Photo courtesy of FLW

Troy Lindner of Los Angeles, Calif., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win the EverStart Series Western Division event on Lake Havasu with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 49 pounds, 11 ounces. For his victory, Lindner earned $29,665 and a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard motor.

 

“Honestly, this doesn’t feel real at all,” said Lindner. “I’m in shock. Coming in today in ninth place, I figured I would need 21 pounds to even make it close. I thought I basically had no chance. It’s a complete miracle I won this thing. My last nine tournaments with FLW, I haven’t cashed a check, so I took some time off and got my head and priorities straight. I think that preparation and a blessing from God is what did it for me today.

 

“I fished a lot of the small coves and the points leading into those coves,” Lindner continued. “I was using Trigger X baits for most of the tournament. My two biggest fish were caught on a Trigger X Aggression Spadetail worm and a Trigger X Flutter Worm. I was catching fish from 3 to 15 feet, basically wherever it banked off deep. The last part of the day, I sat an hour waiting on this one fish on a bed that I thought was a big one. Every 15 minutes I would go back and make a couple of casts at him. I finally got him to bite on the Spadetail worm, and he ended up being my second biggest fish of the tournament. I had about a dozen bites today, and was able to catch seven of them.

 

“I’ll definitely be fishing the next event at the (California) Delta,” Lindner went on to say. “I’ve been beaten pretty bad there in the past, so if I could cash a check there that would be another miracle.”

 

Rounding out the top 10 pros were:

 

          2nd:   Chris Kinley, Durango, Colo., 15 bass, 49-9, $10,171

          3rd:   Joe Uribe Jr., Lake Forest, Calif., 15 bass, 49-5, $8,476

          4th:    Terrence Rath, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 15 bass, 49-4, $7,628

          5th:    Michael Tuck, Granite Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 48-4, $6,781

          6th:    Michael Wright, Grass Valley, Calif., 15 bass, 45-14, $5,933

          7th:    Jeff Michels, Lakehead, Calif., 15 bass, 45-0, $5,086

          8th:    Jimmy Savoini, Prescott. Ariz., 13 bass, 41-12, $4,238

          9th:    Brian Ankrum, Loveland, Colo., 13 bass, 39-10, $3,390

          10th: Duane Dunstone, Reno, Nev., 14 bass, 36-5, $2,543

 

      Complete results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.

Zoom Z-Hog

Photo by Gary Tramontina / B.A.S.S. Communications

Day Two Standings

 1     Chris Lane         5    16- 4    5    19- 4     10     35- 8
2     Greg Vinson         5    17-12    5    16-12     10     34- 8
3     Alton Jones         5    13-13    5    17-14     10     31-11
4     Bobby Lane         5    16- 4    5    14- 8     10     30-12
5     Edwin Evers         5    16- 3    5    14- 4     10     30- 7
6     Dustin Wilks         5    16- 9    5    13-10     10     30- 3
7     Bill Lowen         5    14-13    5    14-13     10     29-10
8     Aaron Martens         5    13-14    5    15-11     10     29- 9
9     David Walker         5    16- 8    5    12-14     10     29- 6
10     Keith Poche         5    17-13    5    11- 8     10     29- 5
11     Keith Combs         5    13- 9    5    15- 1     10     28-10
12     Timmy Horton         5    10-11    5    17-14     10     28- 9
13     Todd Faircloth         5    9- 9    5    18-12     10     28- 5
14     Brent Chapman         5    11-14    5    15-10     10     27- 8
15     Ott DeFoe         5    16- 6    5    11- 1     10     27- 7
16     Matt Reed         5    14- 8    5    12-12     10     27- 4
17     Davy Hite         5    13- 8    5    12-14     10     26- 6
18     Kevin VanDam         5    11- 0    5    13-15     10     24-15
19     Josh Polfer         5    11- 3    5    13- 1     10     24- 4
20     Kevin Wirth         4    8-15    5    15- 5     9     24- 4
21     Chris Price         5    10- 7    5    13-10     10     24- 1
22     Stephen Browning     5    11- 3    5    12-12     10     23-15
23     Jamie Horton         5    14-15    3    9- 0     8     23-15
24     Greg Hackney         5    13-15    5    9-14     10     23-13
26     Michael Iaconelli     5    10- 7    5    13- 5     10     23-12
27     Jeff Kriet         5    10- 6    5    12- 4     10     22-10
28     Gerald Swindle         5    8-12    4    13- 6     9     22- 2
29     Marty Robinson     5    12- 8    5    9- 7     10     21-15
30     John Crews         5    11-15    5    9-14     10     21-13
31     Andrew Upshaw     5    12- 8    5    7- 9     10     20- 1
32     Fletcher Shryock     5    10- 3    5    9-10     10     19-13
33     Dean Rojas         2    6- 0    5    13- 7     7     19- 7
34     Matt McCoy         1    1-14    5    17- 7     6     19- 5
35     Jared Lintner         3    6- 8    5    12- 5     8     18-13
36     Allan Glasgow         5    10-15    5    7-10     10     18- 9
37     Stephen Kennedy     5    11-15    4    6- 9     9     18- 8
38     Randy Howell         5    11-11    3    6- 7     8     18- 2
39     Terry Scroggins         5    14- 8    3    3- 9     8     18- 1
40     Ishama Monroe     5    9-10    5    6-13     10     16- 7
41     Mark Tucker         2    5- 7    5    10-10     7     16- 1
42     Fred Roumbanis     5    10-10    3    5- 2     8     15-12
43     Kelly Pratt         1    1-13    5    11- 8     6     13- 5
44     Denny Brauer         3    8-13    1    3- 0     4     11-13
45     Tom Jessop         5    10- 7    1          6     11- 5
46     Casey Ashley         1    1-11    4    7-11     5     9- 6
47     John Diaco         4    6-12    1    2- 1     5     8-13
48     Brandon Palaniuk     0    0- 0    3    5-15     3     5-15
49     Shaw E Grigsby     2        4- 5               2     4- 5

1     Keith Poche     5    17-13    
2     Greg Vinson     5    17-12    
3     Dustin Wilks     5    16- 9    
4     David Walker     5    16- 8    
5     Ott DeFoe     5    16- 6    
6     Chris Lane     5    16- 4    
6     Bobby Lane     5    16- 4    
8     Edwin Evers     5    16- 3    
9     Jamie Horton     5    14-15    
10     Bill Lowen     5    14-13    
11     Matt Reed     5    14- 8    
11     Terry Scroggins 5    14- 8    
13     Greg Hackney     5    13-15    
14     Aaron Martens     5    13-14    
14     Takahiro Omori     5    13-14    
16     Alton Jones     5    13-13    
17     Keith Combs     5    13- 9    
18     Davy Hite     5    13- 8    
19     Marty Robinson     5    12- 8    
19     Andrew Upshaw     5    12- 8    
21     John Crews     5    11-15    
21     Stephen Kennedy 5    11-15    
23     Brent Chapman     5    11-14    
24     Randy Howell     5    11-11    
25     Stephen Browning5    11- 3    
25     Josh Polfer     5    11- 3    
27     Kevin VanDam     5    11- 0    
28     Allan Glasgow     5    10-15    
29     Timmy Horton     5    10-11    
30     Fred Roumbanis     5    10-10    
31     Michael Iaconelli 5    10- 7    
31     Tom Jessop     5    10- 7    
31     Chris Price     5    10- 7    
34     Jeff Kriet     5    10- 6    
35     Fletcher Shryock5    10- 3    
36     Ishama Monroe     5    9-10    
37     Todd Faircloth     5    9- 9    
38     Kevin Wirth     4    8-15    
39     Denny Brauer     3    8-13    
40     Gerald Swindle     5    8-12    
41     John Diaco     4    6-12    
42     Jared Lintner     3    6- 8    
43     Dean Rojas     2    6- 0    
44     Mark Tucker     2    5- 7    
45     Shaw E Grigsby     2    4- 5    
46     Matt McCoy     1    1-14    
47     Kelly Pratt     1    1-13    
48     Casey Ashley     1    1-11    
49     Brandon Palaniuk0     0- 0

 

 

 

 

The last day of practice for the Bassmaster Classic we got to check out Aaron Martens new Megabass boat wrap as he completed his day on the water. Looks great and we loved the graphics.

 

 

KVD Outdoors announced today a partnership between the Detroit Lions and Kevin Van Dam. The Lions and Kevin have united to create the Detroit Lions/KVD Charity Fishing Tournament. The tournament will be held at Kensington Metropark on Kent Lake in Milford, Mich. on June 12, 2012. All proceeds from this this event will go to support both Detroit Lions Charities (DLC) and Kevin VanDam Charities.

 

"I grew up watching the Detroit Lions, so I'm a lifetime Lions fan," said VanDam. "For me it's truly an honor and a privilege to be partnered with the Lions Organization."

 

"It is with great excitement that we join in partnership with Kevin, who not only is the best angler in the world, but also a very loyal Lions fan," said Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz. "The coaching staff as well as the players are looking forward to being involved with the tournament June 12."

 

For more information on the tournament visit KevinVanDam.com. 

FLW, the world’s leading tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Fatheadz Eyewear will join the sponsorship lineup for the 2012 season. Fatheadz Eyewear is the leading eyewear maker catering to men and women with all sizes of heads.

 

“The quality products that Fatheadz Eyewear manufactures give anglers even more options in performance eyewear with a design based on comfort,” said Fatheadz Eyewear pro Jacob Wheeler of Indianapolis, Ind. “Quality eyewear is necessary equipment for anglers of all skill levels, and when you’re on a boat all day the comfort of your eyewear becomes a factor. That’s where Fatheadz Eyewear excels.”

