VanDam: landslide 1/31/2007
A recent BassFan Poll asked BassFans who they thought would win the 2007 BASS Angler of the Year award. Verdict? Kevin VanDam, with nobody else event close. Interesting, too, is that Edwin Evers received the second-most votes. Here's a look at the final results, based on 5,107 total votes:

Martin's big move 1/31/2007
Scott Martin was in 112th place after day 2 of the recent Okeechobee Eastern FLW Series, but he moved up 102 spots on day 3 and eventually finished 4th. To find out what was behind his dramatic turnaround, click here to visit the Team Evinrude page.

Roland Martin: Deal? 1/31/2007
According to NBC's website, "Fishing great Roland Martin helps a college student reel in the big one" on tonight's episode of Deal or No Deal. The show airs on NBC at 9:00 Eastern (8:00 Central).

Duckett's hometown love 1/31/2007
Boyd Duckett, who qualified for the upcoming Bassmaster Classic and this year's Elite Series through the Bassmaster Tours, got some hometown love today in the Demopolis Times. To learn a little more about this Alabama rookie, click here.

Hoernke's oversight 1/31/2007

The Texan won the final Series event of 2006 at Lewis Smith Lake and was 8th in the FLW Tour event at the Big O a year ago, so he seemed to be a good bet this time around. However, he made one big mistake, and it cost him dearly.

He'd located some good fish in the J&S Canal, which was only about a quarter-mile idle from the main lake during practice and on day 1. He was a bit disappointed with his four-fish, 6-04 bag on the first day, but he'd lost two big bites – including a fish in the 9-pound class – and figured he could still make a good showing over the next 2 days.

But then a fierce north wind arose and changed everything. The water between the main lake and the canal was suddenly super-shallow, and he couldn't safely cross it.

What was his big mistake? Not pinpointing the exact location of the hole in front of the dam walls where he could set his boat down after running across the shallow stretch on pad. Bassfans might remember that Ohio's Pat Hailstones had an accident in that location at the Southeastern Stren earlier this month and had to be airlifted to the hospital with a broken hip.

"I could have tried it, but with those two tall rock walls, it would have been very dangerous," he said. "Unfortunately, I didn't consider that the wind could blow hard out of the north and I didn't study where I'd need to set the boat down.

"Normally I double-check and then re-check things like that, but this time I just didn't do it. It was an amateur move on my part and it just makes me sick, but I didn't feel like risking it would be a smart move."

Instead, he ran around trying to find other fish. He couldn't nail down anything productive and ended weighing one fish under 1 1/2 pounds on each of the last 2 days.

He took some solace in the fact that his primary pattern was similar to the one employed by winner David Dudley.

"The way I look at it, I was on the fish to win at two tournaments in a row. And at least I'll go to Travis (for the FLW Tour opener) in one piece."

WWC to Alabama 1/30/2007

Off-site Memorial course 1/30/2007

Especially notable is Onondaga's history. The lake, which once supported populations of migratory Atlantic salmon and lake sturgeon, is recognized as one of the most polluted lakes in the country. Due to chemical dumping by the Solvay Process Company, swimming was banned in the lake by 1940. Solvay later became Allied Signal, and continued to discharge chemicals into Onondaga, including up to 22 pounds of mercury per day. In 1970, the U.S. Attorney General sued Allied-Signal to stop the dumping, and fishing was banned in the lake.

The Allied-Signal plant later closed, and catch-and-release fishing was reopened in 1986. By the early '90s, Onondaga was added to the Superfund national priority list, and various remediation efforts began. In 2004, state regulators required Honeywell (which merged with Allied-Signal) to conduct a $448 million clean-up of the lake.

Onondaga's come a long way – it supports a thriving warmwater fishery, especially for black bass – but health advisories are still in place. The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation recommends anglers eat no walleye from the lake, and no more than one meal per month of all other species.

Of course, the Memorial anglers won't be eating their catch, and the fishing should be strong. New York BASS Federation Nation conservation lobbyist Mike Cusano fishes the lake regularly. He noted: "Twelve boats is perfect for the lake – they're going to light it up. During a practice day last year, my partner and I each would have had 19 to 21 pounds. Just about every fish we caught was better than 3 pounds.

"Our club had a Wednesday night event there (last year), and in 3 hours, the biggest limit was 21-12. It takes 16 to 17 pounds each week to win, and if you don't have a 5-pounder, you don't have a lunker. I think the Memorial winner will need around 40 pounds for 2 days."

In the photo to right, Cusano holds up two nice Onondaga largemouths he caught last year.

> For more information about the history of Onondaga, and the ongoing remediation efforts, visit the Onondaga Lake Partnership website.

Strader's surge 1/30/2007

The Tennessean was in 164th place after day 1, but then came on like gangbusters to finish as the runner-up to David Dudley. His bags on each of the last 2 days topped 20 pounds.

The wind-plagued tournament put a premium on making the right decisions about where to fish. Strader spent day 1 in areas other than the place that yielded his huge bags, but that might have been a blessing in disguise.

"I had two things going – a canal pattern on a lipless crankbait and a backup grass pattern," he said. "I pulled into the canal on the first day and hung one on the lipless crank, and it pulled off. Then I went another 3 hours without a bite.

"I got antsy and decided to regroup and go to the grassbed. I caught about 35 fish there, but my limit only weighed about 6 pounds."

He went back to the grass to start day 2, but quickly discovered that the northwest wind had sucked all the water away from it. He hung around the vicinity for about an hour, to no avail. "At that point, I decided to punt. I told my partner that I had an area that had produced in years past, that I didn't know if it would again, but we had nothing to lose."

That area was up the Kissimmee River, and it indeed produced. Over the next 2 1/2 days, he caught five fish that weighed 5 pounds or more, including an 8-06. His day 2 limit weighed only 8-10, but that was only because he lost two bruisers.

"They were just slapping at the bait that day. I foul-hooked two big ones and they both pulled off. I didn't see them, but they pulled every bit as hard as the other good ones I caught."

He caught his key fish on a Yo-Zuri Rattlin' Vibe (gold/black back). He used a 7-foot medium-heavy Powell rod, an Abu Garcia Revo reel and 15-pound Izorline.

2006 warmest year 1/30/2007
If it felt like you didn't have much of a winter at the end of last year, it's because you didn't. Apparently the same was true for the beginning of 2006 because NOAA (the federal weather agency) recently stated that "average annual temperature for the contiguous U.S. was the warmest on record and nearly identical to the record set in 1998."

NOAA stated:
> Seven months in 2006 were "much warmer than average, including December, which ended as the fourth-warmest December since records began in 1895."

> "Based on preliminary data, the 2006 annual average temperature was 55 degrees F – 2.2 degrees F above the 20th Century mean, and 0.07 degrees F warmer than 1998.

> Five states had their warmest December on record – Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire – and no state was colder than average in December.

Why? "The unusually warm start to this winter reflected the rarity of Arctic outbreaks across the country as an El Niρo episode continued in the equatorial Pacific," the agency stated. "A contributing factor to the unusually warm temperatures throughout 2006 also is the long-term warming trend, which has been linked to increases in greenhouse gases.

"It is unclear how much of the recent anomalous warmth was due to greenhouse-gas-induced warming and how much was due to the El Niρo-related circulation pattern. It is known that El Niρo is playing a major role in this winter's short-term warm period."

More on the whole global warming thing:

> "U.S. and global annual temperatures are now approximately 1.0 degrees F warmer than at the start of the 20th century, and the rate of warming has accelerated over the past 30 years, increasing globally since the mid-1970s at a rate approximately three times faster than the century-scale trend."

> "The past 9 years have all been among the 25 warmest years on record for the contiguous U.S., a streak which is unprecedented in the historical record."

Outdoor Life, Field & Stream sold 1/29/2007
With its bid of $200 million, the Bonnier Group of Stockholm, Sweden won an auction to acquire 18 magazine titles from Time Inc. Included in the sale were titles such as Outdoor Life and Field & Stream.

Numerous news outlets are reporting on the sale, one of which is Ad Age. For its report on the sale – including a look at the buyers – click here.

Ike ink 1/29/2007
Mike Iaconelli, the 2006 BASS Angler of the Year, continues to get more and more mainstream ink. Lee Graves of the Richmond Times-Dispatch recently did a piece with Ike. To read it, click here.

FLW Series and World Rankings 1/29/2007
The Okeechobee Eastern FLW Series recently ended, and there's been some debate within BassFan about whether FLW Series results will be used in calculating the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten. Here's an update about where things stand.

BassFan CEO Jay Kumar said: "Right now it's still an open question whether the FLW Series will be included in the BassFan World Rankings going forward. The World Rankings rank anglers who fish the top events in the sport, and with the regional format for the FLW Series, FLW Outdoors has clearly positioned the Series below the FLW Tour as sort of a triple-A-and-a-half series.

