Dock Talk

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• Balog: Much has changed since '88

  Thursday, April 24, 2014
  

  After an extremely long and cold winter in the north country, Joe Balog finally gets to do some fishing that doesn't involve ice. As initial preparation for the James River Rayovac, he watched video coverage of the 1988 Bassmaster Classic at that venue, which included a much-younger version of current B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year leader Mark Davis. That caused him to reflect on how much has come and gone in the sport over the last quarter-century.

  To read the newest installment of Balog's Bass War, click here.
  

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• Sunline Strong Performer: Beaver

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014
  

  Most competitors who fared even reasonably well at the recent Beaver Lake FLW Tour were aided by the powerful winds that blew on days 1, 3 and 4. For Colby Schrumpf, it was just the opposite.

  The Illinoisan was in 143rd place after sacking a limit of 1-pounders on the first day. Then, when the wind died the following day, he caught 16 pounds to move up 110 places to 33rd and earn a $10,000 check.

  "On the first day I headed up the river and I wanted to stop on some areas that had some spotted bass that I found in practice," he said. "It was so windy that I couldn't fish a lot of those areas and I wasn't able to catch many.

  "I gradually worked my way up and then concentrated on largemouths, just fishing shallow cuts. I didn't catch any keeper largemouths the first day – I probably caught 20 that were between 14 and 15 inches."

  He went with the same program on day 2 and achieved dramatically different results.

  "I started in the spotted-bass areas, but the wind wasn't blowing and I could target them a little differently. And just over that one day or maybe a couple days, some bigger female largemouths had moved in and were staging.

  "I caught them from 8 feet down to 20 feet. They were suspended and I got them on a 10-foot diving crankbait. I caught quite a few that day and I had one that was about 5 1/2 pounds."

  He said his key areas were within 5 miles to the south of the Highway 12 bridge.

  "If the wind hadn't blown, I might've gotten a few (largemouth) bites there the first day, but I don't think all those fish were there yet. The water warmed up 5 degrees from one day to the next."

  The finish was easily his best of the season – he'd had two 120ths and a 143rd coming in – and second-best of this 3-year Tour career behind a 5th at the Potomac River in 2012.

  The Sunline Strong Performer, which focuses on the angler who makes the most significant single-day move in the standings at each tour-level event, is brought to you by the great people at Sunline.

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• Big Bite Lookback: Beaver

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014
  

  Bryan Thrift was the day-1 leader at the recent Beaver Lake FLW Tour and was seemingly a threat to win his second straight event. However, the former Angler of the Year said his 16-pound sack on day 1 was basically a fluke.

  "I never really was on anything," he said. "That first day was just a gift. It was one of those days where I couldn't do anything wrong – everywhere I stopped I caught a good one. I knew the odds of repeating that were not good."

  He dropped to 8th place the following day with a 9-10 stringer, and then to 11th on day 3 with a 10-07 haul.

  "I fished a clean tournament – I never lost any fish and I never missed any – but I just wasn't getting the bites I needed. I was really fortunate to catch what I did on the second and third days."

  The majority of his bites came on a shaky-head.

  "If I had it to do over again, I would've tried to fish a littler faster and cover more water. It seemed like there were more fish moving up on that third day."

  The Big Bite Lookback, which focuses on the angler who's first out of the final cut at each tour-level event, is brought to you by the great folks at Big Bite Baits.

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• Zaldain seeks turnaround at Toledo Bend

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014
  

  Chris Zaldain logged a Top-12 finish the last time the Bassmaster Elite Series visited Toledo Bend Reservoir in 2012. He could really use another one next week.

  The Californian had a stellar sophomore campaign in 2013, finishing 8th in the Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY) race. Through three events this year, however, he's at the polar opposite place in the standings – 8th from the bottom (101st).

  "I've had a lot of time to think about what's happened this year over the last 2 1/2 weeks we've been off," he said. "It seems like after the Classic, everything was just boom, boom, boom. The tournaments were coming so fast and I couldn't find a groove."

  His finishes have been progressively worse – 76th at Lake Seminole, 85th at the St. Johns River and 94th at Table Rock. He said he's had some good practices, but what he's found have proven to be mirages.

  "Some of the things that seemed like positive clues have ended up being misleading. Last year when I had the phenomenal season, my decisions were always right on the mark. This year I think I've relied on practice a little too much and I've gone all-in on some patterns and areas. You can't do that; you've got to adapt and change.

  "In all three tournaments, I felt like I've been one step behind."

  He hopes to get back in sync at Toledo Bend.

  "I've got an excellent history in the state of Texas; it's like a big playground to me and it really suits my style. Toledo Bend is so large and there are so many patterns you can fish. I like to fish shallow there, the way I grew up fishing on the California Delta, and it's a very comfortable place for me.

  "I'm not going to try to force anything. I'm going to have fun and try to calm things down. I know what needs to be done and I think hard work will definitely pay off. If I find something that I think is good in the first couple days of practice, I won't be satisfied. I'm going to keep an open mind and not become sold on one particular thing."