 

Fatheadz Eyewear will receive exposure across all of FLW’s platforms, including its tournaments and Expos, multiple websites, FLW Bass Fishing and FLW Walleye Fishing magazines and the “FLW” television show on NBC Sports Network. "FLW" is broadcast Sundays in high-definition (HD) to more than 559 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

“Fatheadz Eyewear is proud and excited to form this partnership with FLW,” said Rico Elmore, Fatheadz Eyewear CEO. “To be associated with the top tournament anglers in the world is an honor. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our line of eyewear to a significant new audience.”

By Alan McGuckin

 

 

 

ATX Wheels returns to the Bassmaster Classic February 24-26 in Louisiana with top anglers and our new, 2012 product lineup for tow vehicles and trailers.
 
Special guest Britt Myers, whose 2012 rig set-up rides on matching Teflon® ATX Ledge wheels, will be in the ATX booth this weekend to sign autographs and talk to fans.
 
ATX Wheels is a proud supporter of 2012 Bassmaster Classic anglers Gerald "G-Man" Swindle, David Walker, and Randy Howell. Keith Combs, winner of the 2011 ATX Wheels Big Bass Award at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic in October, is also set to compete at the event.
 
All ATX anglers have outfitted their tow vehicles and trailers with the ATX Ledge wheel. The ATX Ledge wheel is available in classic chrome and coated with Teflon®. Many outdoor enthusiasts prefer ATX's unique wheels, coated with Teflon®, for their improved resistance to dirt and quick clean-up.
 
Look for both Myers and ATX model Alison McDaniel in the #18 ATX booth, where they will be signing autographs during all three days of the Outdoors Expo at the Shreveport Convention Center (400 Caddo St., Shreveport, LA 71101)
 
Britt Myers at the ATX booth:
Friday, February 24: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 25:  1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 26: 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Reigning Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam has practice behind him in Shreveport on the Red River but just before he left he shot this video of him getting his new boat. From snow to stardom....again?

One of the things we look forward to every year at the Classic is the release of new tackle. Obviously, July and ICAST is the big push for new fishing tackle, but there are also several new announcements that come out at the Classic.

We already learned of one from Heddon that's a new spin on a favorite old classic.

The new Heddon Chug'n Spook is a nearly 5-inch, two-hook Zara Spook that features a cupped mouth in the front for displacing water as it walks from side to side. The new spook will be offered in 14 colors to start and will retail for $6.99.

We're pretty excited about this bait, as most of us grew up walking a Zara Spook for a topwater and it's many variations are still our favorites today. This will be a welcome addition that will give that spitting and chugging action while walking the bait around cover or in open water alike. A lot of guys try to walk their poppers. Now you will have a walker that pops. 

Look for more about this new topwater soon on Wired2Fish.com. To check out the colors and order some, visit Lurenet.com.

Dynamic Sponsorships, marketing partner in the outdoor recreation industry for Bushnell, BoatU.S. Angler, Toyota Trucks, and The Zebco Brands has hired Jon James as Field Promotions Manager.

He joins a roster of veteran marketers at Dynamic that includes Kendell Callaway, Alan McGuckin, Lance Peck and Jeff Tolle. Together the existing group has over 60 years of working on well-known outdoor industry brands.

James will bolster Dynamic’s on-site efforts such as consumer show promotions, along with managing the many tasks associated with coordinating national tours and delivering a professional presence.

“Jon’s background is custom made for Dynamic," Peck said. "He will help make us a better company, and his experience will be of great value to our clients. 

“Jon was a member of his college bass fishing team while earning a 4-year degree in mass communications, has extensive event production experience, drives a Toyota Tundra and has spent the last 8-months working in the retail trenches as a Bass Pro Shops sales associate. In addition to those tangibles, our time with him revealed a humble soul, with a heart for service. Needless to say, we are all excited to have Jon as part of our team."

 

 

Jamie Horton's rig is wrapped and ready for the Classic. Jamie, of Centerville, AL, qualified for the Classic by being the 2011 B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Champion.

 

 

To sign up for the entire river fishing lesson from Kevin Short go to ProPatterns.com

 

 

Koppers Live Target Field Mouse is now available in two sizes at Tackle Warehouse. The Best of Show at ICAST Winner in 2011 mimics a field mouse to a "T".  Koppers Live Target Hollow Body Field Mose features intricate and lifelike detail and a side to side walking action that emulates a scurrying mouse on the water. The first shipment has just arrived and are available in 4 colors and two great fishing sizes, the 60T and 70T. They retail for $10.99.

 

You can order them at Tackle Warehouse now. 

 

 

Elite Series pro Kevin Short is a grinder, a river rat and one of the most dedicated anglers on the pro trails. He works hard in the fishing part and works equally hard in the sponsorship obligations one as well. Big or small, companies that work with Kevin get their monies worth. When you think of pink in bass fishing there is only one K-Pink.

 

 The New Hampshire State Senate has introduced a new bill (SB 224) to ban the use of lead jigs weighing less than one ounce in all New Hampshire waters. This comes after the EPA has now rejected two federal petitions to ban lead in fishing tackle in the entire U.S. New Hampshire already bans the use of lead weights weighing less than 1 ounce and lead jigs up to 1 inch through a similar bill introduced in 1998. 

This bill would liked prohibit anglers from using any fishing lures with lead including spinnerbaits, jigs, blade baits, in-line spinners and even flies. Much of anglers tackle box will become obsolete and anglers will incur a much great cost in fishing.

The biggest problems with these bills is they are not based on facts or sound science. This bill will only have a major impact on the $174 million annually to the state in retail sales and no impact on loon and other wildlife populations as no evidence has been provided to show lead fishing tackle has an impact now.

Several fishing groups like KeepAmericaFishing.org and TakeMeFishing.org as well as the ASA oppose this ban and are encouraging anglers to contact your congressmen and women about the ridiculousness of this bill.

Here is a link provided by KeepAmericaFishing that will help you send a letter to your congressmen about stopping the bill in New Hampshire.

 

 

Elite Series pro Bill Lowen just sent us his new truck and boat wraps for 2012 highlighting IMA, Tightlines UV, Buck Knives and Flambeau Tackle Boxes. They look sweet Bill!

 

He also mentioned he is running a new Facebook contest where he will be giving away a 110 Folder Buck Knife, and a limited edition and signed Bill Lowen Duck Call. All you have to do is like his Facebook page, at  http://www.facebook.com/TurtleLowen for a chance to win.

 

 

 

Our good friends at Kicker Fish Bait Company, known for their High Tail Series of baits, are back in operation after an arson fire that destroyed product, packaging and records. The good news is the people who set the fire have been caught and charged and Kicker Fish is back building the baits you have come to enjoy. Here is the article where we covered their fire and damage of the warehouse. http://www.wired2fish.com/Kicker-Fish-Warehouse-Destroyed-by-Fire-WhatsUp6247

 

 

As of today you can now order:

 

Two well-known names in bass fishing - Mark Davis and Lew's - have teamed in a new relationship. 

The 48-year-old Mount Ida, Ark. angler has been a regular on B.A.S.S. tournament leader boards ever since entering his first event with that trail in 1986. The 60-year old history-rich Lew's brand has been on a rapid return to prominence since a 2009 change in ownership

Bass professional Mark Davis is gearing up with Lew's rods and reels for the 2012 tournament season. Davis' first baitcast reels were Lew's Speed Spools given to him on his 16th birthday by his dad. Raised on spinning gear, Davis credits his introduction to Lew's baitcasters as being instrumental in his fondness for fishing deep-diving crankbaits.

ever since entering his first event with that trail in 1986. The 60-year old history-rich Lew's brand has been on a rapid return to prominence since a 2009 change in ownership.

It will be Davis' first time to use Lew's rods and reels in his professional fishing career, although he proudly remembers getting two Lew's BB-1 Speed Spools on his 16th birthday; it was his first experience with baitcast reels.

"I grew up fishing with spinning gear and had a lot of confidence in my abilities with it," Davis explained. "But when I got those Speed Spools on my birthday, it was an exciting day and wasn't long before it made an impactful change to my fishing style."

Davis said he was able to cast his new baitcasters "in no time," and soon realized he could make really long casts with big baits, which gave him a whole new confidence in being able to keep baits in the strike zone longer.

"I fell in love with fishing big, deep-diving crankbaits, and the technique has definitely played a major role in the many tournaments I've gotten a check," he said.

Davis has 44 top 10 finishes in B.A.S.S. events, plus has won five, including the Bassmaster Classic on North Carolina's High Rock Lake in 1995. He was also the trail's Angler of the Year that year, and took the honor again twice afterwards, 1998 and 2001. His B.A.S.S. tournament earnings alone total nearly $1.5 million.

Davis says having a Lew's in his hand again brings back wonderful memories of his earliest years with the brand.

"I couldn't be happier than I am about this opportunity," he said.

The pro is using Team Lew's and Tournament Pro Speed Spool baitcast models and is especially fond of the reels' dual cast control system. Called MSB for multi-setting brake, reels with this feature have both centrifugal and magnetic braking systems. 

The Arkansas angler explained that a lot of anglers feel the cast control is the key factor in casting big baits far, but what really sets the best reels apart from the pack is when you can cast light baits great distances. 

"I like the fact that I can easily turn all of my centrifugal brakes off, yet still fine tune my spool speed quickly for different bait sizes and weights with the external dial on my Lew's," Davis said. "I truly believe anglers of all skill levels can cast these reels without problem with just a few minor adjustments right out of the box." 