"Whether (FLW Series) events will be included in the Rankings depends on how many top pros fish them, and what percent of the event field they represent. For example, if 50 (FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series) pros fish a 200-boat Series event, that's only 25% of the field. That's much different than an FLW Tour event, an Elite Series event, or even a Bassmaster Major (where the field size is small but all the pros fishing are top pros)."

Also, remember that all events used in the BassFan World Rankings are weighted for field size and field strength.

Kumar added: "We'd like to see FLW-only anglers have more events that can be used in the World Rankings, but it's not up to us. It hinges on what FLW does and what the pros do."

He noted that if some or all Eastern FLW Series events are used in the World Rankings, it's no guarantee that Western FLW Series events will be used – because it's unlikely that the world's top pros will make up a majority of Western FLW Series fields this year, given scheduling conflicts and travel distance.

All about the Crocs 1/29/2007

Pictured in a bright orange pair is Skeeter redfish pro Ray Malone, waiting to weigh in at last years FLW Redfish Series Championship in Pensacola, Fla.

The question is, will Crocs migrate over to bass fishing? The answer: Whoever breaks that ice (Skeet Reese?) will get a mountain of ribbing.

Yeah, we tried 'em on. They sure are comfortable, and we'd wear them on the flats, but the lake is a different story.

Colwell to Classic 1/28/2007

On the morning of day 3, he trailed by more than 11 pounds. His fish were beat-up though, so he followed the advice of his non-boater and headed for new water. He whacked 16-02 to finish with 48-02 (1-05 ahead of 2nd-place Todd Lee Grove of Oklahoma).

Colwell, who hails from Maryland, did make a mistake that almost cost him the tournament. He mistakenly brought six fish to the scales, instead of five. As a penalty, his largest fish was thrown out.

About his win, he said: "It's like a storybook. I feel like every bad break I've had was because of this – it just finally evened out."

About what's more important, the money or the Classic berth, he said: "It's definitely the Classic. To be honest, I'm not really hurting work-wise. Sure, anybody can use the extra money, but that Classic – once you fish the Classic, people always know you're at least a respectable fisherman. I just want to be respectable at a local level. This proves that every dog has his day."

The full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

Classic field complete 1/28/2007
With the conclusion of yesterday's ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series Championship, the 50-angler field for the 2007 Bassmaster Classic is now complete. Russell Colwell, winner of the Championship, was the final angler added. Here's a look at the full field:

Lee Bailey -- Boaz, Ala.
Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla.
Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo.
James Charlesworth -- St. Cloud, Fla.
Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo.
Russell Colwell -- Baltimore, Md.
John Crews -- Salem, Va.
Royce Dennington -- Barnsdall, Okla.
Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala.
Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla.
Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas
Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La.
Tom Hamlin -- Lizella, Ga.
Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala.
Mike Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J.
Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas
Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas
Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala.
Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas
Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla.
Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala.
Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn.
Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Brent Long -- Catawba, N.C.
Bill Lowen -- North Bend, Ohio
Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala.
Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark.
Terry McWilliams -- Greenfield, Ind.
Ish Monroe -- Hughson, Calif.
John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz.
James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas
Chris Novack -- Willington, Conn.
Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas
Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C.
Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas
Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif.
Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas
Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla.
Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, Texas
Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas
Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla.
Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala.
Peter Thliveros -- Jacksonville , Fla.
Shigeru Tsukiyama -- Tokyo, Japan
Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, Mo.
Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kevin Waterman -- La Plata, Md.
Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky.
Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark.

Hirosky's deal renewed 1/26/2007

“We are thrilled to sponsor Paul again this year for the Elite Series tour," said Channellock VP of sales and marketing Scott Jonap. "He is an outstanding angler and a first-class ambassador for Channellock. We look forward to following Paul in his continued success on the tournament trail."

Hirosky had one Top 12 finish – at Lake Champlain – during his rookie season.

“Last year was a great learning experience for me," he said. "I competed against some of the best bass anglers in the world, and the exposure to the lakes and rivers on the tour will be an enormous help this year. I can’t wait to get on the water and catch some fish.”

The relationship between Channellock and Hirosky began 2 years ago when the angler and Jon DeArment, Channellock’s VP of manufacturing and engineering, fished together at the inaugural United Way Bass Classic Team Tournament at Conneaut Lake, Pa. They won the tournament.

“Paul and I spent that day talking about fishing and the future of competitive bass fishing,” said DeArment. “I was impressed with his passion for the sport, but what I really enjoyed was how genuine and down-to-earth he is. I knew that day that he would be a perfect fit for Channellock.”

Hirosky lives in Guys Mills, Pa., just a few miles from Channellock's Meadville headquarters.

Ricks new BASS GM 1/26/2007

“We've spent 6 months in search of the best candidate to manage BASS, and we found that person in Tom Ricks,” said ESPN executive VP of production and technical operations Steve Anderson. "He brings the right mixture of fishing industry experience, familiarity with BASS constituencies and a strong track record of results to the role."

Ricks, who graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in finance, will relocate from his current home in Okoboji, Iowa, to work at BASS headquarters in Celebration, Fla.

“I am excited about the challenge of aligning the interests of members, anglers, sponsors and fans, so that BASS continues its leadership position in the world of bass fishing,” said Ricks. “At its core, BASS defines a passion that anglers have for the sport. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help drive that passion within competitive bass fishing.”

While with Pure Fishing, Ricks directed global marketing operations and new product development for the organization’s rod, reel and combination products, providing overall management and marketing mix for key brands such as Abu Garcia, Fenwick and Berkley. He also drove sourcing strategy efforts targeting global leverage and developed brand strategy.

VanDam's take on TV 1/26/2007

"I think it's going really well," he said. "I'm real pleased with the start of it, for sure. So far, I've only got to see the first couple of episodes, but I like the new format. The response from viewers has been like no other show I've been involved with. And for Bass Pro Shops to dedicate a whole show to bass fishing – that says a lot about their commitment."

About the filming schedule, he said: "This past year, the format change kind of came late in the year, so we were king of scrambling to get it completed for 2007. And we're already scheduling stuff for 2008. The nice thing is, we're going to some of the greatest lakes in the country (with BASS), and we'll be able to shoot some segments while we're at some of those venues. It'll give us a lot of diversity, which I think is important in that type of show."

Stingy Big O 1/25/2007
Fishing conditions are less than ideal at Lake Okeechobee for this week's Eastern FLW Series opener, and most members of Team Evinrude are struggling right along with a lot of other anglers. For reports from three of them, click here to visit the Team Evinrude page.

F&S sold 1/25/2007
The Associated Press reported today that Time Inc. is selling 18 of its smaller magazine titles, including Field & Stream, to Swedish publisher Bonnier Magazine Group. Popular Science and Parenting were also reportedly included in the deal, but there was no mention of Outdoor Life, which is also part of the company's Time4Media group.

Time Inc. originally put the magazines up for sale last fall. AP reported that two sources familiar with the transaction said the sale price was between $220 million and $230 million.

Bonnier will reportedly combine the 18 Time Inc. titles with the 20 magazines held by World Publications, a company in which Bonnier owns a 49% stake. World's magazines include Spa, Saveur, and Islands. The combined company would become a major U.S. magazine publisher with annual revenue of more than $350 million.

The family-owned Bonnier Group has been a dominant presence in Swedish media for decades. It owns Sweden's largest morning daily, Dagens Nyheter, the country's largest business paper, and several other newspapers. It also owns Sweden's largest chain of movie theaters.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.

Spro snags McClelland 1/25/2007

Spro national sales manager Tim Norman said: "I've known Mike for years. He's an unbelievable fisherman and a great person. He's also an expert on the ins and outs of hardbaits, and that's where he'll be a big advantage to SPRO. Without saying too much, Mike is already working on a new lure for us that he's wanted to make for a long time. I'm confident he'll help take our new-product development to the next level."

> For more information about SPRO (which stands for Sports Professionals), visit www.Spro.com..

Team Tungsten 1/25/2007

The company just announced its full pro staff for the 2007 season, and it's full of heavy-hitters. The list appears below (tour-level pros, followed by triple-A level anglers). Notable is that the team includes 2006 BASS Angler of the Year (AOY) Mike Iaconelli and 2006 BassFan.com Rookie of the Year Jared Lintner, plus 2005 BASS AOY Aaron Martens, 2004 BASS AOY Gerald Swindle, five different Bassmaster Elite Series winners from 2006, and 2006 FLW Tour championship winner Brent Ehrler. Also note legends like Denny Brauer, Larry Nixon and Tommy Biffle.

Tru-Tungsten pro-staff manager Tom Branch said of the "dream team": "The people that we've chosen for 2007 have proven themselves on the water and on the showroom floor, selling our products. They're all considered the best at what they do on the water, and we're so excited about the teams we've created for 2007. I see it being a record-breaking year for Tru-Tungsten and our team members."

