Morris ruling in 6/29/2007
Rick Morris, who appealed his day-1 DQ at the Smith Mt. Bassmaster Elite Series, said he was told by BASS that the ruling will stand.

Morris declined to comment on the decision, but indicated he will possibly have a statement Monday.

BASS director of communications Jamie Wilkinson told BassFan: "On June 28, 2007, the BASS Appeals Committee heard and considered the appeal of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Rick Morris regarding the violation of Rule 14 at the Blue Ridge Brawl presented by Advance Auto Parts. The committee found that the penalty is correct for the infractions and circumstances in this case."

Gamble(r) pays off? 6/29/2007
Alan Clemons of the Huntsville Times recently published an interesting piece with Val Osinski. BassFans likely remember that Osinski bought Gambler several years ago after the company filed for bankruptcy. Osinski's also a hardcore fisherman who fishes the Stren Series, among other events. To read the story, click here.

Side-finding insider 6/29/2007
Now playing on BassFan TV is part 5 of the Humminbird Technology System series, which covers the use of GPS in conjunction with sonar, and how mapping adds another dimension. To watch, click here.

Detroit stud city 6/29/2007
Seen the field list for the upcoming Detroit River FLW Tour? If you play fantasy fishing at FLWOutdoors.com, the answer's probably yes. Either way, it's worth noting that the field is stacked with local studs, which is a common occurrence at season-ending FLW Tour events. Many pros who have no chance to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup, or next year's Tour, often forego the final event for financial or other reasons. And since FLW Outdoors does fill its field, that's where the local studs can look to do some cherry-picking.

Here's a look at three Detroit River signups who've never fished an FLW Tour event before. BassFans who compete on Erie know who they are.

Joe Balog – Harrison Township, Mich.
> 6 Detroit River/Erie Stren Top 10s since 2001
> 12 Detroit River/Erie BFL Top 10s since 1999, including 2 wins (2004, 2002)
> 1 Lake Erie Bassmaster Open win (2006)

Steve Clapper – Lima, Ohio
> 6 Detroit River/Erie Stren Top 10s since 2001
> 23 Detroit River/Erie BFL Top 10s since 1996, including 7 wins (2006, 2005, 2004, 2001, 2000, two in 1999)
> 1 Erie Bassmaster Northern Tour Top 10

Bryan Coates - Amherst, Ohio
> 3 Detroit River/Erie Stren Top 10s since 2005, including 1 win (2005)
> 6 Detroit River/Erie BFL Top 10s since 2003, including 2 wins (2006, 2004)
> 1 Erie Bassmaster Northern Tour Top 10

Note also that Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio is listed as being on the waiting list for the event. His stats include a Top 10 each of the last 3 years at Detroit River Strens, along with 5 Detroit River/Erie BFL Top 10s, one of which was a win (2002).

Note too the FLW Tour includes a number of regular Detroit River/Erie studs like Dave Lefebre, Vic Vatalaro, Art Ferguson III and more. And Chris Cox of Belleville, Wisc. – who fished two full Tour seasons in 2004 and 2005 – appears to be in the event. He won the 2005 Detroit River Stren.

King set to return 6/29/2007

"I'm going to go up there and give it a try," he said. "I'm feeling real good even though I'm not quite all the way through with my rehab schedule yet.

"(Rehab has) just helped me tremendously – I've gotten good exercise and good training. I wouldn't say I'm 100% back, but I'm getting close. I feel better in some ways than I did before."

He underwent a triple-bypass operation in late March to clear several artery blockages. After a 2-month period of virtual inactivity, he got back on the water in late May.

"I did a TV show on Kentucky Lake last week in real hot weather, and I was out there for 8 hours with no problems. And I've been fishing quite a bit around home, and I haven't had any problems here either.

"Before I just sat in front of the TV or read, and it about drove me stir crazy. But I was able to go through my tackle shop and work on my equipment, and I gave a lot of stuff away to kids that I hadn't used in years. I was looking for anything to keep me busy."

He's fished just one event this year – he finished 19th in the season opener at Travis. He doesn't have to worry about points, though, because he qualified for the upcoming Forrest Wood Cup via last year's Stren Championship.

And he might just be a factor at the Detroit – he was 6th in the Midwestern Stren event there last September.

Revved up about Revo 6/29/2007
Abu Garcia Revo product head Gary Morgal talks about Revo, Revo Inshore and Revo Premium reels and gives the skinny on what makes them better in a new BassFan Radio interview. To listen, click here.

What is FireLine? 6/29/2007

• FireLine's fibers are thermally fused. Other lines are just braided.

• This means FireLine has "smooth castability. It behaves more like a mono. It has a certain degree of stiffness that allows it to come off the reel better, so it's by far the best superline for spinning reels."

• There's no other thermally fused superline, and Berkley has a patent on FireLine.

So there you go. You want a superline that responds off the reel like mono, check out FireLine. If you want a superline that's translucent, try FireLine Crystal.

> Note: Berkley uses top-of-the-line, highest-grade Dyneema fibers for all its superlines. Norris said: "We work hard to source the best and most consistent materials. This stuff's not easy to get."

VanDam Untouchable? 6/28/2007
Let's add one more line to Kevin VanDam's résumé. He now leads the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten by the largest margin ever – nearly 33 points.

Click here to check out the latest Rankings.

The BassFan Rookie of the Year Race has also been updated. Derek Remitz is still the clear leader, followed by Casey Ashley and then Bryan Thrift. Click here to check view the race.

KVD's secret weapon 6/28/2007

> To read about VanDam's winning pattern from Grand Lake, click here.

Podcasts: Zona, Higgins 6/28/2007
BassFan Radio Today subscribers received two new podcasts today. The first is a show with Wes Higgins of Biosonix. The other features Mark Zona, who gives up the nitty gritty on his bud Kevin VanDam.

If you're not a BassFan Radio Today subscriber, click here to sign up (it's free, of course). You can also listen to the shows straight from the Internet at that same link, without subscribing.

McKinnis on VanDam 6/28/2007
ESPNOutdoors.com recently published a story by Jerry McKinnis about Kevin VanDam. It's a notable piece for a number of reasons. One, it questions why major sports outlets haven't really picked up on KVD's domination of the sport. Two, it states he's "possibly the most dominating competitor that any sport has ever seen." Three, McKinnis calls out media properties like Sports Illustrated and FOX. To read it, click here.

Recon: Clear Lake 6/27/2007
This week the Bass Recon section on BassFanArmy.com highlights Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jared Lintner's views on Clear Lake for the upcoming US Anglers Choice tournament there. Click here to check it out.

Parker on reels 6/27/2007
Today on BassFan TV, Hank Parker tells us why he likes the round reels from Abu Garcia. To watch, click here.

Have you tried Alive? 6/27/2007
Probably not, since the stuff just hit the market. We're talking about Berkley's new Gulp Alive, which comes in its own scented minnow bucket. The video below, with Al Lindner, explains it all.

The Top 2 talk 6/27/2007
Winner Kevin VanDam and runner-up Jeff Kriet are on BassFan Radio today talking about the recent Grand Lake Bassmaster Elite Series. Kriet talks about his 2nd-place finish in a very funny interview and VanDam discusses his goal of improving at every tournament.

To listen, click here.

Morgan plays conservative 6/27/2007

About his fishing overall the past 2 years, Morgan noted: "I'm fishing better than I ever have. I guess I've gotten a lot more versatile the last 2 or 3 years. I've done a lot of the things that normally I wouldn't have done. I played a little more conservative at times, and I've fished a spinning rod more than I ever have."

But one of the biggest factors in his fishing, he added, was that 50th place on the FLW Tour has paid $10,000 for the past several years. "Sometimes when you know you're not on anything, you do some off-the-wall stuff to catch 10 or 11 pounds (and make a check). You can tell when you have a shot to win, but sometimes 10 or 11 pounds is a great day for you. You play it a little conservative, get a pretty good payday, and go to the next tournament."

About his current position in the Rankings, he said: "I'm definitely tickled to be in the Top 10. But I don't look at stats a whole lot – they can (influence you) to make bad decisions. So I try not to get involved in that."

Uncle Homer tabbed 6/26/2007

"Uncle Homer" has covered the fishing scene for more than 50 years, including over 35 years as angling editor of Sports Afield magazine. A noted bass authority, he's also a tackle designer, teacher and lecturer, and has starred in more than 50 fishing films.