So what are those adjustments? Davis said Lew's Speed Spools with the MSB feature come with two centrifugal brakes turned on and two turned off, and that's a good starting point for the centrifugal settings for most anglers. He suggests then giving the main spool attention knob some tightening first so that the spool still turns freely when disengaged but has some resistance to start with. Next he says to turn the external dial to the maximum speed control, and then you're ready to try a toss. Davis said start out with a medium size weight or lure on the line to begin with, perhaps one-half ounce, and use a moderate casting motion for the test run.

"Sure, it takes some practice to get the most out of a baitcaster, but Lew's reels matched to the right rods make it easier," he added. "I'm really liking a lot of the actions in the Lew's Tournament SL rod series, and you're going to see even more models in it soon. If you're attending the Bassmaster Classic next week in Shreveport, look me or one of the other Team Lew's pros up in the Lew's booth and we'd be happy to show you how to set up your baitcast rig."

Fishing industry veteran Lynn Reeves acquired the Lew's name and affiliated trademarks, including Speed Spool®, Speed Spin®, Laser® and Speed Stick® from the Lew Childre family in 2009. Since then, Lew's has launched an all-new lineup of rods and reels, which have been getting high marks from anglers old and new.

"I'm living a dream," Reeves said. "And having Mark Davis now among our other class acts on Team Lew's and using our products mean a lot to me. Mark is fishing our rods and reels, and we're pleased to have his level of product knowledge on our side going forward to help with new models and actions."

Team Lew's members Tim Horton, Terry Scroggins and Andrew Upshaw are competing in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24 - 26, on the Red River in the Shreveport, La., area.  Davis, Mark Menendez, Kevin Short, Gerald Brown, Bobby Myers and other professional anglers will be among the bass pros in the Lew's booth at the Classic Outdoor Expo. 

For more information, visit Lews.com.

 

 

Cold water, wind and frontal conditions can take a toll on both the angler and the fish. Having the proper mental focus is essential when bites are slow or non-existant. Anglers that persevere through tough conditions can come out on top.

 

Brent Chapman is a grinder and is well known to have mental toughness on the water. His recent win at the Bassmaster Open on Lake Lewisville in Texas was a testament to his mental preparedness and sticktoitiveness. One bite and one 6 pound 5 ounce bass put him over the top.

 

Today on Weighing In with Terry Brown Brent talks about what it took to win in very tough conditions and his hope that its a springboard to a Bassmaster Classic win next week. To listen click here.

 

 

Today on Weighing In with Terry Brown FLW professional angler Randall Tharp talks about finally getting the monkey off his back by winning at the Big O, his technique and his equipment. To listen click here.

As anglers we need to strive to leave the fisheries better than we found them. We always take trash out of the lake that we find others discarded. We need to be the good stewards of our great resources to protect fishing for our kids because these folks petitioning the EPA certainly won't.

 

 

 

Post frontal conditions in cold water can be some of the toughest conditions encountered for anglers. Case in point was the latest Bassmaster Open on Lake Lewisville in Texas. Rising water conditions followed by a severe cold front made fishing nearly unbearable and a very tough bite became even tougher. After finishing in a tie on the final day Kansas pro Brent Chapman and Arizona angler Josh Bertrand had to hit the water in a sudden death head to head match-up where conditions had truly deteriated to winter-like conditions.

 

Water temps that started the week over 50 degrees had dropped to the 40's by the time the fish-off started on Sunday morning. Chapman made the choice to go to a water discharge area with current and warmer water, he thought, and Bertrand went back to where he had weighed 18 pounds on day one of the event near the dam area. Bertrand had struggled on days two and three as a result of his area being hit with cold heavy wind but Sunday he was able to fish that area.

 

Chapman, upon entering the smallish area with the discharge, noticed right away water temps had dropped significantly to just above 40 degrees and the current had diminished. Rather that running to a new location he decided to fish the area one time. He remembered one of his co-anglers had caught his fish on a wacky rig so he tied it on and went to work. While Bertrand was struggling for a bite, Chapman nailed a sluggish 6 pound 5 ounce largemouth that initially he felt was a drum or a catfish. He landed that giant and it was over and he had won the Open but had also qualified for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic in the process.

 

Cold front conditions in cold muddy water can be a some of the toughest conditions an angler can encounter and unusual tactics can pay dividends, much like Chapman encountered swtiching up to the wacky rig.

 

This past spring I fished an opener in early April  in similar condtions. Rain, snow and wind on a lake where water temps were only in the upper 40's can be super tough in the central part of the country.  Hard to believe maybe, but nearly half the field quit early without a fish. Temperatures dropped from 44 degrees to the lower 30s in a matter of hours and truthfully it was pretty durn unbearable. Being a grinder I knew that these severe conditions were going to lock down the bite but if we had a chance at all it would be on a small in-line Eco Pro spinner and a small flipping tube. I switched between the two baits and ended up with 4 bass weighing 12.92 pounds and won the event. Second place was 2 fish weighing 9.77 pounds and most of the field blanked.

 

The Eco Pro Spinner gave me a distinct advantage from a couple of angles. One, the fish had not seen in-lines on this lake before and second, Eco Pro had just released this new one a week or so before and I had a few of the early models. The vibration of this shaft through the blade model, combined with the denseness of tungsten creates a heavy vibration. They can be cast easily even in the wind and I truly believe the fish I caught reacted to the bait vibration versus looking at it as an easy meal. Since they had just hit the market I knew that no one would have one nor would they think about throwing them in these conditions.

 

The Eco Pro Spinner comes in 19 colors and 3 different weights, 1/16, 1/8 and 1/6. They incorporate pure tungsten into the body and I chose black nickel as the color choice. Dark water always means dark baits to me and the profile looked just like a small shad in the water. I usually use a small swivel on these baits as they can cause line twist but tied the bait directly to the line this day.

 

The next time you encounter a major cold front with water temperatures between 35 and 50 don't be afraid to jump out of the box a bit and try a in-line spinner.

 

The Eco Pro Spinners are available online at Bass Pro Shops and retail for $4.49.

 

 

We just completed the Royal Purple Lubrication contest on Wired2Fish. Thanks to everyone who participated.

 

Royal Purple is a,Texas based, oil company that provides premium high performance lubrication products that both protect and increase performance. Better lubrication and lower operating temperatures means better miles per gallon too. Royal Purple is also involved in grass roots fishing trails including the American Bass Anglers and Oakley Big Bass Tours. Their proprietary additive Synerlec helps their oils perform better in marine products and automobiles equally well.

 

The winners of the Royal Purple Contest are:

 

Lonnie Edwards

Mesquite, Texas

 

Eddie Baggett

Clarksville, TN

 

Congrats and thanks to everyone for being Wired2Fish!

 

 

If you love fishing, Mike Iaconelli wants to go fishing with you!

“We couldn’t think of a better day than Valentine’s Day to announce our search for guests for the new Going Ike TV show,” Iaconelli said. “We are looking for passionate, exciting, interesting, hard-core anglers who love to fish!”

What is the Going Ike show? Going Ike is a brand new travel log, reality style fishing show. Mike will travel across the country with his driver Frank the Tank to meet up and fish with local guests in their hometowns.  The best part is anyone can be a guest!

In a short 1 to 3 minute video, wannabe guests should explain why the Going Ike show should come fish with them on their favorite lake, river, pond, or stream. We also want the guest to set the challenge! Tell us what specie(s) we will be fishing for, how we will catch them, whether we will be fishing from a boat or from the bank, and tell us what the challenge time frame (time limit) will be. Don’t forget to let Mike know what sets you and your fishery apart from everyone else!

Mike Iaconelli is super pumped up about the new show.

"This is such a neat concept because I’m going to get to fish with real people from all over the country," he said. "The guests will get to set the challenge for anything that swims, in either fresh or salt water. And the best part about it is that we will be fishing as a team to accomplish our goal in a limited amount of time!“

Potential guests can submit a video by going to goingike.com. They can simply download the submissions online or send them in by mail to PO Box 970 Elmer, NJ 08318. The search for contestants will start on February 15^th 2012 and run all the way through June 30^th 2012. Winners will be announced at I-Cast on July 13^th 2012!

For more information on the Going Ike TV show or the Going Ike webisode series presented by Lowrance, go to GoingIke.com, go to the Going Ike Facebook page or email josh@professionaledgefishing.com.

 

 

By Terry Brown

 

This past weekend I had the opportunity to preview the first installment of Major League Fishing, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. More than 2 1/2 hours of in-the-boat action in the new format where every keeper fish counts towards their totals. The level of intensity, the disappointment of missed fish and the excitement these anglers felt on every cast makes MLF  "pure fishing." I was glued to every minute to watch bait selection, adjustments and how these anglers managed their time. KVD, Gary Klein, Brent Ehrler, Jason Quinn, Mark Davis, Bobby Lane, Aaron Martens, and Greg Hackney going head to head in session one.

 

No waypoints, no information, and only 15 minutes to run the lake to look for an area to fish made it even more exciting. The live leaderboard was an excellent addition and the in-boat marshalls kept each angler aware of who was catching fish on every cast. Eight premier anglers going head to head in three sessions where only the top four advance made the intensity of each fish even more crucial. Time outs of one minute for breaking off made it even more intense. This penalty box concept for penalties added even more to the program.

 

You could feel the furstration, excitement, disappointment, and mental games in full view.

 

Major League Fishing is like spending a day in the boat with the best pros in the business and not a single detail was missed.