Bassmaster Elite Series Anglers
Mike Iaconelli
Peter Thliveros
Ish Monroe
Tommy Biffle
Denny Brauer
Greg Hackney
Jared Lintner
Marty Stone
Ken Cook
Jason Quinn
Gerald Swindle
Aaron Martens
Jason Williamson (rookie)
Casey Ashley (rookie)
Marty Robinson (rookie)

FLW Tour anglers
Brent Ehrler
Tracey Adams
Luke Clausen
Andy Morgan
Woo Daves
Jacob Powroznik
Jody Cordell
Rich Tauber

FLW Series anglers
Terry Baksay
Tim Farley
Paul Driskell

Women's Bassmaster Tour anglers
Pam Martin Wells
Robin Babb
Judy Wong
Laura Gober
Mary Hencken
Cheryl LaLumandier

Junior anglers
Zach Alexander
Spencer Worthington
Kyle Fox
Ryan Thomas

Fowl play 1/25/2007

It was Rojas' first duck hunt. If the broad smile on his face is any indication, it won't be his last.

Ponds to Setyr 1/24/2007

Amistad overwhelmed? 1/24/2007
It seems the attention Lake Amistad received last year after the Bassmaster Elite Series visited has ramped up visitation to the lake quite a bit. So much, in fact, the Amistad National Recreation Area staff is darn near overwhelmed. There are 84 tournaments scheduled for the lake this year, and perhaps 2 million people are expected to visit. For more details, including some tournament regulation changes, click here.

Wolf Creek Dam shaky 1/24/2007
Wolf Creek Dam forms Kentucky's Lake Cumberland, but its integrity could be compromised, so the Army Corps of Engineers has taken emergency measures to minimize public danger. The lake is being immediately lowered to 10 feet below its normal winter pool, and crews have been working to reinforce an area under the dam. It's possible the summer pool may be kept 43 feet below normal as work continues, which could put 90% of the lake's boat ramps on dry land.

A Mountain BFL is scheduled for the lake March 3.

The Louisville Courier-Journal today ran an update on developments. To read that piece, click here.

Wilks reinjured 1/24/2007
Gut-wrenching news for North Carolina pro Dustin Wilks – he reinjured his elbow, and has to sit out another season. Today on BassFan Radio, he tells BassFans about the ordeal, and what comes next. To listen, click here.

BBZ: look with power 1/24/2007
When you hear the term "power search," it's usually in reference to a search engine or database. But as an angler, it's you job to treat water as a database, and power search it to find the info (and fish) as quickly as possible. In the words of Big Bass Zone columnists Michael Jones and Bill Siemantel, "This is how epic moments and big fish happen." And that's the subject of the latest BBZ update. For more, click here.

Kumar's present 1/24/2007
What happens when you let a BassFan from New Jersey roam free in Missouri and Arkansas? Find out by reading BassFan CEO Jay Kumar's latest column.

Reynolds wrap 1/23/2007

"I've been in the Vicious family for several years now and I'm very excited to again be running their wrap," he said. "In my opinion, Vicious has always had the best copolymer line on the market, and now, with the introduction of fluorocarbon, the sky's the limit. I'm especially thrilled with Vicious Fishing's direction, and as they introduce new products, I want to be in the middle of it."

The 'mystery Classics' 1/23/2007
It's that time of year – when excitement starts to build around the upcoming Bassmaster Classic, and memories of past events fill the mind. In his latest Scott On-Line column, BASS founder Ray Scott kicks off the buildup with a remembrance of the first Classic. To read it, click here.

Gander to offer Tracker 1/23/2007
The Gander Mountain Co. and Tracker Marine Group jointly announced that, beginning this spring, Gander Mountain stores will begin selling "popular Tracker Marine Group boat brands," including Tracker, Fisher, Sun Tracker, Nitro, ProCraft, Tahoe, Mako, and Kenner. Offerings will be tailored to locations.

Gander Mountain currently has 105 stores in 22 states, and a news release stated it would now be "the largest national network of outlets for Tracker Marine Group boats. That network will continue to expand with the planned opening of at least 12 new Gander Mountain stores in 2007."

Gander Mountain president and CEO Mark Baker said of the deal: "Bass Tracker and other top brands from Tracker Marine Group will put Gander Mountain in great position to take advantage of the large potential in the boat market. We've gained good experience in the boat business during the last couple of years. Now we're ready to make boats a big part of our business."

Tracker Marine Group VP of sales Dennis Revell said: "Gander Mountain has a great opportunity to grow their boat business by offering our best-selling brands in regional markets that their competitors have not entered. By covering those second- and third-tier markets so well, Gander Mountain has the ability to offer a lineup of boats that's right for every season of the year. We're looking forward to getting our boats in front of a lot of people who live in many new areas not previously served by Tracker dealers."

Hank's game-day lesson 1/23/2007
Before you head out on the water this year, bear in mind this lesson from well-known former bass fishing pro, and current TV personality, Hank Parker. Today's lesson comes to us from Louisiana pro redfish angler and Venice-area guide Lloyd Landry, who was part of the team that won November's Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup All Star event out of Orange Beach, Ala.

"I fished with Hank Parker a couple years ago, and asked him to give me a crash course on tournament fishing," Landry said. Among other things, "he told me that when he was scouting (practicing for a tournament) he used a variety of baits to locate fish. But come game day, he put the bait he had the most confidence in on the end of his rod and fished it as hard as he could. That way you have the confidence to catch fish."

In case you're curious, Landry's game-day bait is a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce jighead with a Norton Sand Eel or Reaction Lures Bayou Chub in purple/chartreuse or black/chartreuse. "I fish those colors 75% of the year, but if there's a lot of white shrimp in the water, I'll throw glowing chartreuse."

Omori on strengths 1/22/2007

"I feel like I have to use my strengths against the best guys in the world," he said. "So yeah, maybe it is a gamble, but I have to maximize all my potential. I'm not trying to do everything. I try to do my best, and I know from my experience, if I have a chance to win it, I have to do my things. (Winning it's) all I care about. That's my way to win the tournament."

So how about it? Has he thought about winning a second Classic? "It would be nice to win the second Classic," he noted. "Not that many people, historically, have won twice. So that would be nice."

Oklahoman wins 1/19/2007

The 39-year-old science teacher was fishing outside his home state for the first time. He caught 14-14 today to beat out South Carolina's Brent Long, the day-2 leader, by 2 ounces.

“I wasn’t even worried about winning this tournament,” he said. “I just wanted to make the Classic. But this (1st-place finish) is a nice surprise. This is just incredible.”

Texas' Jimmy Johnson (39-07) was 3rd, followed by Japan’s Shigeru Tsukiyama (38-01) and Maryland’s Kevin Waterman (34-11).

Regional winners who qualified for the Classic were Dennington (Central), Long (Southern), Tsukiyama (Western), Waterman (Mid-Atlantic), Indiana's Terry McWilliams (Northern) and Connecticut's Chris Novack (Eastern). McWilliams was 10th overall with 29-12 and Novack was 15th with 24-04.

Details of Dennington's winning pattern will be posted soon.

Myers joins Bass Cat 1/19/2007

"I'm very excited and ready for the 2007 Elite Series, and it's a great honor to be part of the Bass Cat family," he said. "Last year was kind of a quiet year for me – the Elite Series was everything I expected it to be, and more."

The 32-year-old finished 76th in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race. His top finish was 15th at Clarks Hill.

"I was a true rookie to professional bass fishing and it all happened so quickly. I had to let it all sink in. I really gained a huge amount of knowledge and experience (during) my rookie season."

He's the third Elite Series angler to join Bass Cat this week, following Terry Butcher and Elton Luce Jr. Mike Iaconelli and John Crews were among earlier signees this off season.

"We know (Myers) was not happy with his success last season, though we think he had a pretty good start," said Bass Cat's Rick Pierce. "There is a lot to adjust to in the Elites. We know he is a threat to strike at any time."

Pierce said his company's 2007 staff will be complete by the end of this month. For more about Bass Cat, click here.

Sexton joins Yamaha 1/19/2007

Sexton fished the 2006 Stren Series and FLW Series as a co-angler, and was most recently employed by Walgreens. He earned a bachelor's in business management from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn.

Ike inks with Biosonix 1/19/2007

The BSX unit from Biosonix uses an underwater speaker to broadcast sounds and stimulate feeding activity in fish. "I caught wind of the BSX unit in 2005 from talking with Kevin and Aaron and some of the other guys," Ike said. "A lot of the pros that were using it were keeping it under wraps. In 2006 I got my own unit and used it for the entire year. I wasn't paid a dime last year to use the BSX unit – I used it because it just works.

"The BSX unit absolutely made a difference for me in winning AOY," he added. "Everything came down to the wire this past year and the unit absolutely helped me catch a few more fish – those fish made all the difference. Just to give you one example, at Lake Oneida this year, when I turned on the unit, I had fish schooling by the speaker before I could even get a line in the water."

> For more information about Biosonix, visit www.Biosonix.com.