He'll be enshrined along with Gary Loomis, a renowned rod designer and founder of the G. Loomis company; Dr. Ruben Jaen, a light-tackle bill fishing pioneer from Venezuela; Peter B. Wright, an acclaimed saltwater captain who holds the record for catching the most "granders" (fish weighing 1,000 pounds or more); and Joan Salvato Wulff, a tournament fly-caster and teacher known as "the most influential woman in fly fishing."

According to the IGFA, the honorees "were selected for the important contributions they have made to the sport of fishing through angling achievements, literature, the arts, science, education, communication, invention or administration of fishery resources."

For ticket information, call 954-924-4222.

Bid for the kids 6/26/2007
Do you need a new trolling motor? How about a new depthfinder? Would you like to purchase one or both and also do something great for a fantastic charity?

If so, check out the auction our most recent BassFan Army contest winner, Patrick "Gridleak" Reynolds, is conducting through the Bass Fishing Home Page to raise money for the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. He is auctioning off a brand new Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird graph, and all of the proceeds will go to children whose parents paid the ultimate price in service to this country.

BassFan CFO Scot Laney will match the winning bids with a donation of up to $1,200.

To see the official auction rules, click here.

For the trolling motor auction, click here.

For the depthfinder auction, click here.

Zona talks TV 6/26/2007
Bassmaster TV co-host Mark Zona talks about his new show and working with Tommy Sanders each week on the Elite Series events. To listen, click here.

What happened to Robinson? 6/26/2007

For starters, wind was crucial to his bite, and day 4 started off dead.

"The morning was kind of slick – there wasn't much wind," he said. "I think that's what made the bite a little tougher. Later on in the day, the bite got better. We had a little bit of wind the last 2 or 3 hours. I got one on and lost it. It was a 4-pounder. I don't know where that would have put me – maybe 3rd or 4th. My fish just wouldn't bite well (the final day). Most that I caught had the hook in the side of the head, or barely in the bottom lip. They must have been swiping at it or something."

About whether he thinks he should have done something differently on day 4, he noted: "I think I could have hit some new spots, like the ones I fished. Three of my bites came on places I hadn't fished all week. I'd beat my stuff up pretty good I guess. I only caught one fish on one of my (past) spots, so maybe I caught most of the fish on those places."

Overall though, he said he's happy with his finish, because he'd never fished Grand, and came in with the goal of a Top 12.

And about KVD winning, he said: "He's the man. He had 20 pounds again. He's the man. But this helps my confidence. It gives me a big boost, knowing I can get up there and compete against these guys. It makes you feel a win's within your grasp."

> He kept his boat in 10 to 12 feet of water all week and quartered casts along points. He threw a WEC Tapp crankbait – a custom lure from Zoom founder Ed Chambers – and he also caught a few on a Buckeye Mop Jig.

Dynamite joke 6/26/2007
Here's one for you, from jokeswarehouse.com. Do you have a good one? If so, click here to tell us about it.

There was this fisherman that always had a good day fishing. His friend, the game warden, couldn't figure out how he did it, so one day the game warden decided to go fishing with his friend.

The fisherman took his friend the warden out to his favorite spot. Once there, the fisherman took a stick of dynamite out of his backpack, lit it and threw it into the water. The dynamite exploded and a dozen fish floated to the top.

The game warden said, "That's illegal. You can't do that."

The fisherman goes, "Really?" He then lit another stick of dynamite and threw it into the water. The dynamite exploded, and a dozen more fish floated to the top.

The game warden said, "Stop that now, and take this boat back to shore. I'm going to have to give you a citation and confiscate all your gear."

The fisherman said, "Oh, really?"

He lit another stick of dynamite, threw it into the game warden's lap and said "You gonna sit there and keep flapping your trap, or are you gonna fish?"

June Fish of a Lifetime 6/25/2007
Three more Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime stories are now up on The Bass Buzz (click here to read them).

Just a reminder that Abu Garcia is giving out a reel a month for the Fish of a Lifetime story it likes best. You could win one too. Just click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia story. And remember – your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass – and can also be a limit of a lifetime.

Hite's boost 6/25/2007

He threw the same bait at Grand that winner Kevin VanDam used. About his 5th-place finish, he said: "I feel good about it. I knew with where I was in points, I needed to have a few good tournaments sooner than later. It's a great lake, and those were extremely good catches for summertime fishing. I had a good tournament, I feel good about it, and I feel real good about the momentum going into the New York stretch coming up after the 4th of July."

"Anytime you move 14 spots, it's a big move," he added. "The season is winding down, but there are still quite a few tournaments to go. When you fish six tournaments a year, after two or three people start getting excited about AOY and the Classic race. But with us fishing 11 Elite Series tournaments, there's still a lot of fishing to go until it's all said and done."

About the Hartwell announcement, he said: "It really motivated me when I found out. Since then, I've had a 35th, then a 5th (at Grand), and I've been able to bump back up. I'm going to stay extremely focused to make sure I'm weighing in at the Bi-Lo center and not sitting out in the audience."

He added that he knows Hartwell "better than most people that have a chance to qualify," but he doesn't fish it a lot. He's mostly stoked to be in front of a hometown crowd – his residence in Ninety Six is a little more than an hour from host city Greenville.

BBZ: the movie 6/25/2007

A Hollywood outfit, Last Cast Media, produced the project, and it includes more than 100 action-packed catch scenes, but most important, it's one more learning tool in the quest for swimbait knowledge. It deals primarily with the Spro BBZ-1, 2 and 3 swimbaits – which cover the entire water column from top to bottom – but it's really about all swimbaits Siemantel noted. Also, it's an interactive experience.

"It'll have a high-impact opening, but then it'll go into explaining the lure, and then from another menu button, you'll be able to watch full, detailed descriptions of true techniques that anybody can use all over the U.S.," he said.

A few other standout highlights:

MacDaddy's goes platinum 6/25/2007

Matching earrings are available, and the hooks are removable to allow the lure to be worn solely as jewelry.

MacDaddy’s will introduce its World’s Most Precious Fishing Lure, the solid platinum spoon set with pink sapphires, at a news conference at ICAST in Las Vegas on July 11. Mac McBurney, the company's co-founder and chief designer, said that 10% of the proceeds from all Pink Ribbon sales throughout the year will be donated to breast cancer research and recovery.

“The nature of platinum, its purity and rarity, makes it the ideal medium for this charity campaign to help in the fight against breast cancer,” McBurney said. “I chose to design in platinum because of the eternal, enduring character of the metal and its ability to provide an extremely secure setting for precious gemstones.”

In addition to the solid platinum lures, the company plans to offer a line of copies to allow participation in the campaign by patrons at lesser price levels. These include 14K gold lures with pink sapphires and sterling silver lures with pink cubic zirconia settings. Pricing for these versions is expected to begin at $49.95.

For more information, click here to visit the MacDaddy's website.

Grand's VanDamFans 6/22/2007

"I'll tell you what's really exciting, there was this one boat with a father and his two little boys. They followed me in practice for half a day, and followed me all day the first 2 days - start to finish. (The father) told me today that his boys had been looking forward to following me all year. That's pretty cool right there. They have to get up at 5:30 it the morning. It's not like they're out there fishing. They're just sitting in the sun, watching. It's exciting."

Evans on Kumar 6/22/2007
FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans today published an editorial largely about BassFan. The introduction includes the statement: "I'd like to examine a few recent comments/opinions posted on Bassfan.com that I found particularly disturbing."

To read the editorial, published on FLWOutdoors.com, click here.

Martens gives it up 6/22/2007
BassFans have read for years about Aaron Martens and the dropshot. But frankly, he rarely opens up about the details. In a new BassFan Pro Fishing Tip, he gives up a lot – secrets like when to use a 1-inch drop, and how much to shake it. To learn more, click here.

Bass smell and taste 6/22/2007
Like the Fish Science articles on The Bass Buzz? Today's is a doozy. Couple highlights:

> Scent matters, but bass don't care about garlic, anise or salt.

> Though bass obviously love to hit frog baits, they won't eat a bullfrog.

Read the whole thing here on The Bass Buzz.

Wick on Edge 6/21/2007

That jig was tied to about 8 feet of 16-pound Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line. The Edge, in turn, was attached to 65-pound braid backing.

"In the cover I was flipping, that line played a huge role," he said. "I could pop those fish hard in that heavy timber because I knew it wasn't going to break.

"That stuff is the best fluorocarbon I've ever used."

Jerry Martin passes 6/21/2007
IBI magazine reported today that industry stalwart Jerry Martin died last Friday at the age of 79. Martin was the founder of the Jerry Martin Co. – a boating-industry communications and public-relations firm – which in recent years became the Martin-Flory Group. IBI noted that he entered the industry in 1955 as the first sales-promotion manager at Johnson Motors.