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• New gear: Berkley rolls out new shapes, sizes

  Wednesday, April 23, 2014
  

  For years, Berkley has used the Bassmaster Classic as a key component of its marketing platform, introducing new baits and other products just in time for spring. This year was no different as several new soft baits were unveiled in conjunction with the Classic at Lake Guntersville.

  To learn more about what's new from Berkley, click here.

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• Murphy signs with Cabin Creek Bait Company

  Tuesday, April 22, 2014
  

  Shawn Murphy, the reigning FLW Tour Rookie of the Year from Kentucky, has signed a sponsorship deal with Cabin Creek Bait Company.

  "We've watched Shawn grow in his career from a modest start fishing local tournaments to become one of the most notable professionals on the FLW Tour," said Stephen Pyle, one of the 30-year-old company's new owners. "We couldn't pass up the opportunity to support him and his efforts."

  Murphy used Cabin Creek tubes en route to a 37th-place showing, worth $10,000, in the recent FLW Tour event at Beaver Lake.

  “It’s nice to see the new ownership of Cabin Creek working hard to return the company to its former glory," he said. "They were able to overnight me a shipment of tubes that helped me catch five fish on day 2. It’s very simple, their product catches fish.”

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• Berkley trailer heads for Sioux Falls

  Monday, April 21, 2014
  

  The Berkley Experience Trailer will be at Scheels All Sports in Sioux Falls, S.D. this Friday through Sunday (April 25-27). In its 9th year, the trailer has been completely redesigned to provide anglers with a better hands-on experience.

  Four highly trained Berkley professionals will be available to provide in-depth knowledge on products, knot tying, line selection and bait choice.

  “We are extremely excited about the upgrades to the trailer and the experiences that anglers of all skill levels will have this year,” said Berkley marketing director Andrew Marks. "Our Experience Trailer team is ready to answer your questions and help anglers of all ages and skill levels learn about fishing, our passion and our company’s heritage."

  The trailer's next stop will be May 1-3 at Scheels All Sports in Fargo, N.D.

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• ESPN's Corso will speak at ICAST

  Monday, April 21, 2014
  

  ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso will be this year’s State of the Industry Breakfast keynote speaker at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in July.

  The breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. on July 16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

  Corso is known as one of college football’s most knowledgeable, opinionated and entertaining analysts. He is a key member of ESPN’s college football team, serving as an analyst on “College GameDay,” the network’s signature Saturday morning show. Corso joined ESPN in 1987 after 28 years as a coach at the college and professional levels, including 17 seasons as a head coach.

  Tickets are required and can be purchased by calling Experient customer service at (301) 694-5243 or when registering for the show.

  ICAST is produced by the American Sportfishing Association, the sportfishing industry’s trade association, which looks out for the interests of the sportfishing community. The world’s largest sportfishing trade show annually hosts 10,000 members of the global recreational fishing industry.

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• ULM won with final-day rally

  Thursday, April 17, 2014
  

  The University of Louisiana-Monroe team of Dustin Perkins and Trapper Munn weighed just three fish on the first day of the College B.A.S.S. Central Regional at the Ouachita River, but caught a double-digit limit on day 2 to claim the top slot.

  To read about it, click here.
  

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• B.A.S.S. Nation headed to Ouachita

  Thursday, April 17, 2014
  

  The 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be held on Louisiana’s Ouachita River, Nov. 6-8, B.A.S.S. announced today. Anglers will be competing for six spots in the
  2015 Bassmaster Classic.

  The venue was also the site of the 2011 event, which Alabama’s Jamie Horton won. By virtue of his victory, Horton earned an invitation to compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

  “It’s always good to go back to Monroe,” said Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director. “The host and the community really make us feel welcome.”

  The pool of contenders is made up of anglers from 47 states, one province (Ontario, Canada) and eight foreign countries.

  “Australia and Namibia, our two newest nations, will likely send their first competitors to this year’s championship,” Stewart said.

  Both countries joined the B.A.S.S. Nation in early 2014. Other countries that are represented at the championship are Japan, Mexico, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Italy and Spain.

  Another country may send a qualifier, too. Portugal is working on finalizing its status as a B.A.S.S. Nation chapter. If it becomes an official member of the B.A.S.S. Nation in time, Portugal will also have a contender in the championship.

  The only contender who is currently qualified to compete in this year's championship is Jeff Lugar of Virginia, who will be defending his title from 2013. Other competitors will qualify by winning their state or nation in upcoming divisionals. Also, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour will send its Angler of the Year to compete.

  The first group of anglers will gain their berths in the championship will come this week, as the Southern Divisional takes place on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula. The final qualifiers will be decided months later in New York at the Eastern Divisional in September.

  Official practice for the championship will be Nov. 4 and 5.

  The winner of each division at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be invited to compete in the 2015 Classic in Greenville, S.C.

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• Balog: Beaver a good barometer

  Thursday, April 17, 2014
  

  In this week's edition of Balog's Bass War, Joe Balog opines that this year's FLW Tour event at Beaver Lake provides strong evidence that the most accomplished anglers will consistently finish at the top of the standings, whether umbrella rigs are in play or not. That being the case, he's still glad the contraptions have been disallowed at the tour level.

  To read the column, click here.

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