Brunswick announces marine reorg. 1/19/2007

In addition, Patrick Mackey (pictured to right) was named executive VP of Brunswick Corp. and marine COO. According to Brunswick, "Mackey will have functional responsibility for sourcing, logistics, strategic bill of materials, systems engineering, product platform development, and manufacturing excellence across the company's marine operations." Mackey will continue to serve as Mercury Marine Group president.

As a result of the reorganization, Brunswick vice chairman and Brunswick Boat Group president Peter Hamilton will retire from the company at the end of this month.

McCoy said: "In our effort to be the best, as well as the largest, marine company in the world, it's important for us to coordinate our efforts to have the best products sold through the best distribution network, the best cost position, and a global presence across all of our marine operations. To achieve this goal in a more focused and timely fashion, we're forming a new organizational structure."

He added: "I want to thank Peter (Hamilton) for his innumerable contributions over the years. He's helped to build Brunswick into the leading company it is today, and all of us in the Brunswick family wish him the best."

Faircloth featured 1/19/2007
Jimmy Watson of the Shreveport Times caught up with Todd Faircloth this week, and wrote a full piece about the tour pro. In it, Faircloth talks a lot about his win last year at Table Rock. To read the article, click here.

Georgia gov. targets fishing 1/19/2007

> To read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's story on the proposed program, click here.

> For TBF Inc.'s take on it, click here.

'U' spots still open 1/18/2007
The Bass Fishing University, hosted by tour pros Randy Howell and Chuck Medley, is filling up quickly, but there's still time to register. In case you missed the previous updates, Bass Fishing University is a 3-day seminar series held near Mobile, Ala. that begins next Thurs., Jan. 25. Along with 3 solid days of bass schooling, the program ends with a tournament where cash and prizes will be on the line.

Packages start at just $385, and the top-tier package – which includes all lodging and meals (think seafood buffet and BBQ) – costs $515 per person. For more information, call (866) 4-WARTAC, or click here.

A versatile spoon 1/18/2007
Although the Berry's Flex-It Spoon is produced in his hometown of Ninety Six, S.C., Davy Hite wasn't fully aware of its versatility until recently. For tips on how you can use the spoon to catch several species – including bass – on your next family outing, click here to visit the Team Evinrude page.

Shakespeare buys Penn 1/18/2007
Shakespeare Fishing Tackle added a new brand to its stable when it announced the purchase of Penn Fishing Tackle Mfg. Co. In addition to Penn, Shakespeare also owns the Pflueger, All Star, Cajun and X-Tools brands.

Shakespeare had been looking to expand its saltwater market-share, an effort which began in earnest with its acquisition of X-Tools, then the expansion of All Star's saltwater offerings. Penn is a giant in saltwater fishing, noted primarily for its reels, which include the International, Senator, GT, and GTO trolling reels, along with the Spinfisher and Slammer spinning reels.

Shakespeare president Scott Hogsett said: "For 75 years, Penn products have been the gold standard for offshore, inshore and surf-fishing. Shakespeare is excited to be able to add Penn's broad assortment of saltwater products to complement the current Shakespeare, Pflueger and All Star freshwater, inshore and saltwater offerings."

He added: "We look forward to bringing to Penn the vast new-product introductions and innovation that our customers have come to expect from Shakespeare and Pflueger each year. The Penn name is one of the greatest brands in fishing, but has lacked the resources to grow and develop markets. Our volume and economies of scale will allow us to reinvest in the brand and grow market share."

> Shakespeare is owned by K2 Inc.

Quinn's changes, more 1/18/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, pro Jason Quinn talks about changes in sponsorship, vehicles, and even bling. He also announces the new Team Quinn Fishing Sweepstakes promotion, where BassFans can win a day of fishing with him. To listen, click here.

Win $1,000 in Spro gear! 1/18/2007

To visit the sign-up page at Spro.com, click here.

Luce: Ranger to 'Cat 1/18/2007

Bass Cat head cheese Rick Pierce said: "Elton's a great angler. He contacted us, and I think he was after the values here. And we needed somebody in the East Texas market to complement the work we're doing there with James Niggemeyer."

Luce said: "Honestly, I just felt it was time for a change. Sometimes change is good, and I wanted to get with a little smaller company – somebody more family oriented, like the Bass Cat family. I think I'll have an opportunity to grow with Bass Cat and hopefully prove my worthiness to them."

Luce had fished the FLW Tour in an on-again, off-again basis, but last season, he stuck with just the Bassmaster Elite Series. The move to Bass Cat, he noted, was helped by a desire to more align himself with "companies that follow BASS."

"I have nothing whatsoever against Ranger Boats," he added. "I spent a wonderful 20 years there, and I'm leaving a lot of friends over there. It's just a business decision. I'm getting a little older, but this is very exciting."

> He hasn't finalized a wrap deal for this season, but is speaking with at least one potential non-endemic sponsor. He ran a Mizmo wrap for the 2006 season.

BASS, Costa strike deal 1/17/2007
BASS announced today that it's reached a 3-year sponsorship agreement with sunglasses manufacturer Costa Del Mar.

“We are very excited about this multi-year partnership,” said Michael Cassidy, BASS senior director of sales and sponsorship. “We applaud the vision of Costa Del Mar in understanding the importance of the brand-loyal BASS members.”

Costa Del Mar is working with the BASS Conservation department on the BASS Conservation Scholarship Program, which awards college scholarships to students seeking a degree in the natural resources field. The program will award undergraduate scholarships of $2,000 annually and one graduate scholarship of $5,000 annually to be used for tuition, textbooks or living expenses.

“Conserving our natural fishing habitats is one of Costa Del Mar’s top corporate responsibilities,” said Costa Del Mar president Chas MacDonald “Working together with BASS’ conservation efforts, we hope to generate more awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife areas so that fishing and other water activities will still be enjoyable for generations to come.”

Kriet with Longhorn 1/17/2007

"It's a real good deal," Kriet said, whose first event of 2007 will be next month's Bassmaster Classic. "I'd talked to them earlier last year. When I was contacted, I said I had a boat deal already, but I'd be more than happy to wrap my truck (with Longhorn). Things went on, and we talked back and forth, and they eventually said if they were going to do it, they wanted to do the whole thing – my truck and boat.

"The guys at GetWorkCom.com told me last year never to pass up an opportunity to further my career. When Longhorn offered me the deal, I called GetWorkCom.com, and they said to go for it. I'm real excited about the deal, but I just need to get everything done and wrapped in time for the (Bassmaster) Classic."

He also renewed his deal with Lowrance, but didn't renew with Ford Motor Co. He noted the Ford deal was a 2-year agreement, and he expected it to end, so it wasn't a surprise.

He started at the tour level in 2001, and will fish his fourth Classic next month. What's interesting is a comment he made about his overall fishing, and his new, relatively stable financial situation. "Last year was a weird year," he said. "I never had a really bad tournament, but I never had a whole lot of real good ones, either. And in the last four events, I was in the Top 10 going into day 2, but didn't stay there.

"I don't know if it got to be a mental thing – how I went into those second days – but financially, I'm in a better position right now than I've ever been. I've always fished conservatively, but maybe it's time to fish more like an Edwin Evers. I still want to be consistent, but I may have to take a few more risks to win. I think I'm long overdue for a win, and I need one to get to that next level I want to be at."

Ky. cheater guilty 1/17/2007
The Madisonville (Ky.) Messenger reported recently that a western Kentucky angler got 3 years probation for his role in a scheme in which he and a partner illegally won thousands of dollars at several fishing tournaments.

Dwayne E. Nesmith, 43, of Island, pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft by deception over $300 in Marshall County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to two years in jail on each count, the sentence to run concurrently, and was given probation.

Nesmith will also pay approximately $7,100 in restitution, which is half of the winnings he and his fishing partner, Brian K. Thomas of Dawson Springs, won in team tournaments. Nesmith is prohibited from holding a fishing license during his probation.

Thomas is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 5 to answer identical charges.

An investigation of the pair began when Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officers received a tip that Nesmith and Thomas had stashed a basket of fish in Lake Barkley during the Relay for Life Buddy Tournament in April.

According to Mark Marraccini, a Fish and Wildlife spokesman, the two men were observed taking fish out of the basket and putting them in a livewell in their boat during the tournament.

Investigators found that Nesmith and Thomas won approximately $15,000 in cash and a $30,000 bass boat between 2002 and the Relay for Life Buddy Tournament. The boat and some fishing equipment were confiscated by Fish and Wildlife authorities.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the attempted theft charge stemming from the Relay for Life Buddy Tournament in Trigg County District Court and paid a $250 fine and $148 in court costs.

Hite realigns 1/17/2007

He emerged a changed angler – not only mentally, but in terms of sponsorship too. He's undergone a total realignment in order to rebuild with FLW Outdoors. He switched from Triton to Ranger, and from Mercury to Evinrude. Plus, he picked up an FLW team sponsorship with Johnson & Johnson and will run an Immodium boat for the 2007 FLW Tour and Western FLW Series.