Morgan a 'longshot'? 6/21/2007

1. Jay Yelas: 898
2. Shinichi Fukae: 872 (-26)
3. Mark Davis: 860 (-36)
4. David Dudley: 853 (-45)
5. Andy Morgan: 843 (-55)

Prior to last week's Potomac River event, Morgan was within 7 points of Yelas. But a stinging 67th-place finish in Maryland dropped him nearly out of the race. Now, Morgan needs to make up 56 points on Yelas at the Detroit River to clinch. But he'd also need everyone in front of him to stumble somewhat too.

Remember, though, in 2005 Greg Hackney came up from 3rd to win FLW AOY, and Toshinari Namiki moved up from 4th to finish 2nd. But neither needed 55 points to do that – the margin was more like 20.

"It'll be a longshot," Morgan said of his chances at AOY. "I figure that to win the points, Jay will have to pretty much break down and not get back in. He's having a better year than I am, and I don't figure he'll slip. And I don't wish any bad luck on anybody at all."

And he definitely doesn't think Fukae will slip up. "Since the day after we left the Potomac, Shin's been there (at the Detroit River)," he said. "That's pretty hard to beat on a summer pattern, because things don't change much. He'll be all over them – I'm pretty certain about that. So I think my chances to win the points in the FLW Series are a lot better, with the limited practice, than anywhere else right now." (He's currently 1st in the Eastern FLW Series points after two events.–Ed.)

Another force aligned against Morgan is that he's just not strong on smallmouths, even though he's from Tennessee where brown fish are generally revered. "I don't like the Detroit river – I don't like smallmouth fisheries," he noted. "We've got smallmouth here on the Tennessee River, but I've never done well with them. If I catch one here, it's totally by luck. But I need to go and catch smallmouths, there's no question about that. I'll give it my all and see what comes out."

ESPN's new BASS boss 6/21/2007
BassFan learned today that ESPN's Steve Anderson no longer oversees BASS. Instead, Traug Keller – a longtime ESPN senior VP who oversees ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes (ESPN's Spanish-language efforts) – has assumed the responsibilities.

Steve Anderson is now executive VP of news, talent and content operations. His former title was executive VP of production and technical operations.

Anderson was brought in to oversee BASS in August 2006 after the departure of former BASS GM Don Rucks. His responsibility for BASS was initially believed to be temporary, so this news is not a surprise.

Current BASS GM Tom Ricks reports directly to Keller.

Keller, in a prepared statement, said: "I'm excited about the opportunity to support and help BASS and Tom Ricks by providing the focus and resources required to grow the business and the sport."

Baits with bling 6/21/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, Jewel Bait Company national sales manager Bryan Head talks about why Jewel baits catch bass, the company's plans for the future and how it develops products. To listen, click here.

Recon: Ohio River 6/21/2007
This week the Bass Recon section on BassFanArmy.com takes a look at the Ohio River for the upcoming BFL Hoosier Division tournament. Click here to get some Recon info.

Gaining mow-mentum 6/20/2007
eXmark Mowing Equipment marketing head John Cloutier talks on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown about why his company is looking at bass fishing as a way to advertise and why it didn't choose NASCAR. To listen, click here.

Rankings: 6 vs. 4 6/20/2007
For those bent on FLW vs. BASS comparisons, notable is that after last week's Potomac River FLW Tour, two FLW pros moved back inside the Top 10 in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten. Those two pros would be Jay Yelas (11th to 8th) and David Dudley (14th to 9th). FLW pros already in Top 10 residence were Andy Morgan (ranked 4th) and Shinichi Fukae (up two spots to 5th).

So the official tally (again, for those keeping score) is four FLW and six BASS pros inside the Top 10.

In terms of the BassFan Rookie of the Year Race, it looks like the only FLW Tour rookie with a shot to catch BASS rookies Derek Remitz and Casey Ashley is Bryan Thrift, who slipped one spot in that race to 3rd after his 69th at the Potomac River.

Keep 'em alive 6/20/2007
Oxygenator, a BassFan Army contingency provider, is offering a free 8-ounce bottle of U2 liquid livewell additive with each purchase of an Oxygenator Pro Livewell Flush Mount. BassFan Army members can buy the Oxygenator at a special introductory offer of $99.95, plus shipping.

The retail price is normally $144.95, and a bottle of U2 sells for $12.95.

Orders must be placed by phone at (952) 881-1330 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time. The offer is good through July 31.

To learn more about the system, click here.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Title talk with Reese 6/20/2007
In a BassFan Q&A published today, BASS Angler of the Year leader Skeet Reese talks about the award – how it's his number-one goal, and what winning it actually means. To read it, click here.

Duckett in the Zone 6/20/2007
Boyd Duckett won this year's Bassmaster Classic – and then didn't do so well until recently. What's been going on? Click here to go to The Bass Buzz to find out.

Two pros speak 6/19/2007
FLW Tour pros David Dudley and Ray Scheide are both guests today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown. In the case of Dudley, if you've never listened to an episode of BassFan Radio, this is the one you want to hear (trust us). To listen to the shows, click here.

BASS pros on Majors, Boats 6/19/2007
BassFan spoke with several pros about BASS's decision to cancel the Majors, and its new boat policy. To read their reactions, click here.

Morris: no word yet 6/19/2007
BassFan spoke with Rick Morris today while he was practicing for this week's Grand Lake Bassmaster Elite Series. He confirmed that he did file an appeal with BASS by the appointed deadline last week, and noted he hasn't heard back yet. He does expect some communication this week or the week after.

"I haven't heard a thing," he said. "But whatever happens – good, bad or indifferent – this is going to be good for the fishermen. The rule's going to get clarified, and explained a little better, and they'll probably rewrite it in the future. I feel like the decision should go in my favor, but even if it doesn't, hopefully the fishermen will see that somebody stood up to the rule."

USFWS: $120 billion spent 6/19/2007
Americans spent $120 billion on hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching in 2006, according to preliminary survey data released this week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The report states that those expenditures are "roughly equal to Americans' total spending at all spectator sports, casinos, motion pictures, golf courses and country clubs, amusement parks and arcades combined."

On a less-positive note, survey data shows that fishing suffered a 15% decline in participation from 1996, and hunting participation was down 10%.

The press release, which contains a link to the full report, can be accessed by clicking here.

Nelson back to In-Fish 6/19/2007
Chuck Nelson has rejoined In-Fisherman as associate publisher. Most recently, he was FLW Outdoors publisher and circulation director.

FLW Outdoors magazine editor Chris Eubanks also left the company. He resigned in April of this year to accept a sales and consulting position with Land O'Lakes.

Electronics tutorial 6/19/2007
Side-imaging is the newest electronics rage, and Part 4 of the latest Humminbird tutorial is now playing on BassFan TV. To watch, click here.

Update: Hab Contest 6/19/2007

To enter the Berkley Fish Hab Contest, all you have to do is visit the Berkley website (Berkley-Fishing.com), find the name of the company's conservation director, then email it to us by clicking here.

The winners will be drawn randomly from the correct entries on June 29. Good Luck!

Working too hard? 6/18/2007
Maybe you've seen this Rapala commercial before. If so, then you probably want to see it again. If not, then check it out for the first time. It's hilarious.

Roland doing okay 6/18/2007
Rumors have been zipping around recently about Roland Martin getting hurt somewhere, somehow. Walt Reynolds, marketing director for Roland Martin Productions, set the record straight.

"Wednesday night last week we were filming a tarpon show for the '08 (TV) series. Roland was fighting a 100-pound tarpon, in the dark, at about 9:30 at night, and he went to step back to put some pressure on the fish. When he did, his foot slipped out from under him, and he fell backwards on his ankle.

"He broke a small bone in his ankle, and had one small (bone) chip. It was a relatively simple ankle fracture, really, but after we talked to the orthopedic surgeon, he (decided to have surgery)."

Martin had surgery at 11:00 this morning to "put a couple screws in it to make sure there's no problems down the road," Reynolds said. "It was about a 45-minute surgery – a relatively minor procedure, just as a cautionary measure. He's on his feet so much, it was just to make sure he doesn't have a sloppy ankle joint.

"He's out and okay, no problems. Everything went as smooth as silk."

UMF: BASS vs. FLW 6/18/2007
The 2007 version of Ultimate Match Fishing will debut on the Outdoor Channel on July 2, and this year's winner's-bracket round will feature Bassmaster Elite Series pros squaring off against FLW Tour anglers.

