually works like this. The winner and a random pick out of the top-ten finishers are probed. Also, if a protest was made or something questionable happened, that too might also be examined. On the other hand, one wonders if the recent Mike Hart scandal with WON, out west, would have been avoided if Mike had just thought he might have to face a polygraph. Or, in another case, if the “Don’t ask—don’t tell” unwritten rule on culling in some Wisconsin events had to face a lie test prior to a tournament payout, might that effect the outcome? I believe a test or even the threat of one would cure a lot of abuse. For those circuits where cost is a big factor, maybe surprise polygraphs even once in a while, as an implied threat can be enough to at least help keep things straight.
Today, on the pro walleye side, you have a lot of “teaming,” primarily because of economic considerations. Although “teaming” occurs to a lesser extent in bass and redfish tourneys, it is becoming none-the-less more and more prevalent.
Teaming is a practice where numbers of individuals or 2-man teams get together and share information, fishing patterns and locations, lures and methods--and sometimes even purse money. In one form or another, some of this is relatively benign, especially in the pre-practice phase. Where it becomes lethal is when the money is split, due to tournament-day insider “stuff.”
When you combine “teaming” with GPS positioning, precise contour maps and texting abilities, you have a potential noxious brew for ill. Contestants that do not make a 20-, 10-, or 5-cut, but were on some number of fish during the competition, can give exact spots to teammates.
This, along with other practices like hole-sitting, and planting or altering structure in advance, as well as a host of other activities are things that only a polygraph can help deter.
Mark Fisher, Director of Field Promotions for Rapala, personally told me that on more than one occasion he has sat down and told his pro staff that he strongly disapproves full-fledged teaming. Other big-time sponsor companies I’ve spoken with have voiced like sentiments.
To sum up, with all these factors, and indeed more in play, it’s probably time that we as a sport take a long hard look at the way we are doing things. Remember, too, that a polygraph is only good as the quality of the questions asked and the clarity of the rules it’s meant to enforce. Therefore, the rules must try to get rid of most ambiguities, especially those rules that pertain to information gathering. So, we need to recognize the new realties, and decide what we are willing to except or reject in terms of new technology, and the regulations to govern their use. Today, many tourneys allow the sharing of information if it is in the public domain. Offhand, I can think of two ways this rule can be subverted to a personal advantage, yet still possibly pass a lie detector test. I’ll bet others can come up with additional ways as well.
In the end, effective deterrents and mandatory enforcement are critical to the future growth and success of tournament fishing. If practices like full-fledged teaming and all that goes with it are acceptable or impossible to regulate, simply say so. If not, then perhaps a polygraph might be a primary big step to control things, and a zero-tolerance stance the only way to go. The same can be said for all rules and regulations. Don’t be ambiguous or have some sort of don’t ask—don’t tell system anywhere in place. Yet, make such rules without overly punishing innocent, common mistakes like unzipped life jackets and forgotten kill-switch links, which may need to be addressed differently. Mistakes are one thing; intent is quite another, and a sharp distinction must be made between them.
To close, in the 47 years I’ve been fishing tournaments, I don’t pretend to have all the answers but, I have found that to “say what you mean” and “mean what you say” is still the best practice to employ, and makes for the best run events.
Good Luck!
Al Lindner
|
|
Two-Tour Pro Ish Monroe is working with a new clothing line called Team Bass ADX that was built to give anglers and fan's of fishing stylish clothing that both fits well and looks great. The line-up includes four different series -- Destroyer, Tribal, Graffiti, and the Nature Series. Each of the styles are designed for every type of angler, both young and old, who just loves to fish.
They also have some killer looking hats. One style is currently on the website and another one is coming very soon.
Team Bass ADX also sponsors the Bass University and the Future Pro Tour and will have clothing available at several stores and online locations. They will soon be available at Tackle Warehouse.
|
|
Johnson Outdoors, owners of Minn Kota and Humminbird, and Wired2Fish pro Brent Ehrler joined forces on trolling motors, shallow anchoring systems and depth finders for 2011.
"I have had numerous Minn Kota trolling motors the last four years," Ehrler said. "I have had eight Minn Kota trolling motors and have never had a single problem with them. They are just as strong the last day I use them as they were the first day you get them.
"I am excited about running two of the new Talon anchoring systems on my new Ranger Z521. Two Talons allow me to anchor in one position versus spinning on a pivot point with only one. This should give me a competitive advantage.
"This is my first time using Humminbirds. I will be using the 1198 units on my boat this year, both bow and stern. I have a big flat screen TV at home and am able to catch up on all of my favorite programs in the off-season, and with the 1198s, I will now have a big screen in my boat as well."
Ehrler will be fishing the FLW Tour, 10 Tournaments, and will try to fit in others as available. Brent has been a pro for 10 years now.
|
 FLW just recently announced Walmart team anglers and now comes the announcement that another longtime sponsor is on board for 2011. This looks like the beginning of a lot of good news out of the FLW Outdoors camp.
FLW Outdoors and The J.M. Smucker Company announced they have extended their partnership. Folgers®, Dunkin Donuts® Retail Coffee, Jif®, Crisco® and Smucker’s® will be the brands highlighted. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Trisha Blake, president of FLW Outdoors Marketing Division, stated: “Smucker has been a valued partner of FLW Outdoors for many years. Their brands resonate with outdoor enthusiasts and complement the family atmosphere at our events while increasing their brand awareness.”