About his year off, he said: "I did a lot of fishing around here (Phoenix, Ariz.), and I think my all-around fishing has improved a lot. It just brightened my eyes, and I seem to fish harder now. And more or less it's shown me about how to hunt fish again. A focus on finding fish has been the biggest key for me the past year. So I'm real excited about this year – the chance to go out and try to improve on some things where I wasn't as good as I should have been."

About his switch to Ranger, Evinrude, and FLW Outdoors, he noted: "I kind of look at it as the whole package – Ranger and FLW Outdoors. For me, they're the people who are supporting the West, and they go out and get you the sponsorship that you need. I've been with Mercury since I was 18 years old, so it was a tough switch, but to be honest, it's kind of like a family at Evinrude. It's a lot smaller company, and very organized, which I like."

Kumar getting salty 1/17/2007
Now that you know about InshoreFan.com, BassFan head cheese Jay Kumar tells you what he's seen from his limited exposure to the redfish (and tarpon) tournament worlds. Somehow sight-fishing for pods of 7-pounders and catching 175-pound tarpon doesn't sound all that bad. Click here to read it.

Home-state ink 1/16/2007
Two anglers got some love from their home-state press recently. Dan Kibler of the Fayetteville Observer did a piece on Marty Stone. Kibler covers a bunch of topics, including Stone's decision to fish the Bassmaster Opens this year. To read that piece, click here.

And Deb Weisberg, who's been doing more and more pro-fishing stories, wrote about Pennsylvania BASS Federation Nation National Championship contender Jim Lambert, and his quest for a Bassmaster Classic berth. To read that piece, which ran in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, click here.

Only one bait needed 1/16/2007
Gene Gray used a Yamamoto Senko exclusively en route to victory at the Shasta Western Stren. For the full details on his winning pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Yelas' whopper 1/16/2007
If you fly Southwest Airlines this month, be sure to check out page 20 of Spirit magazine in the seat pouch in front of you (singer Tony Bennett is pictured on the cover). In the Coming Up section, which highlights a few events that'll take place around the country over the next few weeks, the Bassmaster Classic and Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship have top billing.

There's a nice illustration of a largemouth that takes up nearly half of a two-page spread. The accompanying text consists of only about 125 words, but it contains a real doozy: It credits winner Jay Yelas with catching a "monster" bass that weighed 31-14 the last time the Classic visited Lay in 2002.

Of course, BassFans know that such a fish would shatter George Perry's 78-year-old world record by more than 9 1/2 pounds.

Maybe the good folks at Spirit should have let their Super Bowl-related stuff suffice as their obligatory sports coverage for the month. At least there was no mention of stock cars circling Daytona International Speedway at 500 mph during that big race that'll be run in Florida.

Butcher to Bass Cat 1/15/2007

"I wanted to be part of the Bass Cat family," he said. "I could not be more excited with the opportunity to be in a top-notch boat with a great company. Not only does Bass Cat have a premier boat, they do a great job of promoting their anglers as well. I've noticed over the years that Bass Cat has been very supportive of BASS, and this made my decision that much easier to make."

He's the latest addition to a lineup that's seen Elite Series Angler of the Year (AOY) Mike Iaconelli and John Crews come aboard recently. The staff already included Marty Stone, Russ Lane, Mark Tucker, Mark Tyler and Kota Kiriyama.

He finished 44th in the Elite Series points in 2006, his 2nd season on the Bassmaster Tour. His best finish was 3rd at Champlain.

"We are glad to have Terry on staff," said Bass Cat's Rick Pierce. "He comes to us with the potential to compete all across the country and takes a back seat to no one in his fishing ability.

"Terry has the tools and skills to be a performer. He was very patient as we maneuvered through all of our changes this season, and when he was firm that he wanted to be here and nowhere else, it was a natural decision."

For more about Bass Cat, click here.

Bondy's Moose deal 1/15/2007
Canadian pro Jon Bondy, in preparation for a sophomore season in the Bassmaster Elite Series, announced he signed a title-sponsorship deal with ice cream company Denali Flavors, Inc. Bondy will run a Moose Tracks wrap this season, which is the company's signature brand.

This is the first time Michigan-based Denali has dabbled in pro-fishing sponsorship. Denali founder Wally Blume said: "Denali Flavors/Moose Tracks is proud to support Jon in this 11-event series, and we look forward to increased brand awareness through this partnership. Just as this group of 100 anglers is recognized as the best in the world, Moose Tracks ice cream is recognized as a leader in the ice cream industry."

Bondy noted: "I'm grateful to Denali Moose Tracks for coming together with my longtime sponsors to support my quest for even higher success at this level. I'm confident that this year's results will be even better than last for the Bondy team."

Murphy's mystery 1/15/2007

Last year, as a rookie, Murphy wasn't sure what he'd do for 2007. He had a solid day job as public relations coordinator at Shakespeare, but when an opportunity to fish the FLW Tour (alongside the FLW Series) arose, he chose to take advantage. He recently resigned his position with Shakespeare, switched from Champion to Ranger, and picked up a deal with FLW sponsor Slim Jim.

About the move to Ranger, he said: "My wife Kristi and I both feel this is a decision for my future. Now that I'm fishing full-time and building my career around FLW, with all the (Ranger) incentive programs, this was the direction I wanted to go. I was already running a Genmar product, and Ranger was very open and Champion fully understood the direction I wanted to take my career, so it was a very smooth transition."

He noted the deal with Slim Jim was a big post-decision bonus. "I think it'll be a perfect fit. I know there's always reservations when you're starting out, from the sponsor, about tournament finishes and that sort of thing. But I already have 3 years of industry experience, and the experience of fishing while I had a full-time job. I think the feeling among all my sponsors is now that I'll be able to devote myself full-time to fishing, my tournament finishes will be that much better."

He's also working with Japanese company Ima (and its U.S. distributor Optimum) to develop a signature series of baits, which will debut this summer. But what the heck is that new logo on his shirt that says Tabu (see photo)? He's now the third person who's mentioned Tabu (or taboo). Dave Lefebre and Anthony Gagliardi were the others.

BassFan asked Murphy about Tabu, and like the others, he was equally mysterious. "Tabu is one of the biggest things I've ever been involved with, but I can't say anything yet. To do so would be taboo, literally."

Laney on issues 1/15/2007
It must be a special day, because BassFan columnist Scot Laney sat down and wrote a new Laney Opinion. In it, he talks about issues – those the sport has now, and those it'll have in the future. To read the latest Laney Opinion, click here.

Peter T.'s expectations 1/15/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, veteran BASS pro Peter Thliveros talks about last season, and his expectations for this season. To listen, click here.

SHOT stuff 1/13/2007
If you're a hunter, the annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show is like hunting nirvana. More guns, ammo, and newfangled hunting and shooting gadgets than you can imagine. You literally have to walk for miles to see all the booths.

SHOT is closed to the public, but ShotgunFan staffers were there (last week), and documented some of what they liked in the Shot Talk (like Dock Talk) section of ShotgunFan.com.

Several fishing folks were there semi-incognito, including a well-known bass pro or two.

ShotgunFan will have a full review of new shotguns and ammo later this week.

SHOT: Tear-Aid 1/13/2007

Throw out your duct tape. Tearepair Inc.'s Tear-Aid is a unique sort of "tape" (not really) that makes airtight and watertight patches on just about everything you can think of, lasts for years and is clear, UV resistant, cuts easily, stretches (doesn't tear) and unlike duct tape, won't turn gummy in high heat.

We're going to test the claims, but if true, why this isn't in every outdoors person's home, truck and boat is beyond us.

For more, go to www.tear-aid.com.

Bosley fast, shallow 1/12/2007
The newest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip features FLW Tour pro Brennan Bosley. He's a crankaholic who fishes fast and shallow year-round. For his hardcore tips on the technique, click here.

$100K cash for teams 1/12/2007
Check this out: A new event in California, scheduled for March, will pay out $100,000 cash for 1st place. No big deal? It is, because it's a stand-alone team event. For all the details, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com/u>.

Survival stick 1/12/2007

The Mustang Rescue Stick operates on the same principle as Mustang's inflatable PFDs – upon contact with water, it immediately and automatically inflates. The big advantage is its compact design, which means you can throw it a heck of a lot farther, and more accurately, than you can a standard throwable rescue device. Again, by law, you still have to carry a Type IV throwable, but this definitely looks like the wave of the future. Here are a few more details:

> It weighs less than a pound, provides 35 pounds of flotation (when inflated), and can be thrown about a 100 feet.
> It's simple to use. If you can throw a stick, you can use it.
> The re-arm kits are just as easy to repack.
> It retails for about $160.

For more information, visit www.rescuestick.com.

Ate up 1/12/2007

Does it look cool? Yup (click the photo to see it bigger).