The first six episodes will pit anglers against others from their own circuit at Alabama's Lake Guntersville. Here are the opening-round matchups:

> Elite Series – Kelly Jordon vs. Dave Wolak; Greg Hackney vs. Boyd Duckett; Zell Rowland vs. Jason Quinn.

> FLW Tour – Larry Nixon vs. Gabe Bolivar; Anthony Gagliardi vs. Dave Lefebre; Luke Clausen vs. Brent Ehrler.

Winners will advance to take on an angler from the other circuit, and the series finale will feature a two-part championship match. After the first round, all competition will take place at Kentucky Lake.

The total prize purse is $103,000, with $50,000 going to the winner.

As always, UMF will place two competing anglers in the same boat, with each getting the front of the boat for half of the fishing day. The back-of-the-boat angler will be prohibited from moving to or fishing from the front half of the boat, and vice versa for the angler who has the bow. Anglers will switch positions every 90 minutes over four periods.

Veteran angler Joe Thomas will again serve as host of the series.

"The NFL has the Super Bowl, Major League Baseball has the World Series, now it's time to bring together the top pro bass anglers from the FLW and BASS for a showdown on the water," he said. "And Ultimate Match Fishing is the best way to do it. The line has been drawn between these two premier tournament trails, and the only place to see them clash one-on-one is on the Outdoor Channel."

The show will air at 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EST as part of the Outdoor Channel's new Monday Night Fishing Block.

Ray on turning 40 6/18/2007
In a new Scott On-Line column, BASS founder Ray Scott reflects on 40 years of bass history – how this whole thing started, and how it all came to be. To read it, click here.

Yelas' dynasty 6/18/2007
With his 19th-place finish at the Potomac River, Jay Yelas became the first FLW Tour pro to maintain the lead in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race through the subsequent tournament.

Four anglers have done stints at the top through the first five events of 2007. Aaron Hastings was No. 1 after his season-opening victory at Travis, Dave Lefebre took over after Fort Loudoun-Tellico, Michael Bennett jumped into the lead after Norman, and Yelas ascended following the Beaver event (his second consecutive runner-up finish).

Bennett is now 10th in the points. Lefebre is 20th and Hastings is 23rd.

Yelas will enter the season finale at the Detroit River with a 26-point advantage over 2nd-place Shinichi Fukae. That means if he finishes 26th or better (which he's done in four straight events), he'll win his second FLW Tour AOY no matter where anybody else ends up.

He also won in 2002, but he came from behind in the final tournament to edge Kevin VanDam for that one.

> To view the updated AOY standings, click here.

Developing fluoro 6/18/2007
Ever wondered how a new line gets developed? Check out The Bass Buzz today for the story about how Berkley Trilene Fluorocarbon – the line Boyd Duckett won this year's Bassmaster Classic with – got requested, tested and made.

Tennessee Army winner 6/18/2007
Another BassFan Army member recently scored big in the BassFan Army's contingency program. David Gnewikow of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. won the Center Hill Bassmaster Weekend Series on May 12 using a host of Army-sponsored products including Zoom baits, Plano storage systems, a Minn Kota 101 trolling motor and more.

Congratulations David. Your contingency prize package is on the way.

To learn more about the BassFan Army's contingency program, and how to participate, click here.

Tour pro charged? 6/15/2007
Thanks to those BassFans who wrote in to alert us of a recent article in The Daily Tribune of Mt. Pleasant, Texas. According to the Daily Tribune, Joe Don Setina has been charged with a first degree felony of criminal mischief for allegedly cutting down trees during a period of low water in Lake Bob Sandlin. The article doesn't state Setina's hometown, nor does it reference him as a pro angler, but he's believed to FLW Tour pro Joe Don Setina of Pittsburg, Texas.

The Tribune also reported: "District Attorney Charles Bailey will present the charge to Titus County grand jurors later this month. If indicted, Setina faces five to 99 years, or life in prison."

After a 4-year hiatus, Setina rejoined the FLW Tour this year and fished three of the first four Tour events of the season. He did not fish the Travis opener, and is not fishing today at the Potomac.

More details will be published as they become available. To read the full Daily Tribune story, click here.

A Friday smile 6/15/2007
Sure you've seen lots of them before, but a Bill Dance blooper always brings a smile to our faces. You can order each of the three official Bill Dance Bloopers videos through BillDanceOutdoors.com, but lately snippets have been showing up on YouTube and other community sites. Here's one that's sure to bring a Friday smile.

Tips: prevent theft 6/15/2007
BassFans probably remember Aaron Hastings' miserable experience at the Harris Chain in 2003. He lost everything to a thief – boat, motor, tackle, uniforms and more. In the newest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip, Hastings and John Crews and Matt Herren talk about theft prevention at tournaments. To read it, click here.

Ugly is beautiful 6/15/2007

Boler surfaces 6/15/2007
Remember Roger Boler – the Louisiana pro who finished 4th in the BASS Angler of the Year race in his 2003 sophomore season? Well, he surfaced this week at the Red River Bassmaster Central Open after a 2-year hiatus. He ended day 1 of the event in 83rd, but more notable is a recent story on him in the Shreveport Times. In the piece, Boler talks about his time off – how he chose to stick around his hometown of Slidell to help rebuild after the devastation of Katrina.

"Little did anyone know just how much time it would take to get everything back together," Boler told the Times. "There's still a lot of work that needs to be done."

> To read the full piece, click here.

Win a Fish Hab 6/14/2007
Berkley believes strongly in conservation. So strongly the company's willing to help you enhance your favorite lake. Using recycled fishing line, milk cartons and soft-drink bottles, Berkley turns post-consumer waste into fish habitat, and they want to help you restore your favorite pond or lake.

One way to take advantage of Berkley's offer is to collect UPC codes off your favorite Berkley line. For 75 UPC codes, you can get a free "Fish Hab."

But as a special offer, Berkley will also give one of these 4-foot cube habitats to a lucky BassFan reader.

To enter the Berkley Fish Hab Contest, all you have to do is go the Berkley website (Berkley-Fishing.com), find the name of the company's conservation director, then email it to us by clicking here. It's that simple.

A winner will be drawn randomly from the correct entries on June 29.

Recon: Upper Chesapeake 6/14/2007
This week the Bass Recon section on BassFanArmy.com takes a look at the upper Chesapeake Bay area for the upcoming US Anglers Choice tournament. Get some key Recon info by clicking here.

Extra Vicious winner 6/14/2007
As noted previously, the BassFan Army honored the initial end date for its recent Vicious Elite fishing team contest. Thanks to all who entered. And the additional winner is...

John Barrett of North Augusta, S.C. Congratulations, John! Your prize package will be sent shortly.

Sub-6-buck Kermit 6/14/2007

Mann's gets notice 6/14/2007

“The issuance of the Notice of Allowance by the patent office is further recognition of the important technological advance represented by Mann’s HardNose products to our customers and of the proprietary nature of these products,” said Mann's president Frank Oelerich.

Mann's anticipates that the HardNose patent will be issued shortly.

Skeet & Corkran speak 6/13/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, Elite Series Angler of the Year leader Skeet Reese gives his insight on the points race, talks about his expectations for each tournament, and discusses his well-known yellow branding. To listen, click here.

And a new BassFan Radio Today podcast features BASS Federation Nation director Don Corkran. To subscribe to the BassFan Radio Today podcasts, or to listen to individual episodes online, click here.

Morris prepares appeal 6/13/2007
Rick Morris said he has until 5:00 this Friday to file an appeal concerning his day-1 DQ at last week's Smith Mt. Bassmaster Elite Series. As previously reported, he plans to file the appeal based on several factors. According to Morris, he'll state the following in his appeal:

1. That his hand remained in contact with the boat as he entered the water to land a fish, although his co-angler denies that was the case.
2. That BASS tournament director Trip Weldon, the night of day 1, told him that the only issue was whether his hand was in contact with the boat. He was informed by Weldon the following night that the hand was not a factor, and that he was DQd for departing the boat to land a fish.
3. That he has a witness to the alleged violation – a local angler – who will corroborate his version of the events.
4. That a BASS rules meeting prior to the Amistad season opener was "vague" about departing the boat to land a fish (BASS Rule 14), and he believed his actions to be legal.

Morris today told BassFan: "My lawyer and I got affidavits from several pros who don't want to be named stating the rules meeting we had was vague and unclear. Each fisherman perceived it in a different way when (Rule 14) was explained. Most whom I spoke to were unclear as to what was legal and what was not legal as far as departing the boat. That's part of our case."

Morris added that his lawyer is working on an affidavit from the witness, "who's totally willing to cooperate and sign the affidavit."