Folgers, Dunkin Donuts retail coffee, Jif, Crisco and Smucker’s will be featured across the multiple platforms of FLW Outdoors. Folgers will continue its prominent involvement in the very popular “Folgers Morning Takeoff” at many of the tournaments, providing coffee and breakfast items to those fishing and attending takeoffs. Professional angler Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., will continue to represent Folgers on the FLW Tour. Suggs became the first instant millionaire in professional fishing by winning the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup, earning $1 million on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark. The 2011 Forrest Wood Cup returns to Lake Ouachita, and Suggs is an early favorite to become the first angler to win two Forrest Wood Cup titles.
|
|
ECO PRO Tungsten owner and CEO, Jason Pelak has announced the hiring of Tim Norman as President and Director of sales and marketing. Tim has a long history of success in the bait and tackle business both in management and sales arenas. "We are a relatively new company and the hiring of Tim signals our desire to move into the market as the global expert on tungsten weights" said Pelak. "Our focus is on tungsten weights and tungsten weights only, along with offering the best fill rates in the industry.
Tim is currently in the process of hiring a leading pro to design new shapes, colors and styles that will place Eco Pro firmly on the cutting edge of the tungsten industry. Please visit their website ECO PRO Tungsten.
|
|
Out of age comes wisdom and sometimes we need to see things for what they really are. Changing times can sometimes mean tough changes, both unexpected and unwanted. Our good buddy, Don Barone, has joined us here at Wired2Fish and truly puts perspective on love, friendship and learning about something new that he had no idea even existed. His "Changes" touches the emotions, touches our hearts and gives us hope of knowing where you have been on our quest to move forward. Don is an inspiration and as we call him "The Wizard of Word". Check out his first story at Wired2Fish and as db pens it....
There comes around in life, but one time,
the jar of dreams.
And for the fans of the sport, that just happened.
And for the fans of the sport, they now get to hold the jar.
Of which,
|
|
|
|
The Giants won the World Series, today is Election Day, and BASS has new ownership. We felt we needed a fitting tribute to the day. Journey's Don't Stop Believin' sung at the Giants game this past week by Steve Perry gives all of us a little inspiration. Lets hope we never stop "Believing".
|
|
|
Editors Note: Here is the official press release from BASS and ESPN about the sale being finalized. Wired2fish has already conducted an interview with Jerry McKinnis now that the sale is finalized. We'll also have him on air this week and Logan and Copeland in the near future.
BASS Communications
ESPN Inc., announced Tuesday that it has finalized the sale of BASS, LLC to a group of investors including Don Logan, Jerry McKinnis and Jim Copeland. An agreement in principle was announced in August by ESPN and the transaction was completed Monday.
BASS is the largest membership organization of bass anglers in the U.S. with more than 500,000 members. It was purchased by ESPN in 2001 and includes several media platforms, including three magazines and a popular web site. The investor group is a powerful combination of business acumen and superior knowledge of the outdoors industry.
With the completion of the transaction, the purchasing party assumes ownership of BASS and will run the Celebration, Fla.,-based company. As part of the agreement, ESPN will continue to air BASS core television programming assets – the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic – for multiple years.
“We are proud of our employees’ contribution to BASS this past decade and we are pleased to continue ESPN’s association going forward,” said George Bodenheimer, co-chairman, Disney Media Networks and president, ESPN. Inc. “Under the direction of Don Logan, Jerry McKinnis and Jim Copeland, BASS will be well positioned to serve angler’s interests for many years to come.”
Investor and outdoorsman McKinnis has a long and rich history with ESPN as the host of the network’s second longest-running show, The Fishin’ Hole, which aired from 1980 until 2007. McKinnis, who has been involved in outdoors television since hosting a fishing show for KATV in Little Rock, Ark., in 1964, has developed a special connection with outdoorsman and anglers with his innovative programming and accessibility.
“This is a dream come true,” said McKinnis. “I’m so excited to begin working with BASS’ passionate membership base on developing an even more powerful organization.”
Retired Time Inc., executive and avid angler Logan at one time oversaw Time Inc., America Online, Time Warner Cable and the Time Warner Book Group before his retirement from the media giant in 2005.
Logan’s varied experience in the media industry set up well for guiding a complex brand that boasts several multi media platforms.
“With a strong multimedia portfolio, BASS is well positioned to serve fans with innovative content,” said Logan. “We are focused on maintaining BASS’ leadership position in the industry.”
Georgia native Copeland retired as U.S. and Global CEO of international financial services firm Deloitte in 2003 and currently serves on the board of directors of three Fortune 500 companies.
The investor group has put a premium on focusing on issues that resonate at a grassroots level. BASS will continue to spearhead positive, progressive change on issues related to conservation and resource management.
|
|
|
|
Thanks to everyone who participated in the "very scary" e21 Carrot Stix Holloween Contest on Wired2Fish over the weekend. Knowing that e21 Carrot Stix are actually made from carrots (Nano bio fibers) was part of the equation but also reading Wired2Fish and knowing that FLW pro Glenn Browne made his announcement of joining their team right here got you the entire right answer. Great job on all of those that got it right.
The "scary" part of this contest is we had two winners.
They are:
Christopher Schaeffer
O’Fallon, MO
Buddy Whitley
LaGrange, GA
Your 7 foot 3 inch MH Fast Action (CMG-731-MH F-C) rods are on the way. Stay tuned to Wired2Fish for more great contests.
|
|
|
|
|