Is it cool? Yup.

Is AC ate up with the whole redfishing thing? You better believe it.

Pro Bass: The Movie 1/11/2007
Apparently the success of Talladega Nights has Hollywood looking at other possible comedies set within the "same" demographic. Reports are that Lionsgate has bought a script called The Bass Master, written by Ted Murphy (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Atlantis) and Devin Maurer. Cinema Blend did a piece today on it. For that story (and its predictable, total misunderstanding of pro fishing), click here.

Tru-T and the Rankings 1/11/2007
Have you checked out the BassFan World Rankings on the new homepage recently? If so, you probably noticed a banner next to the No. 1 angler's mug. That's because Tru-Tungsten recently became the new presenting sponsor of the Rankings. For more about the deal, including comments from Tru-Tungsten chairman Tim Gregory, click here.

River-rat 4-stroke 1/11/2007

Mercury director of small outboards Bill McEathron said of the new motor: "We've taken all of the great features of our new 25 hp EFI 4-stroke and
applied them to the jet model. We're proud to bring this versatile outboard to the market."

The motor will be available at Mercury dealers this month.

Ike on passion 1/11/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, 2006 BASS Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli discusses his passion for fishing, and his move to Bass Cat. To listen, click here.

Horton: coffee or bass? 1/10/2007
The Toronto Star today published a story about bass pro Tim Horton, and what were some initial copyright issues between him and the Tim Horton's chain of coffee and donut shops.

To read the story, click here.

Toyota goes big 1/10/2007

It's no secret that Toyota, through its Tundra brand, wants to increase its market share in the full-size truck segment. But a few days ago at the Detroit Auto Show, the world got to see just how serious Toyota is about that market. That's when the company unveiled its new Tundra CrewMax, which is a crew-cab version of the Tundra. As you can see by the photo, it's a true crew cab (the bed measures 66.7 inches).

Two engines are available – a 5.7-liter V8 and 4.7-liter V8 – and the trucks will ship to dealers in March. Pricing information is not yet available.

All of which brings up an interesting scenario. Toyota's involved heavily with the Professional Anglers Association (PAA), and is title sponsor for the PAA's event this spring. It's also heavily involved with BASS, as noted above. Given that BASS is currently without a title sponsor (due to the departure of Citgo), and that Toyota just released its first-ever crew cab, could Toyota be a possible candidate for BASS title sponsor? Any way you look at it, they're definitely on the short list.

Martin, Pirch to Guard 1/10/2007
FLW Outdoors announced that two more pros have joined its National Guard fishing team. Florida's Scott Martin and Arizona's Cliff Pirch will now fish under National Guard colors.

Sgt. 1st Class Frank O'Laughlin with the National Guard said: "Just like FLW Outdoors, the National Guard is looking to make every situation they're involved with better. With the new team and the new National Guard Western Division of the FLW Series, I believe FLW Outdoors and the National Guard are enhancing the sport as a whole. We couldn't be prouder of our new team and we're excited for the upcoming season."

Martin, who formerly fished for BF Goodrich, noted: "Over the past years or so I've forged a relationship with Frank and the National Guard. They stand for tremendous values, and I try to stand for the same ones. I can't wait to stand up and wear the colors for them."

About the deal, Pirch said: "When Sergeant O'Laughlin came to me at the Lake of the Ozarks event, I was real excited. To promote something honorable that I really believe in is great. It's just a great team to be a part of."

Yum signs three 1/10/2007
Pradco Outdoor Brands (parent company of Rebel, Bomber, Yum and other lure companies) has signed three new BASS pros to sponsorship deals. Although details are a little confusing, since many of the Pradco brands can conflict with a pro's existing sponsorships, what's clear is that the main push behind the new signings is to build momentum for the Yum soft-plastics brand. Two of the new pros – Edwin Evers and Terry Scroggins – will represent Yum primarily, plus most or all of the Pradco brands. The third pro, Dave Wolak, will represent Yum exclusively.

Here's what each of the three anglers had to say about his deal:

Edwin Evers –"Pradco's such a great company to be with, because they have so many great baits to use – especially with Yum. I've been catching fish on Yum in the past, and it'll really help me in the future. The other great thing is (Pradco) is such a great company to be with because they promote their pros so much, with photo shoots, and press and writers conferences. You just get so much press that way, and that helps promote the rest of my sponsors."

Terry Scroggins – "I was with Zoom for 5 years, and had a good relationship with them. I hated to leave them, but I feel like this is a better deal for me and my family. I was with (Pradco) when my fishing career began, and I'm really looking forward to working with them again. I'll mainly be promoting the Yum brand, where my goal is to target the flipping line. I've already got plans for the baits I want to show them. It's exciting."

Dave Wolak – "This is a big step for my career. I'm really a fan of their baits. Yum is something I've used a lot, so it's just a great fit for me. And I'm excited about being part of a company that puts a lot of research into their plastics. Yum has Live Prey Technology, which is a scent enhancement, so there's more to it than just plastic. That's what I really grew to like about the products. When fish bit, they'd hold onto them too."

Chapman's peacock pig 1/10/2007

He caught the 25.5-pound monster on a High Roller topwater bait. It bit at about 5 p.m. on day 3 of the 5-day excursion.

Out of all the fish he's caught in his lifetime, where does the big peacock rank?

"Probably No. 1," he said. "Every bit of it was exciting. It came at a time when I hadn't gotten bit for several hours and I was getting frustrated and tired. Then that one bites, and it rejuvenated me for the rest of the trip."

He boated a 23-pounder just 20 minutes later.

"That one bit halfway back to the boat. The adrenalin was still flowing from the first one, and I was just reeling in real fast to make another cast when it came up and got it.

"I'll tell you, a fish that can break 80-pound braid is amazing. Three of us had that happen."

He and his father, Ron, were among a party of 11 who made the trip, which was organized by SMG Outdoors. Three other anglers in the party, including Ron, boated 20-plus-pounders on the day that Chapman caught his two brutes.

For additional information and photos from the trip, click here.

Rapala signs Peter T. 1/9/2007

BassFan will publish a full-length story with Thliveros tomorrow – about his fishing and recent upsurge in the BassFan World Rankings. But about the Rapala deal, he noted: "I've been without a hardbait sponsor for a lot of years. I'm not the kind of person who changes positions for another dollar here, or another dollar there. I've always tried to form relationships with sponsors that are long-term – so I've been kind of biding my time waiting for the right offer from the right company.

"And I've always wanted it to be a working relationship, where I have a lot of input – not just a promotional avenue for myself or the company," he added. "Rapala's a tremendously strong name in the industry that has a lot to offer as far as product development. I just feel real good about being with a company like that."

Rapala director of field promotions Mark Fisher noted: "The best part about this is Peter's personality, and his skill level. He's a classic. He's known as a Carolina-rig guy, but he exemplifies what fishing truly is in the way he works. He comes at it with a great attitude, he knows good product, and he knows how to attack tough situations. In fact, what connected Pete to Rapala was his versatility, and the fact that he's used our products for many years.

"Basically, Peter gives a real good balance to our pro staff," Fisher added. "We have deep-water experts, shallow-water experts, and guys who are truly versatile and understand how to get it done whether deep or shallow. We're fortunate now to tie the knot with Peter and make this official. We welcome him onto our pro staff."

Rapala-owned brands also include Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr-Jensen, and VMC, plus the soon-to-be acquired Terminator. Thliveros currently has a spinnerbait and jig deal through Team Supreme, and no information is yet available as to whether he'll represent brands beyond Rapala hardbaits. He'll continue to run a Tru-Tungsten wrap this year.

Wurm on winter 1/9/2007
It's chilly outside – downright cold in a lot of places – but that doesn't mean the bass won't bite. According to veteran Mike Wurm, you just need to adjust your tactics and maintain a more serious focus. For more winter fishing tips from Wurm, click here to visit the Team Evinrude page.

Little kid, big fish 1/9/2007
A few days after Christmas, 7-year-old Parker Chambers became the youngest angler to ever enter a fish into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Budweiser ShareLunker Program.

The Plano resident used a Rapala X-Rap to entice a 13.4-pound Lake Fork largemouth. The fish was 24 3/4 inches long, and its girth measured 20 1/2 inches.

To see a picture of the fish, click here.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens is the home of the ShareLunker Program, which encourages anglers who have caught 13-pound-plus largemouths to lend or donate the fish to TPWD for spawning purposes. In the production hatchery, the big females are paired with pure Florida-strain males.

Superior genetics from ShareLunker females and their offspring are used to improve the quality of largemouths stocked in Texas waters. Ultimately, TPWD hopes to produce the next world-record fish.