Morris said he did speak with Weldon about the appeal, and Weldon simply informed him of his right to appeal. Morris also confirmed that Weldon will not be part of the appeals committee.

He and his lawyer, Morris said, are also "asking for a say-so in selecting the appeals committee to make sure they're non-biased."

In addition, through the appeal, Morris seeks to have his 27th-place position from day 2 reinstated as his final finish, and to be awarded the $10,000 in prize money and requisite Angler of the Year points for that finish. He also seeks firm clarification of the rule.

> BassFans may remember that Morris questioned why no polygraph was administered. He told BassFan he confirmed through a source that BASS did inquire with an area polygraph company, but his source told him the company was unable to come.

VanDam vulnerable 6/13/2007

Skeet Reese's insane hot streak has now helped him move up to 2nd in the world. He trails VanDam by 13 1/2 points. Remember, though, that the Rankings are based on a 2-year rolling cycle, so each time an angler fishes an event, that finish replaces another from 2 years ago. In the newest edition of the Rankings, VanDam dropped a win at the Lewisville Elite 50, and he's about to drop a win from the Wissota Elite 50 and the Pittsburgh Bassmaster Classic. Reese, on the other hand, will next drop a 14th from Wissota, then an 8th from the Classic. Stay tuned.

To view the updated World Rankings, click here.

Also note that the BassFan Rookie of the Year race has been updated. Derek Remitz still leads, but Smith Mt. winner Casey Ashley (3rd) moved up points-wise to better challenge Remitz. FLW Tour rookie Bryan Thrift remains 2nd. To view the Rookie standings, click here.

Falcon Lake = sleeper? 6/13/2007

"I don't know it very well – it's the same distance from me as Nashville, Tenn.," he said. "So I'm by no means a local, but I do know that in April, we should be there in the post-spawn, and that's when you catch the biggest stringers of the year. The water was low for quite some time, but tremendous weights come out of there."

Jordon noted the lake was created for irrigation, so it exhibits significant water-level changes as both Mexico and the U.S. draw water for citrus irrigation. He'd heard that a few weeks ago, the water was so low there were no ramps in the water. But when the lake's going, it's a monster.

"In team tournaments down there, 40-pound stringers were coming in the Top 5. A friend of mine has a friend who had a club deal down there last fall with a three-fish limit, and for a 2-day tournament (six fish), a guy had six that weighed 57 pounds. He caught them all on a buzzbait in 2 feet or less. And 2nd place was six fish for 54 pounds. It that was just a club tournament with 10 or 15 boats."

> The lake, when full, covers approximately 100,000 square acres.

D-Day: what if? 6/12/2007
All right, this has absolutely nothing to do with fishing, but below is a video project created by The Combat Report (a BassFan sister site). It asks the question: How would D-Day have been reported by today's media? Check it out if you like.

Yelas' mind elsewhere? 6/12/2007

The Angler of the Year leader might not be able to keep his mind focused entirely on fishing over the next few days, however. His beloved Oregon State Beavers have made the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. for the 3rd straight year, and he's eagerly looking forward to Saturday's opening-round game against Cal State Fullerton.

His alma mater clinched its berth with NCAA Super Regional victories over Michigan on Sunday and Monday.

"I came in early from practice those days to make sure I didn't miss a pitch," he said. "I follow every game all season long – I'm probably the biggest Beaver baseball fan there is.

"(Fishing-wise), it'd probably have been better for me if they'd gotten knocked out. I know I'll find myself thinking about it, but hopefully it won't be too big of a distraction."

He got lucky in one respect – Oregon State plays the late game (7 p.m. ET) on Saturday, so he should be able to watch it in its entirety, even if he makes the Top 10.

When the Beavers won their first-ever national title last year, he was able to attend the best-of-three championship series against North Carolina. He'll be back in Omaha next week if the team advances that far again.

As for the Potomac, he was a dominant figure there in Bassmaster Tour events during the 1990s. His finishes included a win (the 1993 Maryland Top 100), two 2nds, a 5th, a 6th and a 9th.

The California native also announced that he'll be moving back to Corvallis, Ore. this summer after 17 years in Texas. His wife, Jill, hails from there and they have a lot of family in the area.

"It's something we've been working on for awhile. I told her back then, 'Let's move to Texas because I want to be a bass pro.' Now she's saying, 'Let's move back home and you can still be a bass pro.' We figure that I've paid my dues in Texas.

"We'll try to get most of it done before the (Forrest Wood Cup) so we can get everybody settled and the kids can meet other kids before school starts and stuff like that. It's going to be a busy summer."

Got Mac? 6/12/2007
The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance reported recently that software giant Microsoft has refused the organization's request that it abandon its partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Not to be confused with the people who run local animal shelters, the HSUS vehemently opposes hunting, fishing and trapping.

To read more, click here.

Another Zoom zinger 6/12/2007
Zoom plastics are mentioned often when professional anglers list their tournament-winning baits, and there's a simple reason for that: they work. The BassFan staff got a chance to try out the new Super Speed Craw recently, and it's another gem. To read the review, click here.

Ashley on win, parents 6/12/2007
Today on BassFan Radio with Terry Brown, rookie Casey Ashley talks about his win at Smith Mt., his quest to remain consistent, and the role his parents have played in his career. To listen, click here.

June Fish of a Lifetime 6/12/2007
The first Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime entry for June is now up on The Bass Buzz. Click here to read a thorny story about a 7-pound bass.

Abu Garcia has already given out two reels for Fish of a Lifetime stories, one in April and another in May. You could win one too. Just click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime story. And remember – your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass. It can also be a limit of a lifetime.

C'mon – isn't anyone catching any big ones out there? Take a camera along and tell us about it.

Army contest: correction 6/12/2007
Thanks to the many Bassfan Army members who pointed out that the Vicious Elite Staff contest was indeed supposed to run through noon today. Oops!

To rectify the error, the BassFan Army will continue the contest through its originally stated time and select an additional winner. That means two things. One, we'll accept additional entries. Two, everyone who entered has a second chance to win.

To enter, just write us a note and tell us the name of the only female on the Vicious Elite fishing team. The answer can be found at Vicious-Fishing.com. Once you have the answer, click here to email it to us.

New Vicious license 6/12/2007

Ultimate Bait principal Chuck Myers noted: "We worked very closely with our pro-staff on these baits and are extremely excited about the relationship with Vicious. The Big Daddy craw, designed by Russ Lane (pictured to right), is particularly impressive, and although Russ will be fishing all of our plastics, the Big Daddy will be his signature bait. We're beginning with a lineup of seven baits, but have several others on the drawing board that'll hit the market very soon."

In addition to Lane's craw, other baits in the pipeline include the Pollywogg toad, the Limit-Ator ringworm, The Sheister curlytail worm, the Shakin PT shakey worm, the Trickster swimbait, and the Slammin Liz lizard.

For more info on Vicious and its licensees, visit Vicious-Fishing.com.

Ike back on track? 6/12/2007

That moved him up from 39th to 30th in the Elite Series points, but his World Ranking has been steadily falling, and he's now down to 7th (remember that he started the season ranked 2nd in the world).

About Smith Mt., he said: "I had a good event. It's nice (to have) multiple-day events, because you have a chance to rebound.

"It's tough when you're so competitive," he added, in reference to his season so far. "I'm tough on myself. I want to excel. It's been a tough year for me, but I feel like I'm back on the right track."

> His next event is the Grand Lake Elite Series. He finished 10th there last year.

Winchester goes fishing 6/12/2007

“This is a unique opportunity to leverage the Winchester brand and work with a great partner in Little Sac Bait Company,” said Winchester licensing manager Vicki Schrimpf. “During the 1920s, Winchester manufactured fishing tackle and accessories. They were reliable, high-quality products.

"We’re bringing Winchester fishing lures back, and they will be a great-working product.”

The flagship lure is the Winchester Slim Jim finesse jig, which features a 2/0, light-wire hook with an O’Shaughnessy bend. The hook was specially designed by Gamakatsu to allow for better penetration.

The jig, which features a 60-degree upturned eye, was designed to produce fewer hangups and deliver better balance over rocks, ledges, and obstructions. It's dressed with 22 to 30 strands of premium silicone skirting.

Winchester shakey-head and grub-head jigs are also available. For more information, click here.

Vicious winners 6/11/2007

Congratulations to both for winning a full supply of Vicious monofilament and fluorocarbon line. Look for another BassFan Army contest to be announced within the next few days.

