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• PAA schedule update: Two down, two to go

  Tuesday, July 22, 2014

  The Professional Anglers Association (PAA) website was updated recently with new information about the 2014 tournament schedule.

  It was previously reported that Douglas Lake would be the venue for a tournament on Oct. 16-18, but the dates have been changed to Sept. 25-27. It was moved because of a conflict with a Major League Fishing event.

  In addition, the PAA will have a tournament at Kentucky Lake on Oct. 9-11 with Moors Resort and Marina in Gilbersville, Ky., serving as the launch facility.

  The remaining two events are still being planned, according to the PAA website.

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• Colson rock-solid on and off water

  Monday, July 21, 2014
  

  Ramie Colson Jr. recently completed the second-best season of his 10-year FLW career as he finished 16th on the points list and notched a pair of Top-20 placements to earn his third career Forrest Wood Cup berth. He hasn't been resting on his laurels over the past month, though – he's spent much of it pouring concrete.

  "My dad started this business and did it for 45 years and I picked up the trade in high school," he said. "Besides fish, it's all I've ever done, and me and my little brother run it now.

  "Last year was pretty slow and this year up until May was really slow, but since then it's been like somebody turned a light switch on. There's a few new houses being built around here (he resides in Cadiz, Ky.) and it's really ramped up.

  "I wish I was as good as Andy," he continued, referring to frequent road roommate and longtime friend Andy Morgan, who's won the past two Angler of the Year awards. "Then I wouldn't have to do all this."

  When asked what separates Morgan from the average Tour pro, Colson pointed to the Tennessean's ability to quickly evaluate areas within a body of water.

  "He can cover a whole lake in about 2 days," Colson said. "He's got that down pat. I pick out one area and by the time I get done fishing it, he's gone through the whole lake.

  "Maybe I try to dissect an area too much and put too much thought into it. He just goes fishing and he still covers everything. I'll see him come in and in 15 minutes he's checked everything he needs to check and he's gone down the lake. It's hard to keep up with him."

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• Mepps will pay for squirrel tails

  Monday, July 21, 2014
  

  Attention squirrel hunters: Mepps needs squirrel tails to create hand-tied, dressed hooks for its lures.

  “We’ve tried hundreds of other natural and synthetic materials; bear hair, fox, coyote, badger, skunk, deer, even Angus cow, but nothing works as well as squirrel tail hair,” explained Mepps communications director Kurt Mazurek.

  The fact is squirrel tails are all hair – no fur. Practically all other animals have fur tails with just a few guard hairs. Fur doesn’t have the rippling, pulsating movement of squirrel hair in the water.

  Squirrels are a plentiful natural resource. Plus, squirrel is some of the best wild meat and
  their skins are used for caps, coats, glove linings and many other items, but the tail is usually thrown away. Mepps is asking squirrel hunters to help them recycle this valuable resource and hunters will be paid for their efforts.

  Mepps buys fox, black, grey and red squirrel tails and will pay up to 26 cents each, depending on quality and quantity. Plus, the cash value is doubled if the tails are traded for Mepps lures.

  “We do not advocate harvesting of squirrels solely for their tails,” Mazurek said

  For full details on the squirrel tail program, go to www.Mepps.com or call (800) 713-3474. Please note: Squirrel tails cannot be sold in California, Idaho and Oregon.

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• Johnson Outdoors tabs new marketing VP

  Monday, July 21, 2014
  

  Johnson Outdoors, the parent company of Minn Kota, Humminbird and other brands in the fishing sector, announced today that it's named Patricia G. Penman as its VP for marketing services and communication worldwide. Penman will be responsible for leading development of
  consumer/brand research and market analytics strategies and programs, and overseeing the company's internal and external strategic communications.

  "The breadth and depth of experience and expertise Pat brings will be invaluable in our efforts to deliver continuous meaningful innovation and value to our consumers, customers and stakeholders," said CEO Helen Johnson-Leipold. "We are thrilled to have her on board."

  Penman spent more than 30 years in the consumer packaged goods industry, including stints at Kraft and Campbell Soup prior to joining SC Johnson, where she held key roles that included director of North America marketing services.
  

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• Palaniuk, Lucas go live with Ike

  Monday, July 21, 2014
  

  Bassmaster Elite Series young guns Brandon Palaniuk and Justin Lucas will be Mike Iaconelli's guests on Ike Live, which will stream at 9 p.m. ET from www.MikeIaconelli.com.

  The trio will discuss the newest products unveiled last week at ICAST in Orlando, Fla. A representative from Internet retailer Tackle Warehouse will join them for that conversation.

  Iaconelli and his guests will answer fans' question submitted via Twitter or the free call-in number.
  

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• Marini prevails at Champlain

  Sunday, July 20, 2014
  

  Michael Marini of Slingerlands, N.Y. weighed a 19-14 sack on Saturday to win the Lake Champlain Northern Rayovac with a 3-day total of 57-07.

  “It feels incredible,” said Marini, who weighed the biggest bag of the day on Saturday to move up from 4th place and earn his first win in FLW competition. “It is honestly one of the biggest accomplishments of my fishing career. I’m looking forward to fishing more in the future. I’m very confident on this lake and it paid off.

  “I fished the same exact techniques all 3 days,” he explained. “The first 2 days I rotated between two primary spots. Today I recognized that it was a slow bite. I stayed with one spot and milked it all day. I never fired up the main motor except to go get gas for the run back from Ticonderoga.”

  He said that his primary area was a grass flat about the size of a football field and that he targeted depths ranging from about 4 to 6 feet. He caught all his fish on a bright-colored Yamamoto Senko that he either wacky-rigged or Texas-rigged with a 1/2-ounce weight.

  Full details of his winning pattern will be published soon.