Browne's Big 'O' pattern 1/8/2007
Glenn Browne recently won the Okeechobee Southeastern Stren on a solid crankbait bite, which he supplemented with some flipping. For the full details on his winning pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Busch leaves BASS 1/8/2007
Anheuser-Busch chose not to renew its contract with BASS, and is no longer a sponsor of the league. The company's involvement with BASS has been significant – it once sponsored the Angler of the Year program, and most recently underwrote the Busch Shootout, through its Busch beer brand.

BASS senior director of sales and sponsorships Michael Cassidy told BassFan: "They have not renewed. They've officially decided to move in a new direction. They've been a tremendous supporter of ours for years, and we're wishing them well in their new endeavors."

On whether the Shootout program would continue, perhaps under a new title sponsor, Cassidy said: "Right now, the whole program is currently under review, and we're discussing it with a number of different folks."

Cassidy added that Busch had been happy in its relationship with BASS, but has "changed strategy" and is becoming more involved with local distributors. "They've changed their position with NASCAR and some other things too," he noted.

Denny Brauer is still sponsored by Busch.

Crews news: 'Cat, Merc 1/8/2007
BassFan previously announced that John Crews signed a sponsorship agreement with Pure Fishing, and there's more Crews news to report today. He's undergone a wholesale switch in his boat/motor package, and has stepped up a non-endemic relationship too. Here's how it shakes out.

This year, Crews will run a Bass Cat powered by Mercury and MotorGuide, which replaces his former Ranger/Yamaha/Minn Kota configuration from years past. And he's now one of the premier anglers on the Advance Auto Parts team. Advance became sponsor of BASS and Crews last year, but increased its commitment to Crews this year.

"It's a very exciting time in my career," Crews said. "Advance Auto Parts is stepping up from an associate sponsor to become my premier sponsor (and) will be the main logo on my boat and tournament jersey, in addition to having logos on my truck. We're in the middle of finalizing designs for my boat, truck, and jersey. The theme will be based on Advance Auto Parts' red-and-yellow company colors, and I assure you it'll be unique and eye-catching."

About his Bass Cat deal, he said: "Bass Cat and the Pierce family have a long reputation for strong support of their customers and pros. I look forward to being in a Bass Cat for many years. I'm impressed with the closeness of the ownership, dealers, customers, and pros at Bass Cat. Bass Cat is more of a family than just a boat company."

And lastly, on Mercury and MotorGuide, he noted: "I've agreed to a deal with Mercury and MotorGuide. The new Mercury OptiMax Pro XS engine really impressed me the first time I drove it at the Pittsburgh Classic in 2005, and I've been impressed every time I've driven it since. (And) the MotorGuide Digital series is the trolling motor of choice for many pros, especially some of the ones who often beat me – like KVD, Skeet, and Swindle."

He was formerly a two-tour pro, but will not fish the FLW Tour this year. The move to Mercury and MotorGuide clearly makes him better aligned with BASS sponsors, since both sponsor BASS, as does Advance Auto Parts. Bass Cat is not a BASS sponsor, although Bass Cat head cheese Rick Pierce has stated many times that he prefers his anglers to fish BASS.

Today's edition of BassFan Radio with Terry Brown features an interview Crews. To learn more about the above sponsorship deals, and the newest member of the Crews family, click here.

Skeeter Owner's schedule 1/8/2007

Skeeter senior VP and GM Jeff Stone said: "This is more than just a series of bass tournaments – it's a family reunion. Each event not only features competitive bass fishing, but also features activities for the entire family, including demo rides, product demonstrations, seminars, vendors, interactive games, entertainment and food. These events prove how hard our company, its employees and our dealers will work to keep a strong relationship with our owners."

> For more information, visit www.skeeterboats.com.

WWC dates set 1/8/2007

"The BassFan Army was developed to help celebrate the great organizations and anglers that support the local fishing scene," said Al Smith, BassFan's VP of membership programs. "So when we had to postpone the Skeeter BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship last September, no one was more disappointed than we were here at BassFan. We truly enjoy our association with the local hometown trails and fishermen.

"We know these folks are what drives the engine of our fishing industry, and we enjoy offering them a unique opportunity to really shine. That happens every day on BassFanArmy.com, and will happen at the Weekend Warrior Championship in April. The event is shaping up to be a great celebration of the grassroots fishing that exists in our country."

Clausen's Tru deal 1/8/2007

"We're coming out with a new Picasso shaky head, in lead, and we're working on some Pro Metal lead bullet weights similar in paint configuration to the Tru-Tungsten products," he said. "We're also working on a new tungsten shaky head."

He added that he'd been talking with Tru-Tungsten "for a while," but the deal became effective in 2007.

Game points fixed? 1/6/2007
BassFan Patterns Game players, please take a look and see if your points have been fixed. The tech guys say they're all fixed, but you will know best! Please let us know by clicking here. Thanks for your help, and if it's not fixed yet, please be patient. We'll get there. We recently switched servers, which is causing a few issues.

Hailstones injured 1/5/2007

According to FLW Outdoors, Hailstones was airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he underwent surgery. His hip will also require an operation, which he'll undergo after he returns to Ohio.

His co-angler, Josh Noe of North Carolina, jumped overboard prior to the collision and was not injured. Noe was back on the water for day 3.

“The water around the lock and dam was real skinny,” Hailstones told FLW Outdoors. “The water is only a couple of feet deep, and to get in there, you have to trim your motor up as you sit the boat down to avoid hitting the bottom. While I was doing that, I trimmed the motor a little too high, lost control and collided with the riprap around the lock.”

After the collision, he reportedly called tournament director Chris Jones, who dispatched emergency crews.

The accident occurred 3 months after co-angler Leon Williams was injured at the Lake of the Ozarks FLW Series, when both he and pro Tim Horton were ejected from Horton's boat, allegedly following a collision with a large swell. At the 2005 Toho FLW Tour, co-angler John Cantale was injured when he was allegedly struck by a section of PVC pipe used to mark shiner-baiting locations while riding with pro Charlie King.

Hailstones was in 8th place after day 1 with a 15-07 limit.

Bass University radio 1/5/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, pros Randy Howell and Chuck Medley discuss their upcoming Bass Fishing University training classes, and how BassFans can get involved. To listen, click here.

Ike at Kentucky 1/5/2007
Today on BassFan TV, BASS Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli talks about how he attacked Kentucky Lake. To watch, click here.

Lane with Castaway 1/5/2007

"I've already surrounded myself with top-of-the-line companies like Bass Cat, Yamaha, Vicious spinnerbaits and now Castaway," he said. "They've been making quality rods for nearly 20 years, and their attention to detail really shows. I'll mostly be using the HG40 Titanium Series in conjunction with Gamma line. The 7 1/2-foot HG40 Long Range Launcher is the most awesome cranking rod I've ever seen – I can spool my reel on every cast. And the 7 1/2-foot HG40 flipping stick has the perfect combination of backbone and flexibility in the tip."

Fishing Santa winner 1/5/2007

He'll receive a prize package consisting of four bags of Mann's HardNose baits, four Strike King spinnerbaits, a spool of Vicious line and two Mann's Baby 1-Minus Elite Series crankbaits.

BassFan thanks all who participated.

Skeeter "Real" details 1/4/2007

Clausen, Crews get Pure 1/4/2007

New to the Pure Fishing team is FLW pro Luke Clausen – who'll endorse Berkley plastics and line, plus Abu Garcia reels. Clausen will retain his G. Loomis rods sponsorship. Also new to Pure is BASS pro John Crews, who'll endorse Berkley plastics and line, Abu Garcia reels, and Fenwick rods. Crews will retain his hardbait sponsorship with Spro.

Clausen said of his new deal: "I'm definitely very excited. As you probably know, there's not another tackle company in bass fishing that offers as much opportunity for an angler. They have a lot more marketing dollars to promote both their products and me as an angler. And they're always wanting new bait ideas and feedback from their pros, so there's even more opportunity to go in different directions there."

Clausen will still run a Team Chevy wrap this year, but Berkley and Abu Garcia will have a signage presence on his uniform.

Crews noted: "I'm really excited about this opportunity for many reasons. I grew up fishing Berkley lines – XT and Big Game were the first lines I really ever fished – and I basically fished them all last year. I also fished with a couple of the new Revo reels last year – I was really impressed – and I think the new Trilene Maxx is the best all-around monofilament I've ever fished with."

Like Clausen, Crews also hopes to become involved in bait design. "I've already been giving them feedback on some of the new products coming out," he said. "Those guys never rest – they're always developing the next great thing in lines, soft baits and everything. I hope to be giving them a lot of input on what I think."

In other Pure Fishing news:

> Preston Clark was already with Berkley line, but recently signed an enhanced agreement to represent all Pure Fishing brands.

> Bobby Lane received a similar upgrade. Lane ran a Spiderwire boat last year, but has been upgraded and will now represent Fenwick and Abu Garcia as well.

> David Walker ran a Berkley boat last year. He's still sponsored by Berkley, but will run a BP-wrapped boat this year instead. In his place, George Jeane (winner of the 2006 Pickwick FLW Tour) will run the Berkley boat.