By the way, Vicious is offering a 25% discount to BassFan Army members on either their mono or fluorocarbon line. Click here and place BFARMY in the coupon code at checkout. Vicious is partnering with Wulf Outdoor Sports of Texas for this promotion.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Scroggins on Edge 6/11/2007

"(Line choice) was very critical," he said. "I've done well in several tournaments now using 6-pound Gamma Edge (fluorocarbon). I really feel using 6 is a big benefit. It casts better than 8, but it feels like it's just as strong as 8. I know it doesn't sound right, but it's my opinion."

He added: "I have a great deal of confidence in that 6. At Clear Lake, I caught 70 pounds on a shakey-head and I never did break it. And (at Smith Mt.) I caught a lot of fish on docks. When you get around those pilings, it gets kind of treacherous getting the fish out. But I did, and that's just a credit to how strong the line is. And I feel using 6 gets you a few more bites."

Smith Mt. Top 12 6/11/2007
Here's a look at how the Top 12 at yesterday's Smith Mt. Bassmaster Elite Series moved up in the BASS Angler of the Year (AOY)( race. Note that roughly the Top 37 in the points qualify for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.

1. Casey Ashley: 22nd to 8th
2. Terry Scroggins: 13th to 7th
3. Takahiro Omori: 49th to 33rd
4. Skeet Reese: Remained in 1st, but extended his lead to 113 points
5. Morizo Shimizu: 53rd to 35th
6. Boyd Duckett: 59th to 44th
7. Dean Rojas: 27th to 12th
8. John Crews: 30th to 13th
9. Mike Wurm: 73rd to 54th
10. Matt Sphar: 68th to 51st
11. John Murray: 31st to 19th
12. Dave Wolak: 57th to 45th

And here's a look at the current Top 10 in AOY race, after Smith Mt. Note that an angler's total is followed by his distance from Reese in red.

1. Skeet Reese: 1573
2. Kevin VanDam: 1460 (-113)
3. Jared Lintner: 1441 (-132)
4. Fred Roumbanis: 1361 (-212)
5. Ish Monroe: 1350 (-223)
6. Jeff Kriet: 1338 (-235)
7. Terry Scroggins: 1327 (-246)
8. Casey Ashley: 1292 (-281)
8. Derek Remitz: 1292 (-281)
10. Steve Kennedy: 1271 (-302)

BASS distributes AOY points using a weighted system that awards a greater ratio of points to higher finishers. An angler receives 300 points for winning an event, and bonus points are awarded to daily leaders.

Reese's lead is substantial, but five events remain in the Elite Series season, so the race is still wide-open. Consider that last year, AOY winner Mike Iaconelli led the race by about 100 points with just three events left, but as the season wound down, his lead shortened to just 45 points and he eventually won by 57 points.

Alaska senator honored 6/11/2007
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), one of the sportfishing and boating community’s most ardent supporters, was honored during a recent reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Fishing and Boating Week celebrations.

Stevens' decades of commitment to the nation’s natural resources were recognized. Most notably, he was praised for the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which carries his name and was first passed in 1976.

His career in public service spans more than six decades from his beginnings in the Army Air Corp, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, to his current role as the senior member of Alaska’s congressional delegation. He's served six terms representing Alaska’s citizens and has served on and chaired many committees, including the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

“In 1976, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act was a milestone in ocean fisheries management," said Mike Nussman, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. "With Sen. Stevens’ diligence and personal support, its provisions for fisheries resources have been strengthened with each reauthorization, including the most recent, which was passed by Congress in 2006.

“There are few times in Washington when one person can be so strongly identified as the pivotal link in the passage of legislation. However, Sen. Stevens is that one person, and for that we in the fishing and boating community are truly grateful.”

Stevens professed his lifelong devotion to fishing. He also challenged those present to introduce someone new to the sport.

“Introduce someone to fishing at least once a year,” he said. “I do it as often as I can. It’s a great sport, and it helps put money into supporting the habitat.”

National Fishing and Boating week ran June 2-10.

Morris offers witness 6/10/2007
Rick Morris told BassFan today that he located a witness to the events that resulted in his day-1 DQ at the Smith Mt. Bassmaster Elite Series, and that the witness will corroborate his version of the events. He noted the witness is an elderly gentleman who's "fished his whole life."

Morris said: "As you know, the night of the so-called violation, (BASS tournament director) Trip Weldon called me after interviewing my partner Brandon Pedigo. Trip asked me what my version was, and I told him in detail how the fish was snagged on a rope, that I pulled (the rope) tight so the fish was 3 to 4 feet off bottom – almost within reach by leaning over the edge of the boat.

"According to a rules meeting at Amistad, which was a long discussion with a lot of variables, and a lot of inexact answers, I assumed that I was in the right by going into the water while holding onto the boat. I thought I was totally legal, and so did my partner, because we discussed it before I went in."

About the witness, Morris said: "We had a local guy watching us from another boat. I slid down the side, grabbed the fish, put it in the boat, jumped back in the boat, and never lost contact with the boat. (Pegido) yelled to the spectator, 'Rick had his hand on the boat the whole time,' and then we high-fived. Then I said (to Pedigo), 'You've got my back on this,' because he was a 22-year-old kid. If he was 40 or 50, I'd have said (to Pedigo), 'You're my witness, right?'"

Morris plans to file his appeal with the information brought forth from the witness, who he said has agreed to testify to the events in question.

As noted in previous stories, Morris will base his appeal on the fact that he wasn't DQd the night of day 1. He reiterated that Weldon, that night, informed him that "the issue here is did your hand ever leave the boat?" He was then DQd the following night based on the fact that he actually did enter the water, and the hand on the boat was inconsequential.

Morris added: "Right now, I'm just trying to make it clear that Trip didn't disqualify me because my hand was on the boat until otherwise proven, but because he changed the rule the next day. I have a high regard for BASS standards, and have stood behind BASS for 15 straight years of tournament fishing. I've fished approximately 150 BASS tournaments, and I'm looking for a quick resolution to this problem."

Morris said that he did call BASS with information about the witness, and awaits a return call.

Lowen mystified 6/10/2007

After the penalty had been handed down by BASS following the day-2 weigh-in, Morris told BassFan: "My (day-1 co-angler) Brandon Pedigo rooms with Bill Lowen and he's buddies with Jeff Kriet. Obviously, he went back and ran his mouth and twisted the story all around and bass fishermen are like wolves. If they can bite you off at the ankles they will, and I'm aware of that. It's just that way. We're all in high competition, and these guys get in these little cliques and get mad when you're sitting on one of their holes, and when they get a chance to do something like that (protest you), they will."

Lowen said he's never roomed with Pedigo. In fact, he wouldn't be able to pick his photo out of a police-style array.

"I don't know him at all, unless it's just by sight," he said. "But I couldn't put the face with the name, and I don't talk to Jeff (Kriet) that much either."

He said he knew nothing about the entire Morris incident until he learned of the DQ on Friday night.

More on the Morris DQ 6/9/2007
Although there are no new developments concerning the DQ of Rick Morris' day-1 weight at the Smith Mt. Bassmaster Elite Series, BassFan did receive some clarification today.

BassFan spoke with Morris' day-1 co-angler Brandon Pedigo of Lawton, Okla., who confirmed that he did protest Morris.

Pedigo told BassFan: "I'm 100% sure that he (Morris) did break a rule. He went down in 12 feet of water, to bottom, to land a fish. Then he got back in the boat and went back in again for his lure. He (Morris) said, 'Do you have my back on that fish?' I just kind of shook it off and shrugged and that was about it. It kind of went through my head all day."

Pedigo added that after weigh-in, he asked friends Jeff Kriet and Mike McCelland about the incident, and they informed him he could be penalized if he didn't report it. "I wasn't willing to take that chance," Pedigo said. "I just wanted to fish this tournament and I didn't have any intention of getting into a difficult spot. But it happened and I had to deal with it."

Pedigo fished every regular-season Elite Series event this year as a co-angler except Amistad. He said he plans to fish the Bassmaster Opens next year as a pro with the goal of making the 2009 Elite Series.

BassFan also spoke with Morris again today, who confirmed he still plans to file an appeal. He stated yesterday, and again today, that he did go in the water to retrieve a bass, but that he always had a hand connected to the boat, which he believed to be legal.

According to BASS Rule 22, he has 7 days from the date of the ruling to file an appeal. Then an appeals committee – which consists of one BASS employee not affiliated with the tournament department, and two anglers who were not in the event – will review the appeal.