 

You can tune in beginning today by simply signing up for the pay for view at majorleaguefishing.com. The shows will air for free later this year on the Outdoor Channel. But the small pay per view fee for each episode gives you hours of content you won't see on TV. Check it out. If you love tournament bass fishing, you will be glad you did! 

The second annual fundraising drive called Jerseys for St. Jude officially started on Sunday, Feb. 12 to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The effort includes a series of tournament jersey auctions and drawing for many great prizes, and will last until the end of March.

Week No. 1 kicks off with eBay jersey auctions donated from many notable anglers, including recent FLW Tour Open champions Randall Tharp and Paul Elias, as well as Jonathon VanDam, Jay Yelas, Clark Wendlandt, Greg Bohannan and Jim Tutt. 

Future weeks will include themed auctions: Classic Week, Western Week, FLW Week and more.

Anglers who donate a minimum of $10 to St. Jude through mystjudeevent.org/jersy4jude will receive entry into a drawing for a Dobyns Rod; Rapala, All-Terrain, and Team Johnson Fishing tackle packages; Rod Gloves; MinnKota / Humminbird swag; and gift certificates for G2 Gemini and Bass Tackle Depot. Additional prizes will be added in the coming weeks.

To learn more, visit the Jerseys for St. Jude blog: jerseysforstjude.blogspot.com. Last year, the effort raised $8,400 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The mission of St. Jude is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. On average, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital touches the lives of more than 7,800 each year, regardless of a family’s ability to pay for treatment. St. Jude is currently celebrating 50 years of finding cures and saving children.

For pros, companies or other anglers wanting to participate in this effort, contact: jerseysforstjude@hotmail.com.

FLW Communications

EverStart pro Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala., had endured three days of tough weather and wind and managed to lead the first three days of competition at the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude. All he needed was one more solid day’s weight to claim his first FLW Tour title.

Tharp caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 2 ounces Sunday to win $125,000 with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 101-12. The catch gave him the win by a massive 23-pound, 9-ounce margin over John Cox of Debary, Fla., who caught a total of 20 bass weighing 78-3 and earned $35,000. Tharp’s margin of victory broke the FLW Tour record set by National Guard pro Brett Hite (20-4, Lake Toho, 2008).

“I felt like I could catch 30 pounds a day if I fished perfect,” said Tharp, who adds an FLW title to his four BFL wins and one EverStart Series victory. “I would have liked to have caught more, but I’m pretty tickled with the way things turned out.

“When I caught the first big one today and it put me at 19 pounds and I caught the second big one, I didn’t say anything, but when I caught the third one, I knew it was over.”

Tharp said the one constant during the tournament was the wind. High winds wreaked havoc on anglers’ plans as water clarity went south. Many anglers struggled to adapt and catch fish.

“It was not what you want in south Florida,” Tharp said. “We had a wind chill of 27 degrees this morning. The winds were sustained 20 mph with gusts to 40. The style I was fishing is what you need to do under those conditions.”

And Tharp’s style of fishing just happened to be what he loves to do – use a big rod, heavy line and big weights to flip grass. Tharp fished the north end of the lake and threw a black with blue flake Bitters Baits B.F.M. paired with a 1 1/2-ounce pegged sinker. Tharp boated eight keepers during the course of the day.

“I’ve done pretty good on just about every type of body of water, but I prefer to fish a grass lake,” Tharp said. “Any grass lake is different when you go back. You never catch them in the same places because the grass is different. Okeechobee is a prime example of that.

“I’ve known for a long time that if I could win just one Tour-level event this is the lake I’d want it to happen on,” Tharp added. “So now I’ve got that out of the way, and I can set my sights on other places.”

The remaining top 10 pros finished the tournament in:

3rd: Jeremy York, Monroe, Ga., 20 bass, 74-2, $30,000

4th: Art Ferguson III, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 20 bass, 71-5, $25,000

5th: Brandon McMillan, Clewiston, Fla., 16 bass, 64-6, $20,000

6th: Chevy pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 16 bass, 61-12, $17,000

7th: Roland Martin, Naples, Fla., 15 bass, 59-6, $16,000

8th: National Guard pro Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 56-3, $15,000

9th: Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., 16 bass, 55-8, $14,000

10th: Nick Gainey, Charleston, S.C., 15 bass, 54-5, $13,000

A complete list of results can be found at FLWOutdoors.com.

Overall there were 27 bass weighing 77 pounds, 12 ounces caught by pros Sunday. The catch included four five-bass limits.

Fittingly for stingy Lewisville Lake, the fish-off Sunday came down to one bite. Brent Chapman got it, Josh Bertrand never did.

 

Chapman caught a 6-pound, 5-ounce largemouth and captured the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open title in extra innings after the two anglers tied for the lead on Day Three and had to go into a tie-breaker fish-off on Sunday. On Feb. 11, Elite Series pro Chapman weighed in three keepers, and Bertrand brought one fish to the scales. The anglers finished tied for first with 20 pounds, 9 ounces.  The fish-off, from 7 a.m. to noon CST on Sunday, was the decider.

 

The tournament victory came with a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Chapman’s home water: Grand Lake. The pressure is off for this year’s Elite Series, provided Chapman fishes the remaining two Central Open events.

 

“This is a big weight off my shoulders,” Chapman said. “First, this tournament is over. The bigger reason is that I made the Classic and finally got another win.”

 

The clinching bass very nearly never made it into the boat. Chapman was fishing a small creek that had warm water from a discharge running into the back of it. When he arrived Sunday morning, the current had disappeared, and the water was in the high 40s, a severe temperature drop.

 

“I didn’t know what to think,” Chapman said. “I honestly thought if there wasn’t water generation back there, it would be shot. I decided I had to at least make a pass and give it a try. After fishing for a short while without a bite, I remembered my partner a few days ago caught one on a wacky rig. On my third cast, I caught that one.”

 

When he first set the hook, he thought the fish might have been a catfish or a drum by the way it was staying down. As it got closer to the boat, however, he realized just how big of a bass he had hooked. The fish fell for a wacky-rigged finesse worm.

 

“If it had been the Elite Series without a net, I probably wouldn’t have caught that fish,” Chapman said. “I got that fish in the boat and the hook fell out of its mouth. If I wasn’t able to use a net, that fish would have gotten off.”

 

The 23-year-old Bertrand was gracious in defeat, enjoying every minute of the excitement, but ready to get on the road home.

 

“Surprisingly, I’m happy that he won with a good fish like that,” Bertrand said. “It was an exciting day. Obviously, I am disappointed I didn’t make it to the Classic, but a second-place finish on unfamiliar water is still an accomplishment.”

 

After a huge first day, during which Bertrand caught 18 pounds on an umbrella rig, his catch tapered off significantly. The dam area that proved to be so productive on Day One got swamped by heavy north winds the next two days. Though he was able to get there again today, the water temperature dropped, and it didn’t produce.

 

“With that big bag the first day, it’s been a stressful week, so I’m glad I’ll be able to relax on the way home,” said Bertrand, who hails from Arizona. “My goal is still to qualify for the Elite Series. I don’t know if it will happen this year or in 10 years, but I’m going to keep trying.”

So in the end the wacky-rigged finesse worm out-produced the castable umbrella rig for Central Open win and 2013 Classic berth for Chapman. 

Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors


The wind wasn’t a factor today like it was Thursday, but fishing pressure might have been as Lake Okeechobee seemed reluctant to give up large limits of bass at the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Okeechobee presented by Evinrude. Six of the top-10 competitors after Friday’s weigh-in posted less weight than they did the day before. But the term “less weight” was relative for EverStart pro Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala., who caught a five-bass limit weighing 30 pounds, 4 ounces Friday to maintain his lead.

Tharp’s two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 63 pounds, 13 ounces gives him a commanding lead heading into the third day of the tournament. The top 20 will fish day three and the top 10 will compete for the title on day four.

“I ended up catching all of my fish in a new area,” said Tharp, who claimed the runner-up spot at the 2011 FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee. “Fish on Okeechobee really get concentrated in small areas.

“As soon as guys see you’ve caught them and everybody knows where (I’m fishing), well, instead of 10 boats there were 30 where I caught them yesterday,” Tharp added. “But all the guys who are catching them have that going on.”

Tharp said he’s relying on a technique he knows and loves at Okeechobee – flipping a bait with a 1 ½-ounce weight into thick vegetation. He claimed his day was a mirror image of the day before – about 20 bites, with seven of them coming from quality bass.

“That’s my favorite way to fish and that’s the way I’m going to fish the rest of the tournament,” Tharp said. “If I don’t get another bite I’m just going to have one rod in my hand the rest of the time.

“I feel good about it, but I still expect to have an off day,” Tharp added. “I’m tickled to death to catch 30 (pounds) two days in a row. I think I need to do it one more time to seal the deal. Hopefully I’ll go out and catch 30 tomorrow and distance myself from the guys. I’m fishing for big ones and not getting that many bites. It could really go south on me.”

John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the No. 2 spot with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 52-14.

“During the first day of practice in the area I’m fishing I would have been around the 40-pound mark,” Cox said. “I don’t know if it’s going to get like that again, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Cox said he’s drifting a big flat and flipping every piece of vegetation he comes across. He thinks there’s a mixture of fish feeding on bluegill as well as spawning fish in the vegetation.

“It’s a mixture of both,” Cox said. “It’s got fish coming in and going out. It’s the best of both worlds. I’m just going to stay in that area and see what happens. Maybe I’ll catch up a little bit each day the next two days.”