  Following are the totals for the final Top 10:

  1. Michael Marini: 58-07
  2. Chris Johnston: 56-11
  3. Dave Lefebre: 56-01
  4. Jordan Lee: 55-09
  5. Derick Olson: 53-10
  6. Glenn Babineau: 52-12
  7. Mark Daniels Jr.: 52-00
  8. Mike Neilson: 49-08
  9. Mike McDonald: 47-12
  10. Cory Johnston: 47-03

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• ICAST: Day 3 images

  Saturday, July 19, 2014
  

  The annual ICAST show concluded Friday in Orlando, Fla., but not before BassFan Editor Todd Ceisner did some more aisle roaming while seeking out the cool new products that BassFan readers may find interesting.

  To check out some of the gear that caught his eye Friday, click here.

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• FLW announces 2015 schedule

  Thursday, July 17, 2014

  The FLW Tour schedule will be a six-tournament slate in 2015, plus the Forrest Wood Cup, FLW announced today at ICAST.

  FLW had previously announced the dates for next year's Tour schedule, but held off announcing locations until the annual gathering of the fishing industry in Orlando, Fla.

  The 2015 FLW Tour schedule is as follows:

  > March 5-8: Lake Toho (Kississimee, Fla.)
  > March 26-29: Lewis Smith Lake (Jasper, Ala.)
  > April 23-26: Beaver Lake (Rogers, Ark.)
  > May 14-17: Lake Eufaula (Eufaula, Ala.)
  > June 4-7: Lake Chickamauga (Dayton, Tenn.)
  > June 25-28: Potomac River (La Plata, Md.)
  > Aug. 20-23: Forrest Wood Cup (location TBA)

  Additional details will be published shortly.

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• VanDam, Reese, Swindle to don Huk gear

  Thursday, July 17, 2014

  Elite Series anglers Kevin Van Dam, Skeet Reese and Gerald Swindle announced this week that they will be endorsing the new line of fishing apparel and accessories by Huk Performance Fishing.

  "The apparel I wear is critical to my success," VanDam said. "Whether I am on the water or not, I understand the true benefits of clothing with a technological focus. Wearing the proper clothing keeps me on the water fishing harder – winning more. I am backing this brand and great group of founders and I believe that my experience and influence on the features and design of the product will give a competitive advantage in the market and on the water."

  Added Reese, “I have felt for a long time there was an opportunity for a new apparel and accessory line that solely focuses on durability and performance on the water. HUK Performance Fishing has filled this void. I am backing this brand and great group of founders because I truly believe it is the best product on the market. I am fired up about this opportunity and am looking forward to working with the team to develop the best performance products in the space.”

  "I am excited to represent Huk Performance Fishing on the water," Swindle said. "We both share the passion for the outdoor lifestyle and the excitement of the chase. The unique styles and performance element of Huk's apparel and accessories make it a must wear for any serious fisherman."

  Said Marolina Outdoor Inc. co-founder Ben Verner, “We’re very lucky to be able to partner with the top performers and personalities in the fishing industry at such an early stage in our company. HUK Performance fabrics offer an angler a competitive advantage with the function and durability of our gear as well as the technical design. Even a few more casts due to reduced fatigue can make the difference in a tournament for these guys.”

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• Balog: Lots to behold

  Thursday, July 17, 2014
  

  Joe Balog finished writing this week's edition of Balog's Bass War just before hopping a plane headed for Orlando, Fla., where he'll attend ICAST. The list of items he's intent on viewing includes all of the new oversized square-bill crankbaits and the new LunkerHunt plastics that are reputed to be super-tough.

  To read the column, click here.

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• ICAST: Best of Show Awards

  Wednesday, July 16, 2014

  The Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Old Town Predator XL kayak, which features a 45-pound thrust Minn Kota trolling motor, was awarded the Best of Show today as part of the New Product Showcase Awards Reception at ICAST in Orlando.

  The Predator XL, which also claimed top honors in the Boats category, features three interchangeable consoles which allow anglers to adapt to the conditions they're in – the trolling motor console, a storage/utility unit or an Exo-Ridge console which allows for an expanded casting deck.

  Check out video of the Predator XL below.

  
  
  

  The other winners in the New Product Showcase were:

  > Freshwater rod: Duckett Fishing Micro Magic Pro
  > Saltwater rod: Shimano Terez Stand Up
  > Fly fishing rod: G. Loomis Pro 4x Short Stix
  > Freshwater reel: Abu Garcia Revo Beast
  > Saltwater reel: Penn Battle II Spinning
  > Fly fishing reel: 3-Tand, LLC TF-70 Sealed Fly Reel
  > Hard bait: SPRO BBZ-1 Rat
  > Soft bait: Savage Gear 3D PVC Crab
  > Lifestyle apparel: Pelagic 4TEK Fish Finder Board Shorts
  > Technical apparel: STORMR Fusion Series Bib
  > Boating Accessory: Minn Kota Ulterra trolling motor
  > Boat: Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Old Town Predator XL
  > Fishing Combo: Lew's American Hero baitcast combo
  > Electronics: Humminbird Onix 8SI
  > Eyewear: Costa Hamlin 580P Mirror Lenses
  > Fishing Accessory: Lit-Industries Lit Cooler
  > Fish Smart Tackle: Cuda Fishing Tools Cuda Grip and Scale
  > Fly Fishing Accessory: Plastica Panaro SRL M-2300 Fly Caddy
  > Footwear: Columbia Sportswear Megavent PFG
  > Giftware: Helter Skeletons Authentic Skeletal Articulations
  > Kids Tackle: Zebco Splash Combo
  > Line: Berkley IRONSilk
  > Tackle Management: Engel USA UC30-RH
  > Terminal Tackle: Eagle Claw Trokar TK619
  > Best of Show: Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Old Town Predator XL

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