Morris told BassFan that he plans to appeal the decision based on what he said were conflicting statements by BASS tournament director Trip Weldon. Morris said that on day 1, he was told the only issue was whether his hand was still touching the boat while he was in the water. Morris said the next day he was told the issue was whether or not he was in the water at all to land the bass, and the hand was inconsequential.

It's Morris' contention that, based on conversations with Weldon the night of Day 1, and his recollection of a rules meeting earlier this year, that he was legal if his hand was on the boat while in the water. And Morris also believes that, if he was legal, then the matter should have been settled by a polygraph, but none was administered.

Weldon clarified his ruling today for BassFan. He said: "As discussed in a rules meeting held by BASS before the beginning of the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series season, a competitor must not depart the boat to land a fish."

Based on Weldon's clarification, the matter of whether Morris swam to bottom to land a fish, or landed the fish with one hand still on the boat, wasn't a factor in the ruling. Thus, no polygraph was necessary. Morris' day-1 weight was DQd because he departed the boat to land a fish.

BassFan will continue to report on the appeals process if and when it moves forward.

> To read yesterday's coverage of the DQ, click here.

Help for the Ohio 6/8/2007
Donations from several bass tournaments will help pay the costs of stocking 200,000 largemouth bass a year in the Markland Pool of the Ohio River for the next 3 years.

"We would like to thank B&J Marine in Louisville, Ky., Dixie Marine in Fairfield, Ohio and Early Times Bourbon, along with the tournament anglers, for making these donations," said Ryan Oster, fisheries program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

B&J Marine and Early Times together donated $3,000, while Dixie Marine will donate $10,000 a year for the next 3 years. The donations will make up a significant portion of the cost of rearing and releasing the largemouth bass that will be stocked in the Ohio.

"We are trying to help out the river as much as we can," said Dana Robertson, tournament coordinator for B&J Marine. "We held a derby tournament on the river and we gave a portion of the entry fee toward this effort. We wanted to make sure the donation went toward the largemouth-bass stocking."

Largemouth bass reproduction on the Ohio is often poor due to a variety of factors. The river lacks spawning habitat for the bass to breed and nursery areas for newly born bass to find sanctuary. The river level often fluctuates and deposits a great deal of sediment during high-water periods that can smother the eggs of bass.

"The goal of the study is to see if stocking hatchery-reared largemouth bass can improve angler catch rates in the Ohio River," Oster said. "The feasibility of this study will be examined in the Markland Pool over the next 5 years."

Sixteen embayments and backwater areas between Markland and Mehdahl dams will be stocked this month with 2-inch largemouth bass. Anglers fishing this section of the river should notice an improvement in fishing for bass 12 inches or longer in the next 3 to 4 years.

"I've been fishing the river since 1967," said Bruce Cunagin, GM of Dixie Marine. "The river used to be a fantastic place to fish – we would catch 50 to 60 bass a day. The stockings will definitely help the river. Fishermen will spread the fish out when they move them from one pool to another."

Dixie Marine donated $25 of each entry fee for its Adopt-A-Bass tournament, which is held each July.

"This donation is a great way for tournament anglers and fisheries biologists to work collectively to help improve the largemouth bass fishing on the Ohio River," Oster said.

The Gallatin County Bass Club of the Kentucky Bass Federation will provide logistical support for the stockings.

A sideways glance 6/7/2007
Humminbird has taken technology in depthfinders to a new level, and the new side-imaging is amazing. To learn more about the Humminbird Total Technology System, check out part 1 of this video by clicking here.

Coffin cranks 6/7/2007
Today on BassFan TV, Rapala shows how a flat-sided crank with a coffin-bill adds another dimension to crankbait fishing. To take a look at this unique bait in action, click here.

Major status? 6/7/2007

BassFan again asked BASS whether the 2008 Majors have been canceled. BASS director of communications Jamie Wilkinson reiterated a previous statement: "That decision has not been made. We have yet to announce next year's schedule."

Lane's detour 6/7/2007

"My dad (Robert) called me up and said, 'Hey, your dumb brother left about five rods here, and he needs them. You're going right through there, aren't you?' I said no, but I guess I can.

"They're all his good ones – the ones he was using at Clarks Hill (where he finished 2nd in April). But they'll probably bring him bad luck after I've touched them."

Bobby is 129th in the FLW Tour points, with three finishes of 118th or worse.

"It's all a confidence thing with me. I've got a baby boy due in a month and I've had some other things going on, and my head just hasn't been right. I've been going through the motions with no confidence in what I'm doing, and it's been a miserable time.

"But I believe that God puts trials in our lives that we have to go through to see what's on the other side. It'll come back around."

Water hazard 6/7/2007

Check out these shots of Team Evinrude redfish and tarpon anglers Ray Van Horn, C.A. Richardson and other members of their team losing an estimated 185- to 190-pound tourney-winning tarpon to a hungry hammerhead.

In the photographs, the shark looks a lot bigger than the tarpon. Van Horn estimated that the shark was 13 to 14 feet long. He said: "When she swam by the 2200 Bay Ranger, it was unbelievable because the dorsal fin was a foot higher than my 17-inch gunwale."

One more item: Van Horn says he fishes tarpon tourneys to "de-stress" after redfish events.

> Tip: Click on the photo to see it bigger.

Goodwin got it done 6/6/2007
Oklahoma's Shonn Goodwin is at his best in tough-bite tournaments, and the Ohio River at this time of year is about as stingy as a body of water can get. He caught 13 keepers over 3 days – including the only final-day limit – to win the BFL All-American. To read about his Winning Pattern, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.

Recon: Red River 6/6/2007
This week the Bass Recon section on BassFanArmy.com takes a look at the Red River for the upcoming Bassmaster Central Open there. Get some key Recon info by clicking here.

Versatile new tube 6/6/2007
Berkley has a lot of new baits that it will introduce at ICAST, and one of the most intriguing is the SaberTail Tube. The BassFan staff had a chance to test it recently, and it worked great as a flipping bait, but also proved that it can be cast a considerable distance. To read the review, click here.

Pirch on pre-rigs 6/6/2007
Arizona FLW Tour pro Cliff Pirch fishes pre-rigged worms a lot out west and says they're extremely effective on highly-pressured fish that have a tendency to short-strike a bait. To learn about his technique, click here to read the latest BassFan Pro Fishing Tip.

Jacobs suing Roehm 6/6/2007
Numerous news outlets reported that Irwin Jacobs, as promised, has filed a defamation suit against former Wal-Mart employee Julie Roehm. The New York Post seems to have the most complete story about the suit. To read that piece, click here.

'Scary' Smith Mt. 6/6/2007

Jared Lintner, who's ranked 18th in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten and is currently 3rd in the Elite Series Angler of the Year (AOY) race is wrestling with that decision. He's pretty sure he'll stick with his swimbait chasers tomorrow, but he's also concerned because the whole scenario "scares" him.

"I depend on making these checks to pay my bills at home, so I just want to fish well and stay consistent and go from there," he said. "And obviously, the AOY thing is very important to me, so I can't have a bad tournament. But this is one of those lake where it could happen. I've seen it a lot, fishing around California, with lakes similar to this.

"Sometimes you do really well fishing the way I am, and sometimes you end up in the back of the pack. It's kind of scary."

Jones on 'the sport' 6/6/2007
Rick Clunn's two-part Q&A, recently published on BassFan, continues to generate opinions. Author and columnist Michael Jones today comes to the table with his take on the Clunn Q&A, and the condition of the sport today. To read his opinion, click here.

Oxygenator joins Army 6/6/2007
Oxygenator, the oxygen generation/replenishment system used on Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup boats, has joined the BassFan Army as a sponsor. Its Pro Livewell Flush Mount (BKM3) is available on boats from eight manufacturers and is used by numerous pros on both BASS and FLW trails.

The Pro Livewell Flush Mount works through electrolysis to displace hydrogen and produce pure oxygen from the water itself.

"Its all about protecting and preserving the resource" said Dennis Clark of Oxygenator. "We are proud to be joining the BassFan Army and look forward to working with its members."

For 3 weeks, Oxygenator is offering a free 8-ounce bottle of U2 liquid livewell additive with each purchase. Don't lose another bass!

To learn more about the system, click here.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

Goodwin on the Cup 6/6/2007

"I honestly didn't even realize going in (about the Cup)," he said. "But since I've gotten back, I've pulled up the info like the payouts, the lake we're going to – there's major money available at the Forrest Wood Cup. So that's a fringe benefit I didn't even know was coming my way."

About the Cup venue – Lake Ouachita in Arkansas – he said: "It's not that far from me. I've spent time at the lake before, and I'm familiar with it. It's close enough that I can go beforehand. I know the type of structure there, and what it offers, so it's something I'm comfortable with."