Rounding out the top 20 pros that will fish Saturday on Lake Okeechobee are:

3rd: Brandon McMillan, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 47-12

4th: Art Ferguson III, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 10 bass, 47-0

5th: Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., 10 bass, 44-4

6th: Jeremy York, Monroe, Ga., 10 bass, 43-5

7th: J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga., 10 bass, 40-8

8th: Chevy pro Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 39-14

9th: National Guard pro Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 39-9

10th: Nick Gainey, Charleston, S.C., 10 bass, 38-12

11th: Roland Martin, Naples, Fla., 10 bass, 37-14

12th: Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 37-12

13th: Jay Yelas, Corvallis, Ore, 10 bass, 35-7

14th: Chad Prough, Chipley, Fla., 10 bass, 35-6

15th: Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla., 10 bass, 35-6

16th: Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., 10 bass, 34-7

17th: Glenn Browne, Ocala, Fla., 10 bass, 34-6

18th: Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, 10 bass, 34-4

19th: Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 10 bass, 33-13

20th: Bob Izumi, Milton, Ontario, 10 bass, 33-7

Final results for the remaining field can be found on FLWOutdoors.com.

Thrift and Gary Niemi of Lake Placid, Fla., split the day’s big bass award with fish weighing 8-7 on the pro side. Each won $250.

Overall there were 729 bass weighing 1,801 pounds, 10 ounces caught by pros Friday. The catch included 133 five-bass limits.

Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. The top five anglers in the point standings from the four Walmart FLW Tour Open tournaments will qualify.

Spiro Agouros of Peterborough, Ontario., leads the co-angler division with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 15 ounces, followed by Aymon Wilcox of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., in second place with 10 bass weighing 26-13.

Rounding out the top 20 co-anglers are:

3rd: Ralph Mulleins, Cumberland, Va., 10 bass, 26-7

4th: Timothy Dearing, Loudon, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-14

5th: Marlon Crowder, Tampa, Fla., nine bass, 25-2

6th: Rod Lambirth, Odessa, Texas, nine bass, 24-1

7th: Ralph Myhlhousen, Council Bluffs, Iowa, eight bass, 24-0

8th: Jason Counsil, Casselberry, Fla., eight bass, 23-8

9th: Dererk Savage, Port St. Lucie, Fla., nine bass, 23-5

10th: Larry Hostetler, Floyds Knobs, Ind., 10 bass, 22-15

11th: Daren McDermott, Saint Cloud, Fla., 10 bass, 22-8

12th: Mike Daley, Springfield, Ill., 10 bass, 22-0

13th: Robert Gulley, Tupelo, Miss., 10 bass, 21-10

14th: Shannon Schiner, Pompano Beach, Fla., nine bass, 21-7

15th: Frank Mackin, New Port Richey, Fla., six bass, 21-2

16th: Theo Corcoran, Waterford, Mich., 10 bass, 21-2

17th: Maurice Cobb, Kuttawa, Ky., 10 bass, 21-1

18th: Dale Walker, Miami, Fla., nine bass, 20-15

19th: Bill Bade, Omaha, Neb., nine bass, 20-14

20th: Mark Horton, Nicholasville, Ky., 10 bass, 20-11

Final results for the remaining field can be found on FLWOutdoors.com.

Agouros, Corby Wimmer of Ocala, Fla., and Josh Dorr of Pickens, S.C., split the day’s big bass award with fish weighing 8-1 in the co-angler division. They each received $125.

Overall there were 545 bass weighing 1,021 pounds, 9 ounces caught by co-anglers Friday. The catch included 66 five-bass limits.

Taking the Steve Kennedy approach is paying off for Bradley Hallman at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Lewisville Lake.

Kennedy is known for his lack of practicing for tournaments and still doing well in Elite Series events. Even though he has never been on Lewisville, Hallman decided to imitate Kennedy and limit his practice time for this Open.

“I practiced about 11 hours,” said Hallman. “Part of it was intentional, and then the third day, I didn’t go out at all. Practice was so bad that I didn’t have a bite in two days. I have watched Steve for the last six years not practice at all and still go out and catch them.”

Hallman slept-in the last day of practice. “A buddy of mine’s aunt and uncle were here, and they were going to IHOP, so I thought that was better than going out on the lake,” he said.

The Oklahoma pro skipped the last practice day thinking he could locate fish the first day, but he caught only one keeper weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces. Staying on one stretch of bank longer made a difference for Hallman today as he caught the only limit of the day, weighing 15-8 to take over the lead with 20-4.

“I think the sunshine helped more than anything else,” said Hallman. “The wind also made a difference. I slowed down a little bit, too.”

“I am fishing shallow and covering a lot of water,” said the Oklahoma pro. “There are definitely prespawn staging fish here. They are really winter fish more than anything, though.”

Day One leader Brad Lankford blanked today yet only dropped to second place with 18-1. 

“I just couldn’t get the fish to go today,” Lankford said. “The wind was really brutal on me, and I stayed in it all day. Then my trolling motor died about 2:15. It was just one of those things. I couldn’t get them to bite, and I was too pigheaded to leave my spot.  I just don’t have anything else to go by. That is the only thing that has produced all week, and I wasn’t about to leave it.”

Josh Bertrand also blanked today and dropped from second place to third with 18 pounds. Elite Series pro Terry Butcher jumped into fourth place with 16-4 and fellow Elite Series competitor Mike McClelland moved into fifth with 13-6.

Texan Rick Parker added a couple of keepers today to boost his total to 11-1 and stay in the lead on the co-angler side.

“I caught them on a shaky head and a Chatterbait,” said Parker. “I started throwing the Chatterbait, because as slow as these fish are biting, I tried to find something to get them to react to it.”

The other top five non-boaters are Brent Haggard in second place with 10-5; Christopher Warren, third, 8-5; Keith Glasby, fourth, 7-6; and Patti Campbell, fifth, 6-14.

 

 

Strike King Lure Company announced today that they have introduced the new KVD Sexy Dawg topwater. BASS Elite Series Angler, Kevin VanDam, designed the KVD Sexy Dawg to be an easy to walk and cast a mile. We got to see it in prototype at the recent Strike King Writers Conference in KVD's hands on the water.

Kevin loves to fish fast and powerful, and this bait works well super fast and as well as slow and methodically. The new KVD Sexy Dawg comes in two sizes, a 3-hook version and a 2-hook version. Look for more about it in future product reviews here on Wired2Fish.com. You can order the new Sexy Dawg Jr. at Tacklewarehouse.com now.

 

 

The Bandit 250 Ledge crankbait is now available on Tackle Warehouse. This lure tracking built into this mid-range model and is perfectly engineered to run straight and true. The Ledge 250 dives from 12-14 feet depending on line size. It has a new lip design and a special weight chamber that makes it unique in this genre of deeper diving crankbaits. TW is carrying 12 colors and they retail for $5.69.

 

You can order them right now by clicking here.

 

 

One of the great jobs in the Man Cave is rigging, maintaining and working on our boats. We love working on tackle but there is something special about boat work.  Whether it's a new one like the 2012 Polar Kraft TX 165, the Ranger Z520 or even the old washtub, the Ranger Banshee 168, there is always something new to add or something to do on them to make them work more effectively.

 

All of us at Wired2Fish are detail oriented, love challenges and that carries over to our equipment. 'Doing it right the first time" is not an option but rather a requirement to all of us. Installing new electronics, shallow water anchors, or our recent project, changing a 12 volt trolling motor to a 24 volt one takes careful planning. Just about every job is step by step procedure and neatness counts.

 

One of the challenges with most boats is batteries due to the weight and space they require. The new 2012 Polar Kraft comes equipped with two battery compartments that are of ample size,  well vented and have easy access but they are on opposite sides of the boat. This boat was rigged with a 12 volt trolling motor and we are converting to a 24 volt system and different motor.

 

Polar Kraft supplies ample raceways for hoses and cables so changing from the 12 volt system to a 24 volt system was not difficult but did take a little engineering. The wiring provided is neatly run but because the Minn Kota Edge 45 is 12 volt both the positive and negative leads were run to the same compartment. Retrofitting  this set-up meant that one of the wires had to be lengthened 4 feet, run through to the other battery compartment. A separate jumper was run to  the exact same location. Note: Connecting two wires means utilizing a butt splice and shrink tubing. We use one that is a screw/locked model that holds the wires by screws and  shrink tubing. It's always good to grease this connection inside the butt splice to keep corrosion from occurring down the road as well.

Breaker and butt splice connection for pos and neg leads

 

Hooking up the batteries is the next step. Trolling motor lead will have positive wire run to the positive lead on battery one and the negative lead on battery two. These two wires run jointly to the front of the boat and terminate at the trolling motor plug. The jumper we ran earlier attaches from the negative lead on the battery where the trolling motor positive lead is attached and connects to the opposite battery on the positive post. Simply, this means that  the positive lead from one battery is attached to the negative lead of the other battery and the remaining two leads go to the trolling motor.

 

 

It is good to securely tighten battery bolts now and again to make sure you get the most power possible. We change wing nuts or standard nuts at the battery to nylock style to prevent vibration from loosening once secure. We add a small amount of light oil to both battery posts and always use battery covers on both positive and negative posts, as well. Check with your state regulations on those requirements.

 

 

Recent trends in gas prices have and will continue to influence the ability of anglers to travel the distances necessary to participate in bass fishing tournaments.  These trends are expected to continue and the LBAA is responding by lowering entry fees for the 2012 tournament season by one third in each division.

The professional division entry fee will now be $400 per event, and the co-angler division entry fee will now be $200. This reduction in fees will allow ladies to spend those dollars on travel expenses such as gas, lodging and meals.