> At least two pros are believed to have been cut from Pure Fishing's national pro staff, but details are not yet available.

Zona gets a show 1/3/2007
ESPN Outdoors today released details of its ESPN2 Saturday-morning lineup for 2007, and there are two surprises. One is that The Fishin' Hole, with Jerry McKinnis, which was reported to have been cancelled, will stay on air for another half-year. The other surprise is that former Loudmouth Bass co-host and current multi-show personality Mark Zona has been given his own show.

Zona's gig is called The World's Greatest Fishing Show! and, according to ESPN, he'll "serve as host and bring the excitement, fun and sheer energy of recreational fishing to fans." The show will air from July through December.

A Day on the Lake will air through March, and then does not appear to continue. BASS Insider runs only from April through June. Beat Charlie Moore runs April through June and late-September through December. Bassmaster Tournament Trail airs continuously throughout the year.

The full schedule can be found on the ESPN Outdoors website.

More Yamaha incentives 1/3/2007
The winter buying season is heating up. With the boat shows quickly approaching, Yamaha announced a new set of incentives to lure potential customers. From today through March 31, Yamaha will offer 3 free years of Yamaha extended service (also known as Y.E.S.) on eligible outboards. In addition, buyers of eligible 150hp or 250hp four-stroke models will receive a $750 credit (based on MSRP) toward the purchase of goods and/or services at the participating authorized dealer who sold the outboard.

Yamaha marketing division manager Dale Barnes said of the promotion: "The models eligible for the Y.E.S. portion of this promotion are new four-stroke outboards from 50hp to 250hp, and new HPDI two-stroke outboards from 150hp to 300hp."

With these added incentives, buyers of eligible four-strokes will receive 6 years of warranty coverage, and buyers of eligible HPDI two-strokes will receive 5 years of warranty coverage.

In addition to the above horsepower restrictions, outboards must also be new (not previously warranty registered), and manufactured with a model year 2005 designator or a manufacture date after April 2005. Additional information is available from participating Yamaha outboard dealers.

BP announces team 1/3/2007
BP became a sponsor of FLW Outdoors last summer, and like other major FLW Outdoors sponsors, was expected to field a pro fishing team for the 2007 season. The full list of BP-sponsored anglers was announced today. Anglers named to the BP fishing team include: Ray Scheide, Jim Moynagh, Guido Hibdon, Shinichi Fukae, David Walker, J.T. Kenney, Tracy Adams, and Alfred Williams, plus co-anglers Judy Israel and Charles Ward.

That means there's some significant shuffling in the FLW-sponsor team rosters. Here's how the shuffle breaks down:

Cabin-fever cure 1/3/2007
Tired of sitting inside just thinking about fishing? You're not alone. There is a cure, though, and it comes from tour pros Randy Howell and Check Medley, in conjunction with War-Tac Inc. The three parties have created Bass Fishing University, a 3-day seminar program to take place Jan. 25–27 near Mobile, Ala.

The program includes hands-on instruction of various topics, and concludes with a tournament where boaters and non-boaters have the chance to win cash and prizes. Program organizer Chuck Medley said: "We want our participants to have a great time, so we'll eat, sleep and drink nothing but bass fishing for 3 days. And War-Tac definitely has a reputation for spoiling their guests."

Packages start at just $385, and the top-tier package – which includes all lodging and meals (think seafood buffet and BBQ) – costs $515 per person. For more information, call (866) 4-WARTAC, or click here.

Rapala buys Terminator 1/3/2007
The Rapala VMC Group, parent company of Rapala, VMC, Storm, Blue Fox and Luhr-Jensen, will announce shortly that it has come to a joint agreement to purchase Terminator Lures.

Terminator is best known for its line of titanium spinnerbaits and premium jigs. Details of the sale are not yet public, but Terminator does seem to be a good fit for Normark, which acquired Luhr-Jensen in 2005 to bolster its salmon, steelhead and saltwater portfolio. The acquisition of Terminator will fill its noticeable gap in the bass spinnerbait and jig category.

Terminator currently sponsors four tour pros – Skeet Reese, Brent Chapman, Rob Kilby and Jimmy Houston. What affect the acquisition will have on the pro staff is unknown at this time.

Horkley's opinion 1/3/2007
BassFan Army member Pete Horkley of Eagle, Idaho was recently given the chance to test Berkley's new PowerBait Realistix Sinking Minnow. He performed the test under difficult post-front conditions, and liked what he found. To read his full Member Product Review, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Bolivar and Cheetah 1/3/2007

A statement from the company said: "We're really exited to welcome Ish and Gabe to the Cheetah team, where they'll be joined by NBA megastar Mike Bibby, who holds a current endorsement deal for Cheetah energy drink. This is most definitely one of the biggest things that has happened to City Ice Beverages. We're confident that this invaluable endorsement deal with Ish and Gabe will not only help Cheetah energy drink with national sales, but will also attract new fans to the progressive sport of tournament bass fishing."

New York's new era 1/2/2007

Bass anglers who wanted to become part of history were helped by one of the warmest winters on record. In the photo to right, New York Bass Federation Nation conservation lobbyist Mike Cusano chose to ring in the New Year with some bassing, and he holds up his piece of history – a New York smallmouth in one hand, and a Jan. 1 edition of his local paper in the other.

A kinder, gentler BASS? 1/2/2007
BASS still runs a lean ship in terms of its management. Vacancies created by the departure of former BASS VP of operations Dean Kessel and former ESPN Outdoors VP and GM Christine Godleski have not been filled. Nor has a replacement been named for departed BASS GM Don Rucks.

There are no indications that ESPN plans to replace either Kessel or Godleski (meaning, the positions were likely eliminated), but the GM job will almost certainly be filled. There aren't any hot-and-heavy rumors about a potential new GM, although one name that has surfaced on occasion is that of Dave Precht. A career BASS employee, Precht has served the company in various capacities, notably as editor of Bassmaster magazine, and in his current role as senior director of BASS publications. About a potential replacement for Rucks, a BASS official said only: "A search for a new general manager of BASS is underway."

The naming of a new GM is seen as critical for the upcoming Bassmaster Elite Series season, which begins in a little over 2 months. Remember that Rucks was given leeway to completely overhaul the former Bassmaster Tour, out of which came the Elite Series and Majors. A new GM might have similar freedom to alter or redesign BASS's top tour, and BASS pros are awaiting such a possibility – especially in regards to the rigid requalification process. Remember that BASS will only requalify 50 of its anglers this year to compete in a new 75-boat field for 2008, which has left a number of pros with an uneasy feeling.

But a recent story published by the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) stated that BASS is looking at that requalification process, and might make adjustments.

Would a new GM bring a kinder and gentler BASS? Would he or she tweak the Elite Series once again to help insulate veterans or rookies against a single bad season? According to the PAA, maybe. About such a possibility, the same BASS official said only: "As always, we're constantly reviewing our programs to best serve our constituencies."

Patterns Game hiccup 1/2/2007
We've received several emails about BassFan Patterns Game points not being recorded last week. We changed servers for BassFan.com last week, which no doubt has something to do with the error. We're checking into it and will resolve it one way or the other. Apologies for the hiccup.

Hurtin' Husker 1/2/2007

The Wildcard, held at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, has been over for 6 weeks. Still, he hasn't been able to shake the disappointment of his 13th-place finish. His frustration can be traced back to a 6-pounder that got away on day 2.

"Once or twice a day, I re-run that scene in my head," the 32-year-old said. "It was just devastating and I remember it vividly."

He was fishing a Carolina-rigged Picasso Creature in a patch of eel grass about 10 feet outside the main weedline. "As soon as I popped it, I knew it was a big one. I wasn't halfway through my hookset before it started pulling back.

"It went straight for the middle of the lake and jumped, but I still had it on. Then it came toward the boat and I started reeling really fast, and the next thing I knew my bait came to the top of the water."

He ended up with a 9-03 limit that day. It put him in a 12th-place tie with Alabama's Jimmy Mason with a 2-day total of 16-07. Only the Top 12 advanced to the final day, and Mason claimed that last berth by virtue of having weighed in nine keepers to Jakub's seven.

The Top 10 after day 3 qualified for the Elite Series. But because two of those anglers opted out, invitations were extended down to 12th place. "If I'd have caught that fish, I could have zeroed on the last day and I still would have finished no worse than 9th," he said.

He gained his spot in the Wildcard by finishing 14th in the Northern Tour standings. He plans to fish the Central Opens this year.

He doesn't have a "day job" – he works the graveyard shift at an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children in Lincoln so he can fish during daylight hours.

"I was willing to make so many sacrifices to fish the Elite Series, but I'm not willing to do that to fish both Open divisions (Central and Southern)," he said. "I'll fish the Central and work my tail off for those, and try to set myself up to fish both the following year.

"Fishing for a living is a lifelong dream, and the Elite Series is where I want to be."