And about fishing against the big guns, he said: "That doesn't bother me at all. I fished BASS events in the past, and I fished against (Kevin) VanDam, (Jay) Yelas – nearly all the big names at one time or another. I learned several years ago how to ignore that. If you do, and focus on the fishing, you do a lot better."

> He runs a Nitro/Mercury, so he won't have a chance at the Cup's $500,000 Ranger bonus. But he'll still get a half-mil if he wins. "I'll take it," he said.

> The details of his winning pattern will be posted soon on BassFanArmy.com.

Two Vicious Army contests 6/5/2007

All you have to do to enter is sign up for the Army before 3:00 p.m. CT this Fri., June 8 (lifetime membership is free, click here to join). The winner will be drawn randomly from this week's new signups.

Already a member and wishing you could win an assortment of line like that? Here's a deal for you. Just write us a note and tell us the name of the only female on the Vicious Elite fishing team, and you could win a set of line for yourself. We'll draw a random winner from the correct entries. You must be an Army member to play, and this contest ends June 12 at 12:00 p.m. CT.

The answer can be found at ViciousFishing.com. Once you have the answer, click here to email it to us.

Nixon, Barrack, more 6/5/2007
A number of BassFan Radio episodes have just gone live.

> Larry Nixon's featured twice. He's playing now on Legends Radio, where he talks about the early Megabucks events. He also recalls his fondest TV moment. To listen to Legends Radio, click here. He's also a guest on BassFan Radio Today. Some listeners have already received this podcast. To sign up for the podcast series, or to listen over the Internet, click here to visit the BassFan Radio Today host site.

> Also new is part 2 of a 2-part podcast with Bobby Barrack. Again, that can be found at the BassFan Radio Today host site.

> Also new is a BassFan Radio show with host Terry Brown and Berkley field services manager Tammy Cox. She talks about what happens behind the scenes at an FLW event. To listen, click here.

Fish with Quinn 6/5/2007
Do you want to go fishing with Jason Quinn? You'll get that opportunity if you're the winner of the Evan Williams Bourbon Team Quinn Fishing Sweepstakes.

The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to fish with Quinn at one of the hottest lakes in the country, and Quinn's sponsors will outfit him or her with all the gear they'll need. The only catches are you must be 21 or older and signed up by June 15.

To register, click here.

BASS turns 40 6/5/2007

An overwhelming feeling of paranoia.

"We had 106 (entrants) and I really didn't know any of them, and I was terrified about cheaters and any kind of dishonesty," he said Monday. "It was so bad that I didn't allow anybody in who was from a county that touched Beaver Lake.

"Also, if you'd ever worked at a marina on Beaver, or if you'd ever been a guide anywhere, you were ineligible."

He noted that the language in the rules read "guide" and not specifically "fishing guide." Because of that, he denied the application of a shady character who admitted he'd guided duck hunters in Tennessee.

He said he "wasn't smart enough at the time" to require that all competitors launch from the same marina, so they used six different facilities (a starter was posted at each). The weigh-in site was "a big piece of dirt" located 3 miles from the lake, so most of the anglers hauled their stringers of dead fish in the trunks of their cars.

As history-oriented BassFans know, Stan Sloan beat out fellow Tennessean and future bass-fishing legend Bill Dance in the 3-day event to become the first BASS winner.

To read more about that first tournament and the multi-billion-dollar sportfishing industry that Scott created, order Robert Boyle's biography, Bass Boss, at www.RayScott.net, or call (800) 518-7222.

Buzz: Can bass learn? 6/5/2007
This week on The Bass Buzz, Berkley's Doc Jones give us his take on this question, one that's puzzled anyone who's ever thrown a lure. Click here to read it.

Soggy 75th ceremony 6/4/2007

It rained again on Saturday, as the 75th anniversary of the feat that Perry pulled off that day was commemorated with the dedication of a roadside marker by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (GWRD).

In the photo at right, Dazy Perry prepares to cast a Creek Chub lure into Montgomery Lake, a nondescript oxbow off of the Ocmulgee River. When his father did the same thing 75 years earlier, it resulted in a 22-04 largemouth bass that still stands as the world record.

According to Dazy, the Creek Chub (it was probably a Wigglefish, but might have been a Fintail Shiner) was one of only two lures that his father owned at that point during the Great Depression. When the big fish hit, he thought he'd gotten the lure hung up on an underwater stump.

Not hardly. Instead, he'd hooked up with fishing history.

"The story of the world record largemouth bass catch has a wonderful ‘everyman’ quality to it, making it easy for people to identify with George W. Perry," GWRD director Dan Forster said at the ceremony.

Interestingly, the fish that Perry’s catch replaced in the record book – a 20-13 hawg from Florida’s Big Fish Lake, also fell to a Creek Chub lure. The Florida fish bit a Creek Chub Pikie, which later became one of Perry’s favorites and is still a popular big-fish bait today.

Ashley amped 6/4/2007

"A rookie, with a Classic on one of his home lakes? There's no pressure," he said with a laugh. "I had people calling my phone at 6:30 in the morning to ask me about it.

"This is a pretty good (fishery)," he added. "It's not as big as some, but it'll be exciting. Hartwell's probably got more 4- and 5-pounders than any place we've been in the Southeast."

About the rest of the season, and his current points position, he said: "There's lots of fishing left. A lot's going to change in the points standings. I have to go out there and just fish hard and concentrate on the fishing. That's all I've been doing all year, and there's no reason to change anything now."

Goodwin wins All-American 6/3/2007

Goodwin's limit weighed 5-00 and gave him a 16-01 total for 3 days.

“I’m still in shock,” said the first-time All-American competitor. “It’s like reaching the summit of Everest after working so hard for so many years for this.”

He qualified through the BFL Okie Division, where he was 4th in the points and 5th in the Wright Patman Regional.

Runner-up Curtis Samo of Illinois was the only other angler to catch multiple fish on day 3. His 3-03 bag gave him a 14-07 total.

Day-2 leader Calvin Davidson of Indiana zeroed on the final day and ended up 3rd with 12-12. Florida's Ronald Yurko caught one keeper for 0-15 on day 3 and finished 4th with 11-07, and Texas' Dicky Newberry rounded out the Top 5 with an 11-07 total despite an empty final-day bag.

Details of Goodwin's pattern will be posted soon.

Revenge joins Army 6/1/2007

"We try to make our baits as realistic as possible and of the highest quality, and we cater to the die-hard tournament angler," said Revenge owner Ray Moughalian. "Our baits are designed with the pro angler in mind in terms of quality, but with the price point that a weekend angler can afford.

"We use the best in components and there is a ton of work goes into each product, from the wire and materials all the way down to the paint and color combinations. We are extremely excited about joining the BassFan Army and hope to be able showcase our products worldwide to BassFan Army members everywhere."

To learn more about Revenge, click here to visit the company's website. You can buy Revenge products at the BassFan Store.

Not a BassFan Army member yet? Click here to sign up for FREE lifetime membership, which makes you eligible for many free programs, including giveaways, contests and qualifying for the Weekend Warrior Championship.

May Fish of a Lifetime and April winner 6/1/2007
Check out the final two Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime entries for the month of May here on The Bass Buzz.

Abu Garcia sent April's winner, Lonnie Shipe, a brand new Revo STX reel for his Fish of a Lifetime story. He said: "Thank you so much. The Revos are outstanding reels.

"I have lots of fun doing casting demos for people who say they can't use that type of reel because they always backlash it. I show them how to adjust the spool tension, then the brake, then tell them to watch as I cast or pitch without using my thumb on the spool. That's when the fun begins – seeing the looks on their faces when no backlash occurs.

"Then I say, 'You can use Abu Garcia's Revo reel! Anyone can use a Revo reel!' They're a great reel and I'm a believer in them.

"Thanks again. It's my pleasure to be able to use a truly great product."

Will you win a free reel, courtesy of Abu Garcia, in June? Just click here to learn how to send in your Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime story. And remember – your fish of a lifetime doesn't have to be a bass.

'The Record' turns 75 6/1/2007
The mother of all fishing records celebrates a birthday tomorrow. Yes, it was 75 years ago that George Perry landed his 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass that still stands as the largest ever caught. Author Monte Burke offers his thoughts on the record in a new BassFan Opinion column. To read it, click here.

T-T put to the test 6/1/2007
BassFan Army member Pete Horkley of South Dakota recently had the chance to test the Tru-Tungsten colored worm weights. To read his BassFan Army Member Product Review, click here.