In addition to this reduction in fees, anglers now have a growing list of contingency programs that will provide anglers from both divisions more opportunities to take advantage of to supplement their expenses. The guaranteed $5,000 first-place prize for the professional division is unaffected by this change in entry fees. The deposit for future events is $200 for the pro division and $100 for the co-angler division.

 

Anglers who have already paid entry fees will have the option of having any money over paid moved to a deposit for the next event, or they may request a refund.

“We know all of these ladies have a passion for fishing and want to fish the 2012 season, and we feel this is one way in which we can all pull together during tough times," said Secret York, co-founder of the LBAA.

Updated entry and membership forms are available immediately on the LBAA website at ladybassanglers.com

The LBAA added Bass Kandies to their grow list of sponsors for the 2012 season.

“We are honored to be part of the LBAA family as a 2012 sponsor and look forward to a wonderful year ahead,” said Bass Kandi’s President Mike Holland. "With the unveiling of many new products and colors, we are excited about following the ladies of this tour. Good luck ladies, happy fishing and don't forget the Kandi.”

Lake Ray Hubbard at Garland Texas on Mar. 22-24

Lake Dardanelle at Russellville, Ark. on May 17-19

Kentucky Lake at Paris, Tenn. on July 12-14

Lake Neely Henry at Alabama on Sept. 6-8.  

The 2012 LBAA Lady Bass Classic on Lake Guntersville on Oct. 11-13

Beginner’s luck seemed to be the best way to beat the tough fishing conditions during the opening round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Lewisville Lake.

The top three finishers on the boater side have plenty of fishing experience, but it was the first time any of them had fished Lewisville Lake. Oklahoma’s Brad Lankford took the lead with a five-fish limit weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce to finish a mere 1 ounce ahead of Josh Bertrand of Arizona. They were the only two anglers on the pro side to catch a limit. Only 97 of the 178 anglers in the pro field weighed a fish, and 62 of them only weighed in one.

Tommy Jonovich of Arizona moved into third place with just two fish that weighed 11-12. Rounding out the top five are Kansas Elite Series pro Brent Chapman with 10-13 and Arkansas Elite Series pro Billy McCaghren with 10-5.

Cold, murky water and a cold front combined to shut down the fishing at Lewisville this week. Lankford described his practice days as terrible. 

“I only caught five fish all week,” he said.  “I had a spot that I felt would hold up. I pulled up on it this morning and then never started the big motor again. We stayed on it all day, and it worked. “

Even though he struggled in practice, Lankford didn’t have to make any adjustments today. “I had a pattern that I thought was going on in practice, and we just stuck it out today. It was hard to stay put all day, but it paid off.  I am actually fishing something I have never done before. It is kind of weird.” He did not elaborate on his technique.

The Oklahoma angler believes the fish are in the prespawn mode. “They are on these staging areas, ready to pull in,” said Lankford.

His pattern was affected by the weather, which changed throughout the day from cloudy to sunny. “The first little cloud cover that came in this morning seemed to help a little bit, and when the sun broke through, the fish shut off. Then the clouds came in, and I caught my last big one.” 

Bertrand fished the Opens in 2010, but took last year off to start a fishing guide service.  He also had a tough practice session, attracting only two to five bass a day.

“I was really thrilled for the bites I got today, because I really struggled through practice,” he said. “The fish were chasing shad but not super aggressively. They were penned up on a steep bank.”   

Chip Porche of Oklahoma and Jonovich tied for big bass honors as both anglers brought a 7-1 fish to the scales.

Rick Parker of Texas took over the lead on the non-boater side with three bass weighing 7 pounds.   

“I got three bites and caught three fish,” he said. “I was lucky enough to get them all hooked up and get them all in.”  The other Top 5 non-boaters are Kenneth Moser of Texas in second with 6-13; Aaron Leon of Nevada, third, 6-9; Mark Cowart of Missouri, fourth, 6-0; and Robert Prebeck of Missouri, 5-10.

The event is being hosted by the City of Lewisville.  Tomorrow’s launch, weigh-in and the final day launch will be held at the Lewisville Lake Park at 100 E. Lake Park Rd.  The final day weigh-in will move to the Bass Pro Shops at 2501 Bass Pro Dr. in Grapevine, Texas.

Photo courtesy of FLW

EverStart pro Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala., crossed the stage Thursday with a five-bass limit weighing 33 pounds, 9 ounces to lead day one of the event. Tharp now holds a slim 2-ounce lead over Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., who caught five bass weighing 33-7. Add to the top-five anglers John Cox (third) of Debary, Fla., and freshly-out-of-retirement Roland Martin (fifth) of Naples, Fla., and you have a handful of anglers with intimate knowledge of Okeechobee leading the tournament’s full field of anglers from all across the United States, Canada, Spain and Japan.

Strong winds overnight and all day today had anglers scrambling and causing many anglers to not make the big runs to their fish. It killed any sight fishing bite the anglers had and if it had laid down and not been so cold, many predicted we might have seen some 40 pound limits caught today. Some of the leaders reported only having 7 or 8 bites all day but they were the right quality. It's tough fishing to just keep grinding for a few bites.

“The wind blew 15 to 20 (miles per hour),” Tharp said. “So I adjusted. And that’s just something you know how to do from fishing here. A lot of the guys here have put all their eggs in one basket.”

Even though he’s not a Floridian, Tharp said his familiarity with the lake gave him an edge on the first day of competition.

“I was going out there to catch a 40-pound sack, to be honest,” Tharp said. “I probably had 20 bites today. Ten of them were big ones. And by big ones I mean 5 pounds or better.”

Tharp said his first bite didn’t come until about 9 a.m. but was well worth the wait. That bite came from a bass weighing almost 10 pounds. By 10 a.m. Tharp was culling his small fish.

Tharp said the wind would dictate where anglers would be able to fish on the second day of competition and it would continue to be a “game of adjustments” for the anglers.

“The weather made it horrible on me,” McMillan said. “It made it tough to flip through the mat and make the bait fall the way you need to make it fall.

“It wasn’t like the Okeechobee that I was used to fishing,” McMillan added. “I figured 20 or 24 pounds would be a good sack. I figured someone would bust 30, but I didn’t figure I would do it.”

Rounding out the top 10 pros after day one on Lake Okeechobee are:

            3rd:            John Cox, Debary, Fla., five bass, 27-10

            4th:            Art Ferguson III, St. Clair Shores, Mich., five bass, 26-12

            5th:            Roland Martin, Naples, Fla., five bass, 26-4

            6th:            Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 26-1

            7th:            Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 24-4

            8th:            Glenn Browne, Ocala, Fla., five bass, 21-11

            9th:            National Guard pro Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 21-9

            10th:          Matt Peters, Cotter, Ark., five bass, 21-6

For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.

Tharp caught Thursday’s big bass weighing 9-8 on the pro side to win $500.

Overall there were 724 bass weighing 1,813 pounds, 12 ounces caught by pros Thursday. The catch included 121 five-bass limits.

Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. The top five anglers in the point standings from the four Walmart FLW Tour Open tournaments will qualify.

Spiro Agouros of Peterborough, Ontario, leads the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 20-2 followed by Ralph Myhlhousen of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in second place with five bass weighing 18-1.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers are:

            3rd:            Mike Daley, Springfield, Ill., five bass, 17-6

            4th:            Robert Gulley, Tupelo, Miss., five bass, 16-12

            5th:            Derek Savage, Port St. Lucie, Fla., five bass, 16-8

            6th:            Aymon Wilcox, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., five bass, 16-5

            7th:            Wayne Lloyd, Lake Worth, Fla., five bass, 15-14

            8th:            John Hendry, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 15-2

            9th:            Jeffrey Cummins, Marion, Ohio, five bass, 14-13

            10th:          Marlon Crowder, Tampa, Fla., five bass, 14-5

For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.

Daley and Agouros tied for Thursday’s big bass with fish weighing 8-1 in the co-angler division. They each received $125.

Overall there were 477 bass weighing 925 pounds, 7 ounces caught by co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 49 five-bass limits.

 

 

Over the last 10 or so years, a lot of anglers moved away from pork. Not because it didn't work, but mainly because it was such a mess to deal with. Jars rusting, wet nasty brine water leaks, and it dried out quickly plus was hard to remove and get on the hook. Uncle Josh has stepped it up with a new product called "Meat" that has eliminated the negatives and may be something that will put pork back in the forefront.

 

New shapes, new abilities to thread the pork for narrower profiles and a easy to store package makes it a can't miss.

 

Today on Weighing In with Terry Brown, Uncle Josh's Matt Bichanich talks about the new product and what it means as a trailer for jigs, spinnerbaits and spoons. To listen click here.

 

 

Polar Kraft Boats offers a lifetime warranty to the original owner on the hull of their boats. Its one thing to offer it but yet another to make it good. When touring the Polar Kraft plant this week, we got to see this in action. The staff at the Polar Kraft fabrication area were repairing a 15-year-old boat, that to be honest had been put through the paces and used extensively. Kevin Bragg, Warranty and Customer Services Manager told us: "We don't have to do repairs very often but we do honor our warranty and its important for people who buy Polar Kraft to have comfort in knowing that."

 

We were impressed, to say the least. We felt it was a testament to the loyalty of Polar Kraft owners that this owner wanted to keep his boat and just get it repaired so he could use it again this year. He had owned it since day one and was still proud of it. That shows the strength of the Polar Kraft brand.

 

To learn more about Polar Kraft Boats go to polarkraft.com.

Pro Patterns Exposed video series will highlight Gerald Swindle, Aaron Martens and Matt Herren beginning Feb. 8 on their practice days from an Elite Series event on Lake Murray in 2011.

 

You will see their successes, failures, approach and even a big fish or two from their practice. You will also see just how important a boat ride can be during practice and what makes a blue-back herring lake different. This is a must see group of anglers.

 

Pro Patterns Exposed goes through the day in the life of an Elite Series pro when they are under the gun to find fish in three practice days, and you will learn a ton from each guy.

 

To watch the pros practice fishing, get a membership at propatterns.com.

 

 

Legendary angler and rod builder Gary Dobyns weighs in today on Weighing In Radio with Terry Brown and speaks about fishing, the importance of family and his Dobyns Rod company moving forward. To listen click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Simms Southeast Sales Rep Dave Chouinard uses a mobile showroom to visit retailers and attend fishing shows showcasing the latest in Simms Fishing apparel. He even included a scooter so he can leave his motorcoach parked and run errands while on the road.

 

Simms just introduced a new blog called the Wading Room to keep Simms fan's up to date on the latest happenings in the world of Simms clothing. Cool deal. More pictures of the Simms motorcoach are available there too. You can check it out by going to http://wadingroom.com/welcome-to-the-wading-room/.

 

 

 

 

Beginning at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic and going through each Elite Series event, Oakley Sunglasses and Gerald Swindle are giving away a pair of Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ Sunglasses for the person who guesses his cumulative weight for each event. Fantasy Fishing GMan Style!

 

They will start accepting guesses via his Facebook page at https:www.facebook.com/pages/Gerald-Swindle-GMAN/101115099945323  beginning at 6:00 am Monday, the first practice day, and continuing through Wednesday at midnight, just prior to each Elite Series event. For the Classic, he will begin to start accepting guesses Wednesday February 22nd at 6:00 am and continue through Thurday February 23rd at midnight. In case of a tie the person who first coorectly guessed the winning weight will be the winner. Only one guess per participant is allowed.

 

St. Croix Rods is offering a opportunity for some added value with the purchase of a new Rage Rod. Buy a new Rage Rod and you will get free Rage gear with that purchase. This is an additional $50.00 dollar value. 

The new St. Croix Rage Rod is a perfectly balanced SCIII graphite with IPC Technology that combines Pac Bay Minima micro guides to allow for casting precision and long distance. The Rage Rod also features a neoprene skin handle that is both comfortable and grip friendly when wet. 

To get more information visit your local St. Croix Rod dealer or StCroixRods.com.

Be sure to check out our St. Croix Rage Rod Review here. 

 

 

For more than 45 years, Mustang Survival has outfitted some of the most demanding users in both recreational and business pursuits while on the water. From professional and recreational anglers to commercial fishermen and industrial marine workers to law enforcement officers Mustang has provided clothing and life safety equipment that is second to none. The Coast Guard and even NASA astronauts have worn Mustang. They have designed and provided professional users like you with industry leading personal protection equipment for years.

 

They have not rested on their laurels and continue to design safety products for boaters and anglers. 2012 will be filled with new products that anglers will feel both comfortable and safe in wearing.

 

"We are very excited about the opportunity to work with the industry leader in life safety equipment" said Terry Brown, Wired2Fish President. "Because we are both people and product centric at Wired2Fish we want folks to have the knowledge they need to thoroughly enjoy their time on the water. Part of that is having the proper life safety gear and Mustang Survival builds high quality, comfortable lifejackets perfect for anglers and boaters alike."

 

"Mustang Survival is excited to be partnering with one of the premier education and information sites designed specifically for fishermen," says Shannon Ward, Director of Recreation Business Development for Mustang Survival. "We look forward to working together to promote water safety so that every angler can enjoy a great day on the water and get them home safe every time."

 

Watch for more great information, product announcements and contests from Mustang Survival in upcoming weeks.

 

FLW announced it has reached an agreement with 3M, extending their partnership for the 2012 season. 3M will retain exposure across all platforms of FLW, including its tournaments, expos, multiple websites and magazines.

Scotch® Brand Tape pro Ray Scheide will once again represent 3M throughout the season. A nine-year veteran of the Walmart FLW Tour, Scheide has amassed 20 top-10 finishes and four wins over the course of his career. He also has earned nearly $750,000 and has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup five times.

“I have never been so proud to represent a company,” said Scheide of Dover, Ark. “3M is an industry leader and innovator throughout the world, and to be associated with their brands is truly an honor.”

“3M is again pleased to be part of FLW and the Walmart FLW Tour," said Mike D’ Andrea, Global Team Leader for Walmart. "This is a great opportunity to feature America's favorite brand of tapes, Scotch® Brand Tapes, to millions of fishing and outdoor enthusiasts who shop at Walmart in an entertaining, fun and competitive way.”

 

 

Megabass has just kicked off an opportunity to win a killer prize package worth $1000 in Megabass gear. The package includes a rod, reel, lures, line and a cool hat. All you have to do is go to the WorldFishingNetwork.com or click the image above to enter. Tell them Wired2Fish sent you. Good luck!

By Alan McGuckin

Bassmaster Magazine recently featured another illustrious “Day on the Lake” article by Don Wirth in which likeable razorback pro Mike McClelland provided an excellent education on how to lure slow moving bass from 48-degree water with his suspending Spro McStick jerkbait.

There’s no doubt suspending stickbaits have accounted for tens-of-thousands of tournament wins when water surface temps are in the 40s throughout America’s heartland. And McClelland has certainly sacked up his fair share of coin on the slow moving shad imitators.

McClelland suspects that the inability for most guys to remain patient, in order to pause for as long as 30 to 45 seconds between the twitches of the lure once it’s reached its suspending depth, is the reason many anglers lack success with them.

I’m a universe removed from being a pro, but for 15 years, I’ve tried hard to be more like Mike, and failed miserably. Fact is, I think the famously described “jerk, jerk, pause” cadence would be better described as jerk, jerk, check your Facebook updates, pour a coffee, pause, and jerk again. 

But still I try. I tried as recently as days after Wirth and McClelland’s story published. Water temps hovered around 48-degrees, much like those described in the story, and schools of bait appeared suspended off points on my sonar screen. So for two hours I jerked and paused optimistically until hope turned into a desire to jerk, jerk and beat my head against the boat’s fiberglass gunnel.

Amid the annoyance I began to think about alternative cold water baits that might help me get a bite, and wondered what pros like Iaconelli, Biffle and McClelland would do in this frustration filled moment of cold water incompetence.

“If they won’t bite a jerkbait, I throw a Rapala Shad Rap,” said Mike Iaconelli. “The secret is to throw it on spinning tackle because it’s such a lightweight crankbait,” he added. “I use 6-pound fluorocarbon line with my Shad Raps. Try using a 7-foot medium action spinning rod to help you cast it further, and throw it around rocky 45-degree sloped banks. It’s a killer!” 

Much to my surprise, famed shallow water jig man Tommy Biffle claimed a long history with suspending jerkbaits, and then offered a modern day means to circumvent them.  

“I had weighted jerkbaits before anybody else, because Bud Guthrie was my team partner back in the day, and he was the first guy I know of that ever added weight to a jerkbait to make it suspend. I’ve caught a ton of fish on them,” Biffle said.

“The past few years, if they won’t bite a jerkbait, and the water is in the high 40s, I’ll drag a 7/16-ounce Biffle Bug on 20-pound Sunline on gradual sloping rocky banks. You don’t need a flippin’ stick. I use my lighter weight 6-foot, 10-inch rod paired with a 7.3:1-ratio EXO reel to pick up line fast when I feel the bite.

“If the water temp is in the lower 40s, the bass will be deeper, out in that 10 to 20-foot range. When they’re deeper like that, I’ll use a heavier 9/16-ounce Biffle Bug. Mostly, you want to fish around shorelines where the rocks range in size from basketballs to small cars. I caught a few yesterday on that pattern."

Finally, I got the courage to admit my failures to McClelland and asked him what lure he chooses when even he can’t catch them on a jerkbait. 

“Jerkbaits are hard to beat in cold water on sunny and windy days, unless you have aquatic vegetation present, then lipless crankbaits should be a factor around the grass,” McClelland said. 

“But if the water is in the 40s or low 50s, and they’re not eating suspending baits, that tells me they’re probably on the bottom, and I’ll drag a hula style plastic grub on a 1/2-ounce football head jig on 12 to 14-pound line. Notice I said to drag it. It’s really important that you maintain constant contact with the bottom in cold water if you’re throwing a jig."

After two hours of jerkbaiting without a bite; and not yet owning an Alabama Rig to experiment with, I sat down on the front deck, poured a steaming black coffee, and ate half of a crunchy peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  I contemplated the cold water options the pros proposed, and chose an old skool version of the ‘bottom draggers’ Biffle and McClelland suggested. I reached for a hair jig, and tipped it with a tiny pork frog.

Twenty casts later, I caught my first cold water keeper of the day on the hair jig and pork – a 4 pound, 7 ounce largemouth. And 15 minutes after that, another keeper pushing 3-pounds ate my hair and pork combo. The bite was so subtle that a loss of bottom contact was my only indication of a strike, which is why it’s so important to use a lightweight and sensitive rod with a medium heavy blank and a fast action tip -- not a heavy action jig rod.  

I told Iaconelli of my success with the furry out-of-fashion jig, and naturally, his unbridled enthusiasm came forth. 

“Yes! Hair and rind does it again,” said Ike, a lover of old skool rap.

His words made me believe even stronger that as long as there are hair jigs, peanut butter sandwiches, Biffle Bugs, Hula Grubs and pork frogs – well, then -- jerk, jerk, pause may never be me. 

 

 

Elite Series pro David Walker recently took a trip to Japan and China with Grant Koppers of LiveTarget to get a taste of the culture and visit manufacturing facilities in both locations. Today on Weighing In Radio with Terry Brown he gives an interesting perspective to packaging, labor changes and travel challenges from the trip. Interesting perspectives on two very unique cultures and approaches to bait building. To listen to this candid interview, click here.

Priority registration for the Pro Division begins today, Feb. 6, for the 2012 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series, which features reduced entry fees and the addition of a Co-Angler Division.

 

Entry fees are $1,500 per tournament for the Pro Division and $250 per tournament for the Co-Angler Division. Pro Division registration begins Feb. 6 for anglers who register for all three tournaments, who were in the Top 100 in the 2011 PAA Angler of the Year point standings or who fished one or more 2011 Tournament Series events. Registration opens Feb. 13 for Pro anglers who wish to fish one event this season.

 

Co-Angler registration opens Feb. 20 for anglers wishing to compete in all three tournaments, and Feb. 27 for single events. Co-Anglers will fish the first two days of the tournament and will have priority to be an Observer for the final day, which will feature the top 15 Pro Division anglers who make the cut.

Registration deposits are $500 per tournament for the Pro Division and $50 per tournament for the Co-Angler Division. Deposits are non-refundable.

 

The PAA Tournament Series will compete at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tenn., in May before returning to Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Ala., in July. The final event of the season will be on the Arkansas River in Muskogee, Okla., in September, where the PAA Angler of the Year will be crowned. 

 

Payouts, rules and schedule dates can be found at www.FishPAA.com under the "Tournaments" menu heading.

 

Deposits or full payment can be made with credit cards. Check the dates for your registration period and contact the PAA at (270) 527-2030 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Central time) Monday through Friday to register.

 

Applique Royal Purple Hoodie

 

As you know we have a killer new contest running right now for two cases, 4 gallons, of Royal Purple marine oil and a box of Maxfilm Synthetic Spray Lubricant. Royal Purple thought you should look good on the water too just stepped it up again and added a hat and hooded sweatshirt to the mix. We will also be including an embroiderd Wired2Fish logo on them as well.

 

Keeping your engines and boats running smoothly is Royal Purple's job and now you will look cool doing it and this all happens just in time for spring fishing.

 

To sign up for the contest click here.

 

 

Some professional anglers rise to a level, based on their accomplishments,  that earns them the title of "icon" or "legend." Mike Folkestad is one of those anglers. The California pro has been fishing and doing well for decades and is one of those guys that younger anglers immulate. He has many long time sponsors who have been with him for years and there is a reason for it. He is a pros pro!

 

Today on Weighing In Radio with Terry Brown Mike talks about those sponsors, staying power and his undying love for fishing. To listen click here. 

 

 

Lucas Oil will be working in conjuction with Cabelas, Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards and American Bass to sponsor the 2nd Annual Lucas Oil Team Open on Lake Pleasant in Arizona April 14 and 15. They will be guaranteeing a 2012 Ranger Z118 powered by a Mercury 150 outboard, Minn Kota Fortrex and a Lowrance HDS5 for the winning team. Entry fee is $385.00. Call Clay Lippincott at 602-908-5893 for more information or to sign up. 

 

 

To celebrate their five-year partnership, FLW and Goodwill® have created the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Leadership Award that will be presented to the FLW Tour pro who best displays an overall commitment of sportsmanship and community leadership during the 2012 season.

This annual award will recognize the individual who displays an overall commitment of sportsmanship and community leadership, on and off the water, based on ethical behavior, and by exhibiting integrity, class, selflessness, conservation efforts and kindness to others. Self or peer nominations will be accepted. A Goodwill and FLW committee will narrow the nominees and unveil the winner to the community at the Forrest Wood Cup in Duluth, Ga. Aug. 9-12.

“FLW is proud to create this award with Goodwill,” said Kathy Fennel, president, FLW Operations Division. “We pride ourselves on the quality of anglers that fish in our tournaments. It is a privilege to honor one of these outstanding individuals for the work he or she does in his or her hometown and the communities we visit. It is our hope that this award further elevates the high standards of sportsmanship and community service that our anglers, fans and sponsors exemplify.”

“Goodwill looks forward to highlighting the sportsmanship and community service FLW anglers demonstrate in their personal and professional lives,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “We hope their example motivates others to reach out to community-based organizations to volunteer their time and talent to create positive impacts in local communities.” 

From conservation to community strengthening, Goodwill and FLW care about the anglers, sponsors and millions of fans that enjoy FLW tournaments. The same values that brought them together as partners will inspire the high standards of this award.

 

 

If you have ever owned a piece of wire you have probably have built a umbrella rig. There are all shapes and sizes and when an angler is left to his or her imagination the sky is the limit.. Some have lead heads, some are acrylic, some are tin and yet others are plastic. We have even seen some that are shrink tubed at the junction point too. It really doesn't matter which one your prefer, it seems they all catch fish.

 

California's ABT Lures has a new one on the market that is unique. It combines an adjustable polycarbonate/ABS swimming fish head where up to 6 baits or teasers can be strategically positioned, removed and attached. The ABT Mulit-Rig system gives the angler the ability to adjust and create a multitude of configurations to fit fishing conditions and/or state regulations. The patented screw lock swimming head design has removable wire harnesses and wires that vary in length from 3.5 to 6.5 inches. The head has a barbed keeper that allows the angler to attach a swimbait or grub tail directly to the head.

 

ABT uses a heavier wire than most with a .47 stainless wire and it holds position well due to the slots in the head. They also have various weighted teaser and wire accessory packs available. They have 4 different head colors and retail for $22.99.

 

The ABT Multi-Rig System is available at Tackle Warehouse and you can learn more about them at ABTlures.com.

 

 

 

 

Major League Fishing announced today that its first event, the Challenge Cup, will be offered on a seven-week, Internet-based Pay-Per-View plan that will begin on February 13, 2012. The web based podcasts, called Advance Cast, will be offered only on the Major League Fishing website and will now be available for purchase.

“Bass fishing on steroids, that’s what this is” said Major League Fishing angler Skeet Reese. “You’re going to want to see these pay-per-view shows.”

 

The league will offer seven broadcasts, with one episode presented each week. Reese, a former Bassmaster Classic champion and Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year, said he believes the ADVANCE CAST programs will be “absolutely the best bargain I’ve ever seen in our industry.”

 

“During the Challenge Cup, we had some of the most intense competition I’ve ever experienced. It was, in many ways, the most pressure I’ve ever felt. And now the public is going to get to an opportunity to get right in the middle of that competition,” Reese said.

 

Angler Mike Iaconelli said that viewers will see pro fishing through “a completely different lens” on the ADVANCE CAST presentations.

 

“On these pay-per-view shows, I assure you that Major League Fishing will let you see what it was like when 24 of the greatest anglers in the world tried to find fish with no practice before the event started and very little time to find fish. I believe every angler that competed will tell you we’ve never been through anything like it. It was gut-wrenching. I can’t wait to see the broadcasts,” Iaconelli said.

 

The ADVANCE CAST total-event BassPass, a package of seven broadcasts, will cost $17.94, with individual episodes available for $2.99 each. (The seven-event BassPass package features a “free” week.) Major League Commissioner Don Rucks said that each ADVANCE CAST show will offer many attractions, including

The Challenge Cup, held November 6-11, 2011, on Lake Amistad, included 24 of the world’s best-known competitors and utilized an innovative, angler-created format. The anglers were not allowed to practice before the event, could not compete with pre-determined GPS waypoints and were limited to fishing on designated sections of the lake that were disclosed to them less than 12 hours before their competition rounds began. Each day’s action served as an elimination round.

 

The anglers’ boats were equipped with real-time leader boards. Boat judges accompanied all anglers who administered penalties and scored every legal fish as soon as they were caught. After the weight of each catch was recorded, bass were released back into the lake.

 

The Challenge Cup included six consecutive days of competition. Round 1 took place during the first three days, with eight anglers competing each day. The top four anglers from each day advanced to the next round. Round 2 was comprised of the 12 advancing anglers. During Round 2, six anglers competed on the first day, the remaining six the next day. Two anglers advanced each competitive day of Round 2, setting up a Championship Final Round featuring the top four anglers.

 

The ADVANCE CAST that begins on February 13 will feature the first day of competition. Each subsequent week will offer the next consecutive day of competition. The seventh ADVANCE CAST broadcast will be a wrap-up show that features in-depth, on-the-water segment with the winners from each round and the Challenge Cup champion. For more on advanced sign up go to majorleaguefishing.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick Clunn helped put cranking squarebills on the map. The four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion has a designed a specific rod for just about every application and his new S-Glass series of rods are both affordable and functional and perfect for crankbaits. We just concluded the Wright and McGill Double Up Contest and the winners have been chosen.

 

The winners are:

 

Shawn Dunlap

Moyock, NC

 

Russell Noe

Aubudon, NJ

 

Cody Phillips

Jonesboro, AR

 

To buy a  Rick Clunn Signature Series SGlass Rod click here. 

 

 

Pro Patterns Exposed, Show 5, begins today with Shaw Grigsby, Paul Elias and Derek Remitz taking you through their individual practice days on West Point Lake on the Elite Series Tour from 2011. You will see exactly what each of them go through in their preparation for big money fishing. Great stuff! You can sign up for individual episodes or the entire series by clicking here.